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Repair Shop Reckoning

Repair Shop Reckoning

By: Kevin Brown
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About this listen

 Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.Copyright Kevin Brown Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Horsepower Doesn’t Make You a Driver & Ownership Doesn’t Make You a Leader

    Horsepower Doesn’t Make You a Driver & Ownership Doesn’t Make You a Leader
    Jan 9 2026
    What happens when you put a real Corvette guy in the room… and let him talk?

    In this episode, Kevin sits down with Alan Johnson from Matick Chevrolet, one of the most dialed-in Corvette minds you’ll hear anywhere. This isn’t “car talk” for clicks. It’s a deep dive into what’s actually happening inside GM right now… and why so many dealerships are falling behind.

    They hit everything from the 3.0 Duramax being the best-kept secret in the truck world, to the reality behind the 6.2 uncertainty, to what really creates trust and consistency in a dealership: systems, talent development, and leadership that gives a damn.

    And then they go straight into the chaos that sparked this episode: the brake fluid war. If you’ve ever heard someone say “brake fluid is sealed, it doesn’t matter,” Alan is about to ruin your day...in the best way possible.

    This is the intersection of:
    -High-performance driving
    -Real-world dealership service operations
    -Maintenance that actually keeps people safe
    -And the uncomfortable truth about how the industry is being gutted by short-term thinking

    If you’re a technician, shop owner, advisor, service manager, or car nerd who actually wants to understand what’s real… this one hits hard.

    Here is how you can find Alan on social media:
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivenwithalan
    Instagram: @drivenwithalan
    YouTube: @drivenwithAlan ​

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Stopping the Race to zero...How New Shops Can Actually Win

    Stopping the Race to zero...How New Shops Can Actually Win
    Jan 2 2026
    This episode is for new shop owners, mobile mechanics, and anyone thinking about going out on their own.

    Kevin sits down with Ben Higgins, owner of The Wrench Wagon, for a real conversation about what actually happens when you transition from technician to business owner and why so many good techs fail once they open their own shop.

    This is not another episode bitching about flat rate, dealerships, or customers. This is about responsibility, pricing, leadership, and survival.

    Kevin breaks down why being busy does not mean you are profitable, how sympathy brain quietly destroys shops, and why undercharging feels generous but guarantees burnout. They talk openly about pricing mistakes, staffing realities, knowing your numbers, and the mental shift required to stop thinking like a tech and start thinking like an owner.

    If you are a mobile mechanic or a one man operation, this episode gives you clarity on what to take on, what to avoid, and how to build a business that actually supports your life instead of consuming it.

    This is mentorship most shop owners never get until they have already paid for it in lost money, stress, and regret.

    If you are early in your journey, this episode can save you years. If you are struggling right now, this episode will explain why and show you a path forward.

    Repair Shop Reckoning is not about bitching about the things that are. It is about ownership, leadership, and doing the hard things that keep shops alive. You have the power if you take the reponsibility!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • A Shop Christmas Special...Behind the Scenes With the Garrett Team

    A Shop Christmas Special...Behind the Scenes With the Garrett Team
    Dec 26 2025
    WARNING: This episode is not scripted, polished, and it sure as hell is not safe for soft ears...

    Welcome to the Christmas Special you always dreamed of. A behind the scenes look into shop life, recorded with the full Garrett Truck and Auto crew.

    The team come straight from the shop, with the doors open and the truth turned all the way up. No guests. No filters. Just the people who actually do the work sitting down and talking about what really happens when you are building a shop, a team, and a culture from the ground up.

    We start by doing something most shops never do publicly. Everyone around the table owns their screw ups. Real mistakes. Real consequences. From missed cotter pins and wrong parts to wiring nightmares, bad calls, and expensive lessons that stuck because they had to.

    This episode pulls back the curtain on what shop culture actually looks like when accountability is real. People get called out. People get corrected. People learn. And then they get better. That is the difference between yelling for ego and demanding excellence because lives, reputations, and paychecks depend on it.

    We dig into flat rate, leadership, policies and procedures, and why so many shops fail to take care of their people even when they think they are trying. You will hear why most owners are stuck, why technicians are pissed, and how bad systems create bad behavior on both sides of the counter.

    This is also a direct response to the internet narratives. The clips. The comments. The people who think shop culture can be judged from fifteen seconds on social media. So Kevin brought the team on to speak for themselves and explain what it is actually like to work here, why people stay, why people grow, and why the shop works.

    If you are a shop owner trying to build something real If you are a technician tired of broken systems If you care about doing the job right and going home proud

    This episode is for you.

    And this is only Part One of Two!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    52 mins
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