July 01, 2025

Desert Racing 101: Why It’s Way Harder Than You Think - Ryan Millen

1 hour 3 minutes

In this episode of The Creative Drive, we’re joined by Ryan Millen — off road racer and member of one of America and New Zealand's most iconic racing families. Son of Rod Millen and brother to Rhys Millen, Ryan has forged his own path from formula cars to rally stages, winning in the American Rally Association, working with brands like Toyota along the way and now desert racing in trophy trucks.

We get into Ryan’s unique journey, the pressures and perks of a legendary last name, and how he blends performance with personality in the age of motorsports storytelling. From his take on off-road racing to content strategy for modern drivers, this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and a look into what keeps Ryan creatively driven.

Watch or listen now.

0:00 Cold opening

1:00 Host Taro Koki Introduces Ryan Millen

01:45 What the last name Millen means

03:33 Sponsor message

04:27 How Ryan Millen started rally racing

08:00 What's so difficult about desert racing?

12:00 Growing up on Pikes Peak

14:30 Toyota rally sponsorship and Two Roads to Baja

17:10 Racing Porsches in Siberia

18:15 Rally racing Toyota RAV4

25:00 What it was like having a girlfriend as a co-driver

28:33 Creating content and being a racecar driver

30:15 Father Rod Millen lived in the golden era of rally

31:45 Racing with Terrible Herbst spec trophy trucks

37:30 Almost getting run over at Baja 500

39:45 Innovation in desert racing actve dampers and 4 wheel drive

44:40 Difference between Dakar and Baja racing

47:40 Off road racing promotion landscape

52:45 Rapid Fire with Ryan Millen

57:10 Ryan Millen thinks Who's Boost'n It

01:01:20 Ryan Millen's Creative Drive

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_millen_

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Follow host Taro Koki on IG:https://www.instagram.com/tarokoki99/

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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#TheCreativeDrive #ryanmillen #rally #CarCulture #desertracing #baja1000 #rodmillen #ContentCreators #Motorsports #toyota #RACERPodcast #trophytrucks #offroadracing #CarBuilders

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By Racer Media and Marketing, Inc.

77 ratings