Advertise on podcast: The DOT POD

This episode of the DOT POD talks about something every single employee experiences at some point in their career - learning. The New York State Department of Transportation's Learning & Development Bureau is the driving force behind this learning from leadership and professional development, to organizational improvement, mentoring, and educational partnerships. Josh and Anya welcome Assistant Bureau Director Kiersten Hall to the show to talk about what DOT is doing now, and what they plan on doing in the future.

In this episode of the DOT POD, we are looking at a project that is literally reshaping the heart of Syracuse and transforming how people are traveling through and around Central New York for generations to come...the I81 Viaduct Project. Construction has been underway for about three years now, with the project recently embarking on its second and final phase. Josh and Anya traveled to the Great New York State Fair to see the I-81 Viaduct Project display, and to meet with Betsy Parmley, the Regional Director for Central New York, including Syracuse.

This episode was recorded in the Science and Industry Building at the Great New York State Fair where the New York State Department of Transportation was giving visitors a chance to experience something they may or may not think about every day: what it's like to navigate an intersection from someone else's perspective. One of DOT's displays is all about empathy at intersections and it invites people to step outside their own experiences and see transportation as someone with different abilities or needs. With vision goggles, a wheelchair, and other interactive elements, visitors can get a better understanding of the challenges people may face while simply getting across the street. Joining Josh and Anya were Lynn Godek, Landscape Architect 1 with DOT's Office of Environment, Landscape Architecture Bureau, and Karen Lorf, Landscape Architect 2 with the Department's Office of Policy, Planning, and Performance.

Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people make their way to the Great New York State Fair. They come for the food, music, and rides, and if you've ever walked through the Science and Industry building, you've probably noticed one of the Fair's most interactive exhibits: the New York State Department of Transportation display. But what visitors don't see is the incredible amount of planning that goes into creating an experience that's fun, educational, and maybe even life saving. Our DOT exhibit gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the work that keeps New York moving every day. Josh and Anya are joined by two of the multitude of people who help create these displays, DOT's Director of Marketing and Multimedia Operations, Carol Breen, and Communications Specialist for DOT's Syracuse region and the I-81 Viaduct Project, Sabrina Betts.

New York's transportation network is one of the largest and most complex in the nation, connecting communities, supporting businesses, and helping millions of New Yorkers get where they need to go. And the investments we make today determine how that system will look tomorrow. From historic infrastructure funding, to workforce investments that keep our roads, and the people who build and maintain them, safe, Governor Kathy Hochul's Fiscal Year 2027 budget is helping DOT shape the future of transportation across New York. In this episode, Josh and Anya are breaking it all down with someone who knows this work inside and out, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.

Every day at DOT, thousands of employees are solving problems. Maintaining our roads and bridges, responding to emergencies, designing projects, and keeping New Yorkers moving. But as a new generation of employees steps forward, and many longtime employees prepare for retirement, how do we make sure all their knowledge doesn't leave with them? The answer is mentorship. Today we're talking about DOT's Mentorship Program, an effort that's connecting employees across the department to build an even stronger future. Josh and Anya welcome in Melissa Hardiman with DOT's Learning and Development Team, and Lee Gottfried, Assistant Director with the Office of Fleet Administration and Support to discuss the program. Current employees interested in being a part of the community can find out more information here.

The world's biggest sporting event is going on right now - the World Cup. Behind the scenes, months and years of planning have gone into making sure fans can get to where they need to go safely and efficiently...and DOT has played a major role in making that happen. In this episode of the DOT POD, Josh and Anya are joined by Ken Bibbins, DOT's Assistant Commissioner for Operations, and Matt Vasilow, Director of the department's Emergency Transportation Operations and Security Programs Bureau, to give us an insiders look into how DOT helped plan for this historic event, how we coordinated with various agencies, and what we learned from previous large scale events.

