Wrench Turners Podcast

Mr Joshua Taylor

Content for Mechanics to live a happier, healthier, more productive life as a Mechanic. Check YouTube for more content: Wrench Turners Podcast on YouTube. Businesses interested in Sponsoring the show, please reach out to me via Linkedin. Wrench Turners on LinkedIn Remember, Negative Pushes, Positive Pulls, and Always clean your toys before you put them away. j.

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20 episodes
Updated Friday
Explicit

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 45 min
Parts Counter Truths Technicians Need To Hear | Shawn Parrett on Wrench Turners Podcast
Parts can make or break the rhythm of a service department. In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, Shawn Parrett joins me to talk about the real life of the parts counter, how parts leaders support technicians, and why communication between parts, advisors, and the shop matters more than most dealerships admit. Shawn has nearly 30 years in automotive parts, from wholesale parts to parts manager, and he brings a direct message for technicians, advisors, parts people, and fixed ops leaders: Always have an answer. We talk about obsolescence, lost sales, inventory decisions, technician trust, service advisor communication, leadership, humility, consistency, and why the best parts departments remove friction instead of creating it. This episode is for anyone in dealership fixed operations who wants the shop, parts counter, and service drive to work better together. Shawn explains how a strong parts department helps technicians stay moving, helps advisors sell with confidence, and helps the dealership win. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Shawn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-parrett-48390b79/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 0:00 Meet Shawn Parrett 1:52 Getting Started in Automotive Parts 7:00 Humility, Drive, and Consistency 11:38 Learning Through the 2008 Recession 21:11 What Technicians Need to Know About Parts 27:46 How Parts Managers Think About Inventory 32:17 Training Green Parts People the Right Way 37:28 The Best Parts People Always Have an Answer 40:59 How Parts Helps Service Sell More Work 42:26 Shawn’s Advice for Technicians
Wednesday · 17 min
AI can help, but it can’t be YOU - Earned Influence S3E1
AI can improve your writing, organize your thoughts, analyze reports, and remove hours of repetitive work. But what happens when everyone starts sounding the same? In Season 3, Episode 1 of Earned Influence, Wendy Reeves, Mindy Williams, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor discuss how leaders can use AI without losing their authenticity, judgment, privacy, or connection with the people they serve. Kaylee explains why she stepped away from social media after AI-assisted content started feeling too polished and predictable. Mindy shares how she uses AI for training, reporting, KPIs, and customer follow-up while making sure the final message still sounds like her. Wendy breaks down practical dealership applications, including BDC coaching, performance reporting, data analysis, and the risks of employees entering dealership or customer information into unsecured tools. The conversation also explores how AI can reduce administrative work, summarize overloaded inboxes, improve leadership preparation, and help technicians turn frustrating processes into prototypes that management and engineering can understand. AI should eliminate repetition, not responsibility. It should help organize your thoughts, not manufacture your beliefs. And it should make you more capable without slowly teaching you to sound like everyone else. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Wendy Reeves of BDC Angels https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-reeves/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdcangels/ Mindy Williams of Carter Myers Automotive https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-myers-automotive/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Earned Influence Returns 00:53 Why Kaylee Stopped Posting 02:41 Using AI Authentically 03:36 AI Inside the Shop 05:11 Humanity Builds Trust 06:47 Wendy’s AI Workflow 09:30 Dealership AI Integration 11:51 Writing With Less 13:55 Automating Daily Work 15:26 AI Creates Opportunity
July 27 · 16 min
Why dealerships treat parts people like an afterthought and how to FIX IT - 10 Mill Mastery on WTP
