5 Car Podcasts We Love

Photo: Riberto Federico. Posted to Wikimedia Commons.

Why do we love podcasts?

Easy—because they’re a great way to keep your mind occupied and take in information on topics that interest you, while getting other things done.

And why do we love automotive podcasts?

Do you really have to ask?

Didn’t think so.

Anyway, here in no particular order are some of our favorite podcasts on many things automotive—from classic cars to nuts-and-bolts repair information and advice.

1. The Everyday Driver Car Debate Podcast.

This one is a little quirky. But we like it. The hosts, Todd Deekin and Paul Schmucker, who now also have their own series on the Velocity network, help their car enthusiast listeners choose cars that provide an exciting experience while fitting their lifestyle realities. Yes, they have some biases toward late-model, higher-end vehicles that mix luxury, performance, and utility, like the Porsche Cayenne, or high-performance luxury coupes like the Cadillac CTS-V. In fact, Paul has a sometimes mildly annoying tendency to gush about anything Porsche-related. By and large, it’s not a show that will satisfy any interests you may have in vintage or classic cars, although they do occasionally touch on such topics as air-cooled Porsche 911s or 60s and 70s American muscle cars. Nevertheless, it’s almost always entertaining and informative for anyone interested in learning about some of the more exciting options that stand out among the generally humdrum offerings of automakers today.

2. Nordstrom’s Under the Hood Show.

This is more of a practical, nuts-and-bolts repair-advice show, driven by listener questions. It’s run by seasoned veterans of the independent repair-shop and auto-parts recycling industries. Peppered with a strong measure of cleverness and levity, Nordstrom’s Under the Hood is a great way for either an informed consumer or weekend wrench to keep a finger on the pulse of the repair realities that today’s vehicle owner can encounter. The show also covers a good amount of general industry news and sometimes touches on topics of interest to vintage and classic car enthusiasts.

3. Hemming’s Collector Car Radio.

Not quite sure what is going on with this one, because they haven’t posted a new podcast since January 29. Hopefully they’ll be getting back to a regular schedule soon. And even if they don’t, there is an extensive back catalog to explore. It’s a great resource, hosted by a rotation of writers and editors from Hemming’s Motor News, for collector-car owners and enthusiasts who would like an easy way to stay abreast of the latest developments on current news of the hobby, from car shows to auctions to what’s hot vs. what’s not pricing trends. The podcast also frequently features expert guests ranging from auto-industry veterans to prominent car collectors.

4. The Classic Car Show.

We’re frankly a little worried about this one because they do not appear to have posted anything new since November 2017. Maybe they’ll go back to a more regular cycle once the car-show season picks up again this spring. With a deep back catalog available, this show is strongly geared toward the more traditional definition of the term classic car, which would mean roughly from the pre-war period to maybe (depending on who you ask) the 1950s. Particularly in this segment, there is much talk of “the graying of the hobby,” and let’s just say that hosts Steve Rinaldo and Jim Weber fit squarely in that “concours d’elegance” demographic. They’re definitely not part of the Fast & Furious or rice-burner tuning crowd. Nevertheless, it’s a show that’s well worth listening to for even the younger enthusiast, if for no other reason than getting a deeper context on the history and traditions of the hobby.

5. Car Stories

Hosted by James McKeone of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Car Stories is a quality interview show featuring guests that many automotive enthusiasts would consider “A-Listers.” Guests have ranged from high-profile enthusiasts and collectors like Adam Carolla to industry legends like turbocharging and diesel pioneer Gale Banks. Automotive designers, journalists, and marketers are also frequent guest categories. The topical range also cuts across a wide variety of automotive makes, models and types from antique to contemporary, so this podcast is well-suited to the broad-minded enthusiast.