x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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, one

business management

All Episodes

01:32:40

Who's Running the Shop: Navigating Challenges and...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/04/21

Who’s Running the Shop? Lead Tech vs Owner on Process, DVI, QC, Training, and Pay PlansOn the Garage Grit Podcast, host Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing) moderates a panel with Josh Brooks (May Automotive, Utah), Reggie (ASG, Indianapolis area), and Tom (Total Automotive, near Buffalo, NY) about who truly runs a shop when owners implement changes and face pushback from lead techs or staff. They discuss improving customer experience with DVIs, secret shopping phone calls, and quality-control processes

en-us

00:51:39

"It was all word of mouth then." — Mike Dent | GGP #092

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/04/16

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 Grit Podcast, Mike Dent shares how decades of trust-building, customer communication, and relentless consistency turned his shop into a community institution in Ocean City, Maryland.Mike’s story starts early—working on cars as a child, washing cars with a cast on his leg after a serious accident, and eventually building Mike Dent’s

en-us

01:25:44

“Customer trust starts before the repair begins.” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/04/14

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 Community Auto shares how customer perception, communication, and consistency directly shape business growth in Fort Collins, Colorado.Chris walks through the origin of Community Auto and how the shop established itself in a growing Colorado market. Early on, visibility and reputation were tied not only to repair quality, but to how

en-us

01:01:06

"Trust starts before the car hits the bay" — Josh...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/04/09

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 Westendorp shares how customer trust is built through reviews, communication, digital inspections, and every touchpoint before the vehicle even enters the bay.Josh’s journey began inside Jamestown Automotive, the Michigan shop his father purchased in 1995. From cleaning floors after school to eventually buying out the business, Josh walks through

en-us

01:22:10

“We had to change how customers experienced us.” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/31

What customers experience before they ever approve a repair often determines whether they trust your shop at all. In this Origin & Impact episode, Joshua Wahlstrom shares how Farmington Service and Towing transformed customer communication, front-desk workflows, and phone systems to create a more reliable and trust-driven shop experience.Joshua walks through the early foundation of the business, originally built around towing and community service. As market conditions shifted, the shop faced a

en-us

01:55:56

"I want something decent, not elevator music" — Chris...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/26

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 shape trust long before the repair even starts.Chris Hamann didn’t just build a shop—he built an experience. From launching Lakeland Auto & Marine in a small seasonal market to creating memorable customer touchpoints, his journey highlights how early perception can make or break trust.The turning point came when Chris realized that being

en-us

01:45:09

"AI Is Changing How Customers Choose Shops" — Shop...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/24

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 technology—it’s how it impacts trust, communication, and ultimately booked work.In this Shop Owners Panel, experienced shop owners share how AI is showing up in their businesses and in customer behavior. These aren’t theories or predictions—this is what’s happening right now on the front lines of real shops.The discussion highlights where shops

en-us

01:20:50

"I want you to talk to me" — Nick Yannessa | GGP #84

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/19

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 actually drives customer confidence before they ever walk through your door.Nick Yannessa shares his journey from working in a family shop to launching a brand-new business, Auto Ficina. Early on, customer perception wasn’t something that needed to be engineered—it was inherited through reputation and relationships.That changed when Nick stepped

en-us

00:46:55

"I want them to know we’re a family-run business" —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/17

Trust isn’t built with sales tactics—it’s built through relationships. In this episode, Jonathon Grable breaks down how customer perception and communication directly shape retention, reputation, and long-term growth.Jonathon’s journey started in corporate repair environments where customers were treated like numbers. When he took over Grable’s Garage, he inherited not just a business—but a perception challenge. Customers needed to trust that the new owner would deliver the same (or better)

en-us

01:18:35

“It's terribly hard to drive a customer into the...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/12

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 episode, Corey Mitrovic and Joey Kenville share how perception, reviews, and communication shaped the growth of their Colorado-based shop.Corey came from a sales and business background, while Joey spent decades turning wrenches. When they opened Elite Imports Auto Repair in December 2020, they started with zero customers, zero reputation,

en-us

01:36:11

“You Can Do A Lot Of Business Not Knowing What You’re...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/10

