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
"AI Is Changing How Customers Choose Shops" — Shop Owners Panel | GGP #85
AI is changing how customers choose auto repair shops, but most shop owners are still trying to figure out where it actually fits. The real issue isn’t the…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I want you to talk to me" — Nick Yannessa | GGP #84
Most shop owners think marketing is about clicks. In reality, it’s about trust, perception, and getting the phone to ring. This episode breaks down what…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I want them to know we’re a family-run business" — Jonathon Grable | GGP 83
Trust isn’t built with sales tactics—it’s built through relationships. In this episode, Jonathon Grable breaks down how customer perception and communication…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“It's terribly hard to drive a customer into the door” — Corey Mitrovic | GGP #82
Launching a new auto repair shop isn’t just about fixing cars—it’s about earning trust before customers even walk through the door. In this Origin & Impact…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“You Can Do A Lot Of Business Not Knowing What You’re Doing.” — John Starkey | GGP #81
Trust in auto repair doesn’t start with a wrench—it starts with perception. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, John Starkey shares how…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“You Can’t Just Say Integrity—You Have to Be About It” — Michael Mole | GGP #80
DescriptionTrust is the currency of every successful auto repair shop—but many owners unknowingly break it. In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast Origin &…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"We're trying to get awareness in the neighborhood that we're here." — Rusty Smith | GGP #79
Reputation can build a shop. But visibility is what sustains it.Rusty and Melissa Smith didn’t start with marketing systems. Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“People Don’t Like Confrontation — They Just Leave Reviews” — Tyler Mead | GGP #078
DescriptionTrust in auto repair isn’t built in the bay — it’s built through communication. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Tyler…
- Garage Grit Podcast
The Double-Edged Sword of Online Reviews in Automotive Services
Host Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing) interviews three shop owners—John Starkey (Starkey’s Auto Repair, Honolulu), Daniel Jenkins (Jenkins Auto Repair, rural…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“I’m Not Making Money Off One Customer” — Ed Hajjar | GGP #076
Trust isn’t built through advertising alone — it’s built through everyday customer interactions. In this Origin & Impact episode, Ed Hajjar explains how…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"People Started Saying, Go See Daniel" — Daniel Jenkins | GGP #75
Building trust isn’t about flashy marketing — it’s about becoming the shop customers confidently recommend when something goes wrong. In this Origin & Impact…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"It's a service that we offer and it's a service that we provide." — Joe Arnold | GGP #074
Trust doesn’t start when the car breaks down. It starts with how customers feel the moment they walk through your door. In Episode 074 of the Garage Grit…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“People Think You’re Qualified—Until They See You Work” — Drew Camp | GGP #73
Perception decides whether customers trust your shop before they ever meet you. In this Origin & Impact episode, Drew Camp breaks down how mismatched…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Customers trusted us before our marketing existed” — Jennifer Hazeltine | GGP #072
In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Jennifer Hazeltine of American Import Auto, Inc. talks about how being visible, personable, and…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Consistency beats panic marketing every time” — Tim Shaffer | GGP #071
Most shop owners don’t have a marketing problem — they have a consistency problem. When car count drops, spending spikes. When things get busy, marketing…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Customers trust clarity in how we communicate” — Brandan & Kelsey Lancaster | GGP #070
In this episode of Garage Grit Podcast – Origin & Impact, the founders of Performance Automotive Repair reveal how communication, culture, and clarity built…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Creative Marketing Strategies for Auto Shops
Crafting a Marketing Budget for Auto Repair Shops: Insights from The Garage Grit Podcast In this episode of The Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock from AA…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I like it to be a comfortable place that they can enjoy being in." - Kelly Michel | GGP #068
Most shops do not lose customers because of the repair. They lose them because the experience feels unclear, impersonal, or salesy. In this Origin & Impact…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I Look For The Person First, The Resume Second." Matt Bozarth | GGP #067
If your shop is doing the work but still feels stuck, this episode hits the real problem: customers do not buy repairs, they buy trust. Matt Bozarth breaks…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"If You Want Trust, You Have to Ask Better Questions" | Julio De Brigard | GGP #066
