Conversations with Big Rich

Send us Fan Mail Bill Sanders on Episode 228, a legendary journalist who excelled in elevating off-road racing to worldwide recognition. At 92 years old, history was made and retold in this interview. We talk about all the racing, writing and sport that Bill has been a part of. Bill was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2014. Bill is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be s...

Send us Fan Mail Whitewater to Off-road, the background of our guests is always fascinating. Join Rich and Chris Walker from Overland Training Canada for more adventure on Episode 227. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:51 – very quickly, I found my passion was the outdoors – mountaineering, kayaking, flying, diving, caving and what have you  12:34– Gosh, I hurt myself a lot, nearly...

Send us Fan Mail From Slot cars to NASCAR, Mark Stahl has a storied past in racing, catch up with him on  Episode 226. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 2:52 – I guess you could say I was a professional slot car racer  7:29– We went to Tijuana and got a fake birth certificate so I could race at age 16; Cajon Speedway required you to be 18              16:01 – Well, off-road racing, t...

Send us Fan Mail “If I’m going to weld, it might as well be for myself,” we couldn’t agree more. Join Todd Gronsdahl from Aqualu Industries and Big Rich on Episode 225. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 6:57 – I took any job I could get because I really didn’t have any skillset  11:15– Rich: I asked your wife, “Is that your boyfriend?” She says, God, no, that’s my husband, my boyfrie...

Send us Fan Mail Derek Trent, master fabricator and owner of Trent Fab joins us on Episode 224. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:11 – a couple of times I got in some trouble with the law and was told to push my motorcycle home  16:16– I was 21 years old and I hit a point where I had to make a “What am I going to do?” decision              24:31 – out of the box, a YJ was pretty da...

Send us Fan Mail Bart Jacobs hails from Utah and has participated in every extreme sport the state offers – from skiing to mountain biking to OG rockcrawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:41 – I decided, as stupid 16-year-olds do, that drag racing would be fun.  10:40 – I was still ski-jumping and ended up hurting my leg, for rehab, I started mountain biking, and doing longer...

Send us Fan Mail Diesel mechanic – because he had to be – Logan Backus shares life in the trenches, the rockcrawling trenches, with all of us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:48 – We were known for the kids in the neighborhood to build the biggest, baddest jumps out there.  14:43 – my dad’s like, “I don’t know why you want a truck like that? They’re expensive and they break.”   ...

Send us Fan Mail Meet the Desert Rat in his Desert Toy, John James, D-Toy in the old Pirate days shares his history in rock-crawling. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:57 – We learned how to fight early, and we were little guys, so if one us got in a fight, both of us got in a fight.  15:09 – one of the best things I did, not just going to school in Phoenix, but just moving to Phoe...

Send us Fan Mail Cal Wells III on Episode 220. Such a privilege to interview Cal Wells. We talk about all the racing, racing, racing that Cal has been a part of. Cal was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2020. Cal is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 5:13 – I could get from Westminster to downtown LA in 35 minutes, and now...

Send us Fan Mail From multiple subscriptions to multiple books – Sean P. Holman, writer, editor, businessman, dad. Follow his journey through the media. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 5:06 – growing up, you could get yourself in as much trouble as you wanted to  8:57 – what can I get away with before my mom would get mad at me for spending money on something I probably didn’t need...

Send us Fan Mail Skyjacker President Lonnie McCurry, Jr. shares his faith, family, and future with us on Episode 218. A strong family man, he brings West Monroe, Louisiana, to life for us. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 2:45 – this area of Louisiana is all about hunting, fishing, and family  9:14 – my parents were great about not forcing me into the business – y’all go make an edu...

Send us Fan Mail Our very own people person, Alan Johnson, has spent a lifetime helping people. With good listening and great photography skills, Alan is a storyteller. I’m proud to call him my friend. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:03 – my dad took typing because that’s where the pretty girls were; he claims typing saved his life.  10:32 – I really wanted to be on the radio, so...

