The Podcast

A young woman pays a shop $1,000 for spark plugs and ignition coils on her 2016Ford Escape. Two days later the check engine light is back on and they're tellingher she needs a whole new engine.Anthony Calhoun (25-year ASE Master Technician) and Craig Tomczyk (19 years in thetrade) break down thr

In this episode, we break down why the industry is bleeding young talent, how green service advisors can win over skeptical flat rate mechanics, and whether entry level express techs should start stacking up on high end tools.Earning Tech Respect as a New Service Advisor: An inexperienced advisor as

Welcome back to the Apex Tech Nation Podcast. In Episode 12, Craig and I dig into a few stories and conversations making their way around.We discuss a 2025 Mustang GT with a blown engine at only 6,900 miles. The owner says the dealership wants authorization for a $6,700 engine teardown before moving

In this episode, we break down why today’s cars are breaking down in alarming ways, are they reliable? A terrifying real world brake pad failure shortly after a shop visit. Plus, we dive into the boiling point hitting service advisors and mechanics across the industry and what it's going to take

In this episode we welcome Craig as Apex Tech Nation Co-Host and dive into 2 stories we all have probably seen and one that will make you think WTH!Interior Panels & Broken Clips: We break down the brutal learning curve of an emergency vehicle upfitter who keeps accidentally snapping clips and a

In this episode, I'm joined by special guest Craig Tomczyk as we discuss three topics that every technician can relate to.First, we share ASE test tips that have helped us throughout our careers and offer practical advice for technicians preparing for their next certification.Next, we talk about

Two tech-related nightmares: a customer discovers technicians taking their car on a 20-mile joyride on dashcam, and another deals with a loose drain plug backing out right after a dealership oil change.In this episode, we break down these massive failures from three critical perspectives: the custom

This week I'm joined by Craig Tomczyk ASE Master Tech, L1/L2 certified, with nearly two decades in the bay across auto, diesel, and heavy duty for a real tech to tech conversation.First up: should the automotive service industry require a license? Craig brought this one to the table, and we get

This week we're covering several topics that every automotive technician can relate to—from a tragic accident in the industry to protecting your body and improving your diagnostic process.In this episode we discuss: -The tragic death of a 24-year-old tire technician who was fatally crushed by a

Before you get mad at me for saying this, just hear me out. My buddy owns a barbershop and he can't hire anybody to fill a chair unless they're licensed. Meanwhile we're working on cars that hold people's families and we don't need anything. I'm a master tech with 5 ASEs to r

Most automotive technicians focus on earning more money, but very few focus on keeping and investing it.In this episode of the Apex Tech Nation Podcast, I break down how developing valuable technician skills can create long-term wealth—and why avoiding unnecessary car payments may be one of the smar

Billions spent on consulting and training programs over the last decade. The crisis just got worse.New episode: Problems with Solutions for the Industry. From a Technician's PerspectiveI stepped back, looked at the industry like a broken car, and laid out the real fixes.68% of working automotive

Four diagnostic tips from 25 years in the bays — the kind of stuff that saves you time, comebacks, and headaches when you're staring down a tough job. Join the Nation https://apextechnation.com/

In this first episode of APEX Tech Nation, Anthony Calhoun breaks down the technician shortage from the perspective that's missing from every industry article — the tech actually doing the work. Why are techs leaving? It's not just the money. It's the death by a thousand cuts that compou