The parts department is expected to identify the right components, manage inventory, prevent obsolescence, handle warranty returns, navigate supply chains, source emergency parts, and keep technicians productive. Yet in many dealerships, parts people are still treated like an afterthought. Marshall, Brent Osmond, and Josh Arnold discuss what changes when parts becomes a recognized skilled trade rather than a position people are expected to learn through trial and error. Brent explains how Canada’s Parts Technician apprenticeship can include component identification, engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems, inventory control, logistics, customs documentation, customer communication, and Red Seal certification. The conversation then moves into the larger dealership problem: inconsistent training, limited mentorship, low professional recognition, and compensation that may not attract or retain highly capable people. A great parts person can understand what a technician is asking for, recognize related service information, anticipate required bolts and consumables, reduce mistakes, and prevent unnecessary downtime. The question is not whether parts people affect the repair process. They clearly do. The question is whether dealerships are willing to train and treat them accordingly. Subscribe for more conversations about technicians, dealership operations, leadership, training, and the people responsible for keeping the industry moving. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Brent Osmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-osmond-7b8302149/ Dynamic Diesel Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamic-diesel-solutions-canada/posts/?feedView=all Follow Marshall Sheldon https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-sheldon-981349176/ Briggs Industrial Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/briggs-industrial-solutions/ Follow Josh Arnold https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-arnold-%F0%9F%A7%B0-aa249b349/ Continental Automotive Group https://www.linkedin.com/company/continentalautomotivegroup ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 The Parts Credentialing Debate 02:18 Inside Red Seal Training 03:44 Inventory and Obsolescence 04:30 Emergency Parts Logistics 05:58 Great Parts People 08:36 Certification, Talent, and Pay 11:11 The Missing Apprenticeship 13:03 Parts Pay Versus Technicians
July 24 · 44 min
Tech Support ISN'T there to save you | Wrench Turners Podcast Special Panel
In this special panel episode of Wrench Turners Podcast, we sit down with Dale Pettigrew and Nicholas Martin, two former technicians who moved into OEM technical support, to talk about what actually makes a support case easier or harder to solve. This conversation gets into the stuff technicians deal with every day: vague repair orders, skipped diagnostic steps, intermittent concerns, “no fault found” visits, missing values, customer descriptions, communication gaps, and the pressure to fix complex problems quickly. Dale and Nicholas explain why “all good” isn’t good enough, why exact numbers matter, why documentation can protect you years later, and why tech support isn’t there to fix the car for you. They’re there to help you build the process, ask better questions, and become stronger at diagnosing the hard stuff. This one is for technicians, advisors, shop foremen, service managers, warranty admins, and anyone who wants to understand how to get better answers from technical support. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless j. Featuring: Dale Pettigrew https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-pettigrew-1532165a/ Nicholas Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-martin-3779b4249/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
July 23 · 15 min
You’re NOT stuck - you’re surrounded by the WRONG People | S2E4 Earned Influence
What if you’re not stuck because you lack talent, ambition, or discipline? What if you’re surrounded by people who cannot help you become the person you’re trying to become? In the final episode of Earned Influence Season 2, Kathleen Long, Kelli Verdi, and Kaylee Felio share the hurdles that forced them to rethink their careers, environments, health, relationships, and definitions of success. Kathleen explains how an outside coach and a new peer group helped her understand what she needed to change to move from the VP level into the C-suite. Kelli discusses the importance of finding leadership that recognizes the value of having several connected skills instead of forcing someone into a narrowly defined role. Kaylee shares why achieving her professional goals still left her questioning what came next, and how focusing on her health, children, family, and personal development became part of reaching the next level. Joshua also shares how losing his clients and career direction during the beginning of COVID humbled him, brought him back to his faith, and helped him build a life centred around purpose, family, friendship, and service. Sometimes you don't need to work harder. Sometimes you need a different perspective, a healthier environment, and people who will challenge, support, and trust you. That's Earned Influence. Earned Influence is a roundtable series featuring women leaders in service who have earned trust the hard way through their character, actions, relationships, and results. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 Perspective Changes Everything 01:22 Reaching the C-Suite 04:07 Finding the Right Environment 07:45 Kaylee’s Current Hurdle 10:18 Boring Things Create Results 11:48 The People Around You 12:18 Humbled by COVID 14:23 What Earned Influence Means
July 21 · 22 min
People Trust What You Live, Not What You Promote | Earned Influence S2E3
