The Cannonball Podcast

Burt Reynolds. Farrah Fawcett. Jackie Chan. Dean Martin. The Cannonball Run movie had it all—fast cars, famous faces, and not a single rule in sight. But what started as Brock Yates’ passion project quickly spiraled into something far bigger—and far stranger—than he ever imagined. Critics tore it apart, but audiences made it a box office hit. In this episode, we dive into the wild making of The Cannonball Run, and why its mix of reckless fun and problematic humor still sparks debate today—with insight from a film critic who studies problematic movies of the 1980s.This series was created and produced by Mallory Keenoy.Executive Producer: Tom Keenoy.Thanks for listening! You can find us @thecannonballpod on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow, like, and subscribe for more.

Just as Cannonball was gaining momentum, the 1973 oil crisis brought it to a screeching halt. Gas lines snaked around city blocks, and suddenly, high-speed protest felt out of step with the national mood. But Yates wasn’t done. By 1975, his rebellious road race was back—this time aimed squarely at the newly imposed 55 mph speed limit. This episode explores how the Cannonball evolved from an insider stunt to a full cultural protest, and how a fateful meeting with Hollywood stuntman Hal Needham would soon take it from the highway to the big screen.This series was created and produced by Mallory Keenoy.Executive Producer: Tom Keenoy.Thanks for listening! You can find us @thecannonballpod on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow, like, and subscribe for more.

It started with one wild idea: drive across the country as fast as possible—and make it a protest. In the early 1970s, amid anti-war marches, civil rights uprisings, and a new wave of environmental regulation, Car and Driver’s Brock Yates declared war on what he saw as government overreach. This episode dives into the political tensions that lit the fuse, his opposition to the Clean Air Act and EPA, and how a secret trial run in 1971 gave way to the very first Cannonball Run race. As the Cannonball commenced, so did the controversy—with fan letters, angry critics, and the beginning of a legend.This series was created and produced by Mallory Keenoy.Executive Producer: Tom Keenoy.Thanks for listening! You can find us @thecannonballpod on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow, like, and subscribe for more.

This isn’t just another car podcast. This is the never-before-told story of the Cannonball Run—the unsanctioned, undeniably American road race from New York to Los Angeles that has defied the law, technology, and time for over a century. From chaotic cross-country runs to movie stars and modern record-breakers, this series takes listeners straight into the heart of the Cannonball Run.Created by Mallory Keenoy.Subscribe now and follow @thecannonballpod on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, and YouTube.