Garage Grit
Podcast

Real Shop Owners.
Real Challenges. Real Solutions.

Every month, we bring together independent auto repair shop owners to tackle the biggest challenges facing the industry. From hiring struggles to customer communication, pricing strategies to shop culture—if it impacts your shop, we’re talking about it.

This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a roundtable of experienced shop owners sharing what’s working, what’s not, and how they’re adapting. No fluff, no theory—just real conversations that help you find your path forward.

The Grit Format

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We research & pre-qualify shop owners to ensure meaningful, experience-based discussions.

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Each episode is a coffee shop-style conversation about a pressing issue in the industry.

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We explore real-world solutions—what’s working, what’s not, and why.

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The goal? Help you make better decisions for your shop by learning from others who’ve been in your shoes.

Be a Guest

If you’ve been invited to join a panel, or if you’re an experienced shop owner with valuable insights to share, we’d love to hear from you.

Listen & Watch

Catch the latest episodes on your favorite platforms:

Listen to the episode that interests you:

"We're trying to build a shop culture" — Kevin Reichelt | GGP #058 Watch on YouTube

"We're trying to build a shop culture" — Kevin Reichelt | GGP #058

12/11/2025

“Women Love Seeing Another Woman at the Counter” — Kristy & Frank Sponaugle | GGP #057 Watch on YouTube

“Women Love Seeing Another Woman at the Counter” — Kristy & Frank Sponaugle | GGP #057

12/9/2025

“It’s Not A Race To The Bottom” — Jeremy McQueen | GGP #056 Watch on YouTube

“It’s Not A Race To The Bottom” — Jeremy McQueen | GGP #056

12/4/2025

“People Want to Support Local—Not Big Brands” — Renton Garrett | GGP #055 Watch on YouTube

“People Want to Support Local—Not Big Brands” — Renton Garrett | GGP #055

12/2/2025

Auto Shop Insights: Documenting Processes for Success | GGP #054 Watch on YouTube

Auto Shop Insights: Documenting Processes for Success | GGP #054

11/25/2025

“If You Google Us for Mini, We’re #1 — and Top 3 for BMW & Mercedes” — Sean Beardsley | GGP #053 Watch on YouTube

“If You Google Us for Mini, We’re #1 — and Top 3 for BMW & Mercedes” — Sean Beardsley | GGP #053

11/20/2025

"Marketing Helps Us Keep in Touch With Our People" — Steve Finzel | GGP #052 Watch on YouTube

"Marketing Helps Us Keep in Touch With Our People" — Steve Finzel | GGP #052

11/18/2025

“Your Front Desk Is the Face of Your Shop” — Josiah Martin | GGP #051 Watch on YouTube

“Your Front Desk Is the Face of Your Shop” — Josiah Martin | GGP #051

11/13/2025

“From EPA Fines to $7M Growth—How CDT Automotive Rebuilt Its Legacy” — Thomas Andrews | GGP #050 Watch on YouTube

“From EPA Fines to $7M Growth—How CDT Automotive Rebuilt Its Legacy” — Thomas Andrews | GGP #050

11/11/2025

“Stop Doing Everything—Lead Your Team Like Pros” — Lou Cannata | GGP #049 Watch on YouTube

“Stop Doing Everything—Lead Your Team Like Pros” — Lou Cannata | GGP #049

11/6/2025

“Stop Working in It—Start Building It” — Tim Shaffer | GGP #048 Watch on YouTube

“Stop Working in It—Start Building It” — Tim Shaffer | GGP #048

11/4/2025

“Speed Up by Slowing Down: Announce the DVI” — Alex Skander | GGP #047 Watch on YouTube

“Speed Up by Slowing Down: Announce the DVI” — Alex Skander | GGP #047

10/30/2025

“Stop Turning Wrenches—Build a Bench and Lead” — Roger Kaufman | GGP #046 Watch on YouTube

“Stop Turning Wrenches—Build a Bench and Lead” — Roger Kaufman | GGP #046

10/28/2025

Shadows of Bureaucracy: When Expansion Meets Resistance- Iorizzo, Rozema, Palermo | GGP #044 Watch on YouTube

Shadows of Bureaucracy: When Expansion Meets Resistance- Iorizzo, Rozema, Palermo | GGP #044

10/23/2025

“You don’t need every customer—value your time” — Scott Blair | GGP #045 Watch on YouTube

“You don’t need every customer—value your time” — Scott Blair | GGP #045

10/23/2025

“Raise Your Hours Per Ticket, Not Your Bays” — Kathleen Callahan | GGP #043 Watch on YouTube

