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When your side hustle is building AI that builds companies, you're officially in "mad scientist" territory—in the best way.

Nick Askew of Space Auto returns to Auto Collabs and proves once again why he's the dealer tech world's resident mad scientist. In this episode, Nick talks about building an experimental AI-powered company that literally builds other companies—from code to communication to sales and support. Yep, it's as wild as it sounds, and yes, it’s already live. Oh, and the AI project manager is named after his dog.

But this episode isn’t just AI wizardry for fun—Nick breaks down why understanding the foundations of software architecture and data integration is now essential for anyone hoping to stay competitive in the automotive retail space. From agentic systems to CDPs, and what happens when you give your AI vision, Nick reminds us that dealers don’t have to wait for vendors to catch up. You’ve already got the data—you just need to learn how to use it.

Takeaways

0:00 This Interview Will Change How You Think About Work

2:41 He Built an AI That Builds Companies—Here’s What Happened

6:00 The Most Dangerous Shift in Tech Isn’t What You Think

8:58 White Collar Jobs Are Disappearing Faster Than Anyone Admits

10:06 Why Most Developers Won’t Have Jobs in 5 Years

12:58 The One Skill That Will Protect You From AI Disruption

14:45 You’re Not Just a Manager—You’re Now a Tech Leader

16:23 The Real Reason AI Won’t Make You Smarter

18:57 Why DIY Apps Fail (Even With AI on Your Side)

20:36 We’re Not Ready for How Fast This Is Moving

21:04 This Is What Being Your Own CDP Actually Looks Like

28:03 You Don’t Need a Vendor—You Just Need Your Own Data

Connect with Nick Askew at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-askew/

Learn more about Space Auto at https://space.auto/

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John Sacco reveals how recycled metals are the unsung heroes fueling everything from hospitals to highways, and yes—even your car.

John Sacco, owner of Sierra Machinery International, joins Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo to unpack the surprisingly central role of recycled metals in modern life. With his signature food-and-wine finesse, John dives into the art of recycling—from molten aluminum forklifts on Toyota’s factory floors to copper’s critical role in electrification—while keeping it casually riveting.

They take us behind the scenes of Repurposed Season 3, where John partners with Toyota to spotlight green manufacturing at its finest. His passion—to change the face of an industry often dismissed as “garbage”—shines when he reminds us: you can’t build a single American-made vehicle today without recycled aluminum. Expect insights on Kaizen manufacturing, international standardization, EV battery waste, and why nobody’s asking the right questions—until now.

0:00 – Why recycled metals matter more than you think

0:45 – How fine dining and recycling connect

2:18 – How to land a Toyota docuseries deal

4:05 – How Toyota makes aluminum manufacturing green

7:30 – Why Toyota standardizes cylinder heads worldwide

14:21 – Why recycled metals may be greener than EVs

16:15 – Why EVs aren’t as recyclable as you think

17:45 – How Toyota stays green without going full EV

19:34 – Why rare earths are a big problem for EVs

20:25 – How EV batteries are creating a recycling bottleneck

22:00 – Why copper demand is exploding with EV growth

23:30 – How electrification affects everything—from lawnmowers to golf courses

Connect with John Sacco at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sacco-8a8a1b10/

Learn more about Re:purposed at https://therepurposedseries.com/

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This episode of Auto Collabs gets seriously smart as Paul, Kyle, and Michael welcome Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne. With a background that includes time at Amazon and deep roots in AI-driven product development, Sanjay shares his journey from general e-commerce merchandising to building ultra-specialized solutions for the auto industry. His company’s obsession with perfection—like making sure side mirrors don’t vanish in digital photos—isn’t just nerdy, it’s the kind of tech precision that can radically improve dealer efficiency and customer experience.

Sanjay also breaks down the evolution of agentic AI—technology that doesn't just talk, but acts on behalf of dealers to optimize pricing, image performance, and even ad budgets. It’s the next level of automation, where your digital teammate gets smarter (and more autonomous) over time. Whether you're deep in the tech weeds or just trying to understand how AI can lighten the load in your dealership, this convo offers sharp insights and a clear look at what’s next.

