The Thing About Cars

Mickey Desai

We're just people who really geek out on cars. We like to drive cars, fix them, and admire them. We're here to have as much fun as we legally can with other car enthusiasts. Come along for the ride.

  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Inside the Harley-Davidson Museum with David Kreidler

    We welcome David Kreidler, Senior Exhibits Curator for the Harley-Davidson Museum. Ben takes over for Tim with the trivia question, and our guest has his own trivia question too! We learn all about what goes into creating exhibits that reflect the history of Harley-Davidson and broader related topics as well. David has one of the best jobs around and clearly enjoys it. You'll definitely want to see the Harley-Davidson Museum after you hear this episode!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    1 April 2025, 9:59 am
  • 27 minutes 13 seconds
    All Things AMC with Tom Glatch

    We welcome Tom Glatch to the table to discuss his book about American Motors Corporation, better known as AMC. AMC only lasted 34 years but it's a fascinating story full of interesting engineering accomplishments and business decisions. Nashes and Ramblers and Gremlins, oh my! You'll see AMC in a whole new light.

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    25 March 2025, 9:01 am
  • 34 minutes 30 seconds
    Livin' the Dream with Tom Glatch

    We welcome writer/photographer Tom Glatch, author of Dodge & Plymouth Muscle Cars and Mopar fan since childhood. Mickey thinks his dream-car is in the book. Misty is mourning fallen bollards. Ben confesses driving 100 MPH in his dad's beat-up Plymouth but luckily the statute of limitations has run out, and we even give the K-Car a little love. And if you didn't think that Plymouth Dusters were fun, wait'll you hear what Tim has has for our trivia question!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    18 March 2025, 2:20 pm
  • 37 minutes 11 seconds
    Riding in the Front Seat with Indy Saini

    Film-maker Indy Saini joins us to tell us all about her film Women In The Front Seat, which is about a diverse group of women motorcyclists. They're all different, their bikes are different, their styles of riding are different- but they share the common bond of going places on two wheels. More than just a series of profiles, the film explores deeper motives and reasons for women to ride. These riders have embraced the joy of riding and it enhances their lives in amazing ways. It's raining men in Misty's world! Sometimes a Moon Pie is just a Moon Pie. Do you need a pit-crew to answer Tim's trivia question? Listen and find out!We chat with film maker Indy Saini about her multiple award winning movie about female motorcyclists: Women In The Front Seat. We learn about funding, filming and finding people to be in a documentary, as well as what traits the subjects of this film have in common. Our guest explains why her motorcycle is right for her and Misty's long history on motorized two wheel transport. Ben explains what the best riding position is and how it can help Mickey's back issues if he ever learns to ride, while Tim discloses his history of riding poorly. The gang discusses some of the best riding roads in Europe and the southeast US, as well as what to avoid on your journey. Our trivia question concerns the pedigree of NASCAR pit crews and we wonder whether their hips do or don't lie.

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    11 March 2025, 9:38 am
  • 35 minutes 21 seconds
    Brian's Mazda and Misty's Wombat

    Our guest Brian Phillips and his uniquely named car tells us how he turned a traffic accident into getting a nicer car with an even more unique name via some friendly dealings with a pre-loved vehicle purveyor. We ponder the longevity of cars with cylinder deactivation. Misty and Tim talk about the peculiar events of the 2023 Las Vegas F1 race; regarding rules, flagging, staffing and scheduling. The gang discusses the city of Atlanta's Erica's law if it could lead to less automotive mayhem on the city's streets. We find out why it is hard to get a Tesla off a freighter in Sweden and why Coffee & Cars in Houston banned Camaros, Mustangs and Chargers (at least temporarily). Our trivia question is about the Solar Car Challenge. And Misty needs a wombat.

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    4 March 2025, 10:35 am
  • 32 minutes 31 seconds
    Don't eat the ham and cheese in France!

    We're flying without a guest or a plan in this previously un-released vintage episode. Dave is befuddled, Misty is stabby, and Tim is racy! Ben had to miss this one and it's a damn shame because his father worked with the criminally insane and owned a pair of Alfa Romeos, both of which get mentioned in the trivia question. The shopping is fabulous in Tangent-Land! Why are we building more gas stations when EVs are on the rise? Mickey wants to see a doctor while charging an EV. We shame the French for their ham and cheese sammiches. Much rambling but it provides a look into our twisted psyches!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    25 February 2025, 10:35 am
  • 55 minutes 11 seconds
    Life's Too Short To Drive A Boring Car

    We welcome Rebecca Vollman to the table to learn all about her adventures in engineering! It's a fascinating tale based on the idea that life's too short to drive a boring car and she shares a lot of wisdom learned from seeing the automotive industry from the inside. Tim dials 911 for the trivia question.

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    18 February 2025, 10:32 am
  • 46 minutes 40 seconds
    Talking EVs with Gaby Pierre at the Georgia Automotive Manufacturer's Association

    Mickey gets to visit a meeting of the Georgia Automotive Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) and do some live recording on site. It was a wonderful experience. Mickey interviews Gaby Pierre, Strategy Lead and Senior Fellow of GNEM (Georgia Network for Electric Mobility), a think-tank housed at the University of Georgia focused on electric mobility and transportation innovation, research, and economic development around the state and beyond.

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    13 February 2025, 9:34 am
  • 50 minutes
    We're Grinding Our Gears Again

    Dave is surprisingly mellow and Misty wonders why there are bells. Mickey has got a little list. Misty is steamed at Europe's left-lane bandits, and wonders if US drivers are driving plaid. Whose Schwartz is bigger? Dave's singing voice is unequaled! Ben is annoyed at the poor quality of US drivers, Dave clutches his pearls, and Mickey wonders why we need a check engine light and Dave says Mickey is the Susan Lucci of cars. Tim thinks we should all wear GoPros on our foreheads, oh my! Ben feels schadenfreude about the express lane, and knows how he can be obscenely rich with nothing but a red button. Special shout-out to our former panelist Beka in the trivia answers!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    11 February 2025, 10:29 am
  • 36 minutes 15 seconds
    Racing Fun with Dystany Spurlock

    We welcome motorsports goddess Dystany Spurlock to the table, one of the fastest women on two wheels! She does some cool things on four wheels too, and we really enjoyed the conversation- she's so much fun! Her enthusiasm for motorsports is wonderfully contagious, so tune-in and enjoy the ride! Misty isn't moist for once, and Westy fans can rejoice the glorious return to USA. We had lots of fun going around the track for this episode, and no bollards were harmed!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    16 September 2024, 9:23 am
  • 42 minutes 58 seconds
    Gettin' Vintage with Paul D'Orleans

    We're all in good form as we welcome Paul D'Orleans to the table to discuss all the things that turn his crank. He's into cars and motorcycles but mostly motorcycles, and has become a top-notch impresario for curated content relating to motorcycle history and culture, as well as being a really fun guy to talk with. His love of the subject is undeniably strong and infectious and he'll make you want a vintage motorcycle. If you're looking for endless fascinating rabbit holes of moto-history to explore, Paul's your man and he can tell a lot of great stories. Dave had 35 tabs open after ten minutes! Ben audibly drools over a 1928 Bugatti. Come along for the ride, it's a blast!

    We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.

    9 September 2024, 9:21 am
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