Driven By Design

Our Driven by Designer, Bryan Thompson (10 years with Nissan SoCal car design studio and recent lead designer for Amazon's new self-driving taxi ZOOX) talks with the creator of a new category of pedal-powered plus electric assist vehicle called the VELOMOBILE. Created by Begorette Supercomposites Engineering in Spain. Here on Orange County's only live business channel, OC TALK RADIO, streaming live from the University of California Irvine's BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION CENTER.

Meet Reuben Sarkar, President and CEO of the American Center for Mobility on their innovative test track for self-driving technology. And the startup campus they've created to help create the transportation technology of the future. Funded by the State of Michigan (and others).

Join us as our car designer Bryan Thompson (10 years with Nissan and recent lead designer for Amazon's new self-driving taxi, ZOOX) talks with custom car designer CHRIS BROWN (BrownAutoDesign.com) on how to update a classic and turn it into a custom, one-of-a-kind car. On this week's edition of DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on OC TALK RADIO. OC's only community radio station streaming live from The Cove here at the University of California Irvine's BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION CENTER.

Our DRIVEN BY DESIGNER Bryan Thompson (10 years at Nissan and recent lead designer for Amazon's new self-driving taxi, ZOOX) talks cars with the Chairman of the famed Concours at Pasadera about their classic car show in Monterey (held every year next to the famed Laguna Seca Race Track).  Talking about all that will be there this year from a tricked out Ford Galaxy once raced by Carrol Shelby to a $35 million dollar Ferrari.  And everything in-between, including a high end Hot Wheels collection featuring a rare VW minibus worth over $175,000.  All the classics from A-Z. With a thoughtful discussion by both about "what is a classic" and "what recent cars may become classics" 50 years in our future.  Here on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.  

Our DRIVEN BY DESIGN designer Bryan Thompson,10 year vet with Nissan and recent lead designer for Amazon's self-driving taxi ZOOM (and others) talks with another pioneer in the emerging world of new EVs, Jim Maury and the company he leads with his wife and son to build a standard EV platform to power various EVs from SUVs to Delivery Vehicles at their startup ZERO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CORPORATION in Phoenix.

This week our DRIVEN BY DESIGN car designer Bryan Thompson talks with Arda Onel, the Founder and Partner of Ariel Rider E-Bikes.  Discussing not only their high performance models like the Grizzly, but their amazing tale of success. As two Turkish sons move to China and build an international ebike company with their father, only to struggle and falter as their father dies and they are forced to go it alone, learning the complexities of servicing such a fast growing, international business. And having the foresight and courage to shut it all down after his death and start all over again to get it right. Moving to Seattle and rebuilding their brand from scratch (with even greater success) It's an inspirational story of struggle and courage and rebirth. As Ariel Rider E-Bikes takes a new path, reaches new heights and tackles new terrain in an ever growing (and ever changing) market. Here on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.biz.

Brent Shedd, CEO at ZING ROBOTICS in the Bay area. An autonomous vehicle startup that has developed "an electric, level 4 autonomous mobility platform suitable for a wide variety of uses" from ground service equipment for airlines and cargo carriers (to take humans off the tarmac) to military and other potential public uses. Cool stuff with lots of potential target markets and applications. You can check them out by visiting www.zingrobotics.com.

Jinah Kim NIKO EASY WASH CAR SEAT COVERS on how becoming a mother led her to creating an easy wash cover for her kid's car seats. And how it's given her a whole new chapter in her life from TV Reporter to Entrepreneur.

Are we really ready for the electrification of all our vehicles?  Tune in to this week's DRIVEN BY DESIGN as our host Bryan Thompson (a 10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal design studio) tackles that question with Ali Jahed, a real live "electric vehicle consultant" at Morrow Mobility who previously was responsible for preparation, and full service readiness of Mazda U.S. operations (corporate, region, and dealers) for the launch of their Electric Vehicles and Hybrids,  And given his connection with so many at Mazda (like his mentor, Tom Miata, legendary designer of the Mazda Miata), Bryan explores what it's like to work at that "scrappy car company" and how they build so much passion and heart into their products. And keep the fun of driving alive. Can that still be done in an all electric, self driving future?  Hear all that and more in this highly energized discussion between two real "car guys" on this week's DRIVEN BY DESIGN. Exploring all the things that drive us today, here on Orange County's only community radio station.  Keeping SoCal's thriving and driving car culture alive, one conversation at a time...

