Ratchet+Wrench Radio
Ratchet+Wrench Radio offers four tracks each month that explore the industry's biggest trends, most pressing topics, and the leadership and business management tips and strategies you need to thrive.
Episodes
What really drives your team to perform at a higher level? In this episode, Mike Mooney breaks down how shop owners and leaders can move beyond surface-level motivation tactics to build genuine buy-in. From aligning personal and company goals to challenging outdated processes and creating a culture of accountability, he shares actionable strategies to help teams stay engaged, adaptable, and committed to long-term success.
From tracking declined services to asking customers how they prefer to be contacted, Keith Mait, Senior Vice President and Auto Leader at Synchrony, outlines practical steps shops can take right now to turn one-time transactions into lasting relationships. He explains why loyalty isn’t a program—it’s a discipline—and how shops that stay connected between visits with timely, relevant communication will win in an increasingly competi...
A technician crashes two vehicles and causes $14,000 in damage. Instead of punishment, Louie Sharp chose something different.
In Give Up What You Don’t Need, you’ll hear how one decision—to release revenge and lean into leadership—turned a mistake into an investment and transformed an employee into a production manager.
If you’re holding onto anger, fear, control, comparison, or even yesterday’s success, this episode will challenge...
Running a shop doesn’t mean living at work. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, licensed therapist Margaret Light unpacks the mental load of ownership—and how small mindset shifts can help leaders protect their energy, relationships, and businesses.
Michelle Pippin never planned on joining the automotive industry. A broken timing belt on a remote Alaskan highway changed everything. Now, nearly a decade later, she’s leading a movement to intentionally invite, mentor, and empower women in auto repair—and challenging shop owners to rethink how leadership is built inside their businesses.
What if the part your customer needs is already built, already tested, and already on a truck headed your way? In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Vince Edivan and Shannon Nordstrom unpack the real story behind recycled OEM parts—how they’re sourced, certified, and delivered—and why forward-thinking repair shops are using them to protect margins, reduce cycle times, and offer customers good-better-best options that keep cars (...
What happens when your dad hands you the keys to the shop—and the responsibility—before you’re old enough to vote? In this candid conversation, Tonnika Haynes opens up about legacy, leadership, letting go, and why sometimes the best training is being pushed off the boat and told to swim.
Cell phones, texts, shop software—auto repair shops have no shortage of ways to communicate. But are they actually slowing you down? In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, two-way radio expert Stew McClintic talks about why “push-to-talk” technology is still one of the fastest, simplest tools shops can use to improve workflow.
Customer retention doesn’t happen by accident. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, business consultant John Waters explains why trust is the real currency of the auto repair industry—and how shop owners can create exceptional experiences that keep customers coming back and referring others.
He built 14 stores. Then he sold 10 of them—one by one—during one of the toughest economic downturns in modern history.
In Fearless to Courageous, James Baxter reveals the sleepless nights, payroll fears, and hard leadership decisions that reshaped his company—and why focusing on four strong stores made him more profitable than ever before.
If you’re an entrepreneur navigating growth, succession, or tough calls about the future of ...
Seventy-five breakout sessions. Role-based tracks for owners, advisors, and technicians. Big-name keynotes. A coaching debate on one stage. Dedicated technical training on EV service, ADAS calibration, direct injection systems, and new refrigerants.
Tektonic 2026 isn’t about theory—it’s about results.
In this conversation, Tekmetric owner Sunil Patel explains why hard work isn’t enough, why systems win, and why Houston in April cou...
What happens when a lifelong shop owner steps into the COO role of a fast-growing national platform? In this episode, Brian Bates breaks down the walls shop owners hit when scaling, how to balance culture with growth, and why leadership—not capital alone—will determine who wins the next decade in the aftermarket.
Tariffs, inflation, and rising labor costs are putting real pressure on shop margins right now—and I know a lot of shop owners are asking how to recover those costs without upsetting customers. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, I sit down with payments expert Randy Motos to break down surcharging: what it is, how it works, what the compliance rules really are, and why “freedom of choice” at checkout is becoming a go-to strat...
Skating to Where the Puck Is Going: Why the Aftermarket’s Future Depends on Education and Leadership
Recorded live from the AAPEX show floor, Northwood University president Kent MacDonald sits down with editorial director Chris Jones to discuss what Wayne Gretzky’s famous advice means for the automotive aftermarket—and why leadership, entrepreneurship, and education have never mattered more.
Full bays don’t always mean healthy profits. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, host Christine Schaffran sits down with Hunt Demarest, CPA, partner at Paar, Melis & Associates, and author of Beyond the Bays, to unpack why so many shop owners feel busy but broke—and what they can do about it. From cash vs. profit confusion to overlooked financial fundamentals, Hunt explains how better understanding your numbers can change ...
What really drove aftermarket performance in 2025—and what signals should shop owners be paying attention to now? In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Auto Care Association senior director of market intelligence Mike Chung breaks down the data behind tariffs, inflation, supply chain shifts, and changing consumer purchasing habits. From parts buying to tire trends, Mike explains what the numbers reveal—and how they point to what...
What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your goals—but how you’re framing them?
On this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Chris Messer, vice president of transportation at Endeavor Business Media, sits down with Mike Jones, president of Discover Leadership, alongside editorial director Chris Jones for a powerful conversation on fighting forward. From personal growth to shop performance, they unpack why focusing on what you ...
Silent partners can be a powerful asset—or a costly blind spot—when it’s time to sell an auto repair business. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, host Christine Schaffran sits down with Nick Papakyrikos, CPA, to uncover how smart exit planning, clear agreements, and the right tax structure can turn a future sale into a largely tax-free payday.
Fifteen years ago, Kendall Warnock was a technician with a dream, five T-shirts, and a shop name chosen to land at the front of a phone book. Today, he leads one of Lincoln, Nebraska’s most respected repair facilities and has been named Small Business of the Year. Now he’s bringing his hard-won leadership lessons — built through grit, humility, and nonstop self-development — to Ratchet+Wrench readers as an online columnist in 2026....
For 100 years, Veenstra’s Garage has served its Michigan community through depressions, relocations, sweeping industry change, and four generations of leadership. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Editor Christine Schaffran sits down with Mike and Jason Veenstra to talk about legacy, modern challenges, the transition from father to son, and what it really takes to keep a shop thriving for a century.
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