Best On The Evidence Podcasts (2024)

1
131 | How Expanded Tax Credits Benefited Family Well-Being 39:35

8d ago39:35

39:35

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features an interview with Katherine Michelmore, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the 24th recipient of the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize. Michelmore’s research has focused on temporary expansions of tax c…

1
130 | The Evidence-Based Benefits of Employee Ownership 55:21

21d ago55:21

55:21

In honor of Employee Ownership Month in October, Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features a special episode with Paul Decker, Mathematica’s president and chief executive officer, and Jim Bonham, the president and chief executive officer of The ESOP Association. On the episode, Decker and Bonham discuss the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)…

1
129 | How Evaluation Can Support Housing Justice and Community Change 29:50

1M ago29:50

29:50

A new episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast explores recent research that experimented with a new approach to equitable data collection that also equips individuals and their organizations with new skills and resources. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation contracted with Mathematica and its partner UBUNTU Research and Evaluation to learn …

1
128 | How Better Data Interoperability Can Improve Care Delivered To Patients 48:25

2M ago48:25

48:25

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast focuses on the potential for health data interoperability to improve people’s health and well-being. Improved data interoperability is part of a broader push in the public and private sectors to use digital technology to make greater volumes of data available faster, at lower cost, and in …

1
127 | Ensuring Evidence Use in Public Policy with Brookings Institution Pres. Cecilia Rouse 47:53

2M ago47:53

47:53

Cecilia Rouse is the former dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the current president of the Brookings Institution. For the first two years of the Biden administration, she was the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers—the first Black American to chair the council in its 75-year history. In August, she joined Ma…

1
126 | How AmeriCorps Uses Data to Support Communities Through National Service and Volunteerism 1:02:58

3M ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Thirty years ago, President Bill Clinton signed bipartisan legislation creating what is now known as AmeriCorps, a federal agency for national service and volunteerism. Since then, the agency estimates that more than 1.3 million AmeriCorps members and hundreds of thousands more AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided billions of hours of servic…

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125 | 20 Years of Evidence-Based Poverty Reduction from the Millennium Challenge Corporation 44:43

3M ago44:43

44:43

Twenty years ago, the U.S. Congress created a new federal agency that represented a bold experiment in international aid. That agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), strove to reduce global poverty through grant-making to low- and lower-middle-income countries that demonstrated a commitment to good governance, economic freedom, and inv…

1
124 | AcademyHealth’s New CEO on AI, Climate Change, and Other Topics of Health Services Research 52:58

4M ago52:58

52:58

Our guest for this episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast is Dr. Aaron Carroll, a pediatrician, health researcher, and science communicator who recently assumed the post of president and chief executive officer at AcademyHealth, the leading national organization for convening and sharing information across health services researchers, pol…

1
123 | Validating Natural Climate Solutions with Better Data 30:05

4M ago30:05

30:05

In the United States, conversations about solutions to climate change often revolve around reducing fossil fuel emissions from human activities. But many believe regenerative agricultural practices and other nature-based solutions—which use soil and plants and try to either prevent or capture emissions—should complement policies and programs to red…

1
122 | Reflecting on Juneteenth and Our Collective Equity Journey 19:38

5M ago19:38

19:38

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast coincides with June 19, which is celebrated by many around the United States as Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in this country. Recently, one way staff at Mathematica have honored this important moment in U.S. history is by joining together in person and vir…

1
121 | NORC and Mathematica CEOs on the Future of Data and Evidence 1:31:43

6M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

Within the past few years, organizations that help improve public well-being by providing data-driven insights have witnessed significant changes. From a digital transformation hastened by big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to the globalization of evidence-based solutions for problems that transcend borders, changes in technology, society, a…

1
120 | Improving Health through Responsible Use of AI 58:31

6M ago58:31

58:31

This episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features a discussion about how various parties within the health care ecosystem can responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve patient health. The conversation comes amid increasing interest in the applications of AI in daily life and one month after Mathematica announced the launc…

1
119 | Max Stier on Using Data to Improve the Federal Government 56:25

6M ago56:25

56:25

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features Max Stier, the president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for Public Service. Stier discusses the central role that data and research play in supporting his organization’s mission to make the federal government more effective. The episode comes during Public Service …

1
118 | Moving from Evidence Generation to Evidence Use in President Biden's 2025 Budget 35:10

