10 automotive podcasts worth streaming
Download before you hit the road
The internet sure has a lot of podcasts. Within the automotive realm, for example, there are many, many options, not all of which are created equal. Some sleuthing is required.
Donning a buoyant, bright orange digital lifejacket, we’ve braved the churning seas of the web to gather in one place the best audio experiences for automotive enthusiasts. Here are 10 automotive podcasts worth streaming.
Everyday Driver: Hosts Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker are on a mission to make the average person care about their car with Everyday Driver. What began as a YouTube series has since transformed into a weekly and sometimes twice-a-week podcast that touches on car news, as well as answers to listeners’ mostpressing questions, like “Is my two-seater car a suitable winter driver?” and “If I land a new job, should I immediately buy myself a new car?”
The Smoking Tire: Want to hear from some of the auto industry’s most influential people? The Smoking Tire’s 90-minute show features top names in the biz, from professional race-car drivers such as Kevin Madsen, to boundary-pushing speed enthusiasts such as engineer, engine-builder and entrepreneur Bisi Ezerioha, all in an easy-to-digest format. Motorcycles and Misfits: One of the motorcycle world’s leading ladies, Liza Miller, hosts this hilarious and educational podcast. It’s got F-bombs, fart jokes, lots of cultural and technical info pertaining to motorcycling, and often an expert or celebrity guest. Check out the episode with The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus for a great first impression.
The Best of Car Talk: Easily the most well-known on this list (and the only one with a Peabody Award), Car Talk was a call-in radio talk show that aired on NPR from 1977 to 2012. Today, NPR continues to re-broadcast old episodes as weekly podcasts. Its hosts, Tom and Ray Magliozzi (a.k.a. Click and Clack), a pair of brothers and mechanics who are as funny as they are handy, won over enthusiasts and everyday drivers with their combination of down-to-earth humour and approachable shop talk.
B Squad Hotrod: A podcast for amateurs by amateurs, B Squad Hotrod follows two sets of brothers as they charge head-first into the world of hot-rod building. Seriously, their legal disclaimer is “if you try anything we talk about, that’s your fault, not ours.” If you’re building your first hot rod, or even just thinking about it, this is a resource worth checking out. Hooniverse: Whether you’re into motorcycles or pickup trucks, there’s something for you on the Hooniverse podcast. The California-based website and podcast combines the colloquial Australian term for reckless driving, “hooning,” with “universe,” and targets what it calls the “vehicular omnivore.” If it’s got wheels and an engine, it’s fair game for the podcast hosts at Hooniverse.
CarCast: Ever dreamt of spending seven days in sunny SoCal during Monterey Car Week? It’s not in the cards for everyone, but twice a week, CarCast hosts Adam Carolla, Bill Goldberg and Matt D’Andria offer an insider look at some of the world’s most sought-after events (yes, including Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week). And when there’s nothing exclusive on the calendar, the hosts keep things fresh by answering listener questions and chatting with celeb car enthusiasts. Adventure Rider Radio:
Motorcyclists with a zest for adventure and travel will appreciate Adventure Rider Radio. Since 2014, host Jim Martin and his wife, Elizabeth, have released an hourlong show each Thursday from their home studio in British Columbia. The reallife stories of people adventure touring through remote parts of the globe are sure to provide an escape from reality, if not inspire some listeners to buy a bike and hit the road with nothing more than a couple of saddlebags.
My First Car: What was your first car? Two YouTube veterans pay homage to that memorable first vehicle, with their relatively young podcast, aptly titled My First Car. The show covers lots of auto-related topics, but always includes a guest who talks about the first car they ever owned.
CarStuff: Hosted by the expert educators at HowStuffWorks.com, CarStuff takes a deep dive into a different automotive topic each week. Episodes include more auto-heavy topics, such as how pedestrian safety shapes your car, and more general-interest stuff, such as the surprising history of the crime of jaywalking.