EP.73–Kate Cook: “Do It in Fear!”
February 9, 2021
EP.58: Lara–That Porsche Girl: “Let’s Get Women Off the Hoods and Into the Driver’s Seat”
February 18, 2021
EP.60—Dez Ferrell—We Must Experience the Bad to Appreciate the Good!
Dez' Contact Info:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nessys_kustoms/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/nessyskustoms
Transcript
[0:00] And that's what I try and tell people all the time when they're stuck in a shop and it's awful and they feel like if they can't make this shop work then they're leaving the industry,and unless you're from a small town Bill and there is no shops within a hundred miles you're not stuck you're not stuck think of that shop,
as a relationship eventually you will find one that's the perfect fit for you that you will be able to grow
that you'll be able to be comfortable with and succeed but you got to go through all the crappy ones first to even appreciate the good one when you do find it.
[0:38] You're listening to Femcanic Garage the podcast app features women in the automotive and Motorsports Industries a community that elevates and Powers
and evolves by smashing stereotypes and breaking down barriers for women I'm your host Jayme Blasiman buckle up for the ride Femcanic.
[0:56] Music.
[1:08] Dez Ferell in the driver's seat today she owns Nessy's Customs a shop where she specializes in custom paint and Restorations.
She was recently a featured contestant on Motor Trends bitching bootcamp.
[1:23] Dez brings us along her career journey and gives us a behind-the-scenes experience on bitch and bootcamp.
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Hello Femcanic this is Jayme B to you and I have Dez Ferell in the hot seat today or the driver's seat depending on who you're talking to how are you doing today does.
I'm doing great how are you I am doing very well and I'm super excited to finally connect.
You have been a very busy woman so I've waited patiently and I was persistent and we finally are able to connect and I've been following you for quite some time I first discovered you on Instagram.
And I'm like this is a pretty cool lady so thank you so much for being on here and being willing to share your story with the community.
[2:20] Why don't we get started in the beginning
what got you in to this industry what was kind of your early beginnings
on how you dove into this and you shared a little bit in the pre-interview with me but why don't we bring the guests along with the journey
so I didn't get into cars until I was out of high school I did all the crappy retail jobs and hated life.
And then I had gotten a little Honda Accord just to drive around,
I got in a wreck and I had found out that it was cheaper to get customized body kits than it was for OEM parts and once I realized
that I can make something unique and mine and I was able to do it myself,
like I just kind of fell in love with it and then you know the whole
now that I got a fixed up cars like oh did your boyfriend do it or who what shop did you take it to his life
why is that your first response to when you see me with a car like why can't it be me you don't ask the guy next to me about his like who did this car.
[3:32] And so you know I enrolled into tech school I'm chuckling over here Des because I literally just worked with a graphic designer to design a sticker that says to avoid injury,
don't ask me if it's my husband's car
and I'm chuckling it's like the same thing I should make one you know to avoid injury don't ask me if it's my boyfriend's car
and just Encompass both of them and I find that the ladies really have an appreciation for that simple message,
yeah and I think that's the same as like when I go and I meet men in the industry you know you go and your with you know your other,
colleagues are your guy friends or at a car show or even see militia say you're shaking hands doing business talk and they'll shake the guy's hands within they'll come and hug you like,
I don't understand like just shake my hand like you just choked his hand but like why is that like such a appropriate approach to someone you know that you're in a business setting like just shake my hand
yeah no I'm with you I'm you know.
Growing up my family is not an overly affectionate family at all like my grandma and grandpa were but we just.
Like my brother and I don't hug when we say bye yeah it's like say a man you know we're just we're we're just not in there's some people in business that are huggers.
[5:02] I'm with you it's like,
shake my hand but I don't know you that well get it to shake hands that's interesting so they would always lean in for the hug.
Yeah it's just like and it's always like that you know I've learned to.
Control my facial expressions and happens far used very standoffish.
Play you know I I had to take a step back and kind of realize you know like most of them are older generation and you know one thing we work
in the industry for them growing up to know like maybe we don't like hugs and you know so they think of us as their daughters or you know just the man's girlfriend you know like just whatever it may be so
them shaking her hand doesn't come natural like it does for us right we are there too.
Because we were there to meet them on a professional level we have to work twice as hard to be seen that way so tell us it comes natural,
then probably not right yeah that is interesting it's just it's just a simple thing,
but sometimes we just don't even think about it so you you had this Honda you kind of got bit by the car bug.
[6:19] And you ended up going to school for it right yes I you know it was right when the first Fast and the Furious movie came out
it's not the second one the first one that's series turned a lot of people into car Buffs it was it was something I had it hot Peak and it was metal flake sparkly oh my gosh I loved it but
don't get me wrong it was a hot pink card.
[6:47] I want a lot of awards with it you know and I think that just kind of fueled me to get better do more and you know from that moment
I learned that I was always being watched like no matter where I went people knew that was me driving that car and that was my my business card essentially you know that's my work,
was this an Idaho says oh wow now you you'd mention that you were from a small town,
yeah small town with a hot sparkly pink car yeah oh man it was looking back like it's,
it's funny because I used to get so mags I would get pulled over for everything like my blinker blunt too fast my license plate was angle
too much it was just whatever they could find they would pull me over why do you think that is,
um you know like now that I look back on it during those times where it wasn't very common for people to have fixed up cars yet A lot of it was illegal still in Idaho,
and you know like there was ways to budget around it and which I would.
[7:54] But it was just a new thing for them to you know pick on me and being young like,
I probably gave him every reason to you know they got like
it wasn't driving like a grandma my hot pink are yeah you know I didn't really care at that point like I didn't get any tickets luckily but you know it was just
standing out all the time like it was there's no getting around the cop.
[8:22] Would be yeah like ten cops in the whole town so you could only not get in trouble so much right right they recognize you or they would talk to each other like oh so you know girl in the pink car if you see her pull her over because,
she needs paperwork or whatever maybe that's funny,
so you had your hot pink business card in Idaho now where did you go to school,
so I'm from Twin Falls Idaho so it's Southern Idaho and there's a list a local community college there it's a two-year College
and they have automotive and auto body and Welding you know they had it an associate degree so it's two-year program to learn it all,
and you know it was super simple to go because it was just right there around the corner from my house and,
I just fell in love with it I was you know like I said I was 24 25 when I started college so I was in class and 18 year olds you know that are still living at their mamas house
and at the time I was married and I had three kids under 5 which I don't even know how I did school full-time and worked seriously,
but just pause and take that in a moment does you are going to school full-time.
[9:48] With three kids under the age of five seriously I women out there and work just pause and take that in.
That's that's amazing does it look like it just hit you when you said it.
[10:01] Damn wow I had three kids under 5 and I was going to school full-time I'm badass.
You know I definitely didn't know how I how I did it like I said like I don't really remember those two years a lot
because it was just non-stop I was a cocktail server in the evening so I would work until 1 a.m. and then I'd be in class by 7:30 a.m.
Five days a week and you know at the time though like I love class so much I love doing what I was doing that.
It was easy like it wasn't a chore it was you know everything I learned I soaked up like a sponge because I wanted to be there.
And you know the kids that were there that you know their parents are making them go to school or you know they just were kind of like me.
They struggles and you know and it showed and.
I've taught my kids that I'm like for only I'm not paying for your college you can figure that out just like I had to like but don't go if you don't know what you want to do like I'm not going to force you to do something because that,
life that you have to deal with your whole life not me I don't care you're going to move a help right.
But if something you like and go with it but I'm not going to tell you what you can and can't do because why doesn't affect me at all.
You had mentioned that you use past tense so I'm making an assumption here that you were married your you're not married now I'm not married now okay.
[11:28] You're okay so there was a period of time where you are a single mom then and in the industry yes now I'm just curious about that because there's a lot of women out there that.
One either they don't have kids now and they wonder if they can have kids and be in this industry.
To there may be single moms out there as well that are in this industry and they may be struggling figuring this all out too because what I have noticed about this industry is that it can have very long hours.
Right particularly when you're talking about custom work and in doing some of those things or having your own shop and having kids.
What would you say to those maybe to be moms or single moms out there.
[12:19] About what you did and maybe maybe share some of the struggles that you had and how you navigated them and I definitely think
I'm a hundred percent glad that I had kids prior to getting in the industry for one thing I was able to enjoy them being babies and I have to worry about the chemical aspect of it all nor you know,
trying to work in a shopping pregnant like that sounds awful to be like I don't know how this pregnant ones do do it but if if they don't love it,
then they're never going to make it,
pregnant single mom none of that because it is like you said there it's not a nine-to-five you
when you have daycare you have to have it for you know all day and possibly pay for that extra poor hours that you're going to stay after work you know because the car has to leave tomorrow and
you know or come in on your weekends to finish a project to get it done by Monday,
how did you do it this what did you do if you look back at what you did.
