Big news, everyone — The Auto Appearance Institute is officially becoming part of Dent Repair Now! In this special farewell episode, Gene shares the story behind the move and what it means for listeners, students, and the entire PDR community. Here’s what you’ll hear: ✅ Why AAI and Dent Repair Now are merging into one stronger brand. ✅ How The Institute @ Dent Repair Now will simplify your training and access. ✅ What’s changing — and what’s staying exactly the same. ✅ How to keep up with the new All Access Podcast from Dent Repair Now. Your courses, access, and progress are safe and sound. All AAI classes are now hosted inside The Institute @ Dent Repair Now, where you’ll find every course, plus new ones rolling out soon. 👉 Visit www.DentRepairNow.com/Institute to log in and continue learning. 🎧 Follow and subscribe to The All Access Podcast from Dent Repair Now for new episodes, industry stories, and guest interviews.

Just a short show. I am taking a few weeks off and didn't want to leave you all hanging.

Gene gives a recap of how the Cam Auto competition went for him, he talks about the hail expo, and goes over his tool haul from the weekend.

Gene and Danny give you a day by day, play by play from the competition .

An audio only episode today. Gene talks about a couple tools he forgot to mention in the last episode. The Get A Grip with 82" umbrella and the JVF big glue gun. We also cover updates on how things are going, the end of chaos, a new "Dylann", dealing with different types of hail storms and what Gene is thinking about the upcoming GPR PDR competition at Cam Auto!

🎙️ Episode 38: Tool Talk & Big Events on the Horizon – Mid-Season Check-In

In Episode 38 of The All Access Podcast, Gene Fetty is back with a laid-back but valuable solo episode packed with gear talk, event previews, and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening mid-season at the Automotive Appearance Institute.

Gene kicks things off with updates on two major events:

Hail Expo in St. Louis (July 18–19): A free-to-attend event featuring a full lineup of speakers, tool companies, and networking opportunities. Reserve your spot at www.hailexpo.com.

GPR/PDR Competition at CamAuto in Montreal (July 11–13): Gene is headed north to compete and judge in this prestigious glue pull event, and he shares both his excitement and nerves.

From there, it’s a gear-focused deep dive:

Gene walks through some of the tools he’s been testing in the shop and during training, including standouts and setups he’s prepping for upcoming live streams.

He tests a new overhead camera system, giving listeners a preview of the live stream capabilities for Hail Expo.

Throughout the episode, Gene reflects on the evolution of his tool cart, what stays, what gets retired, and how tools impact teaching and real-world results.

Whether you’re tuning in for tool talk, event updates, or just want a genuine mid-season pulse check from one of the industry’s top educators, this episode has something for you.

📍 Links mentioned:

🎟️ www.hailexpo.com – Reserve your free ticket

🛠️ www.camautopro.com – Learn more about the GPR competition

🎥 Visit the Automotive Appearance Institute YouTube channel for the video version of this episode

All Access Podcast by the Auto Appearance Institute

Host: Gene Fetty
Guests: Noah from DentOps, Ryan Hampton

🔗 Visit www.hailexpo.com for full event info and updates!

In this special live edition, Gene Fetty is joined by co-organizers Noah (DentOps) and Ryan Hampton to bring you the inside scoop on the return of the Hail Expo for 2025.
This is the event that’s reigniting the industry conversation around collaboration, education, and innovation in hail repair.

[0:00] Welcome & Why We’re Live
First-ever live recording for the podcast — bringing fresh energy and real-time engagement.

[3:00] The History of the Hail Expo
Ryan shares how the idea was born from early technician meetings and events during his time running a hail company in St. Louis.

[6:45] Why Bring It Back Now?
Discussion on the need for industry connection post-COVID and the new energy in hail-focused PDR.

[12:00] What to Expect at the 2025 Hail Expo
Details on the layout, training sessions, networking, and tool showcases.

[19:30] Who This Event Is For
PDR techs, hail chasers, body shops, tool companies, and newcomers — everyone has a place at Hail Expo.

[25:00] Building Community in the Industry
A heartfelt conversation on supporting each other, learning together, and lifting the standard of professionalism.

Organizers: DentOps, Auto Appearance Institute, Ryan Hampton

Purpose: Bring together top techs, trainers, and tool vendors for a focused, impactful hail-specific experience.

Location & Date Info: Head over to www.hailexpo.com for everything you need.

The Hail Expo isn’t just an event — it’s a revival of what makes this community great.

Whether you’ve been chasing hail for years or just starting, this is your event.

You’ll leave better trained, better connected, and more fired up about your business.

In this episode of the All Access Podcast from the Automotive Appearance Institute, Gene Fetty opens up about navigating burnout, the chaos of unexpected hail storms, and the daily grind of running a business when the workload ramps up — but not quite enough to fully scale.

Gene reflects on:

The recent Pittsburgh hail storm and how it affected the local repair scene

How to manage your workflow and mindset during "almost busy" hail events

The physical and emotional toll that comes with running both a repair shop and a training organization

The importance of staying consistent, even when motivation is low

A reminder to all techs and shop owners: you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed

🔥 Whether you're a seasoned PDR tech or just starting out, this episode offers an honest look behind the scenes of the industry.