What happens when showing up online begins taking more from you than it gives back? In Episode 3 of Earned Influence Season 2, Kaylee Felio opens an honest conversation about social media burnout. After years of consistently sharing her career, podcast, and life online, she’s reached a point where she has to ask: What am I doing, and do I still want to do it? Kathleen Long and Kelli Verdi join Kaylee and Joshua Taylor for a candid discussion about the pressure to remain consistent, the hidden workload behind content creation, and the fear of building something you may eventually want to leave. The conversation also explores why taking care of yourself is an act of generosity, how curiosity can restore creativity, and why your work doesn’t have to become your entire identity. Then the discussion turns practical: capturing the conversations you’re already having, creating content without constantly manufacturing topics, and showing people what actually happens inside your business. Because people don’t build trust by seeing only what you want them to see. They build trust by seeing what you live. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast series featuring honest conversations with leaders who have earned the trust required to influence what happens next. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. 0:00 Social Media Burnout 0:57 What Matters Most 2:35 Consistency Becomes Pressure 5:03 The Hidden Content Workload 8:16 Give Back To Yourself 11:49 Create From Real Life 18:37 Marketing Without Constant Selling 20:48 Raw Content Builds Trust
July 17 · 37 min
How a $3.5M Service Advisor Became a Fixed Ops Director - Tanner Neal on Wrench Turners Podcast
Tanner Neal didn’t grow up dreaming about a career in automotive.In fact, cars weren’t really on his radar.His path started with necessity. From damage appraisals across West Texas to becoming a service advisor with $3.5 million in gross sales and a top-rated CSI, to now leading fixed operations at a luxury store, Tanner’s story is a reminder that automotive can become a career path for people who are willing to work, listen, communicate, and keep growing.In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, Tanner Neal shares what he learned moving from the appraisal side of the business into the service drive, why communication is the real skill behind great advising, how advisors can build trust without over-talking, and what technicians can do to protect their body, mind, money, and career longevity.We also get into the relationship between advisors and technicians, how poor communication creates chaos in the shop, why service advisors need to listen more than they speak, and why the best fixed ops leaders understand both the customer and the technician experience.This episode is for technicians, service advisors, shop foremen, service managers, and fixed ops leaders who care about getting better at the people side of the business.Negative pushes.Positive pulls.Always clean your toys before you put them away.j.Find Tanner:LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerneal1⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/Chapters00:00 Damage appraisals to fixed ops01:23 Getting into automotive04:54 Baptism by fire07:01 The skill that made Tanner a $3.5M advisor10:08 Promoting a shop foreman14:02 Why service advisors need to stop over-explaining16:15 Service advising is mostly listening21:03 Fixing communication breakdowns26:45 How technicians can train advisors29:50 Tanner’s advice for technicians34:43 Why solving upset customers can be rewarding36:03 Final thoughts and closing quote
July 16 · 14 min
What Makes Someone Trust You? Earned Influence | S2E2
What makes someone trust you? In Season 2, Episode 2 of Earned Influence, Kathleen Long brings that question to Kelli Verdi, Kaylee Felio, and Joshua Taylor. The conversation explores how trust is built through curiosity, honest communication, vulnerability, generosity, consistency, and the willingness to admit that you don’t have every answer. Kaylee explains how providing useful resources helped her earn credibility in an industry she didn’t originally come from. Kelli shares why fast, direct, and honest communication matters more than delivering a perfectly crafted response. Joshua discusses how leaders can build trust by asking their teams for help. Kathleen explains why curiosity has been one of the biggest career unlocks she has experienced. The group also examines why people choose to work with certain leaders, companies, and solutions when there are countless alternatives available. Sometimes trust isn’t built by knowing more. It’s built by asking better questions, listening carefully, giving without expectation, and doing what you said you would do. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast series featuring honest conversations with leaders who have earned the trust required to influence what happens next. Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, trust, service, communication, and the people working inside the automotive industry and skilled trades. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. God Bless. j. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Chapters 00:00 What Makes Someone Trust You? 00:28 Kathleen’s Trust Question 01:38 Trust Through Useful Resources 03:40 Leaders Build Trust Through Vulnerability 05:04 Honest Communication Builds Trust 09:21 Ask Questions, Then Listen 10:08 Curiosity, Generosity, and Trust