7M ago35:10

35:10

In March, when the Biden administration released its budget request for fiscal year 2025, it not only offered a blueprint for the president’s policymaking agenda—it also provided the latest indication of how the White House and federal agencies are going beyond evidence generation to use evidence as a guide in making program investments that can im…

1
117 | Moody’s Mark Zandi on Being a Voice for Data-Driven Decisions in Public Policy 1:01:16

8M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

The latest episode of On the Evidence features Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. On the episode, Zandi speaks with Paul Decker, Mathematica’s president and chief executive officer, about comprehensive immigration reform, artificial intelligence, labor shortages, remote work, the merits of pursuing a nonacademic career in economi…

1
116 | Applying AI to Improve Health Policy Research 36:35

8M ago36:35

36:35

The latest episode of On the Evidence features an interview with Mathematica’s Ngan MacDonald about the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for improving health care through data analytics. MacDonald recently joined Mathematica as the company’s director of health data innovations, where she leads a team of data scientists that help public …

1
115 | Improving the Impact of Social Programs Through Better Evaluation 22:15

9M ago22:15

22:15

A new episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast explores the idea that a more comprehensive approach to evaluation, including study of a program’s design and implementation, maximizes a program’s chances of success. The episode draws from a convening in January at Mathematica’s D.C. office at which experts from the federal government, philan…

1
114 | How Virtual and Group Tutoring Could Address Learning Loss 57:44

9M ago57:44

57:44

The COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a public health emergency, but its harmful effects on the U.S. education system still linger. Nationwide standardized test scores show that average student achievement in core subjects, such as math and reading, remains below pre-pandemic levels. Over the past four years, a growing number of schools have used temp…

1
U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos on the Importance of Diversity and Culturally Relevant Methods in Public Policy Research 45:03

10M ago45:03

45:03

On the five-year anniversary of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, we’re proud to feature an interview with Robert Santos, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Santos, the first Latino and the second person of color to lead the agency, joined Mathematica in January for a wide-ranging conversation that covered the following topics: • changing…

1
113 | An interview with U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos 45:03

10M ago45:03

45:03

On the five-year anniversary of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, we’re proud to feature an interview with Robert Santos, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Santos, the first Latino and the second person of color to lead the agency, joined Mathematica in January for a wide-ranging conversation that covered the following topics: • changing…

1
112 | Lessons for States Interested in Hospital Global Budgeting 34:13

10M ago34:13

34:13

This episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast explores lessons from Maryland, with glimpses from Vermont and Pennsylvania, that could help other states decide whether and how to adopt hospital global budgeting. The guests for this episode are Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, who was the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygien…

1
111 | Homeschooling, Inequities in Disability Policy, and Improving Child Health Through School 50:07

10M ago50:07

50:07

Every year, early-career scholars join Mathematica for a summer to work on independent research related to improving public well-being. As prospective applicants prepare to apply by the Feb. 29 deadline for the 2024 Summer Fellowship program, Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast spoke with last year’s fellows (Laurin Bixby, Carla Wellborn, and Lui…

1
110 | Our Listeners on the Most Important Developments in Evidence and Well-Being in 2023 28:13

11M ago28:13

28:13

For the final episode of 2023, Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast asked friends of the show to send short voice notes about important developments in evidence and well-being this year that will continue to matter in 2024. More than a dozen listeners and former guests responded to our call, highlighting significant milestones in health care, earl…

1
109, Part 2 | Improving Health Equity by Transforming Public Health Data Systems 1:08:51

11M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, inconsistent data collection and reporting made it difficult for U.S. public health agencies to respond to the disease's inequitable impacts. Demographic and socioeconomic factors, such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, income, and disability status, were particularly challenging to capture. The same data issues would…

1
109, Part 1 | Improving Health Equity by Transforming Public Health Data Systems 27:31

11M ago27:31

27:31

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, inconsistent data collection and reporting made it difficult for U.S. public health agencies to respond to the disease's inequitable impacts. Demographic and socioeconomic factors, such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, income, and disability status, were particularly challenging to capture. The same data issues would…

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108 | How Artificial Intelligence Can Advance Health Equity 58:17

12M ago58:17

58:17

In September 2023, Mathematica and Congressman Don Beyer’s office hosted an event on Capitol Hill to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for health equity. This episode of On the Evidence features audio from the September event, anchored by Victoria Knight, a health care policy reporter for Axios, who interviewed Congressman B…

