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Artwork for The Dealer Playbook

The Dealer Playbook

Michael Cirillo
Automotive Industry
Customer Experience
Artificial Intelligence
Electric Vehicles
Marketing Strategies
Leadership
Social Media Marketing
Customer Engagement
NADA
Customer Service
Operational Efficiency
Leadership Development
Automotive Sales
Social Media
Community Engagement
Automotive Marketing
Dealership Operations
Google Business Profile
Building a Dealership
Autofi

The Dealer Playbook is the podcast for serious automotive professionals. The ones who think beyond the transaction. Hosted by Michael Cirillo, now in its 12th year, The Dealer Playbook delivers straight-talk conversations with the dealers, operators, and leaders who are actually building something. If you run a store, lead a team, or are building a career worth having, this is your show. New episo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes722Founded12 years ago
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EntrepreneurshipBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Dealer Playbook

Latest Episodes

Travis Baldwin started detailing cars at his family's independent dealership in 1999. He worked his way up through buyer, sales associate, sales manager, area manager, and eventually Vice President at Best Deal Auto Sales, all while serving on the bo... more

Most dealerships want more visibility.

The interesting question is whether they’re fully using the visibility they already have.

In this episode, Michael Cirillo breaks down an overlooked opportunity inside Google Business Profile and how dealershi... more

Most people assume the biggest problem in retail auto is inventory, rates, or competition.

But every time I walk into a dealership, I see something else at the core of the struggle. It isn’t obvious on the surface, but you can feel it in the turnove... more

This week Michael talks with a Cadillac Sales Consultant at Andrews Cadillac in Brentwood, Tennessee, who spent years ranked in the top 100 nationally before ever posting online, and then built 150,000 followers in a single year without her numbers d... more

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Recent Guests

Andrea Anderson
Cadillac Sales Consultant
Andrews Cadillac, Brentwood, Tennessee
Episode: “What’s the Next Move” — How Top Car Sales People Stay Ahead of the Market | Andrea Anderson, Cadillac Sales Consultant
Matt Copley
Co-Founder & CRO of Hrizn
Hrizn
Episode: "1.8% Of Clicks Are Paid" - The Traffic Every Dealer Is Leaving On The Table | Matt Copley, Co-Founder & CRO of Hrizn
Raul Tomsa
Client Advisor at Motor Werks
Motor Werks
Episode: “Ten Cars Does Not Work” - The Habits Behind Higher Car Sales | Raul Tomsa, Client Advisor at Motor Werks
Gary LaDue
Marketing Director at Modern Auto (the episode presenter and guest)
Modern Auto
Episode: "We Solved a Huge Problem" — How This 17-Store Group Decides What to Fix First | Gary LaDue, Marketing Dir. Modern Auto
Jonathan Dawson
Dealer Principal at Cherokee Mitsubishi; author/trainer in automotive sales and leadership
Cherokee Mitsubishi; Sellcology; Pinnacle Society
Episode: “39 Cars To 62” - How A Store Fixed A Decade-long Sales Plateau In 60 Days | Jonathan Dawson, Dealer Principal at Cherokee Mitsubishi
Rob Dell
VP at Bob Ruth Ford; industry operator
Bob Ruth Ford
Episode: "175 to 400 Cars a Month" — The Used Car Reframe That Changed Every Department | Rob Dell, VP at Bob Ruth Ford
Charlie Spradlin
General Manager at Art Moehn Group
Art Moehn Group
Episode: “My Team Will Adapt at the Drop of a Dime” — The GM Playbook for Leading When You Don’t Have All the Answers | Charlie Spradlin, GM Art Moehn Auto Group
Ryan Osten
Co-Founder & CEO of Lyteflo
Lyteflo
Episode: "There is money to be made" — Unlocking Profit in the Used EV Market — Ryan Osten, Co-Founder & CEO at Lyteflo
Dan Collingridge
CTO at FlexDealer and LiftKit
FlexDealer, LiftKit
Episode: "Inventory as a Catalyst" — Why Inventory Is Still Your Most Overlooked Lever | Dan Collingridge, CTO At Flex Dealer

Host

Michael Cirillo
Host of The Dealer Playbook, a longtime operator-focused show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 200 ratings
  • Industry experts

    I only wish I would have found this podcast sooner

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rtomsa1
    United Statesa month ago
  • Energy. Insights. Humor.

    Michael Cirillo is a fantastic host who brings energy, wit, and real knowledge of the dealer world to every conversation.

    I had a great time joining him on The Dealer Playbook to trade insights and also learn from his perspective.

    He asked sharp questions that pushed the discussion beyond surface-level marketing and into what really makes dealership events stand out.

