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.
Appears in 127 Episodes
MDOT State Maintenance Engineer Matt Dugas - July 2026
MDOT State Maintenance Engineer Matt Dugas joined The Extra Mile Podcast to break down the 2026 State Roadeo, emphasize the importance of MDOT crews as first responder...
Executive Director at Mississippi Children's Museum Emily Hoff
Continuing with our summer travel theme, Executive Director at Mississippi Children's Museum Emily Hoff joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about everything that's h...
MDOT Public Information Officer Anna Ehrgott
MDOT Public Information Officer Anna Ehrgott joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about the impacts of Tropical Storm Arthur (including why it's NEVER okay to remove ...
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill - June 2026
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk Highway 7 widening progress, managing the city's rapid growth, security plans for the biggest colleg...
Visit Mississippi Executive Director Rochelle Hicks
Visit Mississippi Executive Director Rochelle Hicks joined The Extra Mile Podcast to highlight prime Mississippi summer road trip locations. She also talked about Visi...
MDOT Chief Information Officer Ben Cohen
MDOT Chief Information Officer Ben Cohen joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about how the agency is using AI to boost efficiency, MDOT's Traffic Management Center a...
MDOT Public Information Officer Michael Flood
MDOT Public Information Officer Michael Flood joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about the importance of National Work Zone Awareness Week, highlight major projects...
Legislative Session 2026: MDOT Governmental Affairs Director Nick Lewis
MDOT Governmental Affairs Director Nick Lewis joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about his journey in politics, his day-to-day at the agency, MDOT's 2026 legislativ...
Legislative Session 2026: Delta Council Representatives Walton Gresham and Frank Howell
Delta Council representatives Frank Howell and Walton Gresham joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about reviving efforts to finish Interstate 69 in Mississippi, some...
Legislative Session 2026: Secretary to the MS Transportation Commission Amy Hornback
Secretary to the Mississippi Transportation Commission Amy Hornback joined The Extra Mile Podcast to share memorable stories from her 25 years at the agency, discuss h...
Legislative Session 2026: MDOT District Engineers Matt Dunn, Brian Childs, and Andy McNair
MDOT's District 1 Engineer Matt Dunn, District 2 Engineer Brian Childs, and District 3 Engineer Andy McNair joined The Extra Mile Podcast to recap the agency's respons...
Legislative Session 2026: State Representative Steve Massengill
State Representative Steve Massengill joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk Winter Storm Fern recovery, lottery funds for transportation, work zone safety and more.
Legislative Session 2026: Southern District Transportation Commissioner Charles Busby
The Extra Mile Podcast is back for another year! Thanks to Southern District Transportation Commissioner Charles Busby for hosting the podcast team at his home on the...
Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell & Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons
Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell and Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons joined The Extra Mile Podcast to recap a su...
MDOT State Safety Engineer Mark Thomas - November 2025
State Safety Engineer Mark Thomas joined The Extra Mile Podcast to provide updates on Highway Safety Division projects, discuss work zone safety efforts and even talk ...
MDOT Roadway Design Engineer Chris Nail
MDOT Roadway Design Engineer Chris Nail joined The Extra Mile Podcast to provide an overview of the division, explain the technical skills used in roadway design, disc...
Jackson Mayor John Horhn
Jackson Mayor John Horhn joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk progress on the city's infrastructure needs, how fighting crime means tackling a gang problem, the city'...
Mississippi State Auditor Shad White
State Auditor Shad White joined The Extra Mile Podcast. He talked about the responsibilities of the Office of the State Auditor, how technology helps to catch fraud, O...
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson - September 2025
On this episode of The Extra Mile, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson joins us to talk about the backbone of Mississippi—our f...
Construction Leadership Coach Craig Watson
Construction Leadership Coach Craig Watson of Coaching for Construction joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about the high rate of suicides in the construction indus...