Conversations with Big Rich

Send us Fan Mail Let’s do Epic Sh*T! You will laugh out loud with us on this episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Guest, Phil Norvold, founder of Max-Bilt Offroad is a natural storyteller, come along for the adventure that starts with a pizza.  We talk Max-Bilt, leading, Epic Willy’s Adventure, and Mo-hab! 6:39 – I liked taking things apart, if they went back together that was a bonus! 13:04 –...

Send us Fan Mail Crazy Doug with some crazy stories. Shooting golf clubs, racing down ski hills on wheels, blood boosting, cocoa leaves, Baja, rockcrawling. If it includes adventure, this episode has it. Join Doug Hayduk and Big Rich for Episode 102. 5:28 – I won the hill climb three years in a row. 9:53 – I was charge with solving the welding cracking problems on titanium 14:41 – mountain bikers...

Send us Fan Mail Hooked on cars since age 2, Andy Lilienthal is now Warn Industries Strategic Communications Manager. That seems like a mouthful, what you need to know about Andy is that he’s a cars and community kinda guy. He can talk about them, write about them, and work on them. Our kind of human. Listen in as Andy gives us some background on how he got to this point in his career. 2:44 – Hot...

Send us Fan Mail A renaissance man, Corey Osborne keeps re-inventing himself and his ideals by learning everything he can. From corporate suit to off-road guy, Corey brings the CTI trailer to the masses for conversation and insight. Join him at Modern Jeeper online or one of their many adventures. 3:57– It’s a demented curiosity… 13:43 – are you sure this is something you want to do? 21:37 – so th...

Send us Fan Mail Alan Woodson of Axis Fabrication, an OG rockcrawler, dishes dirt with Rich on Episode 99. A true east coast competitor, Alan shares his love of travel and building with all of us. 3:13– growing up in a big, little city 11:17 – Scott bailed me out 19:14 – Full Disclosure: I did something to deserve the ability to not have my license 39:13 – let me tell you about how I met Charlie 4...

Send us Fan Mail IH8MUD founder, Brian “Woody” Swearingen, was on the internet before most of us knew what it was. Driving one of his 8 vehicles on the hardest core trails, you find Woody wherever the people are. Check out this episode number 98 4:05– we mowed seven days a week, every hour that we could 9:56 – I basically scrubbed floors and cleaned toilets in a suit and tie for years 11:13 – the...

Send us Fan Mail Work seems to be the only word in Rusty Megois’ vocabulary. Owner of Rusty’s Off-Road in Rainbow City, Alabama, Rusty shares the friendships that have helped him through the changes in the industry. 3:12– a neighbor started fueling the fire for being outdoorsl 8:34 – I try to push my guys to do more and do better 14:50 – I just brought more knowledge that I was acquiring on the we...

Send us Fan Mail Multi-faceted, Poly Dave Schlossberg tells his story on Episode 96. Bringing the energy, experience, and education to build things that are more than the sum of their parts, Synergy and Poly Performance are running at full steam. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:24 – …he wrapped his whole house in tin foil 15:04 – I had passed out and spilled some Goldschlager on...

Send us Fan Mail Knowing what you want to do from first grade. Priceless. Meet Scott Trimarco, the pump guy. Scott is the man when it comes to hydraulic steering pumps – high flow applications is where his product thrives.  Listen in to hear how all that came about. Scott’s Custom Offroad. www.scottscustomoffroad.com  10:28 – I want to design cars 15:18 – she’d make shirts with the pocket upside d...

Send us Fan Mail Living life on his own terms, Randy Ellis, on Episode 94. From tearing up trucks to building them, Randy is chasing sunshine in Mexico now on Simplify. Listen in as Big Rich and Randy share what it was like in the Phoenix desert when rockcrawling was still new. 5:06 – vroom, vroom dad 14:04 – at 16, I started flipping cars 17:56 – If you boys are going to play, you got to learn ho...

Send us Fan Mail Classically trained guitarist to self-proclaimed Jeep guy, Christian Hazel of MotorTrend Group on Episode 93. There’s a lot about Christian you wouldn’t guess by his outward appearance. Rock-n-roller, scientific editor, long-distance commuter, listen in to find out where his story began and where he is now with all the changes MotorTrend had undergone. 3:53 – that’s the kind of sp...

Send us Fan Mail All-American Badass, JT Taylor, on Episode 92.  JT is currently the race director for American Offroad Endurance working with Mid-America Outdoors, but that’s just the latest feather in his cap. Former race director at Ultra4, racer extraordinaire in all forms of go-fast, especially Baja. JT has seen and done more than most.  Listen in for a few chuckles, a lot of history, and mor...

Send us Fan Mail Trending on Conversations with Big Rich is Senior Director of Marketing for Jeep & Off-Road Brands at Truck Hero, Lee Riser. Lee chased her career around Monroe, Louisiana with Superlift and Skyjacker, landing at Truck Hero recently. Listen in on a marketing 101 class for anyone in the industry. We support strong women in off-road!. 1:54 – This industry is definitely where I’v...

