Way of the Technician Podcast

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Hailey the Mechanic, a Ford Senior Master Technician who started in the automotive industry while still in high school and worked her way to one of Ford’s highest certification levels at a young age. This is a real conversation about what technician growth actually looks like early in your career. Not the polished vers...

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Chris, better known as TxToolGuy, for a real conversation about tools, technician life, and the financial realities that come with building a career in the automotive industry. If you’re an automotive technician, tools are part of the job. But what doesn’t get talked about enough is the financial pressure, buying mista...

Automotive Technician Podcast | Technician Life | Flat Rate Technician AdviceIn this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Sam Craven, owner of The Garagisti, to talk about the reality of shop ownership, leadership, and what it actually takes to succeed in automotive technician life. This is not the highlight reel of owning a shop. This is the real version. From w...

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Shelby Wrenches and JJ the Tech for a real conversation about technician life, shop culture, and what it’s like being a woman in the automotive industry. This episode is unscripted and honest. It’s a look inside the shop from two technicians who are actively working, growing, and navigating the realities of the industr...

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Nick Robles, a Toyota technician and team leader, to talk about what it really takes to grow in technician life. Nick shares his journey into the automotive industry, from early inspiration working around cars as a kid… to going through training, working at multiple dealerships, stepping into the exotic world, losing m...

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Brett (@themacdoctor101), a McLaren technician who shares what it really takes to reach the highest level in the automotive industry. This conversation goes beyond the highlight reel of working on exotic cars and gets into the reality behind it. Long drives every week just to get to work. Living out of a car while chas...

In this episode of WOTPod | The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with JJ the Tech (@thegreasiestmonkey) to talk about the real side of technician life that most people don’t see. JJ shares her unconventional path into the automotive industry, starting with zero experience and working her way into shops like Tesla, Volvo, and now Galpin Autosports. This conversation dives deep into what i...

Flat Rate vs Hourly Pay | Technician Life | Automotive Technician Advice Is flat rate pay actually better for automotive technicians? In WOTPod Episode 024, we sit down with Manny (@MannyMechanics), a Volvo master technician who shares why he prefers flat rate pay and how he has built a successful career in the automotive industry by maximizing efficiency, mindset, and work ethic. This episode div...

What is it really like working as an automotive technician today? In WOTPod Tech Panel 2, we bring together another technician panel discussion where working techs share their real experiences inside dealership and independent repair shops. This conversation dives into the realities of flat rate pay, technician shortages, shop culture, productivity expectations, and what it actually takes to survi...

WOTPod EP 023 | Porsche Technician Life & Career Advice Automotive Technician Podcast | Technician Life | Flat Rate Technician Advice What does it take to become a Porsche technician and build a long-term career in the automotive industry? In this episode of WOTPod – The Way of the Technician Podcast, we talk with Stephen (@Wrenching_Throttle), a Porsche technician who shares his journey throu...

Mercedes-Benz Shop Foreman Joey B joins WOTPod to break down technician development, flat rate vs hourly pay systems, dealership leadership, and what real mastery looks like inside a service department. If you’re an automotive technician, dealership tech, shop foreman, or fixed ops leader, this conversation dives deep into: • How to become a shop foreman • Flat rate vs hourly pay for technicians •...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Keith “Verge”, a 40-year industry veteran, shop foreman, and technician who has seen this trade evolve from carburetors and distributors to hybrids, ADAS, and modern diagnostics. This conversation is about longevity. Verge shares his journey from sweeping floors at 13, serving in the Army, working independent shops and multi-brand dealerships, stacking m...

In Episode 020 of WOTPod, we sit down with Chris, better known as Dr. AMG, to talk about what it really takes to reach the highest levels as a Mercedes-Benz technician. Chris walks us through his journey from community college to becoming one of the most recognized Mercedes master technicians in North America. We dive into the Centralized Diagnostic Technician path, what elite-level diagnostics ac...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Paul Dosescu, a national training consultant with a deep background in fixed operations, to break down one of the most overlooked skills in the automotive industry: communication. Paul shares his journey from sales into service advising, management, and training, and explains why the advisor–technician relationship is the backbone of a successful service...

This episode is different. For the first time on WOTPod, we brought together an all-star panel of master technicians across multiple brands to have an honest, unfiltered conversation about what actually separates average technicians from top earners and why so many techs are leaving the industry. We dive deep into the non-mechanical skills that matter most at the master level: communication, mento...

In this episode, we sit down with Eric, better known as @SerratedMobius, to have one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet about flat rate, technician burnout, pay transparency, and what happens when passion runs head-first into a broken system. Eric shares his journey through multiple dealerships, becoming a Mercedes master technician, and how flat rate, warranty times, and management cu...

There’s a real gap between knowing procedures and consistently performing at a high level in today’s automotive shops. In this WOTPod episode, we sit down with Perfect Performance Brandon (PPB) to break down what technician performance actually means in the real world. Not just speed, but repeatability, workflow, training, accountability, and process. The fundamentals that separate technicians who...

This episode of WOTPod features an important conversation with Dave Johnson , President and CEO of ASE , about the past, present, and future of technician certification and professional development in the automotive industry. Dave shares his journey from turning wrenches on the farm to leading global service operations and ultimately stepping into his role at ASE. We talk openly about the purpose...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with thePOVmechanic to talk about real technician life inside the shop. From coming into the industry with little to no formal training to navigating flat rate, brand changes, and dealership culture, this conversation hits on the realities most technicians experience but rarely talk about openly. We cover what it’s like learning on the fly, switching brands,...

In this episode of WOTPod, we break down the real reality of flat rate pay, slow seasons in the shop, and how automotive technicians can stay mentally and financially prepared when work slows down. We talk honestly about what happens when bays go empty, how slow weeks affect morale and income, and why many technicians struggle during industry cycles. We also cover warranty pressure, shrinking labo...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Nhu Nguyen (@dear_nhu) to talk about her journey into the automotive industry, her experience in dealerships and independent shops, and how pay structure, shop culture, and environment directly affect a technician’s passion for the trade. Nhu shares how she entered the industry later in life, spent years at a Porsche dealership, and eventually transition...

In this episode of WOTPod, Curtis and Jalid sit down with Austin Conroy (  @DealerPlateGuy  ) to talk about the real stories behind his viral skits and what they expose about life in the service department. We dive into flat rate pressure, technician shortages, service advisor communication, and why shop culture is breaking down in so many dealerships today. We also break down: • Why flat rate hur...

This episode features Wayne Bridges, Director of Technician Training at Toyota of Puyallup and one of the most respected voices in automotive technician development. With over fifty years in the industry and thirty years teaching, Wayne has helped shape hundreds of technicians through structured training, real mentorship, and a dealership culture focused on long term success. We break down the tec...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Chris Craig, content creator and Tech School Project Manager at RockEd, to talk about the real challenges and opportunities happening in automotive service today. Chris breaks down the truth about technician turnover, the massive shortage hitting the industry, and why shops lose their best talent in the first 6–12 months. We also talk about how RockEd is...

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Marco Zwanenburg - Mercedes Master Tech turned Mentor to Technicians and Founding Father of the Fixed Ops RoundTable. We talk about what flat rate success really looks like. Not the excuses. Not the shop gossip. The mindset, discipline and financial awareness that keep you winning when the work is good and when the bays are empty. Marco breaks down the s...