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The David Spisak Show

David Spisak

238 episodes

2 days ago

Ever wonder what it actually takes to go from selling used cars in Chico, California, to running one of the top Audi dealerships in the nation? In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Hale, Executive General Manager of Fletcher Jones Audi, to unpack a 25-year journey that’s as gritty as it is inspiring. Brandon’s story isn’t your typical “worked hard and made it” tale. It’s a real-world masterclass in how loyalty, hospitality, and relentless consistency can transform an 18-year-old kid with ...

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Entrepreneurship

Self-Improvement

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Ever wonder what it actually takes to go from selling used cars in Chico, California, to running one of the top Audi dealerships in the nation? In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Hale, Executive General Manager of Fletcher Jones Audi, to unpack a 25-year journey that’s as gritty as it is inspiring. Brandon’s story isn’t your typical “worked hard and made it” tale. It’s a real-world masterclass in how loyalty, hospitality, and relentless consistency can transform an 18-year-old kid with ...

Show more...

Entrepreneurship

Self-Improvement

Episodes (20/238)

The David Spisak Show

From Car Lot Rookie to General Manager: How Brandon Hale Built a $Billion-Level Career at Fletcher Jones

Ever wonder what it actually takes to go from selling used cars in Chico, California, to running one of the top Audi dealerships in the nation? In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Hale, Executive General Manager of Fletcher Jones Audi, to unpack a 25-year journey that’s as gritty as it is inspiring. Brandon’s story isn’t your typical “worked hard and made it” tale. It’s a real-world masterclass in how loyalty, hospitality, and relentless consistency can transform an 18-year-old kid with ...

2 days ago

57 minutes

The David Spisak Show

How to Build a Billion-Dollar Business the Holman Way: The Lesson Every Dealer Needs to Hear with Bill Cariss

What if the secret to building a $9-billion company wasn’t strategy or capital—but character? In this episode, I sit down with Bill Cariss, President and CEO of Holman Growth Ventures, to explore how one of the most respected names in automotive quietly reinvented itself for the future, without losing the soul that built it. We talk about the kind of leadership you can’t fake… the moves that kept Holman relevant when others stalled… and a few behind-the-scenes moments that will make you rethi...

1 week ago

57 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Fastest Way to Unlock Hidden Revenue in Fixed Ops with Jim Roche

Ever notice how some of the biggest breakthroughs come from the most overlooked corners of the business? That’s exactly where today’s conversation goes. In this episode, I sit down with Jim Roche, founder and CEO of WarrCloud, a company that quietly built one of the most transformative innovations in fixed ops, and took seven years to bring it to life. We talk about what it really takes to stick with an idea when everyone else moves on. About the difference between chasing the next shiny thin...

2 weeks ago

47 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Inside the Room Where the Future of Automotive Is Being Built with Jason Stein

In this episode, I’m joined by Jason Stein, Managing Director at The Presidio Group and host of Cars & Culture on SiriusXM. Together, we pull back the curtain on the third annual Presidio Auto Tech Summit, one of the most exclusive gatherings in the industry, where innovation meets capital and real deals get done. Jason shares what makes this event unlike anything else in automotive, including 58 C-suite leaders, 45 investors, and some of the most forward-thinking innovators shaping what ...

3 weeks ago

38 minutes

The David Spisak Show

What Every Dealer Can Learn from a Technician-Turned-GM with Dave Rogers

In this episode, my guest is Dave Rogers, the Director of Fixed Operations at Piazza Auto Group in Pennsylvania. And let me tell you, this one’s a masterclass in earning your stripes in the automotive world. We go back to 1982, when Dave borrowed $300 from his grandmother to buy his first set of tools from Sears. From that moment, his journey through the retail auto business has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by long hours, setbacks, and second chances that shaped him into one of th...

1 month ago

49 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Stop Limiting Your Used Car Sales!

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most dealers are unknowingly killing their own used car sales. I know that sounds dramatic. But stick with me, because if your used volume has flatlined, if it’s swinging up and down but never meeting your expectations, it’s probably not the market that’s holding you back. It’s the invisible limits you’ve placed on your own operation. In this episode, I’m breaking down: The hidden “restriction tax” that’s costing your store sales every single month (without you...

1 month ago

28 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Defining Moments That Shape Great Leaders with Joshua Potts

What happens when a kid who once felt invincible, who made more than his fair share of bad decisions, finds himself leading one of the largest auto groups in the country? That’s the story of Joshua Potts, CEO and Director of Dealership Operations at Mac Haik Auto Group. And let me tell you, it’s not the kind of story you’d expect. In this conversation, Josh opens up about: Growing up with almost nothing and stumbling into the car business.The turning points that shaped him into a leader peopl...

1 month ago

49 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Dealer Consolidation Is Coming: How to Be on the Winning Side with Don Reese

In this episode I sit down with my longtime friend and industry powerhouse, Don Reese. For nearly 40 years, Don has been shaping the automotive landscape—partnering with giants, leading bold transformations, and now serving as CEO of the automotive sector at Franchise Equity Partners. Together, we rewind the tape back to the late ’80s, tracing Don’s unlikely entry into the business and the pivotal decision that changed his trajectory forever. You’ll hear stories of working alongside legends l...

1 month ago

56 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Are You Building a Legacy or Just a Monument to Yourself?

Most people think great leadership comes down to charisma. The loudest voice in the room. The rockstar personality. But what if I told you that kind of leadership might actually be dangerous? In this solo episode, I unpack Jim Collins’ timeless lessons from Good to Great—and how they apply to the real-world challenges leaders face today. We dive into: Why charisma can cover up deeper organizational weaknessesThe real difference between leading with personality vs. leading with principleWhy ch...

