In this episode of the Talkin' Shop Podcast, we sit down with Jamie Sonuga from Officially Gassed— the man who built a YouTube channel from making content on his own Mercedes A45 AMG into a million-subscriber automotive powerhouse. Jamie opens up about the calculated risk of leaving his stable job as a mobile mechanic for the London Fire Brigade to pursue YouTube full-time. He talks candidly about the grind of editing videos in his van while on the clock , and how consistency was key to growing his audience. Jamie lifts the lid on the changing YouTube landscape, discussing the pressures of constantly pushing boundaries , battling for views against a million subscribers , and the need for story-driven content over simple car reviews. He dives into his insane, multi-hundred-thousand-pound car builds, the emotional connection they hold , and the dark side of high-horsepower tuning, sharing the tragic crash that turned his M240i project into an emotional homage. We also dive into his automotive passion born from his time as an HGV mechanic fixing dust carts , the wild success of his Gassed on Track events , and the difficulty of finding a work-life balance while being an "adrenaline junkie" seven days a week. If you want laughs, hard truths, real talk about the automotive scene, and the story behind one of the industry's most dedicated creators— this episode delivers.

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Brought to you by Eclipse Diagnostics. If you work on commercial vehicles, vessels or machinery, check out Jaltest – the UK's leading multi-brand diagnostic tool. Quote "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry for a free cable saver with your order; on-site training included:
https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/talkin-shop/

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Jamie (Officially Gassed):
https://www.youtube.com/@officially_gassed
https://www.instagram.com/officially_gassed/
https://www.tiktok.com/@officially_gassed?lang=en


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To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/Gv643QUxqdg

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*Follow us on social media:*

Talkin’ Shop Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/
https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcast

Eclipse Diagnostics:
https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnostics
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/
https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

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YouTube videos mentioned in this podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UxD2b7HT3E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATFvR3oXK10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS70F-vE6cU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UxD2b7HT3E

In this episode of the Talkin’ Shop Podcast we sit down with Paul Fox of Fox Group— the man who took over his family business at just 23 and turned it into one of the UK’s fastest-growing construction and materials groups. Paul opens up about the pressure of stepping into leadership so young, the grief that shaped him, and the “sink or swim” moments that defined Fox Group’s rise. He talks candidly about the dark days no one saw, what it was really like to run a business while learning on the job, and how self-sufficiency, smart acquisitions, and the right people transformed a small local operation into a 350-truck, 1,000-machine powerhouse. Paul lifts the lid on the acquisitions they got right (and wrong), the culture he’s fought to build, and why numbers and people are the real secret to scaling.We also dive into his no-nonsense leadership style, the loneliness of being a CEO, the lessons from COVID that changed everything, and the legacy of the man who inspired him. If you want laughs, hard truths, real business talk, and the story behind one of the industry’s most resilient leaders — this episode delivers.
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Brought to you by Eclipse Diagnostics. If you work on commercial vehicles, vessels or machinery, check out Jaltest – the UK's leading multi-brand diagnostic tool. Quote "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry for a free cable saver with your order; on-site training included:
https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/talkin-shop/

-

Paul Fox:
https://www.instagram.com/foxbrothersltd/?hl=en
https://uk.linkedin.com/company/fox-brothers-group
https://www.facebook.com/foxbrothersltd

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To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/phg86_iQi_Y

--

*Follow us on social media:*

Talkin’ Shop Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/
https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcast

Eclipse Diagnostics:
https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnostics
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/
https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

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YouTube videos mentioned in this podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGnJG7O70E0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUYjCvAA88&t=473s

In this episode of the Talkin’ Shop Podcast we sit down with YouTuber Alex Kersten (AutoAlex) — the man who walked away from the hugely successful Car Throttle to build his own automotive empire. Alex opens up about the pressure of going solo, what it was like to launch AutoAlex Cars and hit over 300,000 subscribers in just three weeks, and how he almost gave it all up before it even began. He talks candidly about the backlash from fans when he bought a “too nice” car (yep- the Porsche Macan story!), why he sold it, and how he’s learned from his mistakes.We also chat about restoring forgotten classics, dream road trips, the magic of old-school motoring, and how he and his team are shaping the next generation of British car shows. This one’s packed with laughs, honesty, nostalgia and some home truths about YouTube life, the car scene, and what success really means.

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Brought to you by Eclipse Diagnostics. If you work on commercial vehicles, vessels or machinery, check out Jaltest – the UK's leading multi-brand diagnostic tool. Quote "TALKINSHOP" in your enquiry for a free cable saver with your order; on-site training included:
https://www.eclipse-tech.co.uk/talkin-shop/

-

Alex Kersten:
https://www.youtube.com/@AutoalexCars
https://www.youtube.com/@Autoalexv2
https://www.youtube.com/@AutoAlexPodcast
https://www.instagram.com/autoalex/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Autoalex-Alex-Kersten/100076398660374/#
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/
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To watch the video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/JJEG84DBd88

--

*Follow us on social media:*

Talkin’ Shop Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/talkinshoppodcast_/
https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinshoppodcast

Eclipse Diagnostics:
https://www.facebook.com/truck.diagnostics
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eclipse-automotive-technology-ltd/
https://www.instagram.com/eclipsediagnostics_/

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YouTube videos mentioned in this podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfCF-Ws2dlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbX1V46I9LQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7hq_4mhRc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zptUEj-E13E