Why I did & you should start doing automotive journalism; or whatever your dream may be.

"Ike" (untitledcarshow)
12/04/2015 at 15:44 • Filed to: Life advice I guess?

I’ve been doing doing my podcast “The Untitled Car Show” for about 2 years now. In that time I have learned a lot about doing this “automotive journalism” thing. I say I have learned a lot, but that’s only because about every week I learn something new.

Let me give some quick background for people who may not know the whole story.

So around this time 2 years ago Proc (a good friend of mine) & myself, started doing the podcast. We had been working on another project together with a friend of mine, that had just turned in to a bit of a mess. I don’t want to plug this project because it had turned into a mess. My friend who shall remain nameless had tried to turn it from a fun time hanging out, in to a serious business, and that’s when it just became unfun to work on and unfunny to watch. So Proc and I decide to start podcasting, really because why not? The first few episode were just the two of us, trying to comment on the automotive news of the day, then we started sharing stories, and having fun. That’s when our listenership started going up. Thats when we started getting people to call in and talk on the show, and that format worked for a bit. Then we started reaching out to people, and we got ahold of Steve Letho our first real “get”. I don’t know if Steve will read this or not, but I can tell you I was SUPER excited to have a guest who wrote a book! Not only that but he was going to make an announcement on our show! I researched, and had talking points and I knew everything there was to know about turbine cars. The episode went great, and I started getting other guest to come on the show. We turned from telling stories to interviewing guest, and we are having a blast doing that.

That’s one of the most interesting things I learned doing this, it’s amazing how many people will agree to do stuff if you just ask. Most people in this automotive business are super friendly, nice, and more then happy to simply sit down and talk to you, if you just ask.

I have made great friends doing this, from the community in Oppositelock, to people in the industry, to fellow journalist, and even “competing” podcasters.

So is it hard to break though in this industry? Yes! Oh god yes! I’m still working and trying everyday to do it. Is it an easy journey? No, I’ve had fights with my wife over this, life likes to find a way to get in the way. There are days and weeks where I’m unable to simply be in front of a mic for 45 minutes. When I fall or stutter, and then comeback I’m always amazed at how warmly I’m received.

So my advice is to start doing it, what ever the “it” is, that you want to do. Your first works are going to be cringe worthy in a few months, and that’s a good thing. People will critique you and you will grow as a content producer, and you’ll be happy you started doing it. Though all the pain, and trouble. Eventually hopefully you’ll break though, and if you don’t, you’ll have a hell of a good time trying!

So thanks everyone for a great 2 years! I promise I’m not going any where, I hope next year to do bigger and better things, and I hope your new project is one of the things I get to talk about.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Ike is co-host of the Untitled Car Show ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) he has owned 2 Dodge Challengers; a Volvo C30, a V70XC, a V70R, 740; and a Saturn Ion . He is a new father and loves driving and autocrossing. He can jerry rig with the best of them, and he wrote his bio in third person. He also has 2 dogs, 2 cats and is a crazy person some say!

Email the author !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (51)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Ike
12/04/2015 at 15:50

I do like the show. I’ve only really started listening to the last few episodes but I like how you sort of prompt the guest to tell their story and what they’ve done.

Ike > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/04/2015 at 15:53

Thanks! I'm glad you like it, it's one of the other things I've learned knowing everything about the guest is great, but getting them to tell the audience what they are about is a bit of a skill.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Ike
12/04/2015 at 15:58

It’s good because you will never run out of material with getting them to tell their own story. And I really like the off-topic sections.

Ike > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/04/2015 at 15:59

There my favorite too, cause my mind wanders so fast lol

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:02

I’m the same way. If a friend and I start talking, there’s no telling where the conversation will end up.

SkyNet > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:04

So I’d love to be an automotive journalist but, being a family man, how do you put food on the table while pursuing your dreams? It’s much easier said than done.

Ike > SkyNet
12/04/2015 at 16:06

I mean, find the time, and do it. Don’t up and quite your day job.

