The BHPH Morning Show

In Buy Here Pay Here, time is not neutral — it’s expensive. Years ago, industry pioneer Ken Shilson famously said, “In BHPH, 30 days (past due) is a lifetime and 60 days is a charge-off.” That statement hits even harder in today’s environment of rising subprime delinquency and tightening capital markets. On this episode, we break down what national delinquency trends really mean for your lot — and why waiting too long to react may kill the bottom line. We’ll discuss how aging buckets silently erode margin, how collection fatigue compounds losses, and why early-stage engagement is your strongest defense against tomorrow’s bad debt. If your 15-day column is growing, your future charge-offs are already forming. This isn’t about panic — it’s about discipline. Because in BHPH, the clock is always ticking. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

It’s lunchtime across the BHPH/LHPH landscape, so we’re making a sandwich and pulling up a chair. In this lunch hour version of the Morning Show, Jim and Michelle share a relaxed, real-time update on what’s cooking at White Hat Way—from the latest happenings with the V8 Dealer Groups, to the continued development of AI personas designed to provide trust-forward solutions and consumer advocacy. We’ll also look ahead to spring and summer conferences, conversations we’re excited to have in the room, and how coaching, technology, and human connection are starting to intersect in some meaningful (and honestly pretty exciting) ways. No script. Nothing to sell. Just a candid midday conversation about what we’re building, what we’re learning, and where things are headed next. Grab lunch. Join us live. Let’s check in. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In today’s episode, we break down teamwork the way it actually works in the real world — not the fluffy HR version. We start with Simon Sinek’s powerful explanation of how the Navy SEALs evaluate team members. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about raw talent or individual performance. It’s about trust under pressure. Who do you want beside you when things go sideways? The SEALs figured out long ago that the best teams aren’t stacked with lone wolves — they’re built with people you can count on when the mission gets ugly. Then we put that idea on the field. We rewind a pivotal fourth-and-short touchdown late in this year's national championship game — the kind of play that looks heroic in the highlight reel but only works because eleven guys (and coaches) did their jobs well at exactly the right moment. The quarterback gets the glory, but the truth is simpler and tougher: without blocking, discipline, and trust, that play dies in the backfield. The takeaway for business is unavoidable. If your operation only works when you make the play, you don’t have a team — you have a dependency. Great businesses, like great teams, win because everyone understands their role, executes under pressure, and has each other’s backs. This episode is for leaders who care less about credit and more about winning the right way — together. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In Friday’s Morning Show, we’re putting the final numbers on the board and taking a hard look at how 2025 actually compared to 2024 across our V8 Dealer Groups. No fluff, no guessing—just breaking down what the data says. We’ll compare sales, profits, charge-offs, cash flow and some deeper V8-specific performance metrics that reveal whether portfolio growth translated into any real gains. We’ll also talk about where dealers improved, where margins quietly eroded, and which indicators deserve more attention going into 2026. If you’re committed to improving cash flow, portfolio durability, and building a business that survives more than one economic cycle, this episode is your new-year temperature check. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Today’s BHPH Morning Show is a Pick 6 reaction episode with longtime southwest Oklahoma dealer Joe Powell, who’s been running a Lease Here Pay Here–first operation since 2008—and hasn’t looked back. Joe walks through why LHPH became his model of choice, not as a loophole or gimmick, but as a simpler, cleaner structure that works better for both dealer and customer. From easier accounting and repos to giving customers a clear path to a zero balance and eventual ownership, Joe explains how LHPH fits his mindset: quicker, easier, simpler—without cutting corners. But the real anchor of this conversation is integrity. Joe doesn’t talk about it as a slogan; he talks about it as a business strategy that compounds over time. From how his staff views the work, to how vendors treat his accounts, to how customers understand expectations, Joe makes the case that doing the right thing—even when it costs you a deal—actually pays off in cash flow, stability, and sleep-at-night confidence. This episode also touches on: Why myths around LHPH “never owning the car” persist—and how Joe actively disproves them How integrity shapes underwriting, staffing, and customer outcomes Why growing slow beats selling fast in subprime auto finance Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Today’s episode is a reaction and breakdown of our pre-recorded "Pick 6" conversation with Pennsylvania dealer — and longtime White Hat Way friend — Nik Dumin of Tyrone Tire & Automotive / Tyrone Auto Credit. Nik’s journey from dealership tech to multi-location operator gives this conversation some real weight. He’s candid, funny, and wildly practical — a combo that’s pure gold for new and seasoned BHPH operators alike. A few standout lines you’ll hear us react to: “Don’t buy projects. Don’t buy rust.” Nik admits his tech brain wants to fix everything, but the truth is simple: fast turns beat fantasies. “Every account is a conversation.” That’s his philosophy on late pays and repos — empathy with boundaries. We’ll explore themes like: How sticking to familiar vehicle models boosts warranty speed, recon flow, and cash velocity. The moment he realized rebuilds were slowing down turn time and holding back growth. Why adding a standalone sales location changed his volume overnight. Recon bottlenecks, staffing realities, and Nik’s “look in the mirror” moment. His balanced, human approach to collections — including structured conversations, income reviews, and buy-in from the customer. If you’re a dealer wanting clearer thinking, cleaner processes, or a reminder that you’re not the only one fighting the recon bottleneck monster… today’s episode is your jam. