The Creative Drive

In this episode, The Creative Drive dives into the world of Christopher Bowes, the visionary behind Subaru's Launch Control, the long lasting YouTube series that reshaped how fans experience factory-backed motorsports. From his early inspiration to founding Bowes Media Inc., Chris shares how he blends storytelling craft with emotional authenticity — creating work that goes beyond cars and competit...

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks. ...

Host Taro Koki interviews one of the most fearless innovators in car culture: Bisi Ezerioha of Bisimoto Engineering. You might know him for his viral 1,000-horsepower minivan, electric Porsche 935 builds, or wild collaborations with brands like Hyundai, Honda, and Porsche — but there’s way more to his story. In this episode, Bisi shares how he went from pharmaceutical scientist to full-time tuner...

In this episode of The Creative Drive, host Taro Koki sits down with the one and only Larry Chen. Larry is one of the most iconic and influential automotive photographers and content creators in the world today. Known for his unmistakable style, relentless work ethic, and deep love for car culture, Larry has become the go-to visual storyteller for some of the biggest names in motorsports and the a...

In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with Kenji Sumino from GReddy Performance Inc., the U.S. division of Japan's Trust Company Ltd., based in Irvine, California. Under his leadership, GReddy has become a prominent name in the automotive aftermarket industry, specializing in performance parts for Japanese vehicles, including turbochargers, exhaust systems, and electronics. Sumino has pla...

In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with award-winning motorsport photographer Jamey Price to explore what it takes to freeze speed, emotion, and intensity in a single frame. From F1 paddocks to IMSA and WEC endurance races around the world, Jamey shares his journey into motorsports photography, his creative process under pressure, and what it's like living life behind the lens on the g...

Get NordVPN at http://www.nordvpn.com/RACER  Robert Wickens’ return to racing was nothing short of incredible—and behind it was a groundbreaking piece of tech built by Bosch. In this episode of Creative Drive, we sit down with Brooke Bond, Operations & Marketing Lead at Bosch Motorsport North America, to talk about how their team developed tech that helped Wickens get back on track after his l...

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we sit down with Doug O’Donnell, IMSA Brand & Marketing Communications at IMSA and former marketing leader at the San Antonio Spurs, to talk about what it takes to grow and modernize motorsports for a new generation of fans. Doug shares insights from his NBA days, lessons in brand storytelling, and how IMSA is building emotional connections with fans, man...

Shelby Hall is an off-road racer, automotive enthusiast, and content creator, best known for her achievements in off-road endurance racing and her role as an ambassador for Ford Performance. She is the granddaughter of legendary off-road racer Rod Hall, a Hall of Fame inductee known for his dominance in events like the Baja 1000. Carrying on her family’s racing legacy, Shelby has competed in event...

Ed Justice Jr. is a well-known figure in the automotive and motorsports industry, recognized for his work as the President and CEO of Justice Brothers, Inc., a company specializing in high-performance automotive additives, lubricants, and car care products. He is also a respected historian, broadcaster, and photographer, with deep ties to racing culture and a passion for preserving motorsports his...

This podcast is brought to you by https://nordvpn.com/racer Use coupon code - "racer" to get up to 80% off + 4 extra months on selected 2-year plans.  Matt Farah, a pioneer in the automotive YouTube and podcasting space, joins the Creative Drive podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of content creation. We dive into why he believes AI will negatively impact creators and how that influenced his...

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we sit down with legendary filmmaker, photographer, and race car driver Jeff Zwart to explore his incredible career in storytelling, advertising, and motorsports. From directing Super Bowl commercials to dominating Pikes Peak, Jeff shares insights into his creative process, passion for Porsche, and the future of filmmaking. We Cover: 🎬 Super Bowl Commercials...

Dai Yoshihara was street drifting as a hobby in the mountains of rural Tokyo when a friend of a friend hit him up to go drifting in California. He had never competed in a Japanese drifting event and somehow ended up in the US as a professional drift racer. A few months later, he had sponsors and became one of the star drivers of the growing professional drift organization, Formula D. He won the Fo...

