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Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo
Public Transportation
Workforce Shortages
Kansas City Transit System
The New Future Of Public Transportation
Sustainability
KC Streetcar
Covid-19 Impact
Fiscal Cliff
Rider Experience
High-Speed Rail
Public Transit
Bus Rapid Transit
Public Transport
Economic Development
Expansion Of Transit
Covid-19
Community Mobility
Ridership
Cybersecurity
Funding Challenges

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes301Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Transit Unplugged

Latest Episodes

How Transit CEOs Are Tackling Safety, Growth, and Leadership — Live from ThinkTransit

This week on Transit Unplugged, we take you live to Boston for a special CEO Roundtable recorded at the ThinkTransit Conference—featuring four of the most influent... more

Paul Comfort talks with Patrick Preusser, Chief Operating Officer of Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), to unpack the reality of delivering transit service across one of the largest and most complex systems in the U.S.

Serving over 3 m... more

This week on Transit Unplugged, we continue our “The Doers” series—highlighting the transit leaders who are not just setting strategy, but delivering results on the ground.

Paul Comfort sits down with Shofi Ull Azum, Chief Planning and Development O... more

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort sits down with Amanda Vandegrift, Deputy CEO of Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer at WeGo Public Transit in Nashville.

This conversation is part of our “The Doers” series—hig... more

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Recent Guests

Rich Davey
CEO of Massport; former Secretary of Transportation in Massachusetts; former MBTA and NYC Transit executive
Massport
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Nora Leerhsen
Acting president of the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Harry Wilson
Chair and CEO of MV Transportation
MV Transportation
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Jay Fox
Executive Director of the Utah Transit Authority
Utah Transit Authority
Episode: Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit
Patrick Preusser
Chief Operating Officer of the Denver Regional Transportation District
Denver RTD
Episode: How to Run a $1.3B Transit System: Denver RTD’s COO Breaks It Down
Shofi Ull Azum
Chief Planning and Development Officer at Cherriots (Salem Area Mass Transit District)
Cherriots
Episode: How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum
Amanda Vandergrift
Deputy CEO of Finance Administration, WeGo Public Transit, Nashville
WeGo Public Transit
Episode: Translating Transit Funding Into Real Service with Amanda Vandegrift
Steve Bland
Chief Executive Officer at WeGo Public Transit (previous guest on show)
WeGo Public Transit
Episode: Translating Transit Funding Into Real Service with Amanda Vandegrift
Dan Froberg
Deputy COO, technology lead
WeGo Public Transit
Episode: Translating Transit Funding Into Real Service with Amanda Vandegrift

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 69 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 States8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

One review notes pacing and interview style as an area for improvement.
Some feedback mentions occasional rapid delivery and the host interrupting guests.
Listeners appreciate the depth of conversations with industry leaders and practical takeaways.
The host is praised for informative interviews and filling a void in transit podcasting.

Top Business Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Run a $1.3B Transit System: Denver RTD’s COO Breaks It Down
Q: Tell me about your background and how you ended up at RTD.
Patrick shares a multi-decade career starting in Chicago with CTA, Metra, and Pace, moving through roles in commuter and regional rail, with leadership experiences in Hawaii on the driverless metro project, and later joining Denver RTD to oversee day-to-day operations and strategy.
How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum
Q: What role does technology play in your operations and customer experience?
Technology like Swiftly for on-time performance and GTFS-RT feeds, along with real-time passenger information through apps, has improved reliability and customer trust, complemented by traffic signal priority on busy corridors to boost on-time performance.
How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum
Q: What key initiatives helped drive that recovery?
Initiatives include adding weekend and holiday service funded by STIF, a youth fare program that offers free rides to under-18s, fare unification to simplify payment, and expanding service coverage with a focus on accessibility and reliability.
How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum
Q: So Shofi, how is ridership recovering compared to pre-COVID levels?
Ridership has not only recovered but surpassed pre-COVID levels, with current ridership at 3.6 million versus 3.2 million pre-COVID, marking a 12.5% increase.
Do Operators Make the Best Transit Leaders? Lessons from Michael Dylan Pal
Q: How important is leadership visibility and frontline engagement in your approach to operations?
Walking the garages, meeting operators, and maintaining open dialogue with unions and community leaders drives safety, reliability, and morale, ultimately improving customer experience and on-time performance.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Transit Unplugged

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

A globally focused transit leadership show that brings in senior executives, engineers, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the big forces shaping public transportation. Episodes regularly explore funding, workforce development, safety, and technology trends—from AI and automation to electrification and hydrogen propulsion—along with strategic issues like mega-events, standards, and manufacturing. The conversations often feature practical takeaways for agencies, vendors, and operators, plus personal leadership stories that illuminate career paths in the transit world. A notable strength is the mix of high-profile agency leaders and niche experts, offering both big-picture context and hands-on insights for practitioners and sponsor... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Transit Unplugged?

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How many listeners does Transit Unplugged get?

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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 Strong Towns Podcast
2. The War on Cars
3. Up First from NPR
4. The Air Show
5. IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

How many episodes of Transit Unplugged are there?

Transit Unplugged launched 8 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?

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What guests have appeared on Transit Unplugged?

Recent guests on Transit Unplugged include:

1. Rich Davey
2. Nora Leerhsen
3. Harry Wilson
4. Jay Fox
5. Patrick Preusser
6. Shofi Ull Azum
7. Amanda Vandergrift
8. Steve Bland

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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