Shows
Disruption DriveOne Line to Move Them All: The Vision for Transit (Dan Grossman, Robert Baertsch, Line Mobility)A very special episode where I host Dan Grossman (ex-Zipcar, GM Ford Chariot) and Robert Baertsch (Line Mobility, ex-NASA) on an audacious vision to change transport without creating congestion. If you thought the Jetsons were a century away, think again. We talk: - What is Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)? How does it move more people? - How do we improve Transit infrastructure? Stations, signals and roads/rails? - Who is adopting these innovations as first movers? - What technological progress is making this change possible?
2025-11-1921 min
Disruption DriveA First Look at Autonomous Buses and Public Transit (Deniz Cetin, Karsan)I host Deniz Cetin, Chief Commercial Officer at Karsan. Karsan is revolutionizing public transit and has deployed the first ever autonomous buses on European and US roads. Watch this episode for a great discussion on: 1. Civilizational imperative of public Transport 2. Barriers to adopting public transport 3. Does size matter in buses? 4. Can the humble Bus be a greater Autonomous Vehicle than a Robotaxi? 5. What is the human in the loop for an Autonomous Bus? 6. Will sporting mega events - FIFA and the Olympics - create an...
2025-11-1324 min
Disruption DriveWhat Does it Mean to be a Mobility Company? (John Moon, Mochanix, Covesa, ex-Honda Innovation)I host the inimitable John Moon, a true expert on disruption to discuss what it means when a Manufacturer decides that they want to become a Mobility company: 1. What does Mobility mean as different from Manufacturing? 2. How does building Software differ from Manufacturing and what do companies get wrong when pursuing such approaches? 3. How does Autonomy change Mobility? 4. What lessons and parallels can we draw to the Smartphone era?Join us for another exciting episode once again
2025-11-0419 min
Disruption DriveWhat Freight and Logistics Can Teach Robotaxis (Mark Norman, FM Capital)I host the brilliant Mark Norman to talk about the massive commercialization going on in Freight and Logistics automation. Mark has worn every hat imaginable in Automotive - CEO, Operator and now a Venture Capitalist investing in the transportation ecosystem. We talk: 1. How do you contrast the adoption curves of Robotaxis with the equally profound disruptions in Freight? 2. What lessons translate from Freight to Robotaxis? 3. How does the "Human in the Loop" look for the new age? 4. What excites him about the disruptions in Logistics more broadly...
2025-10-2823 min
Disruption DriveIs Software Finally Eating the Vehicle? (Bhuvan Atluri, MIT Mobility Initiative)This week I host Bhuvan Atluri, of the MIT Mobility Initiative to discuss the history, present and future of Software Defined Vehicles. We talk about the implications of what the current trajectory of automotive manufacturing looks like: - How do SDVs help Automakers? - How are Suppliers adapting as a result? - What are the implications for Mechanics, Dealers and Technicians? - What new Business Models emerge in Cars? - What could possibly go wrong?
2025-10-2225 min
Disruption DriveHow Upshift Envisions Vehicle Access in an Autonomous World (With Ezra Goldman, Upshift)This week, I host Ezra Goldman, CEO and Founder of Upshift, a true mobility pioneer. Upshift is envisioning a world where a car comes to you, runs your errands, parks itself and is cleaned and maintained for you to use when you want - all for a monthly fee. After the many fitful starts for vehicle subscriptions, Upshift may just have gotten the business model and timing right in time for Autonomous Vehicles, Teleoperations and Fleet Connectivity. We talk: - The Future of Car Ownership - The Role of...
2025-10-2214 min
Disruption DriveHow to Build a Supply Chain For Zero Accidents? (Prof. Gad Allon, Wharton School)I host Prof. Gad Allon, of the Wharton School of Business to talk through how to build a Supply Chain and Organization when you aim at Zero Defects and Zero Deaths. When an entire industry and billions of dollars have gone in promising exponential benefits in safety, how can an organization tasked with that massive responsibility actually implement that vision? We talk: 1. Are Zero Deaths even realistic? 2. How can an organization design such a process? 3. Does a pursuit of Zero Defects hinder commercialization? 4. Are we entering a...
