Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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In this episode, Matt uses The Matrix—especially the line “there is no spoon”—as a metaphor for the invisible cages we build in our own minds. He connects the film to social constructs, substance use disorder, self-limiting beliefs, and the hard, messy reality of change.

Matt unpacks what it really means to “take the red pill”: leaving the comfort of your personal matrix, enduring an initial season of discomfort or even suffering, and slowly rebuilding your ability to cope, grow, and demand better—from yourself, your relationships, and your career.

Key Topics Covered

“There is no spoon” and social constructs

• The Matrix as a metaphor for our personal belief systems, not just a sci-fi simulation.
• How ideas like “I can’t,” “they won’t let me,” and “this is just how it is” form our own private matrix.
• Money as a clear example of a social construct: it only works because we all agree it has value.

Substance use disorder & the red/blue pill choice

• Reframing the Matrix pods and simulation as a stand-in for addiction and coping mechanisms.
• Drugs (or other coping tools) as a “cure” that works incredibly well… until the bill comes due.
• The “red pill” as the decision to leave a destructive coping mechanism and face reality.
• Why life often gets worse at first when someone chooses recovery—gray, flat, painful—before it gets better.

Atrophy, discomfort, and rebuilding capacity

• Neo’s physical atrophy as a metaphor for emotional and coping atrophy after long-term use.
• Many people aren’t using to “get high” anymore—they’re using just to feel normal.
• Relearning how to feel feelings at full intensity without a chemical buffer.

Self-imposed limits and hidden capacity

• The Matrix training scenes: bending the rules as a metaphor for challenging self-imposed limits.
• The “70% wall” idea from Navy SEAL training—quitting when there’s still gas left in the tank.
• How often we defeat ourselves before we even truly try.

The Kung Fu (David Carradine) lesson

• Flashback scene with the “acid pool” that turns out to be water.
• Believing in the danger so completely that you fail before you start.
• How often we do the same thing with exams, careers, and life decisions.

Technicians, tests, and career ceilings

• “I’ll never pass A6” / “I’ll never get that cert” as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Questioning whether your limits are real, or chosen.
• Practical self-inquiry: What can I do to change this belief? What actions can I take?

Relationships, work, and what we tolerate

• Staying in unhealthy relationships (romantic, friends, employers, clients) because “this is the best I can do.”
• Starting with your own role: being a better spouse, friend, or employee and expecting better treatment in return.
• The trap where employers say, “If they acted like good employees, I’d treat them well,” and employees say, “If they treated me well, I’d act like a good employee”—and nothing changes.

Dutch Silverstein’s perspective

• It’s important to treat people the way you want to be treated.
• But for sure: never treat someone the way you don’t want to be treated.

Taking the red pill in real life

• The “red pill” as a choice, not a daily supplement.
• Expecting the initial result of that choice to feel worse before it feels better.
• Trading “struggle a little now” to avoid “struggle a lot later.”
• Asking: What does your matrix look like? What rules can you bend—or break?

Pull Quotes

• “What if the Matrix is nothing more than our own personal social construct?”
• “Drugs are a cure. They work really, really well—there’s just a severe price to pay.”
• “Many of us are hitting the wall long before we actually hit the wall.”
• “How many times do we have ourselves beat before we even give an honest effort?”
• “The Matrix is the cage you’ve built for yourself—and you might need to take the red pill to get out of it.”

Mentions & Shout-Outs

Movies & Shows:

• The Matrix
• Kung Fu (with David Carradine)

People & Ideas:

• Dutch Silverstein and his take on how we treat others.
• ASE testing (A6 electrical and beyond).
• Navy SEAL training “wall” analogy.
• Automotive Repair Podcast Network Shows:
• A show featuring Craig O’Neill (don’t tell him Matt said anything nice).
• Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest.
• Marketing content with Brian and Kim Walker.
• The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton.

Connect with Matt

Email: [email protected]

Facebook Messenger / DMs: Matt Fanslow

Call to Action:

Ask yourself: What does my matrix look like?

Where are you bending spoons, and where are you still convinced the acid is real? And if you know you’re in a matrix—what’s your next “red pill” choice?

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

Are you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Pinpoint faults in sensors, wiring, and components with unmatched accuracy. Visit PicoAuto.com and revolutionize your diagnostics today! 

Contact Information

• Email Matt: [email protected]
• Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel
• Subscribe & Review: Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/