Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning
Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning

Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning

Jhae Pfenning

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Episodes

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"Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning" Rational discussions about everyday life, society, culture, and cars. Perfect blend societal topics sprinkled in with enough car culture to make it interesting. Hosted by Jhae Pfenning, the show is known for its unique approach to automotive journalism, focusing not just on cars but on the personalities behind them.

Recent Episodes

Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Reaction, Seedance 2.0, Honda Prelude Thoughts
FEB 16, 2026
Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Reaction, Seedance 2.0, Honda Prelude Thoughts
Hard Parking Episode 313Jhae Pfenning is back with his high-energy solo intro and special guest Andre "Dre" Mullins (aka Dre Day) for another unforgettable episode of Hard Parking. This one fires on all cylinders—cars, culture, controversy, and real talk.Jhae delivers a no-holds-barred rant on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show: the electric energy, set design, crowd reactions, political hypocrisy on both sides, and why it still ranks as one of the all-time greats despite the backlash. He compares it to legendary (and bizarre) past performances, including the 1995 Disney/Indiana Jones halftime spectacular.Dre jumps in for wide-ranging conversation: the decline of originality in music (heavy sampling vs. the one-artist/producer era of the 80s/90s Grammys), the NFL’s Pro Bowl turning into flag football, and his standout experience at the Southwest Speed Festival—track action, time attack, open-wheel racing, and why it felt like a breath of fresh air.Car fans eat good too: Dre’s daily-driven Acura NSX philosophy (maintainer, not show queen), upcoming Arizona car events, an honest take on the new 2026 Honda Prelude (design, target buyer, and actual sales numbers), plus real-world advice on Dre’s wife’s next vehicle search (MDX lease ending— Kia Telluride? Lexus TX? Acura MDX Type S?).The vibe is fun, honest, and charismatic—exactly why listeners love having Dre on the show.Key moments include: • Unfiltered Super Bowl halftime analysis • Mind-blowing AI video demos (celebrity fight scenes and more realistic than ever) • Car culture, charity events, and community • Lease vs. buy debates and dealership insights Whether you’re into JDM icons, modern performance cars, or just great conversation, this episode is a must-listen. Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00:00 — Intro & Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Rant (Energy, Politics & Hypocrisy) 00:13:38 — Psy Dance 2.0 / AI Breaks the Internet 00:16:08 — Dre Mullins on the Grammys Then vs. Now 00:22:22 — Pro Bowl Flag Football Era & NFL Changes 00:23:57 — Dre Mullins recaps the Southwest Speed Festival 00:31:58 — Honda Prelude Hot or Not 00:42:02 — Wife’s Next Car Search: Telluride, Lexus NX, MDX Type S 00:51:05 — Lease vs. Buy Philosophy Referenced Articles & Videos Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Viewership: Nielsen data showed 128.2 million average viewers for the halftime window (one of the top 4 most-watched ever, strong social media records with billions of views).Sources: ESPN, ABC News Kyle Brandt Commentary on Bad Bunny & Halftime History: His X post highlighting the 1995 show as a wild comparison. 1995 Super Bowl Halftime Show (Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Forbidden Eye): Full promotional spectacle with Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett, and Disneyland ride tie-in.Watch here: YouTube – 1995 Super Bowl Halftime 2026 Honda Prelude Sales: 174 units in December (first full month), 216 in January. Pricing starts around $43,195; annual target 4,000–5,000 units.Sources: Honda News, Carscoops, Autoblog Toyota GR Supra Early Sales: ~2,884 units in partial 2019 launch year (strong initial demand despite mixed reviews).Source: GoodCarBadCar.net sales data Connect with Jhae Pfenning & Hard Parking Email: [email protected] Website: www.Hardparking.com Patreon (bonus audio + swag): www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/ YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParking Personal IG: Search @JhaePfenning (or the handle mentioned in episodes) Drop a review on Apple or Spotify if you enjoyed it, and tell a friend!New episodes drop weekly. Thanks for parking with us. 🚗💨
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57 MIN
Happy Birthday To Me, Drew Bunkley introduces Lil Z
FEB 9, 2026
Happy Birthday To Me, Drew Bunkley introduces Lil Z
Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning – Episode 312Drew Bunkley is back in the studio! After leaving Carvana, Drew dives into his exciting pivot to AI and app development under his new brand Tread & Torque. We talk:How he's using AI (Gemini Pro, Nano Banana Pro & more) to go from zero coding experience to building & testing full apps in months Tread & Torque / AI projects: https://treadandtorqueinvest.com The vehicle wrap visualizer app – upload your car photo, apply custom colors/logos, get realistic previews (game-changer for wrap shops & clients – far beyond Tire Rack visuals)Couch Play Pro – the couples app designed to fight "couch disconnect" with interactive games, trivia, TikTok challenges, date-night planners, dream trip builders & AI-generated itinerariesHis hilarious AI character Lil Z – a sassy mini Corvette ZR1 doll that comes alive, trash-talks at car shows & stars in short videos (check the intro clip!)Jhae celebrates turning 50 with an epic birthday weekend recap – huge thanks to Wes Tankersley, the One Drink Wednesday crew, friends from near & far, family, and everyone who made it special.Also in this episode:The real challenges of being NSX Club president & pushing sustainable changeOneLess charity car show & food drive for United Food Bank – Feb 21, Mesa, AZ (register & donate!)Super Bowl thoughts, Drew’s new fantasy plays draft app, and a rant on the flag-football Pro BowlTimestamps / Chapters00:00 – Intro & weekend vibes02:24 – Drew’s career shift from Carvana to AI & apps05:55 – Adult learning in AI – from prompts to full app creation08:56 – Vehicle wrap visualizer deep dive11:37 – Couch Play Pro: reconnecting couples through tech15:47 – Fear of change & betting on yourself19:48 – Little Z character & AI video content21:27 – NSX Club presidency, changes & challenges29:04 – One Last Thing United Food Bank car show (Feb 21)35:19 – Jhae turns 50 – epic birthday recap40:05 – Super Bowl app, predictions & wrap-upMain Show SponsorsRight Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/Contact Hard Parking with Jhae PfenningEmail: [email protected]: www.Hardparking.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParkingHard Parking – cars, culture, real talk. New episodes weekly. Subscribe, like, and share to help grow the show. Let's keep the parking lot full! 🚗💨 #HardParking #AIinCars #CouchPlayPro #LittleZ #JhaeTurns50
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50 MIN
Car Kill Switch Bill, Social Manipulation & Super Bowl 2026 Preview w/ Talk2Q
FEB 2, 2026
Car Kill Switch Bill, Social Manipulation & Super Bowl 2026 Preview w/ Talk2Q
Car Kill Switch Debate, Social Manipulation & Super Bowl 2026 Preview | Hard Parking Ep 311 w/ Talk2QAfter missing the Southwest Speed Festival—big thanks to Jorge Aquino from Tormenting Tarmac for covering. This episode dives beyond cars: blowback from the last show sparks a rant on tribalism, mature conversations, and why Hard Parking covers society-shaping issues. Discussion on social media manipulation via a circulating photo of Alex Pretti (the Minneapolis nurse killed in a January 2026 incident involving Border Patrol agents)Wild news: A guy impersonating an FBI agent tried to break Luigi Mangione (UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter) out of jail using a barbecue fork and pizza cutter.Car News: A 2016 Honda Civic in Philly flash-frozen by a water main break—now an impromptu photo op.Deep dive on the "Car Kill Switch" bill (from 2021 Infrastructure Act, Section 24220)—mandating passive impaired-driving tech in new cars ~2026-2027 to stop drunk driving. Not remote government control; onboard sensors detect BAC/impaired behavior and prevent operation. Pros: Saves lives (MADD support). Cons: Privacy, false positives, costs, slippery slope (critics like Rep. Thomas Massie). Recent repeal efforts failed. (More: congress.gov)Recurring guest Quincy from Talk2Q Radio Show joins for the big post-season wrap:Bill Belichick snubbed from first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026—pettiness over Spygate/Deflategate? (ESPN)Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders lands a surprise Pro Bowl spot as a replacement—popularity pick? (ESPN)College football: Indiana's historic undefeated 16-0 season ends with first national title, beating Miami 27-21 in CFP final—Fernando Mendoza shines, Carson Beck's late INT hurts. (ESPN Recap)NFL Super Bowl LX preview: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks (Feb 8, 2026, Levi's Stadium). Leaning Seahawks for dynamic defense, JSN receivers, and Sam Darnold's Cinderella story; Pats strong with Drake Maye stepping up. (Patriots.com Preview)#HardParking #CarCulture #SuperBowlLX #CarKillSwitch #Talk2QKey Chapters: 00:00 - Intro & Bronchitis Update03:20 - Blowback on Last Episode & Tribalism Rant05:00 - Social Manipulation: Alex Pretti Photo Breakdown08:30 - Wild News: FBI Impersonator Jailbreak Attempt10:15 - Ice Story & Car Kill Switch Bill Deep Dive (with Grok summary)14:20 - Guest Intro: Quincy from Talk2Q15:00 - Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Snub18:50 - Shedeur Sanders Pro Bowl Surprise20:50 - College Football Wrap: Indiana's National Title Win26:00 - Super Bowl LX Preview: Pats vs. SeahawksMain Show SponsorsRight Honda: https://righthonda.com/Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.comAutocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/Contact Hard Parking with Jhae PfenningEmail: [email protected]: www.Hardparking.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParking
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31 MIN
Living in a Simulation Arizona Car Week & Why We Need Real Conversations in 2026
JAN 26, 2026
Living in a Simulation Arizona Car Week & Why We Need Real Conversations in 2026
