Best CLevel Podcast Podcasts (2025)

1
Green Hydrogen and CEO Hiring Secrets in America’s Most Livable City 26:54

6d ago26:54

26:54

What does it take to build a transit system that powers a city—and wins global recognition for livability? In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Ryan Daniel, CEO of St. Cloud Metro Bus, and Dave Kleis, Board Chair and former mayor of St. Cloud, Minnesota, share how their long-running partnership has driven bold innovation and national recognition. …

1
Detroit Transit: Robert Cramer on the People Mover, Fare-Free Service, and Urban Mobility 24:22

13d ago24:22

24:22

When most people think of Detroit, they think cars. But behind the Motor City moniker is a layered, multi-agency public transit system—and Robert Cramer is helping connect the dots. As Executive Director of Transit for the City of Detroit, Cramer leads both DDOT and Detroit Transportation Corporation, operator of the iconic elevated People Mover. I…

1
From Amtrak to Annapolis: Markus Moore’s Lifetime Career in Transit 21:37

20d ago21:37

21:37

Markus Moore, Director of Transportation for the City of Annapolis, joins Paul Comfort from the rooftop of the Hillman Garage during Naval Academy Commissioning Week for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable journey through transit. From helping launch high-speed rail in North America as part of the Acela project at Amtrak, to managing l…

1
Ozzy Gibson’s Unconventional Road to Transit Leadership 23:12

27d ago23:12

23:12

How does a career in law enforcement, animal services, and civic leadership prepare you to run a transit agency? In this week’s Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort sits down with Ozzy Gibson, Executive Director of Louisville’s Transit Authority of River City (TARC), for a candid and compelling conversation about public service, accountability, and…

1
On the Bus with Coree Cuff Lonergan: Building Broward’s $4B Transit Future 20:03

1M ago20:03

20:03

What does it take to launch a $4.3 billion, multi-modal transit expansion? For Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO of Broward County Transit, it takes vision, momentum—and a bit of patience. This week on Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort hops aboard with Coree for a rolling bus interview through Broward County, Florida. They talk big-picture leadership, bo…

1
Taking The RIDE: How Michele Stiehler is Elevating Paratransit at MBTA 27:20

1M ago27:20

27:20

Michele Stiehler knows paratransit inside and out. After 35 years at New Jersey Transit, she brought her deep operational experience to Boston’s MBTA, where she now oversees one of the largest and most complex paratransit systems in the country. In this episode, Paul Comfort talks with Michele about her leadership philosophy, the importance of fron…

1
From 0 to 200: Jeremi Bumpus on Building 207 New Bus Stops with Tech and Tenacity 29:17

2M ago29:17

29:17

What happens when a millennial with a higher ed background takes the wheel of a legacy transit agency? You get 207 new bus stops, a real-time tracking app, and a fresh vision for Western Kentucky mobility. In this episode of Transit Unplugged Podcast, Paul Comfort talks with Jeremi Bumpus, Executive Director of Paducah Transit Authority, about lead…

1
Leading Transit on Three Continents: Graeme Legh on Growth, Innovation, and Kelsian’s Future 26:57

2M ago26:57

26:57

In this episode of Transit Unplugged Podcast, Paul Comfort talks with Graeme Legh, the new CEO of Kelsian Group, one of the world’s leading transit and mobility operators. From ferries off the coast of Australia to motorcoach operations across the U.S., Graeme shares how Kelsian is tackling growth, innovation, and sustainability across three contin…

1
From Operator to Officer: Dwight Ferrell on Leading SMART Transit Across Southeast Michigan 26:24

2M ago26:24

26:24

From driving a bus in Dallas to leading one of the largest transit systems in the Midwest, Dwight Ferrell’s story is the blueprint for leadership rooted in experience. In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort rides along with Dwight, General Manager of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), for a candid …

1
Moving the Masses: M.J. Maynard on the Power of Las Vegas Transit’s One-of-a-Kind Agency Model 31:16

2M ago31:16

31:16

This week on Transit Unplugged, Paul visits Las Vegas to talk with M.J. Maynard, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). From managing traffic for massive events like the Las Vegas Marathon and Formula 1, to running one of the busiest bus-only transit systems in the U.S., M.J. gives us a behind-the-scenes look at wha…

1
From Hydrogen to the World Cup: John Rossant on the Future of Mobility 30:14

3M ago30:14

30:14

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort sits down with John Rossant, founder and CEO of CoMotion, to explore what’s next for cities, transit, and technology. From preparing for mega-events like the World Cup to pioneering hydrogen-powered aviation, John shares how CoMotion is helping shape the future of urban mobility—with a pasta recipe…

1
Texas Transit Trends: Live from the Texas Transit Association Conference in McAllen 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

Please subscribe to our newsletter! This week on Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort hosts a special episode recorded live at the 2025 Texas Transit Association Conference in McAllen, Texas. In this roundtable, Paul speaks with five accomplished Texas transit leaders about the realities of running transit systems across Texas—from expansive rural regio…