Takeaways:

0:00 – 🎙️ Intro banter: Meta Ray-Bans, Weezer dreams & Wiggles hype

1:48 – 💡 Introducing Sanjay Varnwal from Spyne

2:28 – 🤖 Sanjay’s first AI experience at Amazon Go

3:39 – 🧠 How AI’s been around long before 2022

5:02 – 🎥 The evolution of AI in media and merchandising

7:40 – 🔄 How AI is changing human behavior and productivity

9:45 – 🚗 Why Spyne focused on auto merchandising

11:30 – 🛠️ From general e-commerce to auto-specific solutions

13:05 – 📸 Solving hard problems: lighting, stabilization & studio-quality images

15:46 – 🪞 The vanishing mirror problem and how Spyne fixed it

17:40 – 🧑‍💻 Building an AI-powered teammate for dealers

19:04 – 🧭 What is agentic AI and why it matters

20:25 – 📊 Real-time merchandising optimization and ad performance

21:01 – ⚙️ Letting AI handle repeatable, data-driven tasks

21:40 – 🙌 Final thoughts and future of AI in automotive

Connect with Sanjay Varnwal at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaykv/

Learn more about Spyne at https://www.spyne.ai

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Thuy Adomitis didn’t plan on joining the auto industry—until a grueling 14-hour car-buying ordeal sparked a career that’s now reshaping how dealerships communicate. In this episode, Thuy shares her journey from that fateful purchase to leading sales at Mia Labs, where she’s helping dealers replace “Franken-systems” with AI agents that never sleep and never miss a call.

The conversation dives into how Mia’s voice AI is transforming dealership operations by handling everything from inbound sales inquiries to service scheduling and parts availability checks. Thuy explains how this technology not only reduces customer acquisition costs but also boosts lifetime value by keeping customers engaged throughout their ownership journey. Plus, she offers insights into the future of AI in automotive retail and how it can empower staff to focus on high-value tasks.

Takeaways

0:00 – Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo

3:21 – Thuy recounts her 14-hour car-buying experience that led her into the auto industry

8:31 – The inception of Mia Labs and its mission to streamline dealership communication

11:23 – Addressing the "Franken-system" problem in dealerships with integrated AI solutions

15:12 – Enhancing customer retention and reducing acquisition costs through AI-driven communication

21:34 – Future developments at Mia Labs, including AI applications in parts departments

Connect with Thuy Adomitis at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thuy-adomitis

Learn more about Mia Labs at https://www.mia.inc

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Jade Terreberry brings her data-driven hustle and people-first mindset to the table.

The Auto Collabs crew sits down with Jade Terreberry—formerly of commercial real estate lending and dealership operations, now leading analytics and insights at Cox Automotive. With her roots planted firmly in the car world (thanks to a dad who spent 40 years winning national Honda sales contests), Jade shares how her love for data and love for people collided to shape her journey back into automotive. She’s a natural mixer of entrepreneurial instinct and analytic rigor.

Jade dives into how dealers and partners can lead through innovation—and why transparency and communication are non-negotiable. She’s all about closing blind spots in dealership decision-making with multi-touch attribution, geolocation, audience segmentation, and real-time feedback loops. Expect big wins in aligning technology with human trust, stretching the meaning of “partnership,” and testing iteratively rather than repeating old mistakes.

🕒 Takeaways

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

2:48 Jade’s dealership DNA story – Growing up in a Honda shop, learning negotiation at age 7, then shifting to real estate/finance before finding her way back into cars.

7:41 From traditional sales to data-driven marketing – How owning a business taught her that decision-making by data, not gut, is key—and why the box’s always moving.

11:53 Vendor–dealer collaboration – “Relationships work because you make each other better,” Jade explains how industry partners should act as strategic extensions with shared goals and trust.

20:31 Innovating with audience segmentation & analytics – Jade outlines how Cox uses tech to “close blind spots” in spend, performance, and funnel activation in real time.

24:37 Passion & leadership DNA – Her rallying cry for auto: love people, test often, allow risk, develop innate DNA talent, and never make the same mistake twice.

Connect with Jade Terreberry at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-terreberry-596092104/

Learn more about Cox Automotive at https://www.coxautoinc.com

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Greg Uland returns to Auto Collabs with a timely look at how Reynolds & Reynolds is helping dealers prepare for a more efficient, tech-driven future.

