Shows / Garage Grit Podcast
Garage Grit Podcast
Welcome to the Garage Grit Podcast, hosted by Brad Hurlock from AA Shop Marketing. Join us as we tackle common stress points in the auto repair shop space, uniting owners for insightful conversations. Our mission is to guide your shop towards success. Tune in, be part of the conversation, and propel your business forward. Explore strategies, insights, and camaraderie needed to thrive in the competitive auto repair industry. Welcome to Garage Grit, where we shift your business into high gear…
Episodes
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You Want to See Your Customer Through This Situation" — Travis Norton | GGP #146
One challenge facing independent repair shops is that customers may not realize which services a shop can provide—or how much help it can offer when a repair…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I'm transparent to my customers" — Preston Callahan | GGP #145
Preston also discusses how he is using AI to help technicians and service advisors organize diagnostic information, build clearer estimates, reference…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I do believe that the digital market is my next step" — Brien Cantrelle | GGP #144
Brien Cantrelle, owner of HOUMA TIRE & AUTO LLC in Houma, Louisiana, spent years working in automotive repair, sales, and management before opening his own…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"He needs to sell APA Total Car Care." — Sean Gordon | GGP #143
Sean found that simply waiting for fleet customers to discover the shop wasn't enough. Email could get buried, phone calls could be filtered, and location…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I do believe that the digital market is my next step" — Brien Cantrelle | GGP #144
A great auto repair shop needs more than skilled technicians. Customers need to trust the people working on their vehicles, understand the value they receive…
- Garage Grit Podcast
#142 Creating Value: Preparing Your Auto Repair Shop for the Future
Prepping an Auto Repair Shop for Sale: Systems, Data, and Succession PlanningHost Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing) leads a Garage Grit Podcast panel on…
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"It's so your customer can see what you're seeing" — Vinnie Carollo | GGP #141
Trust is built when customers understand what their repair shop sees, recommends, and stands behind. In this episode of Garage Grit Podcast, Vinnie Carollo…
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"We're not getting paid to sell stuff to a customer that they don't need." — Jerome Wiley | GGP #140
Jerome's story starts with a family business founded by his grandfather in 1956. After 33 years working his way through the shop, Jerome now helps lead the…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I am a firm believer in marketing now. Like a hundred percent." — Ryne Ray | GGP 139
Ray’s Tire Barn was built around a simple idea: customers should feel confident that their vehicles—and their time—are in good hands. In this episode, Ryne Ray…
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"Resume Bias Is Costing Shops Great Hires" — Role Synx | GGP #138
Hiring feels harder than ever—but many shops lose great employees before they even get a chance. In this Vendor Insights episode, Brad Hurlock sits down with…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Family, Friends, and Bosses: The Dynamics of Shop Culture
Friend vs Boss: Setting Boundaries, Culture, and Accountability in Auto Repair ShopsOn the Garage Grit Podcast, a panel of shop owners and managers (from…
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“Convenience Is the Number One Reason People Buy” — Mike Zalis | GGP #136
Most auto repair shops focus on getting new customers.Mike Zalisbuilt something different—using trust, consistency, and customer experience to turn weekly fuel…
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"Google Is Calling Your Shop Now." — Patrick Egan | GGP #134
Customers don't judge your shop only by your repairs—they judge it by every interaction before they ever walk through the door. In this episode, Patrick Egan…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Never Underestimate the Power of Acknowledgment" — Jim Anderson | GGP #133
Trust isn't built only when a customer approves a repair—it's built through every interaction that shapes how people perceive your shop. In this episode of…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“I Don’t Advertise Bargains or Deals” — Brett Gioe | GGP #132
Trust isn’t built with coupons—it’s built with consistency. In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Brett Gioe shares how three decades of protecting his…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Customers Told Us We Were Actually Nice" — Joey Margavio | GGP #131
Trust isn't built when customers pick up their repaired vehicle—it's built the moment someone answers the phone. In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"We're working on a thousand five star reviews." — Evan Brodof | GGP #130
Trust is built through the experience customers have with your shop—and reinforced every time they talk about you online. In this episode of Garage Grit…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Coaching or AI? - Finding the Right Path for Your Shop
Why Pay for a Coach When ChatGPT Is Free? AI vs Coaching for Shop OwnersOn the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock leads a panel with shop owners Phil (two…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Once your address is on Google, it's amazing the kind of calls you get" — Chandler Smith | GGP 128