[13:25] Because let's be honest you successfully moved through it and it doesn't mean it was a smooth ride right but you're here.
You're here now and you kept on keeping on right what did you do how did you work through it I was lucky that I had my parents locally.
[13:44] During that time so they helped a lot watching the kids and helping me through through it so having a support system whoever it may be as definitely I mean if I didn't have that I don't know how,
I would have done it there's times like.
Like I want to give up and then I remember missing out on so my youngest daughter is when I went to school she was about eight months old when I started going to school and so for two years her first,
two and a half years of life I literally missed out on and you know even met her brothers you know I missed out on their life.
And I feel like I don't feel guilty about it but I feel like I owe myself and I owe them,
a I don't even have it's like I have 260 now to show that it was worth the sacrifice back then like I didn't I didn't sacrifice time for them,
to do something I thought I would like and give up on it because I lost everything and you know my kids didn't get to have me as a mom during those times so
definitely pushes me like there's times where I would
you know what think about like well maybe I'll be a hairdresser or you know something completely different and it's just like well why why did I miss two years of their life in school.
[15:13] For nothing then hmm and like that push me through enough to overcome whatever it was during that and then you know even.
[15:25] Even though it like I think it was about guys six years ago I was working at a collision shop and I was lead painter and you know it was not an extremely busy collision shop but it was a busy collision shop.
And I was there for a few years and in those few years my kids didn't see a doctor wants I never made it to any of their school events,
you know getting vacation was like,
it's ridiculous to get vacation in the first place but I missed out on a lot of their I think they're in middle school at that time or,
Elementary you know going in that transition and you know I missed a lot during that time to and.
At that time they're old enough to understand I'm working my butt off for a greater good but if I give up.
Then you know what am I teaching them what am i showing them that their time with me growing up.
Worst me taking time off for them because in the end I'm not doing what I said I was going to do I don't know like that's my motive to.
[16:33] Who is you know I didn't miss all that for nothing like I only get 18 years with these kids and you know I've missed you a lot of it.
To get to where I'm at.
And to a point where you know I can show them in life hard work is what's going to be demanded of them to be what they want to do
but you know that it's worth at some point it's going to be worth it whether you know it's right away and you're lucky and you just hit the jackpot on your skills yeah board,
brine for 15-20 years until you finally get to a spot where you're like all right,
I can relax a little bit you know in listening to you share your story I'm hearing like a couple things don't be afraid to ask for help.
Because we all need help at some point and that's okay yeah and it's like on social media you see end results.
Right but oftentimes not not the journey up to it what people see on social media is the destination.
[17:35] But there is a journey and in that Journey there's hard work their struggle there's triumphs as well along the way.
[17:43] You know in listening to it as.
You're teaching your kids something pretty amazing and that's the value of hard work and that's the thing with kids is I find that.
I love this saying more is caught than taught and as parents we can sit there and say so many things but what's way more powerful is what they watch us do.
You're a hard worker and they're seeing their mom be a hard worker go after it and get what she wants.
[18:15] And there's a lot of value in that yeah like you said knowing that it's okay to ask for help,
you know knowing that there's more support now than there ever was but one of my biggest,
things that I've been working on with other people in the industry is fighting for the rights for women for like
pregnancy and it's a very touchy subject I have found you know it's almost like are you Republican or Democrat like it's really a tough subject that people don't want to talk about but you know on in my
industry that auto body and the paint you know there's chemicals or stuff sore so much bad and a daily environment but at the same time
you know the younger generation they're starting their families they didn't you know I came in afterwards and so trying to find a safe way to keep them not ideally in the shop but still working
safely and promoting you know Safety First and not have the
the shop owner be afraid to hire these young women because they're like well they're just going to be popping out babies soon what happens when she gets pregnant I'm going to be out a painter I'm going to be out a mechanic you know so I'm going to just.
[19:37] Hire the guy because I know he'll be here yeah you know it's and it's the sad truth but it really is as the shop owner
that's things that you consider like oh are you planning to have a family anytime soon because that really does affect.
[19:52] Workflow it's a tough conversation because here you are a business owner shop owner does in we're in your shop owner had those are probably things that you have to consider because at the end of the day you still have.
Jobs that need completed it is an interesting conversation to have but we need to have the conversation.
[20:14] So that we can continue to evolve this in helped create plans for the industry I'm so glad you're having these conversations and they don't have to end up being.
Touchy or touchy conversations sometimes it's just about hey can we brainstormed together this isn't about attacking and saying you're discriminating against women because you won't hire a female because of this it's.
[20:40] It's a legitimate concern I get that and how can we work with it to me personally you know
everyone's different they're pregnant and you know the 70s it was safe to drink and smoke and you know as time goes and studies go you know we find out that it's not safe and right now I see I see this generation of young moms
and you know they're like oh my doctor said it it's fine or you know I just have to wear a mask and I'll be fine I'm like that's because the doctors don't know our industry they don't know.
Chemicals and there's never going to be enough like research
for them to fully understand the depth of these chemicals can cause like physical harm on right years,
let alone like your child like I Can Only Imagine
but you know like of course the doctors and some are going to be a little more hesitant but it's not enough study and to not be left wing right wing of the whole topic but you know it's trying to
educate yeah so they have like a not make it to where it's like well.
[21:50] You know this is my only job this is how I support my family now you're asking me to not work because I'm a.
In a shop and I'm like I get it like it's not black and white it's is really a tough subject to have to even try to legally,
path because yeah,
it's discriminating or you know it's really you know trying to get safety you know pregnancy paint suits or something you know for women too,
like will do you even want them there to work kind of but then they have to wear it all day because the walking through those shop still has Kim and.
Like where do you draw that line yeah you ship them off into the to the office like that's not their job they're not trying to be you know office Personnel that would have.
Be like office Personnel trying to be a painter like it just doesn't work that way.
[22:46] I love that you brought that up and it is a big topic and we need to continue having these conversations is what it boils down to.
Now I'm I'm curious you you were in Idaho I'm just trying to continue down this path because.
You didn't have to have those conversations per se because you had already had your children before you enter the industry now.
[23:13] Kind of moving forward at what point did you move out of Idaho because you don't live in Idaho now you live in Arizona now.
All right well I got married and then we he was stationed down in San Diego so that was right when the recession hit in 2008 and.
Nobody was hiring nobody was let alone hiring you know female at that point you know is the 30-year-old body man was getting the job and that was it and so I took some time off the shop and just kind of.
[23:46] Got to raise the kids for a little bit and then he got out and we moved to Phoenix yeah.
[23:56] At first I really hated it and then I realized what an actual car seen as a builder
that I have here you know it's an amazing City for what I do and as much as I want to move out of it because
I love the mountains and green and the water for what I do is just you know this is the best place for me
it's a hot spot definitely so when you got to Phoenix would you do to start putting in applications and.
[24:28] Yeah like you know there's definitely different types of you know women and that's completely fine like there's some great.
You know stay at home moms and you know there's a lot of different work and I am not skilled for that and so as soon as I was able to get
work I was but you had time off with the kids and realized you were not a stay-at-home mom I Am with You Dez I have such respect for stay-at-home moms and stay-at-home dads.
And boy after covid-19 and and that you know distant learning my grandmother was a teacher for 30 years and.
[25:10] My respect for stay-at-home moms and dads and teachers is through the roof it is just not my thing.
You know what I mean I'm always going to be working and doing something because I it helps fill my cup.
[25:25] Yeah like I get stir crazy you know don't get me wrong I like to not wake up early every morning but there's something missing and you can't fulfill it,
without working or doing whatever your passion is doing like you'll always have that emptiness mmm and that's where I at that time I had gotten to it and I was like,
I'm going to find a shop and you know I'm going to try and get back into this and,
it was hard at first because getting back into the industry and having that oh I took a couple years off to raise my kids you know part how did you address that,
there's no right answer to it or wrong answer you know like I just explain like you know this is he was in the military I had no choice but you know
it was government and that was it and now you know I have my choice and
you know I can work whatever hours you know I'll work twice as hard you know the whole spill about it and I was lucky to find a shop,
today is the third interview I went to and he took a chance on me you know I started back down at the bottom as a paint prepper.
And which I was fine because I just wanted to get back into the groove of everything and the shop turned out to be like one of the most awful chefs I ever worked in like it was legit.
[26:50] Worse than a Mako I don't know if you know a Mako
okay so think of that and then make it worse like two times what made it so bad was it the people or the people were great though owner was so bad like he went to have customers come and beat him up like because he was so shady,
oh my gosh you're so cheap like he would give you three pieces of sandpaper we like all rights and the car.
With these and then if you went like hey I need some more sandpaper.
You would have to bring in your sandpaper that you use he would have to verify that everything was used on it.
And then he would check out three more pieces or whatever it may be like it was wow.
