Be Differential

Be Differential
  • 5.0 (7)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The automotive and motorsport world has always had a seat at the table — it just hasn't always been yours. BeDifferential is the podcast for newcomers, outsiders, and anyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite fit in car culture. Each week, host Eva Gregory goes behind the scenes with racers, engineers, executives, and industry insiders to share the stories, career paths, and hard-won lessons that don't make it into the mainstream. From grassroots motorsport to the paddock, from vintage cars to cutting-edge tech — if you're curious about where you fit in this world, you found the right show. New episodes every Tuesday, plus solo industry takes every Thursday.

  1. 2D AGO

    From Builder to Brand with Theresa Contreras

    This week on The BeDifferential Podcast, we sit down with Theresa Contreras — a builder, designer, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, innovation, and cultural influence. From her early entry into the automotive world to leading boundary-pushing builds through Baja Forged, Theresa shares what it really looks like to evolve from participating in the industry to actively shaping it. We talk about the decisions behind the builds — what gets preserved, what gets reimagined, and how she approaches design in a space where tradition and innovation don’t always align. She also opens up about navigating the realities behind high-level custom work, and what people often misunderstand about what it takes to execute at this level. Beyond the builds, this conversation dives into brand — how Theresa transitioned from creating one-off projects into building a cohesive identity across products, media, and storytelling, and how supporting platforms have influenced both visibility and opportunity. We also explore leadership, representation, and the evolving definition of what it means to "BeDifferential"  today — especially for those entering the industry from non-traditional paths. This episode isn’t just about cars. It’s about vision, evolution, and building something that lasts.

    37 min

  2. APR 16

    Thursday Pit Stop: The Reality of Partnerships

    This week’s Thursday Pit Stop takes a closer look at one of the most visible — and most misunderstood — parts of the motorsport industry: partnerships. From the outside, deals can look simple. A logo gets placed, a press release goes out, and everything appears to fit neatly into place. But internally, there’s a much more complex set of decisions happening — and they don’t always align with what’s visible on the surface. In this episode, we break down what brands are actually evaluating when considering a partnership, why strong ideas don’t always move forward, and how timing, alignment, and internal priorities shape the outcome far more than hype ever will. If you’ve ever wondered why some opportunities come together — while others don’t — this is the context you don’t usually get to see. Because partnerships don’t move forward just because they look good. 
They move forward because they make sense.

    10 min

  3. APR 14

    Rethinking Access with Erica Sietsma

    Motorsport has long been built on access and relationships — but Erica Sietsma is working to change that. After building her career in automotive technology and digital marketing, Erica founded Autofluencer to modernize how sponsorship works in motorsports. In this episode, we explore the gap she saw in the industry and how her platform is helping make sponsorship more accessible for drivers, creators, and brands alike. We break down the idea of “social media as currency” — what it actually means, how brands are responding, and how it’s reshaping the value exchange in racing. Erica also shares what it’s like to build a company in an industry that doesn’t always move quickly, along with the leadership lessons, challenges, and motivation behind creating something new. This conversation is about access, evolution, and expanding who gets to participate in motorsport — whether you’ve always considered yourself a “car person” or not. Because being differential isn’t just about showing up differently — it’s about creating new ways in.

    44 min

  4. APR 9

    Thursday Pit Stop: Who Makes Decisions in Motorsport

    This week’s Thursday Pit Stop takes a step back from race results and headlines to look at how motorsport actually operates behind the scenes. Because while teams, drivers, and race strategy are the most visible parts of the sport, the decisions that shape opportunities, partnerships, and long-term direction are happening long before cars ever hit the track — and not always by the people you expect. In this episode, we break down the three layers that influence decision-making in motorsport:     •    The visible layer — teams and competition     •    The financial layer — brands, sponsors, and commercial priorities     •    The structural layer — governance, regulations, and series leadership The reality? Motorsport doesn’t run on individual decisions — it runs on alignment across all three. If you’re looking to build a career, grow within the industry, or better understand why things happen the way they do, this episode offers a clearer lens into the system behind the sport — and how to navigate it more strategically.

