Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning

Jhae Pfenning
  • 4.9 (73)
  • Automotive
  • Weekly

"Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning" Rational discussions about everyday life, society, culture, and cars. Perfect blend societal topics sprinkled in with enough car culture to make it interesting. Hosted by Jhae Pfenning, the show is known for its unique approach to automotive journalism, focusing not just on cars but on the personalities behind them.

  1. 1d ago

    AI Runs Half My Work Now… w/ Drew Bunkley

    Drew Bunkley (C8Matrix) is back in the studio.AI that builds your business, the Tesla Roadster demo, and where cars go next. My good friend and show supporter Drew Bunkley stops by Hard Parking to catch up. We talk about his new SMG Media Group partnership and Central Valley Holdings, and how he builds client sites and systems with Claude using better prompts, references and MD files. Then we argue about whether the Tesla Roadster demo was a gimmick, a show for investors, or tech headed for Mars. We also get into Musk, the midterms and AI data centers, and what it's like living with his Tesla Plaid: editing videos on FSD and about $4,000 saved on fuel. Plus EVs from China and BYD, the YouTube Shorts changes coming in February 2027, clipping tools like Opus Clip, CapCut and AutoPod, and whether AI can fake a real person. And I ask Grok Bot a question live on the show. Also: a quick correction from last week's Petrolheadonism episode, running into Mark Stoneman in San Diego, and a heads-up on Super Streets After Dark in LA. Brought to you by Right Honda and Right Toyota (Scottsdale, AZ). Guest Drew Bunkley — C8MatrixWebsite: drewbunkley.comYouTube: youtube.com/@C8matrixInstagram: instagram.com/c8matrixTikTok: tiktok.com/@c8matrixPatreon (C8Matrix Garage): patreon.com/c8matrixPersonal sponsors thanked in-episode: Mark Stoneman, Katherine Cox, Byron Jones, Eddie Ramos, Richard Graves, Drew Bunkley, Jay Mullins, Nate Robertson. Chapters0:00 Show open & last-week corrections1:45 Spark Forge / Arcus Foundry2:48 Drew's back — catching up4:33 SMG Media Group & Central Valley Holdings7:53 Building with Claude — prompts, references & MD files12:11 AI agents, browsers & sandboxes14:37 Tesla Roadster demo — gimmick or Mars tech?22:16 Musk, the midterms & AI data centers26:26 Living with a Tesla Plaid — backlash, FSD & fuel savings30:32 Where cars go next — EVs, China & BYD33:52 Being more intentional in 2027 + my AI assistants36:58 YouTube Shorts changes & AI-made Shorts42:40 Asking Grok Bot live on the show45:37 Clipping & multicam tools — CapCut, Opus Clip, AutoPod54:00 Can AI fake a real person? + wrap-up56:00 Sponsors & shout-outs ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: patreon.com/hardparkingpodcastInstagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpodYouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhae Main Show SponsorsRight Honda: righthonda.comRight Toyota: righttoyota.comArcus Foundry: arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: shop.autocannon.comThe Warehouse AZ: thewarehouseaz.com

