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Artwork for Transit Unplugged

Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo
Public Transportation
Public Transit
Paratransit
Bus Rapid Transit
Sustainability
Public Transport
Electric Buses
Amtrak
Ridership
Community Engagement
Federal Transit Administration
Chicago Transit Authority
Community Development
Transit Industry
Accessibility
Workforce Shortages
High-Speed Rail
Covid-19 Impact
Chicago
Leadership

We share the stories, challenges, and successes of the top transit professionals from around the world. Learn how top transit leaders got to where they are with stories and insights from their careers. Get the inside story about public transit and transit trends from the people who run it. Transit Unplugged is hosted and produced by Paul Comfort and brought to you by Modaxo Learn more at t... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes301Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes

Does commuter rail still describe what the service is becoming in many cities?

Across the industry, the traditional model of carrying workers downtown in the morning and home again in the evening is evolving. At Metra in Chicago, that change is show... more

What if the work you're meant to do isn't something you find—but something you build?

In Part II of Transit Unplugged's special Find Your X Factor series, Paul Comfort talks with two transportation leaders whose very different careers reveal how our... more

What happens when the bus can actually beat the car?

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Melinda Metzger, Executive Director of Pace Suburban Bus, for a conversation recorded at Pace’s ADA headquarters in downtown Chica... more

What happens when the things you’re naturally good at intersect with the things that give you energy?

In this special episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort brings his new book, Find Your X Factor, to life through conversations with two leaders ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mike Heidkamp
Former Chief Transportation Officer at Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Episode: Your Transit Career Needs a Route Map, Too
Rudy Salo
Lawyer who moved into transportation finance and became a transit-focused legal/advocacy figure
Independent; former partner at a major law firm
Episode: Your Transit Career Needs a Route Map, Too
Melinda Metzger
Executive Director of Pace Suburban Bus
Pace Suburban Bus
Episode: How Pace Is Reinventing Suburban Transit in Chicago
Noah Berger
CEO of Merrimack Valley Transportation Authority (MEVA)
MEVA (Merrimack Valley Transportation Authority)
Episode: How Great Leaders Find Their X Factor with Noah Berger and Rod Jones
Rod Jones
Head of Modaxo Americas and ANZ
Modaxo
Episode: How Great Leaders Find Their X Factor with Noah Berger and Rod Jones
Brad Miller
CEO of PSTA, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
PSTA
Episode: What Can St. Pete/Clearwater Teach Us About More Flexible, Connected Transit?
Leon Smiley
Senior bus operator, longest-tenured driver at PSTA
PSTA
Episode: What Can St. Pete/Clearwater Teach Us About More Flexible, Connected Transit?
Darden Rice
Chief Planning and Community Affairs Officer, former board member
PSTA
Episode: What Can St. Pete/Clearwater Teach Us About More Flexible, Connected Transit?
Whit Blanton
Executive Director, Forward Pinellas MPO
Forward Pinellas
Episode: What Can St. Pete/Clearwater Teach Us About More Flexible, Connected Transit?

Host

Paul Comfort
Host of Transit Unplugged; long-time interviewer and industry commentator.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 70 ratings
  • Interesting subject, poor host.

    This podcast covers interesting topics, however it is a shame the host is so poor. Talking too fast, talking over the guests, constant interjecting. Calm it down, let the experts talk, allow your audience time to listen and absorb.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MagneVortex
    Australia7 years ago
  • Informative and interesting!

    Great Interviews and filling a void in podcasts. Thank you Paul Comfort!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Transit Mom
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

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

In-depth coverage of major projects and funding dynamics is highly valuable.
Thoughtful leadership insights for transit execs and policymakers.
Some listeners feel the host dominates conversation; guests deserve more room to speak.
Mix of sharp industry analysis with candid leadership stories.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Your Transit Career Needs a Route Map, Too
Q: How did Rudy use creativity to reshape his legal career toward transportation?
Rudy describes recognizing that creativity was missing in his practice and then embracing improv, acting, writing, and podcasting to build a bridge into transit finance, ultimately expanding his opportunities beyond traditional legal work.
How Great Leaders Find Their X Factor with Noah Berger and Rod Jones
Q: How did you realize your X Factor in your career path?
Noah explains that his path showing the X Factor emerged when he combined leadership with his artistic inclinations and found opportunities to merge them at MEVA, turning frustrations into visible, community-centered improvements.
How Great Leaders Find Their X Factor with Noah Berger and Rod Jones
Q: What is your X Factor?
Noah Berger describes his X Factor as the intersection of his interests—public transit and the arts—and his abilities, which has driven him to integrate artistic expression with transit leadership, ultimately shaping how he leads MEVA.
How VIA Is Growing Ridership by Growing Service
Q: What makes VIA Link microtransit different from standard bus service?
VIA Link operates like a rideshare within defined zones, using an app to connect riders with available vehicles that pick up at virtual stops, with simple fare and options to transfer to fixed-route buses for longer trips.
How VIA Is Growing Ridership by Growing Service
Q: Tell me about the transit system, VIA. How many vehicles do you have and what areas do you cover?
VIA is primarily a bus system with microtransit and paratransit; they operate around 510 buses, six VIA Link microtransit zones, and over 130 paratransit vans, delivering about 31 million passenger trips last year and growing as service expands.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Transit Unplugged

What is Transit Unplugged about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Transit Unplugged features in-depth conversations with senior transit leaders, operators, policymakers, and industry experts from a global mix of public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Episodes commonly center on leadership transitions, system redesigns, major capital rail and bus projects, funding and policy dynamics, technology-enabled operations, and the evolving role of transit in urban and regional mobility. A standout angle is on-the-ground leadership experiences, operational realities, and practical strategies for improving safety, reliability, and rider experience across multi-modal networks. The format often blends candid interviews with tours, case studies, and strategic context, making it helpful for future guest prospects... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Transit Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Transit Unplugged:

1. The Strong Towns Podcast
2. Up First from NPR
3. Planet Money
4. The War on Cars
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Transit Unplugged are there?

Transit Unplugged launched 9 years ago and published 301 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 Transit Unplugged?

Recent guests on Transit Unplugged include:

1. Mike Heidkamp
2. Rudy Salo
3. Melinda Metzger
4. Noah Berger
5. Rod Jones
6. Brad Miller
7. Leon Smiley
8. Darden Rice

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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