Sociology of Cars Podcast

Jimmy Xie

🔬Sociology on the go 🎙️The people’s show;📰Local car news 🎬Watch promo reel;

  1. Canyon Car Mods 101 | Rice & Beans

    MAR 3

    Canyon Car Mods 101 | Rice & Beans

    This week, Jimmy ("Rice") and Nate ("Beans") dive deep into the world of car mods tailored for canyon carving and occasional track days. They break down everything from the importance of tire choice (and why low-grip tires should be illegal!) to brake upgrades, suspension tweaks, and even why a seat can transform your driving experience. Whether you’re a canyon veteran or prepping for your first track day, this episode blends practical tips with entertaining banter to ensure that you’re not just modding, but modding right! Rice & Beans is a humor-driven automotive podcast rooted in Southern California car culture, focused on canyon carving, driving passion, and the people behind the wheel. Through relaxed, conversational episodes, the show explores the many sides of the automotive community while highlighting how similar drivers really are — no matter what they drive. From current events shaping the Southern California car scene to deeper conversations about driving technique, responsibility, and community growth, Rice & Beans dives into what’s happening now and where car culture is headed. The podcast aims to connect drivers, strengthen the canyon carving community, and promote safer, more fulfilling driving experiences through shared stories, perspectives, and passion. Nate Rodriguez and Jimmy Xie are the hosts of Rice & Beans, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow Nate at: https://www.instagram.com/nayt83/?hl=en Reach out to Nate:  nate@sociology-of-everything.com. Reach out to Jimmy: jimmy@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by Chewerks in La Habra, CA.  Follow Chewerks at:  https://www.instagram.com/chewerks/.

    1h 12m
  2. Karting to Career: Rocco Ruzic’s Journey into Driving | Shifted Perspective

    FEB 24

    Karting to Career: Rocco Ruzic’s Journey into Driving | Shifted Perspective

    In this debut episode of Season 4, Shift sits down with Rocco Ruzic, whose journey began in karting as a young enthusiast and evolved into a performance-driving instructor. Rocco takes us through what it really means to get into karting -- the passion, the budget, and the life lessons learned on the track. By sharing how those formative experiences translate into road skills and coaching others, he gives us an insider’s view of how the karting journey shapes a driver’s mindset. It’s a conversation full of practical insight and the true passion behind the wheel! Shifted Perspective is where passion meets profession. Hosted by former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, Shift, the podcast bridges the gap between car enthusiasts and the professionals who live and breathe the automotive and racing industries. Through simplified education and real conversations, this new season spotlights diverse career pathways, insider knowledge, and the mindset required to succeed behind the wheel and beyond. Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/ https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Rocco Ruzic is a performance-driving instructor. Follow him at:  https://www.instagram.com/rocco_ruzic?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== https://www.instagram.com/roccoraces?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by Chewerks in La Habra, CA.  Follow Chewerks at:  https://www.instagram.com/chewerks/.

