What does Paul Comfort like to do in his free time?

First, his professional life: Paul Comfort has spent over 30 years managing multiple transit operations and in business development. He was CEO of the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and has authored six best-selling books on public transportation, including the new Amazon #1 best seller, The New Future of Public Transportation. He is the host and producer of the "Transit Unplugged" podcast and serves as SVP and Chief Customer Officer for the transit technology company, Modaxo.

What do you like best about your current city of residence?

I’ve lived here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for most of my life. It keeps me close to the action in major cities like D.C./Baltimore/Philadelphia and allows my family to enjoy easy living on the Chesapeake Bay. Plus, all my kids live here.

Favorite places to travel?

I get to travel all over the world in my job as brand ambassador for Modaxo. Lately my favorite cities to visit are Nashville in the U.S. and Barcelona internationally. Both have amazing food, music, culture and public mobility.

Paul, with his six children, during a beach retreat

I also love beach cities like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Delray Beach, Florida. Once a year, we gather our entire family for a week at the beach in a big beach house. It’s great fun and keeps all 19 of us (kids, spouses and grandchildren) connected.

Favorite food?

Pizza, although I’m trying to stay off it now as I venture into the low carb/keto lifestyle. Too bad, I miss it. But as they say, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Now I eat a lot of protein and try to integrate healthy vegetables and lots of water into my diet.

Favorite current TV shows?

Always “Survivor.” I am a long-time viewer and enjoy the social interaction and competition. I even tried out for it one time. Also, I like other streaming shows on YouTube like "Mr. Beast" and "Transit Unplugged TV"!

If you had to watch one movie multiple times, what would it be?

Two of my favorites are comedies — “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” — both of which I’ve watched multiple times.

On stage recently playing keyboards and belting out Billy Joel tunes

What book are you currently reading?

Losing and Finding My Virginity by Sir Richard Branson, the story of this global entrepreneur’s life and business career. I love autobiographies and self-improvement books. I try to read at least a dozen a year. Sometimes I listen to them on Audible.

If you had to read one book multiple times, what would it be?

The Bible, and I have.

Favorite podcasts?

I love “On Fire with Jeff Probst,” the official Survivor TV podcast. I also have been listening to “Smartless," with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, “Revisionist History” with Malcolm Gladwell, “The History of Curb Your Enthusiasm” and, of course, our own show, "Transit Unplugged." I like to be entertained and informed on podcasts. I try to make our show like that and love listening to other pods that take me behind the scenes of shows I enjoy or important events.

I enjoy producing and hosting the "Transit Unplugged" podcast, which involves identifying the guests, doing pre-interviews, visiting them in person or taping the conversation online and befriending them. I now have done more than 300 interviews on the podcast over the past seven years and count most guests as good friends. I also love the live Transit Unplugged CEO Roundtables we host at conferences around the world. There’s nothing like the thrill of being live on stage and shining a positive light on these executives who give so much of themselves to their communities.

Favorite ways to stay active?

With his son, Daniel, at a U2 concert at Sphere in Las Vegas

I like to walk our dog Marcie in the afternoon sun. She’s a little Shih Tzu, and I just love her. We also golf often, take bike rides when it’s warm and I enjoy swimming. When the kids and grandchildren come over, we play catch and basketball.

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Watching space science fiction shows like the many iterations of "Star Trek" and "Star Wars," and I just finished the second season of "Halo," which is amazing by the way.

Also, I have hosted pretty regular men’s poker nights for my neighborhood and always enjoy the camaraderie.

Favorite transit system?

Well, I’m sure you’ve heard it said — “If you’ve seen one transit system and you’ve seen one transit system” because they are all so unique. I get the honor of visiting and touring many of them, more than 80 systems around the world in the past seven years, maybe more than anyone alive. Each one is special.

I was very impressed with Melbourne, Australia’s system with great, free streetcar service downtown, when I visited several years ago. Vancouver, B.C., also has a fantastic system, in another great city. Here in the U.S., I’ve used WMATA’s (Washington D.C.) system scores of times in my life and always been pleased with its functionality and ease of use. But I think the stand-out system globally for me right now is TfL, Transport for London. It has it all and has had some amazing leaders. TfL led the global move to tapless fare cards and seems hardwired into the fabric of the city.

Paul recently tried his hand at stand-up comedy at the Gypsy Coffee House in Tulsa, Okla.

Special mention: When I visited China, I got to ride the Shanghai maglev high-speed rail, and it was stunning. And lately, I’ve had amazing experiences riding Florida’s Brightline trains. This is how railroading should be done in America. Looking forward to their expansion to Southern California/Vegas out west and beyond.

What would surprise people to learn about you?

I love singing and playing music. I’ve had a band, we toured and made a record back in college. I’ve been able to play piano in church, on stage with my son’s band and in railway stations around the world.

What do you think you would be doing, if you didn't work in public transportation?

My passions have always been music, media and politics/government. I’ve been able to work in all three areas at a high level and my current job permits me to blend all three. So, if I wasn’t doing this, I would most likely dive headlong into one or more of them to explore and expand my impact on the world for good through them. I also hope to begin lecturing at a university on transportation matters.

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