In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Nhu Nguyen (@dear_nhu) to talk about her journey into the automotive industry, her experience in dealerships and independent shops, and how pay structure, shop culture, and environment directly affect a technician’s passion for the trade.

Nhu shares how she entered the industry later in life, spent years at a Porsche dealership, and eventually transitioned into high-end independent and classic vehicle work. We talk openly about flat rate struggles, warranty pressure, quality versus speed, and why certain pay models push technicians away from the work they originally loved.

We also discuss classic car restoration, independent shop life, moving countries for work, how social media unexpectedly opened doors, and why mentorship, environment, and leadership matter more than brand names or certifications.

This episode is for technicians who feel burned out, are questioning flat rate, or are trying to find a path that allows them to enjoy the work again without sacrificing their livelihood.

Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@techgnarr) and Jalid Guerrero (@nobucks_js)
Follow Nhu: https://www.instagram.com/dear_nhu?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

1% better every episode.

In this episode of WOTPod, Curtis and Jalid sit down with Austin Conroy ( @DealerPlateGuy ) to talk about the real stories behind his viral skits and what they expose about life in the service department. We dive into flat rate pressure, technician shortages, service advisor communication, and why shop culture is breaking down in so many dealerships today.

We also break down:

• Why flat rate hurts young techs more than anyone

• How leadership decisions affect technician performance

• The truth behind labor times, customer expectations, and workflow

• How Austin grew as a leader and promotes techs inside his store

• Why his content resonates with techs, advisors, and managers

• The future of his platform and message for the industry

If you work in a dealership or care about fixing this industry, this episode is going to be for you.

Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@techgnarr) and Jalid Guerrero (@nobucks_js)

Follow Austin:

IG- https://www.instagram.com/dealerplateguy/TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@Dealerplateguy Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@DealerPlateGuy/shortsLinkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-conroy-05b4795a/

This episode features Wayne Bridges, Director of Technician Training at Toyota of Puyallup and one of the most respected voices in automotive technician development. With over fifty years in the industry and thirty years teaching, Wayne has helped shape hundreds of technicians through structured training, real mentorship, and a dealership culture focused on long term success.

We break down the technician pipeline, ASE preparation, flat rate challenges, apprentice development, and why so many new technicians fail early in their careers. Wayne explains what dealerships get wrong about technician training and how the shops that invest in their people end up keeping them for decades. He also shares insight from building an in-house technician training program that has become a model for the industry.

This episode is packed with practical advice for anyone in the automotive world. Whether you are an apprentice, a flat rate tech, a service advisor, or a manager trying to reduce turnover, Wayne’s lessons will change the way you see technician growth and shop culture.

🔧 In this episode:

• Understanding flat rate and why new techs struggle

• How to train technicians from the ground up

• The gap between ASE certification and real world shop skills

• Why mentorship is essential for technician success• How in-house dealership training programs keep techs long term

• Building efficiency, confidence, and professional habits

• What every young technician must know to grow their career

If you want to improve technician performance, reduce turnover, and build a stronger career in the automotive industry, this conversation is a must watch.

WOTPod Patreon: patreon.com/cw/WOTPod

Curtis' Website: stan.store/techgnarr

Jalid's Instagram: instagram.com/nobucks_js

Connect with Wayne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-bridges-auto

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Chris Craig, content creator and Tech School Project Manager at RockEd, to talk about the real challenges and opportunities happening in automotive service today.

Chris breaks down the truth about technician turnover, the massive shortage hitting the industry, and why shops lose their best talent in the first 6–12 months. We also talk about how RockEd is changing training with micro-learning, industry-recognized certifications, and real mentorship from creators and subject-matter experts across the country.

Chris also shares powerful insights on:

• The soft skills that determine technician success

• Why advisors + techs must partner, not compete

• How customer experience impacts flat rate and shop culture

• The value technicians bring to safety, repairs, and the industry

• Leadership gaps in dealerships and how to fix them

• Why service professionals need to reinvent themselves and keep growing

Whether you’re a technician, advisor, or leader, this episode is loaded with mindset, data, and career strategy for growing in the industry and leveling up as a professional.

Want to Connect with Chris?

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@chris_mf_craigTikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@chris_mf_craig

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/chris_mf_craig/LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-topher-craig/

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Marco Zwanenburg - Mercedes Master Tech turned Mentor to Technicians and Founding Father of the Fixed Ops RoundTable.

We talk about what flat rate success really looks like. Not the excuses. Not the shop gossip. The mindset, discipline and financial awareness that keep you winning when the work is good and when the bays are empty.

Marco breaks down the shift techs must make to control their careers:

• Treat flat rate like a business, not a gamble

• Build efficiency without cutting corners• Maintain productive habits during slow seasons so you don’t fall off

• Stop letting the tool truck drain your future

• Choose better role models and mentors intentionally

• Stay focused on your goals, not the guy complaining in the corner

• Turn every job — even warranty — into a skill and speed builder.

If you’re tired of hearing “flat rate is broken,” Marco brings the counter-argument: flat rate rewards the tech who prepares, stays sharp and plays the long game.

Connect with Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-j-zwanenburg-a132174a/

🎙 Hosted by: Curtis (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)

Watch more episodes:  @WOTPod  Follow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js

WrenchWay’s Jay Goninen joins WOTPod to talk about the future of the technician career path, the Voice of the Technician survey, and what it will take to fix the industry. This is the conversation every tech, shop leader and educator needs to hear.