Send us Fan Mail Rich Minga got his start in off-road racing, then turned it into a career in the movie business.  Stuntman to the stars, winners do daily what losers do occasionally. Rich is a winner. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:57 – I thought I’d learn from the school of hard knocks. I was a better student of the universe than the school system  12:43 – It’s not O-N-E, it’s...

Send us Fan Mail World champion speed skier turned rockcrawler, John Hembel, shares techniques in improving all skills on Episode 215. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 9:48 – I worked ski rentals, at the end of the day there’d be a huge pile in the middle of the ski shop; my job was to pair them all up together and put them awayl  17:30 – I actually got a soccer scholarship to a sch...

Send us Fan Mail Brent Bradshaw is a master with many things, known for supporting the Samurai community as the hands behind TrailTough, he’s transitioned to a cancer-free simpler life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:24 – my dad was real proud of the parts he was able to sneak home  11:57 – my whole life, I would nail tricycle wheels or lawn mower wheels to 2x4s to make go-karts...

Send us Fan Mail Justin Hall began as a rockcrawling and racing competitior. Moving from a Suzuki Samurai to an Unlimited car, then jumping over to the 4500 class, Justin grew up in rock sports. If you’re looking to do the same, listen in for some great advice. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:42 – I watched it go from small town to big town with a ridiculous amount of people  8:0...

Send us Fan Mail Land use warrior, Amy Granat, Managing Director of CORVA (California Off Road Vehicle Association) joins us for a discussion of what’s on the table for off-road and why it matters to her. Amy is a leader in the fight to keep public lands open to the public. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:47 – You have to be more calculated, …I call it being pointed but polite  1...

Send us Fan Mail Ivan Stewart on Episode 211. Such a privilege to interview the Ironman. We talk about all the dreams and adventures, and the timing, the all-important timing! Ivan was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Ivan is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 2:19 – the race is almost secondary, the pre-running and t...

Send us Fan Mail Born to a family of Italian immigrants, Butch Arciero and his brothers understood the value of hard work. A lifetime of commitment to that landed him in the Hall of Fame.  Butch was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2019. Butch is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 3:23 – my mom was on the last ship that cam...

Send us Fan Mail After four full years of podcasting, we bring you the most important episode to date to kick off Season 5. An interview with Sean Pond, the de facto leader of the Halt the Dolores Movement shares why stopping this National Monument designation in its tracks. Please listen on your favorite podcast app and follow-up with the Call to Action. Sean needs our help. 6:12 – what the Navy...

Send us Fan Mail Wrong seat filler, Chris Rea, shares perspective on what it takes to be lucky. Listen in as one of the Lost Boys shares how going all in (on whatever you’re doing) has an impact on life. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:25 – my dad had to pull me out of t-ball because I was too competitive  9:45 – for my sister and I, sports were life.              13:24 – if you...

Send us Fan Mail A warrior in all respects, Ray Moon fought in Vietnam and continued fighting for our rights when he returned. Land warriors were as important in the beginning as they are now. Ray was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1979. Ray is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 3:12 – I had my first encounter with a Jeep...

Send us Fan Mail Mastercraft has had some powerful owners, from founder Jack Miller to daughter, Peri Kalar, to ORMHOF inductee Robbie Pierce. Hear about how it began all those years ago and the forces behind it. Peri shares some life-changing experiences with you. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. 4:16 – he was in the army and became a parachute rigger, that’s where he learned to se...

Send us Fan Mail Family legacy racer, Mark McMillin, chairman of the Board of the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame shares life in the McMillin family. It’s all about people, with a few race cars and some river-time thrown in. Mark was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Mark is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 2:46 –...

Send us Fan Mail Johnny Campbell, 11-time Baja Champion, Johnny has raced, supported, and managed the American Honda team. A fun listen, Johnny shares stories from around the world. Johnny was inducted in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Johnny is why we say; legends live at ORMHOF.org.  Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 9:17 – at a local level, I had a couple number o...