What if the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy… but communication?

Before you scroll past this episode thinking, “Ahhh, culture stuff isn’t my thing,” hear me out, because what we’re really talking about here is profit, performance, and people actually wanting to work with you.

In this solo episode of Keep the Change, I pull back the curtain on something most leaders avoid until it’s costing them real money: organizational culture. More specifically, I walk through the Cultural Impact Scorecard — a 360°, anonymous assessment that reveals what your team actually experiences every day… not just what leadership thinks is happening.

And trust me, the gap between those two can be expensive.

Here’s what we get into:

• The 10 key culture drivers every dealership and business should be paying attention to
• Why communication and continuous learning are the two most common (and dangerous) breakdowns I see after 40 years in this industry
• Real-world examples of how strong results can hide weak leadership habits
• The Three Cs of Communication (Connect, Convey, Check) — and how they eliminate conflict before it explodes
• Why “we had a sales meeting” is not the same as developing your people
• How personality styles (DISC) silently sabotage teams that otherwise like each other
• And the uncomfortable truth: if your people aren’t growing, your business eventually won’t either

This episode isn’t theory. It’s field-tested. It’s what I’ve seen work — and fail — inside real dealerships, real leadership teams, and real businesses that wanted the next level but couldn’t quite break through.

Schedule your complimentary 15-minute strategy call: https://calendly.com/bartcoach/15min

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 the car business wasn’t just about cars… but about calling, transformation, and legacy?

In this episode of Keep the Change, I finally sit down with someone I’ve been chasing for a while, not because he was hiding, but because he’s been too busy changing lives. Frank Lopes is a 30-year automotive veteran, CEO of Strong30 Automotive, marketing pioneer, leadership coach, and one of the most passionate advocates I know for the people inside the dealership walls.

This isn’t a tactical “sell more cars” conversation.

This is a real, unfiltered discussion about transformation of mindset, leadership, faith, and purpose.

Frank takes us from sweeping floors as the son of Portuguese immigrants to working side-by-side with Gary Vaynerchuk in the earliest days of digital media… and then through failure, bankruptcy, redemption, and a renewed mission to transform 10,000 lives (and then realizing that number was thinking way too small).

We also unpack:

• Why “Thank God for the car business” is more than a slogan, it’s a declaration
• How Frank’s immigrant upbringing shaped generations of opportunity
• The leadership lesson behind asking “Why so low?” (even after selling 47 cars in a month)
• What Gary Vaynerchuk challenged Frank to do and why saying no still haunts him
• Why past results have nothing to do with your future
• How real leaders stop managing frustration and start transforming people
• The power of one-on-one leadership as the ultimate growth multiplier
• Why the ceiling you’re staring at is probably made of paper

This episode is deep. It’s emotional. It’s practical. And it’s one of those conversations that doesn’t just motivate you, it reorients 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 Frank Lopes

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankjlopes/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmorefrank/?hl=en

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

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

There’s a moment every leader faces, when waiting is no longer an option.
No excuses. No blaming the market. No hiding behind “I’m not ready.”
You either step up… or your habits step in for you.

In this solo episode of Keep the Change, I share one of the most powerful leadership lessons of my life, through a story I watched unfold up close. It’s the story of my mom, who at 59 years old was suddenly thrust into leadership she didn’t ask for, in an industry on the brink of collapse. What happened next didn’t just save a business, it revealed how leadership habits quietly shape culture, and how culture always shows up in profits.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why pressure doesn’t create character, it reveals habits
• How awareness (not action) is the real starting point of change
• The subtle leadership habits that quietly shape culture, for better or worse
• Why asking beats telling and listening builds trust faster than authority ever will
• The difference between intention, decision, and commitment (and why most leaders stop too soon)
• How coaching conversations unlock ownership instead of defensiveness
• Why developing people is the strongest predictor of long-term performance
• And the hard truth every leader needs to hear: culture isn’t what you intend—it’s what your people experience

If you’re leading a team, running a business, or feeling the weight of responsibility heavier than ever, this episode will challenge how you think about habits, communication, accountability, and growth.

Because when leadership becomes unavoidable, the only thing you can fall back on…
is who you’ve already become.

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 happens when a kid who grew up homeless, digging through dumpsters for survival, becomes one of the most respected leaders in the automotive industry?

This episode isn’t just a conversation, it’s a reminder that your past doesn’t get to vote on your future.

On this episode of Keep the Change, I sit down with Ed Roberts, and fair warning…this one goes deep. Real deep.

What we unpack in this episode:

Ed’s story is raw, honest, and powerful, but it’s not just about where he came from. It’s about how he thinks, why he leads the way he does, and what elite leadership actually looks like when it’s done with humility, empathy, and intention.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll hear:

• How Ed went from sleeping in a car to becoming COO and General Manager of Bozard Ford Lincoln, leading explosive growth in a small-town market
• The concept of “Mile One” why progress isn’t about giant leaps, but about taking the next achievable step
• Why great leaders don’t just hold people accountable, they align expectations, earn commitment, and build trust
• The difference between entitled, co-existing, and opportunistic team members (and how to actually lead each one)
• Why empathy, one-on-ones, and listening without agenda are no longer optional for leaders
• How Ed’s book Mile One and his coaching work are creating “starfish moments”—changing lives one person at a time

There’s faith. There’s grit. There’s leadership wisdom you can apply immediately, whether you’re running a dealership, leading a team, or just trying to become a better version of yourself.

This is one of those episodes where you’ll probably pause, rewind, and say, “Man… I needed that.”

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, stuck, or unsure of your next step—this conversation will meet you right where you are and challenge you to move forward.