2025-10-2222 min
Disruption DriveHow to Build the Future of Transit for Megacities? (Anthony Trasatti, Ontra Mobility)I host Anthony Trasatti, one of the founders at Ontra Mobility, a Y Combinator backed disruptor aiming to help transport agencies plan routes, inventory, fleet and increase ridership for public transport. We talk about one of the world's biggest challenges - building affordable, accessible and sustainable public transit. We debate: 1. What trends are making this a unique time for public transit? 2. What is the core end goal for public transit? 3. Are rideshare and transit always in conflict? 4. How do Autonomous Vehicles affect their mission?
2025-10-2217 min
Disruption DriveHow Vontier Sees the Future of Fleet, Energy and Repair for Mobility 4.0? (Ganesh Kalpundi, Vontier)I host Ganesh Kalpundi, Chief Strategy Officer at Vontier. Ganesh spends his days thinking deeply about the implications of Mobility 4.0 and the evolution of fleet technology from data collection to advanced insights. We talk: 1. What is Mobility 4.0? 2. Why is the Convenience Store a core enabler for Transport infrastructure? 3. What does a Multi-Energy future look like? 4. How is Fleet Repair changing? Join us for a lively, deep discussion on Disruption Drive
2025-10-2222 min
Disruption DriveWill Multiple Winners Emerge With Robotaxis? ( Peter Fallon, Motional)I host Peter Fallon, Strategy Head at Motional. Peter spends his days thinking deeply about Commercialization in the Robotaxi industry. Incidentally, Motional was one of the earliest deployments of robotaxis ever - Las Vegas in 2022. We talk: 1. Is the industry too focused on Safety, to the exclusion of everything else? 2. How does Motional's unique Large Driving Model reduce cost of launch, through mapping and edge case modeling? 3. Is this industry a Winner Take All - and if not, what will the multiple players look like? 4. When is the true...
2025-10-2222 min
Disruption DriveA Zero to One Framework for Autonomous Vehicles (Rob Snyder, Harvard Innovation Labs)A unique, episode where I host Rob Snyder, one of the foremost practitioners of Zero to One thinking. Rob is a fellow of the Harvard Innovation Labs, a serial entrepreneur and ex-McKinsey. We apply some of his product market fit frameworks to think about Autonomous Vehicles. You don't have to be a Automotive nerd to listen to this one! Must listen.
2025-10-2220 min
Disruption DriveWill AVs Improve Gender Safety? (Samantha Lin - ex-Uber AV) and Katelyn Magney-Miller - PAVE)Does a driverless vehicle make women safer on the road? Drivers and Passengers. I am joined today by two phenomenal leaders in the Autonomous Vehicle industry, talking about an often overlooked but deeply critical issue in society. @Katelyn Magney-Miller and @Samantha Lin join me in this profound discussion debating the merits and demerits of the disruption in transport. 1. Is this an issue that gets adequate coverage from communities and government? 2. How do you actively design a product, for gender safety? 3. What are ethical concerns with designing a Product but pushing the...
2025-10-2219 min
Disruption DriveWhat makes an Autonomous Vehicle Safe? (Cameron Gieda, Fort Robotics, ex-Pony AI)Cameron Gieda is a leading thinker who has spent a career bringing deep innovations to market. Join us as we debate how an intangible benefit such as safety can be communicated to a customer.What makes an Autonomous Vehicle safe? When should a passenger feel that a car driven by a robot is actually safe enough. What happens when all the data in the world does not convince a passenger to "feel" safer?
2025-10-2223 min
Disruption DriveWhat can Rideshare Teach AVs (Dan Grossman, ex-Zipcar, ex-Maven, ex-Ford Chariot)I host Dan Grossman. Simply put, Dan has led ever major disruption in Mobility over the last 20 years. With stints at Zipcar, GM Maven, Cruise and Ford Chariot, Dan and I chat about the inflection point of Autonomous Vehicles in 2025. - How is 2025 turning out to be the inflection point for Autonomous Transport? What does increasing investor demand for Commercialization mean for Regulators, Cities and Passengers? What should OEMs and Operators keep in mind to avoid the pitfalls of Carsharing models like Car2Go and Maven? Who is going to own the Customer Experience?
