All Podcast Episodes

In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, we dive into why used car success in 2026 is no longer just about the purchase price, but about the high-stakes ability to acquire and articulate a vehicle's complete story. Joining host Sam D’Arc is Doug Horner of General Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted and Tyler Astorg, Vice President Sales at iPacket to discuss how precision data—specifically knowing the exact options and trim levels—serves as a dealer's ultimate superpower. The...

Today's show features: - Tully Williams, Fixed Operations Director of The Niello Company - Dave Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global - Jim Sabino, Fixed Operations Director of All American Ford Paramus This episode is brought to you by: Foureyes – Foureyes helps dealers turn data into action. Starting with a clean, connected data foundation across dealership systems, Foureyes empowers dealerships to use that data to drive consistent execution througho...

Today I’m joined by Donald Kemp, General Sales Manager at Stowasser Buick GMC. We dig into why human-first social content is outperforming inventory posts, how moving F&I earlier drives higher penetration, and where dealers are quietly leaking money through junk fees. The conversation is tactical, practical, and immediately applicable for stores feeling margin pressure. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Experian Automotive - Like most Car Dealership Guy Listeners, you’re constant...

Today's show features: - Scott Simons, Dealer Principal of Simons Chevrolet GMC - John Ellis, CEO of Agile Auto - JR Toothman, Owner of Toothman Ford This episode is brought to you by: Foureyes – Foureyes helps dealers turn data into action. Starting with a clean, connected data foundation across dealership systems, Foureyes empowers dealerships to use that data to drive consistent execution throughout their business. The data stays dealer-owned, vendor-neutral, and...

Today I’m joined by Jake Cronin, CEO of Siro. We break down the massive “dark matter” problem in dealership sales, why most of the sales process has been invisible until now, and how AI is finally capturing what actually happens in the showroom and F&I office. Jake explains how dealers are using real conversation data to coach faster, enforce process, and connect marketing spend directly to in-store outcomes. We also dig into adoption, consent, and why this tech is about collaboration—not surve...

Today's show features: - Matt Bowers, Owner of Matt Bowers Automotive Group - Miguel Yelos San Martin, Principal of YSM Design, P.C. - Shane Wood, General Manager of Bruce Titus Automotive Group This episode is brought to you by: Foureyes – Foureyes helps dealers turn data into action. Starting with a clean, connected data foundation across dealership systems, Foureyes empowers dealerships to use that data to drive consistent execution throughout their business. The...

Today, Sam sits down with Steve Hoggle, General Manager at Honda of Lake City and Sarah Copp, Director of Major Accounts at Lotlinx to pull back the curtain on the "Moneyball" strategy of modern automotive retail. While many dealers are still relying on gut instinct and "emotional buying" at auction, the nation’s top-performing groups—including the $11 billion Morgan Auto Group—have shifted to a predictive, VIN-specific model. We explore how Honda of Lake City achieved a staggering 4:1 used-to-n...

Today's show features: - Dennis Gingrich, Sales and Finance Director of The Niello Company - Marion Cain, Managing Partner of Bell Auto Group - Russell Richardson, Russ Flips Whips This episode is brought to you by: Lotlinx – ChatGPT can write emails, plan trips, even tell jokes… but it can’t tell you which VINs are at risk of sitting too long, how your dealer performs against your competition, or how to improve your VDPs. That’s where LotGPT comes in. It's the only...

Today I’m joined by Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. Eric breaks down how AI agents are replacing labor across sales and service, why speed is now the ultimate competitive advantage, and how fixed ops is finally getting real AI help instead of glorified answering services. This episode is brought to you by: 1. CNA National - CNA National is the premier F&I provider for dealerships nationwide. With more than four decades in the industry, we’ve earned a reputation for service excellence. If you are loo...

Today I’m joined by Brian Hoang, CEO of Mia. We dive into why dealerships are moving beyond fragmented SaaS tools toward AI-native platforms that automate real work, not just conversations. Brian explains why consolidation is inevitable, and how dealers are already driving real revenue by offloading high-volume service tasks. We also get into where most dealers go wrong with AI adoption—and what separates winners from noise heading into 2026. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Uber for Bu...

Today's show features: - David Steinberg, CEO of Foureyes - Brian Benstock, Vice President & General Manager Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura - Robert Steenbergh, CEO of AutoPayPlus This episode is brought to you by: Siro – Your customer conversations are gold—but most dealerships never extract the insights trapped inside them. Siro helps your team tap that data for smarter coaching, consistent process adherence, and measurable PVR growth. Come visit us at NADA Show ...

Today I’m joined by Andrew Habberstad, CEO at Habberstad Auto Group. We unpack how a single relationship led to a $7,000 BMW franchise. Andrew breaks down generational continuity, smart expansion, and why listening to peers can quietly reshape a dealer’s entire future. Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership’s social m...

