Podcasts

On this glorious Thursday we’re covering the continued retail drama as Target reports major Q2 Losses. We also cover a very real-world F-150 Lightning review, as well as Apple’s next big thing.

Carter Myers Automotive has been around for 98 years, meaning they lived through the Spanish Flu of 1918. Liza Borches hasn’t seen all of that, but as the 3rd generation President and CEO of CMA, she knows the stories of the company. She knows the joys and the pains. And she has led the organization through growth and culture shift, overcoming her own ideas about retail auto and even some misogyny from those in her organization. Michael Cirillo, Paul J Daly, and Kyle Mountsier ask her about an opportunity at General Mills, Honda’s 3 Joys, and why groups are asking CMA to acquire them.

Welcome to Wednesday as we take a look at Walmarts earnings report which indicates a new type of clientele at its stores. We also cover GM welcoming a luxury brand member to its board, as well as an candid EV review we think every Dealership employee should read.

Glenn Pasch has seen a lot. Now he works directly with dealerships to build structure and processes. He views the world as a puzzle to be solved for the customer’s sake, and believes that as you ask the right questions and design the right roles, everything will click into place. The more guardrails you have, the faster you can run, and the better you can perform.

This Tuesday we’re talking about unconventional healthcare with big time satisfaction. The Walmart - Amazon rivalry takes another step up. We also cover Apple's return to work (finally) and layoffs at Best Buy which could benefit Dealership employee searches.

Brian Kramer is in a whole new ballgame. After spending years on the dealership side, he has joined Cars.com as their EVP and GM of Accu-Trade. Michael Cirillo, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier talk to Brian about this transition, and the issues that he’s now experienced on both sides. They also touch on haircuts, lead fatigue and pitch slapping.

It’s a fantastic Monday to sell and service some cars. Today we’re talking about the shifts Dealerships are seeing in used cars, and how hundreds of Dealers and Industry Partners are coming together to take advantage of the changing landscape head-on. We also cover a Utah grocer who is breaking convention to serve consumers the way they want.

If you give Scott Simons your phone number, he will text you at least once a year. Everything is about relationships for Scott, and he has a lot of them. His college roommate from Sri Lanka, Grant Cardone and the other 6000 contacts in his phone. Relationship is the way that Scott sells cars, and the way he teaches his team to sell. It’s like having 233 people on your marketing team. Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier spend time learning about this system and hearing how much Scott cares for people.

Walking into a much cooler Friday than last week for most of the country, we’re covering a move by startup Autonomy to boost EV offerings, GM retooling and simplifying its chip infrastructure, as well as the Gen Z trend of trusting TikTok for search.

Not only is David Long a strategic operator, he is proving that it’s possible to both lift and empower others while providing the structure and accountability required to grow. Also, he has the best hugs, according to Michael Cirillo. Michael, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier listen to David’s insights on building up the culture of an organization, and keeping it laser focused on its goals.

“How’s your family?” This is the essence of Todd Caputo, our guest today on Auto Collabs. Todd is the definition of loyal and caring. And on top of that, he’s a really skilled operator. He sold his 4 dealerships, but before that, his dealerships retailed 6000-6500 vehicles annually of which 5500 were used car sales. Paul J Daly and Todd spend time talking about what Todd is up to now, and some of the trends he’s tracking

We hope you’re up and at ‘em this Thursday as we share a great story about a recent acquisition deal between two families on a handshake. We also cover Disney’s moves in streaming and theme parks to keep consumers happy, as well as a big day coming for cryptocurrency Ethereum.

This is an eventful Wednesday as we unpack some business and some drama while we talk about the Shift/CarLotz merger, GM forcing a very expensive subscription on buyers, Echo Park hiring a cutting edge social agency, and Google trying to shame Apple to get rid of it’s blue imessage bubbles.

Danny Zaslavsky, the DP/GM and Country Hills Motors and Founder at VinCue joins to share his unique vantage point about how efficient inventory management systems can lead to an elevated customer experience.

Tuesday is all about loyalty as we talk about the continued decline of both brand and Dealership loyalty, the lack of confidence in Auto brands, Dealerships, and the housing market. We also talk about premium brand McLaren getting into the sneaker game.

