Keep The Change

Bart Nollenberger
  • 5.0 (13)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You can transform your dealership from the inside out, and Bart Nollenberger will show you how. “Keep The Change” is your go-to podcast for leadership growth in the automotive world—and there’s a reason leaders across the country swear by Bart’s coaching. His hands-on, proven approach has helped managers and owners just like you create lasting, meaningful change in their dealerships, and in every episode, he’s sharing his personal breakthroughs, field-tested strategies, and inspiring success stories, so you can do the same. If you’re new here, you’re exactly where you need to be. Each episode of “Keep The Change” will empower you to develop stronger leadership skills, build a winning culture, and stay ahead in a fiercely competitive market. Ready to go beyond sales training and actually transform how your dealership operates? Join Bart and keep the change you’ve worked so hard to create. 

  1. 6D AGO

    The Culture Problem That Doesn’t Show Up in Reports

    Culture isn’t what’s written on the wall. It’s what people feel when pressure hits. In this solo episode of Keep The Change, I go deeper than I usually do. Just a real, honest conversation about what culture actually looks like when it shows up every single day in meetings, in one-on-ones, and in the moments that matter most. If you think culture is a mission statement, a handbook, or a poster in the breakroom, this episode will challenge you. Because culture doesn’t live at the corporate level. It lives at the manager level. And whether people feel valued, trusted, and motivated has far more to do with leadership behavior than policies or pay plans. What we talk about in this episode: Why culture is not what leaders intend, but what people experienceHow two managers under the same roof can create completely different workplacesA real story from my early dealership days that changed how I think about leadershipWhat Gallup research reveals about managers and employee engagementWhy “love at work” isn’t soft, sentimental, or lowering the barWhat culture scorecards reveal that leaders often don’t see comingWhy awareness, not skill, is usually the real leadership gapHow great leaders hold people accountable without crushing trustThe shift every modern leader must make from boss to coachThis episode is for leaders who genuinely want to grow. For managers who care about results and people. And for anyone willing to ask the harder question: “What’s my role in the culture we’re creating?” If you lead people, this conversation will hit close to home. And if it resonates, share it with someone who does. Because culture doesn’t change by accident.  It changes when leaders choose to grow. Let’s go. Let’s grow. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Bart Nollenberger:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    19 min

  2. JAN 30

    Why Culture Is Costing You More Money Than You Think (And How to Fix It)

    What if the thing holding your business back isn’t strategy… but communication? Before you scroll past this episode thinking, “Ahhh, culture stuff isn’t my thing,” hear me out, because what we’re really talking about here is profit, performance, and people actually wanting to work with you. In this solo episode of Keep the Change, I pull back the curtain on something most leaders avoid until it’s costing them real money: organizational culture. More specifically, I walk through the Cultural Impact Scorecard — a 360°, anonymous assessment that reveals what your team actually experiences every day… not just what leadership thinks is happening. And trust me, the gap between those two can be expensive. Here’s what we get into: The 10 key culture drivers every dealership and business should be paying attention toWhy communication and continuous learning are the two most common (and dangerous) breakdowns I see after 40 years in this industryReal-world examples of how strong results can hide weak leadership habitsThe Three Cs of Communication (Connect, Convey, Check) — and how they eliminate conflict before it explodesWhy “we had a sales meeting” is not the same as developing your peopleHow personality styles (DISC) silently sabotage teams that otherwise like each otherAnd the uncomfortable truth: if your people aren’t growing, your business eventually won’t eitherThis episode isn’t theory. It’s field-tested. It’s what I’ve seen work — and fail — inside real dealerships, real leadership teams, and real businesses that wanted the next level but couldn’t quite break through. Schedule your complimentary 15-minute strategy call: https://calendly.com/bartcoach/15min Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    38 min

  3. JAN 16

    Thank God for the Car Business: Frank Lopes on Leadership, Legacy & Transformation

    What if the car business wasn’t just about cars… but about calling, transformation, and legacy? In this episode of Keep the Change, I finally sit down with someone I’ve been chasing for a while, not because he was hiding, but because he’s been too busy changing lives. Frank Lopes is a 30-year automotive veteran, CEO of Strong30 Automotive, marketing pioneer, leadership coach, and one of the most passionate advocates I know for the people inside the dealership walls. This isn’t a tactical “sell more cars” conversation. This is a real, unfiltered discussion about transformation of mindset, leadership, faith, and purpose. Frank takes us from sweeping floors as the son of Portuguese immigrants to working side-by-side with Gary Vaynerchuk in the earliest days of digital media… and then through failure, bankruptcy, redemption, and a renewed mission to transform 10,000 lives (and then realizing that number was thinking way too small). We also unpack: Why “Thank God for the car business” is more than a slogan, it’s a declarationHow Frank’s immigrant upbringing shaped generations of opportunityThe leadership lesson behind asking “Why so low?” (even after selling 47 cars in a month)What Gary Vaynerchuk challenged Frank to do and why saying no still haunts himWhy past results have nothing to do with your futureHow real leaders stop managing frustration and start transforming peopleThe power of one-on-one leadership as the ultimate growth multiplierWhy the ceiling you’re staring at is probably made of paperThis episode is deep. It’s emotional. It’s practical. And it’s one of those conversations that doesn’t just motivate you, it reorients you. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Frank Lopes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankjlopes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmorefrank/?hl=enConnect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    1h 5m

