Conversations with Big Rich

Send us Fan Mail Land Cruiser Afficionado, Kurt Williams, knows every little thing you can know about Land Cruisers. That’s what happens when you take them apart piece-by-piece and then put them back together. From business to cars, Kurt knows his stuff; since 2001 he’s been at the head of Cruiser Outfitters. Join us as we talk Toyotas and adventure – lots of worldwide adventure, with Kurt. 6:08 –...

Send us Fan Mail Interested in the secret sauce?  You’re going to have to listen to it all to hear the incredible history of Marty Fiolka, Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee in 2014. Marty has had experiences we all dream about.  Listen in to catch them all, this is what we call a life well-lived! 4:18 – the first real seed of, Oh my God, Motorsports is so cool! 13:11 – I learned that craf...

Send us Fan Mail With the attention span of a 3-year-old, competitor Rob McKenney, shares some great stories. New York to the PNW, this crane operator knows his stuff and his friends. So good to talk to him again. Listen in on your favorite podcast app. 4:20 – early on, I got relieved of my privilege to ride the school bus 10:54 – if I showed up a minute late, I was working Saturdays for free 14:4...

Send us Fan Mail Former Four-Wheeler writer, Robin Stover gives us some insight on what it was like to travel during the heyday. Dakar, Baja, South Korea, it’s all there!  Listen on your favorite podcast app. This is Episode 150 – feels like a milestone!  Thank you for your support and encouragement! 2:56 – my first exposure to the off-road scene was on the Big Island 10:17 – there’s a story to ev...

Send us Fan Mail Toyota expert, Brian Ellinger, joins us on Episode 149. Brian is the owner of Front Range Offroad and Diamond Axles, a former rockcrawling competitor, Brian aspires to a quiet life where it’s less people-y. Tune in to your favorite podcast app to listen in. 6:30 – wood does things metal doesn’t, like warp when it gets wet 10:55 – the backpacking mentality works with my brain 20:07...

Send us Fan Mail One of the co-founders of Rigid Lighting, Taylor Anderson, shares life in the off-road lighting industry and what has come after. Company culture, offroad racing, and lights are part of Episode 148. Tune in on your favorite podcast app. 5:53 – the cool pines of Arizona 12:21 – who rolled one first? 17:16 – Christensen invited us in so the Anderson brothers joined up and became par...

Send us Fan Mail Ken Hower and the Rubicon Trail Foundation is all about education, that’s their mission. As a 501(c)(3) Education foundation, RTF hopes to educate all to enhance the future health of the Rubicon Trail. There’s a lot going on right now with the Trail, listen in so you can stay informed, it really is fascinating stuff! Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – subscribe so yo...

Send us Fan Mail Armando Verdugo shares his love for off-road and why he gets up in the morning to go to work! Founder of Herooffroad.org and BAM Strategic, Armando has been around the off-road block learning how to help the small business guy tie everything together. It’s a good conversation between two friends. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – subscribe so you don’t miss anything...

Send us Fan Mail CORVA President Michael McGarity explains Land Use you can understand on Episode 145 Want the insider's view of Land Use? This is the episode you need to listen to, then go back and listen to Del Albright and John Stewart and stay tuned for future episodes. Michael McGarity leads the conversation in Episode 145; the current President of CORVA brings a lot to the table, so lis...

Send us Fan Mail The mission has changed, the passion has not. Chris Brahs and Drew Garcia talk with us about the changes at Outlaw Desert Racing due to government-mandated changes in their state and how they pivoted. Adrenaline Therapy, pit support, and off-road racing across the region in support of combat veterans is their focus now. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app – a new episod...

Send us Fan Mail First-generation car guy Bryant Blakemore talks off-road racing in Texas and Mexico. He and Big Rich go in-depth on what happens when dust and brains combine. A great conversation about TDRA and TORRA mixed in with some charity work; check out https://www.torraracing.com/charity/ for some good works heading into the new year. 9:08 – I know enough Spanish to get into trouble, but n...

Send us Fan Mail Mr. 4th Place, Dave Wong, has shaken off that title to become a champion trail breaker. Dave shares his history in California and now Utah. Listen in to one of the kindest men in rockcrawling on your favorite podcast app. 7:42 – There was a lot of chocolate pudding I put down as a kid 18:51 – there’s so many stories I have about my dad, his heart was always in the right place for...

Send us Fan Mail “Write the story you just told me,” that’s the advice Sue Mead got when she was struggling, “just simply put those words down on paper,” and it wasn’t bad advice. That’s the secret to getting started with just about anything. Begin with what you know. Big Rich was privileged to interview ORMHOF inductee about her life in off-road – they talked Camel Trophy, Dakar, Gazelle, and Baj...

