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Repair Shop Reckoning
Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real.<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support</a>.
55 episodes
01
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 22 · 1h 28m
From Mechanic to Shop Owner: The First Thing You Have to Fix Is You
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin gets personal. Before the shop ownership. Before the buildings. Before the consulting. Before the success. There was a broke mechanic blaming everybody else for problems he created himself. Kevin opens...
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02
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 15 · 52 min
We’re Not in Business to Lose Money
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with Anthony Rendino from A/R Customs and Collision to talk about the reality of running an independent body shop in today’s insurance-driven world. This conversation goes deep into what most...
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03
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 8 · 1h 14m
Chaos Starts In The Shop When Communication Stops
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin breaks down one of the biggest reasons shops create their own chaos… poor communication and broken expectations. Most customers can handle bad news. What they can’t handle is silence, vague answers,...
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04
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 1 · 1h 1m
Own Your Shop. Own Your Life. The Path To Freedom
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes the conversation beyond numbers and into what every shop owner is really chasing… freedom. Freedom from chaos. Freedom from bad customers. Freedom from living week to week. Freedom from having to...
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05
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 24 · 54 min
The Balance Sheet Reality No One Talks About
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin breaks down the part of the business most shop owners either avoid or don’t fully understand… the balance sheet. You can be busy, profitable, and still not actually getting ahead. This is why. The...
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06
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 17 · 38 min
Stop Guessing & Start Controlling: Budget vs P & L
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes the conversation beyond just understanding your numbers and gets into what actually separates profitable shops from the ones constantly feeling the squeeze. Most shop owners look at their P&L...
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07
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 10 · 1h 54m
Deeper Dive Into P & L and Budgeting
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin breaks down the difference between knowing your numbers and actually running your business with them. Too many owners look at their P&L at the end of the month and treat it like a report card. By...
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08
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 3 · 44 min
Breaking Down The Cost Of Doing Business
Most shop owners don’t have a pricing problem. They have a numbers problem and it’s costing them more than they realize. In this episode, Kevin breaks down what actually happens to every dollar that comes into a shop and why so many owners are busy,...
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09
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 27 · 1h 39m
You Don’t Have a Sales Problem… You Have a Culture Problem
Everybody keeps talking about how this industry is broken. How it sucks. How you can’t make money. How technicians are leaving and shops are struggling. Here’s the truth. Yeah, there are problems. But that’s not the whole story. Because there are...
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10
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 20 · 1h 24m
They Ignored the Trades...Now They Have to Pay for It
Everybody keeps talking about the technician shortage like it just showed up out of nowhere. It didn’t. We built it. For the last 30 years, we told kids not to go into the trades. We stripped hands on training out of schools. We pushed college as the...
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11
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 13 · 1h 31m
The System Said He’d Never Amount to Much...They Were Wrong
Most people know Kevin Brown as the guy who tells it like it is. The shop owner. The operator. The guy calling out the chaos, the excuses, and the bad decisions that quietly kill shops. But this episode is different. This is the beginning of the...
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12
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 6 · 1h 14m
Why I Switched My Shop From Flat Rate to Hourly
Flat rate worked in Kevin’s shop for years. But the world outside the shop has changed. Parts backorders. Fleet approval layers. Training the next generation of technicians. Jobs sitting in bays waiting on things nobody inside the shop can control....
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13
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 27 · 1h 4m
How To Hire A Marketing Company Without Getting Scammed Like I Did
Marketing can build your shop or quietly bankrupt it. In this episode, Kevin breaks down why most marketing promises are smoke and mirrors, and what shop owners should actually measure if they want booked work, not “impressions.” What you’ll hear in...
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14
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 20 · 1h 19m
The Backend Mistakes That Bankrupt Shops
If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t control your business! In this episode, Kevin sits down with Maria Montie, partner at Shindel Rock and a key resource inside the Repair Shop Reckoning network, to talk about what most shop owners avoid their...
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15
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 13 · 51 min
If You Don't Run Your Shop Then Your Shop Runs You
Because being good at fixing cars isn’t enough anymore... This episode is for shop owners who are tired of chaos, thin margins, and feeling like they’re constantly putting out fires. Kevin breaks down what it actually takes to build a disciplined,...