Bad I was like I'm pretty sure shops are not supposed to be like this and that.
Trouble so much because like I was a little bit slower but I was like super meticulous like everything had.
[27:52] And at that kind of shop that's not what they go for.
So are we in trouble all the time and you know they would tell me to just have to asset and I was just like I can't do that that okay yeah like how long were you there.
[28:09] I was there I'll do is only like three months okay.
Luckily the one of the body guys went for an interview at this other shop.
[28:19] He came back and he's like hey this shop is looking for a pink prepper and you know like shut up is nice it's new it's got this the people are great he like.
I put your name in it and so they're going to call you I'm like oh okay.
And sure enough I went to the interview after work because I was the only time I had.
So I drove across the city and my dirty work clothes you know and.
I got there and I just let him know I'm like hey I mean like this is what I look like I just got off my shift I work hard I had no time to change in something nice.
And you know they hired me and I.
Packed up my stuff and left the next day and even given a notice like I just let him know like this ain't working for me like I have never done that before not giving the notice but I was just like it was that bad,
yeah here I did not care anymore and like the bathroom was worse than a porta potty like thank God.
[29:26] And you know and that is what am I one of the first things that I look at any shop that I work at is the bathroom situation because 9 out of 10 times.
There's only one and you're with 10 other dudes that are friggin gross yeah either.
Gas station that's hopefully just next store or somewhere or you can use the office bathroom hopefully.
Dez I'm going to pause you for a second because not just women listen to this podcast men listen to it too and I'm often asked by men you know what are some things that I can do.
To make my shop more female friendly because there are a lot of men out there.
Who I don't know if I want to use the word allies but really encourage women to come into the industry.
[30:17] And it's not just about getting women into the industry it's about keeping them in the industry so that they can continue to develop right.
And honestly sometimes I feel like we all overcomplicate things.
In its down to this simple thing like what you just said you know we don't want to sit on P right yeah I'm going to we sit to pee we do not stand to pee so lift the seat.
If you pee on the seat wipe it off and it's simple as this all sounds you know I lived with my dad and my brother.
My my folks separated when I was in Middle School and I lived with my dad and my brother and my brother would have tons of friends over and they were all dudes.
And I was just one of the guys with them but sharing a bathroom with my brother and my dad.
Oh my God like my brother's Immaculate now but when he was in high school and Junior High it was it was freaking disgusting.
It was there's just no two ways about it so would you say to men.
That want to create an atmosphere that is more female friendly you know work environment friendly is.
[31:31] Check your bathroom out check your bathroom situation out that is a important thing.
To make it inviting and the other thing that I've heard and tell me if you think I'm off on this is actually uniforms having clothes that actually,
fit the females if you're going to require a particular uniform uniforms have been I think every woman's Nemesis in the automotive industry of finding us.
Correct fix not only do you feel like an outsider in a shop anyways now you look like an outsider because your uniform is ridiculous on you and you feel
more like a guy because you're wearing these guy.
Outfits and you know you're already trying to fit into this man's world that it just makes who you are that much harder to be successful like,
keep getting these obstacles that you have to overcome or figure out a way to you know have this uniform fit you
you know so that you're comfortable there's if you're not comfortable with what you're wearing you're going to not be working to your potential because you're pissed off or you're messing with it or whatever it is or it may just be dangerous
I mean there are certain things when you're we're using like power tools and hand tools if you have baggy clothes on it can get caught up in it.
[33:01] And it's just yeah it's.
It's interesting so thank you for going there Des where it's those are two simple things and tips where it's.
[33:12] If you're a shop owner and you want to create an environment for men and women to simple things look at look at your uniform.
And your bathroom and you're not even saying you have to have a separate bathroom for women it can be everyone can use the same bathroom just.
[33:31] Pictures not disgusting yeah it's I feel like,
all the shops I've worked out with guys you know the bathroom duty cleaning duty is always looked upon as me and I was like you know what I might be a woman,
it might be Mexican but I am not your housekeeper I'm like so clean up after yourself good for you man.
Like I'm serious like I will walk my happy ass next door if I have to yes we use a but it's going to be on your time and dollar.
Because you can't provide you know a decent bathroom or whatever and there's been some shots where I've worked that the guys of just you know they're really super proud of their clean bathroom you know and like.
It's comforting to know that's like Okay so this will not be a struggle at least here and there might be something out please move that part is not.
Yeah and it's interesting because I doubt men in any industry.
Sit there and have a concern about their bathroom at work yeah no.
[34:40] So you went to that particular shop and they had a nice clean bathroom they passed the bathroom test how long were you with that shop.
I was there a I think about close to three years nice okay I worked every day all day you know the painter ended up
getting fired six months within me starting and so they're like well we can hire another painter.
And it will be up to them if they like you you know to stay or not or you can step up and be a lead painter,
as I okay well I guess I'm going to step up because I'm,
you know that's my job and it was definitely a learning curve and I definitely failed many times and stayed many late nights fixing and learning but
what I took away from that shop is I had an amazing body man that he.
[35:41] N Shop owner the shop owner would have weekly meetings of all of us together hash out any problems we had with each other with work you know they would bring up whatever it maybe it was like a safe space and.
Within that the body shop itself there was only like there's three of us me the body man and his helper,
but we work so well together because we would have these almost like marital counseling sessions.
Because in the sense.
You're learning how to communicate with someone of the opposite sex that you're stuck with more than your significant other usually
and so you have to have a form of communication that can,
be productive and him learning my you know my resting bitch face isn't mean that I'm always cranky or you know.
[36:38] Because I miss something isn't him being an asshole it's just him getting a point across you know and yes I learned you know we communicated it was you know two peas in a pod type thing it was yeah.
[36:51] The most amazing like work experience I had and I and I tell people that all the time like women having struggles with work and communicating with their body man or their painters and stuff like that.
And I'm like you have to step back and you have to look at that relationship like you would with your husband or your boyfriend because we're literally two different types of people women and men.
[37:15] And we communicate differently they don't know you and you don't know them and until you can understand that,
like you'll never have that camaraderie like he does with all the other mechanics or body people in a mutual respect that sounds like a mutual respect.
[37:33] Wow that's powerful,
[37:35] you would teach me you know he wasn't a painter but he understood the process so he would walk me through a lot and you know without him like I still talk to him to occasionally you know well message each other how you doing
and he's actually asked me for work like to come work at my shop,
like are you guys busy enough like can I come work for you and like holy shit like I would never expect you to want to work for me because you're the one that helped me get to where I'm at,
that's like one of the finest forms of flattery yeah exactly and I'm like I wish I could afford him.
And you know be able to give him health care and you know pay it what he needs because he is an amazing manager and worker but you know there's just no way that I have that.
[38:21] To still be you know still talk to him and still have that option that connection yeah,
you know sometimes I with my shot like it's just usually me I'll have a person here their help but
like sometimes I miss having that like I miss having that person push me I mean you know that the help back and forth banter yeah yeah oh my God.
It was good times and and that's what like I try and tell people
all the time when they're like they're stuck in a shop and it's awful and you know the workers are awful the managers are awful and they feel like if they can't make this shop or if and they're leaving the industry and,
like unless you're from a small town Bill and there is no shops within a hundred miles away.
[39:10] Like you were not stuck you're not stuck I'm like think of the shop as a relationship like as a boyfriend.
Eventually you will find one that's the perfect fit for you that you will be able to grow that you'll be able to be comfortable with and succeed,
I'm like but you got to go through all the crappy ones first two human appreciate the good one when you do find it
we didn't all just land in our awesome shops for nothing that's an awesome analogy yeah I was like you're not stuck you just have to find one,
that'll work with you and you know your personality and who you are and fortunately you know there are some girls that are in our industry that have given
girls a bad name of not working right or are you know being the girl that's like I can't do that I need help
and getting help us find but you know doing it over and over excessively then you're making everyone work harder yeah or just quitting and not giving you know a
and notice I know I did that first but
but in a fashion that they want to let you know because the you get frustrated and you want to be like I'm going to blow this place up you know like I hate this place I'm going to tell him a piece of my mind I'm like,
that's great but then you just ruined everything for the women trying to go into the shop behind you Maya because that.
everyone's different they're pregnant and you know the 70s it was safe to drink and smoke and you know as time goes and studies go you know we find out that it's not safe and right now I see I see this generation of young moms
and you know they're like oh my doctor said it it's fine or you know I just have to wear a mask and I'll be fine I'm like that's because the doctors don't know our industry they don't know.
Chemicals and there's never going to be enough like research
for them to fully understand the depth of these chemicals can cause like physical harm on right years,
let alone like your child like I Can Only Imagine
but you know like of course the doctors and some are going to be a little more hesitant but it's not enough study and to not be left wing right wing of the whole topic but you know it's trying to
educate yeah so they have like a not make it to where it's like well.
