Success Leaves Clues: An Automotive Industry Podcast

Remembering Aaron - The Best Moments of Success Leaves Clues

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is a Berg and Jay sit down to reflect on some of the most impactful moments from the Success Leaves Clues podcast with Aaron Stokes....

From Alaska to Arizona - John Pearson Finds a Way

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, John Pearson shares his wild ride from racing Corvettes to joining the Army and eventually moving to Alaska. Through determination, g...

Embracing courage and building your dream life with Jay Huh

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re incredibly grateful to have recorded this episode live at the last Pro Conference with Aaron and special guest Jay Huh.As many of you know, Aa...

Retiring and Coming Back Again - A Fantastic Time with Doug Rogers

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to laugh and hear the story of Doug Rogers. Along with his wife, Donna, Doug retired—then jumped back in to kick his multi-million-dollar ...

Location Lessons and the Best Million Dollar Mistake with JR Luna

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron and Jay catch up with JR Luna to hear his story of success. JR went from managing a shop to becoming an owner in his late twenties. He quickly l...

Why Most Leaders Struggle with People—and How to Get It Right with Joe Stokes

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Joe Stokes joins us for our first episode of 2026 to kick off the year with hard-earned leadership insights. As the leader responsible for managing mu...

2025 Year End Wrap Up! Big things ahead in 2026!

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Aaron and Jay as they wrap up an incredible year on the podcast and look ahead to the opportunities coming in 2026. With a standout lineup of gue...

The Pain of Family Business - Learning to Succeed with Aaron Miller

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron Miller discusses his business with his brother and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Through many ups and downs, th...

From Broken and Broke to Having a Bigger Purpose with Own Buchanan

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Owen Buchanan sits down with us in between sessions at the Shop Fix Pro Conference. Owen spent 10 years grinding it out only to be met...

Family Fallout to Fantastic Success - Paul LeBlanc's Turnaround Story

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Paul LeBlanc (however you pronounce it) shares his path—from jumping into the family business during a difficult time, to navigatin...

Million-Month Garage Story with Luke Walker

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we interview Luke Walker, who runs one of the largest—if not the largest—independent auto repair shops in the United States. This...

Do discounts cheapen shops?! Let's talk marketing with Aaron and Jay

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron and Jay dive into the topic of Marketing and how discounts are viewed both negatively and positively. Aaron shares his strategies about marketin...

From Garage to Growth: Eric Walker's Message to All Techs

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Walker of Walker Automotive holds multiple degrees, certifications, and an impressive career history. He’s also a trainer for Automotive Traini...

Not Letting Your Past Define You with Samantha Wright

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Samantha Wright shares how she became co-owner of Wright Auto Group, a multi-shop business founded on three key pillars: Aim for Happ...

The Power of One More: Life-Changing Insights with Ed Mylett

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we have the honor to speak with Ed Mylett right after his keynote presentation at Shop Hackers Conference 2025. Ed is a globally recog...

The Big Balance. How to be time rich with Jesse Itzler

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jesse is an out-of-the-box kind of guy. I'm most cases he didn't even start with a box! In this episode, Jesse, who is an acclaimed author, co-founder...

You want to be the BEST? Tommy Mello tells us how!

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy is BACK! Our first time with Tommy was after he was a keynote at the Shop Hackers Conference in 2024. This time Tommy joins us for an hour packe...

The Rise, Realization, and Resilience of Justin Smith: From Mutiny to Mental Health

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Justin Smith, the charismatic owner of an auto repair shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia, shares his compelling story. Justin r...

Building from Scratch: Brett and Tonya's Fast Path to Success in Pensacola

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Tonya and Brett share their dynamic story of starting a successful auto repair shop in Pensacola. From their initial meeting ...

The Full Story. Edward Caswell's Transformed Life!

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode, Edward Caswell, owner of Full Throttle Automotive and Fast Lane Auto Repair shares more than the details behind his successf...

