Gearbox Podcast

In this episode, Jimmy Purdy sits down with Dawn Sloas, host of  Mileage May Vary  and Buckaroo Bob for an honest, unfiltered conversation about leadership, shop culture, training, and the future of the automotive industry. From managing younger technicians and building stronger teams to balancing accountability with empathy, the trio dives deep into the real struggles shop owners face every day....

In this episode of Gear Box Podcast, Jimmy sits down with Jesse from Mango Automotive to talk about scaling auto repair businesses, shop acquisitions, leadership, and the changing future of the automotive industry. Jesse shares how Mango Automotive grew from a single acquisition to eight locations across the Southwest, what she looks for when buying shops, and why culture, accountability, and mind...

In this episode, it’s a real, unfiltered conversation about what actually happens when you go from turning wrenches to running a shop. We dig into the early chaos of opening, hiring struggles, bad decisions, wins, losses, and everything in between. This one covers it all—free diag, building a sales process, dealing with customers, paying technicians what they’re actually worth, and the reality of...

 In this episode, we sit down with JK Walker—owner of a thriving mobile auto repair business and founder of a mail-order ECM company specializing in Chrysler vehicles. We dive into the culture of negativity in the auto industry, how it holds shops back, and the powerful sales processes that separate struggling businesses from thriving ones. If you’re serious about growth, mindset, and building som...

David Boyd from call inbound- an automotive specific VOIP phone service company- is back on to drop more knowledge of the importance of communication from AAPEX 2025!

Mike runs a parts distribution warehouse for Corvette in our hometown, Corvette Pacifica, he comes to AAPEX every year to find new suppliers, He talks about how Tariffs are affecting his business and some of the issues he has run into with keeping quality his number one priority. 

Arun from Driven auto care is Back! And Straight from the AAPEX floor, we sit down to cut through the hype and spotlight what actually moves the needle in 2025—smarter diagnostics, cleaner workflows, and people-first processes. Fast, practical takeaways you can bring back to the shop Tomorrow. 

 The man, the myth, the legend, Lalo stops back in after a long Hiatus and is joined by Shift'n gears own service manager Moe, and what better place to catch up then at AAPEX, we talk Shop performance, culture, and tech adoption—how to turn this year’s show buzz into measurable wins in your bays. 

In this episode of The Gear Box Podcast , Jimmy sits down with Kevin Brown — shop owner, creator of Repair Shop Reckoning , and one of the loudest voices calling for real talk in the auto repair world. Together, they dig into the truth behind shop culture, leadership, AI in the bay, and why knowing your numbers beats chasing the next silver bullet. It’s raw, funny, and packed with lessons every sh...

 In this powerful episode of The Gearbox Podcast , Jimmy Purdy sits down with financial advisor and exit strategist Matt DiFrancesco to talk about the one thing most shop owners never plan for—what happens after the grind. Matt shares insider strategies on how blue-collar business owners can transform from being trapped in their business to leading it with freedom and purpose. From building true b...

In this powerful milestone episode, Jimmy sits down with Brent Kilmer — owner of Velocity Tire & Auto and coach with Repair Shop of Tomorrow — for a raw and inspiring deep dive into what it really takes to grow as a shop owner and leader. From battling resistance to coaching, to learning when to let go of bad habits (and bad employees), Brent shares how he transformed his business — and himsel...

 In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Charlie Zlatkoz of Pleasant Car Care to talk about the journey from technician to shop owner—and why that leap requires a totally different mindset. They dive into the concept of "auto hospitality," fixing process bottlenecks, hiring the right team, and the power of saying yes to customers. Whether you're running a shop or just passionate about business, this...

In this episode, Jimmy Purdy sits down with leadership coach Josh Parnell of Limitless Leadership to unpack what it really takes to grow as a leader—both in the shop and in life. From mastering communication and the power of one-on-ones, to balancing recognition with accountability, Josh shares practical strategies that drive team engagement, improve performance, and even restore relationships at...

 In this episode, Felipe shares how his AI-powered tool seamlessly integrates with CRMs to capture, analyze, and leverage real customer conversations. From recording interactions to providing actionable insights, Felipe explains how advisors and sales teams can boost productivity, strengthen client relationships, and make data-driven decisions—all without disrupting their workflow. We also talk ab...

What happens when a former Wall Street financier-turned-school teacher opens a five-bay auto shop in a small Maryland town? You get JJ — a powerhouse of faith, grit, and strategy. In this episode, JJ shares how he transformed his shop from grinding $40K months into a $450K+ monthly revenue engine — all without a massive facility or a big-city advantage. Learn how he used a coaching framework, cust...

 In this episode of The Gearbox Podcast , Jimmy Purdy sits down with Josh Overlander, Director of Business Development at Detect Auto, to explore how data and AI are revolutionizing the way independent repair shops do business. From identifying lost revenue opportunities to measuring real technician productivity in real time, Josh shares how Detect Auto helps shops bridge the gap between shop floo...

 In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Brian Rhodes, founder of Auto Shop Recruiting and a 20-year veteran of talent acquisition , to crack the code on hiring techs and advisors in a market where “Help Wanted” banners are everywhere. Brian explains why the old “post-and-pray” ad doesn’t work anymore—and how independent shops can compete head-to-head with dealers, chains, and even OEM training prog...

Whether you’re a one-man shop dreaming bigger, or a multi-bay owner stuck in neutral, Elijah’s hard-won lessons on pricing, scheduling, and customer trust will help you shift from survival mode to booming business . Tune in to learn how a pole-barn passion project became a high-growth auto-repair force—and why your location, lift count, or local economy no longer have to cap your potential.

 In this episode, Jimmy Purdy from Shift’n Gears Auto Repair sits down with Oscar Gomez, founder of Master Automotive Training, for a no-filter conversation about diagnostics, technician training, and the realities of modern auto repair. From network code nightmares to crank-no-start mysteries, they dive into why proper testing matters, how to charge for your shop’s value, and the tricky balance b...

  In this brutally honest episode, Jimmy Purdy and Lola pull no punches as they unpack the real chaos behind the scenes in auto repair — and spoiler alert: it's not the techs or the customers. From the constant battle with unreliable parts suppliers to the identity crisis of techs-turned-owners who'd rather rebuild a transmission than sell an oil change, this conversation is raw, relatable, and ru...

Back by popular demand, Another live version of our local call in radio show. 

Nate Winston returns to the podcast one year after a dramatic business split — and he’s not the same guy. In this raw and reflective conversation, Nate opens up about the emotional toll of walking away from a 20-year friendship and 16-year partnership, the legal chaos that followed, and how he's found peace building his own shop from the ground up. From implementing Profit First to sandblasting th...

 In this episode, Jimmy sits down with shop owner Josh Rainwater, who’s in the thick of a serious growth phase — and not holding back. Josh talks about what it means to go all in on your business, pushing through those brutal weeks where quitting sounds tempting, and the strategy behind hiring to free himself up from the bay and the front desk. If you’ve ever been stuck between turning wrenches an...

A local, live call in radio show, featuring Leigh-Ann Purdy of Shift'n gears auto repair.