Fixed Ops Journal - June 2022 - F21

Key to good show is sound, podcasters say
I
f you're thinking of starting your own
podcast, hosts of fi xed ops shows say it's
important to make it sound good, keep
it tight and be consistent.
Corey Smith, host of " Fixed Ops 5, "
tries to keep every episode at 25 minutes or
less because he knows his listeners are busy.
Also, he knows few topics or guests are engaging
enough to hold an audience for an hour.
Like most fi xed ops podcasters, Smith worked
at a dealership before he attained his current
post, national fi xed operations training manager
at National Auto Care. Unlike other fi xed ops
podcasters, Smith also is a former DJ .
Th at's why he takes care to produce each
show so it sounds good on every level, from
content to audio quality. Smith also keeps to a
consistent publishing schedule, posting new
episodes on the fi fth and 20th of each month.
Dave Foy, host of " Th e Fixed Ops Mastermind, "
also says shows need to sound good
and have good sound.
His fi rst episode aired in 2020 and was recorded
on a phone. After listening to other
podcasts, Foy noticed the biggest shows
sounded better, used music and had sound
bites. So he bought a good microphone and a
mixing board.
" If the sound is bad, " he says, " then the experience
is bad. "
Foy also took a podcasting course to learn
how to get his show on all of the podcasting
platforms, which include Spotify, Stitcher, Apple
and Google. Now he posts each episode at
1:05 a.m. Monday and sends out an email at
5:05 a.m. to let people know a new episode is
available.
He says the four-hour gap is necessary to allow
the show to post on each of the diff erent
podcasting services, which upload new content
at diff erent rates.
Foy's top tips for would-be podcasters include
investing in equipment that creates
good sound quality, choosing interesting topics
and making the guest comfortable.
" You're going to get a lot more out of the
guest when they feel comfortable talking to
you, " he says.
Newcomer Kaylee Felio, host of " Th e Parts
Girl Podcast, " recommends building a list of
people you'd like to interview and creating a
scheduling calendar to help with time management.
She says she likes to record on certain
days for habit's sake.
" When I fi rst started recording it was whenever,
and I didn't feel like I could give it my all
- plus I was nervous, " she says. " Now I mostly
only record on Fridays. "
Felio also suggests that if you're not adept at
video and audio editing, outsource it to a pro.
Also, make sure to note catchy sentences or
goof-ups so the podcast is easier to edit.
Most important , she says, is to enjoy the
ride.
" Don't think too much about it, " Felio says.
" Just click 'record' and have some fun. You
never know what type of conversation you're
going to have until you have it. "
- M.L. Elrick
Corey Smith, far left,
host of National Auto
Care's " Fixed Ops 5 "
show, says, " I think
these podcasts will
really shine a light on
where we'll be able to
develop a more
cohesive team and
have equal training. "
Smith is shown
interviewing Steve
Apicella, CEO of
automotive technology
company Strategic DX.
" We have to pivot and adjust. "
Like his fellow hosts, Ings welcomes new
shows. And he recommends investing the
time and resources necessary to make a show
sound good - both in terms of content and
sound quality.
" If you're going to do something, " Ings says,
" make sure it is the highest caliber. "
Standing apart
One of the newer entries into the fi xed ops
podcasting world is Kaylee Felio's " Th e Parts
Girl Podcast. " She made her debut May 5, and
she has about a dozen shows under her belt.
She initially thought she would release a
show the fi rst and third Friday of each month
but now might add more because of her growing
list of guests.
" Hosting a podcast really gives you the ability
to get to know someone, " Felio says. " It's so
much fun to go into it with a topic in mind but
the guest is unprepared with the questions that
I'm going to ask. I think it brings authenticity to
the conversation, and as a host, it's fun to navigate
and bring out the best in that person. "
Felio was inspired to start her own podcast
after being a guest on other fi xed ops shows.
She saw how her appearances helped build
her network and shined a light on the parts
department. Although an admitted " fi gure it
out as I go " type of person, she did lean on the
expertise and experience of some other podcast
hosts - including Smith and Foy.
While the parts department is her show focus,
she does branch out into other subjects
such as marketing and sales. Most of all, she
wants " Th e Parts Girl Podcast " to break ground
and stand out from the growing crowd.
" I didn't want to be just another podcast, "
Felio says. " My fear was that it would end up
being like everyone else's. After recording a
few, I now have a sense of direction that I'd really
like to take it.
" I'm just glad I got started; the conversations
are endless. " 
JUNE 2022 PAGE 21
Fixed Ops Journal - June 2022

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