METRO: Think Outside the Bus

Join Tatia and Molly as they discuss with some of METRO's leadership team about being honored as the Outstanding Public Transportation System in the country. This award is for every single team member and the METRO community and we are super proud. Mic drop...nope, don't drop that mic, Molly likes it too much!

This week we talk with Caitlyn Conley of the Akron History Center. Mickey Mouse gas masks, the modern silver screen, the marble fields of Akron, and Dum Dum suckers are few tidbits in this surprising episode. Just WOW!!!

Downtown Akron is poppin' and the Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is the reason why! Join us as we discuss all things downtown Akron with Dominic Caruso, Communications Director of DAP. What is DORA? A punk rock flea market? Dancing? Akron has it all! Grace and Kyle talk about pickles, a pickle crime, about sandwiches, and and so much more. You never know with these two!

This week we chat with the Planning Department on route and service changes starting Sunday, August 17, with more frequency, some earlier hours and more! Also, is it DAYta or DAta, why is planning hanging out with horses, and where is Molly escaping to and is it because she is spicy?

Join us as we chat with Director of Marketing & Events Elena Bell from the Akron Zoo. We learn about bears who topor, (wait, what?), a new baby white-cheeked gibbon, dinosaurs galore, and join us for the Last Mile with Grace & Kyle and their humorous take on the zoo and the Dino Trek exhibit.

This week we chat it up with Eleni Manousogiannakis, Executive Director of Better Kenmore CDC. From First Fridays and holiday events, sparking new business growth, and honoring the past the Better Kenmore CDC is on the move and have become known as Music Row here in Akron. Tune in to hear about all they have to offer and what is happening!

This week we sit down with Alexandra VukoderChief Advancement and Communications Officer with the Akron Art Museum and learn about the current exhibit She Said, She Said. We also dive into all the museum does in and for the community, how you can rent art, chat about Linda (Akron's Mona Lisa) and the Big Pink Q. Grace and Kyle explored the galleries with Jenee Garlando and talk about their experiences. They learned that they like art, wonder if they are like a TedTalk, question insurance options in museums, and discovered TouchPoints on the art.

This week Molly and Tatia chat up the '80s, as that's the theme for this year's Free Fare Weekends on METRO Direct. Jelly shoes were the equalizer and the true start of leveling the playing field and, yes, your mix tape skills were being judged. Tatia was a little punk rock in her hair style and Molly rocked the big Aquanet hair. Then Grace and Kyle's Last Mile takes a look at the Cowbell 7k, Kenmore's vibe, at Pierre's Pizza (Wait... water chestnuts on a pizza?), and police boots become quite the conversation.

This week we are chatting with Robert DeJournett, METRO Board of Trustee & now President of the newly formed Black Chamber of Commerce. Robert speaks of his obsession with all things METRO and buses, community outreach, and how he is helping to fill in the gaps for black and minority owned businesses in the Summit County area. Join us as we find out how he is always watching out for buses, our riders, and how he is creating more opportunities for business owners right here in our community.

This week we talk with former METRO Operator and now City of Akron Ward 5 Councilman Johnnie Hannah. The interview takes place in Northside Marketplace, in his ward, and we chat about his career path, some of his focus as a councilman, and how men should listen to women...yes! Also, on the Last Mile with Grace & Kyle they explore the marketplace and talk about all it has to offer, the validity of a green apple and... wait...there's a cat!

Join Tatia and Molly for a chat with John M. Williams, CEO of the Akron Urban League. The Akron Urban League has a rich history in Akron and programming for its community that is second to none. The Akron Urban League is in its 100th year and they are reaching out and listening to the community to recreate themselves and to further help meet the needs of the Akron community now and into the future.