“Raise Your Hours Per Ticket, Not Your Bays” — Kathleen Callahan | GGP #043

10/16/2025

“Three Coaches Laughed When I Opened My Detail Shop” — Kyle Davis | GGP #042 Watch on YouTube

“Three Coaches Laughed When I Opened My Detail Shop” — Kyle Davis | GGP #042

10/14/2025

“How I Bought Out My Dad and Rebuilt the Shop” — Erik Scheidt | GGP #041 Watch on YouTube

“How I Bought Out My Dad and Rebuilt the Shop” — Erik Scheidt | GGP #041

10/9/2025

“Everything before 1998 is ‘classic.’ After that, it’s ‘modern.’” — Tyson Fisher | GGP #040 Watch on YouTube

“Everything before 1998 is ‘classic.’ After that, it’s ‘modern.’” — Tyson Fisher | GGP #040

10/7/2025

“We fix what actually needs to be done” — Alan & Shanley Austin | GGP #039 Watch on YouTube

“We fix what actually needs to be done” — Alan & Shanley Austin | GGP #039

9/30/2025

“Dual pricing isn’t the same as surcharging” — Rob Davis & David Nacion | GGP #038 Watch on YouTube

“Dual pricing isn’t the same as surcharging” — Rob Davis & David Nacion | GGP #038

9/27/2025

Dual Pricing • Shop Fees • Customer Trust — Cannata, Millevoi & Sapuppo | GGP #037 Watch on YouTube

Dual Pricing • Shop Fees • Customer Trust — Cannata, Millevoi & Sapuppo | GGP #037

9/23/2025

“Customers don’t trust shops—they trust people” — Max Blatt | GGP #036 Watch on YouTube

“Customers don’t trust shops—they trust people” — Max Blatt | GGP #036

9/16/2025

“DVI is the best thing since front pockets” — Mike Scaglione | GGP #035 Watch on YouTube

“DVI is the best thing since front pockets” — Mike Scaglione | GGP #035

9/9/2025

“Dealership alternative? Not without loaners.” — Laura Tierney | GGP #034 Watch on YouTube

“Dealership alternative? Not without loaners.” — Laura Tierney | GGP #034

9/4/2025

“Growth Without Systems Will Break Your Shop” | Philip Korbel & Brian Teberg | GGP #033 Watch on YouTube

“Growth Without Systems Will Break Your Shop” | Philip Korbel & Brian Teberg | GGP #033

9/2/2025

Building Legacy: Succession Planning for Auto Repair Shops | GGP #032 Watch on YouTube

Building Legacy: Succession Planning for Auto Repair Shops | GGP #032

8/26/2025

“The 3 Jobs of a Shop Owner” – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | GGP #031 Watch on YouTube

“The 3 Jobs of a Shop Owner” – Kevin Bird of JM Auto Service | GGP #031

8/19/2025

#030 From Queens Streets to Shop Success: How Bill Vallely Built Tru-Fix AutoWorks on Truth Watch on YouTube

#030 From Queens Streets to Shop Success: How Bill Vallely Built Tru-Fix AutoWorks on Truth

8/12/2025

#029 The Dual Dynamics of Managing Collision and Mechanical Shops Watch on YouTube

#029 The Dual Dynamics of Managing Collision and Mechanical Shops

7/31/2025

Tire Tech to AUTO EMPIRE: Bahaa Elabbasi’s JAW-DROPPING Journey, REBRANDS & TOWING Secrets! GGP #028 Watch on YouTube

Tire Tech to AUTO EMPIRE: Bahaa Elabbasi’s JAW-DROPPING Journey, REBRANDS & TOWING Secrets! GGP #028

7/29/2025

Janitor to OWNER: Jeremy Bucy’s SHOCKING Journey, DEFENDS Service & VINTAGE Secrets! | GGP #027 Watch on YouTube

Janitor to OWNER: Jeremy Bucy’s SHOCKING Journey, DEFENDS Service & VINTAGE Secrets! | GGP #027

7/22/2025

#026 Origin & Impact: Paul Marquardt of Clintonville Automotive Repair Watch on YouTube

#026 Origin & Impact: Paul Marquardt of Clintonville Automotive Repair

7/15/2025

#025 Origin & Impact: Renan Souza of BR Auto Repair and Collision Watch on YouTube

#025 Origin & Impact: Renan Souza of BR Auto Repair and Collision

7/8/2025

#024 Origin & Impact: David Light of Lighthouse Automotive Watch on YouTube

#024 Origin & Impact: David Light of Lighthouse Automotive

7/1/2025

#023 Balancing the Wrenches: Achieving Work-Life Harmony in Auto Repair Watch on YouTube