  4. JAN 9

    Pressure Reveals Everything: The Leadership Habits That Make or Break Culture

    There’s a moment every leader faces, when waiting is no longer an option. No excuses. No blaming the market. No hiding behind “I’m not ready.” You either step up… or your habits step in for you. In this solo episode of Keep the Change, I share one of the most powerful leadership lessons of my life, through a story I watched unfold up close. It’s the story of my mom, who at 59 years old was suddenly thrust into leadership she didn’t ask for, in an industry on the brink of collapse. What happened next didn’t just save a business, it revealed how leadership habits quietly shape culture, and how culture always shows up in profits. In this episode, we unpack: Why pressure doesn’t create character, it reveals habitsHow awareness (not action) is the real starting point of changeThe subtle leadership habits that quietly shape culture, for better or worseWhy asking beats telling and listening builds trust faster than authority ever willThe difference between intention, decision, and commitment (and why most leaders stop too soon)How coaching conversations unlock ownership instead of defensivenessWhy developing people is the strongest predictor of long-term performanceAnd the hard truth every leader needs to hear: culture isn’t what you intend—it’s what your people experienceIf you’re leading a team, running a business, or feeling the weight of responsibility heavier than ever, this episode will challenge how you think about habits, communication, accountability, and growth. Because when leadership becomes unavoidable, the only thing you can fall back on…  is who you’ve already become. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Bart Nollenberger:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    19 min

  5. 12/26/2025

    From Homeless to COO: Ed Roberts on Leadership, Faith, and Becoming the Obvious Choice

    What happens when a kid who grew up homeless, digging through dumpsters for survival, becomes one of the most respected leaders in the automotive industry? This episode isn’t just a conversation, it’s a reminder that your past doesn’t get to vote on your future. On this episode of Keep the Change, I sit down with Ed Roberts, and fair warning…this one goes deep. Real deep. What we unpack in this episode: Ed’s story is raw, honest, and powerful, but it’s not just about where he came from. It’s about how he thinks, why he leads the way he does, and what elite leadership actually looks like when it’s done with humility, empathy, and intention. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll hear: How Ed went from sleeping in a car to becoming COO and General Manager of Bozard Ford Lincoln, leading explosive growth in a small-town marketThe concept of “Mile One” why progress isn’t about giant leaps, but about taking the next achievable stepWhy great leaders don’t just hold people accountable, they align expectations, earn commitment, and build trustThe difference between entitled, co-existing, and opportunistic team members (and how to actually lead each one)Why empathy, one-on-ones, and listening without agenda are no longer optional for leadersHow Ed’s book Mile One and his coaching work are creating “starfish moments”—changing lives one person at a timeThere’s faith. There’s grit. There’s leadership wisdom you can apply immediately, whether you’re running a dealership, leading a team, or just trying to become a better version of yourself. This is one of those episodes where you’ll probably pause, rewind, and say, “Man… I needed that.” If you’ve ever felt underestimated, stuck, or unsure of your next step—this conversation will meet you right where you are and challenge you to move forward. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Ed Roberts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-roberts-00948b36/Connect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    57 min

  6. 12/19/2025

    The Questions Great Leaders Ask (And Why “Why” Is the Wrong One) with Dan Nicholas