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In this White Hat Wednesday episode we explore a powerful — but underutilized — lever in BHPH value creation: trust, transparency, and long-term stewardship. We’ll make the case that “white hat” dealerships — those built around clear ethics, customer-first practices, consistent follow-through, and community-mindedness — are not just morally sound, but strategically superior. Using examples from banking, retail, and brand-driven businesses, we’ll show how these trust-based practices translate into loyalty, stability, lower risk, and eventually — greater enterprise value. Viewers will come away believing that the same value drivers that reward trusted brands in other industries can one day be measured and confirmed to increase market value in BHPH stores too. And those paying attention now might just get there first! Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In today’s White Hat Wednesday, we unpack *The Flexibility Advantage in BHPH: How to Win and Keep More Customers.* In a market where every lead counts and every relationship has a long tail, flexibility is an under-utilized opportunity. We’ll break down how adaptable thinking at four key stages—lead qualifying, negotiation, underwriting, and collections/account management—can dramatically improve both customer experience and portfolio performance. This episode looks at why rigid processes drive good customers away, how smart discretion creates trust deposits you can actually measure, and where teams overlook easy wins simply because “that’s how we’ve always done it.” From giving shoppers room to breathe at the first touch, to negotiating with clarity instead of defensiveness, to underwriting through a long-minded lens, to managing accounts with both firmness and humanity, we’ll show how flexibility becomes the dealer’s signature calling card. If your store feels stuck in default settings, this is the episode that’ll help you bend in the right places—and grow because of it. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Today’s BHPH Morning Show dives into a gem of a 'Pick 6' conversation with longtime Texas dealer Jeff Owings—41 years in the business and still showing up every day like he’s got a full tank and a race to win. Jeff pulls back the curtain on why he still personally punches in key data, how “feeling the numbers” keeps him sharper than any dashboard widget, and how that simple habit has shaped an operator who never drifts out of the cockpit. Michelle and Jim react to Jeff’s take on the Good/Bad/Ugly spreadsheet, the art of buying cars by checking engine and transmission values (yes, he really does that), his shift into higher-ACV inventory, why he purposely tolerates more delinquency than almost anyone, and his current move back toward a “your job is your credit” underwriting philosophy. It’s a grounded, experience-heavy look at what happens when you combine curiosity, discipline, and a total lack of fear about getting your hands dirty—even after four decades in the game. Newer dealers will take notes. Seasoned dealers will nod knowingly. And everyone will walk away with a clearer sense of what it means to stay truly connected to your numbers. Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Today’s White Hat Wednesday (different time slot) shines a spotlight on a dealer who doesn’t just talk community—he rolls up his sleeves and shows how it’s done. We’re featuring the Thanksgiving “turkey giveaway” hosted by Tyrone Tire and Automotive and Tyrone Auto Credit, led by none other than Nik Dumin, a 2023 White Hat Way Dealer of the Year. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Today we’re digging into one of the clearest truth mirrors in Buy Here Pay Here: year-to-date portfolio yield. We’re bringing V8 anonymized data to break down exactly how much of the money generated by dealers' portfolios came from interest, how much came from principal, and how much was clawed back through repo recoveries. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Some LOVE the business of Buy Here Pay Here financing. Others, not so much. On this White Hat Wednesday, we'll break down the many reasons that it matters. Join us LIVE at 11:00 EST as we explore the factors and how all of them tie to culture, stress and long-term success. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

October’s numbers are in, and they’re telling a story — loud enough that even the folks “flying by the seat of their pants” can hear it. On today’s show, we break down how V8 Dealer Group members' performance stacked up year-over-year, focusing on truth-telling metrics such as BHPH volume, repos/charge-offs, and interest coverage. Find the BHPH Morning Show right here on YouTube every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where Jim and Michelle Rhoads talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In this special White Hat Wednesday edition of the BHPH Morning Show, we’re kicking off the BHPH Journey series with a powerful truth: Buy Here Pay Here isn’t just a business model—it’s a shared road. Whether you’re a dealer navigating the challenges of in-house financing, or a customer looking for reliable transportation from a trustworthy dealer, your paths are not separate—they’re intertwined. This episode explores how the dealer's culture and processes influence the customer’s outcome—and how the customer’s story, in turn, shapes the dealer’s success. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

