Transit Unplugged

Transit Unplugged

Paul Comfort, SVP Modaxo

Episodes 300
Avg. Duration 30m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.5 (31)
Since Nov 2020
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Open to Sponsors Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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 https://transitunplugged.com/

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Recent Episodes

S8E84 Former FTA Chief Marc Molinaro on the Future of Federal Transit Funding

Jun 10, 2026 42m

Former Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro joins Paul Comfort for an in-depth conversation about federal transit policy, funding, and the future of public…

S8E83 What People Get Wrong About Rural Transit

Jun 03, 2026 28m

What does public transit look like when you're serving 20 counties across Central and East Texas?In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort continues his series featuring new transit CEOs…

S8E82 Reliability over Ridership: Stop Measuring Your System Against 2019

May 27, 2026 30m

What does success look like for transit agencies in a post-pandemic world? According to Christie Wegener, it may be time to stop measuring against 2019 altogether.In this episode of Transit…

S8E81 What Happens When You Inherit a Transit Crisis?

May 20, 2026 24m

When Steve Fuentes arrived as the new President & CEO of Milwaukee County Transit System, he stepped directly into a perfect storm: major service cuts, labor tensions, budget deficits, and the…

S8E80 World Cup Transit: How Cities Are Preparing for 2026

May 13, 2026 25m

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to North America—and for public transportation agencies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the countdown is already underway.In this episode of Transit…

S8E79 Reinventing Commuter Rail for a Post-9-to-5 World

May 06, 2026 24m

Commuter rail is being reinvented—and at Virginia Railway Express (VRE), that shift starts with one big idea: becoming a true regional rail system.Katie Choe, CEO of VRE, joins Paul Comfort to…

S8E78 Transit Unplugged Insider: FTA Shakeups, Funding Cuts & What’s Coming Next

Apr 29, 2026 31m

In this quarterly Transit Unplugged Insider, Paul Comfort and Julie Gates break down the most important developments shaping public transportation right now—from Washington leadership changes to…

S8E77 How Tiffany Gunter Drove a 40% Ridership Increase on SMART’s Busiest Routes

Apr 22, 2026 35m Transcript

Tiffany Gunter, GM + CEO of Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, joins Paul Comfort to explain how SMART saw a 40% ridership increase on key high-volume corridors including…

S8E76 Safety, Strategy, and Career Paths — Transit Leaders Share It All Live from ThinkTransit

Apr 15, 2026 40m

How Transit CEOs Are Tackling Safety, Growth, and Leadership — Live from ThinkTransitThis week on Transit Unplugged, we take you live to Boston for a special CEO Roundtable recorded at the…

S8E75 How to Run a $1.3B Transit System: Denver RTD’s COO Breaks It Down

Apr 08, 2026 26m

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…

S8E74 How to Grow Transit Ridership Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels with Shofi Ull Azum

Apr 01, 2026 31m

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…

S8E73 Translating Transit Funding Into Real Service with Amanda Vandegrift

Mar 25, 2026 25m

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…

S8E72 Do Operators Make the Best Transit Leaders? Lessons from Michael Dylan Pal

Mar 18, 2026 33m Transcript

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort explores a question many transit agencies are asking today: Do operators make the best transit leaders?Paul’s guest, Michael Dylan Pal,…

S8E71 Safer Stations, More Riders: How St. Louis Cut Transit Crime by 50%

Mar 11, 2026 29m Transcript

Welcome to the first part of a series we're calling "The Doers"!Public safety is one of the most urgent issues facing transit systems today. In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort…

S8E70 Episode 400: Mark Miller on the Origins of Transit Unplugged — Plus a 10-Year Look Back

Mar 04, 2026 45m

In this special milestone episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort celebrates Episode 400 and nearly a decade of conversations with the leaders shaping public transportation around the…

S8E69 "Our Greatest Asset Is Our Employees”: Geisha Ester on Why Workforce Is the Future of Transit

Feb 25, 2026 24m

Transit’s future is all about people.In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort talks with Geisha Ester, Executive Director of the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University,…

S8E68 The Real Impact of Transit Research — and How to Use It for Your System

Feb 18, 2026 38m Transcript

Recorded live at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, this special episode of Transit Unplugged tackles a big question: Does research actually improve public transportation?Host Paul…

S8E67 “Raise Your Hand.” Bridgette Beato on Power, Mentorship, and Building Careers That Last

Feb 11, 2026 28m Transcript

Recorded live at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, this episode of Transit Unplugged features a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation with Bridgette Beato,…

S8E66 "We’re Really Hitting Our Stride.” Roger Harris, President of Amtrak ​

Feb 04, 2026 25m Transcript

On this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort is joined by Roger Harris, President of Amtrak, for an in-depth look at what’s driving momentum at America’s national railroad. Roger breaks down a…

S8E65 The Transit Guy’s 2026 Outlook: Automation, AI, Night Trains and More

Jan 28, 2026 32m Transcript

Transit Unplugged wraps a six-part “State of Transit” series to kick off 2026, Paul Comfort is joined by Hayden Clarkin — transportation engineer, mobility consultant, Mass Transit Magazine Top 40…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Transit Unplugged have?

Transit Unplugged has published 300 episodes since November 2020, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is Transit Unplugged still active?

Transit Unplugged is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 30m.

How do I contact Transit Unplugged for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Transit Unplugged, including email and social media links.

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