Here are the two most recent episodes
The Power of Storytelling: Engaging Employees and Clients [RR 1031]
Parker Branch of Branch Automotive joins the conversation to discuss shop culture, leadership, storytelling, and business growth in the diesel specialty repair industry. Learn about the importance of employee buy-in, boosting productivity, and ways to build customer trust through thoughtful use of technology. Parker shares his journey from technician to business coach, offering personal experiences and proven strategies for success.
remarkableresults.biz/e1031
The Refrigerant Revolution: From 134A to YF and Beyond [THA 424]
Recorded at the 45th annual Mobile Air Climate Systems Conference (MACS 2025) in Orlando, Florida, Honeywell experts explore the advantages of retrofitting older 134A systems with 1234YF refrigerant, highlighting its significantly lower global warming potential. They also discuss the growing complexity of thermal management in EVs, where efficient cooling for batteries and electronics is essential, and the ongoing search for standardized, high-performance refrigerants. Gain insights into the environmental benefits of transitioning to 1234YF, the challenges of EV thermal management, and the critical need for education and training in the automotive aftermarket.
remarkableresults.biz/a424
And all the rest:
Invest in the Industry's First Rate Content From the Premier Automotive Service Specialist Podcast
RR 131: Don Smith from Elite Electronics
Don Smith started installing stereo’s and alarms and had to learn how to fix the cars he was working on.Elite Electronics He now owns Elite Electronics, for the last 10 years, a mobile Automotive Electronics and Mechanical Solutions company.
RR 130: Barry Barrett from RLO
Barry Barrett is an authority on sales and selling. He is the Director of Training for RLO where Barry’s sales and training capabilities operate at full capacity in his dual roles as lead salesperson and service manager trainer. Learn about passion, discovering your WHY and what the top qualities are of a superstar service adviser.
RR 129: Jerry Holcom from S & S Service
This is a very special interview with Jerry Holcom. With nearly 50 years’ experience in the automotive field, Jerry tells of his pathway to success and the typical stumbles or learning curves along the way.
Why should you listen: Jerry tells of great advice he’s received throughout the years about money and property ownership; Learn Jerry’s reasoning behind the decision not to buy his father’s business, and then turned around 10 years later and bought it from someone else.
RR 128: Joel Ayers of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation
This podcast episode needs to be heard by everyone in the industry. I’m counting on you to use the social share icons and engage your colleagues or paste the episode URL into your email network. Help get the word out and make sure the reach of AACF gets to the deep corners of the aftermarket so help can be brought to our brothers and sisters that need it.
RR 127: Dave Kusa of Autotrend Diagnostics
Reasons to listen to Dave Kusa, President Autotrend Diagnostics:
-Find out how much reliance Dave places on building customer relations and home town value in a city of 2.5 million people.
-Dave believes that their top internet reviews come from his strategy on good customer communications.
-If you are looking for great insight or advice on the need for business training, Dave will explain to you his biggest learning curve.
RR 126: John Gardner Automotive Instructor and Host of Tech Garage
John Gardner, automotive instructor at Chipola College in Marianna, FL believes that the quality of technicians graduating today are bright and amazing. John shares his passion for teaching and his love for training in an inspiring episode that includes talk of his hosting duties for Tech Garage on the Velocity Channel. John’s classroom motto is “Outdo…
RR 125: Succession Planning Round-Table
Succession Planning. A business requirement.
An informative discussion on planning for the eventual sale of your business. This discussion is between two professional service entrepreneurs, Joe Sevart and Judy Walter, who are in different stages of their succession plans. They are joined with succession planning professional Bob Ward, President of Wardden LLC. Bob says “Every business is eventually sold, but how?
RR 124: Jeremy O’Neal from Advisorfix
The three most important traits of the professional Service Advisor. Jeremy O’Neal president of Advisorfix joins Carm Capriotto in an engaging interview on the value of the service advisor and the traits and role they play in successful shops. Jeremy covers goals, the ratio of service advisors to technicians, accountability, trust and why most shops approach the sales side vs. the client’s vehicle agenda of the business completely wrong.
RR 123: Pete Rudloff from Pete’s Garage
Pete Rudloff owner of Pete’s Garage in Newark, DE. Pete started out in the automotive trade as a machine shop apprentice and after a year became dealer tech and grew into a Mopar Gold CMAT, L1, DEEP certified tech of which have been both the assistant shop foreman and foreman of a few local dealerships…
RR 122: ASE Test ‘Uncovered’
ASE Test Uncovered. Everything you ever wanted to know about the ASE Test … ASE 3but were afraid to ask!