July 14 · 14 min
When Growth Starts Killing Customer Service | Earned Influence S2E1
What happens when a business becomes so focused on growth that it stops listening to the people it serves? In Season 2, Episode 1 of Earned Influence, Kelli Verdi asks how businesses can scale without sacrificing customer service, culture, or trust. Kathleen Long shares why leaders sometimes need the courage to walk away from profitable ideas when customers say no. Kaylee Felio explains how PartsEdge uses direct feedback from parts managers to improve its technology. Kelli explores why every customer interaction should help guide leadership, product development, and the decisions being made behind the scenes. The conversation reveals one of the greatest risks facing growing companies: The further that leadership gets from the customer, the riskier every decision becomes. Featuring: Kelli Verdi of Team MXS https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs Kathleen Long of RepairPal//Yelp https://www.linkedin.com/in/longkathleen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/yelp-com/ Kaylee Felio of PartsEdge https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/partsedge-inc-/ Hosted by Joshua Taylor Subscribe for the remaining episodes of Earned Influence Season 2. Negative Pushes. Positive Pulls. God Bless. j. Chapters 00:00 Earning Influence 02:24 Growth Without Losing Service 03:59 Customer-Led Growth 07:49 Building From Feedback 10:38 Leadership Must Stay Close ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
July 10 · 24 min
She was 1 MONTH Postpartum; Then asked to be Service Manager - The importance of Mentorship on WTP
Mindy Williams had just come back from having her second baby. One month postpartum, with two kids at home and every reason to wait, she still put her name in for the service manager role. In this conversation, Mindy shares how mentorship, trust, accountability, and one leader’s belief helped her move from receptionist to advisor to service manager at CMA’s Colonial Subaru. Her mentor Ron didn’t just encourage her. He challenged her, taught her, trusted her, called her out when needed, and gave her the confidence to step into leadership before she felt fully ready. This episode is for every woman in automotive who’s ever wondered if the timing was wrong, if the responsibility was too much, or if she was allowed to want more while carrying everything else too. Mindy’s story is proof that leadership isn’t always built in perfect conditions. Sometimes it’s built when life is already full, messy, and demanding. Her line says it best: she may not have had the confidence to do it without someone pouring into her the way her mentor did. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Mindy https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 The Missed Conversation 00:42 Meet Mindy Williams 03:12 One Month Postpartum 06:31 Reception To Advisor 09:52 Real Mentorship 13:11 Accountability That Works 18:14 Trust Builds Leaders 20:15 Permission To Decide 23:00 Final Takeaway
July 3 · 1 hr 12 min
The Care Level Becomes the Culture Level - Kelli Verdi on Wrench Turners Podcast
Kelli Verdi joins The Wrench Turners Podcast for a conversation about faith, family, automotive, customer trust, dealership culture, and why care is never just a soft skill.Kelli’s story starts long before her career in automotive marketing. Her grandfather owned an automotive repair shop in Tampa, and without realizing it at the time, she was learning some of the most important lessons in the industry: how to treat people, how to earn trust, and how much the smallest details matter.That idea became one of the biggest lines from this episode:“Care levels become culture levels.”We talk about how that applies inside dealerships, service departments, websites, customer experiences, technician leadership, and even vendor relationships. From Google Analytics and dealership websites to service scheduling, reviews, AI search, OEM programs, and real conversations with people on the ground, Kelli brings a rare mix of marketing intelligence, automotive experience, and genuine human care.This episode also goes deeper than business. We talk about faith, burnout, leadership, personal loss, and the importance of taking care of yourself before you try to keep pouring into everyone else.In this episode, we cover:Kelli’s early connection to automotive through her grandfather’s repair shopWhy trust is built through tiny detailsHow care levels become culture levelsWhat dealership websites get wrong about customer experienceWhy service departments need better contentHow technicians and service leaders can help build trust before the customer arrivesWhy AI search and website content matter more than everHow Team MXS is approaching automotive website visibilityWhy taking care of yourself matters in this industryThe role faith has played in Kelli’s storyThis is a conversation for technicians, advisors, service managers, fixed ops leaders, vendors, marketers, and anyone who still believes this industry is about people first.Follow Kelli:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliverdi/Team MXSLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-mxs/postsWebsite: https://www.teammxs.comPhone: 1-866-665-4669Subscribe to The Wrench Turners Podcast for real conversations with technicians, shop foremen, service leaders, trainers, and automotive professionals who are working to make this trade healthier, happier, and more productive.Negative pushes.Positive pulls.God Blessj.⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/Chapters0:00 Prayer before the episode1:38 Kelli’s unexpected path into automotive7:38 Care levels become culture levels11:11 How customers feel the little details19:09 Kelli’s first year fully in automotive marketing24:25 CDP, SRP, and VDP explained for service leaders28:11 From analytics and events to Team MXS38:03 Why service leaders need to understand vendors44:12 OEM approvals, AI search, and website visibility1:00:12 Kelli’s advice: take care of yourself
June 25 · 9 min
Service Advisors NEED to ask BETTER Questions | Earned Influence S1E4
Technicians often say service advisors are one of the biggest problems in the shop. But is the problem really the advisor? Or is the problem that advisors are not being taught how to ask better questions? In the final episode of Season 1 of Earned Influence, Joshua Taylor, Jami Alexander, and Racheal Bright talk about the service lane, the service counter, phone calls, customer communication, and the relationship between technicians and advisors. Some shops have a physical service lane. Some do not. Some advisors see the customer face-to-face. Some build the entire relationship over the phone. But the core issue stays the same: better questions create better communication, and thus better communication builds more trust with the customer. Better information helps technicians diagnose faster, fix more efficiently, and avoid wasted time. This episode looks at the difference between automotive service, independent repair, and material handling, where the advisor’s role can change depending on whether the technician is working in the shop or being sent out into the field. The big takeaway is simple: The lane matters less than the questions. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast panel series built around real conversations from women in automotive, fixed ops, service, leadership, and the trades. Featuring: Jami Alexander https://www.linkedin.com/in/jami-a-4075a9271/ Mindy Williams https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ Racheal Bright https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheal-bright-08281262/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
June 24 · 7 min
One MENTOR changed EVERYTHING | Earned Influence S1E3
Mentorship can change a career. Sometimes, it can change the reason someone stays in the industry at all. In Season 1, Episode 3 of Earned Influence, Racheal Bright asks a simple question with a much deeper answer: How important has mentorship been in your career, and how are you paying it forward today? Jami Alexander shares a personal story about a mentor who showed up for her during one of the hardest seasons of her life. Not with a speech. Not with a performance review. Not with a KPI. With presence. With care. With the kind of people-first leadership that stays with someone forever. Racheal also opens up about the other side of mentorship. The part where you’re no longer just looking for guidance, but starting to become the person others look to for it. This episode is about the leaders, foremen, managers, advisors, and technicians who may never fully know the impact they’ve had on the people around them. Because one mentor can change everything. Earned Influence is a Wrench Turners Podcast panel series built around real conversations from women in automotive, fixed ops, service, leadership, and the trades. Featuring: Jami Alexander https://www.linkedin.com/in/jami-a-4075a9271/ Racheal Bright https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheal-bright-08281262/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
June 23 · 10 min
Getting senior Techs to take GRAVY work Seriously | Earned Influence S1E2