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16
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 6 · 51 min
Where Shops Bleed Money & How To Plug The Leaks
In this episode, Kevin breaks down his exact service advising system step by step from the first phone call to after-hours pickup. This isn’t theory. It’s a process built from getting burned, plugging holes, and tightening the operation until the...
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17
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 30 · 1h 8m
The Daily War Between Shops & Insurance...From Someone That Has Been On Both Sides
Featuring George Ryan, Body Shop Manager at a Mercedes-Benz dealer in upstate New York, this episode is a straight-up masterclass in why shops are sick of getting jerked around by insurance companies—and what it looks like to push back with facts,...
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18
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 23 · 33 min
Flat Rate, Free Labor, and Broken Promises
This episode of Repair Shop Reckoning didn’t end the way we planned due to technical difficulties, but the conversation was too real not to release. Jessica shares her story of starting in the trade at 16, helping build a successful mobile operation...
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19
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 16 · 1h 0m
How The Race To Zero Is Killing The Independent Collision Shops
Featuring Kevin Brown, host of Repair Shop Reckoning, and Jason Tracey — this one is a full-blown reality check for shop owners who are sick of getting squeezed from every direction. Kevin doesn’t sugarcoat it: the collision world is sliding into a...
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20
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 9 · 1h 27m
Horsepower Doesn’t Make You a Driver & Ownership Doesn’t Make You a Leader
What happens when you put a real Corvette guy in the room… and let him talk? In this episode, Kevin sits down with Alan Johnson from Matick Chevrolet, one of the most dialed-in Corvette minds you’ll hear anywhere. This isn’t “car talk” for clicks....
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21
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 2 · 1h 37m
Stopping the Race to zero...How New Shops Can Actually Win
This episode is for new shop owners, mobile mechanics, and anyone thinking about going out on their own. Kevin sits down with Ben Higgins, owner of The Wrench Wagon, for a real conversation about what actually happens when you transition from...
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22
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 26 · 52 min
A Shop Christmas Special...Behind the Scenes With the Garrett Team
WARNING: This episode is not scripted, polished, and it sure as hell is not safe for soft ears... Welcome to the Christmas Special you always dreamed of. A behind the scenes look into shop life, recorded with the full Garrett Truck and Auto crew....
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23
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 19 · 1h 9m
Proof Flat Rate Is Broken & Why It Works For Us
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning: Race to Zero, Kevin and Jason go straight at the root problem most people keep dodging. Flat rate is brutal, but the real villain is wasted time caused by bad leadership, weak policies, and broken processes....
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24
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 12 · 1h 9m
Collision Industry Corruption Exposed: The Truth Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Hear
Welcome to another episode of Repair Shop Reckoning! Buckle up, because this one is a straight punch to the throat of the collision industry. Kevin sits down with Jim Gray, partner at Motor City and a 40-year veteran of the collision world, to break...
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25
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 8 · 1 min
From Beef to Breakthrough: Flat Rate Bad Leadership & Why Shops Are Bleeding Techs
This one started with a viral TikTok clip, a little heat, and a whole lot of misunderstanding but instead of hiding behind keyboards, we did what grown men are supposed to do when Kevin picked up the phone. And then invited them onto Repair Shop...
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26
Repair Shop ReckoningNovember 28 · 1h 8m
Why Weak Men Quit: A Peak Inside Our Shop Culture
This one is for the keyboard warriors and the men that are soft as tissue. The TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE...BUT FIRST IT WILL PISS YOU OFF. Or if you are our type of people it will make you laugh your ass off. We sure had a ton of fun recording it. In...
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27
Repair Shop ReckoningNovember 21 · 1h 22m
The Brutal Reality Every Shop Owner Needs to Hear Right Now
Buckle up because this one comes in hot. Kevin sits down with Check Engine Chuck for a brutally honest, no filters allowed conversation about what is really happening inside repair shops today. And it hits every nerve in the industry. This episode...
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28
Repair Shop ReckoningNovember 14 · 52 min
The Collision Game Is Rigged and How Shops Are Paying the Price
Buckle up because this week Kevin and Jason crack open the ugly truth behind the collision repair industry, and it’s a full-on reckoning. Kevin goes off on how insurance companies have hijacked the business by setting prices, dictating parts, and...
