The Avants Podcast

Avants

Join hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.

  1. 6d ago

    Saint Michael and Megan Return!

    This week we've got a full house in the shop. Megan is back from Portugal after pulling off a surprise visit for her brother's wedding, complete with stories about Portuguese car culture, tiny motorcycles, and government rules that somehow make modifying your brakes illegal. Michael joins us to talk search and rescue, everything from ankle injuries on Mount Si to "flashlight missions" when hikers discover their phone battery wasn't actually an emergency preparedness plan. We also dive into the custom search and rescue truck he helped build, because apparently normal vehicles aren't complicated enough. Along the way we discuss Facebook Marketplace tire kickers, reporting vehicle sales before someone uses your old car for questionable life choices, Monterey Car Week, the insane lineup coming to Northwest Exotics, seized brake calipers, Ford Explorer Frankenstein projects, teenage first cars, and why every conversation eventually becomes an excuse to buy another truck. Also: Florida lobster drama, clean-trash anti-theft technology, AC Delco stereos, and proof that Harbor Freight is never just one trip. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  2. Jul 27

    Homeownership Is Expensive. Buy a Van Instead?

    This episode is a little bit all over the map in the best possible way. We kick things off talking about surviving the heat, house projects that cost more than we'd like to admit, and a surprisingly perfect ride on our Honda Monkeys through Mount Rainier National Park. Sometimes the best automotive experiences aren't in a 700 horsepower sports car. They're on tiny bikes puttering through some of the most scenic roads in the Pacific Northwest. We also dive into the realities of fire season, road trip planning, and why having a backup route is always a good idea. From there, the conversation wanders into the growing trend of van life and overland rigs, and whether a camper van or expedition vehicle actually makes more sense than buying a house in today's market. We compare EarthRoamers, Sprinter builds, remote work, and the appeal of having your home on wheels when mortgages seem to have lost their minds. On the car side, we talk about a missing Koenigsegg One:1 that turned into an international mystery involving leasing schemes, Interpol, and a multi-million-dollar hypercar. We also get into one of our favorite topics: helping people choose the right off-road vehicle for what they actually want to do, instead of what the internet tells them they should buy. Broncos, Jeeps, 4Runners, INEOS Grenadiers, Raptors and more all get their moment in the spotlight. Of course, there's also breaking Monkey news, questionable ideas about starting a motorcycle cult, thoughts on brand loyalty, and why small motorcycles continue to be some of the most fun you can have on two wheels. As always, we wrap up with a couple questions for listeners: Would you ever trade a traditional house for van life or an expedition rig? And what's the best motorcycle experience you've ever had? The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

    Homeownership Is Expensive. Buy a Van Instead?
  3. Jul 20

    Monkeys, McLarens, and the Great Ferrari Ownership Debate

    This week we're all over the map in the best possible way. We kick things off talking about how AI is quietly changing everything from resumes to project work, and whether we're already at the point where talking to a chatbot feels a little too normal. From there it's back to the stuff we love: a quick tip on why new tires need a proper break-in period, Todd finally buying the monkey he's been threatening to buy for years, and a look at some of the biggest stories coming out of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We discuss rumors surrounding Polestar's future in the U.S., McLaren's new 788 High Sport, and whether reliability will ever stop being part of the McLaren conversation. Megan joins us in the studio to talk square-body Chevys, classic truck nostalgia, and an unexpectedly deep debate about Ferrari, intellectual property, and whether automakers should have any say in what owners do with the cars they've already paid for. We wrap up with motorcycle ride plans, upcoming events around the Pacific Northwest, car show season, Goodwood highlights, and plenty of the random detours you've come to expect. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  4. Jul 6

    Niche Becomes Normal

    This week, Brian Dallas and Megan Zalud join us in the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about how fast the automotive and overland world is changing. Products that used to be reserved for hardcore enthusiasts are suddenly everywhere—and in a lot of cases, they're actually getting better. We talk about the shift happening across the industry as companies like Wolfbox, Viofo, and others push out surprisingly high-quality gear at prices that would've seemed impossible just a few years ago. From air compressors and vehicle tech to rooftop tents, portable fridges, portal axles, and track conversions, many of the niche products we used to obsess over are now becoming mainstream and more accessible than ever. Along the way, we discuss what's happening in the overland event scene, why some of the smaller specialty builders seem to be disappearing from major shows, and whether today's wave of affordable manufacturing is creating more competition—or simply changing the rules entirely. Of course, it wouldn't be an Avants Podcast episode without a few detours. We also swap stories about rooftop tent failures, camping gear, fridges, motorcycles, Jeeps, broken bones, old trucks, and the projects currently taking over our garages. Is this the golden age of affordable adventure gear? We dive into that and a whole lot more on this week's episode.   The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

4.9
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Join hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.

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