Today's show features: Margaret Henney, Vice President of Marketing at CoVideo Taylor Mazock, Social Media Manager at Cavender Auto Group Jason Espin, Automotive Technician at Benzel-Busch Motor Car Lauren Clarke, RV Sales Assistant at Airstream of South Florida Chris Escalante, Finance Assistant at Suburban Buick GMC of Troy This episode is brought to you by: Stream Companies – Stream Companies is a full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled advertisi...

Today I’m joined by Annie Fallows, Head of Navigator Platform at Capital One. We dive into a massive shift in market sentiment, exploring how dealer trust skyrocketed from 44% to 70%. Annie breaks down why Gen Z is your most loyal—yet most anxious—customer and reveals the "spicy" truth that most digital processes only save five minutes of in-store time. You’ll learn how to bridge the friction-filled gap between online research and the showroom floor to double your conversion rates This episod...

Today's show features: - David Wyler, President and CEO of Jeff Wyler Automotive Family - Ryan Rohrman, Chief Executive Officer of Rohrman Auto Group - Cuyler Owens, CEO of Widewail - Scott Painter, Founder & CEO of TrueCar This episode is brought to you by: Stream Companies – Stream Companies is a full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled advertising agency that drives measurable results through performance marketing, creative and content development, and ...

Today I’m joined by George Karolis, President of The Presidio Group. George breaks down the tension between record-high blue sky multiples and the rising cost of capital, offering a rare look at who is buying, who is selling, and why the "big get bigger" trend is accelerating. Visit @ ⁠https://thepresidiogroup.com/v2ud⁠ to download the data discussed in today’s episode. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Amazon Autos - Sell vehicles to online shoppers who can now buy or lease at Amazon Au...

Today's show features: - Chris Pres, VP, Automotive Distribution of Polly - Laura Perrotta, President of NJ CAR This episode is brought to you by: Stream Companies – Stream Companies is a full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled advertising agency that drives measurable results through performance marketing, creative and content development, and proprietary AdTech solutions. Our innovative platforms, including the Retail Ready platform and Integrated Marketing Cloud, ...

In part 5 of our Pre NADA AI Spotlight series, Sam sits down with Luke Sontag, Marketing, & IT Manager at Kissee Ford and Ari Polakof, CEO & Co-founder of Flai. We explore how one family-owned dealership used voice AI to capture after-hours and rollover calls without losing its local, human feel. Ari explains why most “bolt-on” AI fails, how deep DMS integration changes outcomes, and what it really takes to get service advisors to trust automation. The result is real appointments, immediate RO...

Today's show features: - George Nenni, Founder of Generations Digital - Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar - Rob Studebaker, General Manager of Treasure Valley Subaru This episode is brought to you by: Impel – Your sales team should be selling—not answering the same questions after hours or chasing low-intent leads. Impel Sales AI works the inbox 24/7, qualifying every lead, responding with intent-aware, personalized answers, and booking showroom appointments automatically. With Agentic Res...

Today I’m joined by Brian MacDonald, CEO & President of CDK Global. We explore the massive scale of the CDK's automotive data ecosystem and what it means to have a touchpoint with nearly 90% of car owners in the country. Brian breaks down how dealers can transform this historical database into a functional asset to improve operations and capture market share. This conversation reveals the strategic power of connectivity in an increasingly data-driven industry. This episode is brought...

Today's show features: - Charlie Dyjak, Senior Manager, Legislative Affairs at NADA - Greg York, President/CEO of Vann York Auto Group - Sherryl Nens, SVP Head of US Dealer Sales at Privacy4cars - Josh Johnson, CEO of Don Johnson Auto Group This episode is brought to you by: Impel – Your sales team should be selling—not answering the same questions after hours or chasing low-intent leads. Impel Sales AI works the inbox 24/7, qualifying every lead, responding w...

Today I’m joined by Alexi Venneri, Co-founder and CEO of DAS Technology. We dig into why dealers are spending a record $29,000 a month on SaaS yet still feel buried by noise, how AI search is shifting power from SEO to reviews-driven GEO, and why “conversion” now matters more than attraction. Alexi breaks down her vendor agnostic philosophy, the idea of replicating perfect employees with tech, and what actually drives results in today’s market. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Podium - ...

Today's show features: - Fred Beans, Owner of Fred Beans Family of Dealerships - Beth Beans Gilbert, Vice President of Fred Beans Family of Dealerships - Hugh Roberts, Partner at The Rawls Group This episode is brought to you by: Impel – Your sales team should be selling—not answering the same questions after hours or chasing low-intent leads. Impel Sales AI works the inbox 24/7, qualifying every lead, responding with intent-aware, personalized answers, and booking ...

In part 4 of our Pre NADA AI Spotlight series, I’m joined by Shaun Sorensen, CEO and Co-Founder of Kenect. We dig into why the biggest untapped profit pool in dealerships isn’t sales—it’s service—and how AI agents are moving from “assistive tools” to full-on employees. Shaun breaks down inbound vs. outbound AI, the real risks dealers fear, and how data-driven personalization is already driving nine-figure service revenue results. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Merchant Advocate - Merch...