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29
Repair Shop ReckoningNovember 7 · 1h 16m
Marriage, Mayhem & Motor Oil: 29 Years of Wrenching on Life with Marilyn Brown
This one’s personal. In this special episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with his wife of 29 years, Marilyn Brown. The woman who’s been there since the beginning. From beer bottles at Frigate’s in Walled Lake to building a family,...
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30
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 31 · 1h 1m
From the Bay to the Barn: The Dealer Tech Who Built His Own Damn Shop
What happens when a dealership tech decides he’s done turning wrenches for someone else and builds his own shop from the ground up? In this episode, Kevin Brown sits down with Donovan from Cypress Ridge Automotive, a former Ford dealership tech who...
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31
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 24 · 1h 14m
Retire Rich or Die Wrenching? Real Talk on Money, Generational Wealth, and Getting Out of the Game
In this hard-hitting episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with Travis Smith, his financial advisor for the past 9 years, a trusted partner in planning the future of both his companies and his team. If you’re a shop owner, blue-collar...
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32
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 17 · 1h 28m
Leadership Is the Problem...And the Solution
In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Chris Craig returns to Repair Shop Reckoning to tear the lid off the real issue plaguing the automotive industry: Toxic Leadership! From the dealership drama to independent shop dynamics, Chris and Kevin dive...
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33
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 17 · 54 min
Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks — and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in...
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34
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 17 · 57 min
The Truth About Running a Shop: Culture, Pay, GPTs, and the Real Cost of Leadership
What if the reason your shop is struggling isn’t flat rate… but your culture, your pricing, and your leadership? In this solo deep dive, Kevin peels back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful, profitable, no-BS repair business in...
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35
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 10 · 54 min
Strong Shops Need Strong Leaders: Why Culture Fails Without Accountability
In this no filter, full throttle episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin and Jason tackle the real reason your shop culture sucks and it starts at the top. Forget the fluff about happy cultures and Google-style perks. This is a masterclass in...
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36
Repair Shop ReckoningOctober 3 · 1h 10m
The Flat Rate Reckoning: Truth, Grit, and the Real Cost of Doing Business
Is flat rate the future or the failure of the industry? In this unfiltered episode, Kevin and Jason rip into the growing wave of online whining about flat rate and expose the real reason so many techs are struggling. From union bloat to dealership...
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37
Repair Shop ReckoningAugust 12 · 49 min
Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 19
In Part 2, Kevin Brown and Jason Tracey return with a deeper dive into ownership mindset—this time spotlighting opportunity in adversity. From turning a rival Verizon store into a revenue boost to teaching smartphone classes that built lasting...
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38
Repair Shop ReckoningJuly 29 · 1h 1m
Navigating Business Challenges with Jason Tracey - Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 18
Kevin Brown sits down with Jason Tracey to tackle the harsh realities of business ownership. From handling tough customers to surviving economic downturns like COVID-19, they break down the entrepreneurial mindset—how it feels to be on top versus...
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39
Repair Shop ReckoningJuly 15 · 1h 6m
Lessons from the Grind - Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 17
In Part 2 of this Repair Shop Reckoning conversation, Kevin Brown and Shane shift gears—literally—kicking off with a deep dive into the electric vehicle revolution. From early skepticism to firsthand experiences with self-driving tech, Shane breaks...
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40
Repair Shop ReckoningJuly 1 · 31 min
Lessons from the Grind - Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 16
This week on Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin Brown sits down with Shane Meren to break down the raw realities of business, sales, and survival. From hustling door-to-door fixing computers to selling websites when people thought the internet was a fad,...
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41
Repair Shop ReckoningJune 17 · 51 min
Setting Standards For The Future Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 15
In this part 2, Dave Davis, from Hunter Engineering, tackles the challenges facing the automotive industry, including staffing shortages, EV reliability, and the complexities of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). He touches on the evolving...
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42
Repair Shop ReckoningJune 3 · 52 min
Setting Standards For The Future Part. 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 14
In this episode, Kevin is joined by Dave Davis from Hunter Engineering, who shares insights into the evolving landscape of aftermarket sales, focusing on tire changers, balancers, alignment tools, and automated drive assist technology. He discusses...