This week we chat with Claire Merrick from Summit Metro Parks. From a new park on the horizon, events for every single person imaginable, to ginormous muscles (say what) and fairy shrimp (crazy!) we hear about all the things surrounding all the beauty in the parks right here in our own backyard. Then Grace and Kyle head out to a Summit METRO Park and chat about their experience and discuss pets looking like their humans and a just remembered college experience brought on by nature's beauty. Wait, is that a duck?

Baseball season is here and Molly and Tatia talk with Nick Bello from the Akron RubberDucks about all things RubberDucks. From mascots, to extreme foods, to partnerships, and game day fun there is something for everyone at a RubberDucks game. Then take a listen to Grace & Kyle discuss hot dogs, the food options, and how ranch dressing is America, but American cheese on a hot dog? Nope!

Join us for a chat about the arts in our area with Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow. From fiber art dragons, collaging, writing, and safe, vibrant public spaces this week's episode tackles all the artful topics. Perfection in your art or just enjoy the process? Do you journal? Nicole is ready to have her journals locked down and Tatia and Molly are on the case. Akron and the surrounding areas are hoppin' and poppin' with all kinds of art and ArtsNow is that connective tissue to making our community more creatively alive.

Join us for an interview with the organizers of the Black Family Wellness Expo being held in Akron and around the country on Saturday, March 15, 2025. This family friendly event has something for everyone. The Links Incorporated, Kent Area Chapter, are the organizers and have a rich history of movers and shakers making the world a better place.

Join us for a chat with Kenny Lambert who personally discovered it is never too late to turn your life around. He has gone from a life of addiction, to recovery, to winning an Emmy, to making an impact in his community. And in a Moment of Grace find out from others what they deem is never too late to start.

Join us for a chat with Mark Greer, the Executive Director of Akron's 200th Bicentennial. Tune in to learn about all the happenings around town (and there are many), find out how you can be involved, and what events you want to attend. Also, listen to the new segment, The Last Mile with Grace & Kyle where they chat about Akron, the Roo Express, and conduct a brief spelling bee of the word bicentennial!

Join us this week when we meet up with on-air personality Keith Kennedy from 98.1 WKDD. We discuss the annual radiothon, recycled trees, falling out of chairs, driving buses, and those darn PINKY puppets!

Today we are chatting about 2024! There are awards, ridership is soaring, and METRO is Community Driven. And will someone please get Molly a new office space?

Join the METRO team as they discuss a new service METRO NEXT in the southern part of Summit County, part of the ongoing Reimagine METRO service redesign.

Join us this week for a chat with Operator Waymon Brown. He talks about being in our largest operator class and his work in the community with YEPAW, inspiring the youth of today through performances and spiritual outreach.

From basketball, to bikes, to being a resource for families at the holidays, South Street Ministries in making a difference in the Summit Lake Community. Join us for a conversation with Joe Tucker and get a glimpse into all South Street is doing!

This week we met up with Tawanda from METRO's Customer Care Center. She is one of the friendly voices you hear when you call to schedule a METRO Select trip, looking for information, or need to know what route is best on METRO Direct. Her enthusiasm shines each time that phone rings!

Today, we chat with METRO's Finance Department and what it takes for a vendor to conduct business with METRO. We buy everything from paperclips to buses and there is a process and some tips to be successful. Also, with the holidays upon us we re-visit the HOLIDAY DECORATING WARS between METRO departments, because Finance has won the last two years...ugh! We mean, congratulations to them!

METRO is Community Driven each day when it hits the road. METRO also reaches out to the community in a variety of ways, especially around this time of the year. Meet Dietra, a METRO Transit Police Officer, and learn how she is helping METRO's transit-loyal riders and others.

Do you have a workplace "spouse?' At METRO, there are numerous workplace spouses, just like any other workplace. And just like spouses, they bicker, they laugh, they help each other out, and sometimes they divorce and move on. Tatia interviews a group of workplace spouses and friends at METRO and examines her own quest for a spouse at work.