Chandler Smith built Chandler Allen Automotive from a U-Haul storage locker into an independent repair shop in McKinney, Texas. Along the way, he discovered…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I do utilize my social media for just that." — Tommy Markham | GGP #127
Modern auto repair customers are being asked to trust shops with increasingly complex safety systems—and that trust depends on more than fixing the car.Tommy…
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"Customers Already Recognize Ownership Has Changed" — Andy Adams | GGP #126
Every customer forms an opinion before they ever approve a repair. In this Origin & Impact episode, Andy Adams shares how trust, reputation, and customer…
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"You've Given Them Power" — Chris Lingle | GGP #125
Trust isn't built when a customer approves a repair. It's built long before that—through communication, expectations, transparency, and the confidence…
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"People Don't Say No to an Already Made Appointment" — Fred Venis | GGP #124
Fred's journey started with a broom in hand, working inside the very shop he would eventually own. Over nearly three decades, he learned every aspect of the…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Go Back and Implement One or Two Things" — Rick Sharpe | Garage Grit Podcast | GGP #123
Growing an independent auto repair shop isn't about finding one magic marketing tactic—it's about building customer trust, improving communication, and…
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"People Weren't Coming In" — Shaun Martin | GGP #122
Every successful auto repair shop is built on trust—but trust isn't created by great repairs alone. It's earned through transparency, consistent communication…
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"You Don't Have a Business, You Have a Job" — Fernando Miranda | GGP #121
Most auto repair shop owners believe growth comes from working harder. Fernando Miranda argues the opposite. Sustainable growth comes from building trust…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You Can Be the Best Technician... and a Terrible Business Owner" | Jason Smith - GGP #120
Every successful shop owner has a story—but very few are willing to tell the difficult parts.In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Brad Hurlock sits down…
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Paving the Future: The Next Generation of Family Business Leaders
Taking Over the Family Shop: Legacy, Loss, and Building the Next GenerationIn a panel on taking over auto repair shops from the prior generation, the host…
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"If You're Not Telling Your Story, Someone Else Is." — Patrick Egan | GGP #118
Most independent auto repair shops don't struggle because they lack great service—they struggle because customers never experience that story before making a…
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"Money Is Not So Much an Issue With My Customers" — Rick Ruback | GGP #117
For independent auto repair shops, marketing isn't always about advertising—it starts with reputation. Customers don't return because you offered the lowest…
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"You Have to Be Building Something" — Brad Templin | GGP #116
Most independent auto repair shops don't struggle because they lack technical skill—they struggle because growth eventually exposes weaknesses in leadership…
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"You've Got To Create The Culture" — Jimmy Sexton | GGP #115
Growth doesn't start with better marketing tactics. It starts when customers experience consistency, accountability, and trust every time they interact with…
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"You Need to Buy the Shop or I'm Selling It" — Mike Gallup | GGP #114
For independent shop owners, trust isn't built through advertising alone. It's built through consistency, reputation, and becoming the shop customers call when…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Scaling Fast: Strategies from Leading Auto Shop Owners
Scaling Auto Repair Shops Fast: Rack Attack, Gross Margin Discipline, and A-Player StandardsOn the Garage Grit podcast, the host and a panel of shop…
- Garage Grit Podcast
A"Trust Is the First Step to Shop Growth" — Mike Kost | GGP #112
Most shop owners don't struggle because they lack information. They struggle because they have too many priorities competing for their attention. In this…
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"I Can Teach Cars—I Can't Teach Showing Up" — Jarred Mason | GGP #111
Most independent repair shops focus on repairs, equipment, and staffing. Jarred Mason believes customer trust starts much earlier. In this Origin & Impact…
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"Yes, I Can Help You With That" — Salesmax Plus | GGP #110
Many shop owners invest heavily in training, technology, and marketing but still struggle to convert phone calls into long-term customer relationships. In this…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"The Work Will Always Come—Finding Good Help Is the Problem" — Peter Khory | GGP #109
In a market dominated by technology companies, self-driving vehicles, and changing customer expectations, trust remains the most valuable asset an independent…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Everything We Do Attracts a Customer” — Ryan Hoover | GGP #108
What makes customers trust one auto repair shop over another?In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Ryan Hoover of North Shore Automotive shares how…
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“Most Shops Ignore This Until It Breaks” — Call Inbound | GGP #107
