PAVEcast: A conversation about autonomous vehicles

Hosted by Partners for Automated Vehicle Education

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Episodes

142

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

PAVEcast is the official podcast of Partners for Automated Vehicle Education, a nonprofit coalition working to raise the level of public knowledge about autonomous vehicle (self-driving car) technology. Join us for a conversation about the future of transportation. You can find us @PAVECampaign on social media or on the web at www.pavecampaign.org.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 10, 202620 min

Economic Engine: The Future of Autonomous Trucking with Matt Blackburn of Aurora

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we interview Matt Blackburn of Aurora on the findings of a recent Steer Group study highlighting the economic benefits of the autonomous trucking sector. Tune in for a discussion on the importance of separating fact from fiction, the future of the trucking workforce, and real-world consumer impacts. Further Reading:Read the study Learn about the US AV Jobs Coalition

June 3, 202630 min

AV Engagement in Action: Lessons from Minnesota's AV Day at the Capitol

Earlier this spring, PAVE and Stantec partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to host an educational and experiential AV Day at the Capitol for state policymakers and other community leaders. Tune in for a conversation exploring the public sector’s role in AV education and engagement, using Minnesota’s recent event as a case study. Speakers include Tara Andringa of PAVE, Thomas Johnson-Kaiser and Tara Olds of MnDOT, and Greg Rodriguez of Stantec.

May 14, 202631 min

Under Construction: Challenges and Opportunities for AVs in Work Zones

For autonomous vehicles (AVs) and human drivers alike, work zones present complex driving environments. Shifting lane markings, outdated map data, and the presence of human workers can make operating in these dynamic conditions especially challenging. Tune in for a conversation exploring how the AV industry is addressing these challenges and what opportunities lie ahead.

April 30, 202631 min

How's My Driving? AV Safety, Human Drivers, and Public Trust

With AVs gaining visibility across the country, many people are asking how their safety compares to that of human drivers. But is a human the right benchmark for safe driving? Tune in for a conversation to explore this topic. Panelists include Michelle Fowler of TRC, Kristofer Kusano of Waymo, and Michael Wagner of Edge Case.

April 24, 202615 min

Substantiating Safety: A Look at AVSC's Best Practice on Safety Case Claims

In October 2025, the Autonomous Vehicle Safety Consortium (AVSC) published a best practice on assessing AV safety case claims supported by evidence. In this episode of the PAVEcast, we sat down with AVSC Executive Director Darcyne Foldenauer to learn more. Darcyne explains the fundamentals of safety cases, the importance of clearly linking evidence to claims, and the need for greater consistency in how safety is evaluated and communicated.Learn more about AVSC: https://avsc.sae-itc.com/Read the best practice: https://avsc.sae-itc.com/publication/avsc-d-04-2025

March 19, 202626 min

Accessibility in Motion: How SAE and GM are Empowering Students to Innovate for Equitable Mobility

Accessibility is often cited as a key benefit of automated vehicles and emerging mobility technologies, but designing vehicles for wheelchair users is complex. The SAE CivicProgress Challenge was created to help address this gap by empowering college students to develop innovative, real-world solutions for accessible mobility. Established in collaboration with General Motors, the multi-year program challenges students to tackle accessibility barriers while gaining hands-on engineering and design experience. Join us for a conversation exploring current accessibility challenges and the impact of the CivicProgress Challenge on the future of equitable mobility. Guests include Alicia Bott and David Sander of SAE, Michele Lee of Serve Robotics, and Jessica Swan of GM.

March 4, 202631 min

Revisiting the Road Ahead: Navigating AV Policy and Progress in 2026

With a new administration and Congress, 2025 was widely viewed as a potential turning point for autonomous vehicles. One year later, did the industry’s expectations match reality? Join us for a timely follow-up conversation examining how political and legislative developments have shaped the AV policy landscape.Hilary Cain of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and Finch Fulton of K&L Gates reflect on the past year’s progress and discuss how evolving federal priorities and regulatory signals are influencing AV development and deployment.

February 26, 202625 min

Scaling for the Long Haul: A Fireside Chat with Kodiak CTO Andreas Wendel

2025 was a pivotal year for the autonomous trucking space, as industry leaders moved beyond pilots and industrial use cases toward true long-haul deployment. However, scaling safely and sustainably remains a complex challenge. Tune in for a fireside chat with Andreas Wendel, CTO of Kodiak AI, to explore what it takes to scale driverless operations.In this conversation, Andreas will share insights into Kodiak’s recent progress and discuss the technical and operational milestones required to scale autonomous freight. The discussion will also touch on the role of safety cases, partnerships, and public trust in supporting long-term success.

February 13, 202631 min

Future-Ready Fleets: Scaling AV Operations Centers with Becca Lehner and Alex Rudin of MITRE

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we sit down with Becca Lehner and Alex Rudin of MITRE to spotlight their recently published research on scaling AV operations centers. Tune in to learn more about MITRE’s Automated Vehicle Research Collaborative (AVRC), key barriers to scaling AV operations centers, what enables successful growth, and how that success can help build public trust in AV technology.Learn More | Read the Report

January 22, 202618 min

The Case for Safety: An Interview with Aaron Botwick of Aerovect

In this episode of the PAVEcast, we sit down with Aaron Botwick, Head of Safety at AeroVect. Tune in for a discussion on the unique challenges and opportunities of automating airport logistics, the growing importance of safety cases, and their critical role in building public trust and regulatory compliance for autonomous vehicles.Learn more about AeroVect at https://www.aerovect.com/