Molly and Tatia are in Anaheim, California for a national conference and interview Dean Harris from Western Reserve Transit Authority. WRTA is getting ready to test an Autonomous bus, but before that discussion, Dean and Molly discuss their divorce from being work spouses and Tatia is questioning her work spouse trust issues. And Grace, well, just listen!

Tatia and Molly talk with community leader Tara Mosley Weems about her Women Supporting Women event at Hardesty Park on September 21, 2024. There will be live entertainment, speakers, vendors, and women owned business to support throughout the day. Let's go!

The Akron PRIDE March and Festival is Saturday, March 24th and METRO is a proud sponsor of the festival and has a group of the METRO team in the March. Join Molly and Tatia as they discuss with PRIDE organizer and volunteer, Phil Montgomery, how Pride got started, how it's grown over the years, and what to expect this year. Just another way we are CommUNITY Driven!

Join Tatia and Molly this week as we talk with Forever R Children about their new shower bus for the unhoused. Talk about thinking outside the bus, or inside the bus really! There is some lollygagging talk with Eric during our Moment of Grace and Jarrod tackles the three S's and some non-negotiables in the world of showering!

Tatia and Molly meet with the dynamic owner of Srina Tea House & Cafe, located near METRO's administrative offices on Kenmore Blvd. Srina is changing the way you look at organic foods and teas and is helping with the Kenmore Blvd revitalization efforts. Can you say chicken & waffles? YUM!

Join Tatia & Molly for a chat with the Akron NAACP President Judi Hill. They delve into voter registration and the power of your vote. Remember, METRO Direct is FREE on election day in November!

Join us this week as we learn about what it takes to be a bus operator (did Molly say "all up in your grill?") and learn how to apply. Find out about METRO's hiring event where you can stop by to test drive a bus!

Akron Summit County Public Library (ASCPL) and METRO sit down to talk about all the happenings in the world of the ASCPL. From Library On the Go, to the story machine, a 150th anniversary, and Elmo cake pans the library has reinvented itself and is Thinking Outside the Book! (see what we did there?)

This week we are honored to welcome the Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. We discuss women in transit, safety, transit oriented development, transit career paths and hiring, and system redesigns. Join us on this look at transit from a national and local perspective.

Welcome Nate to METRO's Planning Department. As the new Director Nate is ready for the challenges of transit planning and the many benefits transit offers to make communities vibrant. Also, what is your favorite plant or flower...Nate wants to know, based on his past career. Hmmmm?

Join us as we talk about Earth Day and how public transit is green each and everyday, just by taking cars off the road... and so much more!

This week we are discussing the The Domino Effect, a new initiative to recognize METRO team members and sponsored by Dominos Pizza. We also have a moment of Grace on what pizza topping people like. YUMMY!

Meet Shawn, METRO's Chief of Police. Find out how he got started and how his approach to policing is creating a community inside and outside METRO buses. Also, find out who are some of our favorite cops and detectives on tv and in the movies.

The sound of METRO is this week's episode. Listen to radio spots over the years promoting METRO's events and services. Hear a never before heard spot, two controversial radio spots, and hear from a guitar playing bus rider who creates his own music and plays the guitar, sometimes while riding. >>>Look up Adonis Boyd on Spotify to hear more of this METRO rider's music.

METRO and its team members give back both professionally and in their personal lives. Take a listen to team members who are making a difference. Bambi is always on the go and Robin created alldogs.net to help fund the needs of shelter dogs.

Learn about METRO's Mechanic Apprentice Program, toddler sized wrenches, if Molly has ever driven a bus, and hear about the first jobs of others in our community.

Interview with CFO Angie Neeley-Awards for Finance Excellence...and DECORATING?

2023 Recap with METRO CEO Dawn Distler

METRO changed routes on 6/4/2023. Learn how it's going and ever evolving!

Let's learn about METRO's Summit Stories and where our transit-loyal riders are going this week!

Premier episode of Think Outside The Bus podcast.