2025-10-2224 min
Disruption DriveHow do Software Defined Vehicles Help Autonomy (Florian Rohde - iProcess ,ex-Tesla, ex-Nio)Distinguished Engineer Florian Rohde (ex-Tesla and ex-Nio), now Founder of iProcess Consulting shares deep insights on the Autonomous Vehicle technology suite: We talk: - Sensor Tradeoffs: What really separates Lidar, Cameras, Radar, Ultrasonics? How do Passenger Autonomous Vehicles differ from Delivery ones? Software Defined Vehicles: What is the car of the future going to look like? Why do Software Defined Vehicles push the envelope on Autonomy?
2025-10-2225 min
Disruption DriveThe Driver in the Driverless Car - Is Remote Driving the Next Big Gig? (Fabio Tylim, Guident)I host Fabio Tylim of Guident, market leaders in the world of remote monitoring and control of Autonomous Vehicles. When technology meets its limits, Guident provides human drivers - sitting many miles away to drive the vehicles. Join me in talking about one of the most important disruptions in the Mobility universe. What does a remote driver mean? What does it take to take control of an Autonomous Vehicle? How does it drive down cost of operations for a vehicle? How is AI changing remote driving?
2025-10-2221 min
Disruption DriveWhat Really Makes a Car Autonomous (Elinor Doubell, ex-BP)Join me as I host the peerless Elinor Doubell on what makes a Robot safe enough to travel the road while carrying people and goods We talk: What are the major components of an AV? When and how should an AV be deemed road safe? Is it better to retrofit or make an autonomous car from the ground up? Is Mapping becoming unnecessary and the cost of entry going down?
2025-10-2230 min
Disruption DriveIs Tesla Building a Potemkin Village (Michael Barnard, Futurist and Climate Scientist)I host one of the deepest thinkers I know in the AV space. Michael Barnard is peerless in how he applies scientific rigor, behavioral economics and engineering principles in breaking down the hardest problems in Autonomous Vehicles. We talk about: - How Tesla got the technical stack right originally but then blew it's lead - Why is a multi sensor approach so hard that only Google can pull this off? - The technical constraints that both Google and Tesla approaches face in robotics to hinder their scale - Is Tesla building a Potemkin village of perceived success? A must...
2025-10-2241 min
Disruption DriveOpportunities, Strategies and Disruptions in Autonomous Vehicles (Michael McGrath, PRTM & Author)Join me once again on Disruption Drive. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael McGrath, (Author of Autonomous Vehicles: Opportunities, Strategies and Disruptions, and ex-founder of PRTM). Michael is one of the finest minds thinking about passenger AVs and disruption. Listen on his take on what the future holds.
2025-10-2223 min
Disruption DriveHow AV Regulation is Affecting the Inflection Point for Driverless Cars (Adam Raviv, Sidley Austin, ex-NHTSA)I speak with Adam Raviv (Sidley Austin, ex-NHTSA) about the inflection point in AVs and how regulations are adapting to the new normal. We talk about the regulatory environment, what companies need to navigate and how it affects the playing field
2025-10-2241 min
The Urban EV PodcastRenting an EV? What's Autonomy Got To Do With It?What can the former head of global strategy at Avis Budget Group tell us about EVs and autonomous vehicles? It starts with learning from past mistakes.
In this episode of the The Urban EV Podcast, hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy welcome Hari Sripathi, founder of Mad Hatter Consulting to explore the inherent challenges and opportunities within the fleet mobility sector.
Hari shares insights from his extensive experience in the transformation of legacy car rental companies into the digital age, emphasizing the importance of user experience and timing in the adoption of electric vehicles. We also discuss the evolution and futu...
2025-06-1035 min
The Urban EV PodcastRenting an EV? What's Autonomy Got To Do With It?What can the former head of global strategy at Avis Budget Group tell us about EVs and autonomous vehicles? It starts with learning from past mistakes. In this episode of the The Urban EV Podcast, hosts Rob Hoffman and Scott Murphy welcome Hari Sripathi, founder of Mad Hatter Consulting to explore the inherent challenges and opportunities within the fleet mobility sector. Hari shares insights from his extensive experience in the transformation of legacy car rental companies into the digital age, emphasizing the importance of user experience and timing in the adoption of electric vehicles. We...
2025-06-0334 min