Gearbox Podcast

In this episode of Gear Box Podcast, Jimmy sits down with Jesse from Mango Automotive to talk about scaling auto repair businesses, shop acquisitions, leadership, and the changing future of the automotive industry. Jesse shares how Mango Automotive grew from a single acquisition to eight locations across the Southwest, what she looks for when buying shops, and why culture, accountability, and mindset matter more than flashy business tactics.
The conversation dives deep into private equity, industry consolidation, technician shortages, SOPs, leadership burnout, imposter syndrome, and how shop owners must evolve personally if they want to grow professionally. They also explore how AI and automation could reshape the future of automotive repair—and why adaptability will separate thriving shop owners from those left behind.
Whether you’re a one-shop operator dreaming of expansion or just trying to survive the daily grind, this episode is packed with real-world insights on growth, systems, hiring, and building a business that can scale beyond the owner.

In this episode, it’s a real, unfiltered conversation about what actually happens when you go from turning wrenches to running a shop. We dig into the early chaos of opening, hiring struggles, bad decisions, wins, losses, and everything in between.
This one covers it all—free diag, building a sales process, dealing with customers, paying technicians what they’re actually worth, and the reality of trying to grow something from nothing. Nothing scripted, nothing polished—just two shop owners talking through what’s working, what’s not, and what they’re learning in real time.
If you’re in the industry and tired of hearing theory from people who don’t live it… this is for you.

In this episode, we sit down with JK Walker—owner of a thriving mobile auto repair business and founder of a mail-order ECM company specializing in Chrysler vehicles. We dive into the culture of negativity in the auto industry, how it holds shops back, and the powerful sales processes that separate struggling businesses from thriving ones. If you’re serious about growth, mindset, and building something different, this episode is for you.

David Boyd from call inbound- an automotive specific VOIP phone service company- is back on to drop more knowledge of the importance of communication from AAPEX 2025!

Mike runs a parts distribution warehouse for Corvette in our hometown, Corvette Pacifica, he comes to AAPEX every year to find new suppliers, He talks about how Tariffs are affecting his business and some of the issues he has run into with keeping quality his number one priority.