Send us Fan Mail Gunfighter, animator, filmmaker…I love the labels off-roaders accumulate. Everyone comes with a myriad of talents. Krawlzone.tv creator, Nathan Riddle, has been bringing us off-road content for more than ten years; it’s an awesome history. Listen in to Episode 140, and if you need to catch up – you can find all episodes on your favorite podcast apps, YouTube or www.bigrichklein.co...

Send us Fan Mail Want to know about the women in Levi’s life? He tells all about Lently, Layla, and Loretta in this conversation with Big Rich. Watching this kid grow up in racing has been a pleasure, from XRRA to Dirt Riot to racing internationally and KOH, Levi is a good egg – listen in on your favorite podcast app. 4:10 – chances are if you’ve ever had a steak, it’s from my area 9:01 – the effo...

Send us Fan Mail Tech Tim joins us to share his love of learning, self-proclaimed luckiest man in the industry; friendships and gumption have offered a lot of opportunities. ARB to Northridge with some stops along the way; Tim Lund has been all over making friends. It’s a great story, tune in on your favorite podcast app. 5:56 – Beautiful bike, right out of Monkey Ward or Sears catalog 11:46 – “wo...

Send us Fan Mail Of all the titles Ryan Miller carries, internet fact checker is one of my favorite – it’s not that he’s a smartass, he just remembers everything. What rock to turn at, which race was won by whom, how many turns of the wrench gets you the exact ride height you need. Ryan is smart and talented, listen in to this rockcrawler/navigator/racer/husband/dad/rattlesnake bite survivor, I pr...

Send us Fan Mail Bailey admits to not being very interested in motorsports as a youngster, but once she got the bug, it’s been a steady rise to the top. It’s a great place to be for this girl!  A talented driver and a great role model for all, Bailey Campbell shares her interests with us on this episode. Give it a listen on your favorite podcast app. 3:53 – my dad told me I couldn’t race unless I...

Send us Fan Mail “You don’t know what you can do until you do it, right?” Our man, Rob Usnick is still pushing the limits. From Ranger School to Bridal Fashion, and everything in between.  No, seriously, this renaissance man is throwing things up and hitting them out of the park daily.  4:35 – I put all my cards and chips in the middle 9:55 – small towns are bad when they are your small town 14:50...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for an adrenaline rush? Tom Wayes is living a storied life, it was great to hear some of that tale. Want to hear how he fought off a bear, we’ve all heard part of the story, Tom tells all right here. 5:41 – the first person to introduce me to skiing, and I was completely obsessed with it 8:48 – I wasn’t planning on staying 12:28 – as long as I had my ice tools, my crampons,...

Send us Fan Mail Humor is how you get through the tough stuff.  Chip MacLaughlin of Rufus Racing shares memories of early KOH, racing with friends, making memories, and Zandy Willems. This is life and how we live it. Thanks, Chip for a beautiful reminder. 6:25 – we built a lot of fences, dug a lot of holes 9:44 – I got pulled out by four train cars 17:25 – oh, by the way, it has to float  21:33 –...

Send us Fan Mail Our personal pit crew captain for many years, Shawn Rants shares stories of KOH, raising kids and working on high end equipment. One of our favorite because of his pure generosity of spirit. Listen up to see what makes the man. 5:26 – if it snowed 4 feet, the bus came to get us with chains on, there were no snow days 14:07– it was trying to do things differently…but a lot of times...

Send us Fan Mail Master communicator, Matson Breakey, shares growing up in California’s various cultures; car culture in Japan; MetalCloak’s history, and aspirations as a father of youngsters in his 50’s. It’s a great listen. 5:07 – You think back and go, wow, I’m still alive 8:45 – I learned early the value of communication and communication skills 17:37 – it’s easy to say you care, it’s harder t...

Send us Fan Mail Self-acclaimed wimp (yeah, right?) Jason Berger on checking off bucket-list items; living in Truckee, and racing with his best friend. Lots of great quotes and plenty of laughter with Jason and Rich in this 130th episode of Conversations with Big Rich. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast channel. 6:05 – I’m the oddest local to live in Truckee because I’ve never skied Squaw...

Send us Fan Mail Sports photographer, off-road enthusiast, marketing genius – Steven Bisig wears a ton of different hats. Listen in to two old friends talk about all the things they love in off-road. It’s a fun listen. Be sure to tune in on your favorite podcast app. 6:41 – I was home by myself and I had a BB gun 12:04– it took you this long to get a ticket?? 19:18 – that’s where I met a lot of th...