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The Cooper Cast Podcast

The Cooper Cast Podcast
Author: Dale Blankenship
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© 2025 The Cooper Cast Podcast
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Welcome to "The Cooper Cast," the ultimate hub for MINI enthusiasts! Join us, with your host, Dale Blankenship, as we rev up conversations about the latest models, modifications, essential maintenance, and the thrill of all things MINI. Dive into the world of events, drives, and community participation, embracing the joy of MINI ownership with a fun, light-hearted twist. Let's fuel our passion together for safe, fun motoring experiences that make every MINI adventure unforgettable. Subscribe now and become part of the spirited MINI community on "The Cooper Cast"!
84 Episodes
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In this episode of The Cooper Cast, host Dale Blankenship and his trusty sidekick Producer Kodi (still silent, still adorable) dive into the Officially Unofficial Rules of Motoring—the essential code every MINIac should live by. Think of it as the “MINI Driver’s Handbook,” only with a lot more fun and a lot fewer DMV lines. From there, we take a trip to South Africa, where the MINI community is alive, well, and apparently very hungry—because MINI of South Africa has not one, but two breakfast...
In Episode 82 of The Cooper Cast, host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi Monster (still silent, still stealing the show) dig into some surprising MINI news—Mercedes wants to use our engines in their future models. That’s right, the three-pointed star is turning to our trusty little motor. Kudos, MINI! From there, we roll through the MINI-related Facebook groups—where the questions are sometimes familiar, sometimes fresh, and always entertaining. We also catch up on the latest from MINIs on t...
This week on The Cooper Cast, Dale Blankenship and his trusty (but still silent) producer Kodi Monster wade back into the wonderful, wacky world of MINI Facebook groups. Some of the same old questions keep popping up (yes, again), along with a few new ones to keep things interesting. Spoiler alert: the answers are just as “creative” as ever. After that, we turn to our own Cooper Cast Facebook page for the Question of the Week. Let’s just say MINIacs never fail to deliver—sometimes thoughtful,...
In this episode of The Cooper Cast Podcast, host Dale Blankenship and his trusty sidekick Producer Kodi (he’s a dog, you know) bring you a full MINI-flavored weekend recap and a few surprises along the way. We start with a wrap-up of this year’s MINI at The Glen at Watkins Glen International Raceway. The event kicked off at Torrey Ridge Winery, followed by a scenic backroads drive to the historic race track where MINI treated us to lunch, live music, and the main event — three laps arou...
This week on The Cooper Cast, Dale Blankenship (and Producer Kodi Monster, who’s still refusing to speak on mic) tackle a mix of MINI topics worth tuning in for. First up—dipsticks. Yes, the kind for checking your oil, not the ones posting bad advice on Facebook. Then we chat about why a dash cam might be one of the best investments you can make for your MINI. We’ve also got some new videos coming soon to the Cooper Cast Facebook page showing off neat little MINI features you might not even k...
In this episode, Dale and Producer Kodi take a scenic detour through the MINI world, starting with a shoutout to a seriously cool Facebook group: MINIs & Murals — where creative MINIacs pair their rides with eye-popping street art. It’s worth a scroll, trust us. Then, Dale grabs the mic (again) to tackle two recurring mysteries in the MINI community: Why do so many folks ask for help but never tell us what kind of MINI they drive?Why are people asking for parts without realizing they’re b...
This week on The Cooper Cast, your host Dale Blankenship—joined by everyone's favorite four-legged producer, Kodi Monster—dives into the often-overlooked world of cleaning your wheels and tires. They may be dirty, but that doesn’t mean your cleaning routine should be half-baked. We’ve got some solid tips to help your MINI roll clean and true. We’ll also reveal the actual winner of the Favorite MINI Color Survey, breaking the epic tie that’s kept the community on edge. Was it a classic, a cust...
🎙️ The Cooper Cast Podcast – Episode 76 "Alignment? Nah, Bro. Just Crash Into a Curb Instead." Hosted by Dale Blankenship & Producer Kodi Monster (he’s fluffy, but silent) In this episode, Dale and Kodi dig into some of the wild, wacky, and downright wrong things floating around in the Facebook MINI groups lately. From folks bragging about $19.99 oil changes (spoiler alert: that deal could cost you an engine), to a “content creator” claiming suspension alignments are a scam, we’ve g...
This week on The Cooper Cast Podcast, host Dale Blankenship and Producer Kodi Monster get into the sudsy side of MINI ownership with the next installment in our Car Care Series — Washing Your MINI. Spoiler alert: it's more than just grabbing a hose and a bucket. We break down the methods, the materials, and the science behind keeping your MINI’s finish looking flawless. Then it’s on to this week’s Cooper Cast Question of the Week — What are your three favorite MINI colors? You, our trus...
