Beyond the Wrench

Hosted by Jay Goninen

Business Careers Leisure AutomotiveExplicit

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Episodes

331

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

How can automotive and diesel shops run a better business and be more profitable? How can we make the aftermarket and dealerships more attractive to younger generations? Each week, Jay Goninen, VP of Industry Advancement at ASE, will sit down with shop owners, technicians, instructors, and professionals in the automotive and diesel industries to have them share their stories and insights. We’ll dive deep into what’s going on in shops and dealerships and what we can do to help drive the industry forward. The Beyond the Wrench Podcast is powered by ASE.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 2, 202632 min

Milwaukee Pipeline 2026: Growth into Transportation & the Instinct to Build

Cole Conrad, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Milwaukee Tool, breaks down how Milwaukee Tool's growth into transportation trades wasn't a step-by-step plan—it was patience and instinct, one tool at a time. In this episode, recorded live at Milwaukee Pipeline 2026, Cole covers the shift into automotive as an all-in focus, how the team decides what's worth building next, and why trusting instinct over data was key to bets like the Hammer Chisel tool. Watch the video recording on YouTube About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guest: Cole Conrad, Milwaukee Tool , Cole.Conrad@milwaukeetool.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Milwaukee Pipeline Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers (Free trial for shops until 12/31/26) ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free for schools) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

August 26, 202646 min

Milwaukee Pipeline 2026: Hammer Chisels, Grease Guns, & What's Next

Live from the 2026 Milwaukee Pipeline event, Ryan Mack, Group Product Manager, and Tim Schneider, Assistant Product Manager at Milwaukee Tool, join us to unpack how user frustration drives every product they build. In this episode, they cover the design story behind the M18 FUEL STRIKER, how accessories are engineered around real field use, a new grease gun that solves three key frustrations, and their favorite things about the Pipeline event. Watch the video recording on YouTube About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guests: Ryan Mack, Milwaukee Tool , Ryan.mack@milwaukeetool.com | Tim Schneider, Milwaukee Tool , Tim.Schneider@milwaukeetool.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Milwaukee Pipeline Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers (Free trial for shops until 12/31/26) ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free for schools) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

August 19, 202659 min

Inside ASE's $25 Million Registered Apprenticeship Grant

Michael Coley, President of ASE Education Foundation, breaks down the largest workforce grant the Department of Labor has ever awarded in the transportation service industry. In this episode, he covers what qualifies as a registered apprenticeship program, how the $25 million is expected to be allocated as final details are worked out with the DOL, and the goal of funding 6,000 new apprentice technicians over the next four years. Watch the video recording The total cost of the ASE Education Foundation Pay-for-Performance Apprenticeship Program is $25,000,000. $25,000,000 (100%) is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor – Employment and Training Administration grant. About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guest: Michael Coley, ASE Education Foundation , mcoley@ase.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Episode Sponsor: Jasper Engines & Transmissions Join ASE's Mailing List to Stay Informed on the Grant Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers (Free trial for shops until 12/31/26) ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free for schools) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

August 12, 20261 hr 4 min

Turning Repair Orders Into Content With AI

Joe Toscano, Founder & CEO of Service Stories, returns to show how his AI platform turns everyday repair orders into ready-to-publish content. In this episode, he covers why he built Service Stories after burning out on social media himself, why voice and AI search are changing how customers find shops, and the growing impact of your shop’s Google Business Profile. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guest: Joe Toscano, Service Stories , joe@servicestories.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Episode Sponsor: Jasper Engines & Transmissions Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers (Free trial for shops until 12/31/26) ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free for schools) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

August 5, 20261 hr 3 min

Communication Habits of Great Dealerships

Stacy Balzer, Founder/CEO of Uplift+Ignite Coaching and Consulting and former Senior Director at Ford Motor Company, breaks down the communication habits that set the best dealerships apart. In this episode, she shares the tools and mindset shifts leaders need to actually connect with their teams and build a culture people want to stay in. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guest: Stacy Balzer, Uplift+Ignite Coaching and Consulting , upliftplusignite@gmail.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Episode Sponsor: Jasper Engines & Transmissions 2026 Voice of Technician Report Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

July 29, 20261 hr 3 min

The 3-Day Work Week Redefining Fixed Ops

Brooke English Guy, General Manager of Coastal Chevrolet Cadillac and Coastal Nissan in Pawleys Island, SC, breaks down how a third-generation family dealership built a culture technicians actually want to stay in. In this episode, she covers how a compressed 3-day work week reshaped technician recruitment and retention, why she hires for humility, hunger, and people skills over experience, and how she grew past early imposter syndrome to thrive in the car business. Watch the video recording Quick note—you may notice some video lag in this episode due to technical difficulties. Thanks for bearing with us, and enjoy! About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, ASE , jgoninen@ase.com Guest: Brooke English Guy, Coastal Chevrolet Cadillac and Coastal Nissan , brooke@coastalsaves.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

July 22, 20261 hr 2 min

ASE Acquires WrenchWay

Dave Johnson, President and CEO of ASE, sits down with WrenchWay co-founders Jay Goninen and Mark Wilson to break down the news: WrenchWay is officially part of the ASE family. In this episode, they cover why the deal made sense for both sides, what's changing (and staying the same) with the brand and product, and answer some of the questions they've been getting recently—including whether Beyond the Wrench is sticking around. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com Guests: Dave Johnson, ASE , djohnson@ase.com ; Mark Wilson, WrenchWay , mark@wrenchway.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Department of Labor & ASE Education Foundation Initiative: Apprenticeship Program Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

July 15, 20261 hr 4 min

The Parts Department Runs on Process

Wayne Brozek, Founder and CEO of WB Global Services, breaks down why the parts department is only as strong as the process behind it. In this episode, he covers how parts and service personalities differ inside a dealership, how a simple audit he performs can expose inventory discrepancies in a shop, and how he applies fractional leadership to help guide dealership teams. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com Guest: Wayne Brozek, WB Global Services , wayne@wbglobalservices.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

July 8, 20261 hr 1 min

AI is Rewriting the Rules for Diesel Repair

Trent Broberg, CEO of Fullbay, joins the show to talk about where AI is taking the repair industry. In this episode, Trent breaks down Fullbay's shift from an app to a platform, how AI is changing predictive maintenance and parts identification, and key insights from Fullbay's State of Heavy-Duty Repair Report you won't want to miss. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com Guest: Trent Broberg, Fullbay , trent.broberg@fullbay.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Download The State of Heavy-Duty Repair Report Keep Up with What’s Next at Fullbay. Sign up for Updates Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok

July 1, 20261 hr 10 min

Cool Shop Culture Is No Accident

Gabe Christian, Owner of Import Performance Auto Repair in Bend, Oregon and seven-time winner of best shop in the city, returns to break down what shop culture actually looks like from the inside. He and Jay get into the daily habits, team dynamics, and small details that make technicians want to show up and stay. Watch the video recording About the Episode Host: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay , jayg@wrenchway.com Guest: Gabe Christian, Import Performance Auto Repair , gabe@importperformanceusa.com Links & Resources Get notified of new episodes --> Join our email list Join the ASE Connects Community ASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more: ASE Connects Memberships for Shops & Dealers ASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!) Connect with us on social: Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok