Episode 114: Before-Times Podcasting

The host reflects on a chaotic trip to the New York Auto Show, where a missed flight due to Delta’s oversight left him sprinting to meet contacts—only to spend just 30 minutes in the convention hall. Amid a lackluster display of new vehicles, he highlights the Hyundai Boulder concept as a rare moment of genuine surprise, calling it a 'cool' Wrangler-Defender hybrid. He argues that the auto industry is now in a 'before times' era, with Chinese automakers poised to revitalize the scene. Drawing parallels to past oil crises, he notes how current EU energy policies—like reduced speed limits and remote work mandates—mirror 1970s rationing, ironically pushing EV adoption. He also shares a personal story of nearly killing himself as a 10-year-old while roller-skating at top speed, mimicking Olympic speed skater Eric Heiden, only to crash into a neighbor’s Camaro. The episode closes with a sharp critique of American car culture, declaring crossovers 'for children' and urging men to embrace dignified, four-door sedans like the Genesis G80 as symbols of adult responsibility. The tone is darkly humorous, self-deprecating, and politically charged, framing personal recklessness and societal decline as intertwined. The episode’s core message is that the auto industry’s stagnation is not a temporary slump but a sign of deeper systemic collapse—what the host calls the 'before times.