Its also kind of nice having a job that brings in the bacon so right now I’m not answering to advertisers when I do something I want to do. Or say something bad.

SkyNet > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:08

You must not be an investment banker haha.

Sam > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:09

I honestly feel that the best way to improve the show is to go the Smoking Tire route and get a studio where you guys and the guest can all do the show from. Also, have you tried getting press cars yet? Because that may almost be a thing you can do.

Tripper > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:10

Great post. I’m not yet a listener but I’m about to be. I have a good job, but I hate it. My end game is to work in or around cars, and this was quite inspirational.

Ike > SkyNet
12/04/2015 at 16:10

Nope lol, believe me though it’s not easy to find time, I do interviews at 10:30pm at night because that’s when I have the time.

when/If I ever start makeing enough money to reveal my current job I think a lot of people will be shocked .

Ike > Sam
12/04/2015 at 16:13

I had tired about 8 months ago, to no avail, I had an opportunity to get my hands on some press cars recently, but it didn't work out with the day job. So I couldn't. I'm focusing really hard on getting OppoMeet up and guest for next year that I've had to put press cars on the back burner for the moment

Ike > Tripper
12/04/2015 at 16:15

I’m happy to inspire because That’s the boat I’m in as well. I figure if I never make a cent on this thing, it is so good for my soul and sanity that I don’t care.

Thanks for reading and if you do listen I hope you enjoy it.

Sam > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:20

You could try to get something cool for the weekend of Oppomeet!

Sam > Tripper
12/04/2015 at 16:22

As the Nike slogan says - “Just Do It”.

Ike > Sam
12/04/2015 at 16:22

Not to give too much away, but I do intend to do some live stuff from OppoMeet. Also a podcast, and maybe some other stuff...

Sam > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:25

Sweet! Hopefully it can be an annual thing like the east coast camping trip and the Wagon Train.

Ike > Sam
12/04/2015 at 16:26

That’s the idea, I hope everyone who comes enjoys it, I’m thinking doing a different city /area each year.

B Reynolds > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:27

I drive a lot for work and always have podcasts on the go. I will check this out for sure. Do you do this full time or have a “normal” job too?

Tripper > Sam
12/04/2015 at 16:32

I’m trying. I’ve reached out to all of the “established” car people that I know. Probably time to start reaching out to the car people that I don’t know!

Ike > B Reynolds
12/04/2015 at 16:33

I have a normal job in addition, it's starting to get to a point soon where I may... If current trends continue to have to make a choice, but we shall see (maybe end of next year?) but trends can go the other way so still keeping say job at the moment

fennelbreath > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:41

Ha! However hard it is to break into auto journalism, it’s *much* more difficult for us women! Just got to find a niche and go for it. Congratulations on your two years. :)

camaroboy68ss > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:43

Congrats on two years!

I agree with others that it’s neat to hear the stories of some of these big names and how they got to up to the point where they are taking to you.

I also agree with you that 98% of the car community is nice and gets along well with each other regardless of what your preferences are.

Though have you thought about trying a different format to go along with these celebity interviews? Like having an episode talking mainly about the history of a topic and have an guest knowledgable on the subject talk about that instead of their backgrounds? For example, I just re listened to the Steve Letho podcasts and you guys are talking nascar and the wing cars, and GMs lack of involment, there was actually a lot more to why GM had pulled out of nascar. So themes on that could range from GM racing history to nascar history, etc. there are a lot of neat and interesting little stories that many don’t know about due to not being obsessive to a particular Make/Model or racing series, that are quite interesting to hear about. Just an idea to toss in the bucket if ever finding something for the show.

Ike > fennelbreath
12/04/2015 at 16:47

Thanks, yes I’m a little worried about that for my little girl. There is a great resource of women based automotive journalism, http://shebuyscars.com/

And honestly, I think a woman’s podcast about automobiles is a vastly underserved market. If that’s something you’re thinking about doing, I would very much encourage you.

Ike > camaroboy68ss
12/04/2015 at 16:50

Thanks for listen and thanks for the congratulations.

