Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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Matt riffs on a surprisingly quiet moment from Rocky—the late-night scene where Rocky admits he can’t beat Apollo and Adrian simply asks, “What do we do?” From that question, Matt draws a blueprint for technicians and shop owners: set realistic, self-assigned wins and stack them. Instead of living and dying by big, binary outcomes (“fixed/not fixed,” “hit benchmark/missed benchmark”), build momentum with attainable goals that compound into competence, confidence, and better shop results.

Big Ideas

• “What do we do?” beats “You can do it!” Swapping empty hype for practical next steps creates traction.
• Redefine winning: Rocky doesn’t win the fight; he wins by “going the distance.” Translate that to your day: hit achievable targets that move you forward.
• Stack small, durable improvements: The path to 40+ billed hours or top-quartile shop productivity runs through many smaller, consistent wins.
• Perfection limits joy: Ambition is good; impossible standards starve you of pride and progress.
• Benchmarks aren’t commandments: Continuous improvement may matter more than someone else’s KPI.

Practical Takeaways for Techs

• Scope reps, not scope heroics: Use the oscilloscope on easy cars and routine checks—pair voltage with time until it’s second nature, then add a second channel and a low-amp probe where it makes sense.
• Thermal imager habits: Pull it out on brake inspections, wheel-bearing complaints, and on known-good vehicles to calibrate your eye for “normal.”
• Micro-goals to build hours: If you’re billing ~20 hrs/week, aim for 25 (≈+1 hr/day). Then 30. Ask: Where can I reclaim two hours? (economy of motion, fewer tool trips, better setup).

Practical Takeaways for Shop Owners/Leads

• Aim for +10–15% improvements first: If techs are ~60% productive, target 70%, not 100% overnight. Design the system to enable the next step.
• Design wins into the week: Encourage daily scope/thermal reps, short debriefs, and “wins boards” that recognize process improvements—not just hero fixes.
• Coach with the Adrian question: When someone says, “I can’t hit that,” respond with: “What do we do?” Identify the next two concrete actions.

Memorable Lines

• “We can define our own successes—it doesn’t have to be everyone else’s.”
• “Set wins somewhere earlier in the process, not only at the final repair.”
• “I hope you’re proud of yourself—and that you let yourself feel it.”

Chapter Guide

1. Cold open & sponsors — NAPA Auto Tech Training, Pico Technology
2. Why Rocky still hits — the “What do we do?” scene
3. Defining ‘going the distance’ at work
4. Tech micro-wins — scope reps, thermal habits, pairing voltage & current
5. Shop micro-wins — stepwise productivity goals, system design > pep talks
6. Perfection vs. pride — making room to feel accomplished

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

Matt wrestles with a lifelong pattern of shame, defensiveness, and downplaying wins—and how naming it (out loud) is helping him show up better at work and at home. This one’s part confessional, part field guide: practical, unglamorous steps for accepting compliments, advocating for your value, and being safer to confront in relationships.

Content note: brief, heartfelt discussion of infant loss (the story of Matt’s son, Benjamin).

Why listen

• If you instinctively swat away compliments or feel “pride” is off-limits, this gives language—and a few reps—to shift that.
• Shops, teams, and families run better when we replace shame/stonewalling with honesty and curiosity.

Highlights

• The “shame tank”: how early patterns trained Matt to equate mistakes with identity (“I did something dumb” → “I am dumb”) and how that fueled resentment cycles with employers and loved ones.
• Stonewall → spill → reset → repeat: the loop that forms when you won’t self-advocate until pressure boils over.
• Compliment deflection ≠ humility: jokes like “you need to get out more” felt safe, but quietly devalued real wins.
• Owning value without arrogance: learning to state what you bring to the table without feeling like your mouth is on fire.
• Two proud moments (finally named):
• Benjamin’s birth: staying present, stopping futile interventions, and making sure mom and family had time with him. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/episode/overcoming-the-loss-of-a-child-finding-a-silver-lining-e035
• Post-divorce boundaries: noticing red flags early and exiting a relationship kindly (growth in real life, not theory).
• Professional growth he’ll actually own: the podcast, teaching, equipment dev/beta, EEPROM/board-level work, and expanding beyond “just drivability.”
• Result of doing the work: markedly better conversations with his boss; marriage moving from “fine” to genuinely “great.”

Practical takeaways

• Language swap: “I did something dumb” ≠ “I am dumb.” Keep identity out of error statements.
• Three-beat compliment drill: Hear it → pause → say “thank you” → full stop. (Joke later if you must.)
• Mini inventory: keep a running note of 3 specific things you did well this week; read it before hard conversations.
• Advocacy prep: write a one-page “value brief” before comp talks: outcomes, examples, and how they helped the shop/client.
• Repair the feedback channel: agree with your partner/teammate on a critique ritual (time, signal word, and goal).
• Get a spotter: a counselor/therapist helps reveal blind spots faster than white-knuckling it alone.