    AI Runs Half My Work Now… w/ Drew Bunkley

  2. Nov 6

    PETROLHEADONISM and the ROAD 2 SEMA Ep350

    Petrolheadonism’s Road 2 SEMA crew rolls into The Warehouse in Mesa for Hard Parking’s first live studio-audience panel.UK builds. 3,500 miles. Miami to Vegas. Jhae Pfenning sits down live at The Warehouse (Mesa, AZ) with Ciro Ciampi (Petrolheadonism), Josh Scoot (Scoot Supercars), and Liam Mullen (Drive Aspect) mid–Road 2 SEMA. They cover clutch failures and trailer calls, Liam’s Porsche 944/Audi RS4 build (~62 UK test miles before the U.S. crossing), Ciro’s BMW Z3M Coupe (Lithuania → UK → America), the 2 Fast 2 Furious Yenko Camaro for Hard Up Garage, Buc-ee’s etiquette, a Vegas mobility-scooter “F1” race, Monument Valley, Japan and Switzerland, Texas brisket, and Road 2 SEMA’s Make-A-Wish drive through November. Brought to you by Right Honda and Right Toyota (Scottsdale, AZ). Guests Ciro Ciampi — PetrolheadonismYouTube: youtube.com/@PetrolheadonismWebsite: petrolheadonism.clubInstagram: instagram.com/petrolheadonism.clubFacebook: facebook.com/PetrolheadonismRoad 2 SEMA 2026: petrolheadonism.com/sema2026/Josh Scoot — Scoot SupercarsYouTube: youtube.com/@SCOOTSUPERCARSInstagram: instagram.com/scootsupercarsLiam Mullen — Drive AspectYouTube: youtube.com/@drive-aspect-mediaInstagram: instagram.com/drive.aspectTikTok: tiktok.com/@drive.aspectRoad 2 SEMA 2026 drivers (official banner) Benas Pilipauskas — Ford Mustang (@pilipauskasbenas / Beno projektai)Seamus Moore — Vale Automotive GT1 (@vale_automotive)Christopher Wigley “Mr Wiggles” — GTD 40 / diesel GT40 (@mrwiggles104)Liam Mullen — Porsche 944 RS4 (Drive Aspect)Andrew “Andy” Kendrick — Escort RS Cosworth (@andy_fordman)Ciro Ciampi — BMW Z3M Coupe (Petrolheadonism)Hard Up Garage — 2 Fast 2 Furious Yenko Camaro, the car Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson drove in the film (@hardupgarage)Footage credits / sources citedB-roll used for editorial fair use with credit. Graphics: petrolheadonism.com/sema2026/ “Our Porsche 944 SEMA Build is FIANALLY COMPLETE!” — Drive Aspect“5000 Mile Road Trip Starts Here…” — Petrolheadonism“SO CLOSE BUT STILL SO FAR…” — Petrolheadonism“STRANDED IN FLORIDA!?!? | ROAD2SEMA” — Drive Aspect“Escort Cossie doing 3500 Miles across USA…” — Petrolheadonism“FORD ESCORT COSWORTH currently somewhere in the Atlantic!” — Petrolheadonism“The Famous M57 Diesel GT40 unveiled at PHLIVE26” — Petrolheadonism“Our Partners work together… who's unloading in New York? #porschegt1” — Petrolheadonism“Ultra exclusive Porsche GT1 by Vale Automotive” — Vale Automotive“Vale Automotive GT1 Porsche conversion” — Vale AutomotiveChapters0:00 Ranch sauce cold open0:21 Show open — Road 2 SEMA at The Warehouse1:05 Updates & last-week corrections1:29 Spark Forge / Arcus Foundry2:38 Live panel welcome — how’s the road trip?4:14 Meet Ciro Ciampi (Petrolheadonism)5:54 Meet Josh Scoot (Scoot Supercars)7:16 Meet Liam Mullen (Drive Aspect / 944 RS4)9:48 Road-trip stories — NASA, roof box, hitchhiker Peter11:45 Buc-ee’s, Galveston & American culture13:46 Vegas mobility-scooter “F1” race16:01 The cars — BMW Z3M Coupe origin story18:13 2 Fast 2 Furious Yenko Camaro (Hard Up Garage)20:36 Why these cars — Cosworth, Vale GT1, Mustang, GT4024:29 Favorite places — Monument Valley, Japan, Switzerland27:15 Favorite American food — brisket, wings & ranch28:49 Make-A-Wish × Road 2 SEMA31:01 Audience Q — shipping, insurance & next year’s route33:10 Gas-price reality check + thanks & sponsors ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: patreon.com/hardparkingpodcastInstagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpodYouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhae Main Show SponsorsRight Honda: righthonda.comRight Toyota: righttoyota.comArcus Foundry: arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: shop.autocannon.comThe Warehouse AZ: thewarehouseaz.com