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 relationships, visibility, and communication turned a struggling side hustle into a multi-million-dollar repair shop in Hawaii.John didn’t begin in auto repair. He started in tech sales and dealership finance before flipping cars just to survive. When he unexpectedly bought a struggling repair shop, he had to overcome one major challenge:

en-us

01:28:41

“You Can’t Just Say Integrity—You Have to Be About...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/05

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 & Impact series, Michael Mole explains how communication, authenticity, and real customer care shape how the public perceives your shop.Michael Mole didn’t start in auto repair. After leaving college and building a successful pressure washing business in coastal Georgia, he learned the fundamentals of marketing the hard way—door-to-door

en-us

00:48:07

"We're trying to get awareness in the neighborhood...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/03/03

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, Iowa grew on referrals, word-of-mouth, and community trust. No advertising. No tracking. No customer database. Just good work and loyal customers.But growth exposed a ceiling. As they expanded bays, added technicians, and eventually opened a second location, they realized something critical: reputation alone doesn’t scale. When they purchased

en-us

01:03:56

“People Don’t Like Confrontation — They Just Leave...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/26

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 Mead shares how small shifts in customer interaction dramatically change perception, reviews, and long-term loyalty.As a third-generation owner at Ken’s Automotive & Transmissions, Tyler grew up inside the business but watched firsthand how customer expectations evolved from Yellow Pages visibility to digital-first decision making. Early

en-us

01:33:29

The Double-Edged Sword of Online Reviews in...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/24

Host Brad Hurlock (AA Shop Marketing) interviews three shop owners—John Starkey (Starkey’s Auto Repair, Honolulu), Daniel Jenkins (Jenkins Auto Repair, rural Tennessee), and Michael Mole (Integrity Auto Repair, Savannah)—about why good service can still produce bad reviews and how to manage reviews overall. John describes running a large Hawaii shop with state safety inspections that can trigger angry reviews when vehicles fail, and he shares his growth goals, lift expansion plans, and rebuilding

en-us

01:35:14

“I’m Not Making Money Off One Customer” — Ed Hajjar |...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/19

Trust isn’t built through advertising alone — it’s built through everyday customer interactions. In this Origin & Impact episode, Ed Hajjar explains how reputation, communication, and consistency became the real marketing engine behind a 50-year independent repair shop.Ed Hajjar of S & H Auto Repair shares the origin story behind a family-connected shop that evolved into a long-standing Akron staple. Early on, growth wasn’t about campaigns or promotions — it was about how customers perceived

en-us

01:20:16

"People Started Saying, Go See Daniel" — Daniel...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/17

Building trust isn’t about flashy marketing — it’s about becoming the shop customers confidently recommend when something goes wrong. In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Daniel Jenkins shares how perception, visibility, and customer confidence transformed a backyard operation into a growing independent repair business.Daniel didn’t start with a commercial location or a marketing plan. After leaving dealership life, he launched Jenkins Car Care beside his home, relying

en-us

00:49:00

"It's a service that we offer and it's a service that...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/12

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 Podcast, Joe Arnold shares how customer education and transparency shape perception long before a repair order is closed.Joe grew up inside Mike’s KARS, a third-generation shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When he stepped into ownership, he inherited more than bays and equipment—he inherited decades of customer expectations. Early on, visibility

en-us

01:28:37

“People Think You’re Qualified—Until They See You...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/10

Perception decides whether customers trust your shop before they ever meet you. In this Origin & Impact episode, Drew Camp breaks down how mismatched expectations—between what people claim and what they deliver—shape reputation, confidence, and long-term growth.Drew shares his path growing up inside a family-run operation in Midland, Texas, and how early exposure shaped how customers viewed competence, credibility, and professionalism in an oilfield-driven market.The real challenge wasn’t

en-us

01:13:29

“Customers trusted us before our marketing existed” —...

Garage Grit Podcast ·

2026/02/05

In this Origin & Impact episode of the Garage Grit Podcast, Jennifer Hazeltine of American Import Auto, Inc. talks about how being visible, personable, and present in the community built customer trust long before any formal marketing strategy existed. She explains why showing up — at local events, in neighborhood groups, and online — matters far more than clicks, ads, or banners.Jennifer came into the auto repair world from a retail background and quickly realized that building relationships

en-us

91 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...