People & mentions

• Bob (AAPEX episode—“shame tank” origin point in prior convo) https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/episode/exploring-relationships-health-and-personal-growth-with-bob-heipp-e109
• Equilibrium Therapy Services — Margaret Light (Minnesota)

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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Live from “pre-ASTE,” Matt sits down with two “industry nobodies” (his words) who… are anything but. The trio gets honest about what makes training worth the time and money—and what ruins it. They dig into presenter prep (yes, 40 hours for a 4-hour class), class vetting, sponsor pressure, why a sexy scope trick isn’t always the right first move, and how to bring new voices onto the stage without burning attendees. They also share practical advice for first-timers at training expos so you learn more and regret less.

What we cover

• Why one weak class can poison a whole event—and how to prevent it
• The difference between a presenter and an educator
• Brandon’s CTI “boot camp” lessons: pacing, body language, audience interaction
• Teaching your experience vs. reading someone else’s slides
• The “pico math channel” vs. relative compression—start simple, earn the complexity
• Real-world prep: building a class, flow, case study sourcing, time costs no one sees

Sponsor dynamics: class quality vs. class quantity

• Vetting ideas: short audition decks, Zoom mini-presentations, real Q&A
• Pathways for new trainers: Techs Informing Techs, vision-style tech talks, co-teaching/mentorship
• Feedback that helps: beyond Scantron; what to write so organizers can act
• Attendee playbook: note-taking, pacing yourself, lobby networking, post-event review

Quick takeaways

For trainers

• If you didn’t write the class, make it your own—prep until you could answer questions without the deck.
• Lead with the right test, not the flashiest one. Wow factor is not a learning objective.
• Ask a veteran to review your flow. Co-teach if you can.

For event organizers

• Don’t let sponsorship replace standards. Vet instructors with a 10–15 slide audition + live Q&A.
• Reward quality: fewer tracks > more mediocre tracks.
• Follow up for feedback after the event; invite longer-form comments.

For attendees

• Bring a notebook/app, a highlighter, and capture 3 “do-this-Monday” items per session.
• Don’t try to copy every slide—listen for the why and the decision tree.
• Network on purpose. Introduce yourself. Follow up a week later as you review notes.

Notable moments/quotes

• “Teaching is the fun part—I’d do that for free. You’re really paying for the prep.” — Brandon
• “You can’t preach ‘training matters’ and then short-change the delivery.” — Matt
• “We need an on-ramp for new presenters—safe reps before three-hour sets.” — Matt
• “Start with the test that answers the question fastest.” — Bob

Shout-outs & mentions

• MobilityWorks — Bob’s focus on vehicles modified for physically disabled drivers/passengers
• CTI/Worldpac instructor boot camp (presenter craft)
• Techs Informing Techs / vision-style tech talks — great first stage reps
• Pico Technology concepts referenced (math channels, relative compression)

Who this episode helps

• Techs deciding whether to spend the time/money to travel for training
• New and aspiring trainers looking for the right entry path
• Organizers who want higher attendee retention and better word-of-mouth

Call to action

• Been to a class that changed your workflow—or wasted your time? Send Matt what made the difference and why.
• If you’re an aspiring presenter with a killer case study, draft a 10-slide mini and reach out—let’s get you reps at a tech-talk format.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech...

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

Live(ish) from ASTA 2025 in Raleigh, I “borrow” a guest from a Keith Perkins immobilizer class: Mike Maleski of PSK Automotive and Rosedale Technical College. We dig into the business of keys/immobilizers—what drew him in, locksmith gatekeeping, where OE tools beat aftermarket for workflow, flat-rate incentives (hello, Cobra Effect), cloning/EEPROM realities, and teaching diagnostics to the next generation. Also: yinzer linguistics, Applebee’s barters, and Tibbe-key kryptonite.

Mike Maleski — Owner/tech at PSK Automotive (Pittsburgh, PA) and instructor at Rosedale Technical College.

