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
Episodes
243 episodes
The Startup Rule That Beats Billion-Dollar Competitors And Dealers Should Pay Attention To
Most companies chase growth—Sanjay Varnwal is chasing velocity, and it’s changing how dealers think about inventory, AI, and survival.In this episode, the crew sits down with Sanjay Varnwal, co-founder of Spyne, to unpack how ...
The State Dealer Association That Cracked the Technician Shortage
Most industries are still complaining about the talent shortage. New Jersey decided to fix it.In this episode, Laura Perrotta, President of NJ CAR, breaks down a bold, fully funded technician training program that’s flipping t...
The #1 Reason Dealers Lose Customers (It's Not What You Think)
Most dealers think they’re losing on price—but the real reason customers walk away is far more human (and far more fixable).Tom Kondrat, Advanced Analytics Director at Urban Science, joins Auto Collabs to unpack one of the mos...
Why “Good” Is the Most Dangerous Word in Retail Automotive | Auto Collabs
Jen Suzuki doesn’t walk into a room, she revs it.In this episode, she brings her signature “Jenergy” to a direct conversation about what’s really holding dealerships back: comfort. From outdated sales processes to leaders who’...
Why “Friction” Is Killing Your Sales (And What Carvana Got Right)
If your competitive edge is still price, you’re already losing—the real battle is happening in experience, simplicity, and how you make people feel.Glenn Pasch has logged over a million miles in the air and many hours helping ...
AI Isn’t a Bolt-On Anymore And Dealers Are Running Out of Time
Automotive spent years patching old systems together and now AI is forcing the industry to confront what should have been rebuilt a long time ago.Misty Tippets of Podium joins the show with a perspective the industry badly nee...
Why Honda Is Doubling Down on Hybrids | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Lance Woelfer, Vice President of Automobile Sales at American Honda, breaks down a major shift in strategy as the EV transition slows across the U.S. market. While early momentum was driven by government incentives and agg...
Why Pricing Transparency and Affordability Are The Top Issues of 2026 | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Tom Castriota, former NADA Chairman and Owner of Castriota Chevrolet, breaks down the growing pressure dealers are facing from regulation, affordability challenges, and shifting market dynamics. With increased scrutiny fro...
The Hidden Cost of Success in the Car Business | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Alan Cooper shares a deeply personal perspective on an often-overlooked reality in the automotive industry—mental health. After decades in retail and leadership, Cooper opens up about his own battle with depression and the...
How To Earn Customer Trust in the Service Drive Before It’s Too Late | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Liza Borches, President of Carter Myers Automotive, breaks down a growing disconnect in the service lane. Despite years of innovation and record service growth, only a fraction of customers are receiving basic transparency...
The New Rules of Service Customers Expect Today | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Stewart Stropp, VP of Customer Success at J.D. Power, breaks down how service is becoming one of the most critical drivers of customer retention and long-term profitability for dealers. As consumer expectations evolve, tra...
The Type of Auto Dealer That Will Succeed In 10 Years | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Steve Greenfield, CEO of Automotive Ventures, breaks down how dealers need to rethink their business for the next 5–10 years. While most operators are stuck managing a 30-day cycle, the real challenge is building long-term...
Why Auto Shows Still Matter in a Digital World | NY Auto Forum
At the New York Auto Show, Mark Schienberg, President of the show, breaks down what it actually takes to bring one of the largest automotive events in the world to life. With nearly 2,800 workers, millions of pounds of equipment, and just days ...
Why This US Senator Is Drawing a Hard Line on China | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Senator Bernie Moreno lays out a blunt, high-stakes reality facing the U.S. auto industry. With China’s massive overcapacity, government-backed subsidies, and global expansion strategy, the threat isn’t theoretical—it’s st...
Why Dealers and OEMs Must Work Together or Risk Losing Everything | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, breaks down one of the most critical moments facing the global auto industry. With rising geopolitical tension, China’s growing dominance, and shifting retail d...
The Truth About FTC Crackdowns & Dealer Transparency | NY Auto Forum
At the NY Auto Forum, Force Marketing CEO John Fitzpatrick breaks down the real forces shaping automotive retail right now—from tariffs and policy shifts to EV adoption and affordability pressures. With insights tied directly to Senator Moreno’...
(Re-Upload) Inspiration Over Motivation With Erroll Bomar III
This episode was originally released on April 24, 2025.In 2025, we joined up with Erroll Bomar III to bring the world the Unscripted podcast, live from the ASOTU CON floor. This was our first long-form conversation with him and the More ...
You’re Not in the Car Business (And You Never Were)
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 zoo...
Chinese EVs, Amazon, and the Future of the Dealer Model with Ted Smith
Behind every dealership is an unseen battle over regulation, competition, and control—and the next few years may decide who really owns the future of the automotive industry.Ted Smith has spent his career in the engine room of...
74% of Service Customers Will Buy Again, If You Don’t Lose Them First with Shane Wilson
If service drives sales, why are dealers letting their best customers slip through the cracks?Shane Wilson, President of Connected Dealer Services, joins Auto Collabs with a bold claim: dealers don’t have a pricing problem in ...
The TIME Dealer Nominee Who Built a Business Around Humility (Not Hype) with Emily Marlow Beck
Third-gen dealer leader Emily Marlow Beck breaks down why humility is a competitive advantage, how to become “essential” to customers, and how to lead through AI-era uncertainty without losing your heart.Emily Marlow Beck didn...
(Re-Release) Unreasonable Hospitality = More Than Cars with Will Guidara
This episode originally released on April 4, 2024.Will Guidara has never told this story before.He’s now world-famous, a New York Times bestseller, and has appeared on talk shows, stages and podcasts. But this is the first time he...
AI Is Only As Smart As Your “Regular-I” with Bob George | Auto Collabs
Bob George breaks down why AI won’t save automotive retail—unless the data underneath it is rock solid.Before Dealer.com became a household name in automotive tech, Bob George was employee number ~80, learning in real time how...
How Toyota Thinks About Affordability, AI, and the Guest for Life with Marcus Williams
Managing 76 dealerships and 11% of Toyota’s U.S. sales isn’t about control—it’s about trust, care, and showing up better every day.Marcus Williams oversees Toyota’s Los Angeles Region—76 dealerships across Southern California ...
Why Cheap Cars Can Still Be Great Cars with Alex Kwanten | Public Policy Day 2026
Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Alex Kwanten, Managing Editor of U.S. News Autos, to unpack what “affordable” really means in today’s car market. Fresh off presentin...