Send us Fan Mail Serial entrepreneur Chris Overacker on Episode 90.  Founder of Stage West Offroad Outfitters, Mountain Off-Road Enterprises, and CODE 4x4 talks engineering, building, marketing, Jeeps, and full-size. 4:22 – “Well, you must not have been trying very hard!” 8:12 – I found the light! 13:11 – How come you didn’t tell me that slider was in there backward?? 21:18 – Lee Sharp was a fanta...

Send us Fan Mail Your Off-Road Connection, Keith Bailey, from Alabama shares off-road, wheeling and Ultimate Adventure with Big Rich on Episode 89. 4:22 – It’s called fishing, not catching 13:37 – Gray Rock came along at the best time 20:30 – I don’t know if the mods ever stopped on that ‘84 26:43 – Debbie gave me the confidence to quit and go full-time 32:26 – Since ’03, I haven’t missed a UA sin...

Send us Fan Mail The Fishdood, Austin “Fish” Farner joins Rich for Episode 88. Right seat, left seat, media, Fish has done it all. Listen in as they talk desert racing and Fishgistics. 5:19 – Where does Fish come from? 9:09 – we raced in the 1450 class back in the day 14:57 – you can barely get a flat tire anymore and expect to win a race 20:58 – “Oh my God, is he really doing that right now?” 27:...

Send us Fan Mail From heavy equipment in third-world countries to desert racing, Steve Sullivan has seen more than most.  He’s a good guy to have in your corner on a bad day. Listen in on Episode 87 as Steve and Big share old stories of VORRA. 4:15 – it was a nickel a day for all you could drink lemonade 8:23 – everybody that was in Cycle News was at that birthday party 13:30 – you’ve seen the mov...

Send us Fan Mail A man in uniform, Del Albright has worn them all. Join us for an insightful look into Del’s life and career on Episode 86. We’re talking band, military, firefighting, and land use in just a quick minute. 3:32 – Leave it to Beaver incarnate 7:15 – we’d stop when we got to the Colorado River 16:38 – I needed some padding in the back of this 58 station wagon – to transport my musical...

Send us Fan Mail Jeepers Den and Ricky Artes are synonymous with Florida wheeling. You’ll find Ricky everywhere.  Check out how he got started and where he’s going from here in Episode 85 of Conversations with Big Rich. 5:56 – I need to get out of the sun 12:39 – the biggest thing was customer service and work ethic 20:56 – I’m still pulling sand out of my Jeep 30:51 – I was still painting the dam...

Send us Fan Mail Current president of Terra Del Sol Jeep club, Bill Kassler, on episode 84.  TDS hosts the annual Desert Safari on state parks lands near Ocotillo Wells.  They are gearing up for their 60th anniversary, Bill shares what their plans are.  Stay tuned, it’s going to be a good one. 3:17 – the beginning of On Any Sunday was any day in SoCal 6:21 – motorcycles kept us out of trouble 13:1...

Send us Fan Mail Saharan desert driver to tech editor, the path Verne Simons took along the way. There is science involved in episode 83 of Conversations with Big Rich. 1:52 – we’re all kind of married to this thing called off-road 8:52 – I stayed in a Bedouin tent as kid in the middle of the desert 12:49 – the ladies are in charge (we’re talking about lemurs here!) 19:32 – you don’t get pulled ov...

Send us Fan Mail Energetic entrepreneur, Greg Higgs, has traveled many routes around the world.  Join us as the Fab Fours founder talks about bumpers, soapboxes, and supply chains. Episode 82 of Conversations of Big Rich. 3:18 – we bought that money pit 13:26 – drinking a beer around the same exact fire 17:27 – just the terrain and humidity changes 23:48 – a motto I’ve half-lived with – if you can...

Send us Fan Mail Coming off a fresh win at the Rebelle Rally, Champion Nena Barlow, shares life, training, adventure, and the 2021 Rebelle with us. A master trainer, business owner, and self-proclaimed off-road enthusiast, Nena provides a lot of insight into what makes a perfect Rebelle and how others can better their experience. 3:30 – Jeeps and trucks and tractors, I drove everything 7:55 – I ge...

Send us Fan Mail Lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kurt Schneider in Episode 80.  Wearing a lot of hats:  teacher, coach, land use advocate, Kurt influences others, the right way, by telling stories. 4:59 – heads we go to Florida, tails we go west, and it came up tails 8:07 – Life is about experiences 12:01 – there are pine trees! 13:45 – my dad introduces me to Ansel Adams 19:31 – close the hood and w...

Send us Fan Mail Frank the Tank on Episode 79!  Listen in on Frank Alioto’s journey from mechanical engineer to Edelbrock to where he is now. His no-nonsense attitude after a life-altering accident has him back in an LJ and on the trails. This is a good one! 5:01 – we went 2 miles an hour all day and I had the best time! 9:07 – I did burnouts on Woodward in Detroit 12:58 – my first job out of coll...