“The goal of
Larger Than Life is to share Big Willie Robinson’s story with a wide audience. While some of our listeners may be fans of Big Willie or knowledgeable about him, we hope to introduce Big Willie to people who have never heard of him before. These days, when it seems like people are more divided than ever, Willie’s message — that cars can bring disparate people together — is worth highlighting. I think Big Willie’s story will resonate with all sorts of people. At the same time, the podcast gives us an opportunity to explore wider topics and issues — including L.A. history, Southern California car culture, and the present-day street racing scene. We get into all of that, and more,” Miller explains.
Miller’s approach to the
Larger Than Life series is very unique and interesting. It has the feel of a documentary but dives deep into the legend that surrounds Robinson with an investigative edge. You’ll hear stories from people who were there and knew Robinson personally. There are some outstanding interviews with members of the Brotherhood of Street Racers that show just how vital Robinson was in creating the amazing car and racing culture of southern California through his influence.
“Big Willie lived a remarkable life — he achieved so much of what he set out to accomplish, and he had a lot of fun doing it. There are just so many surprising parts of his story — take, for example, Willie’s time in show business. This is L.A., after all, so he got work as a bit-part actor, appearing in films like
Two-Lane Blacktop and TV shows like
CHiPs. It was work that spread the message of the Brotherhood, introducing Willie to gearheads across the country. And it didn’t end there — Willie even had ties to the
Fast & Furious franchise and boasted of a connection to
Star Wars. He actually made a pretty bold claim about the space opera — he said he’d been offered the part of Darth Vader in the original film. This, of course, is something we delve into,” Miller says.
You can check out the trailer to the
Larger Than Life series
right here. If you’re into drag racing history or want to learn more about the legend of Big Willie Robinson
Larger Than Life is for you.
Photos courtesy of Los Angeles Times