The Truck Show Podcast Rolls Through AMSOIL Headquarters

The Truck Show Podcast with Lightning and Holman is a fun and irreverent look at today’s world of trucks. Featuring informative segments with a comedic twist, the show includes interviews with industry personalities, new product reviews, event coverage, humorous dissection of past trends and the latest happenings in all things truck, including lifted, lowered and everything in between.

Jay “Lightning” Tilles and Sean Holman traveled from their home in Azusa, Calif. to the AMSOIL headquarters in Superior, Wis. and took their listeners along for the ride. They recorded a special two-part episode that provides a deep dive into how our synthetic lubricants are made, including a tour of manufacturing, packaging, the chemistry lab and mechanical lab. In addition to learning how AMSOIL lubricants are developed and manufactured, the episodes covered filtration, additives, oil change kits, car care products and how to choose the right oil for your truck.

Check out the episodes here:

AMSOIL Deep Dive Part 1

AMSOIL Deep Dive Part 2

We caught up with Lightning and Holman to learn more about them, their show and what motivates them. We were also curious about their big takeaways from their visit to AMSOIL. The conversation led to some unexpected Easter eggs, as well.

Q: When did you put out your first Truck Show episode?

Holman: Our first show launched in March, 2018.

Q: How did you get inspired to start the podcast? How did you get started?

Holman: While I was at Motor Trend, the company was looking for new forms of media to engage and grow their existing audience. At that time, Lightning was already doing a weekly podcast through KROQ-FM, Los Angeles. We’re longtime friends and decided to pool our resources and talents to put together a truck podcast for Motor Trend. The concept for the podcast was penciled out on a napkin during a meeting at a local diner.

Q: How did you get into trucks?

Holman: I grew up in a family with Hondas and Toyotas, but no trucks. But because I started going off-roading with people that had trucks and Jeeps, I aspired to have one of my own so that I could participate with my friends and do truck things. Lightning’s story is similar, but with a family collecting classic French and English cars. Lightning however, was into exotics and eventually the JDM scene. As the import scene faded in SoCal, he found himself falling in love with trucks. His first was a Toyota. Today, he drives a 702hp RAM TRX.

Q: Did the popularity of the Truck Show podcast surprise you? When did you first realize that the show was gaining traction with enthusiasts?

Holman: The popularity was more gratifying than surprising, as we saw how fast the numbers took off during our first month. We were excited that our hard work was gaining traction, reinforcing our initial business plan.

Q: What motivates you to keep making episodes? What’s your favorite or most rewarding part of hosting the show?

Holman: Because we are both enthusiasts, it’s easy. We’re just two guys sitting in a studio talking about trucks. The most rewarding part of the show is the heartfelt letters that we get from our listeners saying we’ve impacted their lives in one way or another. Something we never really thought about. One listener told us he bonded with his dad over the show and after being estranged from him for years, they resumed regularly working on a C10 pickup truck project that had been sitting, while listening to the show. His father passed and he said if it weren’t for the podcast, they never would have reconnected or had that time together.

Q: How do you come up with ideas for the show?

Lightning: With my finger on the pulse of the aftermarket, and Holman’s media ties, as well as our deep rolodex and people reaching out with ideas, we haven’t run out of things to talk about!

Q: Can you explain your connection to Banks Power?

Lightning: I’m the Brand Manager, which means I have my hands in everything. From all marketing efforts, including ads and video, to events and new product development. But my path to Banks was unexpected. I pitched an idea to the program director at KROQ-FM, Los Angeles. I wanted to build the ultimate lifted 4×4 to bring to events. Just after starting the project, Brian Suits, a local radio talk show host suggested that I should speak to his friend because “he does a lot with trucks.” One week later, I found myself at dinner with the legend Gale Banks. After months of working together I knew it was what I wanted to do after radio. A year later, I joined his team and never looked back.

Q: How do you spend your days away from work? What are your hobbies and interests?

Lightning: Holman keeps busy with his family, coaching girls’ softball and running the consultative school board at his youngest daughter’s school. He’s also the president of the non-profit Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association. In addition to the podcast, he owns the freelance and marketing firm Use For Adventure and is a partner in OVR Magazine. In his free, free time, he enjoys exploring the backcountry and tinkering on his vehicle projects. Meanwhile, I don’t allow myself much free time. When I’m not at Banks, I’m tinkering with cars and trucks or editing the podcast.

Q: What is your favorite truck currently? How do you use your truck?

Lightning: Holman’s favorite truck is anything with a pickup bed, but his current vehicle isn’t a truck. It’s his Jeep Wrangler 392. For those not in the know, this is a Jeep Wrangler with a HEMI V-8 stuffed in the engine bay. He says he would have gotten a Gladiator if they offered that with a V-8. My daily driver is also a HEMI-powered beast. Both of us decided that with American muscle being phased out, it was now or never. It’s the end of an era and we both wanted a memento.

Q: What are some key insights or trends you’ve noticed in the industry?

Lightning: Vintage vehicles are becoming more popular and more expensive as they become rarer and a younger generation is getting into them. Now we are seeing the struggle of how to deal with survivors, resto mods and restorations. Diesel still has a massive following, and the older pre-emissions trucks are commanding absurd prices, while overlanding and off-roading continues to be growing categories.

Q: How did you first get introduced to AMSOIL products? What was the first product you tried?

Holman: I was introduced to AMSOIL when they became sponsored Four Wheeler’s Top Truck Challenge and Diesel Power’s Diesel Power Challenge. The first product he used was the Severe Gear gear oil. Lightning was researching lubricants for Banks patented Ram-Air rear differential launch and wasn’t getting the information he wanted with other lubricant companies. Not only was AMSOIL willing to share the info he needed, they gave him and Gale Banks valuable insight that ultimately contributed to Banks’ differential cover project re-defining the entire product category. Today, AMSOIL is offered as a “First Fill” with every Banks Ram-Air Differential Cover, Ram-Air Transmission Pan and CoolRunner Oil Pan.

Q: What were some of your key takeaways from your tour of the AMSOIL manufacturing facility in Superior, Wis.? Did anything surprise you?

Holman: Our visit to Superior was really interesting. Lightning had been there before, but I had not. My takeaway was how AMSOIL essentially had to develop new manufacturing and storage processes to make a product which was very novel when it was introduced.

Seeing the lab was the highlight for me and really understanding what goes into making a quality, long-lasting, shelf-stable product. We were also impressed with the amazing breadth of product AMSOIL offers and just how much knowledge and passion the employees have for making the very best synthetics on the market. It is clear everyone understands how important quality is and whether they are mixing a batch of lubricants, packing the boxes, quality and presentation of the brand is always top of mind.

We were also impressed by the ideation that goes on to create new product and then the testing that is done to prove out the concept before they ever go to market. Seems like nothing within the walls is standing still.

Q: Why did you want the Truck Show Podcast to partner with AMSOIL?

Holman: Both of us are AMSOIL customers for our personal vehicles and believe in the brand. We have both engaged with AMSOIL in racing and through our day jobs and have seen the product in use. We recognize that when the AMSOIL logo graces a product, it means that it is the very best in the category.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to get to know many of the people behind the brand, deepening our knowledge and our relationship, leading to an even better partnership.

Q: Do you have anything to add?

Lightning: We love the car care line, especially the glass cleaner. It works so well and truly leaves no streaks. Actually, we might need more because our wives found out how good it works and stole the first shipment.