Most shops do not lose trust in the bay. They lose it at the counter. In this Origin & Impact episode, Julio De Brigard explains how customer perception…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“It’s About Speed, Quality, and Being Known” — Tad Benda | GGP #065
Trust is built long before the invoice is printed. In this episode, Tad Benda explains why customer perception, communication, and consistency are the real…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“You Can’t Market Trust If The Front Desk Breaks It” – Jarrod Michalak | GGP #064
Most shops think marketing starts online. Jarrod Michalak explains why it actually starts at the front counter. In this episode, we break down how customer…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"The majority of your people still call your phone" – Rena Rennebohm | GGP #063
Most shops spend real money to get found online, then lose the sale on the first phone call. In this Vendor Insights episode, Rena Rennebohm breaks down how…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"I want them to come find us." - Dale Donovan | GGP #062
Dale Donovan shares how shop owners can improve visibility and trust by marketing the real experience of their shop, not just the services they sell. From…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Innovations and Challenges: The Evolving Role of Service Advisors
Front of Shop Strategies and Improving Customer Experience | Garage Grit PodcastIn this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, we dive into the essential dynamics…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"If it needs to be done, it's going to be done" — Kory Rozema | GGP #060
"If it needs to be done, it's going to be done" — Kory Rozema | GGP #060
- Garage Grit Podcast
"You'll have no choice but to be successful" — Tom Palermo | GGP #059
Fleet work, pickup and delivery, loaner cars, DVIs, and ADAS aren’t just operations choices—they’re marketing decisions that shape how customers see your shop…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"We're trying to build a shop culture" — Kevin Reichelt | GGP #058
Customers don’t come back just because you fixed the car—they come back because of how you treat them, how you show up in the community, and how your shop…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Women Love Seeing Another Woman at the Counter” — Kristy & Frank Sponaugle | GGP #057
When customers don’t trust shops, they don’t trust your marketing either. In this episode, we look at how F & L Tire and Service built a female-friendly…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“It’s Not A Race To The Bottom” — Jeremy McQueen | GGP #056
Is your shop competing on price or value? Many shop owners struggle with customers who nitpick invoices and price-shop parts, driving margins down. To combat…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“People Want to Support Local—Not Big Brands” — Renton Garrett | GGP #055
Customers today make decisions based on trust—who communicates clearly, who feels local, and who treats them with honesty. In this episode, we break down how a…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Auto Shop Insights: Documenting Processes for Success | GGP #054
In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock and a panel of auto shop owners discuss the importance of documenting processes to ensure…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“If You Google Us for Mini, We’re #1 — and Top 3 for BMW & Mercedes” — Sean Beardsley | GGP #053
Google visibility isn’t luck — it’s strategy. In this episode, you’ll hear how Bayer Motor Works dominates search rankings in a competitive metro market and…
- Garage Grit Podcast
"Marketing Helps Us Keep in Touch With Our People" — Steve Finzel | GGP #052
Growing a shop starts with staying connected to the people who already trust you. In this Origin & Impact episode, Steve Finzel explains how communication, CRM…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Your Front Desk Is the Face of Your Shop” — Josiah Martin | GGP #051
When Josiah Martin bought Limitless Auto in rural Pennsylvania at age 25, he inherited more than a business — he inherited a legacy. Five years later, his…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“From EPA Fines to $7M Growth—How CDT Automotive Rebuilt Its Legacy” — Thomas Andrews | GGP #050
Thomas Andrews of CDT Automotive turned a four-year EPA battle into a story of resilience and reinvention. What began as a high-performance diesel shop evolved…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Stop Doing Everything—Lead Your Team Like Pros” — Lou Cannata | GGP #049
Second-generation owner Lou Cannata shares how saying no to distractions (towing, gas, used cars) unlocked the time to build people, processes, and profit…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Stop Working in It—Start Building It” — Tim Schaefer | GGP #047
Tim Schaefer grew up in his family’s shop, Dale’s Service Center, in Davenport, Iowa—starting as a tire kid before becoming owner. After years of doing it all…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Speed Up by Slowing Down: Announce the DVI” — Alex Skander | GGP #047
A third-generation tire shop turns the corner by adding mechanical service—and learns the hard way that customer experience, workflow, and messaging must…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Stop Turning Wrenches—Build a Bench and Lead” — Roger Kaufman | GGP #046
Roger Kaufman went from dealership team lead to shop owner, learning how to step out of the bay and run the business. In this episode, he breaks down how he…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“You don’t need every customer—value your time” — Scott Blair | GGP #045