Have we been looking at CRMs all wrong? Jasen Rice, our guest on Auto Collabs, thinks so. Jasen is a veteran of the industry. He was selling 100% online at a time when AOL was still mailing Internet CD-ROMs to homes. Consequently, he’s helped launch Digital Dealer, vAuto and much more. In his conversation with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier, he dives deep into CRMs, conversion rates and a new way of thinking about leads.

Welcome to a fresh, shiny new week as we follow up on the weekend’s progress of the EV Tax credit bill we covered last week. We also talk about the advice circulating the internet regarding the best time to buy a car, as well as CVS’s plans to expand into primary care.

Energy. That is what Glenn Lundy brings to life, whether it’s consulting with the 800% Elite Automotive Club, hosting Breakfast with Champions or calling Michael Cirillo out of the blue to interview him. Michael, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier were reminded by Glenn that doing great things requires change, and change means someone is going to quit or be fired. But taking steps today will make your business great down the road, and Glenn believes that’s achievable for everyone.

We’re rounding out the week with Carvana’s Q2 performance and integration of ADESA, as well as general retail traffic increasing in shopping malls leading to tenants moving in. We also talk about a substantially more powerful sensor for autonomous vehicle operation.

Every hero has an origin story. Understand the origin story and you understand the hero. Steve Greenfield has spent more than 20 years of his professional career in automotive industry leadership roles and today, he is an authoritative voice when it comes to automotive technology and the innovators that are revolutionizing our space. Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier had so many questions for Steve that they actually ran out of time, but that’s how it goes when you’re talking to a hero.

As we cruise into the back half of the week we’re giving you a breakdown of the proposed EV Tax Credit. We also talk about why capital investments from big companies are a good sign for the economy. Finally, we’re getting to the bottom of whether or not that legendary tire return story at Nordstrom’s is true or not.

Today’s guest is an accountant turned executive turned dealer. Damon Lester leads NAMAD’s (National Association of Minority Auto Dealers) mission to increase equitable access and meaningful opportunities for minority entrepreneurs and employees across the automotive industry. Our conversation reminded us to get in the dirt and work, and that automotive encompasses everything.

We are fired up after a day of content creation and invigorating conversations! Today we dive into the OEM sales data from July, an issue with credit reporting from Experian, and a downturn in overall job listings pertaining to Metaverse roles across job boards. Time to kick it into high gear as we roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Today's guest is a NYT Bestselling Author, the Co-Founder of Square, the Chairman of the St Louis Federal Reserve, and a Professional Glass Blower. That’s not all either. Jim McKelvey is one of the most purebred entrepreneurs we’ve ever met, and he’s here to help us tell ourselves the truth about innovation, entrepreneurship, and how to stack your laptop on laundry baskets for a zoom call.

There’s a lot to cover this morning as we dive into a letter from GM to its dealers penalizing resale of hot models. We also talk about the major current and projected growth of the service and parts departments, as well as the moves CPG companies are making to feel out the consumer mentality on value and luxury in the personal care products they are purchasing.

Hosts Michael Cirillo, Kyle Mountsier, and Paul J Daly tell the story of how they came to create this podcast and why they believe it is critical for there to be more collaboration in the Retail Auto community between not only Dealers and Industry Partners, but also OEM’s and Consumers. And there’s also a joke or two...or three or four...

Welcome a fresh, shiny new month as we kick off the last full month of Summer with news about Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s comments on a recent shareholder call, Rivian’s service center plans, and the reason NBA fans are helpling the adoption of Web 3 move forward.

We’re closing out another great week of Troublemaking as we talk about Ally Financial’s report on the strength of consumer demand amongst rising rates. We also talk about why Amazon is faring better than its competitors, as well as JetBlues acquisition of Spirit and what it means for air travel.

There is so much to talk about regarding the markets, we couldn’t possibly focus on just one story so we’re giving you a high speed summary. We’re also talking about Apple's recent poach from Lamborghini, as well as a growing trend of resorts charging big bucks for pool chair rentals.

Welcome to Wednesday as we cover the potential developments around the Fed's meeting on interest rates, the 2023 NADA Show opening up tickets and all the fanfare, as well as Instagram CEO’s response to millions of disgruntled users.

