🎙️ Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — Featuring Bernie Wagenblast
Episode theme: The voice behind NYC transit, the craft of clear communication, and how technology (AI, autonomy, digital media) is reshaping transportation—and our daily lives.
Guest: Bernie Wagenblast — veteran broadcaster, transportation communications pioneer, and the iconic voice riders hear across New York’s subway platforms and transit systems.
🔎 Episode Summary
From a fifth-grade dream of radio to becoming the friendly voice guiding millions on the New York City Subway, Bernie shares how she built a career at the intersection of broadcasting, transit, and public service. We talk:
The evolution from live traffic reporting to platform announcements and public information systems
The editorial discipline behind daily transportation newsletters & podcasts
Transitioning publicly and thoughtfully reintroducing her voice and story
What’s next in mobility: autonomy, safety tech, and human-centered comms
💡 What You’ll Learn
How to craft messages that reduce confusion and anxiety in complex systems
The hidden editorial workflow behind “simple” rider information
Why tone (even a “smile in your voice”) changes how people experience a brand
Practical realities of personal brand and public transition
Where transportation communication is headed (AI, AVs, safety, transit loyalty)
🧭 Chapters
Bernie’s radio origin story
From traffic reporter to transit voice
How platform announcements are actually built
Newsletters & niche media that last
Personal brand, transition, and voice work
The future of transportation communication
Advice for communicators and founders
🔗 Links & Resources
Contact Bernie: [email protected]
CBS Mornings – “Note to Self” (Bernie’s letter to her 18-year-old self):
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/note-to-self-bernie-wagenblast-a-transgender-woman-shares-story-to-her-18-year-old-self/
In Transit (Short Film):
https://www.intransit.nyc/short-film
👤 About Bernie Wagenblast
Bernie is the founder of the Transportation Communications Newsletter and host/producer behind multiple transportation podcasts. Her voice is heard on NYC’s numbered subway lines, Newark AirTrain, and other systems. She’s recognized for making complex information feel clear, calm, and human.
🧰 Key Takeaways
Clarity is kindness: Simple, friendly phrasing reduces friction for riders and customers.
Editorial discipline wins: Aggregation, selection, and tone matter as much as raw info.
Tech is a tool, not a replacement: AI and autonomy can boost safety and service—keep humans at the center.
📈 About MarketSurge
At MarketSurge, we help founders and brands turn tools into systems—and systems into growth. If you want automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/