#023 Balancing the Wrenches: Achieving Work-Life Harmony in Auto Repair

6/24/2025

#022 Origin & Impact: Kelli Weatherby of Accurate Automotive Watch on YouTube

#022 Origin & Impact: Kelli Weatherby of Accurate Automotive

6/17/2025

#021 Guided Growth: Navigating Auto Shop Challenges with Coaches Watch on YouTube

#021 Guided Growth: Navigating Auto Shop Challenges with Coaches

5/27/2025

#020 Origin & Impact: Kevin Millevoi of Millevoi's Tire & Automotive Watch on YouTube

#020 Origin & Impact: Kevin Millevoi of Millevoi's Tire & Automotive

5/20/2025

#019 Origin & Impact: Chris Whited of Community Auto Inc. Watch on YouTube

#019 Origin & Impact: Chris Whited of Community Auto Inc.

5/13/2025

#018 Origin & Impact: Kevin Bickford's Fox River Tire and Auto Journey | Garage Grit Podcast Watch on YouTube

#018 Origin & Impact: Kevin Bickford's Fox River Tire and Auto Journey | Garage Grit Podcast

5/6/2025

#017 From Interviews to Integration: Building Strong Teams in Auto Repair Watch on YouTube

#017 From Interviews to Integration: Building Strong Teams in Auto Repair

4/22/2025

#016 Reimagining Profit: Innovative Revenue Streams for Auto Repair Shops | Garage Grit Podcast Watch on YouTube

#016 Reimagining Profit: Innovative Revenue Streams for Auto Repair Shops | Garage Grit Podcast

3/25/2025

#015 Debunking the 10,000 Mile Myth: Building Trust in Auto Repair Watch on YouTube

#015 Debunking the 10,000 Mile Myth: Building Trust in Auto Repair

2/27/2025

#014 Community Connections: Building Trust Beyond the Shop Watch on YouTube

#014 Community Connections: Building Trust Beyond the Shop

1/29/2025

#013 Rides and Rentals: Navigating Transportation Solutions in Auto Shops Watch on YouTube

#013 Rides and Rentals: Navigating Transportation Solutions in Auto Shops

12/17/2024

#012 Beyond the Wrench: Evolving Shop Culture Watch on YouTube

#012 Beyond the Wrench: Evolving Shop Culture

11/27/2024

#011 Mastering Auto Repair: Transparency, Pricing, and Customer Trust Strategies Watch on YouTube

#011 Mastering Auto Repair: Transparency, Pricing, and Customer Trust Strategies

10/23/2024

#010 Streamlining Shop Operations with CRM: Real Talk with Industry Leaders Watch on YouTube

#010 Streamlining Shop Operations with CRM: Real Talk with Industry Leaders

9/18/2024

#009 Family Succession in Auto Repair Shops: Passing the Torch Smoothly Watch on YouTube

#009 Family Succession in Auto Repair Shops: Passing the Torch Smoothly

8/21/2024

#008 Shop Owners Discuss Industry Conferences and Business Growth Watch on YouTube

#008 Shop Owners Discuss Industry Conferences and Business Growth

7/17/2024

#007 Training for Success: Building Stronger Teams and Better Shops Watch on YouTube

#007 Training for Success: Building Stronger Teams and Better Shops

6/19/2024

#006 Recruiting Top Talent: Strategies for Building a Strong Team Watch on YouTube

#006 Recruiting Top Talent: Strategies for Building a Strong Team

5/15/2024

#005 Working on Your Shop Instead of in Your Shop for Auto Repair Shops Watch on YouTube

#005 Working on Your Shop Instead of in Your Shop for Auto Repair Shops

4/17/2024

#004 Retaining Top Talent: Strategies for Building a Strong Shop Culture Watch on YouTube

#004 Retaining Top Talent: Strategies for Building a Strong Shop Culture

3/20/2024

#003 Time Management for Auto Shop Owners & Team Culture Watch on YouTube

#003 Time Management for Auto Shop Owners & Team Culture

2/21/2024

#002 Handling Bad Reviews: Insights from Shop Owners and CRM Expert Watch on YouTube

#002 Handling Bad Reviews: Insights from Shop Owners and CRM Expert

11/15/2023

#001 Auto repair shop owners discuss credit card processing and dual pay options Watch on YouTube

#001 Auto repair shop owners discuss credit card processing and dual pay options

10/25/2023

Meet the Host

Garage Grit is hosted by Brad Hurlock, a founder of AA Shop Marketing, a digital marketing company dedicated to helping independent auto repair shops grow. With over 25 years of experience in business ownership, management, and marketing, Brad brings a deep understanding of the challenges shop owners face daily. His goal? To create real, practical conversations that help shops thrive.

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