The NOLN Podcast

NOLN

The NOLN Podcast is the premier quick lube industry podcast, helping shop owners and operators improve their businesses with real-world solutions to common problems, delivered by leading industry experts and elite shop leaders.

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25 episodes
weekly
Avg 13 min
English

Episodes 25

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#121
September 24 · 25 min
The Problem with ‘Run It Like You Own It’ (with Bill Snow, Rad Air)
Bill Snow, vice president of marketing and franchise development for Rad Air, explains why even though shop owners might have the best of intentions when they tell managers to “run it like you own it,” what they are actually doing in many instances is creating a recipe for confusion, stress, and burnout. In this interview conducted by Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of Ratchet+Wrench, Snow explains that promoting top technicians into management roles without testing their leadership abilities can be costly. He also discusses the benefits of using trial runs, coaching, and proper onboarding before making promotions permanent. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#120
September 17 · 10 min
Feature Read: Products for Progress
Advancements in key segments beyond the bays have transformed vehicle maintenance and service operations. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 27, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#119
September 10 · 16 min
Accelerating Expansion, Maintaining a Mission (with Linne Fulcher, Valvoline COO)
With Valvoline Inc. set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October, Linne Fulcher, the company’s chief operating officer, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss how Valvoline grew from 42 service centers in 1986 to more than 2,500 Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations today. Fulcher also explains how Valvoline has continued to adapt its business model to meet the needs of modern vehicles while maintaining its core customer experience, and he also dives into the company’s continued expansion plans with a goal of growing to 3,500 locations nationwide. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#118
September 3 · 11 min
Feature Read: Finding the Franchisees
Executives from two leading quick lube brands share what makes an ideal candidate to own and operate their service centers. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on July 28, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#117
August 27 · 8 min
Never Stop Thinking: An Entrepreneurial Outlook on Quick Lube (with Stephen Spinelli)
Earlier this summer, Stephen Spinelli, president of Babson College and the co-founder of Jiffy Lube International, spoke with NOLN for its “NOLN at 40” series about the journey he and his colleagues took from launching Jiffy Lube International in 1979 and building it into the nation’s first quick lube chain, growing to more than 1,000 locations. In this episode, Spinelli discusses how the industry has continued to grow after he transitioned to the academic world, and he also shares some advice for today’s quick lube operators. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#115
August 20 · 9 min
Feature Read: NOLN at 40 | Serving Over Selling
As quick lube marketing has become a sophisticated, technology-driven discipline, its core principles have endured. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 29, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#116
August 13 · 9 min
EPR Law Update, Lubricant Packaging Recycling (with David Lawes)
David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association powered by Interchange 360, returns to the NOLN Podcast to provide listeners with an update on the state of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and how they will impact the quick lube industry. With lubricant packaging recycling being largely overlooked historically, Lawes discusses the launch of Colorado’s first automotive and lubricant packaging collection programs. He also explains the importance of proper collection system design for recycling, keeping packaging separate from curbside recycling, and how quick lube operators can leverage existing collection infrastructure to improve efficiency, increase recycling rates, and help control compliance costs. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#114
August 6 · 9 min
A Deep Dive Into AI: The Digital Tools Entering Quick Lube
As more auto service businesses are met with AI tools in the market, NOLN chats with the companies behind two leading platforms about what they seek to offer quick lube shops. One of the firms uses existing shop cameras to monitor vehicle entry, service times, and technician activity to boost efficiency. The other handles customer calls, texts, and emails, allowing technicians to focus on service while maintaining high customer engagement during and after hours. This article originally appeared on NOLN.net on June 26, 2026. Read by Brittany Duncan *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#113
July 23 · 20 min
Right to Repair's Next Chapter (with Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association CEO)
Congress recently advanced legislation addressing Right to Repair, but the final language looks much different than what independent repair advocates originally sought. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, recently spoke with Christine Schaffran, editor-in-chief of NOLN’s sister publication Ratchet+Wrench, to explain what made it into the bill, what was left out, what happens next, and how shop owners can help shape the future of vehicle data access and consumer choice. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#112
July 16 · 8 min
Feature Read: Perfect Your Preventative Maintenance Schedules
Dave Schedin, an auto repair shop success coach from CompuTrek Systems, recently spoke with NOLN about the potentially fatal flaw in OEM maintenance schedules, what shops should analyze in their data to set more accurate maintenance intervals, and how this information should be presented to customers to build trust and keep their vehicles on the road. This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on May 27, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#111
July 9 · 27 min