[21:50] You know this is my only job this is how I support my family now you're asking me to not work because I'm a.
In a shop and I'm like I get it like it's not black and white it's is really a tough subject to have to even try to legally,
path because yeah,
it's discriminating or you know it's really you know trying to get safety you know pregnancy paint suits or something you know for women too,
like will do you even want them there to work kind of but then they have to wear it all day because the walking through those shop still has Kim and.
Like where do you draw that line yeah you ship them off into the to the office like that's not their job they're not trying to be you know office Personnel that would have.
Be like office Personnel trying to be a painter like it just doesn't work that way.
[22:46] I love that you brought that up and it is a big topic and we need to continue having these conversations is what it boils down to.
Now I'm I'm curious you you were in Idaho I'm just trying to continue down this path because.
You didn't have to have those conversations per se because you had already had your children before you enter the industry now.
[23:13] Kind of moving forward at what point did you move out of Idaho because you don't live in Idaho now you live in Arizona now.
All right well I got married and then we he was stationed down in San Diego so that was right when the recession hit in 2008 and.
Nobody was hiring nobody was let alone hiring you know female at that point you know is the 30-year-old body man was getting the job and that was it and so I took some time off the shop and just kind of.
[23:46] Got to raise the kids for a little bit and then he got out and we moved to Phoenix yeah.
[23:56] At first I really hated it and then I realized what an actual car seen as a builder
that I have here you know it's an amazing City for what I do and as much as I want to move out of it because
I love the mountains and green and the water for what I do is just you know this is the best place for me
it's a hot spot definitely so when you got to Phoenix would you do to start putting in applications and.
[24:28] Yeah like you know there's definitely different types of you know women and that's completely fine like there's some great.
You know stay at home moms and you know there's a lot of different work and I am not skilled for that and so as soon as I was able to get
work I was but you had time off with the kids and realized you were not a stay-at-home mom I Am with You Dez I have such respect for stay-at-home moms and stay-at-home dads.
And boy after covid-19 and and that you know distant learning my grandmother was a teacher for 30 years and.
[25:10] My respect for stay-at-home moms and dads and teachers is through the roof it is just not my thing.
You know what I mean I'm always going to be working and doing something because I it helps fill my cup.
[25:25] Yeah like I get stir crazy you know don't get me wrong I like to not wake up early every morning but there's something missing and you can't fulfill it,
without working or doing whatever your passion is doing like you'll always have that emptiness mmm and that's where I at that time I had gotten to it and I was like,
I'm going to find a shop and you know I'm going to try and get back into this and,
it was hard at first because getting back into the industry and having that oh I took a couple years off to raise my kids you know part how did you address that,
there's no right answer to it or wrong answer you know like I just explain like you know this is he was in the military I had no choice but you know
it was government and that was it and now you know I have my choice and
you know I can work whatever hours you know I'll work twice as hard you know the whole spill about it and I was lucky to find a shop,
today is the third interview I went to and he took a chance on me you know I started back down at the bottom as a paint prepper.
And which I was fine because I just wanted to get back into the groove of everything and the shop turned out to be like one of the most awful chefs I ever worked in like it was legit.
[26:50] Worse than a Mako I don't know if you know a Mako
okay so think of that and then make it worse like two times what made it so bad was it the people or the people were great though owner was so bad like he went to have customers come and beat him up like because he was so shady,
oh my gosh you're so cheap like he would give you three pieces of sandpaper we like all rights and the car.
With these and then if you went like hey I need some more sandpaper.
You would have to bring in your sandpaper that you use he would have to verify that everything was used on it.
And then he would check out three more pieces or whatever it may be like it was wow.
Bad I was like I'm pretty sure shops are not supposed to be like this and that.
Trouble so much because like I was a little bit slower but I was like super meticulous like everything had.
[27:52] And at that kind of shop that's not what they go for.
So are we in trouble all the time and you know they would tell me to just have to asset and I was just like I can't do that that okay yeah like how long were you there.
[28:09] I was there I'll do is only like three months okay.
Luckily the one of the body guys went for an interview at this other shop.
[28:19] He came back and he's like hey this shop is looking for a pink prepper and you know like shut up is nice it's new it's got this the people are great he like.
I put your name in it and so they're going to call you I'm like oh okay.
And sure enough I went to the interview after work because I was the only time I had.
So I drove across the city and my dirty work clothes you know and.
I got there and I just let him know I'm like hey I mean like this is what I look like I just got off my shift I work hard I had no time to change in something nice.
And you know they hired me and I.
Packed up my stuff and left the next day and even given a notice like I just let him know like this ain't working for me like I have never done that before not giving the notice but I was just like it was that bad,
yeah here I did not care anymore and like the bathroom was worse than a porta potty like thank God.
[29:26] And you know and that is what am I one of the first things that I look at any shop that I work at is the bathroom situation because 9 out of 10 times.
There's only one and you're with 10 other dudes that are friggin gross yeah either.
Gas station that's hopefully just next store or somewhere or you can use the office bathroom hopefully.
Dez I'm going to pause you for a second because not just women listen to this podcast men listen to it too and I'm often asked by men you know what are some things that I can do.
To make my shop more female friendly because there are a lot of men out there.
Who I don't know if I want to use the word allies but really encourage women to come into the industry.
[30:17] And it's not just about getting women into the industry it's about keeping them in the industry so that they can continue to develop right.
And honestly sometimes I feel like we all overcomplicate things.
In its down to this simple thing like what you just said you know we don't want to sit on P right yeah I'm going to we sit to pee we do not stand to pee so lift the seat.
If you pee on the seat wipe it off and it's simple as this all sounds you know I lived with my dad and my brother.
My my folks separated when I was in Middle School and I lived with my dad and my brother and my brother would have tons of friends over and they were all dudes.
And I was just one of the guys with them but sharing a bathroom with my brother and my dad.
Oh my God like my brother's Immaculate now but when he was in high school and Junior High it was it was freaking disgusting.
It was there's just no two ways about it so would you say to men.
That want to create an atmosphere that is more female friendly you know work environment friendly is.
[31:31] Check your bathroom out check your bathroom situation out that is a important thing.
To make it inviting and the other thing that I've heard and tell me if you think I'm off on this is actually uniforms having clothes that actually,
fit the females if you're going to require a particular uniform uniforms have been I think every woman's Nemesis in the automotive industry of finding us.
Correct fix not only do you feel like an outsider in a shop anyways now you look like an outsider because your uniform is ridiculous on you and you feel
more like a guy because you're wearing these guy.
Outfits and you know you're already trying to fit into this man's world that it just makes who you are that much harder to be successful like,
keep getting these obstacles that you have to overcome or figure out a way to you know have this uniform fit you
you know so that you're comfortable there's if you're not comfortable with what you're wearing you're going to not be working to your potential because you're pissed off or you're messing with it or whatever it is or it may just be dangerous
I mean there are certain things when you're we're using like power tools and hand tools if you have baggy clothes on it can get caught up in it.
[33:01] And it's just yeah it's.
It's interesting so thank you for going there Des where it's those are two simple things and tips where it's.
[33:12] If you're a shop owner and you want to create an environment for men and women to simple things look at look at your uniform.
And your bathroom and you're not even saying you have to have a separate bathroom for women it can be everyone can use the same bathroom just.
[33:31] Pictures not disgusting yeah it's I feel like,
all the shops I've worked out with guys you know the bathroom duty cleaning duty is always looked upon as me and I was like you know what I might be a woman,
it might be Mexican but I am not your housekeeper I'm like so clean up after yourself good for you man.
Like I'm serious like I will walk my happy ass next door if I have to yes we use a but it's going to be on your time and dollar.
Because you can't provide you know a decent bathroom or whatever and there's been some shots where I've worked that the guys of just you know they're really super proud of their clean bathroom you know and like.
It's comforting to know that's like Okay so this will not be a struggle at least here and there might be something out please move that part is not.
Yeah and it's interesting because I doubt men in any industry.
Sit there and have a concern about their bathroom at work yeah no.
[34:40] So you went to that particular shop and they had a nice clean bathroom they passed the bathroom test how long were you with that shop.
I was there a I think about close to three years nice okay I worked every day all day you know the painter ended up
getting fired six months within me starting and so they're like well we can hire another painter.
And it will be up to them if they like you you know to stay or not or you can step up and be a lead painter,
as I okay well I guess I'm going to step up because I'm,
you know that's my job and it was definitely a learning curve and I definitely failed many times and stayed many late nights fixing and learning but
what I took away from that shop is I had an amazing body man that he.
[35:41] N Shop owner the shop owner would have weekly meetings of all of us together hash out any problems we had with each other with work you know they would bring up whatever it maybe it was like a safe space and.
Within that the body shop itself there was only like there's three of us me the body man and his helper,
but we work so well together because we would have these almost like marital counseling sessions.