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43
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 20 · 1h 5m
Surviving the Grind: Business, Breakdowns & Balance Part 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 13
In part two of this discussion, Bill Griffin of Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic continues his conversation with Kevin about the challenges facing mechanics and the realities of running an independent repair shop. He delves deeper into the struggles...
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44
Repair Shop ReckoningMay 6 · 55 min
Surviving the Grind: Business, Breakdowns & Balance Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 12
This week on "Repair Shop Reckoning", Kevin Brown sits down with shop owner Bill Griffin to unpack his unexpected path into the industry. Bill started in accounting but ended up at Jiffy Lube, bouncing between dealerships before a layoff forced him...
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45
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 22 · 44 min
Supplying the Repair Industry: Pt 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 11
In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin Brown sits down with Jeff Stucki, Territory Sales Manager from Auto-Wares, to tackle the hard truths about the rising costs of car repairs. From skyrocketing parts prices to the critical need for...
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46
Repair Shop ReckoningApril 8 · 39 min
Supplying the Repair Industry: Pt 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 10
On this week's Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin Brown sits down with Jeff Stucki, Territory Sales Manager at Auto-Wares, for a no-holds-barred look at the auto parts industry. From stock boy to seasoned pro, Jeff shares how customer service has morphed...
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47
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 25 · 35 min
Detailing Success w/ Lincoln Brown: Pt 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 9
In the second part of this insightful conversation, Kevin Brown dives deeper with Lincoln Brown of LCB Auto Detailing to uncover the keys to building a thriving auto detailing business. Lincoln stresses reinvesting in equipment and employee training...
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48
Repair Shop ReckoningMarch 11 · 48 min
Detailing Success w/ Lincoln Brown: Pt 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 8
In this candid episode, Kevin Brown sits down with Lincoln Brown, owner of LCB Detailing in Howell, Michigan, to explore his journey from cleaning cars at his father’s request to running a mobile detailing business. Lincoln shares how TikTok-inspired...
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49
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 25 · 58 min
Liabilities, Lessons, and Lift Kits w/ Marty Woods: Pt 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 7
Host Kevin Brown continues his conversation with Marty from Martin’s Tire & Service in Part 2 of this deep dive into Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibration. Marty breaks down the hefty financial investments required for equipment...
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50
Repair Shop ReckoningFebruary 11 · 41 min
Liabilities, Lessons, and Lift Kits w/ Marty Woods: Pt 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 6
This week, host Kevin Brown sits down with Marty from Martin’s Tire & Service to dig into the realities of running a repair shop in today’s challenging landscape. In the first episode of this two-part series, Marty shares his journey, from retail...
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51
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 28 · 50 min
Fueling Performance w/ John Turnbull and Michael Paul: Pt 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 5
In the second part of this two-part series on Repair Shop Reckoning, host Kevin Brown continues the conversation with Michael Paul and John Turnbull, diving deeper into the evolving landscape of vehicle maintenance. They emphasize the importance of...
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52
Repair Shop ReckoningJanuary 14 · 38 min
Fueling Performance w/ John Turnbull and Michael Paul: Pt 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 4
This week on Repair Shop Reckoning, host Kevin Brown sits down with industry heavyweights Michael Paul and John Turnbull to tackle the critical—and often overlooked—topic of regular vehicle maintenance. From transmission flushes to brake systems and...
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53
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 31 · 38 min
Love and Marriage Pt. 2 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 3
This week, we've got Part 2 of Kevin and Marilyn Brown's dive into the highs and lows of family life, financial struggles, and lessons learned. They recount the early days of tight budgets, school expenses, and the thrill of couponing, reflecting on...
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54
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 17 · 37 min
Love and Marriage Pt. 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 2
In this revealing episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin Brown and his wife, Marilyn, open up about their raw and unfiltered journey through early financial struggles. Marilyn shares hard-earned lessons from her 30-year accounting career and the...
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55
Repair Shop ReckoningDecember 3 · 1h 30m
Family Foundations | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 1
In the debut episode of "Repair Shop Reckoning", Kevin Brown sits down with his parents, Jim and Carol Brown, for a heartfelt and candid conversation. They reminisce about Kevin’s energetic and rebellious childhood, sharing personal stories that...
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