Category: In Search Of

In Search Of… is where the automotive industry’s most curious minds meet to talk about what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Each episode cuts through the noise with real stories, data driven insights, and practical takeaways from dealers, marketers, and innovators shaping retail automotive today.

No BS. No filler. Just honest conversations about progress, performance, and the pursuit of better.

Presented by Wikimotive.

In Search Of AI Noise, Market Headwinds & Fact-Checking Vendors (w/ Brooke Furniss)

In Search Of AI Noise, Market Headwinds & Fact-Checking Vendors (w/ Brooke Furniss)

What happens when the “AI revolution” meets the unglamorous reality of dealership operations, OEM programs, and messy data? In this new episode of In Search Of, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings sit down with Brooke Furniss to cut through the noise and get brutally practical about what actually moves the needle heading into 2026. Together, they unpack why “AI-only” promises and paid “GEO/AEO switches” don’t […]

In Search Of INSIGHTS | MRC 2025 Recap – November 2025

In Search Of INSIGHTS | MRC 2025 Recap – November 2025

In this episode of ‘In Search of…Insights’, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings break down their biggest takeaways from MRC 2025 — from real-world tech adoption to AI myths, dealership education, and why so many stores are still chasing “level 47” when they haven’t mastered levels 1–4. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what dealers are actually doing with advanced technologies, […]

In Search Of…INSIGHTS | AI in Context – November 2025

In Search Of…INSIGHTS | AI in Context – November 2025

Can Atlas Really Change the Car-Buying Journey? In this episode of In Search of Insights, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings unpack the hype surrounding OpenAI’s newly released Atlas – and what (if anything) it means for automotive dealers right now. Is Atlas the beginning of a fundamental shift in how shoppers discover, research, and buy vehicles? Or is […]

In Search Of…Data Leaks, Dealer Fatigue & the Education Void (w/ Brian Pasch)

In Search Of…Data Leaks, Dealer Fatigue & the Education Void (w/ Brian Pasch)

What happens when the automotive industry’s biggest blind spots finally get called out? In this new episode of In Search Of, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings sit down with Brian Pasch – author, researcher, conference founder, and one of automotive retail’s most respected voices.Together, they unpack what’s actually hurting dealership performance today: bloated websites, missing ASC events, broken measurement, AI hype cycles, and an industry-wide […]

In Search Of…PMax Reality, AI Objectivity & GA4 Triggers (w/ George Nenni)

In Search Of…PMax Reality, AI Objectivity & GA4 Triggers (w/ George Nenni)

What happens when you cut through the hype and look at what’s actually driving dealership performance?In this new episode of In Search Of, Dan Barker and Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings sit down with George Nenni, Founder of Generations Digital and one of automotive retail’s leading digital minds. Together, they unpack the myths, metrics, and realities behind Google Performance Max, GA4 reporting, and the growing influence of […]

In Search Of…INSIGHTS | AI in Context – October 2025

In Search Of…INSIGHTS | AI in Context – October 2025

Can AI really handle your dealership’s SEO? In this first episode of In Search of Insights — a new spinoff of the In Search Of podcast — Wikimotive Co-Founder Zach Billings joins Dan Barker to unpack the realities vs. misconceptions surrounding generative AI in automotive marketing.Why Watch Understand where AI tools actually fit into dealership marketing workflows Learn why AI content can’t simply replace human SEO strategy See how […]

In Search Of…Local Legacy, Proven Performance & the Human Factor (w/ Patrick Downes)

In Search Of…Local Legacy, Proven Performance & the Human Factor (w/ Patrick Downes)

In this episode of In Search Of…, Dan Barker is joined by Zach Billings (Co-Founder, Wikimotive) and Patrick Downes of Ruge’s Automotive Group to uncover how a family-owned dealership competes — and thrives — in today’s mega-group marketplace.From reputation management (1,500+ reviews at 4.9 stars!) to smart use of third-party automotive sites, SEO vs. SEM strategy, and where AI in automotive marketing actually helps, Patrick shares a playbook that’s just as relevant for metro dealers as […]

In Search Of…Owning Households, Elusive Audiences & the Pursuit of Perfection (w/ Tara Rego)

In Search Of…Owning Households, Elusive Audiences & the Pursuit of Perfection (w/ Tara Rego)

In this premiere episode of In Search Of…, Dan Barker (CEO, Wikimotive) and Zach Billings (Co-founder, Wikimotive) sit down with Tara Rego (Director of Strategic Partnerships, Spectrum Reach) to demystify the evolving world of OTT video advertising. From her unorthodox entry into automotive retail to her leadership in digital media strategy, Tara shares sharp insights into audience fragmentation, data-driven targeting, […]