Thomas Stevens of Powerhouse PerformanceThis week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Thomas Stevens of Powerhouse Performance, a Southern California shop known for everything from truck builds and suspension upgrades to fabrication and full automotive projects.

Powerhouse has built a reputation as a one-stop automotive shop, handling everything from lift kits and wheel/tire setups to performance upgrades and custom work, and Thomas joins the guys to talk about what it takes to run a modern performance shop in today’s industry.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Sean Smith of Sean Smith Designs for a conversation that dives into the world of automotive design, custom cars, and the path from OEM design to the custom car industry.Sean shares how he got started working with major manufacturers including Honda, Mazda, and Hyundai, designing everything from motorcycles and concept vehicles to production projects, before carving out his own path in the custom car world. The conversation moves into how design thinking translates from OEM programs to custom builds, how the industry has evolved, and why collaboration between designers and builders could push the craft even further.Along the way the guys get into:Sean’s early career in automotive and motorcycle designThe differences between OEM design and custom car buildingCollaboration between designers in the industryCreativity, competition, and why the custom car world is evolvingAnd the usual Oil & Whiskey tangents and storiesIf you’re into car design or the creative side of automotive culture, this is a great episode to check out.Grab official Oil & Whiskey gear at oilandwhiskey.com. Good time, bad advice, great shirts.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, Rodger Lee of Ironworks Speed & Kustom is back for his third time on the show and it’s a solid catch-up on what’s happening in the shop world right now.We talk hot rods, custom cars, shop life, and the stuff nobody sees: managing the work, managing the people, and keeping the business moving while still building at a high level. Rodger shares real-world perspective on running a custom car shop, how the industry’s shifting, what’s working (and what isn’t), and the mindset it takes to stay consistent over the long haul.We also get into what Rodger’s been doing on the business education side — including his business development classes designed to help builders and shop owners tighten up their process, pricing, scheduling, and overall business structure.If you’re into Ironworks Speed & Kustom, custom car building, hot rod shops, or you’re trying to learn how to run a better operation behind the scenes, this episode is for you.Grab official Oil & Whiskey gear at oilandwhiskey.com. Good time, bad advice, great shirts.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Ron Jones and the crew from Ron Jones Garage for a wide-ranging conversation that goes way beyond just the cars.We get into what it really means to build cars as art not transportation. Fabrication vs. CNC. Skill vs. creativity. Can you actually “quantify” craftsmanship? Or is it all part of the secret sauce that makes this industry what it is?The guys talk about trusting clients who hand over the keys and the checkbook, building cars that stir up strong opinions online, and why sometimes the most polarizing builds are the ones that matter most.Of course, it wouldn’t be Oil & Whiskey without:• The ongoing Burt Reynolds vs. Sylvester Stallone debate• Favorite car movies (and some strong opinions)• Wild speeding ticket stories• Shop life, hustle mentality, and allocating your “resources” the right way• And maybe a few bottles getting killed along the wayGrab official Oil & Whiskey gear at oilandwhiskey.com. Good time, bad advice, great shirts.

We’ve had a lot of great conversations over the years — so we pulled together some of our favorite moments.

Oil & Whiskey Greatest Hits | Vol. 1 is a collection of standout clips, memorable stories, and moments that hit a little harder the first time around.

Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re just finding the show, this is a solid place to jump in.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, Andy Leach and the Cal Automotive Creations crew roll through in person, and they didn’t come alone. Andy’s back in the studio with Matt, Rick, and even Andy’s wife (aka the real chaperone / brains of the operation).

We catch up on what they’ve been up to since the last time Andy was on. Including a major Slonaker win, how they took a rare “quiet year” to focus on the shop and actually be home for the kids’ stuff, and what they changed internally to keep everything moving.

Then it turns into classic O&W shop talk: big projects, what it’s like when a client trusts the team and lets them push it, and the behind-the-scenes excitement around a seriously next-level Roadster Shop chassis project .

It’s a long-form hang with a killer crew

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Landen Manley and Mr. Begin for a conversation about automotive education and what happens when it actually works.Landen is a former student of the automotive program at Tillamook High School and is now working in the industry at JRod & Customs. Mr. Begin is the teacher who helped build the program and guide students toward real opportunities beyond the classroom.The episode dives into how hands-on education can lead to real careers, the importance of mentorship, and what it takes to prepare the next generation for work in the automotive world.

Donations Can Be Made Via Venmo @THSDRAGTEAM or Checks can be sent to:

Tillamook Education Foundation (501c3)

Attn: Johnny Begin (Drag Racing Team)

2510 1st Street, Tillamook OR 97141

Follow https://www.facebook.com/people/THS-Drag-Racing-Team/100069010405778/

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we’re joined by Donnie Hall and Isaac Gonzales of Streamline Custom Designs for a conversation focused on where it all started.

Donnie talks about his time working at Kindig-It Design, the lessons he picked up there, and how those experiences shaped his approach to custom work. Isaac shares his background outside the automotive world, including his success in nuclear cleanup and business, and how that experience translated into building a shop from the ground up.

The episode dives into how two very different paths came together to form Streamline Custom Designs, the challenges of starting something new, and the importance of experience, trust, and long-term thinking.

This week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Thomas Dickerson, the winner of the Oil & Whiskey On The Gas Award.

The award recognizes individuals who are pushing forward, showing consistency, passion, and effort in what they do. Thomas joins us to talk about his path, the mindset behind staying “on the gas,” and what it means to keep moving forward when no one’s watching.

We talk about:

• What the On The Gas Award represents

• Thomas’s journey and perspective

• Staying motivated and consistent over time

• Lessons learned through experience

• Why momentum matters more than recognition

A grounded conversation about effort, direction, and continuing to push forward.

For the first episode of the new season, we opened up the phones and let listeners and viewers call in to ask questions, talk shop, and be part of the show. And for the first time, Elia, who’s been behind the scenes producing and shaping the Oil & Whiskey Podcast and Roadstershop media for years, steps in to moderate some super fan call-ins.

It’s a mix of listener questions, industry talk, and a look at the show from the inside, past, present, and where things are headed next.

Huge thanks to everyone who called in and continues to support the show. Season 5 is officially underway!