In this episode, we sit down with Jesse Iwuji, a true trailblazer in motorsports and beyond. From playing Division-1A college football to rising through the ranks as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Jesse is now the only current NASCAR national-level driver serving in the military. His journey is one of resilience, service, and breaking barriers—both in business and on the track. A...

Sean Klingelhoefer is a commercial and editorial photographer, artist and car enthusiast. We discuss his personal journey starting out as a staff photographer for Super Street and becoming a photo journalist for Speedhunters. He has shot commercially for various automotive brands such as Porsche, Volvo, Honda/Acura, Cadillac and many more. Sean has also shot for RACER magazine.  The Creative Drive...

 "RACER20" for 20% off at http://www.carrarabooks.com! Ryan Zummallen is the founder and president of Carrara Books and author of The Cult of GT-R.  Sam Mitani is the former International Editor at Roa & Track and the author of the Prototype Trilogy. The Creative Drive is a podcast hosted by Racer’s Creator Network President Taro Koki, dedicated to exploring the world of creativity within the...

We sit down with Jim Liaw, General Manager of Performance Racing Industry (PRI) and co-founder of Formula Drift. In this interview, Jim shares insights into his journey from establishing Formula Drift to leading PRI, discussing the marketing, evolution of motorsports and the industry's future. Don't miss this engaging conversation with a key figure in the racing world which took place at the PRI S...

Paul Taublieb is a multi Emmy-winning filmmaker renowned for his work in action sports and motorsports. He has directed and produced numerous feature documentaries, television series, and viral videos. His notable works include "Unchained: The Untold Story of Freestyle Motocross", "Blink of an Eye" and his latest film "Pay Dirt:The Story of Supercross" comes out in theaters in January, 2025.  "Pay...

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we sit down with Suellio Almeida to explore his inspiring journey from sim racing to becoming a real-world race car driver, winning the 2024 Radical North America Championship and recently signing with Bryan Herta Autosport to compete in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Suellio shares how virtual racing fueled his passion for motorsports, the challenges he...

In this episode, host Taro Koki interviews Bobby Akin, a seasoned television and content marketing executive with deep roots in motorsports. Bobby’s multifaceted career spans professional racing, media ventures, and contributions to the motorsports community. Growing up as the son of legendary racer Bob Akin, Bobby shares how his upbringing influenced his path from the track to a successful career...

Michael Alan Ross is an automotive author, photographer and filmmaker. His recent book Porsche Outlaws Stuttgart Hot Rods is a visually captivating book that dives into the subculture of Porsche enthusiasts who defy convention. The book celebrates the creativity and individuality of those who modify classic Porsche cars, turning them into unique "outlaws." Featuring stunning photography by Ross an...

Join us as we chat with HondaPro Jason, the ultimate Honda enthusiast and advocate! From his passion for Honda culture to insider knowledge of the brand’s latest innovations, discover what drives his love for all things Honda. #HondaProJason #HondaLife #CarCultureThe Creative Drive is a podcast hosted by Racer’s Creator Network President Taro Koki, dedicated to exploring the world of creativity wi...

In this podcast interview, we dive deep into the mind of Chris Stewart, the visionary founder of GRIDLIFE, the one-of-a-kind motorsports and music festival. From its grassroots beginnings in 2013 to becoming a cultural phenomenon, GRIDLIFE has redefined what it means to experience racing, music, and community. Chris's upbringing and the inspiration behind creating GRIDLIFE. The unique blend of mot...

Host Taro Koki welcomes NASCAR pit reporter, former Top Gear USA, Floor is Lava host and overall awesome car guy, Rutledge Wood to The Creative Drive podcast. This recording took place during the 2024 SEMA Show where Rutledge was part of the unveiling of several project cars for Toyota. They touch on the Supra Bird which was inspired by Richard Petty, the Toyota Drift Truck and many other vehicles...

Meet the founders of Built By Legends, the groundbreaking restomod project that's redefining iconic Japanese tuner cars from the '80s and '90s. Masa Kuji and Katsu Takahashi, two lifelong car enthusiasts with a shared passion for Japanese automotive culture. Raised overseas (Masa in Canada and Katsu in the UK and Australia), they bring a unique global perspective to their mission of restoring and...