Maintaining Margins, Protecting Profits (with Scott Hempy, Oilstop CEO)
Scott Hempy, CEO of Oilstop Drive-Thru Oil Change and Happy’s Drive-Thru Car Wash, joins the NOLN Podcast to take a closer look at a topic covered in one of his recent columns for NOLN: how quick lube operators can maintain their margins even as their costs rise. In this conversation, Hempy explains why operators should focus on controllable factors, such as labor efficiency, bay times, and inventory management, and build a culture of cost awareness in their shops. He also offers up best practices for implementing thoughtful prices increases without driving away guests. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#110
July 2 · 9 min
Feature Read: Beyond the Sale: Why Strong Vendor Partnerships Give Quick Lubes a Competitive Edge
Vendors who work with quick lubes have evolved from suppliers and distributors to sage advisors and full-fledged partners. On this note, earlier this year NOLN caught up with representatives from Mighty Auto Parts and Service Champ, who explained why effective vendor partnerships involve understanding the specific needs and challenges of quick lube shops, including inventory, training, and service offerings. This story originally appeared on NOLN.net on May 30, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#109
June 25 · 27 min
Blueprint for Building Better Teams (with Ellie Pentland)
Ellie Pentland, partner at Throttle Muscle, joins the NOLN Podcast to offer insights on how quick lube operators can develop effective employee training and goal-setting initiatives. Pentland, who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, explains the value of clearly defining objectives and creating measurable outcomes, and she also discusses the why operators should focus training on individual roles and consistently checking in with employees to track progress, rather than sitting back and relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#108
June 16 · 12 min
Despite Pending Deal, Middle East Conflict’s Impact Will Reverberate
With the United States and Iran reaching a peace agreement that is expected to be signed later this week, RBC Capital Markets analyst Steven Shemesh joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the ramifications for quick lube operators. In this interview, Shemesh explains why although the reported peace agreement between the United States and Iran is a positive development, operators should expect lingering effects from months of conflict that drove up crude oil prices and created supply chain disruptions. He also breaks down how operators of different sizes have been impacted by recent events, and what industry leaders from all corners can learn from this experience. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#104
June 12 · 12 min
Driving Higher Repair Orders with Preventive Maintenance Services
Increasing average repair orders starts with consistency, communication, and preparation. In this episode of the NOLN Podcast, Matt Shaw, vice president of sales at Mighty Auto Parts, discusses how thorough inspections, faster advisor communication and well-managed inventory programs can help shops identify more service opportunities, improve close rates and create a better customer experience with every vehicle visit.
#107
June 11 · 6 min
Feature Read: Package Deals Keep Customers Coming Back
Oil Express, a 44-year-old business 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati in West Chester, Ohio, has emphasized customer-oriented service packages tailored to working-class drivers, including discounts on oil changes, filters, and fluid services to increase revenue. District Manager Robert Gallatin recently shared with NOLN the five straightforward considerations Oil Express works from to craft its package deals. This article was published on NOLN.net on April 21, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#106
June 4 · 5 min
Feature Read: Online Scheduling Opens Shop to New Business
Adam Miller, owner of four Grease Monkey franchise locations in Washington state, explains how implementing an online scheduling system has helped attract new customers to his stores. Miller explains how customers book appointments online, how his Grease Monkey shops balance wait times for drive-up customers vs. those who scheduled in advance, and lessons he has learned after a year of offering the online option. This article was published on NOLN.net on Feb. 21, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#105
May 28 · 23 min
Proactive Engagement Boosts Customer Retention (with Adam Alfia and Scott Rider)
As AI-driven search engines increasingly aggregate reviews, proactive online reputation management is a critical tool for quick lube shops of all sizes. Adam Alfia, founder and managing director of Real Time Feedback, and Scott Rider, founder and CEO of the Rider Group, join the NOLN Podcast to explain how a proactive engagement strategy can boost retention, improve online ratings, and ultimately drive more revenue for your shop. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#103
May 21 · 9 min
Feature Read: Secure the Service Bay
Cybersecurity leaders explain why smaller, independent automotive shops can be prime targets for hackers. They also offer practical advice for protecting sensitive information, including customer and financial data, and developing an incident response plan that can prevent an attack from destroying a business. This article was published on NOLN.net on March 9, 2026. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify
#102
May 14 · 15 min
Midas Celebrates Seven Decades and Surges Forward (with Paul Elliott, Group VP of Franchise Marketing)
Paul Elliott, group vice president of franchise marketing for Midas, joins the NOLN Podcast to discuss the company’s recent 70th anniversary celebration, as well as the company’s emphasis on innovation, customer service, using AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for employees, and strong franchisee partnerships. Elliott also dives into Midas’ new marketing campaign featuring actor William Zabka, franchise support, and perfecting the customer experience while maintaining a collaborative company culture. *** Subscribe to The NOLN Podcast on your platform of choice: Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio Spotify

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