Growth rarely shows up wrapped in convenience. Sometimes it looks like discomfort. Sometimes it looks like spending money on yourself when every instinct tells you to put everyone else first.

Tim Cox sits down with April Simmons, Heidi German, and Wendy Cornell for an honest, grounded conversation about what happens when women in automotive finally say “yes” to their own development — and how that single decision quietly changes everything that follows. The discussion unfolds not as a victory lap, but as a reflection on leadership, self-belief, and the courage it takes to step into something new before you feel “ready.”

What stands out most is how growth doesn’t arrive all at once. It shows up in journaling. In accountability. In recognizing the “gap of crap” — the stories we tell ourselves about why we can’t move forward. Heidi and Wendy share their journeys through automotive, leadership, and life, revealing that investing in yourself doesn’t pull you away from others — it actually makes you more capable of serving them. The episode lands on a simple truth: leadership isn’t measured only by what you do, but by what people do because of you.

00:00 – Why great dealerships are built on leadership, not luck

01:39 – Celebrating women who are shaping the future of automotive

03:30 – Saying yes to personal growth before you understand the impact

04:42 – Why most women won’t invest in themselves — and the cost of that

05:23 – Creating scholarships to remove barriers to growth

06:31 – The power of community and accountability partners

08:46 – Choosing yourself when you’ve always put everyone else first

11:04 – Career paths aren’t linear — and that’s a strength

14:00 – Wearing many hats and growing into leadership

17:51 – What truly inspires effective leaders

22:43 – Leadership is measured by what people do because of you

26:55 – Advice to women entering automotive: keep growing, stay curious

29:05 – Identifying what’s holding you back — and how to close the gap

30:54 – Positivity, grace, and breaking goals into manageable steps

Connect with April Simmons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-simmons/

Connect with Heidi German on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-german-53326881/

Connect with Wendy Cornell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornellwendy/

Connect with Tim Cox on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-cox-29065a7/

Listen to more episodes of Tim Talks at: https://www.carnow.com/timtalks/

In this special episode of Tim Talks, Tim sits down with dealer principal Tim Pohanka to unpack one of the most creative, daring, and downright fun marketing experiments the automotive world has seen in years. Pohanka and two other Nissan dealer principals each bought a sub-$10,000 used Nissan, added minimal modifications, and embarked on a 1,200-mile off-road endurance challenge across Utah’s most brutal terrain — from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Moab, Little Sahara, Cathedral Valley, and more. With more than 150 hours of drone, in-car, and cinematic footage, the “Tour Detour” chronicles not only the punishing journey but also the surprising durability of these inexpensive vehicles, particularly the much-debated Nissan CVT.

What emerges is more than a road trip. It’s a blueprint for modern dealership storytelling: raw, human, adventurous, and anchored in authenticity instead of polished ad scripts. The conversation dives into how this grassroots project reshapes consumer perception, celebrates the joy of the American road trip, and proves that creativity in auto retail still has endless room to grow. It’s part entertainment, part marketing masterclass, and fully a reminder that the car business can — and should — still be fun.

Takeaways
0:00 — Why leadership and creativity still define the best dealerships.
0:50 — $6k Nissans pushed through a 1,200-mile off-road challenge.
1:51 — Moab, Little Sahara, Cathedral Valley, UTV parks, Telluride — some of the harshest environments in America.
2:44 — 150 Hours of cinematic footage to tell a story OEMs can’t.
3:57 — The journey starts at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where Tim’s grandfather once raced
4:38 — Nissan’s CVT has taken heat, but the team intentionally tried to break it… and couldn’t.
7:14 — A local Utah man keeps his shop open until 11 PM to rescue the crew.
8:01 — A badly timed jump at Swing Arm City launches Tim’s roof rack into the air.
9:12 — Most people can’t afford a $70k Bronco or Rubicon but a $10k adventure car? That’s relatable and inspiring.
10:46 — How storytelling and authenticity outperform today’s noisy, overly polished ads.
12:12 — The Tour Detour clips now help humanize the dealership and show real-world use cases customers trust.
15:45 — After surviving impossible terrain, Tim can hardly part with his Nissan.
17:50 — A Challenge to Dealerships Everywhere: Every store can tell authentic stories that make cars fun again.

Connect with Tim Pohanka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpohanka/
Watch the Tour Detour: https://thetourdetour.com/

Connect with Tim Cox on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-cox-29065a7/
Listen to more episodes of Tim Talks at: https://www.carnow.com/timtalks/

From athletic trainer to one of the most outspoken voices in automotive, Brooke Furniss has built her career on one rule — facts, not feelings.

In this episode, Tim sits down with Brooke to unpack how a corneal transplant, a detour into DealerSocket, and years inside dealerships led her to build a platform that defends dealers, challenges vendors, and demands truth in an industry full of noise.

What follows is a raw, funny, and powerful look at leadership, humility, and the courage to say what others won’t. Brooke and Tim dive into data transparency, fake dashboards, shiny-object distractions, and why the best leaders are humble enough to learn through pain. This one’s part masterclass, part therapy session, and all heart.

00:00 Tim welcomes Brooke — and sets the tone for an unfiltered conversation

01:03 The unexpected start: from athletic trainer to the automotive world

02:29 How a corneal transplant changed everything

04:06 The DealerSocket years and seeing every side of the business

05:59 Why Brooke walked away from selling and started giving dealers a voice

06:47 Tim on vanity metrics and the only KPI that really matters

07:54 Brooke breaks down the data fight — and why most dealers don’t own theirs

09:45 “Performance over pizzazz”: chasing shiny objects vs. chasing results

12:52 Kickbacks, broken processes, and calling out industry excuses

14:22 What “people first” really means when culture gets tough

16:59 The biggest killer in any dealership: pride

18:18 How true leaders stay humble — and why that’s rare

26:30 Brooke’s message to new leaders: research, resilience, and never losing your voice

Learn more about Brooke Furniss at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookefurniss/

Watch the Facts, Not Feelings podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIY-PixNsvgD1nrRFiw5xoNfU3rY6ojPy

Connect with Tim Cox at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-cox-29065a7/

Listen to more episodes of Tim Talks at https://www.carnow.com/timtalks/