    PETROLHEADONISM and the ROAD 2 SEMA Ep350

  3. Oct 30

    Avengers NSX Auction: Jasser Valerio Returns + Audi $4B Plant | Ep 349

    Jasser Valerio (NASCAR Senior Manager of Event Technology) returns for his first in-studio Hard Parking appearance. They talk life on the NASCAR event technology side, the cars he drives (NSX, S2000, and thoughts on Integra Type S), Japan Auto Salon, and the NSX community. Solo segments cover the Honda Cars & Bikes event, an expensive Fogo de Chao that underwhelmed, a solid Madre mezcal experience, My Top 10 cars of the 21st century http://getcarcurious.com/bestcars, the screen-used Avengers NSX Roadster live on Cars & Bids for charity, and what Audi’s $4 billion U.S. plant announcement actually means. Guest: Jasser Valerio — Instagram @jasserv Prior appearance: EP 200 – Jasser Valerio | Being a NASCAR Official (Nov 2023) Related: Ep 341 – Navy to NASCAR: Jesse Iwuji Avengers NSX (Cars & Bids): View listing Audi $4B plant: Official Audi announcement Full Article on Car Curious: https://getcarcurious.com/stories/best-cars-of-the-21st-century-poll Timestamps0:00 Intro & Blanton’s Gold0:21 Show open + coming up0:56 Honda Cars & Bikes / Fogo / Madre mezcal7:19 Arcus Foundry / Spark Forge8:00 Car news: Top 10 + Avengers NSX12:00 Audi $4B U.S. plant15:00 Welcome Jasser Valerio18:00 NASCAR event technology life28:00 Cars we drive: NSX, S2000, Type S38:00 Japan, Shinji, Montana & NSXPO46:30 Outro & sponsors ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: patreon.com/hardparkingpodcastInstagram: @hardparkingpodYouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: @hard.parking.jhae Main Show Sponsors:Right Honda: righthonda.comRight Toyota: righttoyota.comArcus Foundry: arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: shop.autocannon.comThe Warehouse AZ: thewarehouseaz.com

    Avengers NSX Auction: Jasser Valerio Returns + Audi $4B Plant | Ep 349

  4. Oct 23

    Emergency Arch Manning Football Talk with Que + Tesla Roadster Demo | Hard Parking Ep 348

    Hard Parking Ep 348 – Emergency College Football Talk with Que + Tesla Roadster Demo & Acura Newsbody { font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; max-width: 800px; margin: 2rem auto; line-height: 1.6; padding: 0 1rem; color: #e8e8e8; background: #111; }h1, h2 { color: #ffffff; }.timestamp { color: #aaa; font-weight: 600; }a { color: #6eb5ff; }.sponsor { background: #1a1a1a; padding: 1rem; border-left: 4px solid #6b2d9b; margin: 1rem 0; }Hard Parking Episode 348Emergency College Football Talk with Que + Tesla Roadster Demo & Acura News Host: Jhae Pfenning | Guest: Que | Gilbert, AZ studio Brought to you by: Right Honda and Right Toyota out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Show NotesAn emergency episode because the college football chaos demanded it. Guest Que joins to break down Michigan (4-2, Underwood benched, running game issues), Texas and Arch Manning, last week’s massive upsets, the SEC, the Cowboys’ frustrating lack of discipline, the Jalen Hurts blood clot situation, and outlooks for the rest of the season. Before the football talk, timely car news: Acura’s goal of selling 200,000 vehicles annually by 2030, Honda 0 Series Alpha updates (not coming to the US), next-gen NSX thoughts (Nexera Vision Concept EV as a potential foundation), and a full breakdown of the Tesla Roadster demonstration in McGregor, Texas — suction fans, cold-gas thrusters, the different versions, and why it was a real technology showcase rather than a gimmick. Chapters00:00 – Intro & sponsors00:27 – What’s coming (college football emergency + Tesla + Acura)00:44 – Arcus Foundry Spark Forge01:48 – GetCarCurious Top 10 of the 21st century teaser (next week with Jasser)02:22 – Acura 200,000 annual by 203002:58 – Honda 0 Series Alpha & next-gen NSX thoughts03:39 – Tesla Roadster demonstration deep dive10:05 – College football with Que34:47 – Outro & full sponsorsSources & Further ReadingGetCarCurious.com (automotive podcast ranking site referenced)Autoevolution report on Honda 0 Series Alpha resurfacingTesla Roadster demonstration (McGregor, Texas) – Sawyer Merritt coverage referencedContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: hardparkingpodcastInstagram: @hardparkingpodYouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: @hard.parking.jhae Main Show SponsorsRight HondaRight ToyotaArcus FoundryAutocannon Official GearThe Warehouse AZNext EpisodeNext week features Jasser from NASCAR (who was in studio last week) and the delayed Top 10 Cars of the 21st Century list.

