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COG produced three seasons of the Think Regionally podcast to raise awareness about metropolitan Washington's biggest challenges and focuses on solutions. The podcast was hosted by former Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney, featuring local government, business, and non-profit leaders talking about a variety of timely topics, including the region's economy, racial equity, transportation, housing, and climate change.
SEASON 3
EPISODE 7: Strengthening regional transit through DMVMoves
Guests:
- Randy Clarke, WMATA General Manager and CEO
- Clark Mercer, COG Executive Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 6: Protecting our water on all shores
Guests:
- Natali Fani-González, Montgomery County Councilmember and Chair of COG's Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee
- Kishia Powell, WSSC Water General Manager and CEO
- Phong Trieu, COG Anacostia Restoration Program Manager
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 5: Improving community health through air quality initiatives
Guests:
- Kristen Willard, VP of Education, Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform and Clean Air Partners Board Member
- Jen Desimone, COG Air Programs Manager
- Joseph Jakuta, District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment Air Quality Planning Branch Chief
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 4: The biking boom: Expanding bicycling in the DMV
Guests:
- Michael O'Connor, City of Frederick Mayor
- Kalli Krumpos, Washington Area Bicyclist Association Senior Organizing Manager
- Michael Farrell, COG Senior Transportation Planner
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 3: Ensuring fair housing across communities
Guests:
- Rodney Lusk, Fairfax County Supervisor and COG Board Vice Chair
- Kate Scott, Equal Rights Center Executive Director
- Hilary Chapman, COG Housing Program Manager
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 2: Strengthening food security for a more resilient region
Guests:
- Jon Stehle, chair of COG's Food and Agriculture Regional Member (FARM) Policy Committee and City of Fairfax Councilmember
- LaMonika Jones, director of DC Hunger Solutions
- Heather Bruskin, director of Montgomery County's Office of Food Systems Resilience
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 1: Enhancing public safety through regional collaboration
Guests:
- Russell Hamill, City of Laurel Police Chief and Chair of COG's Police Chiefs Committee
- Malik Aziz, Prince George's County Police Chief
- Scott Boggs, Managing Director of COG's Department of Homeland Security and Public Safety
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
SEASON 2
EPISODE 8: The region then and now—reflections from COG's longest serving board member
Guest:
- Penny Gross, COG Board Member and Fairfax County Board Supervisor
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 7: ADVANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCY IN THE DMV
Guests:
- Salil Kharkar, DC Water Vice President
- Mark Nystrom, WMATA Climate Resilience Program Manager
- Stacy Schaefer, Charles County Resilience Authority
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 6: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Guest:
- Clark Mercer, COG Executive Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 5: PRIORITIZING SAFETY ON OUR REGION'S ROADWAYS
Guests:
- Kelly Russell, City of Frederick Alderman
- Hillary Orr, City of Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services Deputy Director
- Andrew Meese, COG Department of Transportation Planning Systems Performance Planning Program Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 4: BUILDING MOMENTUM ON REGIONAL PRIORITIES IN 2023
Guest:
- Kate Stewart, Montgomery County Councilmember
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 3: ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS WITH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
Guests:
- Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia Mayor
- Amanda Harris, Montgomery County Services to End and Prevent Homelessness Chief
- Amanda Chesney, Catholic Charities Homeless and Housing Services Executive Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 2: TAKING ACTION ON ECONOMIC INEQUITIES
Guests:
- Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair
- Tonia Wellons, Greater Washington Community Foundation President and CEO
- Daniel Okonkwo, JPMorgan Chase East Region Executive for Global Philanthropy
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 1: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HEALTH INEQUITIES
Guests:
- Dr. Reuben Varghese, Arlington County Public Health Director
- Dr. Steven Woolf, Virginia Commonwealth University Director Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
SEASON ONE
EPISODE 9: THE FUTURE OF THE ECONOMY (PART III OF 'FUTURE OF THE REGION' SERIES)
Guests:
- Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Executive
- Victor Hoskins, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President & CEO
- Jack McDougle, Greater Washington Board of Trade President & CEO
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 8: THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT (PART II OF 'FUTURE OF THE REGION' SERIES)
Guests:
- Paul Smedberg, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board Chair
- Kate Mattice, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Executive Director
- Joe McAndrew, Greater Washington Partnership Vice President, Government Affairs & Infrastructure
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 7: PICTURING A POST-COVID REGION (PART I OF 'FUTURE OF THE REGION' SERIES)
Guests:
- Paul DesJardin, COG Community Planning and Services Director
- Timothy Canan, COG Planning Data and Research Program Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 6: ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE DMV
Guests:
- Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive
- Antoine Thompson, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition Executive Director
- John O’Donnell, Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association President and CEO
- Maia Davis, COG Senior Environmental Planner
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 5: PRESSING FOR PROGRESS ON HOUSING
Guests:
- Justin Wilson, City of Alexandria Mayor
- Catherine Buell, Amazon Housing Equity Fund Director
- Shelley Murphy, Wesley Housing President/CEO
- Hilary Chapman, COG Housing Program Manager
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 4: MOVING THE NEEDLE ON CLIMATE, HOUSING, TRANSIT, & EQUITY GOALS
Guest:
- Christian Dorsey, 2022 COG Board of Directors Chair; Arlington County Board Vice Chair
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 3: FEEDING OUR REGION
Guests:
- Mary Cheh, District of Columbia Councilmember
- Hugo Mogollon, FRESHFARM Executive Director
- Jackie DeCarlo, Manna Food Center CEO
- Lindsay Smith, COG Regional Food Systems Planner
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 2: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONNECTIONS TO TRANSIT
Guests:
- Phyllis Randall, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair
- Sheila Somashekhar, Purple Line Corridor Coalition Director
- Valecia Wilson, DC Office of Planning Senior Neighborhood Planner
- Kanti Srikanth, COG Deputy Executive Director for Metropolitan Planning
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
EPISODE 1: HOW DO WE MOVE THE REGION TOWARD RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY?
Guests:
- Nancy Navarro, Montgomery County Council Member
- Rosie Allen-Herring, United Way of the National Capital Area CEO
- Dr. Kavita Patel, Mary's Center Primary Care Physician
- Chuck Bean, COG Executive Director
Visit the episode page for the transcript and links to data/resources discussed.
MEET OUR HOST: ROBERT MCCARTNEY
Robert McCartney worked for 39 years as a Washington Post editor, columnist, and correspondent. In his final 12 years at the paper, McCartney wrote about metropolitan Washington as the paper’s Senior Regional Correspondent. Before that, he was the top editor of the Metro section, where he supervised coverage of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, for which the staff received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting. From 2009 to 2021, McCartney analyzed local issues in a Friday morning segment on WAMU. He’s also appeared on Fox 5, MSNBC, WTOP, among other outlets.
McCartney grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Amherst College. He lives in Bethesda with his wife, and they have a grown son. He is a member of Leadership Greater Washington, and an ardent fan of the Washington Football Team and Washington Nationals.
CONTACT: thinkregionally@mwcog.org