Monki Moto Pod

Let's talk about AI. It's new, it's changing. It's changing the way we think... is that scary? Maybe! Exciting? Maybe! I host 4 guests on my podcast today to talk about motorcycles... in an unconventional way. I also did a lot of extra work to edit this podcast. PHEW! Hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think in the comments. !!! Thank you to Adrian Law Firm 818-562-7407

James, owner of Driven Strength Club, is on the pod today to talk about his humble beginnings. Driven Strength Club is a gym and social/event space for members and was founded on the basis of connection and camaraderie.  Find out how army service, mechanical engineering, and a deep interest in car culture led him to open Driven Strength Club. I like the gym, it helped me get through a tough time i...

Driving and riding off-road is fun, most of the time! Mark details types of off-roading activities, how he enjoys off-roading as a hobby, and tells funny tales about helping his friends solve technical problems on the trail. Find out what happens when you take a boat off-road, how to prepare for a trip going away from civilization, and what kinds of rigs and accessories are required for such an ac...

Do you ride like motorcycles are your religion? Well, I was raised catholic christian. I no longer consider myself a follower of secular religion. That being said, many of the christian ideas stuck with me. Particularly, because much of my United States experience has been shaped by religion—whether I like it or not. I snickered when I met Moto Jesus in the canyons and kept running into him at “Su...

Hideo “Pops” Yoshimura was born in Fukuoka City, Japan in the 1920s. He was called into military service during the WWII where he was trained as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, he began tuning motorcycles for American servicemen stationed in Japan. In 1954, he opened his first shop. Pops opened a shop in Hollywood, CA in 1971 right when four-cylinder superbikes were becoming popular & sta...

When I first interviewed Lisa (for this episode), she welcomed me into her home and we also went dirt biking together. I felt the love! Since then, she has been on the pod in the Babes in the Dirt 2024 episode! My talk with her in this episode is about her business, Tomboy At Heart. We talk about how and why she created her brand and about her interest in motorcycles. I’ve come to know her over th...

Welcome to a special episode of tangent times and fun facts about the farthest north state in the USA! Mark gets a front row seat to the Alaskan feral motorsports storytime. I grew up in a town of roughly 500 people and when my family moved us to Fairbanks in middle school, I found my way around via bicycle. I didn’t know the depth of AK motorsports until I did some research for this episode. Sinc...

What do bikes and jetskis have in common? Not brakes. I met my neighbors, Andrew and Rachel, thanks to Mark and his YZ250X. Rachel and I have ridden dirt bikes together several times since we met. Today, she teaches me about the world of jet sports and about her achievements racing in this very niche sport. She and her partner Andrew race vintage 2-stroke jetskis and own Ace Performance, which bui...

What do Venice gay guys and Venice Vintage Club motorcyclists have in common? For sure, they both like to have a fun time; and like the beach. Brady Walker joins me to talk about how organizing parties in Venice Beach led to his many motorcycling events that he regularly hosts year round today. I met with Brady to find out how one man has enough energy, time, and resources to do it all. His experi...

I spoke with several racers about their experiences at CVMA round 3 from this past weekend. Listen to it because we put some hard work into making this happen! Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association racing is a weekend event that local racers and pros gather to race at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, CA. Support Velocity Tape, get COOL graphics velocitytape@gmail.com

He’s the Battle Star. What? Don’t you know how cool that sounds to a little kid? Did you forget how excited you were back then... about EVERYTHING? My guest, Joe, and I encourage you to not forget that. I talk with Joe about racing with WERA & CVMA, his journey to be authentically himself, and uncover the real trophy of club racing motorcycles in Southern California.  We also talk about native...

On this episode of Conversation Hour :  Milica is on again and we're extrapolating on the idea that motorcycling is art; Tara has a theory about what brings true happiness in life; we discuss our disgust (or fascination) with “doing it for the gram”; and, conclude that there is a lot to be grateful for when it comes to people and motorcycles.  From custom bike builders to racing, and creating cont...

Have you ever been to Babes in the Dirt or Babes Ride Out? Surrounded by dirt bike riding ladies from all walks of life, I found myself immersed in a recharging weekend. Special thanks to Lisa, Jay, Christina, Milica, Cassey, Mandy, and Dana for giving me a bit of their time on Monday so this episode could air this week! If you need custom graphics for race bikes, helmets, or business decals, cont...

