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 [email protected]@BrianScotto@321ActionActionPartners:FCP EuroHeat Wave VisualWera ToolsKW SuspensionsProducer: Nick Rutter @nickrutterartsEditor: Nick Selgrath @not-built-for-thisMusic: SlikSound Patreon: https://patreon.com/u37266647https://bio.site/[email protected]:00 - Intro and Content Warning01:29 - Why Alex Avoids Podcasts05:09 - Owning the Controversy06:36 - That Tesla Jump & Fallout09:09 - Flock Cameras & Hoonigan Plates14:26 - Police Chases & CHP18:34 - Burnout on Cars as Work22:30 - Car Collection and Secret Love for Minivans?26:13 - Sponsor: FCP Euro27:40 - Police Scanners - How it Actually Works30:03 - DUI Crashes and Gaps in the System38:31 - Night Shift Reality39:17 - Why Chases Fascinate Us41:57 - Cybertruck Chase Shutdown43:44 - Going Viral on Snapchat45:16 - GT3 Chase Car & Ballistic Doors?50:00 - Knife Attack Close Call52:07 - Sponsors: Heat Wave Visual, Wera Tools & KW Suspensions53:59 - Takeovers and Police Relations57:40 - Brotherhood Raceway Story01:01:41 - Takeover Culture Reality Check01:02:00 - Guns, Drugs and Nitrous01:13:47 - Takeovers : Stolen Cars?01:15:37 - Ford GT at a Takeover01:16:10 - What is a Stringer?01:17:15 - Streaming Culture - The Rush01:19:12 - Burnout And Mental Health01:19:50 - Where it All Started01:21:49 - Desensitized To Death01:28:15 - Is This Journalism?01:35:53 - Alex’s Way into Car Culture01:39:07 - Money And Early Fame01:43:14 - Controversy as an Identity01:46:48 - Tesla Jump Backlash01:52:43 - Graphic Content Boundaries - What is Too Far?01:56:06 - Disassociation: How Cops & EMTs Cope01:59:19 - How to Build a Stringer Car02:04:11 - Addicted To Pursuits02:06:19 - TV Vs Streaming Shift02:07:29 - Hobbies Hyperfixation02:15:47 - Childhood Brain Tumour02:24:19 - Car Culture Crackdowns02:25:56 - Cops Who Love Cars02:28:21 - Pulled Over Stories & Anti Cop Backlash02:34:27 - Joining Forces.. With CHP?02:36:12 - Would You Ever Have Been A Cop?02:44:37 - Why the Hoonigan Crew All Toed the Line02:55:57 - Permits and Safety02:59:30 - Another Gymkhana Project?03:03:12 - Producer Nick Patreon Interview03:06:19 - Ferris…?