Joining me for this very open discussion is:
-Dan Baumhardt, ASE Test Administrator
-Matt Fanslow, Professional Technician and an ASE Subject Matter Expert
-Ryan Kooiman, Director of Training at Standard Motor Products
RR 121: Nikki Ayers from Ayers Automotive
Nikki Ayers and her husband Robert have been shop owners for 38 years. They own Ayers Automotive in Santa Barbara, CA with locations in Chipala and Anacapa. Robert was a Jaguar tech when they decided to go into business for themselves. Nikki shares the big risk they took with their first building and how after…
RR 120: Suzanne Hawley from Family Service Day
Suzanne Hawley is the Executive Director of Family Service Day, an award-winning ’cause marketing’ initiative for the automotive industry called Keeping Cars Kickin’. Their mission is to help businesses do well by doing good. Support for the community Family Service Day helps local shop owners and their employees get involved in supporting their community by sharing…
RR 119: John Eppstein from John’s Automotive Care
John Eppstein from John’s Automotive Care in San Diego, CA was recognized in 2016 as the NAPA ASE Technician of the Year. Started Like So Many Others John Eppstein started in the automotive industry in 1983 because he wanted a job where he could help people. Like so many others in the industry, John pumped…
RR 118: Supplier Needs- What constitutes a strong business partnership?
If you are a member of the aftermarket distribution channel don’t miss this round table discussion. Learn from a jobber and two service professionals how important a strong partnership is and what are the critical components that constitute a strong business relationship.
Learn what these shop owners say are essential elements of their supplier relationship and where the sales person is on the value tree. An episode for all members of the aftermarket distribution channel.
RR 117: John Bridgwater from Wrights Automotive Service
John Bridgwater always wanted to know, “What makes it go?” At age five he took apart a mechanical adding machine just to see how it worked. Growing up, his father would work on the family van and John would always be by his side asking questions and learning everything he could. Today John Bridgwater and…
RR 116: Craig & Deb Van Batenburg from ACDC
Craig Van Batenburg is the CEO of ACDC and a former repair shop owner. His wife Deb is his partner and vice-president. Craig is engaged full time in the understanding of the technology used in hybrid and electric cars. His 45 years of automotive experience serves him well.
Craig Van Batenburg gives some great insight into why his career took the path to Hybrid repair and training. He says back in the early seventies he worked at a Honda dealership. With a huge passion for Honda’s, at 26 years old he opened a shop to work on Honda’s only. He bought the first model Honda Insight which was the 23rd hybrid sold in Massachusetts. His wife Deb went to Kent State and was always into recycling and politics. NOTE: This is the first husband and wife interview on Remarkable Results Radio Podcast.
RR 115: Doug Grills from AutoStream Car Care Center
Listen to the entrepreneurial journey of Doug Grills from AutoStream Car Care Center. Along with his partner Rick Levitan they brought their base experience from their former positions with a fortune five company to build a four store automotive service company. As Doug tells it they brought a lot of business savvy with them when…
RR 114: Service EDU – Technician Training Program
What is Service-EDU? I cover training in a big way on the podcast. When I discovered the newly created Service-EDU, a brand new partnership with four of our industries premiere manufacturers; Gates, MAHLE, Timken and NGK, I had to know more. You now have a chance to hear the story on how Service-EDU was created and…
RR 113: Kim Auernheimer from CS Automotive
After many years in real-estate and property management Kim Aurenheimer joined the business with her husband Rob. Hear Kim talk about the big decision, they both made, to work together and forge a strong working relationship. From Kim’s perspective listen as she talks about her transition into the industry and in finding her wings at the shop. She discusses trust, roles, the industry, margins, labor rates, work life balance and much more. An enlightening view of our industries most prevalent business partnerships; husbands and wives.
RR 112: Randy Baker – ASE/NATEF Industry Education Alliance Educator of the Year 2015
Where are the young technicians going to come from? Randy Baker is doing all he can to make that happen.
Randy Baker, honored as a 2015 Educator of the Year from ASE/NATEF, shares his story from shop owner to educator. He is outspoken and passionate about the additional support the aftermarket can have on secondary and post-secondary education recruitment. Do you want to know if shadowing or intern programs work? What should you tell a parent who has a child that is a hands-on learner? Get a powerful viewpoint from an enthusiastic educator.
