192. The Pile Up EP52: This American Car
About this episode
Emily and Rose look back on the journey of building Car Krush, a women- and queer-forward automotive community in Portland. From organizing a block party for vintage cars to navigating the struggles of media representation, they share how their mission evolved. Listeners share stories of taking the duo's empowering, hands-on engine-building classes and finding a welcoming space in a traditionally male-dominated scene. The hosts also detail the origins of their podcast studio, "The Pile Up," and celebrate reaching their 52nd episode as they gear up for season two.
It's our year anniversary of The Pile Up! We wanted to spice it up so we decided to spoof This American Life. Enjoy!
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
Find us: Car Krush
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
Rolling Death
"And you're in Rolling Death fan... Gina EP52 1: I was interviewed on Car Crush about, well, about my van, but also about all my dream cars..."
A popular club and brand that celebrates vintage, customized vans from the 1970s and '80s, helping to keep retro van culture alive through events and merchandise.
The Rolling Death Van Club is a prominent custom van club and lifestyle brand based in the Pacific Northwest. They are highly influential in the modern revival of 1970s-style custom vanning, chopper culture, and retro automotive styling.
Ford Escape
"...'d have somewhere to go, get out of the kitchen, escape the refrigerator And they were like, "Are you kid..."
The Ford Escape is a small SUV made by Ford. It is designed to be a practical, everyday family car that is easy to drive, easy to park, and has a decent amount of trunk space. It sits slightly higher off the ground than a standard sedan, giving the driver a better view of the road.
The Ford Escape is a highly popular compact crossover SUV that has been a cornerstone of Ford's lineup since its introduction in 2000. It is widely discussed for its role in popularizing the small SUV segment, offering a car-like ride height with the utility of a larger utility vehicle. Over its generations, it has transitioned from a rugged, boxy design to a sleek, tech-focused commuter vehicle available in gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants.
Dodge Neon
"... to get somewhere to look like this." So we had a neon van sign that, uh, actually the whiz kid from Mot..."
The Dodge Neon is a small, inexpensive sedan that was very common on American roads in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was built to be a simple, fuel-efficient, and affordable car for commuters and first-time buyers.
The Dodge Neon is a compact front-wheel-drive car produced from 1994 to 2005, remembered for its cheerful 'bugeye' styling and affordable price point. Despite its budget-car status, it gained a cult following in the automotive community due to its surprisingly competitive handling in autocross and the high-performance turbocharged SRT-4 variant. It is often discussed as a nostalgic symbol of the late 1990s and early 2000s American compact car market.
Davis DeWitt
"So we had a neon van sign that, uh, actually the whiz kid from Motor MythBusters, Davis DeWitt, uh, I say kid respectfully, had made for me."
A talented young car builder and metalworker who appeared on the TV show Motor MythBusters, where he helped build and test crazy car experiments.
An automotive builder and fabricator who gained national recognition as the co-host and 'whiz kid' on the MotorTrend series Motor MythBusters. He is known for his exceptional metal fabrication, welding, and custom car building skills.
custom van
"And so we had the homage to custom banner, and then we left the Lyndon B."
A style of modifying vans to look like rolling living rooms, complete with wild paint jobs on the outside and cozy setups like beds and shag carpet on the inside.
A distinct automotive subculture that peaked in the 1970s, characterized by heavily personalized vans. Common modifications include custom airbrushed murals, shag carpet interiors, porthole windows, custom beds, and high-end audio systems.
Motor MythBusters
"So we had a neon van sign that, uh, actually the whiz kid from Motor MythBusters, Davis DeWitt, uh, I say kid respectfully, had made for me."
A science-meets-cars TV show where hosts test out famous myths about cars—like whether a playing card in the spokes actually does anything or if movie car jumps are realistic.
An automotive television series produced for the MotorTrend app, starring Tory Belleci, Bisi Ezerioha, and Faye Hadley. The show applies scientific method and engineering to test popular automotive myths, legends, and movie stunts.
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