The Creative Drive

From Cars to Culture: How Auto Shows Are Transforming

Auto shows are evolving — and the LA Auto Show might be leading the charge. In this episode, we sit down with David Fortin, VP of Marketing for the LA Auto Show and Automobility LA, to talk about why the RACER Creator Awards is a perfect fit for the LA Auto Show and how car culture is shifting from static displays to full-blown cultural experiences.
From influencer collaborations and immersive experiences to live content and creator partnerships, this is where cars meet culture — and where the next generation of fans and brands connect.
🏁 Learn more: awards.racer.com https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer!
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow car enthusiasts.
#RACERCreatorAwards #LAAutoShow #CreativeDrivePodcast #Racer #AutoMobilityLA #CarCulture

Nicole Johnson’s Wild Ride from Monster Jam to YouTube Fame

Rock crawling champion, Monster Jam driver, and YouTube host Nicole Johnson has done it all — literally. She’s flipped, caught fire, and driven off 12-foot cliffs, all in pursuit of mastering every machine she can get her hands on.
In this episode of Creative Drive, Nicole joins host Taro Koki to talk about her fearless off-road career, the transition from competition to content creation, and her hit YouTube series https://www.youtube.com/@NicoleJohnsonsDetour. They dive into what it takes to stay authentic, creative, and driven in today’s digital world.
How Nicole’s insane off-road skills translate to storytelling on YouTubeThe real mechanics (and mindset) behind rock crawlingWhy she believes in driving everything
https://offers.racer.com/subscribe for RACER+ and magazine offer!
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow car enthusiasts.
#NicoleJohnson #MonsterJam #CreativeDrivePodcast #Racer #OffRoad #WomenInMotorsport #CarCulture

Dustin Williams on Building Cars, Chasing Dreams, and Racing - Creative Drive

Dustin Williams is one of the most recognized creators in the JDM and automotive scene, but his story starts far from Tokyo’s mountains and Fuji Speedway. From growing up in Mississippi and considering a career in law enforcement, to taking the leap into content creation and eventually building his dream R34 GT-R in Japan, Dustin’s journey is all about passion, persistence, and chasing what feels impossible.
In this episode of The Creative Drive, host Taro Koki sits down with Dustin to talk about:
His early influences from Fast & Furious and Japanese car cultureThe risks of leaving a stable career path to pursue YouTube full timeBuilding cars at legendary Japanese tuning shops like Midori SeibiCompeting in motorsports, from Time Attack to One Lap of AmericaGrowing Legends Media and the business side of being a creatorThe responsibility of influence and advice for the next generation of car YouTubers
Whether you’re into drifting, time attack, or just dream of owning a JDM icon, Dustin’s story proves you’re always one video away from changing your life.
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your fellow car enthusiasts.
#CreativeDrive #DustinWilliams #JDM #CarCulture #Motorsport

RJ de Vera on Racing, Consulting on The Fast & The Furious and SEMA

From the underground streets of SoCal to the global stage, RJ de Vera has been at the heart of tuner culture’s biggest moments. In this episode of The Creative Drive, we dive into his journey from shaping Super Street magazine, to consulting on the original Fast & Furious, to influencing the industry at SEMA and Meguiar’s. RJ shares untold stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and how tuner culture went mainstream. This conversation is packed with history, strategy, and inspiration from one of the scene’s true pioneers.
0:00 Cold Opening RJ de Vera0:02:00 RJ and Taro met as RJ was coming off of consulting for The Fast and the Furious?0:02:50 RACER+ Promotion0:09:50 No one expected The Fast and the Furious to be the franchise it became0:11:45 Consulting for brands like American Racing and building Roja Motorsports wheels0:13:30 First sponsorship from Acura to go racing0:15:50 Old school racing. We figured it out by blowing up stuff0:19:00 RJ helped Dai Yoshihara when he was just started out in the US0:22:00 Consulting for Valvoline and becoming an influencer0:26:00 How did Keiichi Tsushiya got involved with Drifting 101 Valvoline0:33:30 Transitioning to a corporate job at Meguires0:40:00 YouTube, brand deals and being an early brand ambassador0:44:00 Racecar drivers leveraging social media 0:45:00 How RJ became VP of Marketing at SEMA0:51:00 SEMA's legislative work01:05:35 Rapid Fire with RJ de Vera
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the people driving car culture forward.Follow RJ here!https://www.instagram.com/rj_devera/
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#CreativeDrive #CarCulture #AutomotivePodcast #fastandfurious #rjdevera #sema #paulwalker #drifting #influencer