Senior technicians are often built for the big stuff. Transmissions. Heavy line. Diagnostics. Complex repairs. The jobs that take skill, patience, and experience. But what happens when the shop needs those same technicians to take on more general service? Oil changes. Inspections. Same-day work. Smaller jobs. Gravy work. In Episode 2 of Earned Influence, Jami Alexander brings a real shop leadership question to the panel: How do you get senior specialized technicians to buy into gravy work when they’re used to heavier, more complex repair? Mindy Williams, Racheal Bright, and Joshua Taylor talk through the real issue. It’s not about forcing techs to do the work. It’s about helping them understand why the work matters. It’s about customer expectations. It’s about shop flow. It’s about using apprentices properly. It’s about showing experienced technicians that smaller work can still create value for the customer, the technician, and the business. And maybe most importantly, it’s about reminding senior technicians that the way they handle the simple work teaches the next generation how to care for customers when they’re gone. Earned Influence is a panel series built around real conversations with women in automotive, fixed ops, service, leadership, and the trades. Featuring: Jami Alexander https://www.linkedin.com/in/jami-a-4075a9271/ Mindy Williams https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ Racheal Bright https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheal-bright-08281262/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
June 22 · 13 min
Stop Treating Customers Like Transactions | Earned Influence S1E1
What does a dealership service department need to stop doing right now if it wants to keep more customers? In the first episode of Earned Influence, Joshua Taylor sits down with Jami Alexander, Mindy Williams, and Racheal Bright to talk about customer retention, communication, accountability, and what happens when service teams forget there is a real person behind every repair order. Jami brings nearly 29 years of experience across parts, fleet, big trucks, and repair. Mindy shares her perspective as a dealership service manager who started in the industry at 19. Racheal brings her background from material handling, where proactive communication and strong processes are just as important as they are in automotive. This conversation gets into one of the biggest problems in fixed operations: Too many service departments act like the job is only to fix the vehicle. But the real job is to take care of the person who owns it. Earned Influence is a 4 part panel series from the Wrench Turners Podcast, built around honest conversations, different perspectives, and the kind of leadership that is earned through action. Featuring: Jami Alexander https://www.linkedin.com/in/jami-a-4075a9271/ Mindy Williams https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-williams-700b791b7/ Racheal Bright https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheal-bright-08281262/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/
June 12 · 45 min
The Hard Truth About Becoming Shop Foreman - Mike Ramirez + Aaron Marion on Wrench Turners Podcast
What actually happens when a great technician becomes a shop foreman? In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, I sit down with Mike Ramirez and Aaron Marion, two experienced shop foremen, to talk about the real work of leading technicians on the shop floor. This conversation goes far beyond diagnostics, flat rate, and fixing cars. Mike talks about going from a producing technician to a shop multiplier, helping other techs remove bottlenecks, make more hours, and work better as a team. Aaron shares what it’s like leading inside a high-end Porsche environment, why mentorship still matters years into the trade, and why no technician should ever believe they’ve learned everything. The episode digs into: How mentors build technicians without doing the work for them Why shop foremen need to document their processes How team chemistry changes the entire shop Why reputation matters more than most technicians realize How ego can limit growth in the automotive industry Why personal finances affect technician happiness and performance What real shop leadership looks like when the car, the customer, or the team is struggling This is a conversation for technicians, shop foremen, service managers, fixed operations directors, and anyone who cares about building better leaders inside automotive service departments. Because the best tool in the shop is still a good leader. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Find Mike: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ramirez-1782152a/ Find Aaron: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-marion-257b18231/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:56 Express bay to shop foreman 05:20 Aaron Marion’s early mentors 08:01 High-end stores and better shops 09:48 Why some shops can’t afford to miss 15:12 How Aaron handles problem cars 18:23 Mike’s Prologue diagnostic nightmare 20:34 Stumbling gracefully 23:17 The middle years of a technician’s career 25:32 What a dream shop feels like 26:23 Learning from everyone in the shop 32:39 Aaron’s advice for apprentices 33:44 Mike on reputation, trust, and leadership 37:15 Why technicians need to manage personal finances 41:44 Why technicians shouldn’t box themselves in 44:50 Closing quote and final thoughts
June 3 · 51 min
There is NO Technician Shortage but there IS a Retention Problem