Building a Business and Balancing Family: Lauren's Success Story in Auto Repair

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lauren Keeton shares her inspiring story of shop ownership and how she and her husband David turned it into the life they wanted. Despite growing up i...

Let's go Skibo! One step back, ten steps forward. Creating an amazing life with Jeff Skibo.

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jeff Skibo shares his story of overcoming business hardships taking steps that felt backwards to move forward. Born and raised in Cal...

Jack Getz's Automotive Business Multi-Million Transformation

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Jack shares his remarkable story going from a nomadic upbringing to building a successful automotive business. Initially dabb...

From Passion to Profit: The Inspiring Story of Thomas Andrews and Carolina Diesel Trucks

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron interviews Thomas Andrews, co-founder of Carolina Diesel Trucks, about his entrepreneurial path from a hobby to a successful bu...

Amanda Drake's Motivational Journey : From Med School to Multi-Shop Owner

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Amanda shares her unexpected journey into the auto repair industry, turning a family business into a personal success story. Initiall...

Are you Resulting?: Tough Days and Tough Decisions with Aaron and Jay

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron and Jay get vulnerable and cover everything from including a malaria diagnosis after a trip to Africa, to the pressures of bala...

Leadership, Legacy, and the Unyielding Spirit with Mike Brewster

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron and Jay sit down with Mike Brewster, a distinguished second-generation shop owner from Burnt Hills, New York. Mike shares insig...

Aaron and Jay - Navigating Struggles, Celebrating Wins, and Embracing Gratitude

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Aaron and Jay discuss various topics including the importance of mental resilience, celebrating small wins, and expressing gratitude ...

The Journey of Leadership, Growth, and Mentorship with Ryan Hillenbrand

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode captures an engaging conversation focused on leadership, personal growth, and the importance of mentorship within a business context. The...

Overcoming Incredible Adversity in Pursuit of the Dream - Juan Barrera

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast episode features the inspiring story of Juan Barrera, an immigrant from Colombia, who moved to the U.S. as a child under challenging circ...

The Power Couple on the podcast! Nick and Nicole Jones!

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this engaging podcast episode, Nick and Nicole from Northern California share their inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming successful...

Building Trust and Overcoming Challenges in Auto Repair: A Conversation with Brandon Smith

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, the guys welcome Brandon to discuss his journey and experiences in the auto repair industry and as main contact for Shop Fix ...

2024 Year End Episode! Aaron and Jay Wrap Up!

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jay and Aaron share their thoughts on the 2024 podcast season, recount personal stories of their friendship, and explore Aaron's jour...

From Fighter Jets to Auto Shops: Jason's leap into Auto Repair

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jason Westberry shares his journey from being an aviation technician and Air Force serviceman to owning and expanding auto repair sho...

Repairing Cars, Building Futures: Pete's Entrepreneurial Adventure

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Pete Tavernier shares his fascinating journey from starting a car repair shop in his garage while working at Car Quest, to es...

Roller coaster! 90 days to double with Zach Caldwell

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Zach shares his career evolution and experiences in since opening his shop True Torque Diesel in 2017. He joined Shop Fix in June 202...

The Hard Way with Andrey and Slavik Shumylo

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ukrainian brothers Andrey and Slavik Shumylo operate two shops in Philadelphia. These guys have put their brotherhood first and developed their busine...

Jay Leno! From Hackers 2024 - Success, Cars, and Laughs!

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron and Jay sit down with the legend Jay Leno. Comedian, The Tonight Show host, entrepreneur, automotive enthusiast, and down to earth guy, Jay shar...

SLC Live! From Shop Hackers 2024

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Catch our live show from Shop Hackers 2024! We sit down with Josh Bird, Nick Padron, and Thomas Andrews to hear "How I did it". We know being successf...

