The David Spisak Show

In this episode, my guest is Rich Sands, CEO of STELLA Automotive AI—a company I’ve had my eye on for a while now. Not just because they were one of the first to embrace AI in their name, but because they’re actually delivering results in an industry full of overpromises. We cover a lot of ground in this one. Rich shares how growing up in Detroit and walking on to a college football team shaped hi...

In this episode, I’m joined by John Fitzpatrick, the CEO and Co-Founder of Force Marketing—a company that’s quietly reshaping how some of the largest auto groups in automotive think about marketing, customer lifetime value, and fixed ops growth. But here’s the twist: This isn’t just a business episode. John shares how Force Marketing got its start, how buying a 30+ year-old company (GSM) changed t...

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Bassam, President of Easterns Automotive Group—a leader who doesn’t just “talk shop” but lives and breathes the used car business at scale. If you’ve been feeling the squeeze—from inventory pressures to margin compression, rising recon costs, to the endless tariff noise—this episode will feel uncomfortably relevant. Joel and I unpack what’s really happening be...

In this episode, my guest is Jonathan Smoke , Chief Economist at Cox Automotive, someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a long time. If you’re in the car business, you’ve probably read his reports, quoted his data, or heard his insights passed around. But in this conversation, we go deeper than the numbers. We talk about how he actually ended up here—from a philosophy-loving econ major to bui...

In this episode, I’m sitting down once again with Diana Lee, CEO and Co-founder of Constellation, and honestly, it probably won’t be the last time. Every time we talk, the conversation evolves. The insights deepen. The game changes. We talk about why dealers must innovate now—not tomorrow, not next quarter—but right now. Diana unpacks why playing defense in this market is the fastest route to irre...

In this episode, my guest is Glenn Mercer, one of the most respected automotive researchers in the business. Glenn’s ability to break down complex industry trends into practical, real-world insights is second to none. We talk about the surprising connection between SUVs, pickup trucks, and traffic congestion—something most people don’t even think about, but it’s quietly affecting your daily drive....

In this episode, my guest is Rob Ruth, Dealer Principal at Bob Ruth Ford in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania — a town of just under 3,000 people — and yet he’s moving over 350 used cars a month. We talk about how that’s even possible. Not in theory. In practice. Rob breaks down how his team built a buying operation that rivals national players, why most dealers still miss the mark on used car growth, and w...

In this episode, my guest is Senator Bernie Moreno from the great state of Ohio—a fellow car guy whose journey from the showroom floor to the U.S. Senate is nothing short of remarkable. We dig into what he learned from years in the retail automotive business, and how those lessons are helping him shape national policy. You’ll hear stories about his time working with Herb Chambers, building one of...

In this episode, my guest is Joe Blanco the Assistant Used Car Director for Sheehy Auto Stores, a group that represents 30 franchises across the Mid-Atlantic region and delivers an impressive 23,000 used vehicle sales annually. And here's the kicker: Joe started in this business delivering Papa John's pizzas at 18. Now, he’s helping steer one of the most data-driven, people-focused deale...

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Bassam, President of Easterns Automotive Group, and to say it was eye-opening would be an understatement. From the moment we met at NADA, I knew Joel had tapped into something most dealers are missing—and I had to find out what it was. What you’re about to hear isn’t just about scaling a used car operation. It’s about rewiring how we think about leadership, pr...

In this powerhouse episode, I’m joined by none other than Diana Lee, the unstoppable force behind Constellation. If you’ve ever wondered what real innovation sounds like—raw, relentless, and razor-sharp—you’re about to get a front-row seat. This conversation is about so much more than business. It’s about redefining the rules, leveraging true AI (not the watered-down buzzword kind), and what it re...

What if I told you there’s an “AI brain” that knows your customers better than you do—and it's already being used in thousands of dealerships? In this episode, my guest is Devin Daly, the brilliant co-founder of Impel—one of the most exciting AI companies in automotive right now. We dive deep into how conversational AI, CDPs, and real-time personalization are reshaping the way dealerships ope...

In this episode, I sit down with some of the most forward-thinking minds in the automotive world to unpack a game-changing car buying experience that’s shattering the old-school dealership model. Joining me are Rudolph Nieto , CEO of MavSign; Preston S. , Compliance and Variable Operations at Napleton Auto Group; Matthew Meyer , General Manager at Lexus of Wayzata; Becky Stenson , Finance Manager...