We’re rolling into Tuesday as earnings reports keep flowing. Today we cover GM’s report, what Walmart is doing to manage inventory and keep customers spending, as well as the pink condiment that has the Gen X internet deeply divided.

We’re kicking off a great week with some optimism on the economy. How about that?! We talk through Cox, Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke’s time with us and the All Things Used Car Community last Friday. We also talk about the rise in numbers of Minority Dealers across the country, as well as a Harvard collab with the Census Bureau that studies how far young adults are moving (or not moving).

Rounding out another great week of troublemaking, we’re talking about what a world looks like where Amazon knows your most private details, what the return of the rebate might look like and when, and Ford and GM ask the government for permission to go full autonomous.

Today we’re talking about a major cut in salaried positions at Ford, the Q2 Tesla investor call that gave some insight into when Tesla’s Cybertruck may be entering the market, and a legal move by Amazon intended to keep global site reviews honest.

Welcome to Wednesday Troublemakers. Today we’re covering VW of America’s CEO, Scott Keogh’s move to be the CEO of new VW EV brand Scout. We also talk about Netflix continued slide and plans to add ads, as well as Kia’s latest commercial that takes another swing at integrating with NFT’s

We love days like today. For one, we are wheels up to Philly to keep scoping everything out for you with a great ASOTU CON in mind. And two…we are meeting Michael Cirillo there, because “why not!?” Today we give you more insight into our newest podcast launching, gaming coming a lot closer to vehicle screens, and celebration of history in design by Hyundai with their new concept car.

We’re moving through a great week as we talk about broader changes in retail leadership and why we should care. We also cover the reasoning behind Berkshire Hathaway’s push deeper into oil, the Dollar being worth more than the Euro for the first time in 20 years, and maybe a bonus story :)

We’re waking up Wednesday morning fresh off a trip to Atlanta and yes, we brought you something back. We talk to Beaver Toyota GM Patrick Abad about popular recession rhetoric, and how he is taking it in stride. We also talk about car repossessions on the rise and subscription heated seats.

It’s a good day for ASOTU because we get to spend some time on the ground and in the dirt of a real-live dealership! We’re also talking about why we’re spending so much time ‘slack-splaining’ and what we can do to fix that. Finally, we’re announcing our first speaker for ASOTU CON in September.

We’re kicking off a week of troublemaking by giving props to the Auto News 40 Under 40 list. We’re also covering the rise to record new car loan payments, as well as trying to learn a thing or two about how F1 has become a household name through telling great stories.

It’s a beautiful Friday and we’re covering Cox Chief Economist Jonathan Smokes latest bi-weekly Auto Market report. We’re also talking about the retail mindset and how it is affected by the price of Costco hot dogs and Dealership markups from across the country.

Today we have Steve Greenfield returning to the show to talk through his July Auto Intel Report where we’ll summarize some of the biggest happenings in Retail Auto over the last 30 days and get some insight on what they mean for the next 30, 60, and 90 Days.

Today we cover a new EV entrant with a very creative way to solve the financing problem. We also talk about the psychological impact of fresh cut flowers and why it matters for your showroom. Finally, we take a look at a few lessons to be learned from this day in history way back in 1930.

Now that the holiday is over, we can really start off the second half of the year as we launch ASOTU tickets! We also talk about Chevy’s first NFT of a Corvette Z06, how the Fed is paying a lot of attention to how you are thinking about inflation, and Tesla’s new pothole adjusting tech that will hopefully make all of our rides a lot smoother.

As much of the country starts moving around for the holiday weekend we’re bringing a summary of OEM EV plans, talking about the upcoming ability to pay for gas while still in your car, and the real possibility of in-flight high speed internet service.

Today we bring you up to speed from a wild start to 2022 as we talk about what the trends in the markets, proposed FTC rules, and what one Dealer is doing to serve the community mean for you.

On this beautiful Summer Day we’re talking about the birthday of the iPhone and it’s impact on society. We also cover JD Power’s Initial Quality survey and how things aren’t trending in the right direction, as well as new report from the American Psychiatric Association showing that a large portion of the adult population are too stressed to do normal things and what we can do about it.

