Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection.
Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between.
From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration.
// Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Auto Collabs
How To Be Your Own CDP with Nick Askew
When your side hustle is building AI that builds companies, you're officially in "mad scientist" territory—in the best way.
Nick Askew of Space Auto returns to Auto Collabs and proves once again why he's the dealer tech world's resident mad scientist. In this episode, Nick talks about building an experimental AI-powered company that literally builds other companies—from code to communication to sales and support. Yep, it's as wild as it sounds, and yes, it’s already live. Oh, and the AI project manager is named after his dog.
But this episode isn’t just AI wizardry for fun—Nick breaks down why understanding the foundations of software architecture and data integration is now essential for anyone hoping to stay competitive in the automotive retail space. From agentic systems to CDPs, and what happens when you give your AI vision, Nick reminds us that dealers don’t have to wait for vendors to catch up. You’ve already got the data—you just need to learn how to use it.
Takeaways
0:00 This Interview Will Change How You Think About Work
2:41 He Built an AI That Builds Companies—Here’s What Happened
6:00 The Most Dangerous Shift in Tech Isn’t What You Think
8:58 White Collar Jobs Are Disappearing Faster Than Anyone Admits
10:06 Why Most Developers Won’t Have Jobs in 5 Years
12:58 The One Skill That Will Protect You From AI Disruption
14:45 You’re Not Just a Manager—You’re Now a Tech Leader
16:23 The Real Reason AI Won’t Make You Smarter
18:57 Why DIY Apps Fail (Even With AI on Your Side)
20:36 We’re Not Ready for How Fast This Is Moving
21:04 This Is What Being Your Own CDP Actually Looks Like
28:03 You Don’t Need a Vendor—You Just Need Your Own Data
Connect with Nick Askew at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-askew/
Learn more about Space Auto at https://space.auto/
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