Most people in the automotive recycling industry know Shannon Nordstrom as the President of the Automotive Recyclers Association, the owner of Nordstrom’s Automotive, or the voice behind the nationally syndicated Under the Hood radio show.
But this conversation goes much deeper than titles.
In this episode of ARA Unscripted, Shannon talks about growing up on a South Dakota dairy farm, how his family built Nordstrom’s Automotive through multiple generations of change, and what leadership, faith, responsibility, and service really look like over the long haul.
We also dive into:
• The origins of Under the Hood
• Building a nationally syndicated automotive media brand
• The evolution of the recycling industry
• Why adaptability matters more than ever
• Industry leadership and giving back
• Family business dynamics across generations
• What Shannon believes the future of automotive recycling looks like
This ended up being less of an interview and more of an honest conversation about legacy, entrepreneurship, and building something that lasts.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro — Who Is Shannon Nordstrom?
00:51 Sponsor — Yard Smart
01:34 Growing Up in the Automotive Recycling Industry
06:07 The Nordstrom Family Story & Dairy Farm Origins
09:03 Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Family Legacy
20:57 Service, Leadership & Giving Back
23:19 Faith, Responsibility & Perspective
31:45 Building Nordstrom’s Automotive Into a Modern Operation
43:12 Industry Change & Adapting to New Markets
56:36 Why the Repairable Vehicle Business Changed
57:09 The Origins of Under the Hood Radio
58:14 Building a Nationally Syndicated Radio Show
01:17:11 Turning Under the Hood Into a Media Business
01:28:42 Leadership Lessons & Industry Relationships
01:42:30 The Future of Automotive Recycling
01:54:18 Family, Legacy & Multi-Generation Business
02:03:01 Shannon’s Mother’s Book & Preserving Family History
02:08:44 Final Thoughts
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