1
107 | Elizabeth Linos on Bolstering the Public Sector Workforce and Improving Government Services 29:23

1y ago29:23

29:23

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features Elizabeth Linos, the 23rd recipient of the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize. Linos is a public management scholar and behavioral scientist who studies, designs, and tests innovations in how government works. On the episode, Linos talks about what public sector workers and public p…

1
106 | Jennifer Pahlka on Government in the Digital Age 36:22

1y ago36:22

36:22

Jennifer Pahlka served as the U.S. deputy chief technology officer under President Barack Obama and founded Code for America, a nonprofit that works to improve government digital services. In her new book, "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better," Pahlka takes us beyond the basics to explore why poli…

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105 | How Colorado Committed to Supporting Teacher Diversity and Why it Matters to Students 51:56

1y ago51:56

51:56

Teacher recruitment and retention challenges have increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But even before that, students of diverse backgrounds have historically not seen themselves reflected in the adults in their classrooms and schools. Why does this matter? Students of color do better in school when they have teachers who share simil…

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104 | Michael Mann on Taking Action to Address the Climate Crisis 25:03

1y ago25:03

25:03

For anyone looking to understand Earth’s climate history and the unfolding climate crisis, Michael Mann has got you covered.Mann is the Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media. He has authore…

1
103 | OMB Evidence Team on Evidence-Based Policymaking and Federal Evaluation 39:02

1y ago39:02

39:02

From helping lead implementation of the Evidence Act to providing technical assistance on activities and initiatives, the Evidence Team at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is on the frontlines of evidence building and use across the federal government.Led by Diana Epstein (Team Lead), Erica Zielewski (Senior Evidence Analyst), Danielle Ber…

1
102 | Gayle Smith on the Federal Role in Global Response to Health and Climate Crises 21:21

1y ago21:21

21:21

Gayle Smith, CEO of the ONE Campaign, served in many leadership roles in the federal government as a staunch advocate for evidence-based decision making.As Coordinator for Global COVID Response and Health Security at the U.S. Department of State in 2021, Smith led the U.S. effort to end the global pandemic, helping the Biden-Harris Administration m…

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101 | Using Data to Advance Equitable Outcomes from Pre-K through the Workforce 56:33

1+ y ago56:33

56:33

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing inequities that changed how individuals engage with pre-K programs, schools, colleges, employers, and the world at large. Early evidence suggests the pandemic took a toll on student learning, educational attainment, employment, and physical and mental well-being, especially in communities of color and …

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Bonus Content | J.B. Wogan Reflects on 100 Episodes 39:19

1+ y ago39:19

39:19

In this special feature, On the Evidence host J.B. Wogan reflects on the first 100 episodes of the Mathematica podcast, and retraces some of the steps taken in the almost five years since the series launched in early 2019.Learn more, listen, and subscribe: https://mathematica.org/ontheevidenceBy MATHEMATICA

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100 | Robert Shea on the Federal Government’s Progress in Using Evidence 27:26

1+ y ago27:26

27:26

In May 2023, Mathematica hosted a convening on Capitol Hill about embedding evidence in federal decision making, with a focus on the legacy of the nearly five-year-old Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, also known as the Evidence Act. One of the attendees that day was Robert Shea, an expert on performance improvement in government who…

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99 | Understanding Why More Eligible Kids Got Free Meals During Pandemic Summers 39:26

1+ y ago39:26

39:26

Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, only about one in every seven students served by the National School Lunch Program also participated in free summer meals programs provided by the federal Food and Nutrition Service. The low ratio of students accessing meals in the summer compared to the school year has been dubbed the “summer food gap.” Policym…

1
98 | Developing Education Programs to Prevent Violence and Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean 42:35

1+ y ago42:35

42:35

This episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast focuses on how research informs funding strategies to tackle an urgent social challenge. A couple of years ago, Mathematica reviewed evidence from across the world on whether education programs can prevent or mitigate violence and crime. USAID commissioned the report to help develop effective st…

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97 | Building on the Evidence Act 50:30

1+ y ago50:30

50:30

In late May 2023, Mathematica coordinated with Congressman Derek Kilmer’s office to host a discussion on Capitol Hill about the impact of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) and how to further embed the use of data and evidence in federal decision making. This episode of On the Evidence features edited audio from the …

