Memphis – Ribs, Rides and Rock n’ Roll
Music, Mobility, and BBQ in the Heart of TennesseeJoin host Paul Comfort on an exciting exploration of Memphis, Tennessee, where music, mobility, and mouthwatering BBQ come together in perfect harmony. In this episode of Transit Unplugged TV, we meet Bacarra Mauldin, the interim CEO of the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), and discover refurbished streetcars from Melbourne, the Central Business District’s redevelopment around public transit, and upcoming BRT projects.
We’ll take you to the elegant Peabody Hotel for its famous duck march, tour the historic Sun Studios, and enjoy the vibrant Beale Street music scene. We wrap up with a visit to the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, comparing BBQ from Austin, Kansas City, and Memphis. Don’t miss this eclectic mix of culture, transit, and culinary delights in the heart of the birthplace of rock and roll!
Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com
Host: Paul Comfort
Producer: Paul Comfort
Music Composer/Supervisor: Jaime Cuadra
Sound Design: Jaime Cuadra
Director of Photography: Jaime Cuadra
Video Editor: Jaime Caudra
Executive Producer: Julie Gates
Special Thanks to:
Brand Design :Tina Olagundoye
Marketing Copy: Tris Hussey
Social Media : Tatyana Mechkarova
Intern: Des Gates
00:00 Welcome to Memphis: Ribs, Rides, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
01:16 Exploring Beale Street: The Heart of Memphis Music
02:23 Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Innovations and Operations with Bacarra Mauldin, Interim CEO
04:26 The Peabody Duck March: A Unique Memphis Tradition
4:55 MATA Bus Rapid Transit Plans with John Lancaster, MATA Chief Development Officer
05:56 How Do I Get There? Central Station: A Model for Transit-Oriented Development with John Lancaster, MATA Chief Development Officer, and Alex Turley, CEO of Henry Turley Company
9:22 Checking Out Memphis Micromobility
9:46 MATA Brain Central: Exploring the Control Center with Bacarra Mauldin, Interim CEO, and Robert Harris, Supt. of Operations and Command Center
10:52 Coming Up: Memphis in May
11:07 Rocking Out in Sun Studio
11:43 Cozy Corner BBQ Restaurant and Bacarra’s Transit History with Bacarra Mauldin, MATA Interim CEO
13:16 Role of Private Contractors in Public Transit Agencies with Brendan Matthews, RAPT Dev GM and MATA COO
14:27 Preventing Breakdowns Using Predictive Maintenance with Avery Mull, MATA Director of Fleet Maintenance
15:48 The Lorraine Motel / National Civil Rights Museum
16:12 The Hernando de Soto Bridge “Mighty Lights” Show
16:36 Memphis in May: World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest with Randy Blevins, VP Marketing Memphis in May
17:18 Memphis in May: Tasting True Memphis BBQ
17:59 Memphis in May: MATA’s Involvement as a Sponsor with Bacarra Mauldin, MATA Interim CEO
18:33 Memphis in May: Explaining the BBQ Competition with Tommy Wallace, MATA Sr. IT Manager
19:13 Memphis in May: Why Do Event Goers Call Memphis BBQ The Best?
19:41 Reflecting on Memphis: Music, Mobility, and BBQ Competition Finale