How Justin Bell Stopped Racing and Got Paid to Talk - The Creative Drive

Le Mans class winner and TV host Justin Bell joins Creative Drive to share stories from racing at a high level and making the transition to media. From winning on the track to co-hosting with Tommy Kendall, Justin reveals what it takes to bring personality, humor, and insider knowledge to motorsports coverage.
0:00 Justin Bell Intro02:00 Formula 1 podcast, Drive to Wynn is on it's 3rd year and going strong. 07:30 Justin Bell pushed Creator Drive podcast host, Taro Koki down the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca09:50 Justin Bell on the Indy Car Series17:00 Justin Bell on Pratt Miller's mind blowing abilities and NASA19:20 Monaco and other favorite races to experience20:45 Growing up as Derek Bell's son28:40 Standing on the podium with his father at Le Mans31:00 Transitioning as a racecar driver to TV talent37:15 Being an entertaining interviewee as a racing car driver helped 41:30 Starting the Torque Show with Jason Jacobson46:20 Justin on automotive journalism vs creators51:50 F1 Gunther Steiner, Drive to Survive and swearing53:10 Justin Bell should do an alternative cast on RACER55:35 Rapid Fire with Justin Bell58:00 Who's Boostin it? with Justin Bell
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the people driving car culture forward.Follow Justin Bell here!https://www.instagram.com/justinbellTV
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#justinbell #drivetowynn #formula1podcast #formula1 #CreativeDrive #CarCulture #racecommentator #AutomotivePodcast#racing#motorsport#RACERpodcast
 

Brett King’s Canvas Project Art Racing Helmet - The Creative Drive

Visit brettkingdesign.com for limited exclusive Brett King Design Canvas Project 01 MERCH
In this episode of The Creative Drive with Taro Koki, renowed helmet designer Brett King from Brett King Design reveals the inspiration, process, and philosophy behind the Canvas Project — a groundbreaking approach to helmet art where, for the first time, there's no input from a client. Just pure artistic vision.
The Canvas Project 001 is not a commission. It's an art project done on a helmet as the canvas. 
We dig into the design, the business, the challenges of working with clients, and how collaborations in motorsport gear are evolving — with appearances from Preston Folkestad of Simpson Performance Products.
0:00 Intro 3:30 What is the Canvas Project by Brett King Design?5:45 RACER+ and RACER Magazine Ad: Racer.com/bundle8:00 Breaking boundaries in helmet design12:37 Inspiration behind the Canvas Project 00115:50 The revealing of the Canvas Project 001 helmet by Brett King Design17:08 Process of creating the Canvas Project 001 helmet24:20 Starting as creative director at Felt Bicycles27:20 Challenges of the business30:15 How to handle mpossible clients32:15 How long did it take to complete the Canvas Project 00138:02 The new Stilo ST6 helmet41:07 Canvas Project 01 limited edition merch launch 42:45 Rapid Fire with Brett King47:07 Who's Boostin' it with Brett King55:54 Preston Folkestad from Simpson Performance Products59:15 Working with Stilo, RaceQuip, Hans, Simpson brands at Holley01:04:30 Stilo Italian high end helmet brand with roots in rally racing01:07:00 How the collab with Brett King happen? 01:13:30 How do Holley brands think about collaborations?01:19:50 Who's Boostin' it with Preston Folkestad from Simpson01:25:20 What's Preston Folkestad's creative drive?

How Kill Bambi Built Her R8 and the Brand Behind the Wheel - Amber Bernstein

Note: We experienced some technical difficulties with the audio in this episode. While it may not meet our usual quality standards, we didn’t want to let that stop us from sharing this great conversation. Thanks for your patience—and we appreciate you sticking with us!
Amber Bernstein aka Kill.Bambi: The Car Girl DJ Taking Over Twitch & the StreetsOn this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with the multi-talented Amber Bernstein, better known as Kill.Bambi—a true force in the worlds of car culture, music, and gaming.
From her modified Audi R8 to streaming to thousands on Twitch, Amber has crafted a bold personal brand that’s turning heads and inspiring a new wave of creators.
0:00 Intro02:50 How Kill Bambi got into cars04:20 The story behind her Audi R8 How car culture and gaming overlap in her lifeWhat fuels her creativity as a DJ and content creatorHer approach to audience growth, platform strategy & staying authenticAdvice for creators trying to break into cars, gaming, or bothSub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
A rapid-fire round of car vs. culture questions“Who’s Boosting It” — her pick for an underrated creator or brand worth watching
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the people driving car culture forward.Follow Kill Bambihttps://www.instagram.com/kill.bambi/
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🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#KillBambi #AmberBernstein #AudiR8 #CreativeDrive #CarCulture #TwitchStreamer #DJLife #WomenInMotorsports #GamingAndCars #CarGirl #AutomotivePodcast

