DRIVE with Jim Farley

Vicki Butler-Henderson |  A Barrier Breaker with Petrol In Her Veins

DRIVE with Jim Farley

Show Notes

Jim Farley is joined by the iconic Vicki Butler-Henderson, British racing driver and former Top Gear presenter. They talk about Vicki’s early love of cars, from her grandfather's 1930s racing days to her own early karting adventures; their thoughts on the UK's car culture; fun memories from the racetrack; and Vicki's role as a pioneer for women in the industry.

00:00 Introduction 00:25 Meet Vicki Butler-Henderson 01:27 A Family Passion for Racing 03:37 The UK's Car Culture 05:27 The Sunroof Debate 06:53 The Iconic Mk1 Fiesta 07:34 The Front-Wheel Drive Revolution 10:51 The Challenges of Being a Presenter 16:31 Jeremy Clarkson: The Icon 18:41 Leadership and Learning 21:57 Breaking Barriers in the Car Industry 23:46 Advice for the CEO of Ford 31:10 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

Follow Jim: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from DRIVE with Jim Farley

May 27, 2026

DRIVE welcomes celebrated actor Bryan Cranston to discuss his career, from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad, and his belief that success comes from doing the work and “getting lost” to discover who you are. He recounts a two-year-long motorcycle journey in the 1970s with his brother that helped him choose acting,and later losing his beloved Honda 550 in a fire. Cranston discusses portraying damaged characters, his research “funnel,” deadline-driven preparation, and a crash-course role as Buzz Aldrin. He stresses patience, persistence, luck, outworking others, committing fully to the craft, authenticity with fans, and valuing experiences over material things.

May 20, 2026

DRIVE welcomes author Mary Roach to discuss her books and the unusual science of the human body, from a signed astronaut emesis basin she keeps in her glove box to the realities of motion sickness in space and Apollo-era bathroom logistics. The conversation also covers advances in automotive safety research, organ donation, crash-test calibration using cadavers, and the challenges of customizing horns and vehicle sounds.

May 13, 2026

Jim Farley welcomes noted actor Tom Pelphrey (Ozark, Task) to DRIVE, discussing road trips, family, and how Pelphrey defines success. The conversation centers on separating identity from acting, how sobriety and self-reflection helped Tom stop measuring life by reviews and awards, and why focusing on the work itself—not outcomes—improved both his happiness and performance.

May 8, 2026

In this bonus episode of DRIVE, Ford CEO Jim Farley continues his conversation with Mike Rowe about the “essential economy” and why America is increasingly vulnerable due to shortages of construction, industrial, emergency services, and skilled trade workers. Rowe explains how COVID re-highlighted essential workers, how his MikeRoweWORKS foundation began amid the 2009 recession despite millions of open jobs, and why shortages become real to people only when repairs and services fail. Mike and Jim discuss the need to rebuild respect for skilled work through trade schools, scholarships, apprenticeships, and company-led training.

May 6, 2026

Jim Farley interviews Mike Rowe about why authenticity matters as more of life becomes “artificial,” and how his career shifted from imitation in voiceover to simply sounding like himself. Rowe recalls terrifying but invigorating “dirty jobs,” growing up on a small farm doing wood-cutting and chores, how a high school teacher helped him overcome a stammer through singing and acting, and how he entered the world of voiceover narration. Mike reflects on how Dirty Jobs crystalized his perspective on the dignity of work.

See all episodes →