NCSL Podcasts
NCSL Podcasts
NCSL
Learn about the people, policies and politics of America's state legislatures with NCSL's three podcasts: "Our American States," "Across the Aisle" and the special limited series "Building Democracy."
Putting Data to Work in the Criminal Justice System | OAS Episode 269
On this episode, we focus on how to use criminal justice data to better understand how a range of programs affect people in the justice system. We sat down with Mike Mueller-Smith, an associate professor of economics at the University of Michigan, and Montana Sen. Barry Usher, chair of the Judiciary Committee.
Aug 23
32 min
Focus on Energy Affordability: Part 2 | OAS Episode 268
In this second of two episodes focused on energy affordability, we spoke with Katherine Jereza, an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Energy who directs the Office of Electricity, and Joseph Pereira, the director of Colorado's Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate.
Aug 9
41 min
ROI and the Workforce | OAS Episode 267
The focus of the podcast is how states are working toward connecting education and training systems with the workforce. Three attendees at a recent NCSL meeting in Bozeman, Mont., joined the podcast to explain how states are working to understand the return on investment from state investment in education and training programs .
Jul 12
52 min
Focus on Energy Affordability: Part 1 | OAS Episode 266
Our topic on this episode is energy affordability. The U.S. saw largely flat electricity demand from the late ’90s until just a couple of years ago but now increasing demand has strained the nation's ability to keep up. To offer some perspective, we sat down with Representative Craig Williams of Pennsylvania, and Janine Benner, the director of the Oregon Department of Energy.
Jun 21
41 min
Assessing Mid-Decade Redistricting | OAS Episode 265
The last year has seen an unusual spate of mid-decade redistricting and state legislatures are at the center of these efforts in blue and red states. To offer some perspective, we sat down with Erin Covey, who leads coverage of the U.S. House for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, and Helen Brewer, who tracks redistricting legislation and developments for NCSL.
Jun 7
45 min
Mental Health and the Workplace | OAS Episode 264 | May 17, 2026
This episode will explore mental health and behavioral health in the workplace. Our guests include Julie Hocker, assistant secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, and Michigan Representative Curtis VanderWall.
May 17
48 min
As July 4 Anniversary Approaches, We Remember Some State History | OAS Episode 263
As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, NCSL gathered a trio of experts to discuss the origin stories of their states. We discussed the status of each state at the time of the American Revolution, how the state's constitutions were written, and some other unusual historic notes.
May 3
50 min
Using Wage Records to Help Workers | OAS Episode 262
Dr. Erica Groshen, former commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Paul Famolari with the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce join the podcast to discuss enhanced wage records and the role they can play in helping states better understand their workforce and evaluate job training and bachelor's degree programs.
Apr 26
56 min
The Lifesaving Potential of Prehospital Blood | OAS Episode 261
Jonathan Morrison, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of prehospital blood programs that allow emergency responders to administer blood at the scene to trauma victims. He’s joined by a former military trauma nurse with deep experience in the field and a policy expert from NCSL.
Apr 12
36 min
The Evolution of Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Treatment | OAS Episode 260
On this episode we dive into the remarkable progress in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and get perspective from a neurologist, two legislators and a policy expert from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Mar 29
1 hr 2 min
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