    Emergency Arch Manning Football Talk with Que + Tesla Roadster Demo | Hard Parking Ep 348

  5. Oct 18

    NSXPO 2026 Orlando & Sebring Recap with Dre Mullins | Montana Trip EP347

    Jhae and returning guest Andre “Dre” Mullins recap NSXPO 2026 (Orlando area, October 1–5, with Sebring HPDE) after Jhae’s unforgettable pre-event Montana / Big Sky trip that included time with Shinji Kawai and Aki. They break down the friendships forged through NSX ownership, the car show, drives, gala, track vibes, and why these gatherings feel different. Pure laid-back car-culture conversation on the non-automotive automotive podcast. Referenced links & sources:Larry Chen / Hagerty feature on Shinji Kawai’s NSX collection (Route KS, including the 2022 factory one-off NSX-R): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXGp7BNeBmgHagerty article: https://www.hagerty.com/media/videos/understandable-obsession-one-on-one-with-route-ks-nsx-owner-shinji-kawai/NSX Club of America official NSXPO 2026 event page: https://nsxca.org/event-6685623ClassicCars.com photo gallery of NSXPO 2026 Orlando: https://journal.classiccars.com/2026/10/12/photo-gallery-orlando-hosts-nsxpo-2026/Chin Track Days NSXPO Sebring HPDE: https://chintrackdays.comNSXPO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsxpo/ Timestamps01:43 – Dre in studio + Montana pre-trip overview07:00 – Shinji & Aki, Japan NSX collection & the invite15:00 – Glacier / Big Sky stories & real-life notes30:00 – Full NSXPO 2026 Orlando recap begins45:00 – Car show, drives, gala & community58:00 – Sebring track day / HPDE takeaways1:30:00 – Movie talk (Sisu energy) & studio stories1:56:00 – Closing thoughts (Ohio next year) 1:57:00 – Outro, bottle, sponsors & One Drink Wednesday ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhae Main Show Sponsors:Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/The Warehouse AZ: https://thewarehouseaz.com/

    NSXPO 2026 Orlando & Sebring Recap with Dre Mullins | Montana Trip EP347

  6. Oct 9

    The Real LGBTQ+ Conversation with RTWJ: Hard Parking Classics EP 346

    Jhae brings back Hard Parking Episode 187 with John and Marcus of The RTWJ Podcast — one of the five episodes he says shows the full range of the show. The original conversation started after he heard their July 5, 2023 episode “Pride Month 2023. Pride Gets Personal” and wanted in. John came out in high school. Marcus waited until his 20s. They talk coming out, whether you can be “gay enough” inside your own community, kids and sex ed, and why cars still sneak in at the end. After the classic, Jhae updates the tape: RTWJ’s last episode was August 11, 2025 (“America is (Not) Healing”), the friendship cooled when politics got personal, and why he still thinks this one is worth hearing. RTWJ: @thertwjpodcast · thertwjpodcast.buzzsprout.comOriginal Ep 187: Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Why this classic is back00:02:41 John and Marcus of RTWJ00:05:14 Coming-out stories00:35:59 “Gay enough” and community infighting00:54:24 Kids, schools, and sex ed01:16:46 Cars still show up01:19:48 Where RTWJ is now ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhaeMain Show Sponsors:Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/The Warehouse AZ: https://thewarehouseaz.com/

