In this episode, my guest is Chris Saraceno, Vice President and Partner at Kelly Automotive Group, and the author of The Theory of Five — a framework that’s been quietly transforming how top performers live and lead.

We talk about the five key areas that shape a fulfilling life — faith, relationships, parenting, finance, and health — and the five people you spend the most time with that either pull you forward or hold you back.

But this isn’t just theory.

Chris shares real-life stories and practical questions you can ask yourself right now to take stock of where you’re at and who you’re becoming. We break down:

• How to find mentors in every area of your life (and why you don’t need just one)
• The link between your personal health and your professional success
• Why the people closest to you might be keeping you stuck — and how to shift that dynamic
• And how middle managers in dealerships (or any organization) can grow beyond the grind

You’ll also hear why consistency matters more than intensity, why emotional intelligence is your secret weapon, and how asking the right questions leads to breakthrough.

This episode is full of honest insights and actionable takeaways — especially if you’re ready to stop drifting and start building a life that matters.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Chris Saraceno

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaraceno

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

Ever wonder why some leaders transform entire teams while others just manage to keep the lights on?

In today’s solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a strategy that’s not just another leadership theory – it’s the secret sauce to turning average managers into powerhouse leaders. And it all starts with one question: Are you a Level 4 Leader?

You’ve heard me talk about John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership, but today, we’re going deeper – way deeper.

We’re diving into:

• How a high-performing sales rep went from top dog to terrible manager in record time – and what every dealership owner needs to learn from it.
• The critical shift from position-based leadership to people development leadership – and why this is the sweet spot for dealership success.
• The 5 essential elements of a high-performance environment, from vision to activating your team to become self-coaching powerhouses.
• Why emotional intelligence is the missing link in almost every underperforming leader – and how to level up quickly.
• Why most managers get stuck at Level 1 – and how to level up to people development leadership (the real moneymaker in the dealership world).

And here’s the kicker – I’m sharing the blueprint for my new Transforming Leadership in the Dealership webinar series, packed with the kind of insights that can shift your entire organization’s trajectory.

If you’re ready to stop managing and start leading, if you’re serious about transforming your team from average to unstoppable, this episode is your blueprint.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

What if I told you that there’s a Toyota dealer in the Midwest pulling $4K in front-end gross per unit… without ever charging over MSRP?

Yeah, read that again.

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and industry powerhouse, Mike Luner—a guy I’ve known and respected for over 30 years. Mike isn’t just running a dealership. He’s building a culture where process, profit, and people all win. We talk about real leadership, real margins, and real strategies that actually work in today’s market—even with all the noise about margin compression.

Here’s what we dive into:

• How Mike turned a small-town Toyota store into a gross-generating machine (think $800K+ in front-end just from Seal Jet and Diamond Fusion)
• His bulletproof trade-in strategy that starts low and wins big—every time
• Why his salespeople are averaging $85K/year and not leaving
• The secret to consistent leadership: Friday sales meetings (for 40 years straight!) and never being too good to sweep the lot
• Why 50+ cars/month from a full-time buyer is about to change his used car game
• Plus: We talk about how to train like champions, present like pros, and lead like servant-hearted operators

If you’ve ever wondered how to actually hold gross in a compressed market, build a process that sticks, or lead a team that wants to stay and grow with you—this is the episode.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Mike Luner

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-luner-50817093/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

What if I told you… sales isn’t just something you do — it’s who you become?

In this solo episode, I’m opening up the playbook.

From watching my mom take over the family dealership with zero experience and turning it into a powerhouse, to my own journey through sales, leadership, AutoNation, Maxwell Leadership, and now running coaching bootcamps — I’m laying it all out.

But this episode isn’t about my story…

It’s about how you can take real action in yours.

Here’s what we get into:

• The spark that reignited my love for sales training (and how God used a coffee shop to do it).
• Why most salespeople don’t lack motivation—they lack meaningful goals.
• A simple goal-setting exercise that will change the way your team thinks (and sells).
• The three types of customers you must understand — and the one that makes the biggest difference.
• Why your people need more than process—they need purpose. And how you help them find it.
• A breakdown of the Auto Mastery Bootcamp framework—from mindset to metrics, and everything in between.

Plus…

I’ll give you the exact exercise we use in our bootcamps that gets sales teams fired up and focused. It’s practical, repeatable, and it works. And if you want to steal it? Be my guest.

This episode is for the leaders who care.

For the ones ready to develop their people—not just manage them.

