Podcast · Business

FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast

Welcome to FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast, your go-to resource for mastering dealership operations, hosted by Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui. With extensive backgrounds as a training professionals, each episode delves deep into the automotive, powersports, RV, and marine industries. FWRD brings expert gu

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 35 min
Latest: 5 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026 · 34 min

Turning Used Cars Into a Reliable Profit Engine with James Virgoe

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E1 · 20 Sep 2026 · 39 min
The Future of Fixed Ops: Transparency, Technology & Trust with Kimberly M Cowen with Slydyn
S1 · E1 · 5 Sep 2026 · 32 min
People First Performance Follows.
AI is everywhere in dealership conversations right now, but most dealers are skipping a critical step before they invest. On this episode of FWRD, host Corey Smith sits down with Michael Morgan of Launch Labs, a data and identity resolution platform used by nearly 900 dealers nationwide, to break down what actually needs to happen before AI can deliver results. Michael explains why dealership data across the DMS, CRM, and CDP so often fails to talk to itself, and how that disconnect leads to wasted marketing spend, missed sales opportunities, and customers who feel like the dealership does…
S1 · E1 · 20 Aug 2026 · 33 min
Making Vehicle Ownership Affordable Again with David Engelman CEO of SmartPay
Ninety five percent of Americans get paid weekly or biweekly, but almost every dealership still offers a monthly payment on the first pencil sheet. In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with David Engelman, founder and CEO of SmartPay, to break down why that mismatch is costing dealers money and costing customers deals they could have closed. Engelman explains how a payment option that matches a customer's actual pay cycle leads to less back and forth at the sales desk, an average of $1,000 more in gross per deal, and 1.5 additional finance products sold per…
S1 · E1 · 5 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Compliance Matters: Protecting Your Dealership from FTC Risk with Erica Blackmon & Shannon Robertson
S1 · E1 · 20 Jul 2026 · 43 min
Women in Automotive: An Interview with Laurie Halter and Brooke Furniss
The latest episode of FWRD features two automotive veterans who both stumbled into the industry by accident and never left: Laurie Holter, founder of an automotive PR and communications agency with more than two decades in the business, and Brooke Furness, a data-driven marketing and digital consultant known for telling clients what they need to hear. Hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui lead a conversation that touches on relationships, career growth, and what it actually takes to build something lasting in this industry. Both guests speak to how strong personal and professional networks…
S6 · E223 · 5 Jul 2026 · 38 min
AI Won't Fix What Leadership Won't
S5 · E123 · 20 Jun 2026 · 29 min
The Walk Around Problem: Advisor Issue or Leadership Failure?
S6 · E124 · 5 Jun 2026 · 34 min
Turning Used Cars Back Into a Profit Center with Eric Meahan
With used car margins under pressure and gross profit per unit down over 12% year-over-year, dealerships can no longer treat reconditioning as an afterthought. In this episode of FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast, hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui sit down with Eric Meahan, Managing Director of Repair360, to discuss how transforming your recon process into a high-velocity supply chain can win back your lost margins. Learn actionable strategies to hit a strict 5-day retail-ready target, track the right leading KPIs, and build absolute team accountability to turn your used car department back into…
S6 · E123 · 20 May 2026 · 34 min
Leveling Up Leadership Culture with the Team Reeder Trausch Marine
Reeder Trausch Marine’s leadership team shares how strong culture, clear communication, and high standards drive growth and customer experience. From leadership development to innovation and training, this episode highlights what it takes to scale a dealership while staying true to your values.
S6 · E122 · 5 May 2026 · 45 min
How Better Communication Improves Service Performance with Bernie DeGraw
In this episode of FWRD, host Erick Jauregui sits down with Bernie DeGraw, Senior Education Developer for the MRAA, to discuss the evolving customer experience in the marine service industry. They explore the gap between sales and service, highlighting the critical role of communication and ongoing training in improving service performance.
S6 · E120 · 20 Apr 2026 · 36 min
The Future of Fixed Ops with Russell Hill from Fixed Ops Marketing
Russell Hill joins Corey Smith to discuss why dealership websites have become the new digital showroom for fixed operations, and how dealers can improve their digital service experience to reduce defection and drive service revenue.
S6 · E121 · 5 Apr 2026 · 35 min
From Guesswork to Game Tape: AI Coaching for Dealerships Sales Teams with Gavin Janis
EasyCoach℠ turns every F&I conversation into measurable performance. In this episode of FWRD, we break down the national launch of EasyCoach℠, EasyCare’s AI-powered coaching platform that reinforces training, improves compliance, and helps dealerships increase PVR through real conversation analysis.
S6 · E119 · 20 Mar 2026 · 32 min
Leadership in Building Winning Teams-with Jamison Carrier
Leadership expert and author Jamison Carrier joins Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui to discuss how dealerships can build championship-level teams. From smarter hiring systems to creating a culture built on winning, accountability, and appreciation, this episode breaks down practical leadership strategies that help teams perform at a higher level.
S5 · E118 · 5 Mar 2026 · 27 min
Winning the Service Game: New Plays for 2026 and Beyond
In this episode of FWRD, Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui break down why fixed operations will define dealership success in 2026. From elevating the role of the service advisor to restructuring the service drive for long-term profitability, this conversation explores practical strategies dealers can use to turn service into their strongest profit center. If you are focused on improving retention, increasing RO performance, and future-proofing your store, this episode delivers actionable insight you can apply immediately.
S5 · E117 · 20 Feb 2026 · 30 min
The Service Advisor Evolution: What 2026 Will Demand
