Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection.
Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between.
From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration.
// Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Auto Collabs
You’re Not in the Car Business (And You Never Were)
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A candid, hosts-only conversation about the mindset shift quietly transforming the automotive industry from the inside out.
Somewhere between a conversation and a checkpoint, Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo zoom out on what “More Than Cars” actually means when you’re living it day to day. From dealership floors to global conversations, they unpack how a simple mindset shift is helping people see beyond transactions and into impact.
What unfolds is a raw, honest look at the tension between short-term wins and long-term legacy. They talk about the weight of leadership, the reality of bad actors still succeeding, and why choosing the human path is harder, but ultimately more sustainable. This isn’t just about selling cars, it’s about building something that lasts and realizing that the real work has always been about people.
Key Takeaways
0:00 “What You’re Doing Isn’t Actually What You’re Doing”—The Mindset Shift Most People Miss
0:53 The Photo That Proves This Industry Changes Lives (If You Let It)
2:35 You’re Missing Opportunities Because You’re Only Looking at What’s in Front of You
3:30 The Piano Metaphor That Explains How Real Collaboration Actually Works
4:23 “Own Your Line, Know the Map”
6:14 More Than Cars as a Personal Mantra, Not Just a Business Strategy
8:00 Why Ignoring the Human Side Is Quietly Killing Performance
9:05 The Uncomfortable Truth: Bad Actors Are Still Winning (For Now)
11:12 The Real Test of Leadership: Choosing the Long Game When Shortcuts Work
13:00 “A Funeral Full of People”
15:44 The Industry Is Finally Opening Up, And It’s Happening Faster Than You Think
16:58 From Competition to Collaboration in 5 Years
18:13 Why This Industry Might Be the Only Place Where All of This Coexists
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