Go and See

by Lexus
403
Automotive #127

Genchi Genbutsu is a Japanese philosophy that means “go and see for yourself.” Follow Malcolm Gladwell as he takes his car obsession to a new level, traveling to Japan to discover firsthand what makes the Lexus approach so unique. Brought to you by Lexus and Pushkin Industries.--This podcast is brought to you by Lexus and may not be reproduced or redistributed, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Lexus. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest(s) and/or host(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Malcolm Gladwell and Pushkin Industries were compensated for the production of this podcast on behalf of Lexus. Please note that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. is not responsible for any errors or the accuracy or timeliness of the content provided. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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  • Tlex
    SO WHAT IF IT’S A COMMERCIAL!!!
    If Malcolm is intrigued then so am I!!! You can’t deny that you didn’t learn anything new and my goodness, the Japanese are synonymous with stellar service so I’m pretty sure the things here are true. You aren’t mad cause the things are false but that a writer was compensated for writing 😂 an in-depth, first hand experience of LEXUS. That is what you call the industry coming to you… no one made you listen and no one MADE YOU BUY A LEXUS. I actually learned more about cars in general so THANK YOU MG & I PRAY YOU HAD A BLAST!!! 💚💚💚
  • Bgirl2849
    Shameless Lexus commercial
    Shame on Gladwell for selling out like this, in the worst way possible. Hope he got paid lots of money for this dribble.
  • fyrmatt
    Where’s Malcolm?
    This is a Lexus commercial, period. I love Malcolm Gladwell books and podcasts because he’s so thoughtful and thorough. This, however, disappoints because it’s not the Malcolm Gladwell I’m used to. He might as well put on a suit & tie, get a haircut and be the letter-turner on the Lexus version of Wheel of Fortune. I couldn’t keep listening. Two stars instead of zero because I like cars and so does Malcolm.
  • gjb9
    Fantastic Podcast!!
    True story: In 2016 my father was on his deathbed and beckoned me closer to speak to him. I thought he was going to tell me he loved me even though he wasn’t good at showing it. No. He told me “Always buy a fuel efficient Toyota and change the oil regularly.” This was basically the last thing he said to me. I was obsessed with Chevy and American Muscle cars at the time, but now scrupulously adhere to my dad’s advice. This podcast helped me fall in love with Lexus products and get excited about them for my dad’s sake. Last month, I purchased a 2019 Lexus LS500. Now I am relistening to this podcast.
  • Jeff V in Iowa
    Shill
    The Geraldo Rivera of Podcast
  • poddog247
    Craftsmanship, sponsored
    Sure, Lexus has a financial interest in this podcast but I think it’s an innovative way to draw people’s attention to the craftsmanship of cars. I wouldn’t take 20 minutes to seek and then read about all the details of a Lexus, but now have an appreciation for the engineering and vision any OEM has for their production cars.
  • Eatjerpoo.
    Skip It
    It’s truly a giant commercial. Probably a cash grab to get Pushkin off the ground. I wouldn’t t listen to this series again. Nope.
  • Geahk
    This is gross
    It’s pretty sad to see such a downfall. I have to look at Gladwell with immense skepticism moving forward.
  • LordeFell
    5/5 car ad
    Loved the interviews with Toyota ceo
  • WatchHunter.org
    Wonderfully entertaining
    This podcast somewhat about cars, but more about the Japanese pursuit of perfection. It is about individuals working at the highest levels of obsession and what kind of products can be made from that philosophy. That might sound boring, but it was not at all. The host is fantastic. Worth a listen for lovers of cars and engineering.
  • Pwbnyc
    It’s an Ad, but it’s still really good
    Even though it’s clearly an advertisement for Lexus, it’s incredibly interesting and Gladwell puts his unique spin on it. Well worth listening for all the Gladwell fans out there.
  • Mayneric
    Great detail and information
    I love just about everything Malcolm Gladwell does. This is more great in depth information about something I didn’t think I cared about and loved every minute of.
  • Tarot Smith
    Never considered a Lexus...until now
    Ad yes… Spectacular as well. I’ve never considered buying a Lexus until now. What a fun trip to Japan with Malcolm and his excellent producer, Jacob, and others. They both seem to be having the time of their life. Like the movie “A Trip to Italy” I felt that I was along for the ride experiencing the thrills of speed and sound. It seems as if Malcolm & crew enjoy each other‘s company and that’s always fun even if I have to sit in the backseat. Great job.
