{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Very Vehicular","title":"The First Automotive Influencer? | RJ de Vera's life in Cars from The Fast and the Furious to SEMA","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/e7e32bb7\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":11384,"description":"Very Vehicular welcomes RJ de Vera! Each season we like to bring on a guest from inside the automotive industry whose position and experience helps us better understand the issues facing car culture, and while RJ is more than qualified in that regard, there’s more that he’s done… much more! He was a foundational part of the import scene in the 90s, working as a writer and photographer for Super Street before ascending to Editor at Large. He was the go-to guy on the scene consulting for a plethora of OEMs and brands looking to break off a little piece of the magic for themselves. He even had a role in a notable movie franchise - word to the wise is he’s still collecting residual checks for his on-screen role to this day. Trading the underground for a storied chapter in the corporate world (twelve years at 3M / Meguiars no less), he’s now taken his rightful place atop the mountain as Vice President of Marketing at SEMA. Of most interest to us though? He’s a fully paid-up, card-carrying car nerd, with extraordinary stories and an insight into car culture you won’t want to miss. Enjoy!\n@RJ_Devera@BrianScotto@321ActionAction\nPartners:FCP EuroHeatwave VisualWera ToolsKW Suspension\nProducer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterartsEditor: Julius Adorsu @adorsu.jMusic: SlikSound \nPatreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647\nhttps://bio.site/321actionactionpodcasts@321actionaction.com\n00:00 - Welcome & Introduction03:36 - Car Culture Health Check09:23 - SEMA Advocacy Battles13:14 - Car Audio Nostalgia14:27 - Magazine Era Memories15:18 - Hot Import Nights Explained23:16 - Was RJ the First Automotive Influencer?29:38 - Sponsor: FCP Euro31:14 - Fast and Furious - How That All Came About35:19 - S2000 Movie Afterlife36:48 - Fast Franchise Tipping Points37:43 - Tokyo Drift and Drifting Boom39:06 - Sneakers Meet Car Culture41:25 - Mark Arcenal and Fatlace46:02 - Before Fast Breakthrough49:51 - Early Days with Super Street52:13 - Building a Brand in 202655:09 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual, Wera...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/CuwX5NNzMFN2RReDGfLYfqMVTlSzQfuF_nbJSeDHNrQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mMjEz/MTUyZDMwM2VjMjAz/ZTQ0NzNhMWU0ODNk/MGJhZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}