GTU The Podcast - Intro

In this short introductory episode, Vicky and Ben say hello and share what Garage Talk Unwrapped – The Podcast is all about.

We talk about why we’ve launched the show, how it connects with our YouTube channel, and what listeners can expect in future episodes — from trade news and product updates to exclusive interviews, tech deep dives, and practical workshop advice.

To kick things off, we also look back at a few of our favourite moments from Garage Talk Unwrapped on YouTube — including celebrity interviews, inspiring voices from the industry, and clips that made us laugh (and sometimes left us speechless!).

Here’s a summary of the podcast.

Intro

Vicky: Hello and welcome to Garage Talk Unwrapped – The Podcast with me, Vicky.

Ben: And me, Ben. Not talking as posh as you, Vicky.

Vicky: It’s my phone voice!

Ben: Today’s episode is just a short introduction — our chance to say hello, explain what the podcast will be about, and of course, tell you where to find us.

Vicky: That would help. So, if you’re new to Garage Talk, welcome. We’re an automotive aftermarket media outlet covering news, product updates, motorsport, industry trends, and practical workshop tips — so everything the UK aftermarket needs to know.

Ben: On this podcast, we’ll bring you highlights from our Garage Talk Unwrapped YouTube show, which now has over 19,000 subscribers, exclusive interviews, tech deep dives - thanks for that -

Vicky: Easy for you to say!

Ben: —and short practical pieces you can use in the workshop.

Vicky: Absolutely. Our first full episode drops on September 9th—put it in your diaries—where we’ll be talking about making EV charging simpler and even how to make money from it.

Vicky: New episodes release every two weeks on Tuesdays, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and everywhere else you listen. If you’d rather read, we’ll also publish transcripts and show notes on our website: garagetalkonline.co.uk.

Ben: People may be asking why we started this podcast.

Vicky: Why did we start this podcast?

Ben: When we talk to our viewers, they love the YouTube show—but they can’t always sit down to watch it. We originally planned half-hour shows, but now they often run an hour or more! So this podcast lets you listen in the van, in the workshop, or anywhere else.

Favourite Moments

Vicky: Each episode will feature insights from industry experts, workshop experiences, or even content from celebrities at automotive events.

Ben: Speaking of celebrities, one of my favourite GTU moments has been talking to comedians Dara O’Briain and Stephen K Amos at awards ceremonies. They bring so much joy to the industry.

Vicky: It’s easy to take ourselves too seriously, so having them poke fun and a bit of light relief really helps.

Dara O’Briain: This is the one I’ve been building up to for years now, because I’ve always said, no, no, let’s not do it until we’ve actually put the time in so we know what we’re doing. I don’t want to come in here with anything other than thirty years’ experience. You really want to do this when you’re absolutely hot and ready to do it.

I don’t know, man. A call came, a car, I drove here, he’s outside, the engine’s running. I’ll be home in my own bed in an hour, you know what I mean? It’s great.

Stephen K Amos: Well, there are a couple of things I know about the garage industry. One of those things is that I own a garage in my house.

I think there was a little communication breakdown, because I thought this was the Music Garage Awards at the world-famous NEC. I thought Automechanika was some sort of early noughties DJ! So I’ve got it all wrong. Apparently it’s a room full of garage people getting awards. I didn’t even know that was a thing.

So I’ve had to change my script on that basis—but hopefully they’re in a good mood and ready for it. Basically, if they don’t get my jokes, I’ll have to estimate what else I can do!”

Vicky: Stephen K Amos had me crying with laughter at the Garage Awards.

Ben: He was. But I also want to mention people who do so much for the aftermarket—Edd China, Fuss Townshend, and of course, Tim Shaw. He’s brilliant, full of positivity, and always a great interview.

Tim Shaw: The most important thing to me is enjoying your damn life. The only thing I care about is: did I enjoy today, or did I not?

I’ve been very lucky in my career, working with Disney, Channel 4, Fifth Gear, Car SOS… I’ve met incredibly wealthy people and people who aren’t very wealthy. I’ve noticed, you can’t say “he’s a billionaire he’s happy”. It doesn’t work like that. It comes down to: did you enjoy your day?

For me, working with cars means I do enjoy my days, and that’s all I care about. I want to encourage more young people to enjoy their lives, to be happier people, better husbands, wives, dads, mums—whatever.

The car industry has given me that. You’ll never get to the end of it—there’s so much stuff I don’t know.

Inspiring New Voices

Vicky: One of my favourite interviews was with Janet Kamara, an intern at LKQ. You asked her what she’d learned from working in the industry, and her answer left you speechless—which deserves a medal!

Janet Kamara: What I’ve learned is that it’s not what I thought it was. Before I started, I thought the industry was extremely male-dominated with only one target audience. But learning about people like Louise Baker and Dean is amazing—you see it’s not one type of person or mindset. There are so many roles and opportunities.

It doesn’t matter where you come from—you can get into the automotive industry. And I’ve learned that it’s not just about cars. There’s a heart to the industry. Everyone knows each other, they care about each other, and many companies are actively working to change perceptions.

Vicky: Hearing her talk about the “heart of the industry” was amazing. Another great example is the Paddock Speedshop team. They’re young people working hard to ignite passion for classic cars and racing among their peers.

Ethan, Paddock Speedshop: This all came about when I was driving my MG in Canterbury. I was taking friends around the ring road, and they were enthralled. I realised they didn’t know this world was open to them—that you can just go and buy a classic car, get involved, and race.

We thought: we need to give people a push. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from—there’s a classic car for you. It can bring you onto the road or the racetrack. That’s what this is all about.”

Wrapping Up

Vicky: And we want to hear from you! Send in your questions for upcoming guests, or tell us what topics you’d like covered. Email hello@garagetalkonline.co.uk or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok - search for Garage Talk Online.

Ben: Don’t forget to follow Garage Talk Unwrapped – The Podcast on your favourite app and switch on notifications so you never miss an episode. That’s all for now. Episode one drops on September 9th—EV charging made simple. We’ll see you then.

Both: Bye!