Rearview Reflections: Lee Livingston on Hitchhiking, Mad Men, and the Roads of Life

This week on Moped Outlaws, Sometimes the road takes you places you never expect. In this episode of Moped Outlaws, Marc and Greg ride alongside Lee Livingston, author of In the Rear View Mirror, as he unpacks his life through stories of friendship, rebellion, advertising glory, and personal redemption. Lee’s journey begins with a 1956 Pontiac gone off a cliff, a summer of hitchhiking, and unforgettable encounters with strangers across America. It takes us into the heart of the advertising world of the ’70s and ’80s—complete with Mad Men excess, cultural revolutions, and campaigns that changed the way we see motorcycles.

But the real story lies deeper: in the bonds of friendship, the shadow of loss, the search for belonging, and the wisdom that comes with sobriety and age. Lee’s voice reminds us that storytelling itself is a form of survival, and that even the hardest roads can lead us back to connection.

Episode Takeaways:

How hitchhiking across America in the early ’60s shaped Lee’s life and inspired his book In the Rear View Mirror.
Inside stories from the golden age of advertising—what it was really like to live “Mad Men” in the 70s and 80s.
The impact of friendship, loss, and bipolar struggles on creativity and resilience.
Reflections on race, culture, and the shared humanity Lee witnessed on the road.
How sobriety, partnership, and storytelling gave Lee a long, creative, and healthy life.

“A best friend in high school is a friend for life, unless he shoots himself at 29. This story isn’t sad; it’s wild, funny, and full of life.” ~ Lee Livingston

Guest Links:

Lee’s Website: https://openroads1961.com/

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