The Tough Truth Behind Partnerships. Adam and Jason on What it Takes

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam Preusser and Jason Kath discuss their 20-year partnership in the auto repair industry. They share their journey from meeting in ...

Full circle. Great advice and a great story with Brad Emery

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we hear from Brad Emery. We caught up with Brad at Shop Hackers 2024 and talked about his path and the lessons he learned along the wa...

Go win, dream big, and no excuses with Tommy Mello!

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we hear from Tommy Mello! Tommy is a highly successful and motivating leader and founder of A1-Garage Door. Hear his journey from pain...

Good Times and Good Guys. The origins of EuroFix and ShopFix with TJ Roberts

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join TJ Roberts, Aaron, and Jay as they take a humorous and insightful journey through the humble beginnings of EuroFix and ShopFix. Between riding di...

The Berg! The Power of the Journey to Reach Your Goal

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode we hear from the one and only, The Berg! We start off with some behind the scenes humor to kick off this walk through Michael Rosen...

Make The Tough Lessons Mean Something - From Parts Guy to MSO with Rick Kersey

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rick Kersey, a multi-shop owner in Oregon, started his automotive career at a parts counter. His relentless drive and motivation propelled him through...

Transformational wisdom with Brandon Peavy : From Firefighter to Entrepreneur

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Brandon Peavy shares his inspiring journey from starting as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic at the age of 16 to becoming a succ...

From Grit to Growth: Shane and Chad's Automotive Journey

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shane Copeland and Chad Kaemingk discuss their journey from meeting at a dealership to becoming successful business partners in the automotive repair ...

Chuck Swain's Journey into Automotive Repair: Turning Challenges into Triumphs

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, Chuck shares his remarkable journey from running a CrossFit gym in Texas to owning an automotive repair shop in Virginia—de...

Mike Difato : An Entrepreneurial Journey from Pools, Boats, and Auto Repair

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode features entrepreneur Mike Difato who shares his journey from working in medical sales and owning a pool service company to launching a s...

Josh Bird : From Pole Barn to Multimillion-Dollar Auto Repair Business Changing Lives

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode features Josh Bird's remarkable journey from working at a dealership with a six-figure income to owning two auto repair shops with a comb...

Ryan Hillenbrand : Building a Family Brand and Navigating Success in Auto Repair

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode features an in-depth interview with Ryan Hillenbrand, owner of four auto repair shops, who shares his journey into the auto repair indust...

Zain Syed : Shocking Methods to Get Millions from High-Performing Shops

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Zain operates three shops with laser-focused strategies to increase profit and performance. In this episode he opens up about his "controversial", and...

Tony Tatich : A Story of Rapid Growth, Real Challenges, and Stepping Up to Overcome

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tony and his family operate five shops in Indiana. In this episode he opens up about his path growing up in his Dad's business, developing a strategy ...

A Kept Promise Leads to Massive Breakthrough with Tristan Realubit

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some moments seem pretty insignificant, but later, we realize they were a landmark in our lives, a moment that sparked the change that set us on a cou...

Quick Clue: Why You Can't Find High-Performers with Thomas Hays

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here's another episode in the Quick Clue mini-series. In this episode, you'll learn 3 important insights that can help you find and hire incredible em...

Becoming Unrecognizable with Darren Adams

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're diving deep into the transformative power of personal development. Personal development isn't just about reading a specific book, attendi...

Quick Clue: Is Your Car Count Being Manipulated? With Thomas Hays

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We are going to try something new! As you know, each month, we interview some incredible folks in our industry in long-form interviews. We've been so ...

How Humanizing Your Metrics and Data is a Cheat Code for Your Shop with Mike Difato

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

So often, when we think about our numbers, metrics, and KPI's we get caught up in the "facts" we learn from these, creating a very rigid interpretatio...

This Episode is for the Techs with Lowell Greene and Phil Quillen

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This one’s for the techs. Without you, our world would look very different: Parents wouldn’t be able to make it to their kid's games, food wouldn’...

