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In this episode of Gearheads n’ Gasoline, Barry Alt and Jesse Henke from JH Restorations sit down with Karl Schulman, General Manager of Garret’s Rod Shop, for a conversation about cars, craftsmanship, career pivots, and the way life has a funny way of circling back around.

Karl shares how his love for cars and machining started early, thanks to the influence of his stepdad, Garret. What began as building homemade street rod parts on a mill and lathe eventually grew into a lifelong connection to the automotive world. From learning the trade at night school, to landing his first machining job at Creative Tool and Die, to later teaching the very class that helped launch his own career, Karl’s story is rooted in hands-on skill, persistence, and a willingness to follow the next open door.

The conversation also dives into Karl’s 18-year career teaching high school students machine trades, helping young people find real career paths in skilled labor, engineering, and the automotive industry. After stepping away from formal education in 2022, Karl joined Garret’s Rod Shop full-time, where he has worked to earn his place, support major build projects, and help guide the shop into its next chapter.

This episode is a thoughtful look at the intersection of family, trade education, hot rod culture, and the future of custom automotive craftsmanship. It’s a reminder that the skills, people, and experiences we pick up along the way often come back around when we need them most.

Key Takeaways:

• Every experience can come full circle
• Garret played a major role in Karl’s automotive foundation
• Machining became more than a skill
• Getting a start in the trades takes persistence
• Good relationships matter in business
• Teaching became an unexpected but meaningful chapter
• Trade education remains critical
• Joining the family business came with responsibility
• Garret’s Rod Shop is entering a new chapter
• The future of custom automotive work depends on skill transfer

Guest Bio:
Karl Schluman is the General Manager and face of Garret’s Rod Shop, where his lifelong passion for cars, machining, and craftsmanship comes full circle. Introduced to the trade by his stepdad, Garret, Karl built a career spanning machining, auto parts, and 18 years teaching high school machine trades before joining the family shop in 2022. Today, he helps guide Garret’s Rod Shop into its next chapter.

Guest:
Karl Schulman, Garret's Rod Shop

• garretsrodshop.com
• facebook.com/garretsrodshop
• instagram.com/garretsrodshop

Host:
Barry Alt, Motorhead Digital

• maximizesales@motorheaddigital.com
• motorheaddigital.com
• facebook.com/

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In this episode of the Gearheads n' Gasoline podcast, join Barry and Katie Abraham, guest co-host from Ironman 4X4, as Christina Lardie, from Christina’s Garage: Gearhead in Training, and learn about Christina's automotive journey and influencer Insights.

Christina Lardie, a self-proclaimed gearhead in training, shares her inspiring story of learning to work on cars from scratch, building her personal brand, and navigating the automotive industry as a newcomer. This episode dives deep into how passion, perseverance, and authentic relationship-building drive success in this competitive space. Listen to the podcast to hear Christina give advice to women and beginners entering the automotive aftermarket industry, emphasizing confidence, authenticity, and relationship-building.

Takeaways:

• Christina’s background and how her family’s love for cars influenced her journey
• The inception of her YouTube channel, Christina’s Garage, and her fresh perspective as a newbie
• How she connected with industry events like SEMA and PRI without prior industry experience
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and managing mental health while learning new skills
• The importance of authenticity, patience, and showing up consistently

Guest Bio:
As a lifestyle and automotive content creator, Christina Lardie is learning how to embrace life head-on. Instead of wishing there were more real people to relate to online, Christina chose to embody the change she wanted to see. Whether it’s learning how to build a 1969 Camaro, lifting weights, discussing mental health, or becoming an active member of the community, everything is grounded in authenticity, vulnerability, and integrity.

Guest:
Christina Lardie, Christina’s Garage: Gearhead in Training

• facebook.com/61558031831375
• instagram.com/christinalardie
• youtube.com/@christinasgarage
• x.com/christinalardie

Host:
Barry Alt, Motorhead Digital

• maximizesales@motorheaddigital.com
• motorheaddigital.com
• facebook.com/Motorhead.Digital
• instagram.com/motorhead.digital
• linkedin.com/company/motorhead-digital

Guest Co-Host:
Katie Abraham, Ironman 4X4

• facebook.com/abeskatie
• instagram.com/wildkatieabes
• linkedin.com/in/katherine-abraham-b4506580

Don’t miss an episode from Gearheads n’ Gasoline!

• facebook.com/GearheadsNGasoline
• instagram.com/gearheadsngasoline
• linkedin.com/company/gearheadsngasoline
• youtube.com/@GearheadsNGasoline

You can reach us at gngoperations@motorheaddigital.com

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In this episode of the Gearheads n’ Gasoline Podcast, Barry and Eddy Cebrco from AMD sit down with Jay Pruitt of Trucks USA to talk about his journey from growing up in a hot rod family to building a thriving truck bed manufacturing business.

Jay shares how he transitioned from wrenching in a small shop to scaling a business that now focuses on manufacturing, dealer networks, and direct-to-consumer sales. Along the way, the conversation dives into the realities of hiring in today’s market, adapting to social media, and why showing up at events matters more than ever.

They also get into the shift happening in the automotive aftermarket, from wholesale dominance to brand-building, content creation, and customer connection, and how stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock serious growth.

If you're a shop owner, manufacturer, or anyone in the automotive aftermarket trying to grow, this episode is packed with real-world insight, a few laughs, and some hard-earned lessons.

Takeaways:

• Jay's family has always been involved in automotive culture.
• You can’t scale working only with your hands
• Growth comes from products, not just labor
• Direct-to-consumer is reshaping the aftermarket industry
• Events build relationships, not just immediate sales
• Social media is learned, not a natural talent
• Authentic content outperforms polished, perfect production
• Don’t build around one loud customer request
• Shops must invest in training younger talent
• Customers want complete solutions, not scattered parts
• Being yourself is your strongest business advantage

Guest Bio:
Jay is 51 and married, a Gearhead for life, a jack of all trades and master of a few. GM truck guy.

Guest:
Jay Pruitt, Truck USA

• trucksusa.net
• facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070262241538
• instagram.com/classictruckbedparts

Host:
Barry Alt, Motorhead Digital

• maximizesales@motorheaddigital.com
• motorheaddigital.com
• facebook.com/Motorhead.Digital
• instagram.com/motorhead.digital
• linkedin.com/company/motorhead-digital

Guest Co-Host:
Eddy Cebreco, Auto Metal Direct

• eddy@autometaldirect.com
• autometaldirect.com
• facebook.com/AutoMetalDirect
• instagram.com/autometaldirect
• linkedin.com/company/autometaldire

Don’t miss an episode from Gearheads n’ Gasoline!

• facebook.com/GearheadsNGasoline
• instagram.com/gearheadsngasoline
• linkedin.com/company/gearheadsngasoline
• youtube.com/@GearheadsNGasoline

You can reach us at gngoperations@motorheaddigital.com