We’re celebrating our 200th Episode of the Automotive Troublemaker by….bringing you essential news and insights of course :). Today we talk about Ford keeping their off lease EVs, summarizing the Super Bowl of NFTs, and studying the first 90 days of a new hire.

It’s full speed ahead this Monday as we hit the ground running on some lingering items from last week and take a fresh look at what’s happening with Automotive, retail, consumer demand, and preview what’s in store this week as we move toward closing out June with massive momentum.

Paul and Kyle wrap up VADA with a conversation with Mike Stanton and Liza Borches talking all things Franchise Retail Automotive.

We are winding down our time at the VADA convention and have been enamored by the energy and conversations here. Less than 2 weeks from now tickets for ASOTU CON will go on sale, but for now: the news. GM and Ford are racing to the top to take over Tesla, July 4th weekend looks like it will be a record for car travel, and Amazon has implemented their first full autonomous robot to hold down the warehouse floor.

We are still enjoying the beautiful landscape of the hills of Ashville at the VADA Convention. Today we catch you up on some conversations that happened at the convention yesterday, a robot charging station, gas tax initiatives, and a reality check on getting VR closer to reality.

As the Virginia Auto Dealers Association annual meeting kicks off in Asheville, NC, we’re talking about who Dealers are focusing on in their efforts to move forward. We also cover continually rising new car pricing, as well as how to get creative with the business you already have.

Happy Friday! Today we’re covering the Automotive News Congress in Washington yesterday, we review some of the many class act LinkedIn posts from former Tesla employees, and talk about why some Sonos customers just keep having speakers show up at their front do

A mix of seriousness and fun on today’s show as we talk about the current and future rate increases from the Fed, Facebook putting on some summer shorts, printing parts in parts to increase service speed, and an amazing little scooter.

This Wednesday we’re surveying the consumer landscape starting with the standings in the EV Truck race. We also talk about retail spending shifts, Coinbase’s about face with its staff, and finally, streaming for a sport that actually makes sense from a consumer’s standpoint.

It’s Troublemaker Tuesday and we’ve got a full plate of trouble to talk about from the markets that just can’t seem to stay out of the headlines, to a joint letter from automakers to congress. We’re also talking about the potentially real arrival of Amazon drone delivery almost a decade later.

We’ve got a special episode today as we talk about the rapidly shifting wholesale market. We also have the honor of being the first to announce the big move of ASOTU Investor and long time dealer, Brian Kramer as he is named EVP Cars.com to be Head of used car acquisition platform AccuTrade. Hang on everyone, we’re comin’ in hot on a Monday.

Friday is shaping up to be a full day as we talk about yesterday’s trip, and specifically, two young lot attendants. We also talk about Porsche’s new partnership with new startup incubator, Up.Labs, Saturn’s ‘crazy’ idea from 20 years ago, and EV standards being shaped by the US.

We’re in the City of Brotherly Love this Thursday and are talking about ASOTU CON plans, the EU going all in on EV by 2035, the financial sense of an electric lifestyle, and Brad Pitt driving Formula 1

Welcome to Wednesday as we’re talking about Lucids partnership with Bank of America to offer seamless financing, Manheim reporting a rise in wholesale prices, Taco bell’s new concept store that could set the standard for drive thru, and Ford’s surprise Lightning accessory.

There was lots of excitement for Apple fans yesterday around the WWDC22 event and broader implications for the future of flexibility for in-vehicle UIs. We’re giving you a summary of both. We also cover Ford’s contribution to a middle school summer camp in the Tampa Bay area, and also talk about summer gas prices and consumer driving habits.

We’re making some big trouble on a Monday morning as we talk through Volvo’s partnership with the creator of the popular game Fortnite, Epic Games. We also have special guest, Brain Pasch on the show to talk about his direct approach to questioning Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s direct approach to selling EVs.

This Friday is a blend of volatility and stability as we talk about the latest auto Intel report, EV pricing taking a big step forward by taking a big step backward, and which billionaires make the most impact.

The key word for this Thursday’s show is ‘transition’. From Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s recent talk, to a massive leadership move for Meta, to Used Car indicators; we are moving from one thing to the next. To us, this smells a lot like opportunity.