  • aburrows09
    A 6-hour Lexus ad with some fun facts thrown in
    There are some interesting facts about how Lexus cars are made, but overall the podcast sounds like a giant advertisement.
  • @maura_that
    A auditory deep dive into the heart of Lexus for every car lover or Anthropologist
    If you love cars this podcast will leave you smiling. Gladwell's passion is infectious. And the story around the culture at Lexus is fascinating.
  • picklesandpuff
    best car ad I've seen in a while
    if ur looking for a new car, this is not where u want to be since it's not exactly the most unbiased, but if ur just here for fun, the tidbits of information like the correlation between the closing of a door during tea ceremonies and the closing of the car windows are pretty cool to learn about and are nice conversation starters if u see somebody who owns a luxury Lexus. it's also fun to see Malcolm nerd out a little over car engines :)
  • kev_kev_93
    Misleading
    Every ad read I heard from this includes a part about the windshield and a samurai's eyes, and I didn't hear that at all in the show. Everything else was typical Gladwell: brilliant.
  • Party-of-Six
    Love this.
    great!
  • ed108649
    Don’t believe the haters
    Yes it was funded by Lexus and is content about Lexus vehicles but what were you expecting? This podcast is contains content about how Lexus cars are developed from a neat perspective. unlike advertisements the podcast never mentions price or your local dealership.
  • JAC1963
    Get over it.
    Yeah. It’s a sponsored piece for Lexus/Toyota. So what? I’m guessing the sponsorship was worth it. It’s still informative and it still has that great delivery and style that we love from MG. Learn to live with it. If it means that you get more of the other podcasts that we live from Pushkin it’s worth it. Stop the crying or clearly there will be a podcast into the Psyche of self entitled brats.
  • cjfrogman
    Yes, it is a Lexus commercial
    Very interesting stuff, but such a blatant Lexus ad... Too bad the cars are so unattractive. That grill is still a no-go.
  • Amy from RI
    Lexus commercial
    It’s nothing but one big commercial for Lexus. I love Malcom Gladwells podcasts so I am totally disappointed on this one. Mr. Gladwell why did you sell out???
  • WilsonNoLastNameNeeded
    Lexus/Nissan Commercial Podcast
    There. I told you everything you need to know. This is for you IF you love Lexus/Nissan. If not, it’s not.
  • tlmacs
    Spoiler Alert: Infomercial!
    I used to think Malcolm was an objective voice and source of unique information. This podcast is a commercialized, prostituted, boring, waste of time (unless you happen to be on the Lexus payroll).
  • Thomas Jenkins
    Why is Malcolm Gladwell advertising for Lexus?
    Title says it all
  • Erik Fleming
    No Way.
    Yelp, I hope Malcolm reeeaaally needed the money... There’s no way I’m listening to this 6-part COMMERCIAL though. Gross.
  • Geoplanter
    Disappointed
    This is nothing more than an infomercial for Lexus...nothing subtle about it!
  • dearmrfox
    Not worth your time
    tldr; remember Bill Murray’s whiskey commercials in Lost in Translation? This is what you’re getting. I like Malcolm Gladwell’s revisionist history. He finds an unusual way to cover a topic we thought we already knew. I didn’t care particularly about Lexus coming in to this podcast, but the company probably had an interesting story given Malcolm was covering it. Nope. I was expecting to get a story about the company’s quirks, the technical hurdles they overcame, maybe some key players and their interesting lives. Instead, this series reads like an advertisement. Malcolm delivers like he’s a paid spokesman for Lexus. I suspect there was a little too much meddling by the sponsors in this one. I wish they would just let him talk about what he wanted to talk about. Not really worth listening to unless you’re already sold. Like the cars themselves, this was a bit over engineered.
  • eugene oregon woodworker
    A Lexus commercial
    Sadly, Malcolm must have decided to take a big pile of cash and create a commercial for Lexus disguised as a 6 part podcast. For those who like Malcolm, this may be super disappointing.
  • ScotiaR
    Do not end!
    I really wanted more episodes to listen to! What an amazing, amazing podcast! Sincerely, Scotia P.S I would love to have coffee with Malcom.