Topics we hit

• Getting into keys: margins, ROI, and focusing the service line
• Locksmith gatekeeping → locksmiths moving into module programming
• Market realities: dense dealer competition vs. being “the only game in town”
• Inventory truth: FCC IDs, chip types, look-alikes that aren’t
• Aftermarket vs. OE: when GM/Volvo VIDA and other OE paths are faster/cleaner
• Cutting machines: Dolphin starts; Triton support/updates; Tibbe/Jag quirks
• Cloning & EEPROM: freeing used key slots (e.g., BMW), virginizing/clone vs. dealer order
• Service mix & referrals: “different, not better,” building two-way trust
• Pay plans & culture: misaligned incentives, base-plus-performance sanity
• Wages vs. geography: think cost-of-living ratios, not raw dollars
• Teaching at Rosedale: bench → car, lightbulb moments, ScannerDanner lineage

Quotes

• “OE software isn’t always about coverage; sometimes it’s about friction.”
• “Flat rate isn’t evil; misaligned incentives are.”
• “You can stock 200 keys and still not have the right one.”

Takeaways

• Adding keys/immobilizer? Plan inventory, price subs, know your dealer landscape, lean OE when it reduces rework.
• Build referral networks; you won’t go broke sending work to the right specialist.
• Audit incentives in your pay plan.
• In teaching/mentoring, bridge breadboards to the messy reality of in-car faults early.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com
• Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel
• Subscribe & Review: Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

Matt Fanslow explores the complex relationship between passion, purpose, and the realities of working in the automotive repair industry. Inspired by a story of a successful businessman who rediscovers his childhood joy fixing bicycles, Matt reflects on how easily passion can fade — and what shop owners and managers can do to help their teams rekindle it.

He tackles the classic debate of “follow your passion” versus “follow the money,” examines how shop culture and leadership can either nurture or crush enthusiasm, and shares candid thoughts on his own journey to keep that sense of wonder alive through advanced diagnostics, ADAS calibrations, EEPROM work, and more.

From systemic demotivators like inadequate tooling and broken pay structures, to the transformative power of genuine leadership excitement, Matt invites listeners to reconsider how they approach motivation and fulfillment in their shops — and in their own careers.

Key Takeaways:

• A Lesson in Passion: A story about a man who spent decades in a corporate career before returning to his childhood love — repairing bicycles — illustrates how deeply rooted passions can resurface and transform our lives.
• Passion vs. Paycheck: Matt discusses the tension between following your passion and pursuing financial stability — and why the answer isn’t always as simple as motivational slogans make it seem.
• Keeping the Spark Alive: For technicians and shop owners alike, maintaining interest and curiosity often requires growth: new tools, deeper training, challenging work, and continuous learning.
• Demotivators in the Shop: Being “set up to fail” — whether through lack of equipment, poor information, inadequate training, or broken systems — is one of the most effective ways to kill enthusiasm and productivity.
• The Leadership Role: Leaders who show excitement about the work and actively celebrate their team’s wins help create a culture that sustains passion rather than drains it.
• Shops as Schools: Matt draws a comparison to how schools can drain curiosity from kids, urging shop owners to avoid building environments that strip away the same energy and wonder from their technicians.

Notable Quotes:

• “Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl
• “Sometimes work sucks the wonder right out of us — the same way school can strip curiosity from kids.”
• “I get into advanced diagnostics, ADAS, EEPROM work — not just because I can, but because it keeps that childlike wonder alive.”
• “Setting someone up to fail isn’t just about tooling or training. It’s about robbing them of the chance to succeed — and that kills passion faster than anything.”

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt:

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

In this episode, Matt Fanslow takes on a common source of confusion in automotive diagnostics: pressure, vacuum, and the difference between gauge and absolute readings.

What starts as a discussion on PSI and inches of mercury quickly expands into how technicians interpret scan tool PIDs, why definitions matter, and where misunderstandings creep in—especially in the U.S., where we often mix measurement scales. Along the way, Matt also detours (in true Matt fashion) into physics, quantum mechanics, and the origins of universes from near-perfect vacuums.

Yes, really. And yes, it still ties back to cars.

Key Topics Covered:

The two main pressure scales used in the U.S.:

• PSI (pounds per square inch) above atmospheric
• Inches of mercury below atmospheric (vacuum)

Where confusion starts:

• Vacuum gauges vs scan tool data
• PSI vs inches of mercury and how both can technically read positive or negative

Gauge vs Absolute pressure:

• Gauge pressure treats atmospheric as zero
• Absolute pressure references a sealed, near-vacuum chamber
• Why MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensors often confuse techs

Rules of thumb:

• 2 inHg ≈ 1 PSI
• Atmospheric pressure at sea level ≈ 14.7 PSI (≈ 30 inHg, ≈ 100 kPa)
• Engine vacuum at idle ≈ 18–20 inHg (≈ mid-30 kPa absolute)

How to tell what your scan tool is showing you:

• Quick test: Key On, Engine Off → atmospheric pressure value reveals if it’s gauge or absolute

