Ratchet+Wrench Radio

SEMA is big enough to be overwhelming—especially if you're trying to squeeze everything into four days. So, what should independent shop owners actually see and do? Tom Gattuso, vice president of events for SEMA, joins us to break down the show floor, education, technology, networking, and the experiences shop owners won't want to miss.

R-1234yf is already in the service bays, but is your shop ready to make the most of the opportunity? Natalie Dixon of Chemours explores what shops need to know about R-1234yf service, the potential to retrofit eligible R-134a vehicles, and the importance of proper procedures and preventing refrigerant cross-contamination. Plus, learn what Chemours has planned for AAPEX, including a chance to win an R-1234yf recovery, recycle and recharge machine and Opteon™ YF refrigerant.

AAPEX can be overwhelming for any shop owner — thousands of exhibitors, hundreds of education sessions, new technology, networking opportunities and plenty to see on the show floor. So how can independent shop owners make the most of their time in Las Vegas? In this episode, we preview AAPEX 2026 with Mark Bogdansky and look at how owners can approach the show with a plan, find education and resources that address their business needs, and come home with ideas they can actually put to work.

Finding technicians is hard. Keeping them is even harder. This episode explores why the most successful shops are shifting their focus from recruiting alone to creating careers employees don't want to leave.

Every shop owner has wondered why a technician really left. Was it the pay? The culture? The workload? Or something they never heard about? After nearly three decades recruiting technicians, Joe Henry has heard the stories candidates don't tell their employers. He joins Ratchet+Wrench Radio to reveal the red flags that drive technicians away, what today's candidates actually want and how shops can become employers technicians recommend instead of leave.