The Avants Podcast
Avants
Updated 2 days agoJoin hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.
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Episodes (454)
Dashcams, Moab, F1, and We Didn‘t Start the Fire
Dan got to watch a police chase which he caught on his dashcam so we figured now would be a good time to discuss what makes a good dashcam, how to mount it properly, and some other tips and tricks. We also go over the next few weeks as Nick is going F1 in Austin and Dan is going off-roading in Moab! There’s some serious Billy Joel talk in here too. If you’re looking a great Dashcam, our friend Ariel at Vortex Radar knows his stuff and is a source we trust: www.vortexradar.com/best-dashcams/ If you’re looking for the greatest Wikipedia page ever made, it’s We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Didn%27t_Start_the_Fire
Circuit of the Northwest Update! YES, IT IS HAPPENING!
We welcome Brian Nilsen with Circuit of the Northwest back as he confirms the track is coming! We also talk about customer service during COVID, DSRP vs MSRP, and welcome Daniella Lewis - head of membership for Circuit of the Northwest. We are very excited to have another track that's really happening, but it's going to be so much more than just another track!
Ray York Finds You The Right Garage
Ray York joins us and finally answers the age old mystery of why there are never enough garage photos in home listings! He also shares his story of growing up not far from Dan, meeting Dale Earnhardt, getting fired by his dad at 18, and starting in real estate at the perfect time… 2007. Text RCS to 59559 to get a hold of Ray!
Deerly Departed
In episode 201 we talk about a deerly departed friend Nick met on the way home from Dan’s house. Luckily this was a low-speed mishap, but we will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the worst jaywalkers on the road. Tune in to find out if Nick is still pulling fur out his grill.
Still Enjoying The Drive
We made it all the way to episode 200! We’ve come a long way from Nick’s kitchen and we recorded this one in Dan’s dining room. We present the two best car tips we could think of, talk about the cross-plane crankshaft 4 cylinder, and take a short walk down memory lane.
199 for 199! Pro Rally Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino!
For episode 199 we get Professional Rally Co-Driver Rhianon Gelsomino! Not only is she the 2021 ARA National Champion along with driver Travis Pastrana, she’s legitimately one of the most knowledgeable people we’ve ever met when it comes to all things rally and co-driving. She walks us through all of it in a way even we can understand and gives us all the good stories about her racing life, racing with Travis, and she’s even married to Alex, Ken Block’s co-driver. Talk about a power couple!
Living The Dream With Daniel Pilling
Karl introduced us to someone else you’ll want to know, Daniel Pilling! Daniel learned to drive at the track, watched the XJ220 go into production, and has worked with everything from F1, to NASCAR, to Goodwood, and more! Listen in for some great stories!
50 Weird Auto Laws by State
We discuss the 50 weirdest laws we could find by state. In spite of everything on the internet being true, we found out some these were a lie! I mean, if you can’t trust random blogs you read on the internet for legal advice, who can you trust?! We had fun with this one and hope you will too.
It’s Krissy From.. Uh.. Avants!
It’s so weird to say “Krissy from Avants” when we’ve known Krissy as our girl at LeMay for so long. We are so excited to see where she takes Avants and how Avants is going to grow from Adam bringing her onboard. Krissy adds a wealth of knowledge and experience in the car world and we catch up with her and what she’s got planned.
Live From Monterey, It’s Nick!
Nick calls in to give us the update on what’s going on in Monterey for Car Week post Covid lockdown and Dan sits at home and roasts in the 100 degree heat.
You Down With BBP?
Dan’s out and Branden Ben Powell is in! Nick and Branden talk building an off-road community, building the Pinzgauer, magnets (how do they work?!), and even have a GIVEAWAY! Tune and be sure to leave us a comment! Follow BBP on IG at Sarpinz!
The Backcountry Monkey Recap
Well, we kinda did it. We did sections 3 and 4 of the WABDR, which was all we were allowed to do thanks to massive shutdowns across the east side of the state due to fire danger, but we did it and lived to tell the tale! Branden Ben Powell and Brian Elich join us in the studio to tell the tale of the first annual Backcountry Monkey recap!
Chrome Muffler Bearings, South African Alfas, and Group 2
We love guests that are authentically themselves; it’s what makes people truly interesting! We welcome John and Melissa from Group 2 Automotive as they tell us all about stories from South Africa, driving on “closed roads” in Lamborghinis, Ferrari muffler bearings, and a whole lot more! We are indeed a car show about people and this episode definitely fulfills that and more.
Josie Rimmer Roams Into RCS
A long time ago Dan stumbled across an IG; RoamingRS and thought “What a cool person, she should be on the show!” Turns out that person was none other than Josie Rimmer. You might know that last name if you’re a car enthusiast but Josie is more than her last name to be proud of, she’s a great advocate for women in motorsports, a driver, an equestrian, and just a really fun person to be around! We loved having her on our show and I’m sure you will hear more about her and from her. Go see Josie at DirtFish and get to know why DirtFish is the most fun Dan has ever had in a car and why so many great people work there!
Backcountry Monkey Planning With Branden Ben Powell
When we decided to undertake riding the WABDR on our Monkeys we knew we needed an expert planner. Lucky for us we have Branden Ben Powell! He survived our assault on his liver and is ready to ride with us on his highly modified Monkey and brining all his expertise alone for the ride. Get read for some crazy adventure stories, just a few weeks away!