This episode explains how dealerships can increase service advisor performance in 2026 through consistent coaching, KPI literacy, AI integration, video MPIs, F&I cross-training, and visible accountability systems. Service is positioned as the primary profit and retention engine, requiring standardized processes and a strong practice culture.
S5 · E116 · 5 Feb 2026 · 39 min
The ART of AI: How Dealers can learn, adapt, and prepare for the future with Sean Hartman from TOMA Ai
Dealers do not need more AI buzzwords. They need a clear use case. In this episode, Sean Hartman (VP of Sales, Toma) breaks down how to evaluate AI tools using a practical framework: adoption, resolution, and tailoring so dealerships can reduce call load, improve appointment handling, and free teams up for higher-value work.
S5 · E115 · 20 Jan 2026 · 29 min
The Road to 2026: Innovation, Speed, and the Reconditioning Revolution with Eric Meahan from Repair On Demand
Corey and Erick sit down with Eric Meahan to break down how data-driven reconditioning is helping dealers cut cycle time, reduce hidden costs, and improve operational control. The conversation explores why idle time, not technician speed, is the biggest bottleneck and how modern tools are reshaping used vehicle profitability.
S5 · E78 · 5 Jan 2026 · 32 min
Giving That Reflects Love with Brent Smith Owner from Craig Smith Chevrolet
In this powerful episode of the FWRD Podcast, Brent Smith shares the deeply personal journey behind founding Love's Reflection, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children in palliative care and seniors in hospice through compassion, presence, and personalized acts of love. From near-death experiences to life-changing moments of service, Brent explains why leadership rooted in empathy creates ripple effects far beyond business and how love, when put into action, can transform lives in minutes.
S5 · E113 · 20 Dec 2025 · 41 min
Words That Drive Results with Laurie Halter from Charisma Communications
Corey Smith sits down with Laurie Halter to explore how authentic storytelling and intentional communication drive trust, culture, and performance in automotive. The conversation unpacks why brand promises must be lived, not just stated, and how leaders can connect more deeply with customers and teams through genuine language and action.
S5 · E111 · 20 Nov 2025 · 39 min
The Journey from a Service Advisor to Service Manager With Erick & Corey
Hosts Corey Smith and Erick Jauregui dive into what it really takes to transition from service advisor to service manager. The conversation explores leadership mindset, using data to drive results, and how to shift from personal performance to team success. You’ll hear practical guidance on shop balance, forecasting, and team culture—all centered on helping new managers lead with confidence.
S5 · E110 · 5 Nov 2025 · 31 min
From Cold Calls to Smart Bots: The Future of BDC Starts Now with Matt Raymond
Guest Matt Raymond sits down with Erick Jauregui to talk about what it really takes to build a modern BDC that converts. Matt explains how combining technology with “Actual Individuals” creates better customer experiences, why outsourcing can boost efficiency and lower costs, and what KPIs dealers should focus on heading into 2025.
S5 · E109 · 20 Oct 2025 · 37 min
The Digital Why: Your Website is the New Showroom
After walking away from a near-sale to Dontron, Russell Hill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Fixed Ops Marketing, turned a failed acquisition into a growth story—expanding to over 600 dealerships nationwide. In this episode, Russell and host Corey Smith explore why your dealership website is the new showroom, what the “three-click rule” means for customer retention, and how AI-driven predictive maintenance is transforming fixed ops.
S5 · E108 · 5 Oct 2025 · 40 min
What AI Is Learning from Your Reviews (and Why It Matters)
Brand strategist Jeane Reitelbach joins hosts Corey Smith and Eric Jauregui on FWRD to explore how dealerships can turn customer feedback into a true operational advantage. From using one-star reviews as internal training tools to boosting your AI-powered search rankings, this episode offers practical, dealership-ready strategies to improve retention, performance, and reputation.
S5 · E107 · 20 Sep 2025 · 34 min
Rubber Meets Revenue with Eddie in Service
Eddie Campbell of Forest Lane CDJR joins host Corey Smith to share how training, video tools, and a strong tire strategy turned his team into a top-performing service department.
S5 · E106 · 5 Sep 2025 · 33 min
Service that comes to you- Why Mobile might be your next Profit Center With Jeremy Stephens Operations Director at Bozard Ford Lincoln
Jeremy Stevens joins host Corey Smith to break down the real-world success and opportunity behind mobile service. From building customer trust to driving new revenue, this episode dives into why mobile service is gaining traction — and what it takes for dealerships to do it well.
S5 · E104 · 20 Aug 2025 · 39 min
105. FWRD-Fix the Team, Fix the Business: Chris Craig on Retention, Leadership & Service Culture
With service advisor turnover at 49%, dealerships face a deeper challenge: team retention. In this episode, Corey Smith and Chris Craig discuss practical strategies to support your fixed ops team, improve communication, and create a culture that drives loyalty and long-term success.
S1 · E1 · 5 Aug 2025 · 35 min
104. FWRD- Driving The Dealer Voice with Jordan Cox
Want to make video content that actually drives traffic and sells cars? In this episode, Jordan Cox sits with FWRD hosts to break down how fixed ops leaders, sales teams, and GMs can start building trust and visibility online—with consistent, low-effort video that works.
S1 · E1 · 21 Jul 2025 · 33 min
103.FWRD - Franchise Laws, Tech Shortages & EV Realities
Christine Vinatieri-Erickson unpacks what South Dakota’s strong franchise laws, workforce solutions, and EV challenges reveal about the future of automotive retail.
S4 · E102 · 5 Jul 2025 · 42 min
102. FWRD- Sean Reyes of Recall Masters: Turning Recalls Into Retention
Sean Reyes of Recall Masters joins FWRD to explore how proactive recall outreach helps dealers boost retention, upsell with empathy, and reconnect with lost customers.

About FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast

FWRD: An EasyCare Podcast is a English business podcast from EasyCare. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: EasyCare
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 35 min
Latest episode: 5 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1565027324
Rights: EasyCare

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