In this episode of WOTPod, we sit down with Jay Goninen, founder of WrenchWay, to talk about his journey from turning wrenches to building one of the most influential platforms in the automotive industry. Jay shares how he entered the field, why life as a tech didn’t work out long-term, and how those early experiences shaped the mission behind WrenchWay.

We discuss the importance of the Voice of the Technician Survey, the challenges facing the industry today, and how WrenchWay is creating mentorship opportunities, stronger career paths, and real support for new and veteran technicians. This episode is all about elevating the trade and giving technicians a true voice.

Complete The Voice of the Technician Survey: https://cmjzn04.na1.hubspotlinks.com/Ctc/W1+113/cMJZN04/VVD1nD5MDV21W8C_hMp5nz7xHW76My975FKkJ4N4lQrK62_3wqW69sMD-6lZ3nmN81j2ls6mkC2W2jHYzZ36VKvmW18lw57219wFtVdfTqg2Db5QYW91cYnw97splZW41jFMw6-hHltW8cRwp15BTL0fW8J9_Cm828HjdW6DGkdw5QPJ4tW2BqjRW36JZSVW1Fq05R3D2KY5Vv8Gl41fCtZDW5GnZQT7L95KWVWHC-q2lQLqQVY-59n1bjQl8W19mz8b9b9QTNW5bVYKy5D4hsdW310CWV2y44kMW72ZmWy5qfy0vN8y1zWMg1VCXf1V5Qzs04

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaygoninen/

Hosted by: Curtis (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)

Watch more episodes:  @WOTPod 

Follow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js

This episode is about what it really takes to build a successful career as a technician. Not just big paychecks, but discipline, smart decisions, and planning for the long game.

Curtis and Jalid dive into the mindset and habits that separate techs who burn out from techs who build something that lasts.

In this episode we get into:

• Why success as a tech starts with how you manage your money

• Tool trucks vs smart buying — Amazon, Harbor Freight, used tools, and patience

• The danger of blowing your first big flat rate check on car parts and payments

• How to prepare for slow weeks, comebacks, debt, and flat rate droughts

• Organizing your toolbox, your workflow, and your headspace

• Benefits no one pays attention to — 401Ks, OEM incentives, insurance, bonuses, paid training

• What leadership actually looks like in the shop — and how Jalid builds up newer techs instead of just bossing them around

This one’s for techs who want more than a paycheck. The ones who want stability, growth, and a reason to keep showing up when things get hard.🎙 Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)Follow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js💬 Drop a comment below and tell us about your development as a Successful Technician📅 Subscribe and join the movement to Raise the Standard for technicians.

In this episode of The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with ShelbyWrenches, a technician who’s redefining what it means to push through barriers and chase a dream.Shelby shares her journey from working in the food industry to finally landing a spot at a Honda dealership and the uphill climb that came with being a woman in a male-dominated trade. From rejections and self-doubt to turning wrenches and creating content that inspires thousands, her story is all about perseverance, passion, and proving you belong in the shop.What we cover:⚙️ Shelby’s early path from Waiting Tables to Honda Technician🚗 How COVID shifted her career and opened doors in the automotive world📱 The move from TikTok to Instagram and how her content empowers other technicians💪 The real challenges women face in the industry and how she’s tackling them head-on🔥 Encouragement for every aspiring technician: take the leap, find your shop, and never give up🎙 Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)Guest: Shelby (@ShelbyWrenches) - On InstagramFollow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js

Gary (EliteVoice) has lived just about every side of the service lane — technician, advisor, and now, creator. In this episode, we dive deep into his story: how he got his start changing oil and working his way up to service advisor, learning the ropes, building relationships, and finding his place in an industry that doesn’t always make it easy to stand out.He shares how a simple idea with a friend turned into one of the most recognizable fixed ops comedy pages online. When his co-founder stepped away, EliteVoice doubled down, creating his own brand, his own voice, and a platform that’s made technicians, advisors, and even managers laugh, think, and see themselves in every skit.But it’s not all comedy. This episode dives into the serious side of shop life. We talk about the communication gap between advisors and technicians, the challenges of bridging those two worlds, and the leadership lessons that come from understanding both sides. We discuss what management can do better, how ego gets in the way of teamwork, and why empathy is the most underrated skill in any service department.We also get personal, from family and motivation to his long-term goal of creating a business platform for advisor training. It’s about growth, ownership, and pushing the industry forward in a way that’s real, relatable, and just a little bit hilarious.Gary proves that you can make an impact without losing your humor, and that sometimes the best way to change the industry is to make it laugh first.🎙 Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)Guest: Gary (@EliteVoice_) - On all platformsFollow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js

In this episode of The Way of the Technician Podcast, we sit down with Adrian (@HondaTech371) to unpack what it really means to grow in this industry, from the early days as a young tech to mentoring the next generation.We cover a ton of ground in this one, including:🔧 How Adrian got started as a technician and built the HondaTech371 brand📈 The importance of training, mentorship, and leadership in the shop💰 The evolution of the flat rate system and how California’s hybrid base pay model might set the new standard⚙️ The struggles every flat rate tech faces, from burnout to balance🏠 How the job impacts family, relationships, and home life🎯 Our goals, roadblocks, and the sacrifices it takes to grow as technicians and creatorsIf you’re a technician chasing growth, balance, and purpose, this episode is for you.🎙 Hosted by: Curtis Gardner (@TechGnarr) & Jalid (@NoBuck_JS)Guest: Adrian (@HondaTech371) - On all platformsFollow us on Instagram: @techgnarr | @nobuck_js