1
Optimal Mix: Light Rail vs. Bus Rapid Transit with Professor Niels van Oort 38:34

3M ago38:34

38:34

Join Paul Comfort on this episode of Transit Unplugged for an insightful conversation with Professor Niels van Oort, Associate Professor of Public Transport and Shared Mobility at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and co-director of the Smart Public Transport Lab. Paul and Niels explore critical considerations in transit planning, i…

1
Mobility Redefined: Exploring Global Transit Trends with Dr. Kaan Yildizgöz 36:10

3M ago36:10

36:10

In this special episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort welcomes Dr. Kaan Yildizgöz, host of Mobility Redefined, the new sister podcast of Transit Unplugged. Dr. Yildizögz, a leading global expert in public transportation and former senior director at UITP, shares his personal journey into transportation, driven by childhood memories in his fath…

1
Exploring Tucson's Transit Future with Mikel Oglesby 37:09

3M ago37:09

37:09

Take a behind-the-scenes look at Tucson, Arizona’s SunTran transit system with General Manager Mikel Oglesby. Host Paul Comfort and Mikel explore the city’s transit modes, budget, and future projects, including the innovative Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans. Discover Mikel's unique journey in public transit, from his childhood riding buses with his f…

1
Inside Amtrak: Growth, Modernization, and High-Speed Rail with CEO Stephen Gardner 35:20

4M ago35:20

35:20

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort interviews Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, at their Washington, DC headquarters. They discuss Amtrak's record ridership of 32.8 million passengers in the past year, recent capital investments totaling $4.5 billion, and the introduction of new Acela trains. Gardner shares insights into Amtrak's…

1
A Lifetime in the Business of Moving People with Tom Drozt 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

After decades at transit agencies across the U.S., Tom Drozt decided at 56 to retire, spend time with his family, work on his yard, and find some new passions to put his energy into. Turns out transit is his passion, so before long he was out of retirement and at MARTA in Atlanta running bus operations. Now the CEO of Ben Franklin Transit in Southe…

1
Brisbane’s Dynamic Transit System with City Councillor Ryan Murphy 18:57

4M ago18:57

18:57

In this episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort interviews Ryan Murphy, the Chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee in Brisbane, while riding one of Brisbane’s famous CityCat ferries to talk about the vibrant and evolving transit system in this river city. Episode Highlights: CityCat Ferries: Discover the unique CityCat ferry servic…

1
Electrifying Chile’s Transport: A Conversation with Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz 38:37

4M ago38:37

38:37

This is a special episode of Transit Unplugged from our sister podcast, Mobility Redefined. Learn more about this great new show on their website: https://mobilityredefined.com/. Below are the original show notes for the episode: In this episode of Mobility Redefined, host Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz speaks with Juan Carlos Muñoz, Chile’s Minister of Transp…

1
Australian Women in Public Transport 39:36

4M ago39:36

39:36

In this special episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort and co-host Kelly Chapman highlight the inspiring stories of four remarkable women leaders in Australian public transport. This is the third of five episodes coming from Paul’s recent 10-day tour of Australia. Don’t forget to also check out Transit Unplugged TV on YouTube for the TV episode…

1
Transportation Shakeup: New Rules that Could Impact TNCs 33:25

5M ago33:25

33:25

In 2016, Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), had an idea. What if subsidized rides with Transportation Networking Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft could help people in his community get where they needed to go. What if you could get a subsidized Uber ride at the end of your overnight shift when regular transit isn…

1
Imposter Syndrome: The Confidence Killer You Didn’t See Coming 29:33

5M ago29:33

29:33

Send us a text Ever felt like you're not good enough despite all your achievements? You’re not alone! Whitney and Ashlie dive deep into imposter syndrome, exploring how it manifests in both men and women, the different ways it affects career growth, and personal experiences that bring it to life. They discuss startling statistics—like how 75% of wo…

1
Transforming Australia’s Railways with Steve Butcher 21:05

5M ago21:05

21:05

In this week’s episode, host Paul Comfort sits down with Steve Butcher, Executive General Manager of Rail and Transport for John Holland. Paul and Steve caught up at the AusRail conference in Brisbane while Paul was on his 10-day tour of Australia. Steve shares his extensive career journey, starting at British Rail at age 16 all the way up to his c…

1
Ned Freeman and UZURV Helping Communities One Ride at a Time 29:24

5M ago29:24

29:24

Ned Freeman joins host Paul Comfort to talk about UZURV and how it's changing how paratransit is delivered in the U.S. UZURV is an adaptive Transportation Network Company (TNC) that gives transit agencies more options for delivering paratransit in their communities. Ned and Paul talk about how UZURV uses its technology to offer on-demand, ADA compl…

1
Sink or Swim: Navigating Leadership Choices 29:07

5M ago29:07

29:07

Send us a text What’s the hardest decision you’ve had to make, and how did it shape the future? Whitney and Ashlie dive deep into the art of decision-making, whether it’s about navigating family holidays, dealing with toxic relationships, or making multi-million-dollar business investments. They explore the complexities of balancing leadership, col…

1
How the FTA Supports Transit Across the U.S. with Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool 32:35

5M ago32:35

32:35

In a Transit Unplugged exclusive, Paul talks with Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) about the inner workings of the FTA, how the Regional Administrators help set priorities and connect agencies with funding, the transformative developments in public transportation over the past four years, and Ver…

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