We’re coming off of a day in the dirt as we spend the day in and out of a dozen showrooms. So today, we’re talking about showroom flow, EV charging stations lagging behind expected demand, and the international labor shortage coming to our shores.

Summer is here for many, but shortages are persisting. Today we talk through some of the reasoning. We also talk about the legendary Delorean that is about to spread its EV (gull)wings.

Memorial Day weekend has unofficially begun. We are joined this morning by Matt Lasher with the West Herr Group to talk a bit about marketing and OEM programs. Time to gear up for a huge close and the kickoff to the summer selling season. Get out your grillware and fire up the burners!

It’s Thursday, folks! As we round the corner this week we’re talking about takeaways from Brian Pasch’s DMSC conference in Napa, the strength of Dealer associations and NADA showing up, and the real possibility of a battery that lasts 100 years.

Today we cover the breakout horse in the drone package delivery race, talk about they simple ‘why’ behind the recently discovered GM consumer hack, and discuss some 3rd party online transaction options. We’ll also try our best to make fun of ourselves. 

It’s a brand-spanking-new Tuesday to make some trouble as we take a look across Auto Retail, marketing, and all retail this morning. From big moves in Europe that give us warning, to the consumer mindset regarding social media ad platforms, we’re leaning in with Auto Dealers so that we can all lean-into our teams and communities today.

This Monday, we’re walking with our heads up, and eyes scanning the horizon as we summarize Paul’s recent trip to the Web3 conference, VeeCon. We also talk about Mercedes getting creative with its charitable giving (and why we think you should too). Finally, we look at Amazon’s newest last-mile delivery testing.

With Paul on the ground at VeeCon, we hear from him and invite Brian Kramer to the show. We are talking cars with ghosts (seemingly), a new podcast to listen to, and how markets are impacting dealers.

Today’s flyover is a target-rich environment with a wide swath of news. In order to keep it under 12 hours, we’re talking about Tesla getting kicked from the ESG index (we’ll explain), why signals are not looking good for subprime borrowers, and the new priorities in return-to-work as evidenced by Adidas.

Working through a Wednesday of movement and stalling as we talk about the Fed’s position and posture toward inflation. We also talk about Carvana’s license suspension in Illinois, and Cadillac’s move into the younger demographic.

Tuesday’s are for Troublemakers as we talk about the revealing of a new Tesla hack with broader implications, Home Depot is seeing fewer customers but higher revenue, and the great Dealer consolidation marches on.

There is a lot to talk about this Monday as we survey the retail landscape across fast food, fitness, Auto OEM’s, and publicly traded auto retail including Vroom’s rightsizing and CarGurus new end to end offering for Dealers.

It’s a retail consumer facing kind of day as we talk about some major shifts of recent norms. We dive into crypto’s current fallout as well as Disney’s ad-supported strategy for a completely DTC version of ESPN. We also celebrate the resilience of Ukrainian workers who are supplying vital harnesses to the Automotive Industry. 

We’re back in our respective Nashville and Syracuse saddles today as we give a flyover of the on-the-ground reaction of the Retail Auto Industry to the Carvana layoffs as well as Toyota’s decline in profitability due to raw material costs. Speaking of ‘flying over’, we talk about one company working to bring flying cars to the masses.

Digital Dealer may be wrapping up today, but the automotive industry has a full head of steam. For those that are iPod historians, we have a sad truth hitting the airwaves today. From things leaving to things coming back, we know that change is always in the air in the current market.

We are brimming with pride after seeing so many incredible people from across automotive yesterday. This industry really is incredible, and being in person with so many of the brightest minds confirms it over and over. We are live at Digital Dealer Tampa and talking through the Ford share sell off, F1 Miami for the weekend, and the reality of Crypto matching stocks staring at everyone.

We’re giving our quick takes and must see sessions on the first day of Digital Dealer in Tampa, Florida.

Only one weekend away from Digital Dealer and our ASOTU Family Reunion:Remix event! We are resting up to be ready to see all of our friends again. Today we take a journey around humanizing your approach in business. 