Because in the sense.
You're learning how to communicate with someone of the opposite sex that you're stuck with more than your significant other usually
and so you have to have a form of communication that can,
be productive and him learning my you know my resting bitch face isn't mean that I'm always cranky or you know.
[36:38] Because I miss something isn't him being an asshole it's just him getting a point across you know and yes I learned you know we communicated it was you know two peas in a pod type thing it was yeah.
[36:51] The most amazing like work experience I had and I and I tell people that all the time like women having struggles with work and communicating with their body man or their painters and stuff like that.
And I'm like you have to step back and you have to look at that relationship like you would with your husband or your boyfriend because we're literally two different types of people women and men.
[37:15] And we communicate differently they don't know you and you don't know them and until you can understand that,
like you'll never have that camaraderie like he does with all the other mechanics or body people in a mutual respect that sounds like a mutual respect.
[37:33] Wow that's powerful,
[37:35] you would teach me you know he wasn't a painter but he understood the process so he would walk me through a lot and you know without him like I still talk to him to occasionally you know well message each other how you doing
and he's actually asked me for work like to come work at my shop,
like are you guys busy enough like can I come work for you and like holy shit like I would never expect you to want to work for me because you're the one that helped me get to where I'm at,
that's like one of the finest forms of flattery yeah exactly and I'm like I wish I could afford him.
And you know be able to give him health care and you know pay it what he needs because he is an amazing manager and worker but you know there's just no way that I have that.
[38:21] To still be you know still talk to him and still have that option that connection yeah,
you know sometimes I with my shot like it's just usually me I'll have a person here their help but
like sometimes I miss having that like I miss having that person push me I mean you know that the help back and forth banter yeah yeah oh my God.
It was good times and and that's what like I try and tell people
all the time when they're like they're stuck in a shop and it's awful and you know the workers are awful the managers are awful and they feel like if they can't make this shop or if and they're leaving the industry and,
like unless you're from a small town Bill and there is no shops within a hundred miles away.
[39:10] Like you were not stuck you're not stuck I'm like think of the shop as a relationship like as a boyfriend.
Eventually you will find one that's the perfect fit for you that you will be able to grow that you'll be able to be comfortable with and succeed,
I'm like but you got to go through all the crappy ones first two human appreciate the good one when you do find it
we didn't all just land in our awesome shops for nothing that's an awesome analogy yeah I was like you're not stuck you just have to find one,
that'll work with you and you know your personality and who you are and fortunately you know there are some girls that are in our industry that have given
girls a bad name of not working right or are you know being the girl that's like I can't do that I need help
and getting help us find but you know doing it over and over excessively then you're making everyone work harder yeah or just quitting and not giving you know a
and notice I know I did that first but
but in a fashion that they want to let you know because the you get frustrated and you want to be like I'm going to blow this place up you know like I hate this place I'm going to tell him a piece of my mind I'm like,
that's great but then you just ruined everything for the women trying to go into the shop behind you Maya because that.
[40:34] I'm going to think of you when he sees another girl try and take your spot eventually yeah.
You know it's don't make it hard for the next person just move on do your thing and call it good like
don't don't make it harder because it's hard enough right right now you were there for three years when you left there is that when you left to start your own shop.
[40:58] Not really I left and I had gotten burnt out there at that time.
Working with the collision and so I wasn't looking for any jobs I was trying to do the stay-at-home it C let's create something moment
and but you know it was you know I was enjoying some of the time with the kids at that point yeah.
[41:24] Son's friend.
His dad had a hot rod shop here and they hate they introduced us and he needed help doing Restorations mmm.
I never done the Restorations but he's just like you have you know power web over your schedule you know we just do one truck at a time so you know it's not a mad rush,
and you know whatever as long as the work gets done by a certain day do whatever and that's exactly what I needed and so I was like all right and he's like you'll get paid per truck so.
In my mind coming from Collision like you do,
225 cars a day you know full paid jobs even and you know it's in out and out and out,
and so when he's like when you get this truck done you know go to the next one I'm like oh I got this truck in a month at the very most because why would it take so long to do I had no idea Restorations took that long
like way longer than that and so I got my ass handed to me the first bill that I did and you know it.
But it sparked something in me that I hadn't found yet.
[42:38] In working in the Collision side of everything and it just kind of made me fall in love with that side of our industry of the,
being creative being able to take my time and be meticulous and be,
be able to actually create something not make it to where it's OEM Factory finish again,
like this is truly going to be a custom build gave you space to be creative,
yeah like that's exactly what I needed and we did a couple more builds together and then he closed up shop and so after that I was like well this is what I want to do I can do it.
That's when I started doing my shop and I think the classes and the shop kind of coincided together that's awesome does so.
You mentioned a little bit in the pre-interview about how you kind of lost your fire in the industry.
[43:41] And you know it's interesting because you were one of I don't want to use the word contestant that's not I don't know if that's the right Port necessarily I'm looking for but on bitchin rides.
Write it welds bitching bootcamp technically.
And a lot of people will see that and I'm like oh my god wow you've arrived you're on TV get all this publicity and things like that.
[44:06] You are really in a space of potentially leaving the industry altogether.
[44:12] Wow I mean think about that and you know listeners process that for a moment.
Do you mind kind of given us an opportunity to walk in your shoes a little bit why did you want to get out of the industry altogether.
You shared with me that you know I'm I was burnout and I just didn't have that passion anymore.
When I started everything I never had any end goals like I didn't want to be anything but.
Painting my Honda at that time when I went to school so in the end I didn't have
dreams to own a shop I didn't have dreams to be on a TV show I didn't have you know teaching aspect like none of that was there
and doing the accomplishments of doing everything and going through it and you know succeeding and it was great and you know at that time you know you love it but then it's just kind of like well.
[45:05] Now what do I do because you know I've done all this before and of course there's room for improvement but when this was never my end goal what
can I do to keep me interested and doing more and kind of lost it the passion for it I got it.
Super overwhelmed with you know projects and demands from the customers and this is a man's on myself to perform and you know complete these things at the high level.
That I know I can do but just it's a lot more stress than
from when I started and you know everyone was oh that's great like yeah but if I looked at that stuff now be like it's not so great like I see all the flaws in it how close were you to walking away completely,
oh I was super close like I was like how much fun would it be to be a Starbucks barista at this point.
You know just clock in clock out and call it good not have to worry about anything like I.
[46:11] Had no drive to do any of it.
[46:16] I know from the past that if I push myself to do it it would push me further away and so.
[46:23] I kind of just had to learn to ride the wave of it ride the you know stick it out as much as I could.
Until I found the passion again till I found something that would.
[46:38] Push me to the next level what was that thing you literally were at the door and it's not like you had to put in your two week notice anywhere.
It was literally at that point you just walking away like you had even mentioned just going dark on social media and.
[46:55] Walking away and you were that close to it what what was that thing that turned that around for you I think.
[47:05] Knowing myself better than the moment I was in knowing that I would come out of it I would.
Doing what I'm doing is what I love it is my passion it is everything that I want to do whether it's just.
The teaching aspect or just the painting you know like whatever it may be if this is where I want to be.
[47:30] And you know having a couple people in my corner
literally pushing me and dragging me to the shop to complete some of these projects that were just you know you look at it and it just weighs you down because you're like
I can't move on past this until this project is done and I can't work on this project because I'm so uncomfortable
inspired and unmotivated to get it done that,
when I do work on it I make more issues like it's just makes that much more work because I'm not fully thinking of the process of it or it takes me.
[48:11] I don't know how many times I wipe clean in all the skateboard I was painting like four times I think in the end I just started from scratch all over again because there's just
it didn't like it and whether it was you know everyone said it was great it was me that didn't like it that was just the internal struggle of me,
finding a design or just something to inspire me was that piece of work to have my name on it and I wasn't finding it
and it felt forced and I hated I hated for start like it's never it's never good you can always tell and
I struggled with it but I eventually I overcame it you know got I knocked out those projects that came out great and now that that weight is off,
just a just a little bit of that way but you know that's all I've been able to breathe I want to pause you for one second because I want to give you Grace here.
Thank you so much for being willing to share that I know there are a lot of women in this industry that respect you artistically.
[49:20] And to see the output of your.
[49:26] And like all my God that's amazing and your willingness to share that yes I struggle to.
[49:35] I commend you for your willingness to be vulnerable and share that because there's two things that I wish.
[49:42] Human beings in general and I'll talk to the ladies out there but the men to is being willing to say I need help.
[49:52] I didn't do this all by myself and I struggled.
[49:57] Artistically and also just motivation and for you to sit there and openly admit to a community that.
I was this close to walking away completely.
[50:11] Thank you thank you for doing that because it gives other women the space to to be in it.
[50:21] But also know that you come out of it that makes sense yeah I mean if I didn't love what I do there,
yeah you can't do this industry without loving it you can't.