I haven’t had the thought about that, quite as well as you put it, but I am trying to get some people on the show who are “company historians” (yes that's their job title). The few I have talked to are a bit shy about being on a podcast, most of them are writers, so I'm trying to maybe get some upcoming authors on the show kinda like how you said we talked to Steve. I enjoy car history and why decisions were made almost as much as I like cars, so it's definitely something I want to get into.

fennelbreath > Ike
12/04/2015 at 16:52

The Roundabout Show used to be a good one (with one of my favorite automotive women leading the charge), but it’s been wrapped up. I’m not sure if podcasting is really my strength; I prefer writing for now.

If you raise your daughter so she’s confident around cars and all types of car culture, she’ll be in really good shape to get into the field. I think confidence around cars is actually more important than writing skills, at least to break in, but writing and communications skills will keep her going.

Sam > Tripper
12/04/2015 at 16:55

What do you want to do specifically?

Ike > fennelbreath
12/04/2015 at 17:03

Honestly it wasn’t my strength either, I’m just really bad at writing lol. It’s just practice, I really don’t think (I have no real basis for this opinion it’s just a opinion) that the automotive world kind of wants / needs more women journalism, women buy more cars now then men, iirc, I think there is still a “good ol’ boy” system at some of the larger magazines and web sites, but i think that's going away. It isn't nearly as bad as in the video game sector as an example.

SteveLehto > Ike
12/04/2015 at 17:08

Will I read this? I read everything! (At least when it mentions me!)

I had a lot of fun doing the show and that is saying a lot - I have done a TON of media and not all of it is fun. (I also have my own podcast but that’s another story altogether.)

Keep up the good work, guys. It is the community that makes this field so great.

Ike > SteveLehto
12/04/2015 at 17:13

I knew it!

your podcast is great, and I’m jealous, cause I’ve done a few podcast on my lonesome, whoooo those are hard! And you do it every week! And it's interesting and fun to listen to.

Thanks again Steve for everything!

Ike > fennelbreath
12/04/2015 at 17:20

Kinja'd!!!

fennelbreath > Ike
12/04/2015 at 17:20

Years ago, I had almost-GamerGate-level experiences. It’s gotten a lot better, but it’s still not great. I’m fortunate to have good relationships with media outlets who treat me respectfully, but if I was hustling for work, it would be a lot different.

fennelbreath > Ike
12/04/2015 at 17:22

I do have a solid journalism background, and it’s served me well.

Ike > fennelbreath
12/04/2015 at 17:31

I didn’t mean that as any sort of attack, and if I have learned one thing on the internet it’s that most of the people are most of the time assholes, I’m sorry you had a “gamer gate” experience.

Perhaps this is just me and perhaps not the time or place for this conversation but I can’t phatom people who want to lock women out of cars, video games, anything really. It’s more fun when women are involved, especially at the journalism level, different view points are what makes articles compelling to read. Do we not read, to learn and grow and think?

Also as she states in another tweet, women have the purchasing power, it’s madding to think that the group of people making the decisions, aren’t having the majority of articles written for them, by them.

Kinja'd!!!

fennelbreath > Ike
12/04/2015 at 17:41

I know you didn’t mean it as an attack. I was just saying, I’ve been through this before, especially with some other women in the field.

My negative experiences were with individuals who gradually revealed themselves to be misogynists at best, generally crappy people at worst. I’m also not out in the public eye now like I was then, so, it’s hard to say how much it’s changed. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to encounter such attitudes from either the old guard or some of the young dudebro bloggers.

Skamanda > Ike
12/04/2015 at 17:53

Kinja'd!!!

S60R Wheels?

Ike > Skamanda
12/04/2015 at 17:55

I guess yes, cause it's a v70R, so V70R wheels

Skamanda > Ike
12/04/2015 at 18:04

Ah. Guess I should’ve google imaged first. I’m used to seeing the V70R with concave spokes, not the flat ones, but there are tons of images with those wheels.

