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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
  • The Brutal Reality Every Shop Owner Needs to Hear Right Now

    The Brutal Reality Every Shop Owner Needs to Hear Right Now
    Nov 21 2025
    Buckle up because this one comes in hot. Kevin sits down with Check Engine Chuck for a brutally honest, no filters allowed conversation about what is really happening inside repair shops today. And it hits every nerve in the industry.

    This episode does not just talk about soft techs or generational gaps. It digs into the harsh truth that most techs never see and most owners are too scared to say. From the pressure of being the one who has to make the final call, to the nonstop BS of inflated resumes, fake specialists, and new hires who collapse the first time you hold them accountable, Kevin and Chuck break it all wide open.

    They dive into why shop culture has gotten weak, why pride in the trade is disappearing, and why too many owners sabotage themselves by not trusting the systems they built. They talk real ownership, real responsibility, and the real difference between being tough and being toxic.

    This episode is a warning, a wake up call, and a punch in the mouth for anyone who needs to hear it. It is honest, it is raw, and it is exactly what the industry has been avoiding for far too long.

    Stories You Will Hear in This Episode:
    • Why owning a shop means the buck always stops with you
    • The truth about techs who claim they are specialists but cannot back it up
    • The collapse of shop culture when no one can take criticism
    • What accountability actually looks like in a real shop
    • Why pride and grit still matter more than certifications
    • How owners destroy their own businesses by overriding their systems
    • What separates the techs who survive from the ones who crumble
    • The real reason shops are struggling to find and keep good people


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • The Collision Game Is Rigged and How Shops Are Paying the Price

    The Collision Game Is Rigged and How Shops Are Paying the Price
    Nov 14 2025
    Buckle up because this week Kevin and Jason crack open the ugly truth behind the collision repair industry, and it’s a full-on reckoning.

    Kevin goes off on how insurance companies have hijacked the business by setting prices, dictating parts, and forcing shops into losing money on every “approved” repair. From fake adjusters behind desks to clueless inspectors who’ve never turned a wrench in their life, the industry’s gone off the rails.

    They dive deep into how independent collision shops are being crushed by corporate control, fake “prevailing wage” surveys, and AI-driven desk estimates written by people who couldn’t tell a fender from a file cabinet. Kevin lays out real-world examples that will make any shop owner’s blood boil. From motorhomes patched with bondo to adjusters arguing over $600 supplements after promising to pay.

    But this isn’t just a rant, it’s a roadmap. Kevin shares how he’s outsmarting the system by expanding into trailer repair, sandblasting, and parts sales to keep profit margins alive while others drown in red tape.

    Stories You’ll Hear in This Episode:
    • Why collision shops are going broke faster the harder they work
    • How insurance “desk adjusters” and AI estimates are wrecking the trade
    • Real examples of fraud, cheap parts, and complete industry insanity
    • Why Kevin refuses to cut corners — even when insurance pushes shops to do it
    • The $90,000 engine story that proves doing it right still matters
    • How adding trailer repair saved Motor City Truck Collision from the chaos


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    52 mins
  • Marriage, Mayhem & Motor Oil: 29 Years of Wrenching on Life with Marilyn Brown

    Marriage, Mayhem & Motor Oil: 29 Years of Wrenching on Life with Marilyn Brown
    Nov 7 2025
    This one’s personal.

    In this special episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with his wife of 29 years, Marilyn Brown. The woman who’s been there since the beginning. From beer bottles at Frigate’s in Walled Lake to building a family, surviving broke-as-hell Christmases, and running businesses together, nothing’s off-limits in this conversation.

    They dive into the real side of marriage and entrepreneurship — the fights, the forgiveness, and the funny-as-hell moments that kept them going. Marilyn opens up about raising kids, dealing with exes, working her way up in corporate life, and eventually running the backend of Kevin’s shops. Together, they break down what it really takes to stay married, stay sane, and stay in business when life keeps throwing punches.

    You’ll laugh, you’ll shake your head, and you might even feel a little better about your own chaos.

    Because at the end of the day success, marriage, and business all come down to the same rule: work your ass off, tell the truth, and don’t hold grudges.

    Topics Covered:
    • The wild story of how Kevin and Marilyn met (and the beer bottle incident 🤕)
    • What it’s really like being married to a mechanic-turned-business owner
    • Parenting, adoption, and surviving blended-family chaos
    • The early days of being broke and building from nothing
    • Why communication (and not giving a damn what people think) saves marriages and businesses
    • Payroll screwups, scammers, audits, and the emotional roller coaster of owning a shop
    • The difference between loyalty and permission in relationships and leadership
    • Why feelings don’t belong in management meetings


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
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