Épisodes

  • 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


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    52 min
  • 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 h et 16 min
  • From the Bay to the Barn: The Dealer Tech Who Built His Own Damn Shop

    From the Bay to the Barn: The Dealer Tech Who Built His Own Damn Shop
    Oct 31 2025
    What happens when a dealership tech decides he’s done turning wrenches for someone else and builds his own shop from the ground up?

    In this episode, Kevin Brown sits down with Donovan from Cypress Ridge Automotive, a former Ford dealership tech who walked away from the flat rate life, built a shop in his backyard, and turned it into a thriving business.

    The two dig into what it really takes to go from tech to business owner, the learning curve, the emotional rollercoaster, and the financial gut punches no one warns you about.

    From six liters and CP4 disasters to dealing with one time use bolts, credit card fees, and bullshit warranty times, Kevin and Donovan get real about the chaos, the craftsmanship, and the cost of doing business in today’s repair world.

    They also dive into the industry’s bigger problems, overpriced diesel repairs, bad engineering, tech turnover, and the dealerships that still don’t get it, while comparing old school wrenching to the tech heavy future of EVs and Tesla simplicity.

    If you’ve ever thought about going out on your own, this episode is your wake up call. Donovan proves you can do it, but only if you’re willing to bet on yourself, learn your numbers, and build something that lasts.

    Topics Include:
    • Leaving the dealership grind and starting from zero
    • Learning business before taking the leap
    •The emotional reality of owning a shop
    • Diesel repair chaos and one time use parts
    • Flat rate vs hourly pay, what really works
    • Taking care of your team and knowing your numbers
    • Why EVs are setting the new standard for simplicity
    • And why letting customers bring their own parts makes you a dumbass

    This one’s for the guys in the bay, the owners sweating payroll, and the ones bold enough to build something of their own.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 h et 1 min
  • Retire Rich or Die Wrenching? Real Talk on Money, Generational Wealth, and Getting Out of the Game

    Retire Rich or Die Wrenching? Real Talk on Money, Generational Wealth, and Getting Out of the Game
    Oct 24 2025
    In this hard-hitting episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with Travis Smith, his financial advisor for the past 9 years, a trusted partner in planning the future of both his companies and his team.

    If you’re a shop owner, blue-collar entrepreneur, or hard-working technician wondering what retirement will really look like, this conversation will hit home. Kevin and Travis break down what no one is talking about in the industry: how to retire with dignity not with regret. From SIMPLE IRAs and compound interest to the generational wealth gap and boomer transitions, this episode dives deep into:

    -The real math behind retirement (spoiler: Social Security won't cut it)

    -Why most shop owners fail their people by avoiding long-term financial planning

    -How Gen X and Millennials can catch up and still build real wealth

    -What Kevin is doing differently to make sure his team actually retires

    -How to set up your business to run without you—and be worth selling

    -Why giving 10% equity to his top guys was the smartest move Kevin ever made

    -Why Travis believes most advisors are failing their clients

    -And what happens when AI, inflation, and aging boomers collide

    There’s strategy. There’s history. There’s straight-up truth about legacy, money, and what happens when the old guard starts stepping out leaving businesses behind for the next generation. Whether you're 22 or 62, if you don't know what you're doing with your money... you're already losing.

    📢 This is a must-watch for shop owners who want to keep their people, build something that lasts, and get out without burning it all down.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 h et 14 min
  • Leadership Is the Problem...And the Solution

    Leadership Is the Problem...And the Solution
    Oct 17 2025
    In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Chris Craig returns to Repair Shop Reckoning to tear the lid off the real issue plaguing the automotive industry: Toxic Leadership!

    From the dealership drama to independent shop dynamics, Chris and Kevin dive deep into the culture clashes, ego-driven managers, and leadership failures that fuel technician burnout, broken systems, and the ongoing skilled labor crisis. They don’t hold back.

    You’ll hear stories from both sides of the shop advisor and tech, flat rate and hourly, indie and dealer. Chris shares what really happens behind closed doors in dealerships, from dummy appointments to sabotage between techs and service writers. Kevin brings the independent world perspective, showing how leadership can build culture, empower teams, and create profitable, drama-free shops if done right.