The Boys Are Back In Town
Dan’s back and in a new place! Krissy is now with Avants! Covid rules have been lifted! FREEDOM! Yes, it’s also the 4th of July episode and we discuss which cars the MOST American you can buy. Some are surprising, some are not, but we had a great time making this episode.
Living That Crankshaft Culture
On this weeks episode we talk to Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal of CrankshaftCulture.com. They also are automotive journalists, work for our friends at Warn Winches, and are active Avants members! These two REALLY walk the walk as well as talk the talk. We cover everything from the Alcan to not defining Overlanding and everything between. There’s a lot here, so kick back, relax, and enjoy the drive these two take us on. Check out more from Andy and Mercedes at Crankshaftcutlure.com and on Instagram!
1,000 Trucks a Day
1,000 trucks. That’s how may trucks Ford says it makes per day. That’s good, because they have 125,000 Broncos to build for customers. This week’s episode is automotive news you should know and the proper way to jump your car thanks to Carter Subaru! Also, “If The 2022 Honda Grom Doesn't Make You Happy Maybe You Can't Be Happy.”
McCall is Magic
Dan’s in McCall, Nick’s stuck at home, and we’re recording via phone! So no, Nick isn’t fighting strep throat, he just has AirPods. Yeah, calling you out Apple. Anyway! McCall is amazing and you should come visit. We’ll catch you up to speed on this on road and off road paradise and why it should be on your driving and overlanding bucket list.
Country Roads, Take Me To Idaho
We recorded this episode from Dan’s Raptor! Dan is moving and headed to Idaho for a month, but don’t worry, we’re still making episodes for you! We talk all about Dan’s tractor purchasing, why you need to go to Idaho, and even touch on cars some.
Achtun(ing) Baby!
On episode 184 we talk with Zach Mauden, Director of Sales and Marketing at Achtuning, all about tuning, tunes and warranties, and… overland RV life? Tune in for another great episode with a guest who is more than just selling the mods you want for your car!
Sound Advice from Sound Wheel Works
On this episode we talk with Corey Youngren, owner of Sound Wheel Works. Corey has been in the wheel repair business for over 30 years and knows more about wheel repair than anyone we know. Almost all the local shops use his services and we have been customers ourselves since they opened, long before their Avants partnership. If you want to fix your wheels, change the color, or restore an older set, these are the ones to go to! Find out more about them at SoundWheelWorks.com Also, sorry Branden Ben Powell, you probably drank yourself to death listening.
A Mini Glimpse Into Michele Graaff
We had a fun chat with Michele Graaff; a passionate Mini GP owner who takes to the track on weekends. Michele is one of many people we are fortunate to talk with who will inspire you to get in your car and take it to the track. Not only is she a talented driver and the VP of the Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club, but she also has a great sense of humor and one of those people you just want to be friends with as soon as you meet her. More about Michele in her own words: ”I am an academic advisor at University of Washington, writer and editor on the side, working on a few different freelance projects. Owning a MINI was a catalyst for learning performance driving because it’s such an accessible car for a lot of people Upgrading to the MINI JCW GP came from realizing my track skills would eventually require bigger brakes, and some other improvements. I love MINI so much that I was recently elected vice president of Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club. We are an all-female volunteer board of the largest non-profit MINI club in the region. Our mission is to encourage local owners enjoy the culture of MINI. My personal journey has put me onto the track, so most of my free time is spent nerding out over how to become a better driver. I’ve done this mostly alone, picking the brains of a handful of amazing coaches and friends, and lots of reading. This has evolved into me wanting more drivers (especially women!) to understand that getting out on the track isn’t just for people with the “right car” or giant bank account (though you’ll certainly go broke with this passion.) We are fortunate to have a lot of great resources for high performance driving in our area, from ProFormance to the local car clubs hosting HPDE days. Right now, I’m starting to learn pit crew support for a couple of IRDC/ICSCC racing friends. Maybe a race car will be in my future, but for now, I love my MINI GP and everything that goes with it.” You can find more from Michele on her IG: https://www.instagram.com/mgsees/
This Episode Was Crafted In The Northwest
We welcome Scottie and Jordan Stratton of Northwest Crafted Interiors to tell us all about the dark art of doing interiors! We can tell you without a doubt that quality upholstery is one of the hardest jobs in the automotive industry that we have come across. The guys at Northwest Crafted are absolute masters and can do anything you can dream of to the interior of your car. Like a quality mattress, getting a proper seat is one of the best investments you can make in your car and these are definitely the guys to do it. Even better, they’re an Avants partner! Check them out at: https://www.nwcraftedinteriors.com/ And on IG at: https://www.instagram.com/nw_crafted/
Rachel Neuharth And The Bronco 2 Project
In this episode we talk about finding the perfect mount for recording from your vehicle with a phone (which is way harder than you think) and we talk to the latest Avants member to go full send at Avants Off-road event, Rachel Neuharth. After a late night birthday Craigslist browsing, Rachel decided she needed a project car and picked up a Bronco 2, then she took the next most important step, she showed up at an Avants event and went full send. We brought Rachel on the show because she’s a good case for what all of us know - just showing up and being nice will get you all the welcoming and support you need. Follow Rachel’s Bronco project on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/sandy_bronco/