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The Freewheeling Podcast

Thomas Ableman
High Speed 2
Public Transportation
Public Transport
Virgin West Coast
Transport Infrastructure
Budget Management
Labour Party
Railway Industry
Innovation
Transport Policy
Covid-19
Passenger Transport
Entrepreneurship
Sustainability
Very Light Rail
Decarbonization
Public Spending Cuts
Public Transport Accessibility
Transport Law
West Coast Main Line

The Freewheeling Podcast is all about moving forwards faster.

Each week, I’ll bring you fresh voices, new ideas and unconventional thinking.

With a bias towards transport and mobility, we also span entrepreneurship and politics.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes90Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessMarketing

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Artwork for The Freewheeling Podcast

Latest Episodes

I bet, like me, you constantly hear references to what the Treasury thinks.

“The Treasury” sometimes seems to be a person in its own right, with its own opinions and culture.

How did the Treasury form its culture? How does the Treasury work? How ... more

Naomi Green has one of the toughest, and most exciting, jobs in transport today.

The Oxford-Cambridge Corridor is a change programme on an extraordinary scale hidden in plain site.

Both Oxford and Cambridge are expanding, driven by new Growth Compa... more

I’ve spent the last couple of days at the fantastic Interchange conference in Manchester.

If you weren’t there, my job is to give you FOMO for the next year so you turn up next time.

The good folk at Interchange even built me a recording studio, s... more

I’m joined by Brian O’Rourke, CEO and co-founder of CitySwift, to explore one of the only AI companies I can think of to literally start in a bus garage.

We talk about joining messy, siloed data to improve reliability and efficiency, why “black box... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Katie-Lee English
Economic consultant with experience at the treasury
Episode: Katie-Lee English on The Treasury
Naomi Green
Managing Director of England's Economic Heartland
England's Economic Heartland
Episode: The Oxford-Cambridge Corridor with Naomi Green
Thomas Ableman
Transport change maker and consultant; former commercial director at Shilton Railways
Independent/Consultant
Episode: Innovation and Agility with Thomas Ableman
Brian O'Rourke
CEO and co-founder of the data analytics and AI platform CitySwift, who shares insights about the transport industry and optimizing bus operations.
CitySwift
Episode: Transport and Tech with Brian O’Rourke
Helmut Eichhorn
Managing Director of the SwissPass Alliance
SwissPass Alliance
Episode: Swiss Transport Integration with Helmut Eichhorn
Johannah Randall
Stations expert with experience in railway operations and station design, involved in King's Cross and HS2 projects.
GNER, HS2
Episode: Stations with Johannah Randall
Andy Meaney
Economist and head of transport at Oxera
Oxera
Episode: Competition Law and Economics in an Age of Partnership and Nationalisation with Andy Meaney
Sandra Witzel
Director of Skedgo, involved in Mobility as a Service and advocacy for accessibility in transport
Skedgo
Episode: Disability and Transport with Sandra Witzel
Jasmine Palardy
Expert in cities and community engagement, founder of Good Future Collective
Episode: Community Engagement with Jasmine Palardy

Host

Thomas Abelman
Host of discussions focused on urban mobility, transport policies, and entrepreneurship, providing thought leadership through expert interviews and fresh insights.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 33 ratings
  • THE best transport podcast

    Freewheeling is now well established, has found its flow and is cemented as the best transport podcast out there. Thomas’s intelligence, breadth of experience and curiosity make him a perfect host for a wide variety of interesting guests. His lack of ego (something all too present in other hosts) means he doesn’t interrupt and lets his guests tell their stories and share what they know. The podcasts are always thought provoking, normally challenge conventional thinking and above all make you rea... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon P…
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • People inrerviewing for a job

    Love it. But sometimes it sounds like people interviewing for a job rather than a real conversation. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oddknackj
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Thought-provoking and insightful

    A really interesting podcast. Well worth your attention.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    moose44444444
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Always thought provoking

    This podcast and Thomas’s accompanying freewheeling blog should be essential listening for anyone involved in influencing car drivers to try something else. It covers a wide range of mobility issues, generally all inter-connected and (with one or two common exceptions) gives fresh insight to the discussion. That’s what this blog does best - public transport is a fairly inward looking place and here we get some provocative debate on some of that embedded thinking, whether it be from perspective o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leeds Bus User
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Engaging and thoughtful - entertaining listening whether you're in the sector or not

    Great commentary and searching questions spanning the sector, pitched perfectly by experts who know the subject inside out.

    Love the presenter's style. He obviously cares deeply about what he's talking about! Always great to hear that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dad1278
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The discussions are praised for being insightful and relevant, contributing to valuable debates on mobility issues.
Listeners find the content to be engaging and thought-provoking, with many appreciating the variety of expert perspectives offered.
There are comments highlighting the host's effective interviewing style, which maintains listener interest while delivering in-depth information.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Innovation and Agility with Thomas Ableman
Q: How do you balance ambition with the constraints of public sector governance?
Through a culture that tolerates experimentation, clear outcomes, and the willingness to test with small pilots, while keeping political leadership informed and ensuring accountability.
Innovation and Agility with Thomas Ableman
Q: What does your strapline mean in practice when enabling transport change makers?
It means creating confidence and permission for teams to act on ideas they already have, by reducing unnecessary bottlenecks and empowering those closest to customers to make decisions.
Transport and Tech with Brian O’Rourke
Q: What do you think the future holds for bus operations?
Future advancements will focus on electric vehicles, real-time data analytics for better decisions, and potential semi-autonomous systems improving overall public transport.
Transport and Tech with Brian O’Rourke
Q: What do you see as the biggest learning in the transport sector?
The industry's resilience to change and the importance of collaborating between operators and authorities in improving services.
Transport and Tech with Brian O’Rourke
Q: How is the sector reacting to embed AI-based analytics solutions?
The sector has been resistant at first but shows a growing acceptance due to the potential for ROI and operational efficiency through data-driven decisions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Freewheeling Podcast

What is The Freewheeling Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing primarily on transport and urban mobility, this podcast presents conversations that challenge conventional thinking while addressing critical issues within the industry. Discussions feature prominent experts and thought leaders who share their experiences, insights, and innovative ideas on topics like public transportation, urban planning, and the future of mobility. Additionally, themes around entrepreneurship, community engagement, and political frameworks related to transport policies are often explored, making it a nuanced source of information for listeners interested in the evolution of these sectors.

The podcast stands out for its emphasis on real-world applications and the integration of expert knowledge across different di... more

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How many listeners does The Freewheeling Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Freewheeling Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Freewheeling Podcast:

1. Westminster Insider
2. When It Hits the Fan
3. How To Win An Election
4. Daily Politics from the New Statesman
5. The News Agents

How many episodes of The Freewheeling Podcast are there?

The Freewheeling Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Freewheeling Podcast?

Recent guests on The Freewheeling Podcast include:

1. Katie-Lee English
2. Naomi Green
3. Thomas Ableman
4. Brian O'Rourke
5. Helmut Eichhorn
6. Johannah Randall
7. Andy Meaney
8. Sandra Witzel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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