Podcast

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#136, Prof. Brian Marks talks cars, Covid-19

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:48 — 42.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBrian Marks is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. He has a Ph.D. in Economics, a law degree, several additional titles and plenty of academic responsibilities. Marks’ opinions are thought-provoking and concisely address the COVID-19 and how it has and will continue to affect the automotive world. While covering many areas of the industry, Marks is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia, continuing our social- distancing podcast, speak with Marks from Bruce’s backyard in Sacramento, California. Our guest joins us from his

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#135, Buying a new car like it’s 2019

If you’re interested in purchasing a vehicle, why not considering buying a new car that’s nearly two years old? There’s a huge inventory of 2019 vehicles available, particularly for consumers interested in Dodge. Here’s the deal. The covid-19 pandemic stalled production of 2020 models for carmakers and resulted in the temporary closing of many car dealerships. Sales suffered. But a positive emerged from the health crisis, and Julie Blackley, an analyst at iseecars.com, is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss the issue. Dodge Caravan: New Car, Nearly Age 2 Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Blackley and she details the reasons why such large inventories of 2019 vehicles are available from

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#134, Vermont artist Chris Miller’s stone truck

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:07 — 45.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChris Miller, a sculptor who lives Maples Corner, a hamlet outside Calais, Vermont, began carving about 45 years ago. He works in granite, wood and marble, and his work is featured in private collections and sculpture galleries. It all gets its share of acclaim, including one of his most unique creations — a stone truck. Miller’s truck sculpture was inspired by a stone creation of a Volkswagen Beetle built in Ithaca, New York in 1976. It’s also an homage to an automotive phenomenon. As our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, Miller discusses driving in the rural Northeast where abandon vehicles

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#133, AACA Museum adapts, goes virtual during Covid-19

Museums have impossible business models during the coronavirus. But in the business of celebrating history, creativity reigns. When public visits aren’t feasible, creativity prevails. Like many museums, automobile museums can virtually present their exhibits. Car enthusiasts and history buffs can still enjoy the legacies of vintage vehicles. Jeff Bliemeister, executive director of the AACA Museum in Hersey, Pennsylvania, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. AACA Museum features Tucker Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bliemeister how the facility, one of the country’s most prominent auto museums, maintains its online videos, tours and special exhibits without allowing physical visitors. Bliemeister, an avid vintage car and truck enthusiast, explains in a series of videos the exhibits

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#132, ValChoice goal: insurance trust

Dan Karr, CEO ValChoice.com, began his insurance analysis company in early 2016 in the aftermath of a near tragedy. A former Silicon Valley executive and avid cyclist, Karr suffered a near-fatal accident with a motorist in 2014 and endured a long legal battle with insurance companies. Karr eventually won his case and recouped his financial losses. But the frustration of what he thought was a relationship with good insurance providers prompted the publication of his book, “Injured Money.” Independent Insurance Transparency The enduring scenario further resulted in his current company. Its motto: Independent. Unbiased. Trusted. Karr is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with our guest about the

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#131, Greg Griffin races a Ferrari, builds Florida homes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:28 — 39.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreGreg Griffin is likely the only race car driver whose heritage features an Italian grandfather who owned 18 Ferraris including one used as a farm tractor by famed artist Andrew Wyatt. The owner and president of Griffin Builders in Naples, Florida, Griffin has been a custom home builder for nearly 20 years. But he’s been around the supercars for as long as he can remember. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Griffin in Episode #131 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Greg Griffin: A family full of Ferrari After a two-week hiatus during the early stages of the coronavirus, Bruce and I resumed our

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#130, Fair provides safe car leasing Covid-19 option

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:47 — 32.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreCraig Nehamen is a co-founder of Fair. It’s among several apps debuting within the past decade that provide a new car leasing option for way for consumers. The app, which launched in September 2017, allows consumers to lease a previously owned vehicle for a short or long time frame. Nehamen is our guest on episode #130 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Nehamen about the business and the process of leasing a vehicle online via Fair. The car leasing option, Fair calls a subscription, is increasingly popular during the coronavirus. Consumers are still buying vehicles but car

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#129, A Subaru Impreza, a sudden crash, a family heals

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:46 — 35.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More Ron Richman, an attorney in San Francisco, recently received a phone call from the eldest of his two sons, Sam, a lawyer in Los Angeles. The father immediately heard something in his son’s voice that wasn’t right. His instincts were accurate. The younger Richman, 29, had been driving his 2014 Subaru Impreza hatchback with a friend as a passenger on Santa Monica Blvd. at 30-35 miles per hour. He was hit from behind by a car witnesses estimated was traveling about 80 mph. The Subaru Impreza then hit a bus. Sam Richman suffered a concussion, bruised lungs and kidneys, deep bruises from his

