This week on Mania and Melancholy, we ride shotgun with Aaron Benjamin—comedian, car enthusiast, and general manager of Denver Comedy Underground—for a wide-ranging conversation that blends turbocharged passion with personal insight.

We cover:

• Why Japanese cars are like samurai swords and American ones like battle axes
• Turbochargers, torque, and how efficiency shaped an entire culture
• How car engines actually work—displacement, combustion, turbocharging, torque, and why some engines feel like they kick you in the chest
• Why older Japanese cars with 200K+ miles still run like new—and what makes them special under the hood
• Running a top-tier indie comedy club and balancing friendship with leadership
• Staying grounded in comedy, car culture, and personal values

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a car, a craft, or just the idea of going fast and far—this episode is built for you.