Most shop owners think about phones only when they stop working. But poor call handling, weak backup systems, and inconsistent customer communication quietly…
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“I Replaced My Advertising Budget With People” — Christopher Fuller | GGP #106
Most shop owners think growth comes from advertising, promotions, or bigger marketing budgets. Christopher Fuller explains why customer trust is often built…
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“You’ve Got To Be Creative Now With Marketing” — Eric Winn | GGP #105
Most shop owners think marketing starts with ads, websites, or social media. Eric Winn believes it starts somewhere much simpler: trust. In this Origin &…
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“You Gotta Set Yourself Apart From Your Competitors” — Quintin Hankla | GGP #104
Most shops think marketing starts with ads or SEO. Quintin Hankla explains why customer experience, communication, and shop perception are what actually drive…
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From Check Engine to Checkmate: The Art of Auto Shop Communication
On the Garage Grit Podcast, a panel with shop owners Josh Wahlstrom (Farmington, Utah), Chris Fuller (Auburn, Massachusetts), and Rick Sharpe (Annapolis…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“I’m Not Trying to Be the Cheapest—I Want to Be the Best” — Travis Vreeland | GGP #102
Most independent shops focus heavily on repairs—but customers make decisions based on perception long before the vehicle enters the bay. In this Origin &…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"We Need to Be the One-Stop Solution" — Alex Kacsh | GGP #101
Most auto repair shops think growth comes from more bays, more technicians, or better equipment. But customers make decisions based on trust, visibility…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Communication Is The Key To Good Business” — Kirk Dye | GGP #100
In auto repair, trust is built through communication long before the vehicle is repaired. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Kirk Dye…
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"Most shops are using AI wrong—and it’s costing them revenue" — BoxPlot | GGP #099
Most shop owners are experimenting with AI—but few are using it in a way that actually impacts revenue or customer experience. The gap isn’t access to tools…
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“You Have to Do Something Visually Catching” — Josh Brooks | GGP #98
Visibility changes everything in auto repair. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Josh Brooks explains how customer perception…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You Have to Build Trust Before You Sell Anything" — Kyle Northrop | GGP #097
Most shop owners focus on fixing cars—but customers are deciding based on trust long before that. In this episode, Kyle Northrop shares how shifting perception…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You’re Losing Techs Before You Even Talk to Them" — Technician Find | GGP #096
Most shop owners don’t have a hiring problem—they have a visibility problem. When the right technicians never see your shop, never feel your culture, and never…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You’ve got to be creative now with marketing" — Tom Sciortino | GGP 95
Most auto repair shops don’t struggle with skill—they struggle with perception. In this episode, Tom Sciortino breaks down how trust, communication, and…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I’m Not Trying to Be the Cheapest—I Want to Be the Best" — Reggie Smith | GGP #094
Most shop owners think growth comes from pricing, speed, or volume. But the real driver is how customers perceive your shop before they ever say yes. In this…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Who's Running the Shop: Navigating Challenges and Changes in Auto Repair Management GGP #093
Host Brad Hurlock of AA Shop Marketing leads a Garage Grit Podcast panel with Josh Brooks (May Automotive, Utah), Reggie (ASG near Indianapolis), and Tom…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Who's Running the Shop: Navigating Challenges and Changes in Auto Repair Management
Who’s Running the Shop? Lead Tech vs Owner on Process, DVI, QC, Training, and Pay Plans On the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing)…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"It was all word of mouth then." — Mike Dent | GGP #092
Trust in auto repair doesn’t start when the hood opens—it starts long before the customer walks through the door. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Customer trust starts before the repair begins.” — Chris Whited | GGP #091
Customer trust in auto repair is built long before a vehicle ever enters the bay. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Chris Whited of…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Trust starts before the car hits the bay" — Josh Westendorp | GGP #90
Trust in auto repair doesn’t start with the repair order — it starts with perception. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Josh…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“We had to change how customers experienced us.” — Joshua Wahlstrom | GGP #087
What customers experience before they ever approve a repair often determines whether they trust your shop at all. In this Origin & Impact episode, Joshua…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I want something decent, not elevator music" — Chris Hamann | GGP #86
Most shops focus on fixing cars—but the real battle is won before the customer ever walks in. This episode dives into how perception, humor, and communication…