Ratchet+Wrench Radio

Tariffs, Inflation, and the Changing Automotive Landscape

In this episode, a sneak preview of his lunchtime keynote for the 2025 Ratchet+Wrench Management Conference, Rob Pietrowski, VP Research at IMR/Endeavor Business Intelligence, reveals shocking inflation data that's reshaping the automotive aftermarket: vehicle costs are up 57% since 2019, annual maintenance and repair spending has jumped 50%, and the ripple effects are hitting every level of the industry, based on 500 consumer surveys monthly and another 500 to 1,000 for custom research projects. Pietrowski's data also shows shop owners' priorities have shifted dramatically from focusing on new technology and EV training to fundamental survival tactics like keeping prices down and traffic flowing. He discusses how rising costs are being passed through the supply chain, the changing perceptions of trade careers as four-year college costs skyrocket, and why shops must adapt to constant rapid change spanning everything from COVID protocols to new administrative policies and tariffs.

Failure Isn't Fatal

For anyone who has ever uttered the words, "failure isn't an option," Mike Jones, president and master trainer at Discover Leadership Training, has a message you should consider. Jones talks about leadership and failure in this special episode of Aftermarket All-Access. He's joined by Chris Messer, executive vice president of the transportation group at Endeavor Business Media—Ratchet+Wrench's parent company. Jones helps leaders reframe failure and change their approach.

ASE's Dave Johnson: The Future of Automotive Education and Why Certification Still "Means Something”

In this episode, Dave Johnson, president and CEO of Automotive Service Excellence, discusses the recent ASE Instructor Training Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in July and the valuable benefits ASE certification provides to automotive instructors, including industry-wide credibility, access to cutting-edge curriculum resources, and professional development opportunities.  Johnson also addresses how ASE is proactively evolving to keep pace with rapidly changing automotive technology and outlines ASE's commitment to future-proofing its certification programs through strategic partnerships, ensuring technicians remain equipped to handle next-generation automotive innovations while maintaining ASE's reputation as the industry's gold standard.

What Your Numbers Are Trying to Tell You

When something’s off in your shop—profit’s down, productivity’s lagging, or margins are shrinking—it’s easy to blame the numbers. But what if the real problem isn’t the numbers themselves… but how we interpret them? Today on Ratchet+Wrench Radio, we’re joined by Hunt Demarest, a partner at Paar Melis & Associates, leading financial expert in the auto repair industry, and host of the Business by the Numbers podcast. Hunt works closely with shop owners to dig into the data behind the decisions. Today, he's here to challenge some assumptions and walk us through the common traps shop owners fall into when reading their financials.

From Matchbox Cars to a Million-Dollar Shop: Charlie Zlatkos' American Dream

Charlie Zlatkos, owner of Pleasant Care Car, immigrated to the U.S. at 17. He talks about growing his vocabulary from four English words to opening and running a multi-million-dollar a year shop. Zlatkos also talks about being mentored by Todd Hyes of Auto Shop Answers and how his perspective on entrepreneurship was changed.  Lastly, he tells the story of a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle who stopped by his shop, and how that encounter changed both of their lives.

Five Lessons from the Synergy Auto Juneteenth Crisis

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Group Editorial Director Chris Jones discusses a situation that every shop owner needs to understand—how to handle a customer fallout before it goes viral. Synergy Auto Care in Wilson, North Carolina, made national headlines on June 19 after a Black customer walked out over employees' dismissive comments about Juneteenth. We're going to break down exactly what happened and give you five concrete lessons that could save your shop from a similar crisis. Because in today's connected world, one bad moment can undo years of reputation building.

What's Next for Right to Repair Legislation?

In this episode, Lisa Foshee, senior vice president of Government Affairs and General Counsel at Auto Care Association, breaks down the right to repair battle affecting independent auto repair shops. As automakers fight to restrict access to diagnostic data, independent auto repair shops and their customers face an existential threat. Foshee covers Massachusetts' leading legislation, Maine's efforts, federal bill status, and the legislative process. She explains the economic stakes and provides practical advocacy steps for shop owners and their customers.

Growing as a Leader

Join us on Ratchet+Wrench Radio as Mike Jones from Discover Leadership Training shares powerful insights on elevating your leadership game. In this episode, Mike explores the critical distinctions between leadership and management, reveals how discipline fuels personal and professional growth, explains why traditional motivation falls short and what drives lasting change, and identifies common communication pitfalls that derail leaders, plus proven strategies to overcome them.   This episode originally aired on Aftermarket All-Access.

Podcast: How to Be Leader in All Times

We're living through uncertain and changing times. In this episode, Josh Parnell of Limitless Leadership talks about how to lead without wavering.

Time to Level Up: Real-World Best Practices That Actually Work

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, sponsored by Bosch, Shawn Dupuie, Senior Director of Sales and Operations, joins Ivan Rioja-Scott, editor-in-chief, to dig into what modern shop success really looks like. The pair discusses culture, KPIs, technician retention, pay plans, emerging tech and more. You’ll hear why continued education matters, how to spot red flags early and where to find reliable info to stay ahead. Whether you’re solving current problems or trying to prevent future ones, this conversation offers real, firsthand insights to help your shop level up and stay there. 

ADAS Readiness in Today's Shop

In this episode, Steve Dawson, Washington D.C. regional manager for Hunter Engineering, talks about what auto repair shop owners and technicians need to do to be ADAS-ready. He discusses preparation and infrastructure, necessary training and skills, liability and legal implications of calibration, and how to educate customers on the necessity and importance of calibration. 

How Your Mental Health Affects Your Business Decisions

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Margaret Light, licensed marriage and family therapist of Equilibrium Therapy Services P.L.L.C. talks about the impact of mental health on decision-making in business. She also has tips for owners and managers who are too optimistic or too pessimistic, and discusses how to bounce back mentally from a bad decision.

The Road to Repair: Why the Customer Journey Starts Online

In this episode of Rachet+Wrench Radio, sponsored by SHOP-WARE, Editor-in-Chief Ivan Rioja-Scott sits down with Cavan Robinson, VP of Vehlo, to talk about how SHOP-WARE can help improve your shop’s efficiency and bottom-line results. By using a streamlined cloud-based platform, you can significantly improve customer service while ensuring your shop runs seamlessly, boosting car counts, average repair orders and technician efficiency. 

Turning Around a Failing Shop and Executing a Plan for Growth

How to Increase Customer Loyalty

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It w/Kathleen Callahan

Don't Treat Your Vendors That Way

Forecast and State of the Industry w/Mike Bennett

Two Sisters: An EV Shop and an ICE Shop

Selling, Upselling, and Overselling

Editor Ecclesia #2 w/Chris Jones & Ivan Rioja-Scott: What Makes a Shop Owner?

Make Social Media a Tool for Growth and Transparency w/Jacki Lutz

Addressing the Technician Shortage and the NAPA Team Tool Rebate

The Journey to Find the Right Coach w/Tonnika Haynes

Peace of Mind or Damage Control? The Case for Proactive Security in Auto Repair

In this episode of Rachet+Wrench Radio, sponsored by AMAROK, Editor-in-Chief Ivan Rioja-Scott sits down with AMAROK Enterprise Development Manager Jackson Skey to talk about how improving your repair shop's security can be a turnkey solution that can give your customers peace of mind that their vehicle is being cared for. The right security solution can even save time and reduce vehicle damage because it may reduce or eliminate the need to move vehicles inside the facility each night.   Join us as we uncover how easily a system can be installed to get your shop on the road to higher security and productivity. To learn more about AMAROK, click here!