Hey, it’s just you and me today—and I want to have a real conversation. One that peels back the headlines, the hype, and the AI buzzwords to get to the core of what’s actually happening in our industry… and what isn’t. If you’ve looked around lately and thought, “Everything feels different,” you’re not alone. From geopolitical headlines to AI hype, to the whirlwind of new tech and ever-climbing ex...

In this episode, I sit down with one of the most passionate and influential voices in our industry—Don Hall, President & CEO of the Virginia Auto Dealers Association, to unpack what’s actually holding dealerships back—and how some of the best are rewriting the playbook by leading with people, purpose, and outrageous hospitality . You’ll walk away with game-changing insights that can completely...

In this special episode—hosted by none other than Brian Kramer, EVP, Dealer Growth & Success at Cars Commerce—we assembled what I’d call The Used Car Avengers: Frank Knox (Unique Auto Sourcing), Jasen Rice (Lotpop). These guys don’t just talk acquisition—they live it. So what’s the mission? Unpacking the real reasons dealers are missing the mark on direct-from-consumer sourcing (aka: your most...

In this episode I sit down with Matt VanDyke, President of Shift Digital, for a rare, unfiltered peek behind the curtain of one of the most influential (yet often misunderstood) players in automotive retail. We’re talking about the company that quietly powers the digital infrastructure of 16,000+ dealer websites, bridges the gap between OEMs and dealers, and handles the messy, fragmented world of...

Heads up: This episode is not just another industry chat. It’s a full-on, no-holds-barred deep dive into what could be the single biggest threat to automotive retail as we know it. The CARB mandate is here — and most people have no idea just how disruptive it really is. That’s why I brought in three heavy hitters who are in the thick of it every single day: Brian Maas – President of the California...

What if I told you one man had a vision so bold it turned an empty city block into a cultural epicenter, blending Portland’s gritty charm with five-star sophistication? In this episode, I sit down on location with visionary entrepreneur Steven Fang, the brain behind Flock—a living, breathing, city-block-sized love letter to food, culture, and community. We’re talking next-level hospitality built r...

We talk a lot about the future of automotive—EVs, AI, digital retailing—but what if I told you that the biggest game-changer for our industry isn’t just about the tech? It’s about people. Today, I’m sitting down with Elgie Bright, Chair of the Automotive Department at Northwood University, to talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the next generation of automotive leaders a...

In this episode, I sit down with some of the sharpest minds in the industry—Dan Schroeder, Ron Andrews, and Charles Dubord—live from the Cars Commerce booth at NADA. We get real about one of the biggest misconceptions in automotive: the idea that a website is just a digital storefront. Spoiler alert—it’s so much more than that. Here’s what we unpack in this episode:  The Engagement Myth – Why more...

In this episode, my guest is Jen Cole, the Chief Marketing Officer at Cars Commerce, alongside Jarrod Kilway, VP of Digital Operations at Casa Auto Group, and Ron Andrews, VP of Media & Digital Solutions at Cars Commerce. These folks have been in the trenches, building strategies that actually drive results, and they’re not holding back. Because let’s be real… marketing in the auto industry fe...

What if I told you there’s a product that not only boosts your dealership’s profitability but also enhances customer experience, increases retention, and is practically FTC-proof? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, in this episode, I sat down with Tony Rimas and Ryan Pape from XPEL—the brand that dealers across the country call the gold standard in paint protection, window tint, and now… win...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Brian Maas , President of the California New Car Dealers Association, live from New Orleans at the CNCDA dealer reception. And let me tell you—just getting here was no easy feat. Snowstorms, travel chaos—it was a true test of resilience. But if there’s one thing I know, dealers are built different. Think about it: for decades, people have been predicting the...

Dealers, if you’ve ever felt frustrated by inefficiencies in wholesale, struggled to make data-driven decisions, or wondered how to maximize profitability while staying ahead of the curve… this episode is for you. Live from NADA 2025 in New Orleans, I sat down with Alex Vetter, CEO of Cars.com, and let me tell you—the energy in this conversation is next level. With massive innovation happening at...