Career and not love it because it is too hard it doesn't pay that great to be kicking your ass every day over if you don't love it,
and you know at the end of the day I'm still,
showing my kids that no matter how hard it gets I'm still doing what I love and not let,
my my self-doubt or am I wanting to be lazy for a while and not,
give a damn about things you know everyone gets to have those moments but you don't get to live in those moments so well put.
[51:16] That's powerful right there does that I think that's a that's a quote that that's quotable my friend.
[51:23] Wow what what an amazing journey and.
You know we don't have to belabor it because I'm sure you've been you know really grilled on what the bitch and boot camp experience was like but maybe in.
A couple minutes just out of sheer curiosity what was that like for you.
Just the experience in itself I'm grateful they experienced don't get me wrong but it was probably the most anxiety stressful.
Self-doubting experience I've ever had in my life why is that when you say self-doubting.
[52:03] When the show started it was pitched as kind of an all-encompassing of the industry show so mechanics painting Bodywork Metal Fab
all of it and so I was really nervous when I started because I you know I don't do Metal Fab
then and you know mechanics I know basic mechanics but you know like to just create something or or build an entire engine or something I'm like that's not going to happen
and so I was really you know adamant about like are you sure I can be in the show and not make women,
look dumb because that goes against everything I'm trying to do yeah
they reassured me and reassured me and so I go on the show.
And luckily I already know one of the girls Brianna and we're able to kick some ass on the show but,
you know it was all Metal Fab has all welding everything I did on that show I had never done before my entire life,
wow maybe I've done a patch panel like that but other than that I've never you know none of that I have ever done
and honestly when you're at a shop and you're trying to learn something or just you have questions like you go on YouTube you go you research it before you do it you know you have an action plan of how you proceed and.
[53:32] We didn't get any of that so you had a certain amount of time that you got to create this thing and it had to be functional or you know it had to look decent
because your name is on it and people are watching you and then
you know trying to figure out how to use this tool because I've never used this tool before and you know my greatest fear was making me look,
not like I belong in a girl shop and yeah
I've worked too hard to have that right so it was you know every day you go into the shop and you never know what you're getting asked to do know and then when you're doing it you're learning as you go,
and by the end of the day he even if you pass the test or that episode it was you didn't produce your best quality work like it was a good
everything you do strive for and so start self-doubting like man do do I belong here do I know these skills enough to you know continue how did you battle through that does
I kept thinking my only goal was to not be the first one to leave.
And I passed that and with each challenge passing it you know my confidence grew a little bit but.
[54:52] Hey I got to this competitive side of me that I never really have and you know I wanted to see how far I could go.
You know and I think that's pretty much only enough pushed me to keep going was to show show other women or guys that you don't have to do this every day but you can still,
create something and without being.
In a tough situation where you have to learn you're never going to grow hmm you know when I went to tech school I didn't know anything but I had to be there every day to learn how to do it and so to me like I had.
[55:34] I don't know if they'd actually aired it but you know when they're doing the elimination and stuff you know they're like why did you do this or how do you feel about your project and it's like you know what I absolutely failed like this looks like crap,
yeah like I'm from a shop I know what there is to do in like did you actually watch all the episodes I did I've only watched him once what was that like for you,
watching the play back because there's editing to all of that right there's your experience.
There's the other contestants experience and then there's the edited version
I'm grateful for some things that they did not show because you know struggling with some tools that you know shouldn't be struggled with you know because you're going into a new shop you don't know where tools are you don't know yeah Civic
or you know whatever it may be and so I was really scared that they would showcase that and I'm very glad that they didn't they were trying to pit each other against us.
But in reality we were all really good friends yeah during love it like we still talk to each other that's really cool that just makes better TV though if you guys are.
You know what I mean but that's super cool that you guys are still talking to each other now and good friends that's way cool because that's like a Brotherhood and Sisterhood because you guys went through that experience together.
[56:58] How were you received I imagine there's fans and stuff that.
Responded and you know for all of those things what was that part of the experience like and by the way I'm just curious Des do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert,
I'm extremely introverted so doing a show like that like the activity of doing the show probably you know the Hands-On work probably wasn't as bad but I imagine.
[57:25] Some of the after effects in this Spotlight on you so to speak yeah like the interview portions like they have in between the cuts and stuff
like probably four or five times easily cut Andre did so many times because you know I would stumble with my words or they would want me to say it in a way
that they wanted it and I we get frustrated because it wasn't authentic yeah let you know when I have like a quick little quote or.
Reaction to something it's not authentic because that was the third time I did it and now it comes across as you know completely awful.
You know like if anyone knows me they know I don't you ever use that word or yeah
it's just like it was really weird but like the producers and people there were super nice like you know they were it became a family and how long were you actually redoing the.
Like the actual recording of it.
[58:29] I was there for almost a month I mean that was actually a shorter amount of time than I thought yeah there was an episode I think every two days was the full episode of filming.
So yeah I think we would do two episodes a week and then we'd have you know a few days off and then.
Again and then I'd be you know anywhere from 8 to 16 hour Day filming these things wow and,
sometimes you have to do it over again you know like oh wait let me get this angle right or I'm like this not gonna happen because I'm not going to be able to make this tool the same way it did,
right now but then working with cameras in your face and you know the pressure the time and that's like an introverts Antichrist,
yes was doing the show itself.
[59:23] Very much outside of your comfort zones my partner's an introvert when you're like describing that I'm like oh my God like we were walking out of a retail store today and she's like.
You know those retail workers.
Being a retail workers like the Antichrist and we were joking around she's like I have to talk people yeah was this very much outside of your comfort zone desk,
yeah and I struggled with it at first I wasn't going to do it and you know it just.
The opportunities that I saw in the end.
Were worth my uncomfortableness at the beginning of it and I've never just taken the easy Road in life obviously and I've always put myself in situations.
Of not the normal and to me this was just another.
Thing like it was just one more step in my journey of you know whatever I am to complete yeah.
And to not do it I felt like there would be that time in life or your like Shoulda Coulda but I yeah and I try to limit that as much as possible like there's very few things that I say I Shoulda Coulda.
And I apologize I didn't finish the other question I started it and then went off.
[1:00:47] How were you received like what kind of fan mail so to speak are Falmouth fan messages so where was it pretty positive yeah no I definitely
when I got let go when I lost the thing you know everyone's just like oh you know you should have one and you know it's just
technicality and you know then I get people that I don't know and they are like you did so awesome and you know like can I have your autograph sign this and it's just foreign to me and it's really.
That part of the whole experience is just.
It's awkward because like to me I'm just a normal person that you know got TV on me showing my worst.
Worst work ever like you know and that's I think the biggest thing I walked away with was.
Having the knowledge I totally failed on TV multiple times but.
There's literally nothing else that scares me because as an introvert that's scary thing on Earth you literally had the spotlight on you.
[1:01:54] Literally yes right not figuratively literally.
Wow well thank you so much for letting us into your world I think this is a great time to launch into the Red Line Round And what the redline round is is just five rapid-fire questions there's no right or wrong whatever pops into your head is the right answer.
[1:02:14] Are you ready alright another thing an introvert would love stuff like this right.
So question one who or what has been your inspiration throughout your journey in the industry I am honestly like it's myself because I didn't grow up with.
Women in the industry to idolize or to see complete things that I was doing so to me every step I did help the person behind me so that would push me forward to complete more to help others,
and that's what kept me going oh I love that answer does I love it you know it's okay.
To believe in find inspiration in yourself I love it I love it thank you for doing that.
[1:03:03] Where do you go or what resources do you use when you want to learn something new or you get stuck on the job,
depending on what it is like type of thing I reach out to either like my refinisher family you know there's a group of us that or shop owners we've been there done that and you know we
help each other as much as possible or you know there's always YouTube,
and trying to figure something out but there's always some way you can find your answer just have to know where all of it does what excites you most about what you do.
You don't see in the customers face when it's finished product
of exceeding their expectations through the tears and the struggles of wanting to give up on it every every project you know seeing how happy that customer is that's the whole purpose of it
this to give them what they want and be better.
What is a personal habit or practice that has helped you significantly in this industry when you feel stuck or discouraged a personal habit.
[1:04:13] No does not mean no.
[1:04:16] And I think my habit is to not to not give up honestly not letting myself give up because I've been there almost but.
[1:04:25] You get to a point where you know you hear no so much that you don't it doesn't really faze you anymore because there will be a yes there eventually,
and if you make it a habit to keep pushing forward,
then you know you're Your Own Worst Enemy No One Else and finally what is your parting advice to other Femcanics finding their way in this industry
don't feel alone.
[1:04:53] You might be the only one in your town but there is so much resources available,
for you to learn how to navigate the industry to learn how to do a skill set to just cry and vent to there's there's someone out there that will help you no matter what
and to not be afraid to ask for it and where and how can people connect with you does I'm always Instagram message me.