    The episode covers everything from knowing your audience to elevating experiences through partnerships, sports lessons, and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ORT D.Point
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Michael is an innovator in this industry and the messages he puts out are poignant for all within the auto world. This is a MUST FOLLOW for industry leaders like myself!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mike Wood, U of L
    United States2 years ago
  • 10/10 Love this Podcast!

    The Dealer Playbook is a fantastic podcast. If you’re in the automotive industry or an adjacent industry- listen to this podcast. There is so much helpful information that is shared and great guest speakers that shed light on the industry from a macro point of view and industry trends. Michael is an awesome host that brings good perspective, positivity and inspiration to this industry and his work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gabi Abinion
    United States2 years ago
  • Revolutionizing Sales Strategies with Expert Insights

    The Dealer Playbook podcast, especially the episode with Shari Levitin on utilizing video in sales, brilliantly showcases the importance of evolving sales tactics in today's digital landscape. The insights offered in this episode are not only informative but also highly applicable, providing listeners with actionable strategies to enhance their sales processes. This podcast is a valuable resource for sales professionals looking to adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital sales environment.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I value the unique angle
    Austria3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently engaging, with actionable takeaways and practical storytelling.
The show is viewed as a credible resource for automotive leaders seeking real-world growth strategies.
Listeners describe the host as energetic, insightful, and deeply knowledgeable about dealership dynamics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“39 Cars To 62” - How A Store Fixed A Decade-long Sales Plateau In 60 Days | Jonathan Dawson, Dealer Principal at Cherokee Mitsubishi
Q: How do you translate the concept of a “business within the business” into practical steps for a dealership?
By giving salespeople branding, budgets, flexible schedules, and a pathway to ownership within the company, so they feel invested and empowered to drive results.
“39 Cars To 62” - How A Store Fixed A Decade-long Sales Plateau In 60 Days | Jonathan Dawson, Dealer Principal at Cherokee Mitsubishi
Q: What is stewardship and why is it central to your approach?
Stewardship is about acting as if you own the season you're in, taking responsibility for the outcomes now to prepare for future success, and it combines personal accountability with grace.
"175 to 400 Cars a Month" — The Used Car Reframe That Changed Every Department | Rob Dell, VP at Bob Ruth Ford
Q: What is Rob Dell's baseline criteria for feeling confident buying the right used car?
Rob emphasizes data-driven decisions, basing buys on historical transaction patterns, and looking at the broader profitability of each trade across service, parts, and finance, not just front-end margin.
"175 to 400 Cars a Month" — The Used Car Reframe That Changed Every Department | Rob Dell, VP at Bob Ruth Ford
Q: Okay, I got to ask you this, because I'm genuinely curious anytime I get to sit down with an industry operator, somebody that's like in the trenches. How did you get into the car business?
By mistake. The path was accidental but led to a long career shaped by mentors, experience, and a focus on people rather than the cars themselves.
“My Team Will Adapt at the Drop of a Dime” — The GM Playbook for Leading When You Don’t Have All the Answers | Charlie Spradlin, GM Art Moehn Auto Group
Q: What is a challenge you're thinking about right now and how will you maneuver through it?
The primary challenge is maintaining a full used-car inventory while keeping cars affordable for customers. The approach is to build an acquisition department, partner with experts, and empower champions within the dealership to execute, measure, and iterate—ultimately aligning every move with long-term goals rather than short-term spikes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dealer Playbook

What is The Dealer Playbook about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series centers on actionable strategies for running and growing auto dealerships, with a steady mix of leadership, sales, marketing, and technology discussions. Episodes frequently cover practical operations, AI adoption, inventory management, coaching, and culture—delivered through real-world show-and-tell and coaching stories from dealer principals and executives. The format tends to favor concrete frameworks, measurable improvements, and human-centered leadership, making it useful for practitioners aiming to boost profitability, customer experience, and team performance. A notable strength is bringing together operators who translate big ideas into repeatable, day-to-day wins while staying focused on ethical leadership and durable gr... more

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How many listeners does The Dealer Playbook get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The Dealer Playbook has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Dealer Playbook?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Dealer Playbook:

1. Car Dealership Guy Podcast
2. Automotive News Daily Drive
3. Dropping Bombs
4. PBD Podcast
5. Money Guy Show

How many episodes of The Dealer Playbook are there?

The Dealer Playbook launched 12 years ago and published 722 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Dealer Playbook?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Dealer Playbook?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Dealer Playbook from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Dealer Playbook?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Dealer Playbook. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Dealer Playbook?

Recent guests on The Dealer Playbook include:

1. Andrea Anderson
2. Matt Copley
3. Raul Tomsa
4. Gary LaDue
5. Jonathan Dawson
6. Rob Dell
7. Charlie Spradlin
8. Ryan Osten

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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