Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Turnkey Marketing takes the stress of doing something I'm not good at off my plate. And gives it to someone who is. Click HERE for more.

Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE

Jon Cabak is the co-founder and CEO of Detect Auto. Today, he shares with Mike about Detect Auto’s maintenance recommendation tools and talks about their new partnership with BG Products to streamline customer education and shop efficiency. The conversation also explores how AI is already transforming shop operations, from business analysis to coaching service advisors, with Jon sharing practical ways shop owners can leverage these technologies today.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introducing The "Maintenance Recommendation System" & the Struggle for a Good Name
01:05 Jon Cabak's whirlwind trip: Meetings, markets, and minimal sleep
02:11 Jon's goals at C&R AAPEX: Building partnerships and sharing tech
02:47 Who is Jon Cabak? CEO of Detect Auto, building better tools for shops
03:06 How Detect Auto helps service advisors ask the right questions
04:06 New features: BG Products partnership & integrating educational content for customers
05:00 Educating customers with videos, Tekmetric integration dreams
06:16 The power of video explainer tools for maintenance sales
07:13 Coaching new shops: How to launch a maintenance program
07:49 Why shops struggle to sell maintenance—and how to avoid “kitchen sinking” new customers
09:13 Making a maintenance plan not a one-time sales event
10:11 Detect Auto’s printable/PDF maintenance planning tool
11:02 “SUN”: The new name for maintenance—Shit You Need!
11:46 AI’s best use in shop ownership, ChatGPT in action, and practical subscription tips
13:06 Voice tech, call analysis, and smarter prospecting with AI
14:00 Pipe dream or next reality? AI that writes your service tickets
15:00 Using AI for real-time scripts and to improve advisor performance
16:45 Ongoing upgrades: Overcoming latency and training obstacles
18:31 AI for pre-service surveys and reducing customer friction
19:10 Practicing objections and role-playing with voice AI
21:11 Upgrading your AI subscription — Is it worth it?
21:57 Using AI to analyze business trends and shop performance
22:42 Grok, Gemini, Claude: Testing the new AI tools for shops
23:44 Will software engineers be replaced by AI? Real talk about tech careers
25:19 What Detect Auto features are most valuable to shop owners?
27:09 How onboarding and training shops faster drives ROI

If you're like me and aren't good at marketing, don't do it on your own. Let the experts handle it. Touch HERE for more on Turnkey Marketing.

Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE

There are a lot of moving parts in a repair shop, opening the door to missing things. Don't let that happen to you. Learn more about Detect Auto

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

Bryce Evans is the founder and editor-in-chief of Auto Service Leader. Today, Bryce and Mike talk about the future of automotive media, the role of independent journalism, and how Auto Service Leader's innovative magazine is reshaping the information gap for shop owners. Their model puts content ahead of advertising, giving readers practical information they can actually use. They also cover the current state of journalism, the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity in today’s click-driven media landscape, and what independent shop owners can do to navigate an industry rapidly changing due to private equity and consolidation.

See Auto Service Leader's work HERE

Timestamps:
00:00 Can True Investigative Journalism Survive Today’s Media Landscape?
01:05 Auto Service Leader’s Magazine Model – No Ads, Just Content
03:27 Building a Consistent Brand & Publication Experience
05:00 How Shops & Partners Get Featured in Auto Service Leader
06:19 Bryce Evans’ B2B Publishing Background & Ratchet Wrench Insights
08:46 Filling the Information Gap: What Shop Owners Really Need
09:53 Auto Service Leader’s Searchable Resource Hub Explained
11:09 What’s Next for Auto Service Leader in 2026?
13:12 Bryce Evans’ Journey: Journalism, Moving Into Automotive
17:09 Lessons from Newsrooms & What Changed His Career Path
20:58 Why Community and Peer Groups Matter for Shop Owners
22:15 Is Print Media Dead? Newspapers vs New Media
23:27 “Everyone’s Got a Podcast” – Modern Media Challenges
25:17 Media’s Role in Political Division & Clickbait
26:19 Absolutism and the Importance of Nuance in the Auto Industry
29:44 The Art of Interviewing: Insights for Great Journalism
33:25 Dealing With Agenda-Driven Coverage as a Business Owner
36:57 Is Print Here to Stay? Why High-End Magazines Matter
38:09 Navigating Hot Button Topics: Relational vs. Transactional Selling
41:32 How Auto Service Leader Handles Problematic Sources
42:32 Private Equity & Consolidation’s Impact on the Automotive Industry

Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today HERE

Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE

Elite Worldwide coaching has changed the game for me and my shop. Need a boost? Use Elite like I do HERE

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston coming up in 2026 HERE

In this episode, Mike Allen and Bryan Pollock talk with Mr. Subaru. Mr. Subaru talks through his experiences navigating drama in the automotive influencer space and addresses accusations of clickbait content. He shares some colorful stories from his time as a Snap-on dealer, including the challenges of repossessing toolboxes from delinquent customers. Finally, Mr. Subaru discusses his upcoming plans to build a new shop on his property and the future direction of his YouTube content.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Are you a Clickbait Creator? Mr. Subaru on Online Drama
00:19 - The Truth About Tool Content—Is It Clickbait?
01:08 - Rock Hill & South Carolina’s Automotive Scene
03:03 - Content Creator Drama & Automotive Industry Comparison
07:09 - Shop Builds: Mr. Subaru Gets Bank Approval for His New Shop
08:51 - How It All Started: Mr. Subaru’s First YouTube Videos
10:59 - The COVID Boost: Explosive Growth on YouTube
12:12 - Monetization Woes: TikTok, Facebook, & Instagram
13:33 - The Snap-On Dealer Experience—Sales, Credit, & Repos
17:15 - Wild Repo Stories: Guns, Knives, & Toolbox Sting Operations
21:30 - The Biggest Toolbox Sale Ever
26:03 - Market Insights: Charlotte Money, Shop Opportunities, & Area Growth
29:12 - Podcasting & Automotive Media Scene in Carolina
29:37 - Drama vs. Good for the Industry: Podcast Growth Strategies
33:08 - Rage-Bait vs. Thoughtful Content: Finding Balance
35:55 - Instant Opinions & The Problem with Social Media Hate
37:00 - Shop Anonymity & Weirdos—Dealing with the Downside of Fame
39:16 - Diagnosing for the Diagnostically Challenged: Mobile Work Stories
45:27 - B-Techs, A-Techs, and Weaponized Incompetence Rant
47:22 - Diagnostic Training on YouTube: Scanner Danner & Self-Learning
48:53 - What’s Next for Mr. Subaru? Shop Builds & New Content
51:19 - DIY vs. Shop Content: Who Does It Serve Best?
54:02 - Upcoming Events: Visions, Asta, Farm Show, and More
56:08 - Favorite Training Classes & Shop Stories
57:37 - Sumos, Hurricanes, and Confessions—Podcast Outtakes