HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began

About HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began

The HOT ROD Pod: Where It All Began brings 75 years of journalism and storytelling to the audio waves as hosts Brian Lohnes and John McGann sit down with the automotive aftermarket's latest trendsetters, motorsport mavens, and mechanical wizards on where they've been and where the hobby and sport are headed.

Publisher

Hearst Autos LLC / Hot Rod

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Dec 2023

Latest episode

11 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 20 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   11 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   From a $350 Toolbox to a 7-Year Waitlist: How Tim Palazzolo Built GAP Industries

   What started as a leap of faith in a home garage grew into one of the most sought-after muscle car shops, built on craftsmanship, persistence, and the right team. Tim Palazzolo joins the HOT ROD Pod to tell the story of how GAP Industries became a destination for some of the most incredible muscle car builds in the country. Read the full article here ➡️: https://www.hotrod.com/features/tim-palazzolo-gap-industries-custom-car-shop-origin

2. 

   2 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   What Are Car Condos? Inside the Rise of Garage Ultimate’s Car Community

   A lawyer-turned-developer creates a thriving car condo community where enthusiasts store cars, connect, and expand a fast-growing trend.

3. 

   26 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   An Oil Engineer Tells All! The HOT ROD Podcast visits the Shell and Pennzoil Tech Center

   Go inside the Shell & Pennzoil Technology Center as Pennzoil Technical Scientist Sean Nguyen breaks down the real science behind modern motor oil. From advanced chemistry and thermodynamics to cutting‑edge manufacturing techniques, Sean reveals how today’s oils help engines run cleaner, cooler, and longer than ever before. Drag Week racer Alex Taylor joins as guest host, bringing her 200‑mph perspective on pushing lubricants to the limit. If you’ve ever wondered how engine oil is developed—or what makes top‑tier oil essential for high‑performance builds—this episode is a must‑watch.

Inside a recent episode

From a $350 Toolbox to a 7-Year Waitlist: How Tim Palazzolo Built GAP Industries

Published 11 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] But like, where do you how do you manage that? We're your friends, but you're also they're still your customer. I think all my customers become my friends. I mean, that's kind of how it is. And so like one that we're doing this cook off with right now, he he'll go to he was at the Grand National with me. He didn't have a car there. He showed up. Corvette didn't run. Obviously, they had some issues with the motor. So he helped me push the car in and out. I mean, he's just there. He supports me. So when he was like, hey, we're doing this cook-off, I'm like, I'm there. What is it going to be? You just have to give the same to them as they give to you and understand that this is their investment and they're entrusting you. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

90 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

42 ratings

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