Like other parts of the country, Maryland also has a K-shaped economy.

Who's spending?

Who's not?

What businesses are hurting?

My conversation is with Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.

Covering ideas to grow the private sector (cut down on 'Smith Island cake' layers of regulation)

Make it easier to open and run a small business

And Baby Bonds to help close the wealth gap.

Maryland imports about 80% of its electricity which leads to a debate about how to generate electricity in-state. Regulators recently agreed to fast track review of gas-fired plants proposed by Constellation. Clean energy advocates strongly oppose. And what about the regional grid operator PJM?

My conversation is with Brittany Baker, Maryland Director Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

This podcast is a recap of some of the of some of theinterviews I’ve done on issues of housing, energy, new vision for Baltimore, and how to make a city more walkable--a major issue for downtown Baltimore.

Just a few of the people and ideas I tryto cover. And looking forward to 2026.

You can find all of my podcasts on Spotify and Apple

Howard County Maryland is one of the wealthiest countiesin the country. Average home sales price - $640,000.

Like many places it needs more affordable housing to meet the needs of its workforce--and requires creative solutions.

How about home sharing?  The challenges are especially steep now with restrictions placed by the Trump Administration on housing support.

My conversation is with Jennifer Broderick, executivedirector of Bridges to Housing Stability—a non profit that advocates foraffordable housing..

A recent investigative piece by the Baltimore Banner revealed a pattern of racial disparity in traffic stops. This has been a persistent issue in the county and a task force set up to address it -- just a handful of very brief meetings. The overriding question: Do people still care?

My conversation is with Ben Conarck and Greg Morton of the Baltimore Banner.

Baltimore City has not one waterfront but two. The Middle Branch of the Patapsco River--11 miles of shoreline now being restored to protect against the effects of climate change. It is an area under new development--from Baltimore Peninsula to Westport.

The marshland restoration is led by South Baltimore Gateway Partnership. Funding partly comes from casino revenue.

My conversation is with Brad Rogers, Executive Directorof SBGP and Samantha Rose, Senior RestorationManager.

My conversation focuses on the rising cost of electricity, which is not likely to abate, and the demand from data centers and electrification and other factors.

There is the potential for rolling brownouts by 2027 due to the lack of stable generation in Maryland.

And can clean energy be achieved with the Trump administration pushing back?

My conversation is with BGE’s  Director ofClean Energy Solutions, Divesh Gupta, and Sonya Harbaugh, BGE Director of Strategy.

There is a campaign underway to expand the use of restorative practices in schools in Maryland. The aim is to change school culture to emphasize respect and accountability, reduce absenteeism, address mental health issues. My conversation is with David Hornbeck, former state superintendent of schools in Maryland and Philadelphia and leading advocate for restorative practices.

The Baltimore Banner--in just its 3rd year of operation--includes in its mission events like Impact Maryland, coming up on October 14th. It's a day long discussion of the economy, housing, education from the people who have to make the decisions.

My conversation includes the Banner's recent expansion to Montgomery County and its success as a non-profit model in journalism.

Guests are Bob Cohn, president and CEO of the Banner and Sharon Nevins, Chief Revenue officer and Executive Director of Impact Maryland.

A significant hearing is coming up on October 6 in the bankruptcy proceeding involving the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Should the Archdiocese be granted charitable immunity to fend off the claims filed by sex abuse survivors?

The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy following the passage of the Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitation for victims of sex abuse in Maryland institutions.

Conversation is with Jonathan Schochor, attorney representing people who have filed claims.