Honest Garage Podcast

Robert Blaes didn't just build a repair shop — he built a family operation, a training ground for young techs, and a community hub rooted in a lifelong love for Mustangs.

Robert is the owner of Stang Auto Tech in Broomfield, Colorado (serving the area since 1980), and in this interview he gets extremely practical about what it takes to scale trust beyond the owner. He shares how defining clear core values + a real mission helped him stop micromanaging, empower his team, and maintain quality without "looking over everyone's shoulder."

Then he gets into one of the most interesting moves you'll hear from an independent shop owner: when he couldn't find an apprentice the traditional way, he partnered with local schools and Front Range Community College to build a paid internship + state-recognized apprenticeship pipeline—complete with an in-house mentor—so students can go from classroom to productive technician.

You'll also hear how Robert uses a community appreciation day + car show (BBQ, band, giveaways, 100+ cars) to turn customers into real relationships — not transactions.

If you care about building a shop that lasts — with values, people development, and community baked in — Robert's story is worth hearing.

Austin Hatchell has worked his way through the industry the hard way—turning wrenches, working the counter, and even stepping into car sales long enough to realize the "sell it at all costs" mindset wasn't for him.

Now he's the General Manager at Lake Arbor Automotive & Truck in Westminster, Colorado, leading a team through the kind of transition most shops struggle with: stepping into leadership, earning trust, and improving operations without burning people out or lowering standards.

In this episode, Austin breaks down:

• What it takes to lead a shop when you're not the owner

• Why silos form between advisors and techs—and how to tear them down without drama

• The operational shift from "advisor + two techs" to centralized dispatching

• How to keep work flowing based on capability and availability, not turf and bottlenecks

If your shop feels busy but not efficient—or you're trying to scale without losing the culture that got you here—Austin's story will give you real, practical clarity.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations built for real operators.

The Honest Garage Podcast exists for one reason: to bring honest conversations back to the automotive industry — the kind that help good shops become great without losing their integrity.

In this episode, David sits down with Wiley Faris, owner of Landmark Automotive in Conifer, Colorado, to talk about taking over a small mountain-town shop and building a reputation strong enough that people will tow past the big chains to get to his bay.

You'll hear Wiley's take on what "honest" actually looks like day-to-day: no collecting money before a car is truly finished, quality control that includes road testing, and being a straight shooter with customers—even when the truth is uncomfortable. He also breaks down one of the most practical hiring plays in today's market: stop chasing the unicorn tech and start hiring for attitude, then training for skill.

If you're trying to grow a shop the right way—through trust, standards, and community—this one's a must-listen.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

The Honest Garage Podcast exists for one reason: to bring honest conversations back to the automotive industry, the kind that help good shops become great without losing their integrity.

In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Masterson, owner of Phoenix Auto Repair in Colorado Springs, to talk about rebuilding a life, rebuilding a reputation, and building a shop where trust is earned—one decision at a time. Ryan shares what it looks like to lead with humility, drop the ego, and put transparency at the front of the process, especially when you're trying to win back your community.

You'll hear practical, shop-level takeaways like why Phoenix inspects 100% of vehicles, how they use DVIs and in-shop walk-throughs to help customers see the truth, and why "tell them the whole picture up front" is the fastest path to long-term trust.

If you're serious about running a shop you're proud of—and building something that lasts—this episode is a must-listen.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

The Honest Garage Podcast exists for one reason: to bring honest conversations back to the automotive industry — the kind that help good shops become great without losing their integrity.

In this episode, David sits down with Jake Clark to talk leadership, culture, and what it takes to build a shop people want to work for. You'll hear hard-earned lessons on developing your team, raising standards, and why the best operators don't blame the market — they build the kind of shop that wins anyway.

If you're serious about becoming a better leader and building something that lasts, this episode is a must-listen.

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with real operators.

Welcome to The Honest Garage Podcast —

Our show is about REAL shops telling REAL stories. It's about shop owners talking about more than just repairs. They talk about building people, serving their communities, working ON their shops NOT just in them, and ultimately shaping the industry we all love!

If this resonates with you, welcome to our show! We are excited to join the ranks of other great Auto Repair industry podcasts and look forward to helping share the stories from the bays and the offices and the events that help tie us all together!

This show is for shop owners, techs, and operators who are tired of gimmicks and "growth hacks" that don't actually work.

In this first episode, David Laird lays out exactly why this podcast exists: to give you real conversations, real strategies, and real stories from inside the automotive industry — the kind of stuff you don't hear at conferences or in marketing ads.

If you're trying to grow a shop, build a better team, increase car count, or just run a business you're proud of… this is your new home.

🎧 Subscribe now — because we're helping bring the truth back to the garage.