While others worry and rethink their business, Don DiCostanzo has seen his direct dealer network double during Covid, as his PEDEGO brand of ebikes continues to pedal along in high gear.  Join us as he tracks that journey from "eBike enthusiast" to pioneer, entrepreneur and thought leader in this fast moving industry, on this week's edition of DRIVEN BY DESIGN (the one show that explores everything that drives us today). Here on OC TALK RADIO, Orange County's only community radio station and live podcasting platform.

Check out today's fascinating talk with Jason Wilbur who went from designing cars for Honda to his own line of high end watches (Wilbur Watches).  Finding new inspiration in these challenging times.  And a new way to channel his creative muses.  Only on DRIVEN BY DESIGN (a show about everything that drives us today). Here on OC TALK RADIO, OC's only community radio station.

Once upon a time, we were promised a future with "flying cars". Now countries around the world (including the new Biden Administration) and our own State of California are promising a world where all new cars will be electric by 2030. Sound just as fantastic or unfeasible?Listen as our host Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal design studio) talks with the industry group leading this charge.  The ZERO EMMISSIONS TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION (ZETA) and their bold initiative to insure that all new vehicles are 100% electric by 2030.  And how they are working with Congress and leading manufacturers to pave the way for this to really happen.  Right here on this week's edition of DRIVEN BY DESIGN. On Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.biz. Streaming live from the University of California's BEALL APPLIED INNOVATION CENTER.  

Today our Driven Designer, Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal Design studio) takes another detour to highlight some LGBT issues again. Not only talking about his ongoing SHINE initiative to shine a light on domestic abuse within this community, but to talk with an author Britt East, who's written A Gay Man's Guide to Life.  Designed to give gay men (in his words) a leg up on life by sharing his own journey as a way to guide and inspire others.It's part of Bryan's series of shows that not only spotlight LGBT issues but shine a light on how people are using this cloistered Covid time to be creative and tackle new projects.  To take a look at what's driving people during these difficult times.  So ride along! Right here on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

Professional Dancer Cassidy Knoblett (Mariah Carey, Katy Perry and others) talks about his COVID QUARANTINE TIME and how he keeps going and growing.  How do you keep moving when the world seems stuck in slowdown and shutdown? 

Noted Car Designer Bryan Thompson shares his idea of how he tries to bring "light into darkness" not only thru his work designing cars for companies from Nissan to autonomous car maker Motional, but also thru his special SHINE project. SHINING a light on the often overlooked subject of domestic abuse in the LGBT community (including his own experience which inspired him to shine a not on others stories as well). So in these dark Covid times, don't give up hope!  Find a way to let the light shine thru in your own life!  And see how others are using this forced seclusion to open new doors and new ideas in their own lives.

Join us as our resident car designer, Bryan Thompson (10 years with Nissan's SoCal design studio) imagines a world the flying cars from cartoons like the Jetsons really came to life. An alternative universe where flying cars became a reality.  And the series of paintings he's creating on that theme to raise money for his charity to help LGBTQ kids (like him) realize their dreams and pursue a career in car design. Only on OC TALK RADIO, Orange County's only online business channel.

Join us as our resident car designer Bryan Thompson (10 years with the SoCal Design Studio) talks us thru his latest "self driving delivery car" as he ventures to OC to see the car come to life in a clay model version.  Bringing it one step closer from imagination to reality.  Only on OC TALK RADIO, Orange County's only business station.

