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Johnny G & Friends

Johnny G & Friends

By: Babcox Media
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About this listen

 If you’ve spent some time in the tire industry, you’ve probably heard the name John Gamauf, aka Johnny g. In his 50-plus years of service to the industry, he’s busted tires, survived the largest tire recall in history and made a lot of friends along the way. Meet them in Johnny g & Friends, a monthly podcast in which Johnny g and his friends share the secrets to their success and the memories they’ve made along the way in our beloved tire industry.Copyright Babcox Media Economics
Episodes
  • Why Stepping Back Is the Key to Moving Forward in the Tire Industry

    Why Stepping Back Is the Key to Moving Forward in the Tire Industry
    Dec 16 2025
    In this season-ending conversation of Johnny g & Friends, the question that we asked during every interview – How do you work on the business instead of in the business? – becomes the connective tissue for a powerful wrap-up of tire industry greatness. What emerges across these voices is a shared truth no matter the strategy or leadership style. The fact is, growth only happens when owners trust their people, step back with intention and learn to see their companies from above the daily grind.

    Some of this season's guests described the shift as a gradual climb – learning to listen differently, picking up ideas from peers, or letting experiences outside the tire industry reshape how they think. Others talked about moments that forced perspective, like stepping away for school, putting new decision-makers in charge, or creating “stress tests” where the team must run without the owner’s voice for two straight weeks. The results were consistent: teams rise, leaders evolve, and businesses take on a new trajectory.

    For many, working on the business meant sharpening systems or simply walking into the store with the eyes of a customer. For others, it meant delegation, intentional learning, or acknowledging that leadership requires a different energy than turning wrenches or writing service orders.

    Taken together, these conversations reveal something bigger than process or policy. They show what greatness looks like in real shops, run by real families, in a real industry – owners who are present, invested and humble enough to grow by working on the business instead of in the business.
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    20 mins
  • The Mitchem Tire Legacy Keeps Rolling 85 Years Later

    The Mitchem Tire Legacy Keeps Rolling 85 Years Later
    Nov 18 2025
    When Ed Mitchem joined his father’s business, techs changed tires on the ground with floor jacks. Selling seat covers and curb feelers was part of the daily routine. That was 85 years ago. Today, the Mitchem Tire legacy continues with five thriving locations, a loyal customer base, and a third generation carrying the torch.

    Ed helped grow the company through decades of change, expanding from a single downtown shop into a regional brand built on smart buying, no-nonsense advertising, and a service-first mentality. After all, his motto: Before you switch ’em, see Mitchem – stuck around for a reason.

    Ed officially stepped away from the business ten years ago, but his impact still runs deep. Now, his great-nephews Corey and Stevie Kruze are helping to lead the operation, taking lessons learned from the shop floor and applying them in a modern market filled with new challenges.

    Today, Johnny g talks to Ed, Corey and Stevie about what’s changed and what hasn’t. He also talks about why the business still feels like family, even as the industry gets more crowded.
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    26 mins
  • Kristen & Kent Cristy Keep Reeves Tire Rolling Through Grit and Grace

    Kristen & Kent Cristy Keep Reeves Tire Rolling Through Grit and Grace
    Oct 21 2025
    Kristen and Kent Cristy didn’t plan to take over Reeves Tire in Joplin, MO. But when John Reeves, Kristen’s father and founder of the business, faced a health scare in the late '90s, they stepped in together and never looked back.

    Kent gave up a future in medicine to help his community stay on the road, learning every inch of the business from the ground up. Kristen brought her sharp attention to detail and managed the office, handling payroll, HR, and everything behind the scenes.

    In 2000, they officially bought the business. Over the next two decades, they opened two more locations, navigated a devastating fire, and kept the Reeves Tire name strong in Joplin, MO.
    In today’s episode, Johnny g talks to Kristen and Kent about growing a business as partners in work and life, why they’ve focused more on stability than scale, and what it means to preserve a legacy.
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    37 mins
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