Metric perspective:

• Why kilopascals (kPa) often simplify things
• Thinking of vacuum as “low pressure,” not “negative pressure”

Physics detour (because Matt can’t help himself):

• Schrödinger’s Cat and quantum absurdities
• Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
• Absolute zero pressure, absolute zero temperature, and why universes may form from vacuum energy

Why It Matters

A clear understanding of how pressure is defined, displayed, and measured allows technicians to:

• Interpret scan tool PIDs correctly
• Avoid misdiagnosis caused by unit confusion
• Communicate more precisely with peers and customers
• Gain confidence when moving between PSI, inHg, and kPa

Next time someone’s arguing inches of mercury vs PSI on a forum, remember: it’s all about knowing whether you’re looking at gauge or absolute. And if the conversation stalls, just casually mention that universes may have formed from absolute zero pressure. It probably won’t help you win the argument—but hey, it’s a good story.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

Matt takes a break from technical talk to discuss a critical issue affecting both society and the automotive aftermarket: the growing inability to engage with differing perspectives. Triggered by recent events, including the tragic death of commentator Charlie Kirk, Matt explores the importance of challenging our own ideas, the dangers of social media echo chambers, and how this mindset translates to our professional interactions in the shop.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Core Principle: Matt opens with a powerful quote from former ACLU director Ira Glasser: "Being offended is not a valid reason for silencing someone." He argues that the power to limit speech you dislike can easily be turned against speech you support.
• The Value of Unsafe Ideas: A healthy society and campus should be physically safe, but intellectually "unsafe," meaning ideas should be openly challenged and debated. This is how we strengthen, modify, or better defend our own positions.
• The Social Media Trap: Algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, which often means promoting content that enrages us. This leads to:
• Echo Chambers: We surround ourselves only with people who think like us.
• Radicalization: A lack of diverse perspectives can push us to extremes.
• The "Unfriending" Trend: Matt argues it's a mistake to purge our social networks of people with differing, even disagreeable, views. This eliminates valuable challenges to our own thinking.
• The Professional Parallel: This divisiveness isn't just political. In the aftermarket, we see it when we run down competitors or refuse to consider different technical approaches or business philosophies from our own.
• Seeing the Person Behind the Avatar: People often project an amplified or modified version of themselves, especially online or in stressful situations (like a customer at a service counter). Matt urges listeners to be curious about who people really are and why they might be acting a certain way, rather than making quick judgments.
• A Call to Action: Actively seek out and listen to perspectives different from your own. Engage with the ideas, not the person. Foster genuine curiosity to combat division and improve both personal and professional relationships.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com
• Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel
• Subscribe & Review: Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

The Aftermarket Radio Network:

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

Watch Full Video Episode

In this thought-provoking solo episode, Matt Fanslow tackles the complex and personal question: "What is success?" Drawing a fascinating parallel to Einstein's theory of relativity, Matt argues that there is no universal definition of success, just as there is no universal clock. Success, like time, is personal and relative.

He explores how a "successful" outcome for a rookie technician (simply completing a complex job correctly) is vastly different from the definition of success for a seasoned master tech (high efficiency and productivity). Matt urges listeners—whether shop owners, managers, or technicians—to define success on their own terms, celebrate personal victories, and create environments where individuals can chart their own improvement.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Physics Metaphor: How Einstein's theory of relativity—specifically, that time is not universal but personal—provides a powerful framework for thinking about success.
• No Universal Benchmark: Why comparing your success to billionaires like Elon Musk or elite athletes is a flawed and discouraging exercise.
• Success in the Shop:
• For a new tech, success might be finishing a job without help, even if it took three times the book time.
• For management, success is often tied to metrics like productivity and profit.
• The importance of acknowledging and validating these different definitions.
• The Role of Leadership: Managers must communicate clear, reasonable definitions of success and provide the systems and support for their team to achieve it. This includes mentoring on efficiency without dismissing initial accomplishments.
• Embrace the Learning Process: True growth comes from analyzing failures and missteps. Don't shortchange yourself by only focusing on the end result; take pride in the incremental wins.
• A Changing Industry: With a smaller pool of naturally experienced talent, shops must focus on building systems that allow a wider range of people to succeed, rather than expecting new hires to "succeed in spite of poor systems."

Quotable Moments:

• "There is no universal success. There's only personal success."
• "Give yourself credit where credit's due... validate their successes, even as meager as we may find them to be."
• "This profession is really, really good about pointing out to us is we don't got it."
• "The failures, the hiccups, the missteps, that's where the learning comes in."

Call to Action: How do you define success in your professional and personal life?

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today!

Contact Information

• Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com
• Diagnosing...