Mobile can be your growth lever when bays are capped. In this Origin & Impact, Scott Blair shows how 2U Tire and Wheel built a concierge model that wins fleet…
- Garage Grit Podcast
#044 Shadows of Bureaucracy: When Expansion Meets Resistance
In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock and a panel of auto shop owners share powerful stories about the hurdles they face dealing with…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Raise Your Hours Per Ticket, Not Your Bays” — Kathleen Callahan | GGP #043
Kathleen Callahan built Xpertech Auto Repair from four bays to six over 21 years—but not by chasing volume. In this episode of the Origin & Impact series, she…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Three Coaches Laughed When I Opened My Detail Shop” — Kyle Davis | GGP #042
When three coaches and twenty business owners told him not to open a detail shop, Kyle Davis proved them wrong. This episode dives into how Davis turned doubt…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“How I Bought Out My Dad and Rebuilt the Shop” — Erik Scheidt | GGP #041
What happens when the family business stops evolving—and you have to be the one to save it? In this episode of GGP, Erik Scheidt of Norwood Auto Service in…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Everything before 1998 is ‘classic.’ After that, it’s ‘modern.’” — Tyson Fisher | GGP #040
Mercedes specialist Tyson Fisher breaks down how a 42-year family shop in Gainesville, FL thrives by niching hard, running in-house systems, and obsessing over…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“We fix what actually needs to be done” — Alan & Shanley Austin | GGP #039
A family-run collision & mechanical shop shares a trust-first playbook: transparent inspections, pushing back on insurers, and SOPs that keep quality high and…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Dual pricing isn’t the same as surcharging” — Rob Davis & David Nacion | GGP #038
Credit card fees are eating into shop profits, but how you pass them on makes all the difference. In this episode, Rob Davis and David Nacion explain the…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Dual Pricing • Shop Fees • Customer Trust — Cannata, Millevoi & Sapuppo | GGP #037
Credit card fees are eating into shop profits, but how you handle them can make or break customer trust. In this panel, three operators compare dual pricing…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Customers don’t trust shops—they trust people” — Max Blatt | GGP #036
Fourth-generation owner Max Blatt of Blatt Tire and Automotive shares how he took over the family shop in Center City Philadelphia, modernized operations, and…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“DVI is the best thing since front pockets” — Mike Scaglione | GGP #035
From service stations with gas pumps to today’s DVIs, Mike Scaglione of Kempsville Auto Care Center shares 45 years of lessons on running a shop, leading in…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Dealership alternative? Not without loaners.” — Laura Tierney | GGP #034
Loaner cars aren’t a “nice-to-have”—they’re a sales tool that closes RO’s, reduces chaos at the counter, and lets independents compete with dealerships. Laura…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“Growth Without Systems Will Break Your Shop” | Philip Korbel & Brian Teberg | GGP #033
How do you scale a six-bay shop without burning out your team—or your customers? Elite Automotive Center’s co-owners share how they’re growing the right way…
- Garage Grit Podcast
#032 Building Legacy: Succession Planning for Auto Repair Shops
In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock of AA Shop Marketing is joined by Mike from Grinnell Firestone, Steve Finzel of Finzels Master…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“The 3 Jobs of a Shop Owner” – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | GGP #031
"The Three Jobs of a Shop Owner Are Marketing, Hiring, and Training" – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | Trust, Team Culture & Coaching Kevin Bird of JM Auto…
- Garage Grit Podcast
From Queens Streets to Shop Success: How Bill Vallely Built Tru-Fix AutoWorks on Truth
Join Brad Hurlock on the Garage Grit Podcast for an inspiring Origin & Impact episode with Bill Vallely, owner of Tru-Fix AutoWorks in New York. Bill shares…
- Garage Grit Podcast
The Dual Dynamics of Managing Collision and Mechanical Shops
In this episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock from AA Shop Marketing sits down with guest shop owners Gina and Shaley to discuss the…
- Garage Grit Podcast
Tire Tech to AUTO EMPIRE: Bahaa Elabbasi’s JAW-DROPPING Journey, REBRANDS & TOWING Secrets! GGP #028
Join Brad Hurlock on the Garage Grit Podcast as he dives into the wild journey of Bahaa Elabbasi, owner of Crown Auto Repair and Collision in Sugarland, Texas…
- Garage Grit Podcast
“From Janitor to Owner” - Jeremy Bucy SHARES His Journey, DEFENDS Personalized Service & REVEALS Vintage Car Secrets | GGP #027 O/I
Join host Brad Hurlock on the Garage Grit Podcast for an engaging Origin & Impact episode (#027) featuring Jeremy Bucy, owner of Alan Cox Premier Auto Care in…
- Garage Grit Podcast
#026 Origin & Impact: Paul Marquardt of Clintonville Automotive Repair
Join host Brad Hurlock on the Garage Grit Podcast for an insightful Origin & Impact episode (#026) featuring Paul Marquardt, owner of Clintonville Automotive…