    7 min

  5. APR 2

    Thursday Pit Stop Momentum Over Moments

    In this Thursday Pit Stop, we’re shifting the conversation from visibility to velocity. Women’s History Month creates moments—but real progress is built in what happens after. This episode explores the difference between celebrating inclusion and structurally embedding it into the fabric of motorsport and automotive:     •    How initiatives like Girls on Track are creating early, intentional entry points tied directly to the future of the industry     •    Why increasing female representation in governance—stewards, technical roles, and regulatory bodies—is changing how decisions get made     •    And the real question every organization should be asking right now: what do your April budgets say about your priorities? Because momentum isn’t a headline—it’s something you can measure. Across infrastructure, pipelines, leadership, and policy, women aren’t waiting to be included. They’re actively shaping what this industry becomes next. This isn’t about the moment. It’s about what we build from it.

    8 min

  6. MAR 31

    Operation Motorsport with Tiffany Lodder

    Tiffany Lodder has built a career at the intersection of motorsport and service — but her work goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of racing. As the co-founder of Operation Motorsport, Tiffany has helped create a pathway for military veterans to find renewed purpose, community, and opportunity through motorsport. In this conversation, we explore how racing — often seen purely as competition — can become a powerful platform for impact. Tiffany shares what first drew her into the motorsport world and the moment she realized its potential to serve something bigger. We dive into the gap she identified between the veteran community and the racing industry, and how Operation Motorsport was built to bridge it. We also unpack why the high-performance, fast-paced nature of motorsport uniquely resonates with veterans, and what success truly looks like within the program — from employment to confidence to connection. This episode also challenges the industry at large — asking how motorsport can better embrace its role as a platform for social impact, and what meaningful inclusion really looks like beyond surface-level representation. For anyone looking to build something different — especially women carving out nontraditional paths — Tiffany offers a powerful perspective on resilience, purpose, and leading with intention. Because sometimes, the most important work happening in motorsport isn’t just about who finishes first — it’s about who gets to be part of the race in the first place.

    41 min

  7. MAR 24

    Two Worlds One Drive with Sonya Lloyd

    What does it look like to operate at a high level — in two entirely different worlds? Sonya Lloyd is both a world championship motorcycle racer and a participant in Siemens’ Technical Marketing Leadership Development Program — a combination that challenges the idea that you have to choose between passion and profession. In this episode, we explore how Sonya navigates the intersection of motorsport and technical leadership, and what it takes to perform at an elite level in both. From the discipline required on the track to the precision needed in corporate environments, Sonya shares how these experiences inform and strengthen each other. We dive into her journey into motorcycle racing, what kept her committed through the toughest moments, and how she simultaneously built a path within Siemens. Along the way, we unpack how preparation, pressure, and failure show up across both arenas — and what it means to deliver when the stakes are high. This conversation also explores the power of storytelling — from translating complex technical ideas into meaningful narratives, to communicating performance and purpose in motorsport. Sonya reflects on how her technical background shapes the way she understands machinery and engineering, and how racing has influenced how she shows up as a communicator and leader. We also talk about visibility — why it matters for women in both motorsport and technical leadership — and how organizations can better support individuals pursuing nontraditional, dual-career paths. At its core, this episode is about expanding what’s possible. About rejecting the idea that you have to choose one version of yourself. And about building a life that fully reflects both passion and practicality. Because sometimes, being differential means refusing to pick just one lane — and having the courage to excel in both.

    30 min

  8. MAR 19

    Thursday Pit Stop: Leadership Without Loudness

    This week’s Pit Stop explores a different kind of leadership — one that doesn’t rely on volume, but on impact. For decades, leadership in motorsport has been defined by command-and-control environments. But behind the scenes, a shift has been happening. One shaped by strategic thinking, cultural influence, and long-term vision. We look at leaders like Claire Williams, who navigated financial and organizational complexity at Williams Racing with transparency and resilience. Susie Wolff, who is now shaping the future of driver development and opportunity through her leadership at F1 Academy. And Jessica Hawkins, whose presence within Aston Martin represents more than a role — it’s a shift in how leadership and influence show up inside elite team environments. Because leadership isn’t just about who speaks the loudest.
It’s about who moves systems, shapes culture, and creates pathways forward. And increasingly, that leadership is being redefined.

    8 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The automotive and motorsport world has always had a seat at the table — it just hasn't always been yours. BeDifferential is the podcast for newcomers, outsiders, and anyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite fit in car culture. Each week, host Eva Gregory goes behind the scenes with racers, engineers, executives, and industry insiders to share the stories, career paths, and hard-won lessons that don't make it into the mainstream. From grassroots motorsport to the paddock, from vintage cars to cutting-edge tech — if you're curious about where you fit in this world, you found the right show. New episodes every Tuesday, plus solo industry takes every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Be Differential
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Be Differential
  • Show Website
    Be Differential

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