My name is Jeff, and I'd like to welcome you on a journey of reflection and insight into the tolls and triumphs of a career in automotive repair.
After more than 20 years of skinned knuckles and tool debt, I want to share my perspective and hear other people's thoughts about our industry.
So
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff is with Josh Farris, a Mini Cooper dealership technician from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to talk about diagnostics, dealership life, flat rate pay, and career growth. Josh shares his journey from working on a 1995 Lumina to gaining experience at independent shops, Volkswagen, Lexus, and Mini. They discuss electrical and CAN bus diagnostics, corrosion, warranty…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with Zach Fogle, a 26 year old technician from Idyllwild, California, to discuss shop life, training, technology, and the challenges facing modern technicians. Zach shares his experience working at a small multi generation shop with a towing fleet, including the frustrations of being pulled away from repair work, outdated equipment, limited…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with JT the Car Guy, a longtime Chrysler and Stellantis technician and YouTube creator, to discuss dealership life, content creation, and the changing automotive industry. JT shares his journey through two decades in Chrysler dealerships, the value of brand specific experience, and the challenges facing technicians today. They also discuss…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff and Aniz talk about shop schedules, training, shop culture, and the value of finding the right people in the automotive industry. They discuss why seven day operations are not the right fit for every shop, how technicians should be part of scheduling decisions, and why events like ASTA can provide valuable training, networking, and lasting connections. The…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with Aniz Lavji to talk about shop growth, better workflow, and the value of finding your people in the automotive industry. Aniz shares how hiring a service advisor and adding a second licensed technician helped improve customer service, reduce stress, and give him more time to focus on the business. They also discuss the challenges small…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff sits down with Ben and Jenna of 3Ts Automotive to talk about mobile automotive repair, business growth, marriage, and building a business online. Ben and Jenna share the realities of running a high volume mobile business, from working in extreme heat to managing customer expectations and diagnosing vehicles on camera. They discuss their plans for a future…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton talks with Tanner Waters, a field and shop technician in rural Montana, about his path into the trade and what life is like working on tractors, combines, and hay equipment. Tanner shares his apprenticeship experience, field diagnostics, long drives, and major repairs while comparing hourly efficiency pay with flat rate. The conversation also…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff talks with Oregon technician Sean Pierce about his unconventional path into automotive repair, from car audio and alarms to trade school, ASE certifications, and advanced diagnostics. Sean shares lessons from working on exotic vehicles and Sprinters, explains why process and proper brake work matter, and discusses his shop’s hourly-plus-bonus pay structure…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Dustin Stutzman, a shop foreman and high-efficiency flat-rate technician, shares why he left engineering for the automotive industry and how he became a master technician without a dedicated mentor. Drawing from years in dealership service departments, Dustin explains how flat-rate pay, poor dispatching, and corporate policies often discourage quality repairs and…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff welcomes Pennsylvania technician Brian DeCesare to discuss how the automotive industry can rebuild customer trust through honest inspections, ethical recommendations, and consistent shop practices. Brian shares his journey from growing up in his father's body shop to working in independent repair shops, reflecting on burnout, poor shop culture, and the…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff welcomes veteran technician Steve Blanchard to compare Quebec's hourly-pay system with Ontario's flat-rate model. Steve shares his journey from GM dealerships in Quebec to working in Ontario, explaining how different pay structures affect technician morale, quality, and shop culture. The conversation explores leadership, service advisor processes, warranty…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff sits down with technician-turned-shop-owner Caleb Mac to discuss the challenges of leaving the comfort of employment to build a business from the ground up. Caleb shares his journey from dealership lube technician to opening his own repair shop in rural Minnesota, reflecting on poor mentorship, burnout, ethical repair decisions, and the lessons that shaped…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE Recorded at Tools in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Jeff sits down with Josh Coomes of Auto Shop Therapy and technician Brian Ramsburg to discuss the realities of running a modern repair shop. Brian reflects on more than 18 years in the trade, the challenges of being a solo technician, and why he enjoys variety in his work, while Josh shares his customer-first approach, leadership…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff is with Josh Forbes of Maxim Muffler in Winnipeg talks about his unconventional path into the automotive industry. What started with constant breakdowns on his first car—a 1993 Ford Tempo—turned into a career built through hands-on learning, apprenticeship experience, and years of navigating different shop environments. Josh shares lessons from dealership…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE Recorded at the TOOLS in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Jeff sits down with Canadian shop owners Frank and Margarita Wiebe of 3D Auto to share their first destination training event and the lessons they're bringing back to their shop. They share how the welcoming community helped them build new relationships, the value of technical and service advisor training, and why effective customer…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE Recorded at Tools Pennsylvania 2026, this discussion brings together Jeff with Bryan Pollock, Tonnika Haynes and