Alex Choi on Viral Stunts, Crazy Police Chases, Being a ‘Stringer’ and Regrets

This week we’re happy to welcome Alex Choi, making what he tells us is his ‘real’ podcast début whilst also being the youngest guest we’ve ever had on the show. Despite being a hugely well-known streamer and content creator (you may have come across some of his more notorious escapades online), he’s rarely given interviews, until now. Alex tells Scotto about his journey into being a ‘stringer’ and the world of automotive social media that he’s inhabited for a decade, and they get into the challenges along the way: from his complicated youth right up to the present, reconciling all the things he’s seen and believe us – it’s a lot! As for regrets? Well, he’s certainly got a few! Here he is to tell us everything. Enjoy!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains macabre themes and graphic detail of the aftermath of road traffic accidents and other incidents that Alex has witnessed in the course of his work. Discretion is advised.

@Alex.Choi

@BrianScotto

@321ActionAction

Partners:

FCP Euro

Heat Wave Visual

Wera Tools

KW Suspensions

Producer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterarts

Editor: Nick Selgrath @not-built-for-this

Music: SlikSound 

Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647

https://bio.site/321actionaction

[email protected]

00:00 - Intro and Content Warning

01:29 - Why Alex Avoids Podcasts

05:09 - Owning the Controversy

06:36 - That Tesla Jump & Fallout

09:09 - Flock Cameras & Hoonigan Plates

14:26 - Police Chases & CHP

18:34 - Burnout on Cars as Work

22:30 - Car Collection and Secret Love for Minivans?

26:13 - Sponsor: FCP Euro

27:40 - Police Scanners - How it Actually Works

30:03 - DUI Crashes and Gaps in the System

38:31 - Night Shift Reality

39:17 - Why Chases Fascinate Us

41:57 - Cybertruck Chase Shutdown

43:44 - Going Viral on Snapchat

45:16 - GT3 Chase Car & Ballistic Doors?

50:00 - Knife Attack Close Call

52:07 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual, Wera Tools & KW Suspensions

53:59 - Takeovers and Police Relations

57:40 - Brotherhood Raceway Story

01:01:41 - Takeover Culture Reality Check

01:02:00 - Guns, Drugs and Nitrous

01:13:47 - Takeovers : Stolen Cars?

01:15:37 - Ford GT at a Takeover

01:16:10 - What is a Stringer?

01:17:15 - Streaming Culture - The Rush

01:19:12 - Burnout And Mental Health

01:19:50 - Where it All Started

01:21:49 - Desensitized To Death

01:28:15 - Is This Journalism?

01:35:53 - Alex’s Way into Car Culture

01:39:07 - Money And Early Fame

01:43:14 - Controversy as an Identity

01:46:48 - Tesla Jump Backlash

01:52:43 - Graphic Content Boundaries - What is Too Far?

01:56:06 - Disassociation: How Cops & EMTs Cope

01:59:19 - How to Build a Stringer Car

02:04:11 - Addicted To Pursuits

02:06:19 - TV Vs Streaming Shift

02:07:29 - Hobbies Hyperfixation

02:15:47 - Childhood Brain Tumour

02:24:19 - Car Culture Crackdowns

02:25:56 - Cops Who Love Cars

02:28:21 - Pulled Over Stories & Anti Cop Backlash

02:34:27 - Joining Forces.. With CHP?

02:36:12 - Would You Ever Have Been A Cop?

02:44:37 - Why the Hoonigan Crew All Toed the Line

02:55:57 - Permits and Safety

02:59:30 - Another Gymkhana Project?

03:03:12 - Producer Nick Patreon Interview

03:06:19 - Ferris…?