Is there really a technician shortage or is the industry losing good people because shops are ignoring the real problem? In this episode, Marshall, John Baranski, Brent Osmond, and Richard Mueller break down the uncomfortable truth behind technician recruiting, retention, flat rate pay, shop reputation, apprentice turnover, and why automotive technicians are moving into heavy-duty, mining, material handling, and hourly positions. The conversation gets real about what shops say they need, what technicians actually talk about, and why every dealership’s reputation travels faster than most leaders want to admit. Because technicians know. They know what your shop pays. They know what your benefits cost. They know how your bonus structure actually works. They know which shops develop people and which shops chew them up. This episode is for technicians, shop foremen, service managers, fixed ops directors, dealership leaders, and anyone trying to understand why attracting and keeping good technicians has become one of the biggest challenges in the trade. Topics include technician shortage myths, apprentice retention, flat rate frustration, heavy-duty recruiting, employee experience, shop culture, technician career paths, and why great technicians don’t automatically become great leaders. The strongest line from the episode says it all: “If you think that the technicians around your area don’t know what your techs are getting paid, you’re dead wrong.” Negative Pushes Positive Pulls God Bless j. Follow Brent Osmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-osmond-7b8302149/ Dynamic Diesel Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamic-diesel-solutions-canada/posts/?feedView=all Follow Marshall Sheldon https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-sheldon-981349176/ Briggs Industrial Solutions https://www.linkedin.com/company/briggs-industrial-solutions/ Follow Richard Mueller https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mueller-024155150/ Wolfe Automotive Group https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfecalgary/ Follow John Baranski https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-baranski-335021270/ Miami Car Cartel https://www.instagram.com/miamicarcartel/ ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ 00:00 Technicians know what everyone is getting paid 00:52 Is there really a technician shortage? 01:45 Trade schools are still producing apprentices 03:47 Shortage or bad working conditions? 07:00 Shops complain about shortage but ignore retention 10:26 The real cost of training a new technician 12:42 What an empty bay actually costs the business 15:32 Shops have reputations whether leaders admit it or not 22:57 Why apprentices leave in the first year 29:52 Flat rate resentment and why techs are leaving automotive 34:24 Automotive techs moving into heavy duty and material handling 40:48 Different types of high performing technicians 43:58 Why good technicians don’t always become good leaders 48:21 What’s coming next: career paths technicians care about
May 27 · 1 hr 15 min
What Technicians Are Really Dealing With Now - 10 Mill on Wrench Turners Podcast
So the 10 Mill lads took over.In this episode of 10 Mill Mastery, Marshall Sheldon, Richard Mueller, John Baranski, and the mysterious camera off Josh Arnold sit down for a real technician panel about what’s actually happening inside shops right now.This one goes everywhere.Passwords that change constantly.Scan tools that need updates before you can even work.Videos and photos are becoming part of every repair.Warranty documentation.Hot shops.Young techs are hitting the six-hour wall.Energy drinks, bad lunches, mental fatigue, and the difference between being lazy and learning how to work.Then the conversation turns into something bigger.How do you lead apprentices without crushing them?How do you coach a tech who’s stuck in diagnostic circles?How do you build shop culture without turning “roasting” into damage?How much direction does an owner actually need to give their leaders?And when does a job stop being worth the money?Marshall keeps the conversation moving from the field service side.Richard brings the structured dealership leadership perspective.John brings the boat world, the faith, the chaos, and the big picture questions.Josh Arnold stays hidden like a mystery dude in witness protection, but still drops the kind of quiet Subaru tech wisdom that makes everyone stop and listen.No polished keynote.No corporate script.No Joshua steering the ship.Just four technicians talking through passwords, videos, heat, pressure, leadership, money, values, and the modern weight of fixing things for a living.This is 10 Mill Mastery, without me.Negative PushesPositive PullsGod Blessj.⚠️ Disclaimer:I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45ebInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/00:00 Opening Prayer00:24 Passwords, Logins, and Technician Tech Overload02:24 Boat Diagnostics and OEM Platforms05:12 GM Techline, Updates, and Bricked Modules10:02 DMS Logins, Video Inspections, and Warranty Photos14:32 VPNs, Hotspots, and Mobile Programming Problems20:14 The Six Hour Wall for Young Technicians25:49 Midday Check Ins and Technician Productivity27:31 Helping Young Techs Learn How to Work32:25 Diagnostic Frustration and Knowing When to Step Away35:08 Shop Roasting, Mistakes, and Mentorship38:15 Watches, Fitness, and Side Conversations41:35 Alberta, Weather, Taxes, and Moving South44:44 Owner Vision, Guardrails, and Shop Direction47:51 Making Money Is Not a Clear Business Plan53:41 Pay, Risk, and Knowing Your Hard Line1:00:46 Jobs, Core Values, and When to Leave1:12:28 Closing Reflection