    24 min
  3. Deaths on Angeles Crest Highway (2025-26) | Rice & Beans

    FEB 10

    Deaths on Angeles Crest Highway (2025-26) | Rice & Beans

    In this debut episode of Rice & Beans, Jimmy (“Rice”) and Nate (“Beans”) tackle a difficult but necessary conversation: canyon driving safety on Angeles Crest Highway (ACH). From decreasing-radius corners and unpredictable road conditions to holiday traffic and novice drivers, Jimmy and Nate break down how recent tragedies occurred and why race track skills don’t directly transfer to canyon roads. They also explore how social media clout-chasing culture, automotive photographers, and cheering bystanders influence behavior in the mountains. With a focus on community responsibility, the duo emphasizes what enthusiasts can do to promote better etiquette, awareness, and driver education so everyone makes it home safely. Rice & Beans is a humor-driven automotive podcast rooted in Southern California car culture, focused on canyon carving, driving passion, and the people behind the wheel. Through relaxed, conversational episodes, the show explores the many sides of the automotive community while highlighting how similar drivers really are — no matter what they drive. From current events shaping the Southern California car scene to deeper conversations about driving technique, responsibility, and community growth, Rice & Beans dives into what’s happening now and where car culture is headed. The podcast aims to connect drivers, strengthen the canyon carving community, and promote safer, more fulfilling driving experiences through shared stories, perspectives, and passion. Nate Rodriguez and Jimmy Xie are the hosts of Rice & Beans, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow Nate at: https://www.instagram.com/nayt83/?hl=en Reach out to Nate:  nate@sociology-of-everything.com. Reach out to Jimmy: jimmy@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by The Alley Burger in North Hollywood, CA. Follow The Alley Burger at:  https://www.instagram.com/thealleyburgernoho/ https://www.thealleyburgernoho.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn7_sfvbkjsUh4fomOn4XQqVWC9ctbT6bH98tS9n7uL_Stoq7x1X0DOg_hgMQ_aem_fW0KXLrrnGX-l13C60dv9Q https://www.facebook.com/thealleyburgernoho/?ref=pl_edit_xav_ig_profile_page_web

    1h 9m
  4. FEB 7

    Naked at the Mic: From Driving Instructor to Podcaster | Shifted Perspective

    As we celebrate the Season 3 finale, our beloved pro-driver and performance-driving coach, Shift, gets vulnerable about his experience being the face of a podcast for the first time. In this episode, Shift candidly shares why he decided to tap into content creation in the first place, his overall mental state during the season's production, the biggest challenges and takeaways, things that surprised him about podcasting, plans for the next season of his show, advice for others looking to start podcasting, etc.  Shifted Perspective is a pro-driver education podcast. Aiming to bridge the gap between industry insiders and everyday car enthusiasts, Shift, a former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, analyzes and shares his unique perspective on a variety of automotive topics in a monologue form.  Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/. https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by The Alley Burger in North Hollywood, CA. Follow The Alley Burger at:  https://www.instagram.com/thealleyburgernoho/ https://www.thealleyburgernoho.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn7_sfvbkjsUh4fomOn4XQqVWC9ctbT6bH98tS9n7uL_Stoq7x1X0DOg_hgMQ_aem_fW0KXLrrnGX-l13C60dv9Q https://www.facebook.com/thealleyburgernoho/?ref=pl_edit_xav_ig_profile_page_web

    29 min
  5. FEB 3

    Sim Racing Made Me | Shifted Perspective

    As sim racing became mainstream over the past decade, many professional drivers, including Shift, began publicly embracing it as an important part of their careers. This week, Shift breaks down how his early progression playing racing games translated to his first track day in a car, how testing various vehicle platforms on the simulator prepared him for races and instructing days, the worthy mentions of good games today, how every aspect of sim racing shape and sharpens drivers, how e-sports evolved into a global sensation in recent years, the places to look for competent setups, etc.  Shifted Perspective is a pro-driver education podcast. Aiming to bridge the gap between industry insiders and everyday car enthusiasts, Shift, a former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, analyzes and shares his unique perspective on a variety of automotive topics in a monologue form.  Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/. https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by The Alley Burger in North Hollywood, CA. Follow The Alley Burger at:  https://www.instagram.com/thealleyburgernoho/ https://www.thealleyburgernoho.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn7_sfvbkjsUh4fomOn4XQqVWC9ctbT6bH98tS9n7uL_Stoq7x1X0DOg_hgMQ_aem_fW0KXLrrnGX-l13C60dv9Q https://www.facebook.com/thealleyburgernoho/?ref=pl_edit_xav_ig_profile_page_web

