Send us Fan Mail Rhode Island Transit, Smart Growth, and the Real Cost of Underfunding RIPTA Bill Bartholomew talks with Scott Wolf, executive director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, about why transit is much more than a social service and how better funding could support housing, economic development, tourism, and affordability across the state. They also dig into the governor’s race, the gap between rhetoric and real transit investment, and what Rhode Island can learn from places like Chattano...

Send us Fan Mail Eric Moyal, founder of Project Insulin, joins Bill Bartholomew to explain how his nonprofit is working to create and sell generic insulin directly to patients at cost. The conversation covers the insulin affordability crisis, why Rhode Island can be a powerful place for early-stage startup growth, and what it takes to build a long-term biotech project in a tough fundraising environment. 00:00 - Introduction to Eric Moyal and Project Insulin 00:08 - How Project Insulin pl...

Send us Fan Mail https://global-trade-summit.bryant.edu/ Bryant’s Global Trade Summit at a volatile moment for international business Bill Bartholomew speaks with Jason Kelly, director of the Chafee Center for International Business at Bryant University, about the 40th anniversary of the Global Trade Summit and why it matters during a period of tariff uncertainty, policy shifts, and supply chain pressure. The conversation focuses on how Bryant is positioning itself as a practical resource f...

Send us Fan Mail EVENT LINK! https://newportfilm.com/films/unbowed/ This episode introduces the documentary Unbowed, a Rhode Island-centered film about Omar Bah, his journey from the Gambia to resettlement in Providence, and the founding of the Refugee Dream Center. It also explores how the film team captured both the personal and policy realities of refugee life during a politically charged era.Bill Bartholomew is joined by co-directors David Wells and Mae Gammino, along with Omar Ba...

Send us Fan Mail Adam Greenman on winning the Pawtucket mayoral primary and what residents want next Adam Greenman, the presumptive next mayor of Pawtucket, talks about his upset primary win over longtime Mayor Don Grebien and why he got into the race in the first place. The conversation centers on what voters were saying on the ground, from affordability and city services to the loss of Memorial Hospital and the need for stronger local-state collaboration. Key topics In this episode, Adam Gr...

Send us Fan Mail Bill Bartholomew reads from Lula da Silva’s 2002 Letter to the Brazilian People, then connects its message—an ambitious agenda paired with an open invitation to allies—to Providence’s current political moment. He argues that David Morales can stay committed to affordability and rent stabilization while building productive relationships with skeptics and institutional partners. The episode explores the practical challenges of governing, including existing agreements and poli...

Send us Fan Mail Rhode Island Primary Results: An Affordability Referendum, Not Just an Anti-Incumbent Wave Bill Bartholomew breaks down Rhode Island’s primary results and argues the night was driven by one central issue: affordability. He connects the outcomes in the governor’s race, Providence mayor’s race, and local council contests to a broader rejection of leaders who seemed disconnected from the lived reality of rising housing costs, broken communication, and political inauthenticity.He...

Send us Fan Mail Rhode Island Primary Day Preview: McKee vs. Foulkes, Providence Mayor, and the Races to Watch Bill Bartholomew previews Rhode Island’s Democratic primary with a focus on the long-running Helena Foulkes versus Governor Dan McKee race, the tight Providence mayoral contest, and the down-ballot primaries that could shape the night. He argues that turnout, low-information voters, and shrinking political engagement may matter more than the polling consensus suggests.The episode is ...

Send us Fan Mail Inside Communications: Rhode Island Primary Closing Messages and Election Predictions Bill Bartholomew and Half Street Group’s Mike Raia break down how campaigns shift from persuasion to turnout in the final stretch before Rhode Island’s primary elections. They also look at which candidates are handling their closing messages well, how early voting changes campaign strategy, and where the major races appear to be headed. Key topics In this episode, Bill Bartholomew and ...

Send us Fan Mail EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publishRhode Islanders are sending a blunt message: the healthcare system is not just expensive, it's forcing people to delay care, skip tests, and rethink whether treatment is even worth it. University of Rhode Island sociologist Julie Keller unpacks the new survey data exposing how deep the affordability crisis really goes - and why the numbers are more alarming than the anecdotes.The findings go beyond general frustration. 29% of respondents ...