When a major lender like PrimaLend hits the bankruptcy courts, the shockwaves don’t stop at Wall Street — they ripple straight through Main Street and BHPH's "Note Row." In this episode, we take a White Hat look at PrimaLend’s Chapter 11 filing and unpack what it means for Buy Here Pay Here dealers who depend on stable capital to keep communities rolling. On today's White Hat Wednesday, we’ll separate rumor from reality, break down what the filing actually says, and talk through practical steps every dealer should take right now — from reviewing loan agreements to running liquidity stress tests. Because when funders stumble, it’s the well-positioned and trust-driven operators who stay standing. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In today’s episode, we’re tackling a real-world challenge with a heart-centered lens — the growing “SNAP gap.” As delays in food assistance are expected to ripple through communities, Buy Here Pay Here dealers have a powerful opportunity to stand in the gap and serve their customers in meaningful ways. We’ll share 10 practical, goodwill-driven ideas any dealer can implement — from community food drives and grocery card giveaways to pay-it-forward programs and small acts of kindness that create lasting “trust deposits.” This conversation is about more than PR; it’s about purpose. It’s about seeing your dealership as a hub of hope and support — a place where grace meets grit and business meets humanity. Tune in for stories, ideas, and encouragement to help you do what White Hat Way does best: infuse trust between buyers and sellers, one good deed at a time. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In today’s White Hat Wednesday episode of the BHPH Morning Show, Jim and Michelle share an exciting preview of a new podcast track coming soon — The BHPH Journey, hosted by Jim and the AI voice agent, Sage. This new track will explore the powerful intersection of the dealer’s journey and the customer’s journey — two paths that run side by side for a time, shaping one another in lasting ways. Listeners will discover how the White Hat Way transforms ordinary transactions into meaningful relationships that build loyalty, trust, and long-term success. Today’s episode sets the stage, introducing the why behind the new series and offering a glimpse into how Sage will co-host thoughtful, story-driven conversations about doing business the right and sustainable way — the White Hat Way. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In today’s episode, we pull back the curtain on one of the most revealing new measuring sticks in the Buy Here Pay Here industry — White Hat Way's Banked Value Index. This isn’t about accounting gimmicks or P&L gymnastics. It’s about how much cash you actually bank versus how much quietly slips away through charge-offs, inefficiencies, and operational drag. We’ll unpack how White Hat Way is building tools that work for dealers, not against them — helping you see what’s really happening inside your portfolio, in plain English and clean math. When you know how much value is truly being banked, you gain the clarity to adjust your strategy, strengthen your cash position, and protect what you’ve worked hard to build. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

Most collection teams think the problem is that customers won’t answer the phone. The truth? The problem is why they don’t. In this White Hat Wednesday episode, Jim and Michelle Rhoads takes us inside the psychology of subprime collections — where anxiety, distrust, and disconnection often do more damage than delinquency itself. We’ll unpack the real reasons customers go silent, from phone instability to emotional avoidance, and explore practical ways to rebuild trust and reconnect. Because in the subprime world, every unanswered call is a signal — not a snub — and how we respond determines whether the relationship survives or dies. Find the BHPH Morning Show on Video (Live or Archived) Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.

In this (delayed but live) episode of the BHPH Morning Show, we unpack the unfolding Tricolor Auto story — not to chase headlines, but to ground ourselves in what can actually be known. As social media fills with speculation about layoffs, closures, and bankruptcy, we’ll look instead at the patterns beneath the noise: how leverage, liquidity, and leadership choices shape outcomes long before a crisis makes the news. Today's episode is less about Tricolor’s Chapter 7 filings and more about what it teaches every ambitious operator about sustainable growth, transparency, and the cost of ignoring early warning signs. Find the BHPH Morning Show LIVE on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook every Mon, Wed, & Fri at 11am eastern where we (Jim and Michelle Rhoads along with featured guests) talk #buyherepayhere #bhph #subprime #automotive #finance #ethics #whitehatway #customerretention #customerengagement #marketing and much more! We are pleased to use our sometimes-scratchy morning voices to speak up on behalf of BHPH Dealers. Don't forget to LIKE the videos and SUBSCRIBE to The Octane Group channel. Also, please add your comments or questions right here in the BHPH Institute.