RR 111: Frank Palange from V & F Auto
Frank Palange from V & F Auto Service in Agawam, MA, and his dad Vinny bought an acre parcel in 1988. They built their shop and today this thriving enterprise includes repair, auto sales and auto parts. Frank is a ‘tell it like it is’ guy (he is proud to say that is who he…
RR 110: Brent Berman from Federal-Mogul Motorparts
Brent Berman, Director of Training at Federal-Mogul Motorparts has been involved in the Automotive Industry for over 25 years primarily in the technical field evolving from mechanical to digital. In his eighteen years at Federal-Mogul, Brent has held roles of increasing responsibility in technical training, marketing and now manages the Garage Gurus training group in addition…
RR 109: Scott ‘GONZO’ Weaver
Who hasn’t heard of Gonzo’s Toolbox! Enjoy an enlightening interview from Gonzo himself. Do you know what Gonzo does to recharge? …. Why he loves being a diagnostician? … and do you know how Scott Weaver got the name ‘Gonzo’? You are about to find out.
Maylan Newton from ESI – Implementation is Power [E108]
Are you ready for a very powerful message to help improve your business? Are you at the point where you need a push to get help or support? Are you at the pinnacle of your career and want to know how much further you can go?
Maylan Newton from ESI – Educational Seminars Institute will give you some straight up advice on how to be more successful. Maylan a business coach, trainer and industry speaker says, “He is ‘just a car guy’ with lots knowledge and is brave enough to talk about it”.
Maylan’s purpose is to educate leaders to be a better owner or service writer. Inside this episode are some very powerful tips from Maylan to improve your journey. Get the Brake Clean Story. Learn Maylan’s top 3 keys to improved profitability. Hear great insight into succession planning. Learn how many hours of training owners should get per year … and more.
RR 107: Ron Haugen of Westside Auto Pros
Ever lose your job? Here is a success story that starts out with the loss of a job. A life changing incident that sets up a business career. Ever take the biggest leap of your life and didn’t know a thing about business? Ron Haugen gives a refreshing look back as he reflects on the adage that you can do just about anything you want if you put your mind and heart into it.
And Ron adds even if you don’t know what you don’t know; you can be successful. Does the term ‘Short People Up Front’ mean something to you?” This saying was a monumental life changing memory for Ron Haugen and had a huge impact on Ron’s business and can for you. Over the course of the interview you will hear a blueprint for success. Ron will tell you many of his battle worn yet successful strategies that has brought great success to him and his team and can work for you.
RR 106: Bill Haas from NACAT
Are you having a problem finding trained technicians – – here’s an answer that will help you.
There is a guy by the name of Bill Haas – – who has done just about everything in the repair industry. He started at the age of 12. He dragged home a junk motor that he bought from a garage. For the next few years he played with that poor engine – – until he knew how to fix every component. Later, Bill became a shop owner, sold it then taught technicians how to fix cars , became a business consultant and trainer including the man at NACAT. (The North American Council of Automotive Teachers)
You need to hear the story of what Bill has done and is in the process of doing to help you get better technicians.
RR 105: Big Event Technician Training
“You never grow old until you stop learning”. Henry Ford
As it relates to training and new technology: Are you keeping up? Are you participating in the many regional training programs that are becoming the norm today? Have you attended one? How many hours per year are you investing in to keep current or stay relevant?
You need to listen to technicians talk about keeping up with technology and diagnostics. Inside this episode are four technician interviews I met on a road trip in March 2016 while attending a day long seminar hosted by TST. If you need any confirmation on what the techs are saying about the need for quality training … get listening. If you are ‘always learning’ then listen to your peers affirm why your commitment to training is your job security.
RR 104: Todd Westerlund from Kukui
Do you want to further your uptake on how to communicate with millennials? Want to catch a discussion on ‘gamificaton? (what’s that … you are just a click away)
Kukui CEO Todd Westerlund and I sat down and had a lively talk that will fill up a yellow pad of ideas. This is not GEEK talk at all, just an enlightening and open discussion where will you will learn at least one new thing.
Audit the other discussion points on lifestyle marketing and taking advantage of social networks. Get your straight up talk on marketing to millennials here.
RR 103: Dave Erb
Have you ever thought about selling your business? Do you have a buyer? Want to hear the story from a thirty-year industry veteran who recently sold his businesses to an investor?
Dave Erb has a great story from buying his first shop to hitting his first $100K month. Ever thought about attending Leadership 2.0? Yes, but never pulled the switch. Dave will convince you why it was such a great move for him.
He shares some great wisdom he learned in the school of hard knocks. Invest in yourself … listen now!
RR 102: Donna Wagner form Northwood
Donna Wagner is currently Chair of the Aftermarket Management Program and Professor at Northwood University. She teaches courses specific to the automotive and heavy duty parts and accessories market. Courses include product marketing, global issues, sales, supply chain and business planning. This bachelor degree program in Aftermarket Management is the only one of its kind in…