Episodios

  • Retire Rich or Die Wrenching? Real Talk on Money, Generational Wealth, and Getting Out of the Game

    Retire Rich or Die Wrenching? Real Talk on Money, Generational Wealth, and Getting Out of the Game
    Oct 24 2025
    In this hard-hitting episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with Travis Smith, his financial advisor for the past 9 years, a trusted partner in planning the future of both his companies and his team.

    If you’re a shop owner, blue-collar entrepreneur, or hard-working technician wondering what retirement will really look like, this conversation will hit home. Kevin and Travis break down what no one is talking about in the industry: how to retire with dignity not with regret. From SIMPLE IRAs and compound interest to the generational wealth gap and boomer transitions, this episode dives deep into:

    -The real math behind retirement (spoiler: Social Security won't cut it)

    -Why most shop owners fail their people by avoiding long-term financial planning

    -How Gen X and Millennials can catch up and still build real wealth

    -What Kevin is doing differently to make sure his team actually retires

    -How to set up your business to run without you—and be worth selling

    -Why giving 10% equity to his top guys was the smartest move Kevin ever made

    -Why Travis believes most advisors are failing their clients

    -And what happens when AI, inflation, and aging boomers collide

    There’s strategy. There’s history. There’s straight-up truth about legacy, money, and what happens when the old guard starts stepping out leaving businesses behind for the next generation. Whether you're 22 or 62, if you don't know what you're doing with your money... you're already losing.

    📢 This is a must-watch for shop owners who want to keep their people, build something that lasts, and get out without burning it all down.
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    1 h y 14 m
  • Leadership Is the Problem...And the Solution

    Leadership Is the Problem...And the Solution
    Oct 17 2025
    In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Chris Craig returns to Repair Shop Reckoning to tear the lid off the real issue plaguing the automotive industry: Toxic Leadership!

    From the dealership drama to independent shop dynamics, Chris and Kevin dive deep into the culture clashes, ego-driven managers, and leadership failures that fuel technician burnout, broken systems, and the ongoing skilled labor crisis. They don’t hold back.

    You’ll hear stories from both sides of the shop advisor and tech, flat rate and hourly, indie and dealer. Chris shares what really happens behind closed doors in dealerships, from dummy appointments to sabotage between techs and service writers. Kevin brings the independent world perspective, showing how leadership can build culture, empower teams, and create profitable, drama-free shops if done right.

    They dig into:
    -The ego epidemic in management
    -How poor leadership ruins flat rate systems
    -Real solutions to increase efficiency without killing morale
    -Why technicians and advisors are fighting each other (when they should be partners)
    -The power of AI to save time and build trust
    -Why culture starts at the top and the hard truth most owners avoid
    -And a mic-drop moment on how keeping a toxic high performer can silently destroy your entire shop

    This episode isn’t just a rant. It’s a roadmap for what great leadership actually looks like in the shop. If you care about retention, culture, and real shop success, this one’s a must-listen. Time to stop blaming flat rate and start looking in the mirror.
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    1 h y 28 m
  • Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability

    Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
    Oct 17 2025
    In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks — and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in leadership, accountability, and building a shop that actually works. If you’re a shop owner, manager, or tech tired of excuses, underperformers, or being the bottleneck in your own business, this one hits hard. In this episode:
    • Why culture starts with your backbone, not your breakroom perks
    • How policies and expectations create alignment and consistency
    • Kevin’s 56K sandblaster gamble and how it paid off
    • The truth about letting customers bring their own parts
    • Flat rate debates, dealership drama, and why your number one tech might be killing morale
    • How AI is saving shops time and money and why one furry troll didn’t like it
    • Why the me first mindset ruins companies and how to build process around people
    • What happens when a shop owner finally says, “I’m the problem.”
    From hilarious stories to brutal business truth bombs, this episode lays it all out — culture, leadership, parts profits, tech drama, and the owner mindset that separates the winners from the whiners.
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    54 m
  • The Truth About Running a Shop: Culture, Pay, GPTs, and the Real Cost of Leadership

    The Truth About Running a Shop: Culture, Pay, GPTs, and the Real Cost of Leadership
    Oct 17 2025
    What if the reason your shop is struggling isn’t flat rate… but your culture, your pricing, and your leadership? In this solo deep dive, Kevin peels back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful, profitable, no-BS repair business in today’s climate. From dealing with walkout employees and overhyped social media critics to offering benefits, 401(k) matches, paid vacations, and even profit sharing Kevin lays it all out, raw and unfiltered. You’ll hear:
    • Why shop culture starts at the top—and how most owners are the problem.
    • The real math behind pricing, labor rates, and profitability.
    • How Kevin’s built a team of loyal, profitable, happy employees some of whom now own part of the company.
    • Why you should stop apologizing for running your shop like a business.
    • The truth about hourly vs flat rate when it works and when it fails.
    • The game-changing GPT technology Kevin built to save time, boost efficiency, and take shop operations to the next level.
    From hilarious stories of walkouts and terrible painters to breakdowns of employee handbooks, leadership structure, and AI automation this episode is a masterclass for shop owners who want to dominate their numbers without selling their soul. Whether you’re in a pole barn or a multi-bay operation, this episode will challenge your excuses and sharpen your tools.