Join Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's car design studio, now out on his own) as he talks with the former President of TESLA on what it was like to work with the legendary Elon Musk and his own work now teaching at Stanford and trying to figure out how to "reboot the human brain" and Modifying Human Perception (the subject of his upcoming TEDx talk at the Yost Theatre on Friday, March 6th here in Santa Ana, CA).  On DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Join Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal car design studio) as he talks with David Ankin, CEO of Toymakerz custom car shop in Reidsville, NC and star of the hot History Channel Show of the same title as he talks about the outlandish custom cars and extreme car creations he personally builds, tests and takes to the limit each week on his show and and n his shop. And his take on the future of custom car designs in a world of electric "self driving cars" and other forms of "personal mobility" from flying cars to electric scooters and skateboards. In part two of this fascinating interview with the man who personally pushes the boundaries of "what drives us" everyday. On DRIVEN BY DESIGN, on Orange County's community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Join Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal car design studio) as he talks with David Ankin, CEO of Toymakerz custom car shop in Reidsville, NC and star of the hot History Channel Show of the same title as he talks about the outlandish custom cars and extreme car creations he personally builds, tests and takes to the limit each week on his show and every day in his shop. Like his custom-built 3,000 horsepower 60’s style “Street Digger” dragster he recently unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. On DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Join car designer Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's car design studio, now out on his own) as he peers into his crystal ball and gives us a peek into the future he and his fellow car designers are already working on (SPOILER ALERT: NONE of which even have steering wheels anymore) as he dissects the trends driving us today and takes us into the future of what promises to be a revolution in car design in the coming decade and a complete rethinking of "what drives us" in the coming future. Here on DRIVEN BY DESIGN, on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Join us as we put a wrap on 2019 by looking back at the year in car design (which saw the demise of iconic cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and the emergence of Tesla's CyberTruck) with Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal car design studio) here on DRIVEN BY DESIGN, on Orange County's only community radio station, OC Talk Radio.

Join us for Part Two of our ongoing wake and remembrance of a man who touched and inspired so many car designers with his freewheeling leadership style and creative freedom, the late Jerry Hirshberg who started Nissan's design studio back in 1980 and ran it successfully until his retirement in 2000 (having been the chief designer at Pontiac/Buick before that, where he was credited with iconic designs like the famous 1971 "boat tail" Buick Riviera). With Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's first of it's kind SoCal studio) and many other guests who stopped by to raise a toast and share some crazy memories of what it was like to work for the man who made car design so much fun for all of them.

Join host Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's design studio) as he and his past co-workers remember and pay tribute to Jerry Hirshberg, legendary head of Nissan's SoCal design studio here in La Jolla (which he created in 1980 and ran until his retirement in 2000).  With plenty of stories about the crazy antics and creative license that made this a "once in a lifetime" place to work for Bryan and all his guests. On this week's DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

In part two of our interview with LOADED BOARDS founder Don Tashman, he talks about his long standing love of the sport and the inspirational story of how he got started making high end skateboards.  While our very own Lou the wonder dog gets to test out their latest electric model as we actually bring in a real "vehicle" to test and talk about in the new world of personal mobility and all things that drive us on DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Don Tashman fr/LOADED BOARDS skates by with this latest high end electric skateboard, as our host Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's car design studio) explores the full range of "what drives us today" on DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

Don't miss the second part of our interview with legendary car designer Tom Matano (formerly with Mazda where he created iconic cars like the Mazda Miata) on what makes a truly great car and how you should not be able to resist looking back one more time at a truly timeless design like the Miata.  As Bryan Thompson (10 year veteran of Nissan's SoCal design studio) talks with one of his mentors and inspiration here on DRIVEN BY DESIGN here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

What a treat to hear from legendary car designer, Tom Matano (formerly of Mazda where he created iconic cars like the Mazda Miata) on what makes a great car design and how to become "one with the part you're trying to imagine".  On this weeks DRIVEN BY DESIGN with car designer Bryan Thompson (a ten year veteran of Nissan now out on his own).  Here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

In the second part of this interview with Bryan Thompson (10 year car designer for Nissan now out on his own) and his brother Chad (who actually builds high end, one off, custom motorcycles in Florida), we get into the future of custom motorcycles in a world where electric, self driving vehicles may become the norm.  Could there be a high end custom electric or any sort of self driving motorcycle?  Tune in to hear their thoughts on this week's DRIVEN BY DESIGN, here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.

The love of cars runs deep in most American males. But especially deep in our show host's family, as Bryan Thompson (10 year car designer for Nissan now out on his own) talks with his brother Chad about his thriving business as a custom motorcycle builder in Florida.  And what drives them both work in opposite ends of this business (from design to actual building).