Greg Uland, VP of Marketing at Reynolds & Reynolds, joins Paul, Kyle, and Michael for a summer check-in ahead of the company’s Amplify conference this August. With record registration already locked in, Greg shares how the event is evolving into a hub for collaboration—not just among current Reynolds users, but across OEMs, consultants, and dealers exploring the tech ecosystem. There’s a strong emphasis this year on diversity of perspective, with conversations focused on improving store operations, not just showcasing new features.

From technician efficiency to sales enablement and back-office optimization, Greg breaks down where dealers are most focused on doing more with less. He also previews how Reynolds’ Spark AI data layer is helping build smarter workflows, and why bringing last year’s contest winners back as Amplify judges matters. This episode highlights the bigger-picture thinking that’s helping modern dealers tackle today’s operational challenges.

🔑 Takeaways

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo – Opening thoughts and memories of Greg’s now-legendary “paper scroll” moment.

2:08 Summer momentum and Amplify preview – Greg outlines the excitement around the August event, including record signups and a packed venue.

6:01 Building community through user conferences – A look at why this year’s Amplify will feature more external voices and hands-on engagement.

13:09 Areas where dealers are doing more with less – Spotlight on service tech efficiency, CRM streamlining, and smarter business office processes.

16:51 Evolving the role of the business office – How reducing manual tasks unlocks broader financial oversight and decision-making.

19:12 Tying it all together with integrated tools – Real examples of cross-brand efficiencies, like claims processed directly through the DMS.

Connect with Greg Uland at https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-uland

Learn more about Reynolds & Reynolds at https://www.reyrey.com

Listen to Inga Maurer on the Connected Podcast: https://youtu.be/r3RHcqnQjkc?si=qq5-Bjgn03v3MVFh

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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Kaylee Felio, better known in the industry as "The Parts Girl," brings her unique flavor of grit, smarts, and systems thinking to this Auto Collabs episode. Starting her career as a Subway manager and now pushing toward the CEO seat at PartsEdge, Kaylee's story is a testament to the unconventional paths that lead to real leadership in auto. She's not just making waves with her content and the PartsEdge Podcast—she’s redefining what it means to lead from the fixed ops side of the dealership.

In this conversation, Kaylee chats with Paul, Kyle, and Michael about how her sandwich-slinging days taught her the foundations of efficiency, how she built the educational resources the parts industry didn’t even know it needed, and what’s exciting her about tech and innovation in fixed ops. She also drops a bold vision for the future—and it starts with her becoming CEO. If you’ve ever underestimated the power of the parts department (or a meatball marinara on wheat), this episode will change your mind.

Takeaways

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

1:33 Kaylee Felio joins the show and shares how she became “The Parts Girl”

4:27 How managing a Subway restaurant unexpectedly trained her for auto

10:13 Why parts departments need to adopt automation and evolve their processes

14:24 Calling out the status quo: Kaylee’s bold approach to sales and change

21:00 Kaylee’s next move: positioning herself to be CEO of PartsEdge

Learn more about

Connect with Kaylee Felio at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleefelio/

Learn more about PartsEdge at https://www.partsedge.com/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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Shane Wilson, the brain behind Connected Dealer Services (CDS), joins the crew to talk about how billions of data points, a deep background in consumer electronics, and a passion for keeping cyclists safe from autonomous vehicles are reshaping dealership service retention strategies.

The conversation kicks off with Shane’s winding path through the automotive tech world—from remote starts to launching a connected solution for dealerships that’s more than just GPS tracking. At the heart of CDS is a bold vision: empower dealers to own retention by equipping them with real-time vehicle health data, mileage tracking, and the ability to campaign directly to customers—all through a dealer-branded app. Shane also dives into the ethical terrain of data privacy, the opportunity for dealers to capitalize on wearables like tires and batteries, and why he thinks fixed ops is finally stepping into the spotlight.

Takeaways

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo

2:28 Shane Wilson joins the show and shares his background in auto tech

6:35 Why Connected Dealer Services was born to solve dealership inventory and retention issues

8:17 The breakthrough idea: shifting ownership of retention from customers to dealerships

12:39 Shane addresses privacy concerns and how CDS handles sensitive data

14:14 Hidden service revenue: how tires and batteries open new lanes for profitability

21:56 The next five years: EVs, AI, and 2 billion monthly data points shaping what’s next

Connect with Shane Wilson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebwilson/

Learn more about Connected Dealer Services at https://www.connecteddealerservices.com/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

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