The Extra Mile Podcast | Transcript: Pilot Episode

June 21, 2021 • 2 Minutes

Pilot Episode

Introducing The Extra Mile podcast by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Co-hosts Paul Katool and Waverly McCarthy take listeners inside the world of transportation infrastructure in Mississippi.

Introducing The Extra Mile, a podcast by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

I’m MDOT Digital Media Manager Paul Katool, joined by my co-host MDOT Social Media Strategist Waverly McCarthy.

The Extra Mile podcast is aimed at taking you — Mississippi’s traveling public — behind the scenes of transportation infrastructure in the state.

There’s a lot of complex planning and work that goes into building that state-maintained road or bridge that you take to work every morning, to the grocery store or to cheer on your favorite Mississippi-based college football team. We want to tell you what it takes to get that work done and introduce you to the people that make it happen.

And we won’t be talking just roads and bridges. MDOT’s role when it comes to severe weather like winter weather and hurricane season will be discussed. Along with topics like work zone safety, legislation that affects the agency and our popular, punny digital interstate messages.

The Extra Mile podcast will have fascinating interviews with MDOT employees — from the men and women working hard each day on our roads to members of our leadership team and other decision makers. We’ll even talk to transportation infrastructure stakeholders outside of the agency.

We’re excited to get started. So buckle up. Subscribe now. And get ready for full episodes of The Extra Mile podcast coming soon.

And as always, remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.

Creators and Guests

Host

Paul Katool

Paul Katool joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Affairs Division in 2016 as the agency’s first Social Media Strategist. In 2019, he was promoted to Digital Media Manager, where he led the creation of MDOT’s nationally award-winning Extra Mile Podcast. In 2022, Paul assumed the role of Deputy Director of Public Affairs, which includes helping to run the day-to-day operations of the division.

Producer

Drew Hall

Drew Hall is an award-winning media producer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, bringing more than 15 years of experience in video production, photojournalism, podcasting, and public affairs communications. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an emphasis in Broadcasting, Drew began his career in television news as a photojournalist, working for WDBD Fox 40 and WJTV News Channel 12 in Jackson. During nearly 11 years in broadcast news, he covered breaking news, feature stories, and live events throughout Mississippi while developing the ability to tell compelling visual stories under tight deadlines. Drew joined MDOT in 2019, where his work has expanded from video production and photography to strategic communications, multimedia campaigns, podcast production, and production leadership. He serves as the producer and editor of The Extra Mile, MDOT’s podcast featuring conversations with transportation leaders, engineers, policymakers, and other voices connected to Mississippi’s transportation system. His work has received recognition from organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC). His honors include awards for The Extra Mile, “Don’t Trash Mississippi,” “I-269: Five Years of Economic Boom,” and MDOT Remembers Hurricane Katrina. In his current role, Drew oversees photographer scheduling and production logistics, helps manage the division’s digital media assets and archiving systems, and coordinates drone compliance and operations. He is an Adobe Certified Professional in Digital Video using Premiere Pro and an FAA-licensed remote pilot. Drew’s passion is using video, photography, audio, and storytelling to make complex subjects accessible, connect organizations with their audiences, and showcase the people and stories behind Mississippi’s transportation system.