How Trauma and Our History Shape Us As Leaders with Kyle Meadows

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our effectiveness as leaders, employees, or any other role in our lives is often profoundly shaped by our past experiences- good and bad. Some experie...

The Longest Closing Day Ever with Phil Webster

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever purchased a shop, a house, or even a car, then you know that the closing table can sometimes be a bit tense, unnerving, and even have...

The Real Reasons We Have A "Tech Shortage" with Lowell Greene

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We've addressed the tech shortage topic from several angles here on the show, but this conversation truly surprised and inspired me. There are so many...

A Story From Someone Who Serves Us with Ryan Burton

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First off, let's address the elephant in the studio: This episode features our friend Ryan Burton who is the founder of Leads Near Me, which is a spon...

Creating a Company Culture That Retains Great Techs with Phil Quillen

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's a well-known fact that the auto repair industry that we are in the middle of a nationwide technician shortage. In my observation, there are shops...

The Evolution of Roles with Eric & Brent Raber

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a saying that I really love, that I’ve lived by for many years. “Find a need and fill it”. This saying speaks to service, but also mak...

Part 3 of 3: Become A Dependable and Powerful Leader with Joe Stokes

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the final part of an incredible 3 part series with our friend, the very wise, Joe Stokes who is the Regional Director for EuroFix, AutoFix, an...

Part 2 of 3: Become A Dependable and Powerful Leader with Joe Stokes

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Part two of this three-part series is focused on what it takes to open one (or more) stores at once. Joe Stokes, Regional Director for a fast-growing ...

Part 1 of 3: Become A Dependable and Powerful Leader with Joe Stokes

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week is the amazing and very wise, Joe Stokes who is the district manager for EuroFix, AutoFix, and Mike's Auto in Middle Tennessee. Th...

A Shop Model That Provides Financial Advocacy For Our Customers With Rob Choisser

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Customer Advocacy. It’s a big part of what we as automotive professionals. Technicians advocate with complete and accurate inspections, and our Advi...

How to Shipwreck Your Shop with Ryan Blair

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Having a shop is much like steering a large ship in new waters. Your crew is looking to you for leadership, your passengers trust you to do the right ...

How to Make Your Shop A True Force For Good with Matt Carlson

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the point of becoming profitable? I’ve talked to hundreds of shop owners, and not a single one wanted to become rich for the sake of being r...

From Working In the Fields to Millionaire Shop Owner with Juan Acevedo

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a saying that says, “You can’t change your stars” It implies that the family line, situation, or status you are born into will determi...

Don't Walk Through Hell Alone with Adam Preusser

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes things at our shops take some pretty sharp turns, and sometimes those turns are into a ditch, but other times it’s straight into a canyon!...

Becoming a Resilient Shop Owner Who Can Overcome Anything with Stan Andrewski

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Becoming resilient is one of the most critical traits to becoming a successful shop owner, tech, advisor, or anyone else in this challenging indu...

What If You Had To Start Over From Scratch? With Glenn Todd

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if you had to start over from scratch? Like one day, you have a shop, and the next day you don’t. Where would you start? What resources would y...

Redeeming A Relationship with Dad with Veille Arthur

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every son longs to have a good relationship with his dad. Sometimes though, as many, including myself, can attest, that doesn't always happen. Now tak...

How an Unlikely Friendship Became a Triple-Brand Auto Repair Company with Eric Rutherford

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week our guest is Eric Rutherford of Prestige European Auto Service in Florida. This episode explores how an unlikely partnership allowed for the...

From Bartering Repairs for Pepsi to 3 Million in Sales with John Lonas

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a tech with a dream to open your own shop or an owner who is not seeing the success you dreamed of, then this episode is made especially for...

The Creation of a Happy and Successful Service Advisor with Ashley Wright

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

 Is it Service Advisor or Service Writer? Either way, it's one of the most critical roles in the shop because if the sales aren't there, the tech...

Finding Massive Breakthrough After 16 Years of Complacency with Fred Young

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Complacency is a killer. It lulls us into a false sense of security by making us believe that our status quo is good enough or even a safe and prudent...

Becoming a Compelling Leader with Jay Huh

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Becoming a compelling leader unlocks doors to moves that others simply can’t make. Moves like successfully expanding your shop during a global pande...

Coming out of Addiction and Creating a Thriving Shop with Chris Knuth

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It seems if you do just a little research, we can find that addiction is a prevalent trait in many business owners and high-performers. Left unchecked...

Taking Complete Ownership for Our Mistakes with Joe Valind

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In shop ownership, sometimes we make big mistakes, experience massive failures, and are presented with incredible challenges. Some of these can hurt a...

The Bank Called Your Note… Now What? with Jonathan Ortiz

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Your note has been pulled." Those are some pretty scary words to hear for almost anyone. The thought brings up many questions: What would you do if t...

Replay: Breaking Free From Old Identities with Michael Rosenberger

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today is Friday, July 29th, and NEXT WEEK I’m grateful to be a part of the annual Shop Hackers conference in Nashville TN. If you’re attending tha...

Visiting Shops Across America with Nate Winston

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After being in the automotive industry for a while now, one word that comes to mind for me when describing us is COMMUNITY. Though it seems individual...

"You're the Problem!" with Todd Baldridge

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if you found out all along you that YOU were the problem that was causing your shop, or even your life to not be where you wanted them to be — ...

How to Build a Successful Family Business with Doug Hillmuth

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Building a business from nothing, growing it into a family empire, and then passing it on to your kids. It’s the full circle. It’s the dream. It’...

From Angry and Burnt Out to Thriving with Joe Stokes

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Angry, burnt-out, and stuck. Those are some words that would describe where Joe Stokes found himself years ago. He was an incredible tech, made good m...

The Long Journey to an Overnight Success with Ashleigh Civitello

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During my years in the industry, I’ve heard many stories of how owners started their shops. Of those, there are a few stories that come to mind of o...

The Power of Becoming Less Important at Your Shop with Will Dunford

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are you an owner or manager who feels ineffective, overwhelmed, or stuck in "Mom/Dad Syndrome" at your shop? Or do you struggle to get your team to tr...

Finding Confidence and Creating Culture With Jason Smith

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How would you like to build such a great culture in your company that people come looking to work for you instead of you chasing them down? How would ...

Overcoming our Mental Roadblocks to Build a Thriving Repair Shop with Dave Markert

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the course of building a successful shop (or in our guest's case, 8 of them), there are mental roadblocks that can get in our way, such as fears, f...

The Power of Being Curious and Breaking the Rules at the Shop with Kevin Roth

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From a young age, we are taught to follow the rules. We were told to follow the rules or there will be consequences --- follow the rules at all costs!...

Dealing with Our Egos with Ryan Hillenbrand

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Ego is defined by the oxford dictionary as "a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance". Now that doesn’t sound too bad, does it? We all...

Growing Yourself to Grow Your Shop with Juan Barrera

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing the numbers and KPIs in your shop is critical, but I would argue that if you’re not growing yourself and your team through personal developm...

The Power of Authentic Relationships in Your Business with Mike Wandrey

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our shops are filled with cars, lifts, tools, fluids, desks, and a whole bunch of other stuff… but they are BUILT on the relationships of our team. ...

How to Be a Great Manager with Guy Roberts

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, our guest Guy Roberts shares with us the time he went from being a Service Advisor to a General Manager, and THEN going from General ...

Learning to be Unstoppable with Richard Weis

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How would you like to be so driven and so confident that you’d achieve your goals that it scared you a little? What if you were so willing and able ...

Top Service Advisor Moves Seats on the Bus with Anje Clay

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a business analogy about your business is like a bus and the seats are different roles in your business. Making sure your team is on the righ...