Ep 65 - What the Hell Did We Do? (Year in Review)

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Confessions of a Shop Owner

Mike Allen

70 episodes

6 days ago

Confessions of a Shop Owner is hosted by Mike Allen, a third-generation shop owner, perpetual pot-stirrer, and brutally honest opinion sharer. In this weekly podcast, Mike shares his missteps so you don’t have to repeat them. Along the way, he chats with other industry personalities who’ve messed up, too, pulling back the curtain on the realities of running an independent auto repair shop. But this podcast isn’t just about Mike’s journey. It’s about confronting the divisive and questionable tactics many shop owners and managers use. Mike is here to stir the pot and address the painful truths while offering a way forward. Together, we’ll tackle the frustrations, shake things up, and help create a better future for the auto repair industry.

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Entrepreneurship

Business,

Management

Ep 65 - What the Hell Did We Do? (Year in Review)

Confessions of a Shop Owner

1 hour 6 minutes

6 days ago

Ep 65 - What the Hell Did We Do? (Year in Review)

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In this episode, Mike Allen, Bryan Pollock, and Braxton Critcher look back on a year of "Confessions of a Shop Owner". They play back the top moments on the podcast in 2025, and each give their most embarrassing confession thus far. Oh, what a year it has been, and oh, what a year 2026 is setting up to be. Remember, this is the last episode that Mike is current ASTA President...this is about to get good...Finally.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The Year of "Edit That Out" (But Did We?)
01:12 – Amateur Podcast Setups & Tech Fails
03:12 – 65+ Episodes Later: What Did We Even Do?!
04:30 – Are We the Best Automotive Podcast in the Galaxy?
05:10 – Going Viral: Social Media Buzz & Darren’s Big Weekend
08:07 – Most Memorable Guest: Darren Barney Shares a Vulnerable Story
12:16 – The "16-Foot Trailer" Incident with Zeb Beard
17:00 – When Guest Rage Turns the Podcast Upside Down – David Roman Goes OFF!
22:00 – Saturday Shop: Do Employees Actually Want to Work Weekends?
24:36 – The Great Staffing Challenge & "Short Term Gain, Long Term Pain"
27:47 – Our Most Embarrassing Tech Confessions & Social Media Mishaps
32:43 – Confession Time: When Braxton Lost All the Podcast Files
33:43 – Misspelling Sponsor Names… and the Tattoo Bet is On!
35:01 – Who’s REALLY The Fastest Driver in the Crew?
39:09 – The All-Time Most Embarrassing Shop Owner Confession
43:20 – The Viral Aftermath & Listener Group Chat Chaos
48:30 – Hospitality Suite Stories: Couch Shopping & More Debauchery
50:00 – The Greatest Hot Mic Moment That Will Never Air
52:37 – Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Confessions in 2026?
54:24 – Favorite Moments & Listener Shout-Outs
56:06 – Parting Thoughts & Why We Love This Podcast