Happy Birthday To Me, Drew Bunkley introduces Lil Z
About this episode
Drew Bunkley returns to discuss his career shift from Carvana to the tech world, focusing on AI and app development. He shares insights into his new company, Tread and Torque, which aims to create innovative applications for the automotive industry. Highlights include a unique rap visualizer app that allows users to see how different colors would look on their vehicles, and Couch Play, an interactive app designed to enhance couple's time together. Drew emphasizes the importance of creativity and continuous learning in his new ventures.
Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning – Episode 312
Drew Bunkley is back in the studio! After leaving Carvana, Drew dives into his exciting pivot to AI and app development under his new brand Trenton Talk. We talk:
- How he's using AI (Gemini Pro, Nano Banana Pro & more) to go from zero coding experience to building & testing full apps in months
- The vehicle wrap visualizer app – upload your car photo, apply custom colors/logos, get realistic previews (game-changer for wrap shops & clients – far beyond Tire Rack visuals)
- Couch Play Pro – the couples app designed to fight "couch disconnect" with interactive games, trivia, TikTok challenges, date-night planners, dream trip builders & AI-generated itineraries
- His hilarious AI character Lil Z – a sassy mini Corvette ZR1 doll that comes alive, trash-talks at car shows & stars in short videos (check the intro clip!)
Jhae celebrates turning 50 with an epic birthday weekend recap – huge thanks to Wes Tankersley, the One Drink Wednesday crew, friends from near & far, family, and everyone who made it special.
Also in this episode:
- The real challenges of being NSX Club president & pushing sustainable change
- OneLess charity car show & food drive for United Food Bank – Feb 21, Mesa, AZ (register & donate!)
- Super Bowl thoughts, Drew’s new fantasy plays draft app, and a rant on the flag-football Pro Bowl
Timestamps / Chapters
- 00:00 – Intro & weekend vibes
- 02:24 – Drew’s career shift from Carvana to AI & apps
- 05:55 – Adult learning in AI – from prompts to full app creation
- 08:56 – Vehicle wrap visualizer deep dive
- 11:37 – Couch Play Pro: reconnecting couples through tech
- 15:47 – Fear of change & betting on yourself
- 19:48 – Little Z character & AI video content
- 21:27 – NSX Club presidency, changes & challenges
- 29:04 – One Last Thing United Food Bank car show (Feb 21)
- 35:19 – Jhae turns 50 – epic birthday recap
- 40:05 – Super Bowl app, predictions & wrap-up
Main Show Sponsors
- Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/
- Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/
- Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.com
- Autocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/
Contact Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.Hardparking.com
- Patreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/
- Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/
- YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParking
Hard Parking – cars, culture, real talk. New episodes weekly. Subscribe, like, and share to help grow the show. Let's keep the parking lot full! 🚗💨 #HardParking #AIinCars #CouchPlayPro #LittleZ #JhaeTurns50
Chevrolet Corvette
"...you, especially on this podcast as my my official Corvette guy. You know, are you still as, are you finding ..."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that has been around for a long time, starting in 1953. It's famous for being powerful and fun to drive, and many people love it because it represents American car culture. You might hear about it because it's a popular choice for car enthusiasts and collectors.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a high-performance sports car that has been in production since 1953. Known for its distinctive design and powerful engine options, the Corvette has become an American icon, representing innovation and speed in the automotive world. It is often discussed for its racing heritage, advanced technology, and as a symbol of American muscle cars.
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