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Artwork for Beyond the Wrench

Beyond the Wrench

Jay Goninen
Automotive Industry
Wrenchway
Technician Shortage
Automotive Education
Leadership
Mentorship
Technician Development
Electric Vehicles
Career Development
Milwaukee Tool
ADAS
ASE
Automotive Repair
Diesel Industry
Technician Training
ASE Connects
Industry Partnerships
Customer Service
Technician Pay Survey
Workforce Development

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, Co-Founder & President of WrenchWay, 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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes323Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureAutomotiveCareersBusiness

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Artwork for Beyond the Wrench

Latest Episodes

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, ... more

YouTube

Anthony Calhoun is an ASE Master Technician with 25+ years in the industry, CEO of A.W.C. Consulting LLC, and author of “Why Techs Leave and How to Keep Them.” In this episode, Anthony walks through what each role has taught him about where the indus... more

YouTube

Joe Hamilton, President & CEO of Vortex Optics, helped build one of the outdoor industry's most recognized and fiercely loyal brands by treating service as a competitive weapon, not an afterthought. In this episode, Joe unpacks the CARE Movement (Cre... more

YouTube

Chris Craig—Fixed Ops Curriculum Developer at RockED and content creator with 135,000 followers across platforms—has built his following by saying the things most people are afraid to post. In this episode, he breaks down why showing both sides of ev... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joe Hamilton
President and CEO of Vortex Optics
Vortex Optics
Episode: The CARE Movement—Right People, Rare Experiences
Chris Craig
Industry content creator and educator, known for social media presence
Independent commentator
Episode: Honest Conversations Move the Industry Forward
Christian Spell
High school senior and SkillsUSA officer
SkillsUSA
Episode: SkillsUSA's Real Impact on the Next Generation
Todd Ainsworth
Shop Owner, Northwest Auto Care Alliance board member
Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA) / ITAC
Episode: Building Technicians From the Ground Up
Antonio Maldonado
Recruiter focused on BMW STEP program and partnerships with technical colleges
BMW of North America
Episode: BMW's STEP Program: Nurturing the Next Generation of Technicians
Jake Martin
Body and Paint STEP program recruiter and instructor liaison
BMW of North America
Episode: BMW's STEP Program: Nurturing the Next Generation of Technicians
Dan Paulson
Author of Escape the Owner's Trap, former shop owner and consultant
Escape the Owner's Trap / Author
Episode: Build a Shop That Runs Without You
Justin Allen
Senior engineering and training professional at Hunter Engineering Company
Hunter Engineering Company
Episode: Growing the Auto Industry Funnel: Recruiting, Training, & Inspiring the Next Gen
Marco Zwanenburg
Industry veteran focusing on performance, mindset, and growth for technicians and shops
Independent consultant/ASE collaborations
Episode: Technician Happiness Starts the Moment They Walk In

Host

Jay Goninen
Host of Beyond the Wrench

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Great Host!

    Jay does a great job of engaging his guests while letting his passion for our service professionals shine through.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    djohns16
    United States2 years ago
  • Great show

    Informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J5erra
    United States3 years ago
  • Value-packed!

    If you’re in the auto services industry, you need to tune into Beyond the Wrench! Jay is an excellent host who leads really engaging and informative interviews with his guests. Value-packed conversations abound in these episodes - highly recommend checking it out!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oliviabaker13
    United States4 years ago
  • I started A rolls royce & Bentley repair shop when everyone told me I could not

    I could really relate to this podcast , with no experience and just my education from UTI to become a professional technician, I knew what cars I wanted to work on and had several instructors tell me I had no chance of that happening.

    I start my shop in my garage and now rent a bigger garage space, I’ve been looking for a one bay shop to rent, to have an actual shop, but there are none I can find in Atlanta.

    I own a European Dynamics, I am on google in Atlanta, and could really use help.

    But ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ajs rolls royce garage
    United States4 years ago
  • Awesome podcast with diverse lil group of interview subjects

    Great podcast focused on the world of mechanics and helping grow a career not just a job

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pa pizza
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Informative and value-packed for auto service professionals.
Engaging discussions with diverse guests from education to industry.
Authentic storytelling; great perspectives for aspiring shop owners.
Great host who lets guests shine and shares genuine passion for service pros.
Shows practical insights for recruiting, retention, and culture in shops.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The CARE Movement—Right People, Rare Experiences
Q: Talk to me about the brand piece and how the Vortex identity came to be.
Joe describes redesigning product naming (Diamondback, Crossfire, Viper, etc.) and creating Vortex Nation to foster belonging, moving away from purely technical selling points toward an identity-led brand that customers can connect with.
The CARE Movement—Right People, Rare Experiences
Q: Now walk us through, our audience is primarily the transportation trades. Can you give us a little background on Vortex Optics?
Joe explains the family history in optics, how Eagle Optics grew from a retailer to a wholesaler and brand, and how Vortex was launched in 2002 as part of a strategic expansion to offer a complete line across hunting and birding markets.
Building Technicians From the Ground Up
Q: Todd, how did you get into the industry and end up as a shop owner?
Todd explains his start in the mid-80s, progressing from a high school auto shop student to a four-year apprenticeship, becoming a professional tech for 25 years, and eventually transitioning to shop ownership due to the physical toll of wrenching and a desire to influence the industry from a leadership position.
Growing the Auto Industry Funnel: Recruiting, Training, & Inspiring the Next Gen
Q: What drives your focus on content and training, and how do you approach helping others learn effectively?
He transitioned from sales to training because it allowed him to reach more customers and share valuable information; he emphasizes making content helpful, approachable, and non-intimidating, using platforms like YouTube and TikTok to scale impact.
Growing the Auto Industry Funnel: Recruiting, Training, & Inspiring the Next Gen
Q: So how did you switch over to Hunter?
He started in the automotive world at a Ford dealership, moved through various roles in the parts and service areas, and found a fit in Hunter where engineering and hands-on training meet, eventually becoming deeply involved in training and content creation to share that knowledge.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Wrench

What is Beyond the Wrench about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series concentrates on actionable strategies for running automotive and diesel shops more profitably while elevating the industry's image to attract younger talent. Episodes frequently explore workforce development, mentorship, and education partnerships, emphasizing real-world programs like STEP training, apprenticeships, and school-to-shop pipelines. Hosts and guests share hands-on experiences—from succession planning and culture-building to pay models and recruitment tactics—offering practical playbooks for owners, managers, instructors, and industry leaders. Noteworthy angles include reinforcing technician retention through onboarding and culture, leveraging industry alliances, and spotlighting programs that democratize entry into a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond the Wrench?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Wrench:

1. Changing The Industry Podcast
2. Ratchet+Wrench Radio
3. Car Dealership Guy Podcast
4. The Jaded Mechanic Podcast
5. Automotive Diagnostic Podcast

How many episodes of Beyond the Wrench are there?

Beyond the Wrench launched 6 years ago and published 323 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Wrench?

Recent guests on Beyond the Wrench include:

1. Joe Hamilton
2. Chris Craig
3. Christian Spell
4. Todd Ainsworth
5. Antonio Maldonado
6. Jake Martin
7. Dan Paulson
8. Justin Allen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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