1 month ago

23 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The EV Shift That Could Catch Dealers Off Guard with Jimmy Douglas

What if the future of your dealership wasn’t about selling more EVs—but about understanding where the real opportunity in EVs actually is? In this episode my guest is Jimmy Douglas, Founder and CEO of Plug, the first wholesale platform built specifically for pre-owned EVs. Jimmy’s career has taken him from Tesla during some of its most intense years, to now building a company that’s changing how dealers buy and sell used EVs. We cover: Why most dealers still hesitate to touch used EVs—and the...

2 months ago

55 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Hard Work Rule: How Jeremy Beaver Built DGDG Into a Top Dealer Group

What happens when you put culture, technology, and pure hard work into the same room? You get a story like Jeremy Beaver’s. In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy, CEO of the Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG), one of the most innovative and people-first dealership groups in the country. We talk about how a kid making cold calls from a phone book grew into a leader shaping one of the most forward-thinking retail automotive organizations in the U.S. You’ll hear Jeremy open up about: Why failure h...

2 months ago

57 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Dealer’s Advantage: How to Compete with Carvana and CarMax in 2025

In this episode my guests are Steve Greenfield from Automotive Ventures, Chip Perry, industry icon and former Autotrader CEO, and Dom Pope, founder of Sell My Ride. We dive into how dealers can win in the used car market at a time when acquiring the right inventory feels harder than ever. You’ll hear how Dom’s unique approach to vehicle acquisition caught the attention of Steve and Chip, why they believe it’s different from anything the industry has seen, and what it means for the future of r...

2 months ago

57 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Inside the Net Zero Model That’s Saving Dealers Millions with Angelo Mendola

In this episode, my guest is Angelo Mendola, President & COO of Priority Payment Systems Local — a guy whose business success is rooted in something far more powerful than just numbers or technology. Angelo’s journey starts in a Brooklyn restaurant at 14 years old, where he learned that the real magic in business isn’t in the “menu,” it’s in listening — finding out what people truly want and making sure they walk away happier than when they came in. That same mindset carried him from mort...

2 months ago

58 minutes

The David Spisak Show

From $0 in 6 Years to 125 Dealerships with Robert Stettler

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Stettler—founder, president, and the driving force behind Clear Car Concepts. From wrenching on lawnmowers in freezing Amish country as a second grader… to running one of the largest automotive accessory install operations in the U.S., Rob’s story is anything but ordinary. We talk about the quiet power of consistency, what it’s really like to go six years in business without making a dime, and why sometimes the best salesperson… is no salesperson at all. Y...

3 months ago

59 minutes

The David Spisak Show

How STELLA AI Is Giving Dealers Back Their Most Valuable Asset: Time with Rich Sands

In this episode, my guest is Rich Sands, CEO of STELLA Automotive AI—a company I’ve had my eye on for a while now. Not just because they were one of the first to embrace AI in their name, but because they’re actually delivering results in an industry full of overpromises. We cover a lot of ground in this one. Rich shares how growing up in Detroit and walking on to a college football team shaped his relentless mindset, and how those same leadership lessons—what he calls “11 as One”—are being a...

3 months ago

56 minutes

The David Spisak Show

How to Make Marketing Finally Work for You with John Fitzpatrick

In this episode, I’m joined by John Fitzpatrick, the CEO and Co-Founder of Force Marketing—a company that’s quietly reshaping how some of the largest auto groups in automotive think about marketing, customer lifetime value, and fixed ops growth. But here’s the twist: This isn’t just a business episode. John shares how Force Marketing got its start, how buying a 30+ year-old company (GSM) changed their trajectory, and what most dealers are still missing when it comes to retention, fixed ops, a...

3 months ago

55 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Is This the Year Dealers Finally Face Reality? with Joel Bassam

In this episode, I sit down with Joel Bassam, President of Easterns Automotive Group—a leader who doesn’t just “talk shop” but lives and breathes the used car business at scale. If you’ve been feeling the squeeze—from inventory pressures to margin compression, rising recon costs, to the endless tariff noise—this episode will feel uncomfortably relevant. Joel and I unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes in 2025. Why affordability has become the greatest roadblock to vehicle ownership...

3 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes

The David Spisak Show

Is the Car Business Headed for a Meltdown or a Rebirth? with Jonathan Smoke

In this episode, my guest is Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive, someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a long time. If you’re in the car business, you’ve probably read his reports, quoted his data, or heard his insights passed around. But in this conversation, we go deeper than the numbers. We talk about how he actually ended up here—from a philosophy-loving econ major to building one of the most respected forecasting teams in automotive. You’ll hear how housing economics...

4 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Brutal Truth About AI, Advertising, and the Future of Dealerships with Diana Lee

In this episode, I’m sitting down once again with Diana Lee, CEO and Co-founder of Constellation, and honestly, it probably won’t be the last time. Every time we talk, the conversation evolves. The insights deepen. The game changes. We talk about why dealers must innovate now—not tomorrow, not next quarter—but right now. Diana unpacks why playing defense in this market is the fastest route to irrelevance, how AI is already separating the winners from the soon-to-be-forgotten, and why some dea...

4 months ago

55 minutes

The David Spisak Show

The Hidden Forces Shaping the Future of Car Buying with Glenn Mercer

In this episode, my guest is Glenn Mercer, one of the most respected automotive researchers in the business. Glenn’s ability to break down complex industry trends into practical, real-world insights is second to none. We talk about the surprising connection between SUVs, pickup trucks, and traffic congestion—something most people don’t even think about, but it’s quietly affecting your daily drive. Glenn also shares why the “chicken tariff,” a decades-old trade policy, is still shaping what we...

4 months ago

57 minutes