Hosts Ryan and Keith welcome the new year and guests Alvin Jones (www.planetvehicle.com) and William Hopper (YouTube @therealdccarguy), two of the tour guides at the Washington Auto Show. The Washington DC auto show is one of the BIG FIVE Shows in the United States, and is a great family event to attend to learn about and see all the latest cars the industry is offering - and its a great place to get out of the cold!

VIP tours are a bargain and guests get an auto industry insider's expert guidance through all the cars on display.

www.washingtonautoshow.com

Find today's guest on Instagram at @averypeechatka and at www.averypeechatka.com

In this episode of the Capital DriveCast, hosts Ryan and Keith are joined by fellow WAPA member and professional photographer, Avery Peechatka and hear about his journey from attorney to the world of automotive journalism. Avery also provides tips for amateur photographers and discusses his favorite cars and aspirations for the future, concluding with his goals for 2026.

Keith and Ryan also reflect on the past year in the automotive industry, discussing significant shifts such as Ford's pivot away from the F-150 Lightning.

Jennifer Morrison, Mazda safety engineer and Director of North America Safety Strategy, joins Ryan and Keith to discuss the significant advancements in automotive safety features over the years, highlighting the evolution from basic safety measures to the incorporation of multiple airbags and advanced sensors in modern vehicles.

Jennifer's enthusiasm and dedication to saving lives is infectious as we get a sneak peak at the secret sauce that keeps Mazda one of the top brands for safety with the most IIHS+ Safety Picks of any brand, tied with Hyundai who just caught up.

While engineers have made great strides in creating better and better crash worthiness, the person behind the wheel is key to future declines in fatalities and injuries.

She emphasizes the importance of addressing behavioral issues, such as speeding, to achieve the goal of zero crashes and reduced injuries on the road.

Show Links

Washington Auto Show https://www.washingtonautoshow.com/

Hosts Ryan and Keith are joined on this episode by long time Washington Automotive Press Association Member, Fadra Nally. Fadra is the OG when it comes to pioneering automotive YouTube content. As a blogger, travel fan, and professional voiceover artist, Fadra has a knack for blending consumer focused automotive content into the variety of topics she covers on her YouTube channel and Instagram at AllThingsFadra.

Keith brags about his wonderful fall leaf peeping top down Miata drive down SkyLine Drive while Ryan brings us news from the world of Kia EVs and the German Auto Industry.

You can find Fadra Nally at https://www.youtube.com/@Allthingsfadra and IG https://www.instagram.com/allthingsfadra/?hl=en

Fadra's Viral Sink Vid : https://youtu.be/AGF4-k8R6FI?si=sFTcI2hVRlpSjr00

In this episode of the Capital DriveCast, hosts Keith and Ryan chat with John Aaron, morning news anchor at WTOP Radio, passionate automotive enthusiast, and long time Washington Automotive Press (WAPA) member They discuss John's career journey, his experiences with WAPA, and his insights on the latest automotive news and trends. The conversation also covers the recent WAPA rally, where they explored various vehicles and features, and John's unique car history, including his first car and current reviews.

You can find WTOP car reviews at

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/car-reviews/

You can find Fadra Nally's AllThingsFadra Slate video here: https://youtu.be/-xzei_6Mw5g?si=J0EhslNZutBsoXCB

You can find Jake Thiewes Out Motor Sport's Slate video here:https://youtu.be/CWFDn_h4TTk?si=qfxJ5v9oZwchjN4Q

Manufactures supporting the 2025 WAPA Fall Rally

- Honda

- Honda Motorcycles

- Stellantis (Dodge and Jeep)

- Toyota

- Lexus

- Kia

- Hyundai

- Genesis

- Ford

- Polestar

- Mazda

- Subaru

Hosts Ryan and Keith are joined on this episode by legendary broadcast journalist John Davis. John has been the creator, producer and voice of one of the nation's longest running television shows, MotorWeek. What a special treat to hear about the early days of MotorWeek, how it started, and its secret sauce of success that has kept it the go to source for all things cars for 45 years and counting. What an incredible conversation about John's passion for cars and the gift that is MotorWeek to consumers and car enthusiasts everywhere. News wise Keith and Ryan talk continued EV price drops and the return of the iconic Honda Prelude.

Oh yea, our very first episode! In this debut episode we feature William Hopper, long time member and current president of the Washington Automotive Press Association. William shares his love of cars and discusses the importance of automotive journalism and the variety of press associations across the country. Hosts Ryan (auto journalist with US News and World Report) and Keith (producer at YouTube auto channel Beyond the Test Drive) introduce themselves, discuss the vision for Capital DriveCast and share some interesting news from the world of autos.

Recorded on September 30th, 2025 - National Pod Cast Day!

For questions and feedback please email us at [email protected].