JSGC Podcast

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew sit down with staff analyst Abigail Gilson to talk about online gambling and sports betting. Topics of discussion include problem gambling, marketing practices, the PA Gambling Addiction Hotline, gaming operator responses, and recommendations from the JSGC report. We also discuss proposed regulations from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board relating to sports betting.

The content of this episode is based on “Sports Betting and Related Interactive Gambling in Pennsylvania.” Both the full report and a summary are available on the JSGC website.

If you or someone you know has or may have a gambling problem, visit https://responsibleplay.pa.gov/ or call 1-800-GAMBLER. 

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew sits down with project manager Yvonne Hursh, along with staff analysts Allison Kobzowicz and Abigail Gilson to discuss law enforcement recruitment and retention in Pennsylvania. The conversation covers issues common to several types of law enforcement agencies, as well as specific challenges faced by police, corrections officers, and prosecutors.  

The content of this episode is based on “Recruitment and Retention Challenges for Pennsylvania Police, Corrections, and Prosecutors.” The full report as well as a one-page summary are available on the JSGC website.

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode the JSGC podcast crew sits down to with Jennifer Berrier, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to learn about the many duties of this agency. Topics discussed include which utilities are regulated by the PUC, how rates are determined, and the role public feedback and complaints have in shaping the agency's decisions. We also discuss how the organization has changed to adapt to new technologies and challenges since its inception. 

Learn more at https://www.puc.pa.gov/

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In our final episode in this series on AI, Bryan sits down with former COPA-STEP Fellow Dr. Jae Wan Ahn to discuss AI's impact on cybersecurity, the emerging field of AI Agents, and hypothetical concepts that could one day shape the future of Artificial Intelligence.  

 The content for this episode is based on the full report Artificial Intelligence: Advisory Committee Recommendations on the Adoption and Use of AI in Pennsylvania, available on the JSGC website.

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew continues our exploration of topics from our AI report, this time turning our attention to data centers. Project manager of the JSGC report on AI Yvonne Hursh and former COPA-STEP AI Fellow Dr. Jae Wan Ahn return to answer questions about what data centers are, where they are sited, and the impacts they might have on local economies as well their effects on energy and water usage. For more information on data centers please visit the JSGC website to access our full report.

As a disclaimer for our listeners, this episode was recorded in March of 2026 and the development and policy discussions surrounding data centers are progressing rapidly. This episode represents the issue at a snapshot in time.

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew interviews Mary Fox, the executive director of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. In addition to learning about Mary’s background, we discuss the duties and responsibilities of the Ethics Commission, the difference between the Ethics Act and gift bans, and what type of disclosure is required of public officials, employees, and lobbyists. We also discuss what happens during the investigation process if there has been an ethical violation by public officials or employees.

For more information or to learn about upcoming training opportunities, please visit the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission’s website.  As an extra reminder to state public officials and employees, your annual statement of financial interest forms are due May 1st! 

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, Bryan DeWalt interviews Allison Kobzowicz and Dr. Jae Wan Ahn to continue our series exploring AI. This time, we focus on its impact on education and criminal justice fields. For education, we discuss beneficial uses of generative AI in the classroom and proposed guidelines for its effective use. For criminal justice, we talk about how algorithm based tools like predictive policing and computer vision have shaped law enforcement for decades. This episode also addresses transparency and accountability measures to encourage the ethical development of generative AI. The content for this episode is based on the full report Artificial Intelligence: Advisory Committee Recommendations on the Adoption and Use of AI in Pennsylvania, available on the JSGC website.

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, the JSGC podcast crew continues our exploration of AI by focusing on its impact on two of Pennsylvania’s most important industries: agriculture and transportation. For agriculture, we discuss uses of precision agriculture, and rates of farmer adoption of technology within Pennsylvania. For transportation, we talk about self-driving vehicles as well as ways in which AI is helping to make transportation safer and more efficient. The content for this episode is based on the full report Artificial Intelligence: Advisory Committee Recommendations on the Adoption and Use of AI in Pennsylvania, available on the JSGC website.

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode, Glenn and Susan interview Yvonne Hursh, project manager of JSGC’s recently released report on AI. Among the topics discussed are an explanation of what AI is, aspects of AI that show promise or concern, how our Advisory Committee shaped our findings, federal and state attitudes on the regulation of AI, as well as AI applications in the field of health care field. The full report, Artificial Intelligence: Advisory Committee Recommendations on the Adoption and Use of AI in Pennsylvania, is available on the JSGC website. This episode is the first in a series exploring elements of our report on AI. 

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/            

In this episode Glenn and Susan discuss the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Science and Technology Policy Program (COPA-STEP) with Patricia Gruver-Barr, the director of the program. We are also joined by Dr. Jae Wan Ahn, COPA-STEP’s inaugural fellow, who we are proud to announce was assigned to research here at JSGC! Together, we discuss how COPA-STEP is working to bring the science community and policy makers closer together, learn more about the origins and objectives behind the program, and how COPA-STEP will expand in the future. 

To learn more about the program, visit COPA-STEP’s Website. 

Music by Joseph McDade. Visit us at http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/