Braxton Critcher to talk about the realities of growing a podcast and business through social media. They explore why short-form content and reels are essential for reaching new audiences, the downside of viral clips attracting negative comments, and the challenge of…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with Kansas technician Eric Schoenberger of Holt Motor Company. Having grown up around Chrysler dealerships alongside his father, a veteran drivability and transmission specialist, Eric shares his experiences in dealer life and why he ultimately transitioned to the independent repair world. The conversation explores flat-rate frustrations,…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this Jaded Mechanic Podcast episode, Jeff sits down with Canadian technician Daniel Whitey to discuss his journey through the automotive trade. Daniel shares how a Chrysler co-op program at Centennial College led to an apprenticeship, dealership experience, and eventually a move into fleet maintenance. They discuss the realities of flat rate pay, mentorship, shop culture, tool…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE Recorded at Tools in Hershey, PA, Jeff Compton features Cody Kirkenester of Fadely’s Auto Masters. After 15 years as a technician and shop foreman, Cody transitioned into the service advisor and shop manager role. He shares his journey into the automotive industry, the training culture that helped shape his career, and a memorable diagnostic breakthrough using a lab scope. Cody…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton talks with Promotive’s Lisa Coyle and Kat Ayers about what’s changing in technician hiring, including their AI virtual recruiter and how it helps shops with consistency, speed-to-lead, and 24/7 candidate screening. They discuss common hiring bias, why resumes often don’t reflect real skill, how to interpret job hopping, and why following application…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff Compton and Greg Hilliard talk about Greg's career spent in dealerships, independent shops, and finally as a one-man owner-operator. Greg pulls no punches about toxic shop dynamics, the true value of a technician’s labor, and the personal costs of striking out on your own. He and Jeff discuss compensation, mental health struggles in the industry, how digital…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff chats with Derek Amodio about his unique path back into the automotive industry after spending years working as a chef. Derek opens up about making the switch from the kitchen to the shop, the challenges of moving from hourly pay to flat rate at a Chrysler dealership, and why having the right culture and mentorship around you matters so much. They also talk…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff talks with Christopher Clingerman, a fleet mechanic out of Rochester, New York. Christopher shares how he went from working on tractor trailers to maintaining school buses, and what surprised him most about the switch from dealership life to fleet work. They get into the day-to-day challenges techs deal with, from bad parts and misdiagnosed vehicles to the…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Marco Palumbo shares his journey from technician to owner of Maxim Tire and Muffler in Winnipeg. He discusses the challenges of adapting to new automotive technologies, such as ADAS and electric vehicles, and the investments required in equipment, training, and staff. Marco also emphasizes the value of transparent customer service and community reputation,…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dealer Plate Guy (Austin Conroy), who has a HUGE following on social media. Austin shares his unconventional career path from sales to service manager, emphasizing the importance of building customer and employee relationships in the dealership environment. They also talk about the most common misconceptions about dealership pricing compared…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff talks with Jeremiah Hiatt, a mobile mechanic from Montana, about his shift from ranch work to running his own ag repair business. They get into imposter syndrome, pricing your work, balancing family life, and the real challenges of modern diagnostics, plus solid advice for techs thinking about going out on their own. Timestamps: 05:48 Fixing farm equipment…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff sits down with Riley Spence to talk about his move from the dealership world to working on a fleet for a construction company out in remote Labrador. Riley shares what it’s really like dealing with tough northern conditions, from tracking down parts to handling low-quality fuel. They also speak on mental health, the importance of having a strong community in…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff is join by Adam Matz to discuss challenges facing dealership mechanics today. They talk about stagnant wages, rising labor rates, and management practices that impact technician morale and retention. The conversation also brings up the growing technician shortage and the need for better support and fair compensation to sustain the industry. Timestamps: 09:42…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff is joined by Josh Fowler, a shop foreman at a Chrysler dealership in Adams, New York. Josh talks about how tough it’s been to find good technicians, especially with changing job trends and not much local talent to pull from. He and Jeff swap ideas on how to bring people in and keep them around, like offering signing bonuses and bumping pay as techs level up…
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Save 15% on your next Launch Tech USA tool with code Launch15. Use that code at checkout HERE In this episode, Jeff is joined by Bret T. Fadley to discuss the upcoming TOOLS training event in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Bret talks about why it’s so important to keep learning and stay connected in the automotive world, and how events like this help you build strong relationships that benefit both you and your shop. Jeff also shares some of his past experiences, highlighting the…
About The Jaded Mechanic Podcast
My name is Jeff, and I'd like to welcome you on a journey of reflection and insight into the tolls and triumphs of a career in automotive repair.
After more than 20 years of skinned knuckles and tool debt, I want to share my perspective and hear other people's thoughts about our industry.
So
The Jaded Mechanic Podcast is a English leisure & travel podcast from Jeff Compton. 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.
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