  7. Oct 2

    Jim Mandel: Small Leaks Sink Ships, Skate Life & a 1999 Civic | EP 345

    Jim Mandel sits down with Jhae as a car-scene friend who also happens to be the bassist in Small Leaks Sink Ships. The Phoenix-born, Portland-based experimental art-pop band has been at it since the mid-2000s, and Jim still daily-drives a black 1999 Honda Civic DX. They talk the band’s run from Mesa’s Beyond Analog days through Golden Calf and 2023’s Low Tide, the skateboarding life that never really left, why cheap EK Civics still own the culture, and how a local friend group called Cartuned Network came together. Band: smallleaks.com · Spotify: Small Leaks Sink Ships · Instagram: @smallleaksCartuned Network: @cartuned_ntwrk 00:00 Intro + why Jim is in the chair00:05:40 Who Jim is — construction, karate, Hondas00:08:30 Small Leaks Sink Ships00:21:02 Skateboarding never left00:54:53 The Civics — ’92 K24 hatch and the black one01:11:18 Cartuned Network + wrap ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhaeMain Show Sponsors:Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/The Warehouse AZ: https://thewarehouseaz.com/

    Jim Mandel: Small Leaks Sink Ships, Skate Life & a 1999 Civic | EP 345

  8. Sep 25

    Matt Engdall Photo - From AZ Teacher to Car Photographer | 344

    Phoenix photographer Matt Engdall sits down in the Gilbert studio and traces the whole path: graphic design at CSU Monterey Bay, a short run at Central Coast TV, the dead-end jobs back home, then a surprise CTE teaching gig at Sandra Day O’Connor High School from 2019 to 2024. COVID put the camera back in his hands. High Line turned car photos into a January 2021 business. Leaving the classroom in 2024 made it full-time. Matt breaks down light painting classes with the Phoenix Photography Group, why he scouts a location for hours before a shoot, and how design hierarchy — what your eye hits first — is the same skill whether he is building a logo or lighting a fender. Jhae also gets the classroom stories: stage fright, COVID kids, and why “just go teach” is not the easy AI backup plan. Correction from the Jesse Iwuji episode: Matt Casto, not Matt Castro. Guest: Matt Engdall — @mattengdall_photo | mattengdall.photoReferenced: Tormenting Tarmac Ep 203 with Jorge Aquino · @tormentingtarmacJhae on CarCast: NSX market + Zanardi Edition sale Timestamps0:00 Intro, Revvit correction & Matt Casto correction1:28 Coming up + Spark Forge2:38 Welcome Matt / Tormenting Tarmac3:24 Phoenix kid, Monterey years, Go Otters4:45 Graphic design, KSBW, and the dead-end stretch6:00 CTE teaching at Sandra Day O’Connor7:11 COVID, High Line, business in 20218:36 Phoenix Photography Group & light painting class11:08 Learning the craft and the photographer network19:10 Scouting the spot that actually fits the car22:35 Asking about the car before you ask for the booking48:00 What teaching actually looked like54:43 Classroom stories, COVID kids & movie knockoffs59:26 “Just go teach” in the AI era1:01:25 Everything you look at is graphic design1:06:45 Hard Parking logo, hierarchy & detail shots1:13:18 Why book Matt Engdall1:15:19 Outro, Tormenting Tarmac & CarCast links ContactEmail: info@hardparking.comWebsite: www.hardparking.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hard.parking.jhaeMain Show Sponsors:Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/The Warehouse AZ: https://thewarehouseaz.com/

    Matt Engdall Photo - From AZ Teacher to Car Photographer | 344
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4.9
out of 5
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"Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning" Rational discussions about everyday life, society, culture, and cars. Perfect blend societal topics sprinkled in with enough car culture to make it interesting. Hosted by Jhae Pfenning, the show is known for its unique approach to automotive journalism, focusing not just on cars but on the personalities behind them.

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