If you want to know how to ride a sportbike , you have probably heard of California Superbike School. Keith Code began his first one-on-one courses in 1976 and since then the school has grown to have classes worldwide with roughly 3,500 students per year. They had 80 school days this calendar year alone.  I spoke with Dylan Code, son of Keith Code, about how the school operates and the standards t...

It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood for a ride. It’s especially cool when you meet your neighbor who lives around the block at Newcomb’s Ranch. Earl, a retired aerospace engineer, talks with me about his time growing up in Korea, racing motocross and his interests in mechanical engineering. Over the course of his life, he’s achieved retirement with a BIG smile on his face - every day. Find ou...

Like guilt tripping but actually useful, yes? Your girl took a much needed solo trip to Northern California to go visiting people and places. Ones that I have come to love more and some new ones too. I primarily visited my family in Santa Rosa, CA. I took my van and Honda Monkey which turned out to be the perfect fit for the trip. My biggest takeaway = cows, open spaces, little snails, and funny b...

I'm happy to welcome a true trailblazer to the pod, Kaitlynn Kirk! She is the owner and operator at Women's Dirtbike Training Academy (WDTA) where she gives one on one coaching and creates opportunities for dirt bike lovers to get together and go on trail rides. Listen in to learn about her upbringing in the desert, the challenges she works through to run a successful business, and why she is resp...

Kel teaches me about how his Honda Ruckus brought him closer to his neighborhood community and how his passions led him to create a moto subculture of friendship. Kel, of Eagle Rock, as I call him, has been a long-time friend from the LAMR group. He's always had my back and been a fun(ny) friend to be around. He taught me quite a lot about customizing bikes from a hobbyist perspective and motivate...

In 2022, I bought a cargo van and moved out of my apartment 2 months later. I did it for various reasons, but the main reason was that I needed to create stability for myself and less reliance on money and other people (strangers) for things to live my life. Of course, that didn't mean shutting out the world, no. In fact, my relationships, my interests, and my time were top priority. Catch me outs...

Besties, riding dirt bikes, being brave and making lifelong friends. That’s the theme of this girl group who I had the pleasure to meet and get to know at Women’s Dirtbike Spring Campout. Jay, Christine (meow) and Pao join me to talk about how their friendship started and became a valuable part of each of their lives. Find out about rescue llamas, hill climbs (literal and metaphorical), and Tara’s...

A long-time neighbor and friend, Troy, joins me today to talk about loving Los Angeles, even in the hardest of times. Though being financially and emotionally challenged, we both used our own experiences to come out triumphant in our own ways. Troy came from Houston on a bet and soon ran into many issues while trying to gain his footing. During our time knowing each other, we were able to relate o...

Just have fun, ride all the bikes, and big thanks to Joe. Tommy joins me today to talk about motorcycle track riding, how he snuck his first bike into his parent’s yard, and the intricacies of riding. I met Tommy at the track, his second home, and have been running into him constantly there ever since. Find out why he’s a pretty cool dude to talk about bikes with. Follow @suhslow on Instagram, CVM...

Girl. Talk. Now. CVMA champion, R6 Ana teaches me how to ride the track. In our conversation, she talks about how she got started on two wheels and how she became as fast as she is today. Through our conversation I learn to appreciate her more deeply for the support she provides to the SoCal motorcycle community. Working with CA Superbike School and her many experiences as a control rider gave way...

On Conversation Hour, Mark and Tara talk about a recent trip to NY, via Ohio and Pennsylvanian roads. We rented motorcycles to get to a VERY important wedding in upstate NY. While our time with friends was unforgettable, we also enjoyed many surprises along the route. We certainly met a few outstanding people, one of which, I hope to have on the podcast soon. Did we forget to talk about corn??? Hi...

I’m getting some advice from Turin, adventure rider and motorcycle instructor. He recently came back from a trip to my home state, Alaska. We discuss good practices as a motorcycle traveler and some of the challenges that one faces along a route. He’s off to Ireland so better believe he will have more stories to tell later on. Sign up for a track day with Highway 2 Trackdays:  https://www.redbirds...