In this episode of The Cooper Cast, host Dale Blankenship and a live mic from Producer Kodi hit the Facebook MINI groups once again — where the content is endless and the fun is always idling nearby. We ask: do we really need that many MINI groups? Spoiler: probably not, but we love 'em anyway. We discover a Florida shop that’s wrapping MINIs in... tweed. Actual tweed. Because why not add texture to your torque?We highlight yet another cautionary tale of buying cheap internet parts that don’t...
This week on The Cooper Cast with host Dale Blankenship, we start things off with a surprise guest — Ram Trucks. That’s right. Ram dropped the Hemi, fans got mad, and guess what? Ram listened. So we ask the question: Should MINI be paying attention? Even though sales are strong for the new Countryman and 4-Door Hatch, some longtime MINIacs still aren’t sold on the new look and feel. Then, we shift gears into something Dale knows all too well — car care. With decades of experience in paint ...
with host Dale Blankenship This week on The Cooper Cast, Dale dives headfirst back into the wonderfully chaotic world of Facebook MINI groups — where the comments are wild, the opinions are strong, and the drama never takes a day off. We revisit the MINI club drama discussion and check in on this week’s Cooper Cast Question of the Week. Not many replies this time, but hey — they were solid. From tips on avoiding the drama llama in your local club, to ideas for keeping MINIacs smiling on a gr...
This week on The Cooper Cast, we dive into the swirling vortex that is the MINI Cooper Facebook universe. Dale and Producer Kodi (yes, he speaks!) sort through posts and questions that are on the minds of MINIacs everywhere. Thinking about switching from 205 to 215 tires? We break down the pros, the cons, and why those extra millimeters might just be your MINI’s new best friend.Run Flats vs. Conventional Tires — a battle as old as R53 check engine lights.Someone loaned their MINI to a family ...
One Facebook post. That’s all it took to pop the lid off something that’s been simmering in the MINI Community for a while. In Episode 70, Dale dives head-first into the thread that opened the floodgates—and what poured out was surprising, enlightening, and in many ways, long overdue. Turns out, plenty of longtime MINIacs and newer owners have been quietly feeling the same thing: cliques forming, clubs splitting, and a shift in the vibe that used to make this community so unique. But here's t...
🎙️ The Cooper Cast Podcast – Episode 69 Hosted by Dale Blankenship In this episode, Dale wraps up his road trip adventure of his speaking engagement at the Upstate MINIs monthly meeting in Greenville, SC, and gives a report on the MINI Rendez Vous Quebec gathering held back in May. 🇨🇦 Then it’s on to some previews of two of the most iconic events in the MINIverse—MINIs On Top at Mt. Washington, NH, and MINI On The Mack in St. Ignace, MI. Whether you’re scaling mountains or crossing brid...
In this episode of The Cooper Cast Podcast, host Dale Blankenship is joined by Program Director Chassie (riding shotgun as always, and keeping the studio safe from squirrels). We dive deep into the mysterious world of wheel spacers—are they a brilliant handling upgrade or just a one-way ticket to trouble? Tune in to find out the good, the bad, and the possibly sketchy. Plus, we roll out the Cooper Cast Question of the Week, where Dale gives us a masterclass in how not to read answers to the q...
In this week’s episode of The Cooper Cast, host Dale Blankenship kicks things off with a heartfelt (and slightly sarcastic) nod to the MINI Paceman—the quirky coupe/SUV/wagon-ish thing that never quite knew what it wanted to be, but we loved it anyway. Then we dive into some wild stuff from the world wide inter-MINI-webs, like automotive journalists who clearly copy-pasted their way through “MINI 101,” and those Chinese-built EV MINIs that—according to recent recalls—might be just a little to...
In Episode 66 of The Cooper Cast Podcast, host Dale Blankenship dives back into the chaotic charm of Facebook MINI groups to uncover some of the most frequently asked—and occasionally baffling—questions that keep popping up. From the helpful to the hilarious, Dale shares four common posts and offers his take on each one. We also tackle the Cooper Cast Question of the Week from the Facebook page, with plenty of great input from the "Cooper Casters." Fair warning—Dale’s voice sounds a lit...
Episode 65 hosted by Dale Blankenship with silent side-eye from Producer Kodi 🐾 This week on The Cooper Cast, we kick things off with the Cooper Cast Question of the Week: “What’s the best reason to join your local MINI club or group instead of just sticking to the giant global Facebook groups?” You all had plenty to say — and spoiler alert: it’s not just about the stickers and swag. That leads us perfectly into this week’s main topic — the real-world perks of joining your local MINI ...
This week on The Cooper Cast Podcast, host Dale Blankenship dives into MINI USA sales numbers through the years. At first glance, things looked a little rough—enough to raise an eyebrow—but after some digging, it turns out MINI’s dip is right in line with what’s happening across the industry. It’s not just our favorite little cars feeling the pinch! Then we pivot into some good old-fashioned MINI maintenance talk. From tire pressure tips to simple checks under the hood, Dale covers the kind ...
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