Automotive State of The Union
Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier don’t just read headlines, they make the most important connections across car dealerships, general retail, tech, and culture. The goal? To help automotive leaders think clearer and move faster in a world that refuses to slow down.
Whether you’re running a rooftop, building a brand, or just trying to keep up with everything shifting in the business of selling cars, this is your regular stop for a shot of news, insight, and a little bit of chaos…always rooted in people-first thinking.
From the showroom to Silicon Valley.
From Wall Street to Main Street.
Paul and Kyle connect the dots, keep it real, and make it make sense.
Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 14 minutes
- Episodes
- 1139
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
A Rousing Reading of A LinkedIn Post, Toyota Is About To Break A Production Record, and Phone Call Friday is BACK!
We open todays show with this epic LinkedIn post from yesterday, we talk about Toyota opening up beyond full throttle in January with inventory, and jam with Brian Kramer on Phone Cal…
Taking Hand-Raising Ownership, Kyle Hits an OEM Bone, and A Massive Fed Pivot
We're coming in hot from seeing Jocko Willink in Chicago yesterday and you guessed it, its time to talk about some Extreme Ownership. That mentality couldn't be more timely as we talk…
Refueling in Chicago, Nike Makes A Big Move, and How We Define Crisis
We're on the run today as Paul and Kyle are live from the Hilton at the Chicago Airport at the Refuel, the end of year event put on by Joe Chura of Dealer Inspire and CARS. Today we'r…
A New Auto Show on NBC, Elon's Mixed Review, and The Warehouse Revolution
Today we are packed full of pop culture and big business as we discuss a new sit com, American Auto, that centers around Evs, AI, and OEM while staying in touch with the love of drivi…
Elon States His Position, Our Thoughts are With KY, and the Year End Extravaganza is ON!
Back in the comfort of our offices, we hit the ground running with a packed episode of news, encouragement, and some shameless self promotion. With the year coming to a close, we want…
NAMAD Connections, Competing in a National Landscape, and Starbucks Goes Union
Our week of travel is almost complete, so phone call Friday is on with Kyle calling Paul. We are extremely encouraged by the NAMAD community and encourage you to get involved however …
Toys 'R' Us Leaning on Entertainment, GM With a Dealer Roadmap to Fleet EV, and NAMAD Throws a Party
Paul and Kyle's week of travel is nearing an end, but we can't stop, won't stop brining you podcasts and insights, even from the airport! We discuss the rebirth of Toys 'R' Us and the…
No Coffee in Austin, Ships Ahoy, and Getting Beneath the Leadership Surface
Following a management training for a client, Kyle and Paul are in Austin, Texas ... but not in the same place. Paul is speaking at the MRAA Conference (NADA for boats, basically) and…
Guest Host Tim Cox, Gratitude, and A Lesson On Leadership & Culture
With Paul on a plane, Tim Cox of CarNow joins Kyle as the first EVER guest host of the pod for the official 50th episode! We talk through the culture curation of an all remote workfor…
EVs Dominating News Headlines, Steve Greenfield Going Weekly, and the Real Dealership Culture Trojan Horse
We were excited to wake up this morning to a new weekly email from Steve Greenfield and Automotive Ventures with all the latest money moves in automotive. It also would not be a look …
The Internal Relationships, Nvidia Gets An FTC Smackdown, and Fancy EV Vans From Mercedes
Today we talk about how to make some relational changes that can lead to better overall performance; the merit of microchip competition, and a fresh statement from Daimler regarding t…
Albert Einstein and His Cast of Troublemakers, Conversations With Your Tribe, and A New Name for Square
Paul gets our wheels turning with a quote from Albert Einstein that we think so accurately describes true troublemakers. We point to a photo of some of the smartest minds in our histo…
Kyle Buys Crypto, The First Metaverse Car, and A New Mobility Index
Today is chock full of things that make you go hmmmm. We talk about Kyle's experience buying his first Bitcoin, companies who are buying Metaverse real estate to the tune of millions …
How Many Emails Did You Get and Ditching the IT Department
Today we get into the pros and cons of a MASSIVE Cyber Monday Push as we talk through what we bought. We also talk through a Wall Street Journal article suggesting the dismantling of …
Full Throttle On Retail Season, Seasonal Ad Vibes, and Our Very First 'Challenge'
Coming off a holiday weekend, we're fired up and ready for the next five weeks of retail season. We talk about what's going on in the broader retail world, give some clues on what vib…
A History Lesson, Word Tracks with Human Implications, and Resting Your Brand on the Next Sale
Black Friday is not as bright and shiny as you may have once thought, but only Philly natives can truly tell that story. From shoplifting to mass shopping, the shift of the meaning of…
Special Holiday Episode - A Little Charlie Brown and Our Sincerest Thanks!
We couldn't help but express our thanks in words today. It seemed important to bring Charlie Brown into the mix as well! Wherever you are at, and whatever this holiday looks like to y…
Prepping for Thanksgiving, the Power of Social Media, and Service Experience Handoffs
We got everyone together in classic ASOTU fashion yesterday on Clubhouse, and the insights that came out of it were nothing short of impressive. Also, Paul walks us though a stellar s…
A Breakdancing First Base Coach, How To Look For 'Quick Wins', and The ROI Of Your Desk
It's 23 degrees in Nashville and the first snowy day in Syracuse but Paul and Kyle are both safe and warm in their studios talking about the things you can be doing TODAY improve your…
Getting Ready For Awkward Conversations, A Special Conversation Tomorrow, and Naming Rights Being More About Brand Synergy
The Monday of Thanksgiving week can bring a range of emotions from excitement over a beautiful meal to anxiety over potentially awkward conversations. We cut into both of those today.…