    6 min
  6. JAN 21

    Picking the Right Mechanic | Shifted Perspective

    Every car enthusiast needs a network of mechanical shops on standby, but assembling the perfect crew can take years. This week, Shift breaks down the three main levels of auto shops and examines the nuances in each. Initiating the discourse around his first nightmare experience with an unprofessional mechanic, Shift lays down the limitations of dealerships, the necessity of finding specialty shops for performance modifications, the places for extreme builds, red flags and green flags when looking for new shops, how to benefit from word of mouth, etc.  Shifted Perspective is a pro-driver education podcast. Aiming to bridge the gap between industry insiders and everyday car enthusiasts, Shift, a former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, analyzes and shares his unique perspective on a variety of automotive topics in a monologue form.  Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/. https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by Onyx Auto Detail in Carson, CA. Follow Onyx Auto Detail at:  https://www.instagram.com/onyxauto_detailing/ https://onyx-detail.com/?utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnUF-_wBVj4GubEZT7BSOrJhdwPKHmWEMNBkMKUMvLAjSxTCqQuD1Jq7H60GA_aem_eM7HQKi1oAqo83Rm2cMFcQ https://www.facebook.com/onyxautodetailcarson/?ref=pl_edit_xav_ig_profile_page_web

    12 min
  7. JAN 12

    Car Enthusiast vs. Driving Enthusiast | Shifted Perspective

    Do you actually drive your cars? For the first episode of 2026, Shift jabs into the highly debated topic of what it means to be a "true" car enthusiast, driving enthusiast, car collector, car influencer, and automotive journalist. By examining and contrasting today’s social media clout-chasing culture with the local enthusiast culture before the internet, Shift criticizes the car scene’s ideology change, the vague definitions of key terms, the need to maintain public perception, the unhealthy idolization of influencers, the unintended public safety concerns, etc.  Shifted Perspective is a pro-driver education podcast. Aiming to bridge the gap between industry insiders and everyday car enthusiasts, Shift, a former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, analyzes and shares his unique perspective on a variety of automotive topics in a monologue form.  Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/. https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by Onyx Auto Detail in Carson, CA. Follow Onyx Auto Detail at:  https://www.instagram.com/onyxauto_detailing/ https://onyx-detail.com/?utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnUF-_wBVj4GubEZT7BSOrJhdwPKHmWEMNBkMKUMvLAjSxTCqQuD1Jq7H60GA_aem_eM7HQKi1oAqo83Rm2cMFcQ https://www.facebook.com/onyxautodetailcarson/?ref=pl_edit_xav_ig_profile_page_web

    9 min
  8. 12/13/2025

    Do Crashes Make You a Better Driver? | Shifted Perspective

    Crash. A curse word we all try to avoid in the car community. This week, Shift boldly peels off the Band-Aid and confronts the topic head-on, reflecting on and from his scary accident in his first car as a 17-year-old to the numerous close calls while coaching clients on track this year.  Shift criticizes and examines today’s social media landscape that heavily impacts the mentality of new and experienced drivers alike, how misconceptions about car accidents and the drivers involved can skew our approach to the matter, the fact that every crash is nuanced, what the car community lacks regarding new driver education in a performance setting, etc.  Shifted Perspective is a pro-driver education podcast. Aiming to bridge the gap between industry insiders and everyday car enthusiasts, Shift, a former Engineering Test Driver and current Porsche Driving Instructor, analyzes and shares his unique perspective on a variety of automotive topics in a monologue form.  Shift is the host of Shifted Perspective, a program of the Sociology of Cars Podcast. Follow him at: https://www.instagram.com/shift__robinson/. https://www.tiktok.com/@shift__robinson?_t=ZP-8zDOVsPYm3a&_r=1 https://youtube.com/@shift__robinson?si=GPWXQb7Or3qsAhF3 Reach out to Shift:  shift@sociology-of-everything.com. Sociology of Cars Podcast is produced by Sociology of Everything, supported by Warehouse 9, a new place to eat and drink in San Pedro, CA. Follow Warehouse 9 at:  https://www.instagram.com/wh9bar/?hl=en https://www.wh9bar.com/ https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/05/14/san-pedros-warehouse-9-to-get-a-reboot-with-a-new-gathering-spot/.

    10 min
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

🔬Sociology on the go 🎙️The people’s show;📰Local car news 🎬Watch promo reel;

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