Freelance Car Designer Bryan S. Thompson (formerly w/Nissan) talks about growing up a gay kid in rural Arizona and dreaming of being a car designer. How everyone told him he "didn't fit" and could never get into this industry. And how he persevered and literally knocked on doors of major car design studios in Europe until someone finally came out, took a look and told him how to do it.Which is why he's creating a special scholarship for LGBTQ kids (like him) who are "driven by design".Tune it and share his amazing story with anyone who's ever felt "different" or that they "didn't fit" and how incredible it is to find your true passion and "tribe".  And join him for his special fundraiser at the Liberace Estate in Palm Springs this Friday, Oct. 18th for a night of eating and dancing and raising funds for this very personal cause.  And who knows?  You might even win one of his cars?  Dreams can come true. It can happen to you.  If you have the drive (and talent) to succeed...

As car designer Bryan Thompson continues his talk with Fritz Holst (former head of design for Matchbox and Hot Wheels at Mattel), we dive deeper into the mysterious connection we have with our cars (starting as kids).  From giving them names and collecting toy versions to the personal statements most cars make about us as adults.  But how will our whole "car culture" and its deep connection with whatever moves us be tested in a brave new world of nameless, self-driving machines that pick us up only when needed?Hear both their perspectives on our evolving love affair with cars and how startups like Fritz's fascinating HACKROD might just save the industry from a future of detached utilitarianism and cars becoming appliances by making each of us our own car designers thru a new world of affordable, on-demand manufacturing and 3D printing of parts. Allowing us the freedom to make whatever moves us in this rapidly changing landscape of automotive subscriptions, self-driving vehicles, electric bikes and scooters for rent on every corner.On DRIVEN BY DESIGN.  The driving conversation on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO. Streaming (not screaming) talk radio and podcasts.

For anyone who ever collected HOT WHEELS or MATCHBOX as a kid (like I did!) this show is for you.  As car designer Bryan Thompson talks with the former head of design for Matchbox and Hot Wheels at MATTEL, Felix Holst, about his cool work turning real cars into toys.  How he and his team at Matchbox worked hard to exactly match the miniatures with their real world counterparts. And how Hot Wheels allowed them the freedom to press the boundaries and make creative "comic book versions" of these same cars as well. Then hear about his equally mind boggling startup, HACKROD, and how he thinks their "do-it-yourself' design platform for affordable, "on demand manufacturing" might enable a new future of personalized and customized real world cars as well. On DRIVEN BY DESIGN, the only show showing you the future of automotive one concept at a time.On Orange County's equally futuristic "live podcasting" channel, OC TALK RADIO.  Streaming (not screaming) talk radio...

This week, car designer Bryan Thompson talks with Gabriel Wartofsky who's designed for Honda and Acura and BMW but who now also works in the more esoteric world of "mobility" and the emerging alternatives from scooters and electric bikes to self-driving vehicles.  So what will move us in the future? Find out from today's pair of DRIVEN BY DESIGN designers. Who are designing the future of mobility and transportation...today. Here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO. Streaming (not screaming) talk radio...

For his first guest, car designer Bryan Thompson talks with his friend and former teammate at Nissan, Jill Canales, about what it takes to be a "color material designer". "We are in charge of every material color in the car from the grain and hue of the plastic dashboard to the headliner and carpet to the exterior color of the car," she explains. "We don't just pick colors. We design them from the chemistry of the paint to match the mood and feel of the space."  This from a woman who famously wrote her thesis on only working in "black and white".  And who now works as SVP for Product and Marketing at The Original Scrapbox ("unique furniture tailored to crafters, seamstresses, etc. that can enhance their experience by simplifying and organizing their supplies so they can create").A fascinating start to our weekly conversation with the magician's who make us feel so connected to our cars and "spaces". As we pull back the curtain on automotive and transportation design here on DRIVEN BY DESIGN. On Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.  Streaming (not screaming) talk radio. And live podcasting.

Having worked as a designer at Nissan for the last 10 years, Bryan Thompson is now out on his own and DRIVEN BY DESIGN. Exploring the future of transportation and automotive styling with his fellow visionaries at all the car design studios here in Southern California.  So ride along on this fast paced look at the future as we explore our continuing fascination with cars, trucks, motorcycles and anything that moves.  Here on Orange County's only community radio station, OC TALK RADIO.