May 22 · 1 hr 14 min
From Broken Back to Master Tech - Chris Biediger aka @TxToolGuy⁩ on Wrench Turners Podcast
Chris Biediger, better known online as Texas Tool Guy, has lived a technician's story that doesn’t fit into a clean little box. He broke his back at 17. Lost hearing in one ear. Left college. Worked the lube rack. Got humbled by an electrical diagnosis. Left the dealership world. Went back to school. Bartended. Fixed cars in his driveway. Got pulled back into the trade. Built a social media following by accident. Then helped launch a Toyota and Lexus specialty shop in Texas. But this episode isn’t just about tools, certifications, or dealership drama. It’s about what it actually takes to survive and grow in this trade. Chris talks about learning the hard way, asking for more money, getting certified, reading service information, flat rate pressure, dealership politics, mentorship, content creation, Toyota and Lexus work, ADAS, and why technicians have to take their physical and mental health seriously. Because if your body goes, your career goes with it. And if your head isn’t clear, your diagnosis won’t be either. This is a real technician conversation about grit, growth, money, mentorship, family, and building a better life with a wrench in your hand. Follow Chris: Texas Tool Guy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txtoolguy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@txtoolguy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@TxToolGuy⁩ Hill Country Yoda Works Toyota and Lexus Specialists in New Braunfels, Texas Subscribe to The Wrench Turners Podcast for real conversations with technicians, shop foremen, service leaders, trainers, and automotive professionals who are working to make this trade healthier, happier, and more productive. Negative pushes. Positive pulls. j. ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Chapters 00:00 Chris Biediger, TxToolGuy 04:07 Breaking his back... 08:41 Leaving college for the dealership 10:26 Getting humbled 15:17 The mentor who taught him 20:16 Certifications, flat rate, and pay 28:26 COVID, side work, and the auto pull 38:22 Ford, heavy line, and learning value 51:06 Leaving Toyota to build something 55:59 Starting Texas Tool Guy
April 24 · 56 min
She Didn’t Plan This Career… Now She Leads Technicians | Racheal Bright | Wrench Turners Podcast
Most people don’t plan to lead technicians. Racheal Bright didn’t either. She walked into the industry knowing four words… and now leads teams responsible for keeping mission-critical equipment running where downtime costs thousands per minute. In this episode of The Wrench Turners Podcast, we break down what leadership actually looks like in the real world, not theory, not management books, but on the ground, in the shop, and in the field. We get into: 👉 How she accidentally got into the industry 👉 What the first year really felt like (confusion, pressure, learning fast) 👉 The reality of leading technicians under constant urgency 👉 Why preventative maintenance isn’t boring… It’s everything 👉 The difference between shop work vs field work pressure 👉 How trust is built (and lost) with customers 👉 What separates average techs from high-value leaders This isn’t just about material handling or forklifts. This is about leadership in any shop, any trade, anywhere. If you’re a technician, advisor, or service manager trying to get better… this one matters. 🎙️ About The Wrench Turners Podcast Real conversations with real people in the trades. No fluff. No scripts. Just the truth about what it takes to build a career, lead people, and stay in the game. 📢 Want to be on the show? If you’re a mechanic, technician, or leader who started on the tools and has a story to tell, reach out. Auto. Heavy-duty. Motorcycle. Marine. RV. If it moves… We’ll talk about it. Negative Pushes Positive Pulls j. ⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence. Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/ Find Racheal Bright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheal-bright-08281262/ Check out Gregory Poole Equipment Company https://www.linkedin.com/company/gregory-poole-equipment-company/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Setting the Stage 04:00 Meet Racheal Bright 05:50 How She Got Into the Industry 08:10 “I Only Knew 4 Words” 10:05 The First Year 12:30 When It All Finally Clicked 14:45 What Is Material Handling 17:00 The Hidden Cost of Downtime 19:30 Shop vs Field Technicians 22:00 Pressure in the Field 24:30 Leadership Lessons 27:00 Why Most Shops Struggle 29:30 Simple Systems 32:00 The Problem With Disorganized Workflows 34:30 Preventative Maintenance Is Everything 36:45 Why PMs Build Trust 39:00 What Separates Great Technicians 41:30 The Reality of Leading 43:30 Advice for Anyone 45:00 Outro & Final Thoughts