Today we’re making finance fun as we talk about yesterday’s interest rate hike, the NFT that broke the blockchain, more Dealers accepting crypto and how you can make sense of it all whatever your position in the Dealership is.

We can’t believe we didn’t work in a May the 4th be with you story as we’re talking about the consumer mindset today. Despite inflation and record-low OEM production, consumers are planning a big summer according to indicators, and we think Retail Auto should have something to do with making it happen!

Today we are talking about identifying the things we both can and can’t control as we talk about EV credits ending for Toyota, a growing number of retirees getting back into the workforce due to rising costs, and Facebook calling it quits on its podcast platform just one year after launch.

It’s a sparkling-fresh new month as May rolls in with lots of optimism and opportunities. Today we talk about the shifting landscape at the front of the pack in Retail Auto as big players have been making big moves. We also talk about this months Auto Intel Report by Steve Greenfield as well as update you a a crypto move we reported on regarding Nike months ago. 

Today we cover some high level topics like earnings from Sonic Automotive and Amazon, all the way to ground-level action like the meteoric rise of catalytic converter theft. We also give you a few reasons to go into your day with a smile on your face, and the car biz in your heart.

Retail Automotive is an intrinsically ‘human’ business. That’s why today isn’t about metal and money, but about the human elements of creativity, popularity and parenthood (kind of). For us, that all translates into a much better business if you’re paying attention to the right things. 

Today we talk about the very first Ford Lighting rolling off the production line, the largest retirement plan holder allowing investments in Bitcoin, and we’re talking about Pontiac’s final days. 

Just 24 months ago, today’s episode would seem like crazy-talk, but instead, it’s real talk as we dive into Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, Texas’ turning up the heat on used car retailer Vroom, and Meta is opening a real-world store to hoc the metaverse. And it’s only Tuesday, Troublemakers. 

It’s a beautiful Monday to make some trouble as we give our quick takes from the recently released Annual NADA Franchise report. We also talk about what Toyota and Nissan are up to in the metaverse as well as the impending closing of Carvana’s acquisition of Adessa and what that might mean for the popularity of the country's second largest auction house. 

Every time we get to tell the story of ASOTU, it brings so much energy to what we are doing today. Looking back, pressing forward, and living in the moment all allow us to keep the vision alive for you and for this industry! Disruption, business ebb and flow, and new trends are all a part of the show this morning, so buckle up and ride with us!

Today we dig into an array of earnings reports from public auto groups, automakers, and retailers. Namely, Lithia, Carvana, and Tesla. We also talk about consumer behaviors driving Netflix’s slide as well as Lincoln’s understanding of merging hospitality best practices with the automotive experience.

It’s National Cold Brew Day and we’re going to need the caffeine as we talk about the F150 launch schedule surprise, consumer demand showing up in force at the New York Auto Show and one Dealer’s positive deployment of MSRP.

On today’s show we preview our upcoming live event in Tampa on May 9th, The ASOTU Family Reunion : Remix. We also talk about Apples likely NFL deal, how BMW plans on retaking its luxury segment title, and could this be the end of masked flights?

Monday doesn’t disappoint with fresh ideas and challenges to kick off the new week. Today we’re talking about the future of MSRP and the Dealer’s role in new car sales, Honda making moves in the CPO space, and consumer indicators in air travel are a sign of the times regarding employment. It’s a good day to make some trouble. 

This Monday Morning we’re making TROUBLE by calibrating the Consumer Experience dial with real-world, real-time evidence. To quote the heroine Dorothy,“We aren’t in Kansas anymore.” We talk about a Rochester Chipotle rep, new rules for baseball, an Academy Award first, and a word from some friends at JD Power about how we should be treating the indicators we’ve been using.

Thursday is electric as we cover the much anticipated launch of the Ford Lightning Pickup and Honda’s bold ambitions to launch 30 EVs by 2030. We also talk about Elon’s “best and final” offer to buy Twitter. All of it. 

This Wednesday we dig into the Carmax Q4 shareholder report…and there is a lot to unpack. We also ask some real questions about EV rollouts and talk through how to prepare to respond. Everything is in a state of motion and we’re going to do what we can to ensure the ASOTU community is a step ahead.