Hard Parking Episode 310 - Living in a Simulation? Hard Parking Episode 310Living in a Simulation? Arizona Car Week & Why We Need Real Conversations in 2026 Join Jhae Pfenning for a raw solo episode of Hard Parking recorded right after Arizona Car Week 2026. Recap the magic of The Warehouse artists event, the exclusive Radford party at Pat & Linda Velasco's (Yamazaki 18 pours included), meeting automotive legends like Chip Foose, the talented artist Rae Roberts, and insane full-circle coincidences that scream "simulation" — from Grand Rapids ties to Nebraska connections at a Scottsdale house party. Plus, time at Barrett-Jackson with friends (golf cart adventures included), spotting the red hat in a polarized world, and real talk on tribalism, the American flag, political division, and why genuine conversations beat echo chambers every time. Car community vibes, networking wins, and a reminder to seek context before judgment. Subscribe for more Hard Parking: automotive stories, reality checks & no-BS takes. #ArizonaCarWeek #BarrettJackson #carcommunity Key Chapters 00:00 Intro & Why I'm Still Introducing Myself in 2026 04:15 Radford Party – Yamazaki 18 & Meeting Legends 07:20 Convinced We're in a Simulation? The Coincidences Start Piling Up 19:00 Barrett-Jackson Day: The Red Hat Moment 21:50 Polarization in America: MAGA Hats, First Responder Plates & Tribalism Dangers 27:00 American Flag & Why We Need Context 30:00 Final Thoughts: Seek Information, Have Conversations, Protect Friendships Main Show Sponsors Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/ Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/ Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.com Autocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/ Contact Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning Email: [email protected] Website: www.Hardparking.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/ YouTube: youtube.com/@HardParking
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34 MIN
Rebecca Nguyen - The Warehouse / Arizona Car Week 2026
JAN 19, 2026
Rebecca Nguyen - The Warehouse / Arizona Car Week 2026
In this episode of Hard Parking, host Jhae Pfenning sits down with Rebecca Nguyen, co-founder of The Warehouse in Mesa, AZ, to discuss her journey from the Future Collector Car Show in 2016 to building the venue into a premier collector car storage facility, social hub, and event space housed in a historic citrus warehouse. They explore Arizona Car Week's growth, the debut of the six-day Art House Collective art exhibition (January 20-25, 2026), and Rebecca's thoughtful approach to curating inclusive events that welcome enthusiasts from all levels, from exotics to family-friendly gatherings. The conversation delves deeper into personal reflections, including the importance of community connections, memories built over a decade, parenthood, and concerns about AI's societal impact, technology's future, and creating positive change. Jhae closes by praising Rebecca's relentless drive and loyalty, encouraging listeners to revisit her 2021 appearance (episode 99) for more on her origins.Follow Rebecca on social media: Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/driven.by.becca/Instagram:⁠ ⁠instagram.com/thewarehouse.az/Chapters: 0:00 Intro, Arizona Car Week Buzz & RAPID Act Discussion 4:15 Catching Up with Rebecca Nguyen at The Warehouse 9:30 10-Year Full Circle: From Future Collector Car Show to Partner 15:45 Building The Warehouse: Storage, Social Hub & Community Vision 22:00 Arizona Car Week 2026 – Art House Collective & Elevated Events 28:20 Event Curation: Inclusivity from Exotics to Family-Friendly 35:10 Challenges, Memories & Making Positive Impact 41:30 Deep Dive: AI, Society, Parenthood & Future Worries 47:50 Rebecca's Drive & Why Connections Matter 51:00 Wrap-Up, Shoutouts & Thanks to Rebecca NguyenDiscussed in this episodeRebecca Nguyen's first appearance on Hard Parking (Episode 99 – "Rebecca Nguyen is Print Driven," December 13, 2021): YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZZV-CqWrY Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebecca-nguyen-is-print-driven/id1477527835?i=1000544786155 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/736w0kYvwcaZnOogSOTwGW?si=ch-UcqgeQbqUiIKc8o1Gnw(Great for listeners wanting the full-circle backstory from her Future Collector Car Show days.)Arizona Autobahn Act / House Bill 2059 (RAPID Act):The Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act, introduced by Rep. Nick Kupper on January 16, 2026, proposes derestricted daytime speed zones for non-commercial vehicles on select rural interstates (pilot on I-8), with night limits at 80 mph, stricter penalties for reckless driving, and annual safety audits—inspired by Germany's Autobahn but with safeguards.Full article: https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/new-bill-could-bring-autobahn-style-roads-to-arizona/Main Show Sponsors: Right Honda: https://righthonda.com/ Right Toyota: https://www.righttoyota.com/ Arcus Foundry: https://arcusfoundry.com Autocannon Official Gear: https://shop.autocannon.com/Contact Hard Parking with Jhae Pfenning: Email: [email protected] Website: www.Hardparking.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/hardparkingpodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/hardparkingpod/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HardParkingDon't miss The Warehouse's Art House Collective during Arizona Car Week—running January 20-25, 2026! Head to Mesa for automotive art, culture, and community.
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52 MIN