[1:05:25] The Facebook pages well you know what are the handles just so they know nothing's customs.
Mr. Adams at Nessy's underscore customs and then Facebook is just Nessy's Customs or death spiral.
I'm always good at answering messages all the time if I can help someone I will or I will firm someone else.
[1:05:48] Pretty easy going there's thank you so much for being in the driver's seat and.
Really pulling back the curtain and letting us into your world and being so authentic with us I so appreciate it thank you.
[1:06:02] I'm death from these customers and Femcanic.
[1:06:06] Music.
[1:06:12] Kristy Lee is in the driver seat next well I'm not sure an introduction is really needed.
[1:06:20] Her bio reads like a Sizzle reel and she is arguably one of the most famous women in the automotive industry.
[1:06:29] She's appeared on ESPN ABC speed Fox Sports 1 Motor Trend and NBC Sports either as a pit reporter.
Analyst host or leading the broadcast.
[1:06:43] Be sure to tune in next week you won't want to miss this episode until next time Femcanic.
[1:06:50] Thanks for listening to the Femcanic Garage podcast you can find us on Instagram Facebook and Twitter at Femcanic Garage .
Check out our website Femcanic Garage .com for swag in the transcribes for each episode.
[1:07:07] If you want to help grow this community do me a favor and subscribe rate review and most importantly share this pod.
[1:07:17] Read the word this is Jayme B signing off are you. ARE YOU A FEMCANIC?
You know it's don't make it hard for the next person just move on do your thing and call it good like
don't don't make it harder because it's hard enough right right now you were there for three years when you left there is that when you left to start your own shop.
[40:58] Not really I left and I had gotten burnt out there at that time.
Working with the collision and so I wasn't looking for any jobs I was trying to do the stay-at-home it C let's create something moment
and but you know it was you know I was enjoying some of the time with the kids at that point yeah.
[41:24] Son's friend.
His dad had a hot rod shop here and they hate they introduced us and he needed help doing Restorations mmm.
I never done the Restorations but he's just like you have you know power web over your schedule you know we just do one truck at a time so you know it's not a mad rush,
and you know whatever as long as the work gets done by a certain day do whatever and that's exactly what I needed and so I was like all right and he's like you'll get paid per truck so.
In my mind coming from Collision like you do,
225 cars a day you know full paid jobs even and you know it's in out and out and out,
and so when he's like when you get this truck done you know go to the next one I'm like oh I got this truck in a month at the very most because why would it take so long to do I had no idea Restorations took that long
like way longer than that and so I got my ass handed to me the first bill that I did and you know it.
But it sparked something in me that I hadn't found yet.
[42:38] In working in the Collision side of everything and it just kind of made me fall in love with that side of our industry of the,
being creative being able to take my time and be meticulous and be,
be able to actually create something not make it to where it's OEM Factory finish again,
like this is truly going to be a custom build gave you space to be creative,
yeah like that's exactly what I needed and we did a couple more builds together and then he closed up shop and so after that I was like well this is what I want to do I can do it.
That's when I started doing my shop and I think the classes and the shop kind of coincided together that's awesome does so.
You mentioned a little bit in the pre-interview about how you kind of lost your fire in the industry.
[43:41] And you know it's interesting because you were one of I don't want to use the word contestant that's not I don't know if that's the right Port necessarily I'm looking for but on bitchin rides.
Write it welds bitching bootcamp technically.
And a lot of people will see that and I'm like oh my god wow you've arrived you're on TV get all this publicity and things like that.
[44:06] You are really in a space of potentially leaving the industry altogether.
[44:12] Wow I mean think about that and you know listeners process that for a moment.
Do you mind kind of given us an opportunity to walk in your shoes a little bit why did you want to get out of the industry altogether.
You shared with me that you know I'm I was burnout and I just didn't have that passion anymore.
When I started everything I never had any end goals like I didn't want to be anything but.
Painting my Honda at that time when I went to school so in the end I didn't have
dreams to own a shop I didn't have dreams to be on a TV show I didn't have you know teaching aspect like none of that was there
and doing the accomplishments of doing everything and going through it and you know succeeding and it was great and you know at that time you know you love it but then it's just kind of like well.
[45:05] Now what do I do because you know I've done all this before and of course there's room for improvement but when this was never my end goal what
can I do to keep me interested and doing more and kind of lost it the passion for it I got it.
Super overwhelmed with you know projects and demands from the customers and this is a man's on myself to perform and you know complete these things at the high level.
That I know I can do but just it's a lot more stress than
from when I started and you know everyone was oh that's great like yeah but if I looked at that stuff now be like it's not so great like I see all the flaws in it how close were you to walking away completely,
oh I was super close like I was like how much fun would it be to be a Starbucks barista at this point.
You know just clock in clock out and call it good not have to worry about anything like I.
[46:11] Had no drive to do any of it.
[46:16] I know from the past that if I push myself to do it it would push me further away and so.
[46:23] I kind of just had to learn to ride the wave of it ride the you know stick it out as much as I could.
Until I found the passion again till I found something that would.
[46:38] Push me to the next level what was that thing you literally were at the door and it's not like you had to put in your two week notice anywhere.
It was literally at that point you just walking away like you had even mentioned just going dark on social media and.
[46:55] Walking away and you were that close to it what what was that thing that turned that around for you I think.
[47:05] Knowing myself better than the moment I was in knowing that I would come out of it I would.
Doing what I'm doing is what I love it is my passion it is everything that I want to do whether it's just.
The teaching aspect or just the painting you know like whatever it may be if this is where I want to be.
[47:30] And you know having a couple people in my corner
literally pushing me and dragging me to the shop to complete some of these projects that were just you know you look at it and it just weighs you down because you're like
I can't move on past this until this project is done and I can't work on this project because I'm so uncomfortable
inspired and unmotivated to get it done that,
when I do work on it I make more issues like it's just makes that much more work because I'm not fully thinking of the process of it or it takes me.
[48:11] I don't know how many times I wipe clean in all the skateboard I was painting like four times I think in the end I just started from scratch all over again because there's just
it didn't like it and whether it was you know everyone said it was great it was me that didn't like it that was just the internal struggle of me,
finding a design or just something to inspire me was that piece of work to have my name on it and I wasn't finding it
and it felt forced and I hated I hated for start like it's never it's never good you can always tell and
I struggled with it but I eventually I overcame it you know got I knocked out those projects that came out great and now that that weight is off,
just a just a little bit of that way but you know that's all I've been able to breathe I want to pause you for one second because I want to give you Grace here.
Thank you so much for being willing to share that I know there are a lot of women in this industry that respect you artistically.
[49:20] And to see the output of your.
[49:26] And like all my God that's amazing and your willingness to share that yes I struggle to.
[49:35] I commend you for your willingness to be vulnerable and share that because there's two things that I wish.
[49:42] Human beings in general and I'll talk to the ladies out there but the men to is being willing to say I need help.
[49:52] I didn't do this all by myself and I struggled.
[49:57] Artistically and also just motivation and for you to sit there and openly admit to a community that.
I was this close to walking away completely.
[50:11] Thank you thank you for doing that because it gives other women the space to to be in it.
[50:21] But also know that you come out of it that makes sense yeah I mean if I didn't love what I do there,
yeah you can't do this industry without loving it you can't.
Career and not love it because it is too hard it doesn't pay that great to be kicking your ass every day over if you don't love it,
and you know at the end of the day I'm still,
showing my kids that no matter how hard it gets I'm still doing what I love and not let,
my my self-doubt or am I wanting to be lazy for a while and not,
give a damn about things you know everyone gets to have those moments but you don't get to live in those moments so well put.
[51:16] That's powerful right there does that I think that's a that's a quote that that's quotable my friend.
[51:23] Wow what what an amazing journey and.
You know we don't have to belabor it because I'm sure you've been you know really grilled on what the bitch and boot camp experience was like but maybe in.
A couple minutes just out of sheer curiosity what was that like for you.
Just the experience in itself I'm grateful they experienced don't get me wrong but it was probably the most anxiety stressful.
Self-doubting experience I've ever had in my life why is that when you say self-doubting.
[52:03] When the show started it was pitched as kind of an all-encompassing of the industry show so mechanics painting Bodywork Metal Fab
all of it and so I was really nervous when I started because I you know I don't do Metal Fab
then and you know mechanics I know basic mechanics but you know like to just create something or or build an entire engine or something I'm like that's not going to happen
and so I was really you know adamant about like are you sure I can be in the show and not make women,
look dumb because that goes against everything I'm trying to do yeah
they reassured me and reassured me and so I go on the show.