For a lot of people, DOT is not just a job - it's part of their family story. From watching their parents suit up to respond to storms, or hearing about projects at the dinner table, these are people who learned at a very young age that public service isn't glamorous, but it truly matters, and that's why they are proud to carry forward that tradition of service. In this episode, Josh and Anya spoke with one of these families as they welcomed in Dick Anger and his granddaughter Brittany Dudek who are a part of three generations here at the New York State Department of Transportation .

Engineering shapes nearly every aspect of our lives, including the roads and bridges we travel every day. At the New York State Department of Transportation, women engineers are leading major transportation projects, mentoring future professionals, and helping shape the future of transportation across our state. Every year on June 23rd, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers around the world and shines a spotlight on the opportunities engineering creates for future generations. In this episode, Josh and Anya are joined by two outstanding members of our engineering team who have built remarkable careers in public service: Adrienne LiBritz-Cooley is the Director of the Structures Specialty Engineering Bureau in DOT's Office of Structures, and Angelica Naumowicz, Design Squad Leader in the Office of Design.

Josh and Anya are in the City of Buffalo talking about Queen City Forward, an effort that's all about rethinking the future of transportation in Western New York, starting with the Kensington Expressway, also known as The 33. Joining the show are Queen City Forward Project Assistant Taje Jenkins-Jones, and Ryan Whalen, DOT's Public Information Officer for the Buffalo Region. Both are from Buffalo and are leading this outreach and engagement work.

This episode is all about those iconic structures that connect our communities - supporting our local economies and carrying motorists safely to their destinations every day. We're talking about bridges. Josh and Anya are in Buffalo to talk with two NYSDOT engineers who are each in charge of a significant bridge project in the region. Joining the show are Daryl Nolan, the Engineer in Charge for the replacement of the Route 20 Bridge over Cazenovia Creek, and Jen Freaney, the Engineer in Charge for the rehab project on the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge on I-86 over Chautauqua Lake.

What if the biggest threat to your workday wasn't an accident or traffic jam, but the equipment humming away on your desk? Today, we are pulling back the curtain on seemingly harmless workplace items and emails that are, in reality, attempts to steal not just your identity, but any kind of information that might prove valuable to bad actors. On this episode of the DOT POD, we are introducing you to DOT's Cyber Security Team. They comprise a major line of defense, working around the clock to safeguard or systems, protect sensitive data, and stay ahead of sophisticated cyberattacks. Josh and Anya are joined by DOT's Chief Information Security Officer Paul Centanni, and Cyber Security Analyst Fahad Ansar. For more information, reach out directly to the Cyber Security Team at [email protected].

This episode is launching during National Work Zone Awareness Week. A time to highlight the importance of work zone safety and to remember the men and women who have lost their lives while working to keep our roads maintained and safe. On March 17, 2006, Patrick Mapleson was filling potholes along Sunrise Highway on Long Island when a driver lost control of his cement truck and crashed into Pat's work zone, taking his life. This episode was recorded on March 17, 2026 on the same day a tree planting ceremony was held at DOT's Medford Yard on Long Island, marking the 20th anniversary of Pat's passing and honoring his life and legacy. Josh and Anya were joined by Pat's friend and co-worker Pete Bugala, who was on the job site that day, as well as Pat's daughter Karen Torres who has become an advocate for work zone safety.

On this episode of The DOT POD, Josh and Anya take a deep dive into one of the most ambitious and transformative transportation efforts currently underway in New York's Capital Region -Reimagining I-787. Greg Wichser and Kelley Kircher join the program to talk about the effort that not only addresses aging infrastructure along a major corridor from the City of Albany to the Community of Green Island, it also will provide safer vehicle and pedestrian access, and help to shape the future of the Capital Region for generations to come. To find out more visit the project website.

For newer snowplow operators, this winter season wasn't just busy - it was an opportunity and a masterclass in maneuvering plows in whiteouts and adapting to rapidly changing conditions. Josh and Anya traveled to Binghamton to sit down with one of DOT's newer snowplow operators, and one of their experienced instructors. Equipment Operator Instructor Ryan Ashman and Highway Maintenance Worker Cody Randel joined the show to talk about what this winter taught them.