    What if the questions you’re asking are actually holding people back instead of moving them forward? I sat down with my friend Dan Nicholas, one of the most quietly influential humans I know, and what unfolded wasn’t just a podcast… it was a masterclass in leadership, listening, faith, and real transformation. Dan is the kind of guy who can walk into a room, whether it’s a boardroom, a restaurant, or a recovery meeting, and make every single person feel seen. I’ve watched him lift people who were at their lowest and speak life into CEOs, business owners, and world-class leaders with the exact same heart. And in this conversation, you get to experience why. We unpack a frustrating (and honestly eye-opening) call Dan had right before recording, one of those conversations where someone talks at you, not with you, and use it as a springboard to talk about something every leader, salesperson, coach, and human needs to hear: The difference between asking “why” and asking better questions. In this episode, we get into: Why “why” questions often create defensiveness instead of growthHow tone and curiosity can instantly change the direction of a conversationThe shift from motivation to true transformation (and why it matters)How great leaders build trust without power plays or posturingJournaling, gratitude, and the power of “I am” statementsLeading with the fruit of the Spirit, not pressure, ego, or fearHow faith, discipline, and obedience unlock purpose in business and lifeThe idea of “dream vampires” and how to stop letting them steal your callingWhy listening, really listening, is the most underrated leadership skill there isThis isn’t theory. It’s lived experience. We talk sales, leadership, recovery, faith, failure, purpose, and what it actually looks like to help people move forward without shaming them for where they’ve been. If you’re tired of surface-level motivation and ready for conversations that actually change how you show up, with your team, your clients, your family, and yourself, this one’s for you. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    49 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    Who You Are at Work Shouldn’t Cost You Who You Are at Home with Joel Manby

    What if the way you lead at work didn’t cost you your soul at home? That’s the question that kept coming up for me in this conversation with Joel Manby. And honestly, it’s one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had on Keep the Change. Joel’s resume is impressive on paper. Harvard. General Motors. Saturn. CEO of Saab North America at 34. Chairman and CEO of Herschend Enterprises, the company behind brands like Silver Dollar City and Dollywood. But this episode isn’t about titles. It’s about the moment when success stopped being enough and significance started to matter. In this episode, Joel and I talk about what it really looks like to lead with love without losing results. We dig into his journey from growing up poor in Michigan, to navigating toxic corporate cultures, to discovering a radically different way of leading that actually produced better employee engagement, higher customer satisfaction, and stronger long-term returns. We talk about Saturn and what made it different. We talk about failure, including a painful startup collapse that left Joel questioning everything. We talk about the phone call that changed his life, when Jack Herschend invited him into a company that believed people came first, not last. And yes, we talk about Undercover Boss, the letters that poured in afterward, and why that experience pushed Joel to write Love Works.  If you’re a leader who’s tired of choosing between results and relationships, this episode is for you. If you’ve ever felt that tension between who you are at home and who work seems to require you to be, this conversation will hit close to home. And if you believe there has to be a better way to lead without becoming someone you don’t recognize, you’ll want to hear every minute of this one.  Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Joel Manby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-manby-3850b911b/Connect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    53 min

  8. 12/05/2025

    Scaling from 150 to 1,000 Cars a Month: The Chris Martinez Leadership Blueprint

    What if the single decision that changes your entire life looks ordinary in the moment. What if the turning point in your career doesn’t feel like a turning point at all until years later. And what if the leader you become is shaped not by victory, but by what you choose to do when no one else is paying attention. That is the heartbeat of today’s conversation with Chris Martinez CEO of  IgniteUps.Ai, and it is one of the most revealing episodes we’ve ever released. Chris’s story is not a typical automotive success story. It is a blueprint for what happens when hunger meets humility, when bold choices collide with adversity, and when a leader learns to build people just as passionately as he builds numbers. The man has run massive stores, written bestselling books, built technology before the industry knew it needed it, and weathered personal storms that would level most of us. And yet, what he shares in this episode is not about bragging rights. It is about lessons. Real ones. Earned ones. The kind leaders rarely talk about. This episode is not simply a conversation. It is a masterclass in building something meaningful from wherever you stand today. If you are a dealer, a leader, a salesperson, or someone trying to figure out how to take the next step in your life, the perspective inside this discussion will stay with you long after it ends. Enjoying the show? Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast players! Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-the-change/id1622521488Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xcQk7kNGNOnWuZ14aDkWCConnect with Chris Martinez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjmartinezatxConnect with Bart Nollenberger: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bart-nollenberger-4949405a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BartNollenbergerCoaching

    56 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

You can transform your dealership from the inside out, and Bart Nollenberger will show you how. “Keep The Change” is your go-to podcast for leadership growth in the automotive world—and there’s a reason leaders across the country swear by Bart’s coaching. His hands-on, proven approach has helped managers and owners just like you create lasting, meaningful change in their dealerships, and in every episode, he’s sharing his personal breakthroughs, field-tested strategies, and inspiring success stories, so you can do the same. If you’re new here, you’re exactly where you need to be. Each episode of “Keep The Change” will empower you to develop stronger leadership skills, build a winning culture, and stay ahead in a fiercely competitive market. Ready to go beyond sales training and actually transform how your dealership operates? Join Bart and keep the change you’ve worked so hard to create. 

Information

  • Creator
    Bart Nollenberger
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bart Nollenberger
  • Show Website
    Keep The Change

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