And luckily I already know one of the girls Brianna and we're able to kick some ass on the show but,
you know it was all Metal Fab has all welding everything I did on that show I had never done before my entire life,
wow maybe I've done a patch panel like that but other than that I've never you know none of that I have ever done
and honestly when you're at a shop and you're trying to learn something or just you have questions like you go on YouTube you go you research it before you do it you know you have an action plan of how you proceed and.
[53:32] We didn't get any of that so you had a certain amount of time that you got to create this thing and it had to be functional or you know it had to look decent
because your name is on it and people are watching you and then
you know trying to figure out how to use this tool because I've never used this tool before and you know my greatest fear was making me look,
not like I belong in a girl shop and yeah
I've worked too hard to have that right so it was you know every day you go into the shop and you never know what you're getting asked to do know and then when you're doing it you're learning as you go,
and by the end of the day he even if you pass the test or that episode it was you didn't produce your best quality work like it was a good
everything you do strive for and so start self-doubting like man do do I belong here do I know these skills enough to you know continue how did you battle through that does
I kept thinking my only goal was to not be the first one to leave.
And I passed that and with each challenge passing it you know my confidence grew a little bit but.
[54:52] Hey I got to this competitive side of me that I never really have and you know I wanted to see how far I could go.
You know and I think that's pretty much only enough pushed me to keep going was to show show other women or guys that you don't have to do this every day but you can still,
create something and without being.
In a tough situation where you have to learn you're never going to grow hmm you know when I went to tech school I didn't know anything but I had to be there every day to learn how to do it and so to me like I had.
[55:34] I don't know if they'd actually aired it but you know when they're doing the elimination and stuff you know they're like why did you do this or how do you feel about your project and it's like you know what I absolutely failed like this looks like crap,
yeah like I'm from a shop I know what there is to do in like did you actually watch all the episodes I did I've only watched him once what was that like for you,
watching the play back because there's editing to all of that right there's your experience.
There's the other contestants experience and then there's the edited version
I'm grateful for some things that they did not show because you know struggling with some tools that you know shouldn't be struggled with you know because you're going into a new shop you don't know where tools are you don't know yeah Civic
or you know whatever it may be and so I was really scared that they would showcase that and I'm very glad that they didn't they were trying to pit each other against us.
But in reality we were all really good friends yeah during love it like we still talk to each other that's really cool that just makes better TV though if you guys are.
You know what I mean but that's super cool that you guys are still talking to each other now and good friends that's way cool because that's like a Brotherhood and Sisterhood because you guys went through that experience together.
[56:58] How were you received I imagine there's fans and stuff that.
Responded and you know for all of those things what was that part of the experience like and by the way I'm just curious Des do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert,
I'm extremely introverted so doing a show like that like the activity of doing the show probably you know the Hands-On work probably wasn't as bad but I imagine.
[57:25] Some of the after effects in this Spotlight on you so to speak yeah like the interview portions like they have in between the cuts and stuff
like probably four or five times easily cut Andre did so many times because you know I would stumble with my words or they would want me to say it in a way
that they wanted it and I we get frustrated because it wasn't authentic yeah let you know when I have like a quick little quote or.
Reaction to something it's not authentic because that was the third time I did it and now it comes across as you know completely awful.
You know like if anyone knows me they know I don't you ever use that word or yeah
it's just like it was really weird but like the producers and people there were super nice like you know they were it became a family and how long were you actually redoing the.
Like the actual recording of it.
[58:29] I was there for almost a month I mean that was actually a shorter amount of time than I thought yeah there was an episode I think every two days was the full episode of filming.
So yeah I think we would do two episodes a week and then we'd have you know a few days off and then.
Again and then I'd be you know anywhere from 8 to 16 hour Day filming these things wow and,
sometimes you have to do it over again you know like oh wait let me get this angle right or I'm like this not gonna happen because I'm not going to be able to make this tool the same way it did,
right now but then working with cameras in your face and you know the pressure the time and that's like an introverts Antichrist,
yes was doing the show itself.
[59:23] Very much outside of your comfort zones my partner's an introvert when you're like describing that I'm like oh my God like we were walking out of a retail store today and she's like.
You know those retail workers.
Being a retail workers like the Antichrist and we were joking around she's like I have to talk people yeah was this very much outside of your comfort zone desk,
yeah and I struggled with it at first I wasn't going to do it and you know it just.
The opportunities that I saw in the end.
Were worth my uncomfortableness at the beginning of it and I've never just taken the easy Road in life obviously and I've always put myself in situations.
Of not the normal and to me this was just another.
Thing like it was just one more step in my journey of you know whatever I am to complete yeah.
And to not do it I felt like there would be that time in life or your like Shoulda Coulda but I yeah and I try to limit that as much as possible like there's very few things that I say I Shoulda Coulda.
And I apologize I didn't finish the other question I started it and then went off.
[1:00:47] How were you received like what kind of fan mail so to speak are Falmouth fan messages so where was it pretty positive yeah no I definitely
when I got let go when I lost the thing you know everyone's just like oh you know you should have one and you know it's just
technicality and you know then I get people that I don't know and they are like you did so awesome and you know like can I have your autograph sign this and it's just foreign to me and it's really.
That part of the whole experience is just.
It's awkward because like to me I'm just a normal person that you know got TV on me showing my worst.
Worst work ever like you know and that's I think the biggest thing I walked away with was.
Having the knowledge I totally failed on TV multiple times but.
There's literally nothing else that scares me because as an introvert that's scary thing on Earth you literally had the spotlight on you.
[1:01:54] Literally yes right not figuratively literally.
Wow well thank you so much for letting us into your world I think this is a great time to launch into the Red Line Round And what the redline round is is just five rapid-fire questions there's no right or wrong whatever pops into your head is the right answer.
[1:02:14] Are you ready alright another thing an introvert would love stuff like this right.
So question one who or what has been your inspiration throughout your journey in the industry I am honestly like it's myself because I didn't grow up with.
Women in the industry to idolize or to see complete things that I was doing so to me every step I did help the person behind me so that would push me forward to complete more to help others,
and that's what kept me going oh I love that answer does I love it you know it's okay.
To believe in find inspiration in yourself I love it I love it thank you for doing that.
[1:03:03] Where do you go or what resources do you use when you want to learn something new or you get stuck on the job,
depending on what it is like type of thing I reach out to either like my refinisher family you know there's a group of us that or shop owners we've been there done that and you know we
help each other as much as possible or you know there's always YouTube,
and trying to figure something out but there's always some way you can find your answer just have to know where all of it does what excites you most about what you do.
You don't see in the customers face when it's finished product
of exceeding their expectations through the tears and the struggles of wanting to give up on it every every project you know seeing how happy that customer is that's the whole purpose of it
this to give them what they want and be better.
What is a personal habit or practice that has helped you significantly in this industry when you feel stuck or discouraged a personal habit.
[1:04:13] No does not mean no.
[1:04:16] And I think my habit is to not to not give up honestly not letting myself give up because I've been there almost but.
[1:04:25] You get to a point where you know you hear no so much that you don't it doesn't really faze you anymore because there will be a yes there eventually,
and if you make it a habit to keep pushing forward,
then you know you're Your Own Worst Enemy No One Else and finally what is your parting advice to other Femcanics finding their way in this industry
don't feel alone.
[1:04:53] You might be the only one in your town but there is so much resources available,
for you to learn how to navigate the industry to learn how to do a skill set to just cry and vent to there's there's someone out there that will help you no matter what
and to not be afraid to ask for it and where and how can people connect with you does I'm always Instagram message me.
[1:05:25] The Facebook pages well you know what are the handles just so they know nothing's customs.
Mr. Adams at Nessy's underscore customs and then Facebook is just Nessy's Customs or death spiral.
I'm always good at answering messages all the time if I can help someone I will or I will firm someone else.
[1:05:48] Pretty easy going there's thank you so much for being in the driver's seat and.
Really pulling back the curtain and letting us into your world and being so authentic with us I so appreciate it thank you.
[1:06:02] I'm death from these customers and Femcanic.
[1:06:06] Music.
[1:06:12] Kristy Lee is in the driver seat next well I'm not sure an introduction is really needed.
[1:06:20] Her bio reads like a Sizzle reel and she is arguably one of the most famous women in the automotive industry.
[1:06:29] She's appeared on ESPN ABC speed Fox Sports 1 Motor Trend and NBC Sports either as a pit reporter.
Analyst host or leading the broadcast.
[1:06:43] Be sure to tune in next week you won't want to miss this episode until next time Femcanic.
[1:06:50] Thanks for listening to the Femcanic Garage podcast you can find us on Instagram Facebook and Twitter at Femcanic Garage .
Check out our website Femcanic Garage .com for swag in the transcribes for each episode.
[1:07:07] If you want to help grow this community do me a favor and subscribe rate review and most importantly share this pod.
[1:07:17] Read the word this is Jayme B signing off are you. ARE YOU A FEMCANIC?