Subaru Launch Control Docu-series Producer Chris Bowes - The Creative Drive

In this episode, The Creative Drive dives into the world of Christopher Bowes, the visionary behind Subaru's Launch Control, the long lasting YouTube series that reshaped how fans experience factory-backed motorsports. From his early inspiration to founding Bowes Media Inc., Chris shares how he blends storytelling craft with emotional authenticity — creating work that goes beyond cars and competition.
We explore the evolution of Launch Control, from its original pitch to its current home on the RACER Network, and how Chris navigates the high-stakes balance between access, vulnerability, and compelling narrative. He opens up about the creative battles he’s fought, the pressures of working under tight deadlines, and the moments that nearly broke him — but made the story worth telling.
This is an episode about vision, integrity, and building legacy through motorsports storytelling.0:00 Cold Opening to Chris Bowes Launch Control Producer Interview on The Creative Drive01:52 Christopher Bowes from Bowes Media on The Creative Drive Podcast06:14 RACER Network Promo Clip Visit RACER.com to subscribe07:13 How Launch Control with Subaru started13:00 Drive to Survive is successful because the non-motorsport fan can get behind the show14:00 Rally is the hardest motorsports to film and produce22:25 Subaru gives Chris absolute creative freedom to produce Launch Control26:50 Biggest challenge of continuing a show for more than a decade31:30 Launch Control on RACER Network and the impact of the internet34:35 Bowes Media has expanded as a business working for brands like Red Bull37:25 Brands and qualitative storytelling 39:00 Subaru and their brand heritage45:30 Launch Control is created by a small and nimble team48:00 How to start out as a creative on a rally documentary team50:50 Subaru's racing cultural project coming up in the future54:00 Rapid Fire with Chris Bowes01:00:00 Who's Boost'n it with Chris Bowes01:06:07 What's Chris Bowes' creative drive?
Follow Chris BowesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowesmediainc
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
#TheCreativeDrive #bowesmedia #rally #CarCulture #launchcontrol #subaru #subarurally #ContentCreators #Motorsports #RACERPodcast #rallycars #rallyracing

Desert Racing 101: Why It’s Way Harder Than You Think - Ryan Millen

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks. 
We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.
Watch or listen now. 0:00 Cold opening1:00 Host Taro Koki Introduces Ryan Millen01:45 What the last name Millen means03:33 Sponsor message04:27 How Ryan Millen started rally racing08:00 What's so difficult about desert racing?12:00 Growing up on Pikes Peak14:30 Toyota rally sponsorship and Two Roads to Baja17:10 Racing Porsches in Siberia18:15 Rally racing Toyota RAV425:00 What it was like having a girlfriend as a co-driver28:33 Creating content and being a racecar driver30:15 Father Rod Millen lived in the golden era of rally31:45 Racing with Terrible Herbst spec trophy trucks 37:30 Almost getting run over at Baja 50039:45 Innovation in desert racing actve dampers and 4 wheel drive 44:40 Difference between Dakar and Baja racing47:40 Off road racing promotion landscape52:45 Rapid Fire with Ryan Millen57:10 Ryan Millen thinks Who's Boost'n It01:01:20 Ryan Millen's Creative Drive
Follow Ryan MillenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_millen_
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
#TheCreativeDrive #ryanmillen #rally #CarCulture #desertracing #baja1000 #rodmillen #ContentCreators #Motorsports #toyota #RACERPodcast #trophytrucks #offroadracing #CarBuilders

1,000HP Minivans and EV Porsche Moby X: Bisi Ezerioha

Host Taro Koki interviews one of the most fearless innovators in car culture: Bisi Ezerioha of Bisimoto Engineering. You might know him for his viral 1,000-horsepower minivan, electric Porsche 935 builds, or wild collaborations with brands like Hyundai, Honda, and Porsche — but there’s way more to his story.
In this episode, Bisi shares how he went from pharmaceutical scientist to full-time tuner and performance visionary. We dive into his engineering mindset, why content is critical for modern builders, and how electrification is transforming the tuning world.
This episode of The Creative Drive is sponsored by Honda, click to learn more: https://bit.ly/4e82HdD
0:00 Intro02:10 Who is Bisi Ezerioha?04:54 Sponsor message05:53 Bisi went to college for chemical engineering at 15 years old07:20 Moving to the US and being exposed to street racing11:05 Early days of import drag racing in Honda Civics17:00 From home garage to RS Machine19:00 Nopi thought Bisi as cheating and making his own fuel with scent24:35 Bisimoto's concept of Reliability vs Power27:30 Working as a pharmaceutical rep and the genesis of Bisimoto34:00 Building first Honda CR-Z SEMA Project Car37:00 Porsche Cayman R center seat44:39 Bisi on becoming an EV believer01:00:00 2025 SEMA Build01:01:35 Porsche K3 EV Inspired by Group 5 Team Gozzy 93501:04:10 Creating content for Tech Tuesday lead to being on Myth Busters01:05:50 Where is Bisimoto going?01:09:00 The Creative Drive Rapid Fire01:12:20 Who's Boostin' It?
🔗 Follow Bisi EzeriohaInstagram: @bisimotoWebsite: https://bisimoto.com
Follow RACER on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@Racer.HQFollow RACER.Podcasts on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.podcasts  Follow RACER.HQ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/racer.hq/Follow RACER Network on IG:   https://www.instagram.com/ racer_network  Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
📺 Watch full episodes + behind-the-scenes at youtube.com/@racerpodcasts
Sub to RACER Magazine and RACER+ app at https://offers.racer.com/bundle
#racer #podcast #thecreativedrive #tarokoki #bisiezerioha #bisimoto #evtuning #carculture #electricporsche #jdm #engineering #contentcreators #motorsports #hyundai #honda #customcars #carbuilders