  • JamaicangirlE
    Awesome!!
    I know NOTHING about cars. I’m like Annalie with the warning light and I still enjoyed these thoroughly. Good for Lexus to be smart enough to join with this amazing storyteller.
  • mindlisten
    Homage to designing experiences for the customer
    I love Malcolm Gladwell and this was an unexpected delight, even if Lexus gains tremendously. I thought the narration and explanation of design principles and incredible thought behind the cars was very stimulating. I listened to three in a row while out for a walk.
  • DAT RONA
    NOT AN AD
    Yes they obviously partnered with Lexus. The ones who ONLY see this as an ad.... do you have any bad experiences with a Lexus? I’m guessing not or they would’ve included it in their one star review. MG and Lexus CEO’s did not deny the accomplishments of other manufacturers to make Lexus look better. They went out to understand the Japan’s perspective on automobile engineering. Great work! Wish MG would’ve made a few more episodes. And yes I just bought a 01’ Lexus LS 😍
  • eaharty
    Ad for Lexus
    Malcolm, slow down with the run on talking. Would b better with better speech patterns and a lot less ads
  • wasb
    Two stars for hubris; no star for the ad
    I just listened to a straight up ad for Lexus in order to listen to a podcast series that is itself an ad for Lexus. (Disclosure: I’m a big MG fan and my wife and I have owned six Lexus cars since 2000. Kudos to MG for his hutzpah but I’m not buying the ad as podcast schtick. Reminds me of Trump: Trump ads dressed up as press conferences.)
  • TheSharkFest
    Left wanting more.....
    Just wish each episode was a bit longer! Such great insights into the Lexus culture!
  • Lumpy123456789
    Well done and informative
    Par for the course for MG. There is not a book or podcast he has put out that isn’t thoroughly enjoyable. He has a wonderful knack of making difficult subjects easy to understand.
  • Dkidd87
    Disappointing
    Malcolm seems to have sold out to Lexus with this infomercial.
  • Fred Furd
    Infomercial?
    Well done, a great extended car company advertisement, but still an ad.
  • BSBeef
    Bait and switch
    I feel duped into downloading an ad.
  • Elementary education
    Perfection
    Taking the automotive journey into the next chapter requires taking historic and cultural cues. Lexus is leading the charge and I am getting one!
  • Anthony Suds
    It is an ad, but a good one
    This is the kind of commercial you watch on purpose on YouTube because it’s that good. Also, I own a Lexus and I like hearing about the company’s philosophies. At the end of the day, this is still more entertaining than 99% of the podcasts out there.
  • johnniesan
    He’s trashing his reputation with this
    Would I listen to a podcast where Malcolm Gladwell talks about car design, past present and future, from an independent perspective? You bet I would. This isn’t that. It is an extended commercial for Lexus. I’m embarrassed for Malcolm Gladwell after hearing the first two episodes. He should refrain from posting any more, and pull down the existing episodes if he wants any chance of salvaging his reputation.
  • JKTrek
    Seems like a sell out
    Disappointing
  • Ric Lastroad
    Best CAR AD EVER!
    Only Malcom could make you want to listen to a car ad. Brilliant marketing by Lexus. Changing our lives forever.
  • md7000
    Brilliant
    This is great. See beyond the obvious that Lexus solicited this and focus on the details. This podcast illustrates the art, precision, and passion poured into a machine. Don’t hate on Lexus for being savvy.
  • DSum77
    Very Disappointing
    Nothing more than an infomercial. Simply, no where close to typical Gladwell standards.
  • Vanessa Bogenholm
    He sold out
    Cheapening his own brand by selling out to Lexus. Just sad and cheap
  • sternj
    Malcolm—I don’t feel like you need the money
    C’mon man. There’s so few writers left who DON’T need to do this.
  • jybab88
    A giant ad
    As someone who has been a longtime Malcolm fan- books, podcasts, New Yorker articles- this was a huge disappointment. It’s as if he’s driven a cheap compact car all his life and never encountered a luxury car. I appreciate the interlacing of Japanese concepts and traditions but let’s be serious- not all Lexus cars are created like that and if you get to other super high end models, they all have similarities in thoughtful design. I was expecting to learn something real out of this but instead felt like I was sitting at a Lexus sales room with Malcolm chirping in with his excitement (bc he got a free car in the making)
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