    Ready for your own reckoning?
    Want your own custom GPT for your shop? Message us.
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    57 m
  • Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability

    Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
    Oct 10 2025
    In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in leadership, accountability, and building a shop that actually works. If you’re a shop owner, manager, or tech tired of excuses, underperformers, or being the bottleneck in your own business, this one hits hard. In this episode:
    • Why culture starts with your backbone, not your breakroom perks
    • How policies and expectations create alignment and consistency
    • Kevin’s 56K sandblaster gamble and how it paid off
    • The truth about letting customers bring their own parts
    • Flat rate debates, dealership drama, and why your number one tech might be killing morale
    • How AI is saving shops time and money and why one furry troll didn’t like it
    • Why the me first mindset ruins companies and how to build process around people
    • What happens when a shop owner finally says, “I’m the problem.”
    From hilarious stories to brutal business truth bombs, this episode lays it all out culture, leadership, parts profits, tech drama, and the owner mindset that separates the winners from the whiners. Want a culture worth bragging about? Start with a Full Reckoning Audit
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    54 m
  • The Flat Rate Reckoning: Truth, Grit, and the Real Cost of Doing Business

    The Flat Rate Reckoning: Truth, Grit, and the Real Cost of Doing Business
    Oct 3 2025
    Is flat rate the future or the failure of the industry? In this unfiltered episode, Kevin and Jason rip into the growing wave of online whining about flat rate and expose the real reason so many techs are struggling. From union bloat to dealership greed, from lazy techs to clueless service advisors, this is a full-throttle breakdown of what’s working, what’s broken, and how to stop being a victim in your own career.

    Inside this episode:
    💥 The truth about flat rate: why it rewards the driven and destroys the lazy
    💥 Why salary makes most people soft and the mindset shift shop owners need to win
    💥 The problem with dealers: corporate greed, clueless managers, and broken systems
    💥 Are shop owners greedy? Kevin gets brutally honest about profit, policies, and parts margins
    💥 Why mechanics must stop crying and start pushing back or find a new trade
    💥 What your accountant and marketing agency aren’t telling you (and how it’s costing you thousands)
    💥 How Kevin used ChatGPT to write better service notes and policies and why techs should too
    💥 The Wendy’s Rule of shop ownership: no, you can’t bring your own parts
    💥 How bad leadership, poor financial literacy, and "poopy diaper syndrome" are wrecking careers and shops alike
    💥 What techs really need to do if they’re getting screwed and why great shops are out there waiting

    This isn’t a motivational pep talk. It’s a reckoning. If you’re tired of the excuses, want to actually fix your shop (and your life), and are ready for real talk from two guys who walk the walk hit play.

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    1 h y 10 m
  • Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 19

    Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 19
    Aug 12 2025
    In Part 2, Kevin Brown and Jason Tracey return with a deeper dive into ownership mindset—this time spotlighting opportunity in adversity. From turning a rival Verizon store into a revenue boost to teaching smartphone classes that built lasting loyalty, it’s all about service as a differentiator. Jason shares how recognizing overlooked talent, embracing risk, and refusing to be boxed in by limiting beliefs fueled real growth. They unpack lessons in leadership, from empowering underdogs to challenging self-doubt. Whether it’s pivoting a failing business into a fresh revenue stream or holding yourself accountable instead of blaming the "face-eating lion," the message is clear: your story, your mindset, and your decisions are the real game changers. 00:00 The Relocation Dilemma 01:31 Customer Service Challenges 02:24 Building Relationships Through Education 03:40 The Evolution of Mobile Technology 04:41 Navigating the Corporate Landscape 06:25 Leadership and Growth 08:06 Identifying Hidden Talent 10:19 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship 12:17 Finding Purpose Beyond Profit 14:01 Empowering Entrepreneurs 17:28 Overcoming Self-Doubt 20:36 The Power of Storytelling 23:22 Emotional Resilience in Business 26:00 Pivoting for Success 30:06 The Silent Quitters 32:35 The Two-Week Notice Dilemma 34:46 The Advice Givers 37:30 The Victim Mentality 40:04 From Frustration to Empowerment 43:36 Taking Control of Your Success
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    49 m
  • Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 18

    Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 18
    Jul 29 2025
    Kevin Brown sits down with Jason Tracey to tackle the harsh realities of business ownership. From handling tough customers to surviving economic downturns like COVID-19, they break down the entrepreneurial mindset—how it feels to be on top versus scrambling to survive. Optimism and resilience are key, but so is knowing your numbers. They dig into financial literacy, stressing the importance of understanding your P&L, staying in your lane, and avoiding passion projects that drain cash. They also dive into sales and customer service, calling out pushy tactics and emphasizing relationship-building over quick sales. The conversation touches on adapting to industry shifts—like the rise and fall of BlackBerry—and the lost art of real communication in a world of texting. Workforce challenges, leadership, and marketing pitfalls round out the discussion, with a clear message: know your business, take care of your people, and lead with purpose. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 01:58 The Rollercoaster of Business 06:01 Overcoming Adversity and The Reality of Business Ownership 12:44 Lessons from Failed Ventures 17:00 Transforming a Struggling Business and Building a Winning Culture 25:30 The Art of Selling and Becoming the Expert 31:44 The Challenges of Corporate Culture 34:23 Building a Strong Team 37:09 Understanding Your Numbers and The Power of Customer Service 43:11 The Evolution of Technology and Communication Breakdown 51:01 The Future of the Workforce 56:08 The Marketing Dilemma
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    1 h y 1 m