    They dig into:
    -The ego epidemic in management
    -How poor leadership ruins flat rate systems
    -Real solutions to increase efficiency without killing morale
    -Why technicians and advisors are fighting each other (when they should be partners)
    -The power of AI to save time and build trust
    -Why culture starts at the top and the hard truth most owners avoid
    -And a mic-drop moment on how keeping a toxic high performer can silently destroy your entire shop

    This episode isn’t just a rant. It’s a roadmap for what great leadership actually looks like in the shop. If you care about retention, culture, and real shop success, this one’s a must-listen. Time to stop blaming flat rate and start looking in the mirror.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 h et 28 min
  • Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability

    Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
    Oct 17 2025
    In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks — and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in leadership, accountability, and building a shop that actually works. If you’re a shop owner, manager, or tech tired of excuses, underperformers, or being the bottleneck in your own business, this one hits hard. In this episode:
    • Why culture starts with your backbone, not your breakroom perks
    • How policies and expectations create alignment and consistency
    • Kevin’s 56K sandblaster gamble and how it paid off
    • The truth about letting customers bring their own parts
    • Flat rate debates, dealership drama, and why your number one tech might be killing morale
    • How AI is saving shops time and money and why one furry troll didn’t like it
    • Why the me first mindset ruins companies and how to build process around people
    • What happens when a shop owner finally says, “I’m the problem.”
    From hilarious stories to brutal business truth bombs, this episode lays it all out — culture, leadership, parts profits, tech drama, and the owner mindset that separates the winners from the whiners.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    54 min
  • The Truth About Running a Shop: Culture, Pay, GPTs, and the Real Cost of Leadership

    The Truth About Running a Shop: Culture, Pay, GPTs, and the Real Cost of Leadership
    Oct 17 2025
    What if the reason your shop is struggling isn’t flat rate… but your culture, your pricing, and your leadership? In this solo deep dive, Kevin peels back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful, profitable, no-BS repair business in today’s climate. From dealing with walkout employees and overhyped social media critics to offering benefits, 401(k) matches, paid vacations, and even profit sharing Kevin lays it all out, raw and unfiltered. You’ll hear:
    • Why shop culture starts at the top—and how most owners are the problem.
    • The real math behind pricing, labor rates, and profitability.
    • How Kevin’s built a team of loyal, profitable, happy employees some of whom now own part of the company.
    • Why you should stop apologizing for running your shop like a business.
    • The truth about hourly vs flat rate when it works and when it fails.
    • The game-changing GPT technology Kevin built to save time, boost efficiency, and take shop operations to the next level.
    From hilarious stories of walkouts and terrible painters to breakdowns of employee handbooks, leadership structure, and AI automation this episode is a masterclass for shop owners who want to dominate their numbers without selling their soul. Whether you’re in a pole barn or a multi-bay operation, this episode will challenge your excuses and sharpen your tools.

    Ready for your own reckoning?
    Want your own custom GPT for your shop? Message us.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    57 min
  • Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability

    Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
    Oct 10 2025
    In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in leadership, accountability, and building a shop that actually works. If you’re a shop owner, manager, or tech tired of excuses, underperformers, or being the bottleneck in your own business, this one hits hard. In this episode:
    • Why culture starts with your backbone, not your breakroom perks
    • How policies and expectations create alignment and consistency
    • Kevin’s 56K sandblaster gamble and how it paid off
    • The truth about letting customers bring their own parts
    • Flat rate debates, dealership drama, and why your number one tech might be killing morale
    • How AI is saving shops time and money and why one furry troll didn’t like it
    • Why the me first mindset ruins companies and how to build process around people
    • What happens when a shop owner finally says, “I’m the problem.”
    From hilarious stories to brutal business truth bombs, this episode lays it all out culture, leadership, parts profits, tech drama, and the owner mindset that separates the winners from the whiners. Want a culture worth bragging about? Start with a Full Reckoning Audit

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