Rephonic
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
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes

What does it take to move 70,000 riders a day while keeping innovation, reliability, and customer experience at the center of every decision?

This week on Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with Jack Khzouz, CEO of Nassau Inter-County Express... more

What does the future of public transportation leadership look like? And who are the emerging professionals already making a difference?

On this special episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort is joined by Megan Perrero, Editor-in-Chief of @... more

What will define the next year of mobility—and which technologies are actually ready to move from hype to reality?

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with John Rossant, CEO of CoMotion, for a wide-ranging look at the techno... more

Nashville asked for more public transportation. WeGo is delivering.

In this episode, Paul Comfort talks with Andy Burke, Chief Operating Officer of WeGo Public Transit, about how Nashville is preparing for one of the largest transit expansions in th... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Transit Authority
The Transit AuthorityAmerican Public Transportation Association
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
The Wirecutter Show
The Wirecutter ShowThe New York Times
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life

Recent Guests

Megan Perrero
Editor-in-Chief of Mass Transit Magazine
Mass Transit Magazine
Episode: The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
Amanda Barlow
Co-founder and principal consultant at Cardinal HR Solutions
Cardinal HR Solutions
Episode: The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
Jessenia Fernandes
Director of Safety and Training at Merrimack Valley Transit
Merrimack Valley Transit
Episode: The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
John Duklewski
Executive Director of the Transportation Association of Maryland
Transportation Association of Maryland
Episode: The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
Latashia S. Vauss
Board Minutes Coordinator at New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
Episode: The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
John Rossant
CEO of CoMotion and founder of the Monaco Hydrogen Alliance
CoMotion
Episode: The Technology That Will Define Mobility in 2027
Andy Burke
Chief Operating Officer, WeGo Public Transit (Nashville)
WeGo Public Transit
Episode: Nashville Is Growing Fast. Here’s How Its Transit System Is Keeping Up
Ken McDonald
CEO of Long Beach Transit
Long Beach Transit
Episode: The Leadership Lessons Behind Long Beach Transit’s Success
Jim Derwinski
CEO and Executive Director of Metra Commuter Rail
Metra
Episode: Inside the Transformation of Chicago’s Transit Network

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.

Top Business Podcasts

Proven Podcast
Proven PodcastCharles Schwartz
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha: Entrepreneurship and Self-Improvement Podcast
Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha: Entrepreneurship and Self-Improvement PodcastHala Taha | Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing | YAP Media Network
We Fixed It, You're Welcome
We Fixed It, You're WelcomeWe Fixed It, You're Welcome
Bred To Lead
Bred To LeadDr. Jake Tayler Jacobs

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
Q: What advice would you give somebody who is considering entering transit for the first time?
Amanda Barlow encourages people to consider their transferable skills and build relationships, rather than assuming they need a transportation background. Jessenia Fernandes advises people not to underestimate transit and to recognize its breadth beyond bus operations.
The Future of Mobility Leadership: Meet Mass Transit’s 40 Under 40
Q: How did you first get into public transit?
Amanda Barlow says human services work showed her how transportation provides access to relationships, medical care and employment. Jessenia Fernandes says she came to the United States from Puerto Rico, trained as a nurse, then became a bus operator before moving into transit leadership.
The Technology That Will Define Mobility in 2027
Q: What's one technology that you think is going to be really transformative for the mobility industry in the year or two to come? Just, you know, 2027, let's say.
Rossant names autonomy, including autonomous transit, AI-enabled transit operations, and robotaxis. He says autonomous vehicles and public transit should connect seamlessly, with robotaxis supporting first- and last-mile access.
The Technology That Will Define Mobility in 2027
Q: Talk about what you think makes a solid startup or a scale up for a tech company.
Rossant says a company's idea should be grounded in reality and functional, ideally at least in beta, while CoMotion also considers less obvious technologies and the policy frameworks they require.
Inside the Transformation of Chicago’s Transit Network
Q: How is the region approaching governance and funding changes to support a more integrated transit system?
The region is transitioning to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, which aims to unify governance and implement universal fare products, fare capping, and coordinated scheduling. This shift requires substantial capital investment and regional tax coordination, with a multi-year horizon to align agencies, services, and infrastructure for a better passenger experience.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Transit Unplugged?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Transit Unplugged. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Transit Unplugged and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Transit Unplugged get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Transit Unplugged, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Transit Unplugged?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Transit Unplugged, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Transit Unplugged have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Transit Unplugged has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Transit Unplugged?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Transit Unplugged:

1. The Transit Authority
2. The Daily
3. The Strong Towns Podcast
4. The Wirecutter Show
5. This American Life

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.

How do I contact Transit Unplugged?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Transit Unplugged?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Transit Unplugged from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Transit Unplugged?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Transit Unplugged. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Transit Unplugged?

Recent guests on Transit Unplugged include:

1. Megan Perrero
2. Amanda Barlow
3. Jessenia Fernandes
4. John Duklewski
5. Latashia S. Vauss
6. John Rossant
7. Andy Burke
8. Ken McDonald

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days