Ike > Skamanda
12/04/2015 at 18:08

No worries I've never seen an r with other wheels now I'm curious

camaroboy68ss > Ike
12/04/2015 at 18:21

Wow that's really a job? I wonder what it takes to get that position because I think I could do that for Chevy or hot rodding & customs right now and maybe pay me to do all the researching I do, plus it sounds like a lot of fun, though I’m a bit of a car history nutcase.

Justin Hughes > Ike
12/04/2015 at 18:28

Well said! It was around one year ago that I started wondering if I could maybe someday get published on Jalopnik. I did the same as you - jumped in, started doing it, wrote some terrible stuff at first, learned, and the rest is history. Right Foot Down picked me up, and I’m having a blast both there and on Oppo. I’d love to get paid to do this someday, but for now it’s a fun diversion. Now there’s a Jeep Comanche that needs fixing in the garage, and I have a garage! That should give me plenty to do and write about through the winter until I get back to the track in the BRZ.

Tl:dr; Just do it.

Ike > camaroboy68ss
12/04/2015 at 18:31

I really, want to get one on, cause I want to ask how did you get this job? More then anything

camaroboy68ss > Ike
12/04/2015 at 18:38

I would think it would be something like being at the right spot at the right time because I doubt the spot opens up very often across the manufactures

Ike > Justin Hughes
12/04/2015 at 19:01

and you know it’s funny I always enjoy reading your stuff. If you didn’t just dive in then there would none of it to enjoy!

Also some hot Saturn talk that has been lost to the podcast gods forever sadly

B Reynolds > Ike
12/04/2015 at 22:05

That's exciting! Congrats and good luck in the future. I'll be sure to check it out

Ike > B Reynolds
12/04/2015 at 22:22

Thanks be sure to let me know what you think

Justin Hughes > Ike
12/05/2015 at 07:24

We can redo it sometime. The stories are still there.

Ike > Justin Hughes
12/05/2015 at 10:17

Yes, I'm putting together my guest list for q1 next year, and your gonna be part of that. You just didn't know they yet

Tripper > Sam
12/07/2015 at 08:25

I think that is what I have been struggling with the most. More than anything, I want to be part of an industry that I’m passionate about.

I would love to write about cars, but my writing experience is 100% technical (software manuals, presentations, marketing bits).

I could even see myself selling cars, however everyone that I know that has done that has advised against it.

The only thing that I know that I don’t want to do is be a mechanic, I went to school for that for a short time after college and quickly decided that it was not for me.

Even though I’m growing tired of my current field (IT), I would take another IT job if it were for a car/motorcycle related company so long as it was not a “help desk” position.

To be honest I really shouldn’t say that I won’t do anything because for the right opportunity/company I would haha.

Stef Schrader > Ike
12/09/2015 at 17:43

Unfortunately, my dream job involves driving a Porsche at Le Mans. Porsche downsizing to two cars means there’s no way I can fill in for Hülkenberg this year. I’m crushed. Simply crushed.

I do try to get in ample Porsche-time otherwise, though. I’m fairly certain my dream job is made of carbotanium-plated unobtanium that was minted as soon as I wasn’t thrown into a kart at age 2, but I can always make vroom-vroom noises in the 944 and pretend.

As for how I ended up here, I hung out at the local road course a bunch, farted around with my car, and wrote about my shenanigans. Don’t let the haterz (the technical term is with a “z”) get you down, but do watch out for decent advice and criticism in with the comments. It’s my job to get stuff right, too, so when someone points out a clarification or flub in an article, I want to see that and get on it quickly. Read the comments. The all-caps ones that accuse you of making love to goats, sure—not the most helpful. The others that give good feedback are the ones you want. If you’re not getting constructive feedback, ask for it.

Ike > Stef Schrader
12/09/2015 at 17:54

Perhaps you could get Mattel? To sponsor a puffalump livery 911 lemans team!

I agree a 100% on the constructive criticism. It’s what makes this process worth doing. If I look at the comment section of my early articles, it was a ton of comments I needed to see. So I got better (I hope). Even the real hatterz have a kernel of truth in them sometimes. Just as a nugget of truth in a nice big dog doo doo comment