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 Ed Roberts

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-roberts-00948b36/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

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

What if the questions you’re asking are actually holding people back instead of moving them forward?

I sat down with my friend Dan Nicholas, one of the most quietly influential humans I know, and what unfolded wasn’t just a podcast… it was a masterclass in leadership, listening, faith, and real transformation.

Dan is the kind of guy who can walk into a room, whether it’s a boardroom, a restaurant, or a recovery meeting, and make every single person feel seen. I’ve watched him lift people who were at their lowest and speak life into CEOs, business owners, and world-class leaders with the exact same heart. And in this conversation, you get to experience why.

We unpack a frustrating (and honestly eye-opening) call Dan had right before recording, one of those conversations where someone talks at you, not with you, and use it as a springboard to talk about something every leader, salesperson, coach, and human needs to hear:

The difference between asking “why” and asking better questions.

In this episode, we get into:

• Why “why” questions often create defensiveness instead of growth
• How tone and curiosity can instantly change the direction of a conversation
• The shift from motivation to true transformation (and why it matters)
• How great leaders build trust without power plays or posturing
• Journaling, gratitude, and the power of “I am” statements
• Leading with the fruit of the Spirit, not pressure, ego, or fear
• How faith, discipline, and obedience unlock purpose in business and life
• The idea of “dream vampires” and how to stop letting them steal your calling
• Why listening, really listening, is the most underrated leadership skill there is

This isn’t theory. It’s lived experience.

We talk sales, leadership, recovery, faith, failure, purpose, and what it actually looks like to help people move forward without shaming them for where they’ve been. If you’re tired of surface-level motivation and ready for conversations that actually change how you show up, with your team, your clients, your family, and yourself, 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 Bart Nollenberger:

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

What if the way you lead at work didn’t cost you your soul at home?

That’s the question that kept coming up for me in this conversation with Joel Manby. And honestly, it’s one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had on Keep the Change.

Joel’s resume is impressive on paper. Harvard. General Motors. Saturn. CEO of Saab North America at 34. Chairman and CEO of Herschend Enterprises, the company behind brands like Silver Dollar City and Dollywood. But this episode isn’t about titles. It’s about the moment when success stopped being enough and significance started to matter.

In this episode, Joel and I talk about what it really looks like to lead with love without losing results. We dig into his journey from growing up poor in Michigan, to navigating toxic corporate cultures, to discovering a radically different way of leading that actually produced better employee engagement, higher customer satisfaction, and stronger long-term returns.

We talk about Saturn and what made it different. We talk about failure, including a painful startup collapse that left Joel questioning everything. We talk about the phone call that changed his life, when Jack Herschend invited him into a company that believed people came first, not last. And yes, we talk about Undercover Boss, the letters that poured in afterward, and why that experience pushed Joel to write Love Works.

If you’re a leader who’s tired of choosing between results and relationships, this episode is for you. If you’ve ever felt that tension between who you are at home and who work seems to require you to be, this conversation will hit close to home. And if you believe there has to be a better way to lead without becoming someone you don’t recognize, you’ll want to hear every minute of this one.

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 Joel Manby

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-manby-3850b911b/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

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

What if the single decision that changes your entire life looks ordinary in the moment. What if the turning point in your career doesn’t feel like a turning point at all until years later. And what if the leader you become is shaped not by victory, but by what you choose to do when no one else is paying attention.

That is the heartbeat of today’s conversation with Chris Martinez CEO of IgniteUps.Ai, and it is one of the most revealing episodes we’ve ever released.

Chris’s story is not a typical automotive success story. It is a blueprint for what happens when hunger meets humility, when bold choices collide with adversity, and when a leader learns to build people just as passionately as he builds numbers. The man has run massive stores, written bestselling books, built technology before the industry knew it needed it, and weathered personal storms that would level most of us. And yet, what he shares in this episode is not about bragging rights. It is about lessons. Real ones. Earned ones. The kind leaders rarely talk about.

This episode is not simply a conversation. It is a masterclass in building something meaningful from wherever you stand today. If you are a dealer, a leader, a salesperson, or someone trying to figure out how to take the next step in your life, the perspective inside this discussion will stay with you long after it ends.

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 Martinez

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

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

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

What if the biggest breakthroughs in your dealership weren’t hiding in new tech… but in the way you lead your people?

That’s exactly where today’s conversation goes and trust me, you’re going to feel this one.

In this episode, I sit down with someone who needs no introduction in automotive: David Long. A man whose leadership has shaped careers, transformed dealerships, and sparked movements like The Pandemic of Positivity and All Things Used Cars. David doesn’t just talk about leadership — he lives it with a clarity and conviction you don’t see every day.

What we get into in this conversation

This one goes deep into the heart of what separates dealerships that thrive from those barely hanging on, and David does not sugarcoat a thing. We talk about:

• Why leadership clarity is the #1 differentiator heading into 2026
• The one skill every automotive professional should master (but shockingly few do)
• Why so many dealers say they want growth but don’t have the discipline to earn it
• The real truth behind training and why skipping it is costing dealers more than they realize
• How David has opened over 100 buy centers and why most stores fail before they even start
• The exact framework he uses to help dealers buy cars at 85% cost-to-market without extra expenses or fancy tools
• Why the old-school “get ’em in” mentality is officially dead
• And the kind of leadership culture that actually turns people into high performers

This episode isn’t theory. It’s David, honest, sharp, experienced, and fully locked in on helping leaders become better leaders.

If you’re in automotive and you care about your people, your processes, or your performance… this conversation gives you something you can act on before the day ends.

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 David Long

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlong4/

Connect with Bart Nollenberger:

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