And for anyone who knows deep down… there’s more potential in the room.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, my guests are Kyle Newsom and Tom Fennen, co-founders of Visperio—a company on a mission to transform dealership leadership from the inside out. We talk about everything from emotional intelligence in fixed ops to the leadership philosophies that are actually moving the needle in today’s fast-paced automotive world.

These guys aren’t just dropping strategies...

They’re challenging the entire way we think about leadership in the dealership.

Here’s why you should hit play:

• You’ll learn how to move from "managing numbers" to leading people
• Discover why kindness is accountability in disguise
• Find out the #1 mindset shift new service managers need to make
• Learn how emotional intelligence directly impacts your team’s retention and performance
• And—why selling time (not just services) could change your fixed ops game

Plus, you’ll hear Tom drop wisdom like “It’s not about being right, it’s about getting it right”… and Kyle’s reminder that we’re not selling oil changes—we’re selling time. Every word in this one is gold.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between the numbers and the people...

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with both strength and softness...

Or if you're just tired of turnover and know there’s gotta be a better way—

Then this one’s for you.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Kyle Newsom

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-newsom-650720110/

Connect with Tom Fennen

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-fennen-49931059/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

In this episode, I sit down with two incredible leaders—Mickey Seelye, President of Seelye Automotive Group, and Stan Qualls, GM and culture driver—to unpack what really drives sustainable success in the car business.

Here’s the twist: it’s not about selling more cars.
It’s about serving more people.

Whether you're a GM, GSM, sales leader, or dealer principal, this conversation will challenge how you see your role—not just as a business operator, but as a leader who carries real influence at home, in the store, and beyond.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The wild origin story of Seelye Auto Group: from janitor to dealer principal
• Why culture beats commission plans—and how to build one that actually lasts
• Leading with faith in a high-pressure, high-performance industry
• What’s really keeping your managers up at night—and how to show up for them
• Identity, burnout, addiction, redemption... and why your best days are still ahead

If you're in the auto industry and you’ve ever felt like:

• You're great at the grind, but struggling to connect with your team
• You're hitting the numbers, but something’s missing at home
• Or you’ve lost yourself chasing titles, trophies, and 20 Groups…

…this episode is your reset button.

It’s raw. It’s honest. And it’s exactly what more dealers need to hear in today’s business climate.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Anthony Birdsong

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthony_bird_brand/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

What if I told you the most powerful leadership lessons don’t come from business school… but from pain, adversity, and choosing to rise when life tries to bury you? That’s exactly what my guest, Anthony Birdsong, brings to this episode—and trust me, you’re not ready for how real it gets.

What We Talk About:

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Anthony peels back the layers of his incredible journey—from being raised amidst addiction and instability to building Maryland’s #1 independent used car dealership. We talk about what it takes to lead a team of 60 with heart, humility, and hustle. Anthony shares how the darkest moments of his life, including childhood trauma and nearly losing everything during COVID, became the fuel for his transformation.

You’ll hear how faith, relentless self-awareness, and the power of personal development reshaped his life—and how his wife and son became the ultimate anchors in his storm. There’s wisdom here for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, broken, or unsure of their worth. We also dig deep into what real leadership means, and how being “just a used car dealer” is only a small part of why Anthony’s story matters.

Whether you’re in the car biz or not, this episode will challenge you, move you, and maybe even push you to confront your own story with new courage.

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Anthony Birdsong

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthony_bird_brand/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

Want to become the kind of leader people actually want to follow? Here’s the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

If you're in automotive leadership—or honestly, any leadership—and you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your team isn’t performing at the level you know they're capable of… this episode is for you.

I’m flying solo this week and we’re digging deep into what I believe is the biggest difference-maker in today’s dealerships: transformational leadership at the manager level. I’m not talking about barking orders from the desk—I’m talking about building real influence, leveling up your ability to coach, and leading with a vision that inspires.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why being a “position” leader is the lowest form of leadership (and why most managers unknowingly get stuck there)
• John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership—and how to move from permission to production to people development
• The real story of Johnny and Marty: how toxic mentorship shaped a dealership’s downfall
• Why top salespeople often flop when they get promoted—and how to fix it
• How to activate your team through powerful coaching, asking better questions, and building trust that drives results
• The 5 elements of a high-performance environment that every manager should master
• Plus, the four traits that every Level 4 Leader must develop (and how they tie back to ROI, retention, and culture)

Whether you’re aiming to be the GM, lead your team through uncertain times, or just get your people fired up again, this is the episode that shows you how to get there—without losing your soul (or your sanity).

Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players!

• Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWC

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching