Podcast Summary: Talking Feds – "Josh Shapiro Wants the Ball"

Host: Harry Litman
Guest: Governor Josh Shapiro
Date: March 19, 2026

Overview

In this one-on-one episode, host Harry Litman sits down with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation in front of a live audience. The episode centers on leadership, advocacy, public service, and the power of listening, contextualized by Shapiro's new best-selling book, Where We Keep the Light. Shapiro candidly recounts pivotal moments from his youth, governorship, and career as Attorney General, linking his experiences to his philosophy of "getting stuff done." The dialogue covers themes of faith, political polarization, courage in the face of adversity, combating antisemitism, and America’s current challenges at home and abroad.

Key Topics and Insights

Early Influences and Advocacy

Timestamp: 01:00–06:21

• Bar Mitzvah Activism: As a child, inspired by his activist mother, Shapiro launched "Kids for Avi," a national campaign advocating for the freedom of Soviet refusenik Avi Goldstein, culminating in Goldstein’s release and the two sharing a bar mitzvah together.
  • "I did learn from my mom the importance of advocacy, the importance of seeing a broader world around you. And I'm convinced now, looking back, you can draw a straight line from that experience ... to the work I do today." (Josh Shapiro, 05:56)
• Senate Intervention: Senators Specter, Biden, and Kennedy helped bring attention to the cause, with Kennedy calling Gorbachev directly.

"Getting Stuff Done" (GSD) in Government

Timestamp: 06:21–12:07

• I-95 Collapse Response: When a vital section of I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed, Shapiro pushed past expert estimates ("months and months of disruption") and had it restored in 12 days by empowering local trades, cutting through red tape, and seeking innovative solutions.
  • "I will tell you this. When you make things happen for people... there is a byproduct that benefits our politics, and that is a little bit less cynicism." (Josh Shapiro, 11:39)
• Systems Change: His administration improved permitting processes, moving Pennsylvania from 48th to top 3 in the nation.

Bipartisanship and Serving All Constituents

Timestamp: 12:07–14:44

• Appealing Across the Aisle: Shapiro discusses building trust and delivering services for a divided and polarized electorate, emphasizing respect, listening, and finding common ground.
  • "I focus on that... the way you deliver is by finding ways to work together with other people." (Josh Shapiro, 13:38)

The Power of Listening

Timestamp: 15:02–19:33

• Secret Sauce: Shapiro credits listening—and his wife Lori—for teaching him how to truly connect with constituents.
  • "I've tried to pride myself throughout my career on listening. And when I listen, I do a lot more learning than I do when I'm talking." (Josh Shapiro, 18:48)
• Grassroots Campaigning: Door-to-door campaigning as a first-time candidate taught him "to stop talking and I gotta listen."

Leadership, Teamwork, and Handling Failure

Timestamp: 19:33–22:33

• Basketball Analogy: Shapiro likens politics to being the "general" on his high school basketball team—wanting to "call the play," accept the miss, and always take responsibility.
• Learning from Mistakes: Emphasizes willingness to take the shot and learn from failure, but stresses decisions must be made rather than deferred.

Confronting Adversity: Governor’s Residence Arson

Timestamp: 22:33–29:05

• Personal Trial: Shapiro details a harrowing arson attempt at the Governor’s residence, the outpouring of support from across faiths, and the shared humanity revealed in crisis.
  • "I never understood the power of prayer until others prayed for me in different religions ... Two different generations, two different political parties, two different religions, one shared faith." (Josh Shapiro, 26:06)
• Shared Faith: The incident inspired the title of his book, reflecting the community’s resilience and interfaith solidarity.

Catholic Church Investigation and Survivors’ Justice

Timestamp: 30:59–39:36

• Attorney General Role: Shapiro inherited and escalated a grand jury investigation into church sexual abuse, ultimately exposing 300 predator priests and thousands of victims.
• Unsealing the Report: Fought opposition from the church, and, at Lori’s urging, even wrote to the Pope to gain support for releasing the report.
  • "When that report came out, those survivors finally had the reckoning, the justice that they deserved." (Josh Shapiro, 36:55)
• Accountability Lessons: Draws parallels to Epstein files; laments lack of will from federal institutions for deep accountability.

Antisemitism, Hate, and Moral Responsibility

Timestamp: 39:36–44:35

• Tree of Life Synagogue Attack: Addresses the persistence of antisemitism, calling for moral clarity from leaders and citizens alike—not just after tragedies but in combating the "seeds" of hate.
  • "We have a President of the United States right now who can’t call out and condemn violence unless it’s violence that he thinks is targeting someone he cares about." (Josh Shapiro, 40:44)
• Living Proudly: Urges pride in faith and open identity as an antidote to hate and creeping normalization of antisemitism.

National Security, the War, and U.S. Foreign Policy

Timestamp: 44:35–49:25

• Critique of Current War: Shapiro opposes current war policy, citing lack of clarity and shifting rationales from the administration, leading to wasted lives and global instability.
  • "If you're the President ... you owe it to the American people to explain why you are going to engage in a war of choice." (Josh Shapiro, 45:14)
  • Notes the war’s unintended consequences: emboldening adversaries like Putin and Xi, and undermining U.S. security.

Ambition, Integrity, and Looking Ahead

Timestamp: 49:25–54:40

• Political Ambition: Admits to being driven and wanting the "ball," but insists every step has been about service, integrity, and kindness.
  • "Serve others, do it with integrity and do it with kindness. And that’s what I’ve tried to do." (Josh Shapiro, 51:16)
• 2028 Prospects: Deflects presidential speculation to focus on defeating Trump and maximizing turnout in approaching elections.
  • "It is a disservice ... if anyone, myself included, is looking past these midterms ... what we all need to be focused on right now is providing a check to Donald Trump." (Josh Shapiro, 53:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Empowering Others:
  "We trusted the people to be innovative ... I did away with all the procurement and the red tape headaches that always slows government down." (Josh Shapiro, 08:38)
• On Listening:
  "I got to stop talking. And I gotta listen." (Josh Shapiro, 17:20)
• On Faith and Solidarity:
  "Two different generations, two different political parties, two different religions, one shared faith." (Josh Shapiro, 27:08)
• On Mistake-Making & Teamwork:
  "If one of us is doing a great job that day ... but the other four members of my team aren't, we're not going to win the game." (Josh Shapiro, 21:23)
• On Combating Hate:
  "It is not a lost cause. It is not. I refuse to believe that. But it's going to require everybody to double down their efforts and to do this work." (Josh Shapiro, 44:20)

Lightning Round (Fun Rapid-Fire Questions)

Timestamp: 54:40–58:59

• First Concert: James Taylor on the lawn with high school girlfriend (now wife of 29 years).
• Republican Governor Admired: Spencer Cox (Utah).
• Go-to Song in the Shower: "Things I Take for Granted" by Larry Fleet.
• Basketball Debates: Defends Michael Jordan as the GOAT over LeBron.
• If leaving a note at the Western Wall today:
  "I think I would write a note of thanks to God for the health and safety of my family, and I would ask God ... for the power of clarity." (Josh Shapiro, 58:12)

Conclusion

Governor Josh Shapiro offers a compelling vision of public service: principled, practical, rooted in deep listening, and resilient optimism. His approach blends big-picture moral clarity with a relentless focus on problem-solving and results. The episode is a mix of autobiography, civic leadership, and a call to action at a moment of democratic uncertainty.

For listeners seeking inspiration and an inside look into one of America's rising political leaders, this episode offers both substance and heart.