Be Differential

If you've spent time in motorsport or automotive, you've probably noticed it: the most talented person in the room doesn't always move forward. So what's actually driving advancement in this industry? In this week's Thursday Pit Stop, we unpack the real factors behind who builds momentum — and who stalls out. Hint: it's less about raw talent, and more about alignment, timin...

This week’s Thursday Pit Stop takes a closer look at something that quietly shapes nearly every opportunity in motorsport and the automotive industry: relationships. After exploring how decisions get made and how partnerships come together, this episode dives into what sits underneath both — and why it’s often misunderstood. Because relationships in this space aren’t about quick networking moments...

This week on The BeDifferential Podcast, we sit down with Theresa Contreras — a builder, designer, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation, and cultural influence. From her early entry into the automotive world to leading boundary-pushing builds through Baja Forged, Theresa shares what it really looks like to evolve from participating in the industry to ac...

This week’s Thursday Pit Stop takes a closer look at one of the most visible — and most misunderstood — parts of the motorsport industry: partnerships. From the outside, deals can look simple. A logo gets placed, a press release goes out, and everything appears to fit neatly into place. But internally, there’s a much more complex set of decisions happening — and they don’t always align with what’s...

Motorsport has long been built on access and relationships — but Erica Sietsma is working to change that. After building her career in automotive technology and digital marketing, Erica founded Autofluencer to modernize how sponsorship works in motorsports. In this episode, we explore the gap she saw in the industry and how her platform is helping make sponsorship more accessible for drivers, crea...

This week’s Thursday Pit Stop takes a step back from race results and headlines to look at how motorsport actually operates behind the scenes. Because while teams, drivers, and race strategy are the most visible parts of the sport, the decisions that shape opportunities, partnerships, and long-term direction are happening long before cars ever hit the track — and not always by the people you expec...

In this Thursday Pit Stop, we’re shifting the conversation from visibility to velocity. Women’s History Month creates moments—but real progress is built in what happens after. This episode explores the difference between celebrating inclusion and structurally embedding it into the fabric of motorsport and automotive:     •    How initiatives like Girls on Track are creating early, intentional entr...

Tiffany Lodder has built a career at the intersection of motorsport and service — but her work goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of racing. As the co-founder of Operation Motorsport, Tiffany has helped create a pathway for military veterans to find renewed purpose, community, and opportunity through motorsport. In this conversation, we explore how racing — often seen purely as competition...

What does it look like to operate at a high level — in two entirely different worlds? Sonya Lloyd is both a world championship motorcycle racer and a participant in Siemens’ Technical Marketing Leadership Development Program — a combination that challenges the idea that you have to choose between passion and profession. In this episode, we explore how Sonya navigates the intersection of motorsport...

This week’s Pit Stop explores a different kind of leadership — one that doesn’t rely on volume, but on impact. For decades, leadership in motorsport has been defined by command-and-control environments. But behind the scenes, a shift has been happening. One shaped by strategic thinking, cultural influence, and long-term vision. We look at leaders like Claire Williams, who navigated financial and o...

Industries don’t evolve accidentally — they evolve when someone builds new pathways in. In this week’s Thursday Pitstop, we’re looking at how women have helped reshape the motorsports talent pipeline by creating new points of entry into the industry. From organizations like Women in Motorsports North America building mentorship networks, scholarships, and career development opportunities, to the l...

What if there was a platform that made it easier for racers to make meaningful connections with fans, sell merch without inventory or overhead, and grow into paid partnerships at the same time? That’s the vision behind Racer on Demand, and its founder Amanda Van Den Elzen joins The BeDifferential Podcast to explain how it’s changing the game. Amanda shares the story of her path into motorsports, t...

Not every influence in motorsport happens on the podium. In this week’s Thursday Pitstop, we explore the invisible infrastructure that keeps the motorsport and automotive industries running — governance, operations, ownership, and the leadership systems that shape the future of the sport. While drivers and race results often take the spotlight, the industry itself depends on an intricate network o...