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#128, WeatherTech Raceway adjusts to COVID-19, stays on course

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:14 — 47.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWithout one vehicle negotiating its 18 percent devilish descent on turn 8 or even one engine starting, WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway has negotiated a lot of racing in recent weeks. But it’s all been behind the scenes and against the calendar clock and uncertainty of the coronavirus. Joining the ever-lengthening list of sports teams and venues, the raceway and recreation area has amended its yearly calendar with a series of rapid-fire announcements. Barry Toepke, director of marketing and communications for the raceway, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia how the

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The Weekly Driver Podcast: encore bests during COVID-19

Like many small businesses, The Weekly Driver Podcast remains on hiatus this week during the coronavirus crisis. Bruce Aldrich and I miss our weekly chats with auto industry experts and enthusiasts. It’s an analyst on one episode, a car collector on the next, and it’s all great fun. How about a 30-minute interview with a guy who turned an old firetruck into a mobile pub? How about a half-hour show with a guy from Sacramento who’s as passionate about his vintage Studebaker as any new car owner is about their flashy red, over-the-top, technology overloaded SUV? Or what’s up with all those cars in bike races? We take a several-hour drive on the opening day of training camp with the

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The Weekly Driver Podcast takes coronavirus break

For more than two years, Bruce Aldrich and I have broadcast The Weekly Driver podcast. We’ve interviewed manufacturer CEOs, vintage car owners and the world’s most well-known mountain climber who spent many years living a van. We’ve attended automotive shows and auctions. We’ve interviewed authors, industry analysts and icons from the worlds of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Bruce has done a solo show or two and I’ve done the same. Vacations and other minor life circumstances have altered a few interviews. As everyone knows, the coronavirus is another matter. We’re going to take a break for at least two weeks, but we’ll be back. We’re enthusiastic about the podcast and we have fun. We can’t wait to have fun again.

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#126 podcast: Couple embraces home tech business

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:52 — 38.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More#126: Couple embraces home tech business | RSS.com Valerie Antkowiak and Mark Pallone are retired Intel engineers, but they’re still involved in their careers via a home-based business about home technology. The husband-wife team, who lives in El Dorado Hills, California, publishes the website AppMyHome.com. The site and their home is the testing ground for all things in the extended home technology field. Antkowiak is our guest on episode No. 126 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss talk with Antowiak about the couple’s history with the site and their process for testing home technology equipment. The couple’s home

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#125, Drive Toward A Parkinson’s Disease Cure

#125 Drive Toward A Parkinson’s Disease Cure | RSS.com Deb Pollack has been involved in the automotive industry for decades. She’s worked for small and large companies and several manufacturers, Ferrari to Maserati and General Motors to Mitsubishi Pollack’s work in public relations, which the Los Angeles-based businesswoman describes as the “blending of cars and camaraderie,” has also resulted in her national philanthropic efforts with the organization she founded, Drive Toward A Cure (www.drivetowardacure.org). In addition to currently working as the publicist for the boutique restoration house Singer Vehicle Design, Pollack advocates the ability to team cars and camaraderie to raise funds to benefit the battle against Parkinson’s Disease. Pollack is our guest on Episode #125 of The Weekly Driver

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#124, Cartoonist is auto world’s wacky, witty futurist

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:54 — 47.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreSteven M. Johnson is a cartoonist with a fondness for the absurd. With astute detail, humor and poignancy, he’s a purveyor of wacky, futuristic product ideas. It’s all silly, except for when it’s not. Johnson, an editorial cartoonist and illustrator for nearly 60 years, is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. The 81-year-old author of 10 books lives and works in Carmichael, California. A former city planner who attended Yale but transferred and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Journalistic Studies, Johnson was a long-time general assignment cartoonist for the Sacramento Bee. He also had a weekly

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#123, Danny Shapiro discusses 2020 Nvidia GTC Technology Show

Danny Shapiro, Senior Director of Automotive at Nvidia Corporation in Santa Clara, California, is as knowledgeable as anyone in the autonomous automotive industry. The technology company is at the forefront of delivering solutions to automakers for self-driving cars, infotainment, digital instrument clusters, rear-seat entertainment and advanced driver assistance systems. Nvidia’s GTC Technology Conference, scheduled March 22-26 in San Jose, California, is the premier AI and deep learning event, providing you with training, insights, and direct access to experts from NVIDIA and other leading organizations. Shapiro is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss all things related to the future of autonomous vehicles with the 25-year veteran of the computer graphics

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