The Avants Podcast
Avants
Updated 6 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 (447)
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/
Hey Tesla, Open Your... What?
For episode 179 we cover a lot of automotive news ranging from Colorado’s weed friendly license plate lotto, the insane towing capacity of new trucks, the Rivians are coming, and Tesla’s latest interesting Easter Egg.
From South Africa to Seattle with Naomi Watnick
We get to know driver, enthusiast, and instructor Naomi Watnick! Naomi teaches driving skills for the Porsche Club, BMW Club, and many others, including Avants track days. Get to know Naomi’s story and how she came from driving tanks to racing Miatas. If you want to learn more about the very cool Merkur XR4Ti - https://www.motortrend.com/news/1985-1989-merkur-xr4ti-buyers-guide/
The Missing Episode
Dan was gone for a while, so we get you up to speed with this missing episode covering a lot of stuff! Everyone needs to know about the Lockpicking Lawyer - www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9K6rby98W8JigLoZOh6FQ Watch some guys riding vintage Honda trail bikes 500 miles, proving we aren’t quite as crazy as you thought - www.youtube.com/watch?v=320vUMEoelc In reference to our Carter Subaru Tip of the week, check out how APR (and many others) are helping you with your powertrain warranty if you decide to void yours with a tune - www.goapr.com/products/software/…20T-EA888-3-T-IS38 Streetspeed717 from YouTube decided to jump his Urus over his Aventador and we think that’s pretty cool - www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_L7lEgZcdc Gordon Murray puts his new T50 on a dyno and sorta runs the Nürburgring - www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMbNh8y7HUY Aston Martin vs Honda - Correction, this was Top Gear Season 6, Episode 5 - and Jeremy Clarkson driving. Nikola is still full crap, SSC is maybe slightly less, and the story of the Dale. The story of the Dale is fascinating - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentieth_C…_Car_Corporation - and to correct something in the show we don't want people to misunderstand, we didn't mean Trans "wasn't a thing" in the 60s/70s, we meant it was not a commonly used term at the time and was not widely used to describe sexual identity in historical reference. And we discuss Nissan's predatory loan practices: jalopnik.com/nissan-is-going-to…stomers-1846636646
Meet Jim Cissell, The Voice Guy!
Jim is a guy you know, and yet you don’t. Literally “The Voice Guy”, Jim has done documentaries, movie previews, radio, and so many ads over the years. We learn his story from being a journalist in the Air Force to a full time career as a voice over artist. We met Jim via our car friends, as usual, and he’s a real car nut too!
The Backcountry Monkey
The Honda Monkey 125. The perfect, adorable, retro style bike for getting you around town. We’re taking it on a 600 mile ride down the WABDR. No, that’s not a joke. Get to hear how this crazy idea became a reality and everything required to take a bike with about 4” of suspension travel and a 1.5 gallon fuel tank down one of Washington’s most iconic, and longest, off-road adventure routes, the WABDR. Tune in as we have a fun ride coming up that we know you’re going to get a kick out of! We also talk about some tips for getting your car ready for driving season! To read more about the WABDR and see the route, check out the official site: https://ridebdr.com/wabdr/
Celebrating the Women That Shaped the Auto Industry
In this episode we take a dive into the history of women who help create the automotive industry, all the way back to Bertha Benz, the first test driver. In our Carter Subaru Tip of the Week we cover all the resources you can use to find car shows! As promised, here is that list! Avants Lemay - Americas Car Museum Hemmings Griots Garage - Don’t forget to use code RCS10 for 10% off! Exotics at Redmond Town Center And of course we will announce them here!
The Other Putnam: Police Stories and Reality
When we say we’re a car show about people, we mean it, even our own people. In Episode 173, we have a deep, real, and still fun chat with Dan’s brother David, former Washington State Trooper, and leave nothing out. We talk police stories, car stuff, growing up with Dan, adoption, the massive drug problem, the declining police problem, and we definitely don’t hold much back. Enjoy this extended episode with 20 years of stories from being a Washington State Trooper, and so much more. This episode is not explicit, but deals with some very mature subject matter around drugs, homelessness, and automobile accidents that may no be appropriate for some younger listeners. Listener discretion is advised.