EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts

Faculty, staff, and guest experts from the Edward J. Bloustein School at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey talk about public policy, urban planning, public health, health administration, and informatics.

EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts is a news podcast hosted by Rutgers Bloustein School, with 126 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Rutgers Bloustein School hosts EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts, a news show with 126 episodes published.

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  Episode #1

  Rehearsing Democracy: Helping Rutgers Students Move from Thinking to Doing

  Sep 28, 202616 minS15

  In our first episode kicking off season 15, Dean Stuart Shapiro interviews Professor Nicholas Longo , director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab , about his journey from growing up around local politics in Yonkers to dedicating his career to “citizen politics” and democratic engagement. Longo explains that the Democracy Lab is designed as a “rehearsal space for democracy,” where students learn and practice healthy democratic skills through innovation, curriculum-embedded civic engagement, and initiatives across all Rutgers campuses. He frames the lab as a response to a broader crisis of democracy marked by democratic backsliding, loss of trust between people and institutions, polarization, and social isolation, and emphasizes that these adaptive challenges require new, collaborative forms of public problem-solving. He closes by highlighting that Rutgers students are idealistic, diverse, and eager to move from thinking to doing, inviting them to engage with the Lab through programs like the Think and Do Tank, research opportunities, dialogue initiatives, and student-led democracy projects.

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  Episode #5

  From Campaigns to Classrooms: Teaching a New Generation About Advocacy

  May 28, 202623 minS14

  As we wrap up our 14th season of EJB Talks Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Bob Sommer GSNB ’84, a Bloustein School alumnus, lecturer, and member of the school's Advisory Board. As Bob talks about his journey from an accounting major to a career in public policy, he discusses his transition from working on a congressional campaign to roles in government and lobbying. His early career included a stint at the EPA during the Reagan administration, and he highlights how a chance meeting with the late governor, and then Congressman Jim Florio, set him on his path to a career in government affairs. Bob emphasizes that lobbying is a fundamental part of the American system, and explains how advocacy has evolved with time and changes in technology and regulations. Part of his approach to teaching advocacy, he explains, is focusing on practical skills and the importance of listening and adapting to different perspectives, stressing the importance of understanding the other side's arguments while also being able to articulate one's own position effectively. He concludes by emphasizing the need for more effective advocacy and the role of educators in preparing the next generation of advocates.

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  Episode #4

  Sea Level Rise, Community Engagement, and New Jersey's Environmental Future with Janine Barr

  Apr 30, 202625 minS14

  Janine Barr , a researcher at the Bloustein School's Environmental Analysis and Communication (EAC) Group , joins Dean Stuart Shapiro this week on EJB Talks to discuss the center's work on climate change impacts. A self-proclaimed Jersey girl, Janine traces her path to environmental policy back to an internship with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The internship not only drew her toward environmental policy, but specifically toward issues affecting her home state. She describes how the EAC Group brings together the branches of policy, planning, and public health to integrate community needs into local, regional, and state planning initiatives, supported by robust stakeholder engagement and data analysis. Janine also speaks to her involvement with the New Jersey Sea Level Rise and Coastal Storms Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) Report, a major effort to equip decision-makers with updated science on sea level rise and coastal storms. The report projects sea level rise of 1.8 to 4.3 feet by 2100 depending on emissions scenarios. She closes by stressing the importance of clear, ongoing communication with the public, so communities can meaningfully engage with questions of risk tolerance and long-term planning needs. Links mentioned in today's podcast: New Jersey Climate Change Resource Centers Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) Report website STAP Report Summary and FAQ document (PDF, short) Full STAP Report (PDF) NJ REAL Rules

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  Episode #3

  Small Wins, Big Impact: On the Front Lines of Local Public Health with Peter Tabbot

  Apr 2, 202618 minS14

  In this episode of EJB Talks , ⁠ Peter Tabbot ’91 MPH ‘97, CPM ⁠ , longtime local health officer in Rockaway, NJ and a Bloustein School public health lecturer, shares his path into public health with Dean ⁠Stuart Shapiro⁠ , and what it means to lead at the community level. He explains the wide-ranging role of health officers, from managing essential services to working with governments and residents. Reflecting on navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Tabbot calls it both the most challenging and most rewarding period of his career, marked by rapidly changing policies, public resistance, and the need for constant local coordination. He also discusses ongoing challenges, including vaccine hesitancy, funding uncertainties, and growing skepticism toward public health. His message to students and future professionals: envision yourself making a difference in individual’s lives and embrace the “small wins” in improving community health, one person and one municipality at a time.

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  Episode #2

  Planning, Policy, Politics, and the Path to Office with Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, MCRP '12

  Mar 4, 202620 minS14

  This week on EJB talks, Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Bloustein alumnus Katie Brennan MCRP '12, now an Assemblywoman in New Jersey's 32nd District. Katie reflects on how her early exposure to housing instability, volunteer work, and her undergraduate policy studies shaped her belief that “everything is a housing issue.” She recounts her experiences in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and her high school essay on housing instability, as well as her early positions in nonprofit roles and as chief of staff at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, as helping shaped her view on housing policy and its limits. Her decision to run for office was driven by a desire to help shape policy directly rather than just implement it. She also discusses the constant tension between good policy and political reality, emphasizing the importance of understanding politics and finance in policy and planning. Her advice to students is to learn how money and public finance work, show up to local meetings to get a sense as to what's going on, and understand that planning, policy, and politics are inseparable if you want to create real change.

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