The Podcast
Weekly industry news and straight talk for shop owners, service managers, and fixed ops leaders.
Hosted by Anthony Calhoun. ASE Master Tech, published author, consulting expert.
All Episodes
Apex Driver Edition Ep 1: 5 Tips When Buying a Car That Can Save You Thousands
Five Essential Tips for Car Buyers Make informed decisions and save money on your next vehicle.Navigating the car buying process can feel overwhelming, but with the right knowledge, you can make choices that save you money and hassle in the long run. Here are five essential tips to consider before
Episode 14: Shop Conned Customer? Techs on 1099 and I almost Got Fired and My Boss Arrested
A young woman pays a shop $1,000 for spark plugs and ignition coils on her 2016Ford Escape. Two days later the check engine light is back on and they're tellingher she needs a whole new engine.Anthony Calhoun (25-year ASE Master Technician) and Craig Tomczyk (19 years in thetrade) break down thr
Episode 13: Earning the Respect of Technicians, Tool Investment, and Why Dealerships Can't Find or Keep Technicians
In this episode, we break down why the industry is bleeding young talent, how green service advisors can win over skeptical flat rate mechanics, and whether entry level express techs should start stacking up on high end tools.Earning Tech Respect as a New Service Advisor: An inexperienced advisor as
Episode 12: Blown Engine at 7K Miles, $6,700 Teardown Request From dealership, Bad Back at 31 & Useless Car Features
Welcome back to the Apex Tech Nation Podcast. In Episode 12, Craig and I dig into a few stories and conversations making their way around.We discuss a 2025 Mustang GT with a blown engine at only 6,900 miles. The owner says the dealership wants authorization for a $6,700 engine teardown before moving
Episode 11: Are Modern Cars Unreliable, Brake Pad Failures, and Service Advisor Burnout
In this episode, we break down why today’s cars are breaking down in alarming ways, are they reliable? A terrifying real world brake pad failure shortly after a shop visit. Plus, we dive into the boiling point hitting service advisors and mechanics across the industry and what it's going to take
Episode 10: Greasy Techs, Broken Panels, and a $4,500 Paycheck Nightmare
In this episode we welcome Craig as Apex Tech Nation Co-Host and dive into 2 stories we all have probably seen and one that will make you think WTH!Interior Panels & Broken Clips: We break down the brutal learning curve of an emergency vehicle upfitter who keeps accidentally snapping clips and a
Episode 9: ASE Test Tips from Master Techs, Is There Hope for the Automotive Industry & 13K Mile Maintenance?
In this episode, I'm joined by special guest Craig Tomczyk as we discuss three topics that every technician can relate to.First, we share ASE test tips that have helped us throughout our careers and offer practical advice for technicians preparing for their next certification.Next, we talk about
Episode 8: 20-Mile Joyrides & Fallen Drain Plugs: Ownership, Accountability, and Leadership in the Bay
Two tech-related nightmares: a customer discovers technicians taking their car on a 20-mile joyride on dashcam, and another deals with a loose drain plug backing out right after a dealership oil change.In this episode, we break down these massive failures from three critical perspectives: the custom
Episode 7: Should Techs Be Licensed? + The Car Fire Nobody's Talking About
This week I'm joined by Craig Tomczyk ASE Master Tech, L1/L2 certified, with nearly two decades in the bay across auto, diesel, and heavy duty for a real tech to tech conversation.First up: should the automotive service industry require a license? Craig brought this one to the table, and we get
Episode 6: A 24-Year-Old Tire Tech's Death, Bone-on-Bone Knees , Thermal Cameras & Failures in the Field
This week we're covering several topics that every automotive technician can relate to—from a tragic accident in the industry to protecting your body and improving your diagnostic process.In this episode we discuss: -The tragic death of a 24-year-old tire technician who was fatally crushed by a
Episode 5: Is Our Industry Taken as Serious as a Barber?
Before you get mad at me for saying this, just hear me out. My buddy owns a barbershop and he can't hire anybody to fill a chair unless they're licensed. Meanwhile we're working on cars that hold people's families and we don't need anything. I'm a master tech with 5 ASEs to r
Episode 4: The Automotive Skills That Can Make You Wealthy
Most automotive technicians focus on earning more money, but very few focus on keeping and investing it.In this episode of the Apex Tech Nation Podcast, I break down how developing valuable technician skills can create long-term wealth—and why avoiding unnecessary car payments may be one of the smar
Episode 3: Problems with Solutions for the Industry — From a Technician's Perspective
Billions spent on consulting and training programs over the last decade. The crisis just got worse.New episode: Problems with Solutions for the Industry. From a Technician's PerspectiveI stepped back, looked at the industry like a broken car, and laid out the real fixes.68% of working automotive
Episode 2: Four Tech Tips to Remember
Four diagnostic tips from 25 years in the bays — the kind of stuff that saves you time, comebacks, and headaches when you're staring down a tough job. Join the Nation https://apextechnation.com/
Episode 1: The Real Reason Techs Are Leaving (And What Nobody's Saying)
In this first episode of APEX Tech Nation, Anthony Calhoun breaks down the technician shortage from the perspective that's missing from every industry article — the tech actually doing the work. Why are techs leaving? It's not just the money. It's the death by a thousand cuts that compou
What We Cover
Retention Strategies
What actually keeps technicians from walking out the door.
Pay Plans
Flat rate vs. hourly, hybrid models, and what top shops are doing differently.
Leadership
How service managers earn respect and build teams that stay.
Industry News
What happened this week and what it means for your shop.
Recruiting
Finding techs when nobody is applying and keeping the ones you have.
Culture
Building a shop people actually want to work in.
About the Host
Anthony Calhoun is the CEO and Founder of A.W.C. Consulting LLC. He spent 18 years as a flat-rate technician and 7 years managing high-volume dealership service departments. He is the author of Why Technicians Are Leaving and How to Keep Them.
This podcast is straight talk from someone who has been on both sides of the bay door. No corporate consulting speak. Just what works, what does not, and why your best techs keep leaving.
Ready to fix your retention problem?
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