1
96 | Addressing Fragmented Health Care 1:03:08

1+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

The fragmentation of outpatient health care drives up the cost of care and worsens the quality of care that patients receive, posing a risk to patients’ health. On this episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, guests James Lee of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Knitasha Washington of ATW Health Solutions, Bob Phillips of the…

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95 | The Role of Evidence in Solutions Journalism 56:28

1+ y ago56:28

56:28

The 95th episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast features author Tina Rosenberg discussing the role of data and other evidence in supporting solutions journalism. In 2013, Rosenberg co-founded the Solutions Journalism Network, which challenges journalists to show whether a solution they are covering is effective using available data or qua…

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94 | Christina Ciocca Eller on White House Year of Evidence for Action 40:56

1+ y ago40:56

40:56

Episode 94 of On the Evidence is the second installment in a new occasional series on the show called Evidence in Government, where guests talk about new developments in the halls of government and the role that evidence can or should play in decisions that could improve people’s lives.On this episode, Christina Ciocca Eller talks about a recent pu…

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93 | Inside Arizona’s Investment in Evidence-Based Foster Care Prevention 43:42

1+ y ago43:42

43:42

On this episode, we discuss the Family First Prevention Services Act in the context of one state’s efforts to build evidence for a parent education program thought to prevent child abuse and neglect.Katherine Guffey, Meg Dygert, and Allon Kalisher discuss a parent education program in Arizona that Mathematica evaluated, the Family First law, and th…

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92 | Evidence-Based Policy in President Biden's 2024 Budget 37:35

1+ y ago37:35

37:35

In the president’s proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year, the Biden White House outlines a spending plan that would expand health care insurance coverage for more Americans, extend free school meals to more children, and provide financial assistance for child care to more families. The budget includes more than a dozen references to evidence and…

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91 | Solutions for Preventing Heart Attacks, Improving Patient Health, and Reducing Health Spending 12:08

1+ y ago12:08

12:08

Every year, Mathematica publishes dozens of new papers and reports, some of which surface fresh insights about how public agencies and private organizations can be more effective at improving public well-being. For the 91st episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, we’re launching an occasional series focused on examples of solutions that r…

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90 | Supporting Families Through Equity-Infused Program Change 1:05:20

1+ y ago1:05:20

1:05:20

On this episode, guests Tosin Shenbanjo, Julie Sanon, and Allison Holmes discuss a cross-sector partnership in Memphis, Tennessee, that infused equity into a local nonprofit’s two-generation strategy for alleviating poverty and supporting families. Sanon is the chief operating officer at Agape Child & Family Services in Memphis. Holmes is a senior …

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89 | Teacher Coaching: A Solution to Learning Loss and Teacher Burnout? 50:45

1+ y ago50:45

50:45

On the latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, we look at a potential solution to two concerns in K–12 education during the pandemic: student learning loss and teacher burnout. The conversation builds on a national study from Mathematica and the Institute of Education Sciences on a form of individualized, video-based teacher coachi…

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88 | Helping Job Seekers with Low Incomes During Recessions and Recoveries 37:21

2y ago37:21

37:21

The latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast looks at proven ways to help job seekers with low incomes during economic recessions and recoveries. Guests Tyreese Nicolas, Kimberly Clum, and Alex Stanczyk share insights from the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse, a publicly available website about interventions designed to help j…

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87 | A Conversation with Mathematica’s 2022 Summer Fellows 44:32

2y ago44:32

44:32

Every year, early-career scholars join Mathematica for a summer to work on independent research related to improving public well-being. As prospective applicants weigh whether to submit an application by the Feb. 28 deadline for the 2023 Summer Fellowship program, Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast spoke with last year’s fellows (Jennifer Kirk, …

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86 | The Present & Future of Computational Social Science 58:30

2y ago58:30

58:30

Princeton professor Matthew Salganik’s book, Bit by Bit, explores the merging worlds of computer science and social science for timely, policy relevant research in the 21st century. In the book, he shows how traditional research techniques in the social sciences can sometimes be combined with digital tools and big data to generate high-quality evid…

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85 | Human Services Agencies Pursue Environmental Justice 53:17

2y ago53:17

53:17

On the latest episode of Mathematica’s On the Evidence podcast, guests Michael A. Becketts, Tracy Wareing Evans, Shavana Howard, and Matt Stagner make the case for state and local human services agencies to play a central role in the response to climate change. Becketts is the director of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services; Wareing Ev…

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On The Evidence Podcasts

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