The Podcast

Weekly industry news and straight talk for working automotive technicians.

Hosted by Anthony Calhoun — ASE Master Tech, published author, 25-year shop veteran.

Episodes

Episode 1: The Real Reason Techs Are Leaving (And What Nobody's Saying)

|7 min

In this first episode of APEX Tech Nation, Anthony Calhoun breaks down the technician shortage from the perspective that's missing from every industry article — the tech actually doing the work. Why are techs leaving? It's not just the money. It's the death by a thousand cuts that compounds every single day in the bay.Anthony shares what working techs are really saying when management isn't in the room, the real issues behind the statistics, and a possible fix the industry could actually implement if anyone at the top is serious about turning this around.

What We Cover

Industry News

What actually happened this week — no spin, no corporate press releases.

Flat Rate Strategy

Hours, efficiency, pay plans, and how to make more on the same ticket.

Diagnostic Breakdowns

Real diag stories — what the code said vs. what was actually wrong.

Gear & Body

The tools, gloves, and habits that keep you turning wrenches past 40.

Career Moves

When to stay, when to walk, how to negotiate, and where the money is.

Tech Talk

ADAS, EVs, AI in the shop — what is coming and what it means for your bay.

About the Host

Anthony Calhoun is an ASE Master Technician with 25 years in the trade — dealerships, independents, fleet shops. He is the author of Why Technicians Are Leaving and How to Keep Them and the founder of APEX Tech Nation. He still turns wrenches every day.

This podcast is the same thing as the website — no corporate spin, no theory from somebody who has never held a ratchet. Just real talk from a tech who has been in the bay for a quarter century and built the tools he wished he had when he started.