In this episode of the Project 7 to 1 Podcast, Carlo Ople sits down with veteran motoring journalist, broadcaster, and traffic advocate James Deakin.

James takes us through his journey—from his early years and return to the Philippines to building a career in broadcasting, motoring journalism, and digital media. He shares the experiences that shaped him, including the successes that propelled his career and, perhaps more importantly, the failures and setbacks that taught him some of his most valuable lessons.

A major part of the conversation is James’ long-running crusade for safer and more efficient roads in the Philippines. They talk about traffic rules, road discipline, enforcement, driver behavior, confusing and sometimes inconsistent regulations, and why solving the country’s traffic problems requires more than simply creating new laws.

The discussion also goes into the realities behind traffic enforcement and the issues that Filipino motorists encounter every day. James shares his perspective on accountability, responsible driving, and the need for both motorists and authorities to understand and follow the rules.

Beyond motoring and traffic, James opens up about the personal lessons he’s gained from mistakes, failures, and difficult moments throughout his career—offering a more personal look at the man behind the opinions and advocacy.

Expect a candid, sometimes opinionated, but ultimately reflective conversation about traffic, road safety, public policy, career setbacks, and the lessons that come from getting things wrong along the way.