In this episode of The BeDifferential Podcast, I sit down with Allison Melangton to explore the experiences, pivotal decisions, and leadership principles that shaped her remarkable career across global sporting events and the motorsports industry. Allison shares how she first found her way into this world, the early moments that helped define her path, and the turning points that revealed the impa...

In this Thursday Pitstop episode of the BeDifferential Podcast, we’re talking about leadership — not the loudest voices or the headline-makers, but the pioneers quietly shaping automotive and motorsports culture from the inside out. As teams, brands, and organizations across the automotive and racing industries navigate shifting budgets, advancing technology, and evolving expectations, strong lead...

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Pribanic to explore what happens when a car stops being a hobby and becomes part of how you move through the world. From the moment a Porsche 356 found him to the countless miles, roadside repairs, and unforgettable trips that followed, Mark shares how driving a 60-plus-year-old car everywhere has shaped his perspective on patience, risk, and freedom. We talk...

In this Thursday Pitstop, we’re talking about one of the most common — and most honest — questions I hear: “I want to get involved in motorsports, but where do I start… and how do I stand out?” The truth is, breaking into automotive or racing doesn’t require a perfect resume, a flashy introduction, or insider connections. What it does require is curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to contribu...

What happens when a mom who’s never driven stick decides to enroll in rally school — exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure if she even belongs there? In this episode of The BeDifferential Podcast, Eva sits down with Kelly Conroy, rally racer and author of Your Mom Races Rally, to talk about what it really looks like to ditch society’s expectations and rediscover yourself — one muddy stage at a time....

In this Thursday Pitstop, Eva unpacks a question she’s hearing more and more across the automotive and motorsports space: How do brands actually stand out right now? In a landscape shaped by rapid tech shifts, evolving consumer expectations, and constant digital noise, the brands making real impact aren’t the loudest — they’re the most consistent. From Ford Racing’s community-driven storytelling t...

In this episode of The BeDifferential Podcast, Nick Ellis, Executive Director of the RPM Foundation, shares how RPM is turning classic car restoration into a movement that’s about people, skills, and legacy—not just vehicles. We dive into the urgent need to preserve traditional craftsmanship as many master artisans age out of the industry and explore how RPM’s hands-on apprenticeship program is sh...

January in motorsports feels like a sprint — Daytona sets the tone, inboxes explode, calendars fill, and it seems like the season is already in full gear. But February? That’s when reality hits. Budgets tighten, travel ramps up, timelines get compressed, and the work shifts from planning to execution. Suddenly, momentum isn’t enough — sustainability becomes the real challenge. In this Thursday Pit...

What does it really take to become a professional race car driver — especially if you didn’t start young? In this episode of The BeDifferential Podcast, host Eva Gregory sits down with Nick DeLucia, founder of Rex Racing, to break down the realities of motorsports careers, driver development, sponsorship, and sustainable racing. Nick shares how he entered motorsports later than most, why he built...

The Rolex 24 at Daytona isn’t just the season opener — it’s a reminder. In this Thursday Pitstop episode of the BeDifferential Podcast, we pause on what this year’s Rolex 24 continues to reinforce about endurance racing and the motorsports industry as a whole. Beyond the results, Daytona consistently exposes the things that matter most: preparation, adaptability, alignment, and the ability to stay...

What happens when the version of yourself that once felt safe no longer fits? In this deeply reflective episode of The BeDifferential Podcast, host Eva Gregory sits down with Kristen Angelica Montgomery to explore identity, reinvention, and what it truly means to begin again — especially when the timing doesn’t look “typical.” Kristen opens up about navigating major life pivots, rebuilding her sen...

Breaking into motorsports doesn’t have to mean breaking yourself. In this episode of the Thursday pitstop, host Eva shares personal insights from her own journey navigating burnout, overcommitment, and the pressure to constantly say yes. She discusses the realities of early careers, financial challenges, and the tension between ambition and sustainability — and offers practical perspective on how...