NC Shop Talk

People who don't get what they want often say life is unfair. Well, tell that to someone who lost the ability to use his legs at a prime age. Then, imagine waking up to an experience that would change your life forever. 

Today's guest is a wonderful human who can overcome life's toughest challenges. NC Shop Talk welcomes Mal's good friend, Scott Chesney, to the show!

Scott is an internationally recognized motivational speaker and life coach, presenting to over 1...

Growing your business and expanding your reach should be an ongoing endeavor, not a start-of-the-year plan. And it's impossible to do that without being creative and challenging yourself in new ways and even taking chances that could blow up in your face. But risk-taking is a natural part of growing your business. 

Today's guest agrees that one should always pursue excellence and strive to always be on top...

Welcome to 2023! Starting the New Year with something fresh, this episode is entirely different from what NC Shop Talk had ever done. Today, Mal will interview one of the NC Interior of the Year Competition finalists! So don't miss out on this exciting episode. 

You've heard Mal talk about the “Young Guns Challenge,” which intends to highlight new talent by focusing on trimmers with five years or less of experience building complete interiors...

Fancy a Classic Ford Bronco or a vintage Camaro? Then this is the place to go; Velocity Restorations stretches out the limits of creativity in giving you the best vintage vehicle, fully restored and customized just the way you want it. The Velocity team breathes new life into vintage trucks of all kinds. Let's learn more about the shop and its award-winning restoration process...

Since Mal launched this podcast, he has interviewed the best of the best in the field of custom auto upholstery. But in today's episode, Mal flips the mic and allows his good friend Phil Cato to take over the podcast. So if you're interested in knowing more about Mal Maher, his family life, his passion, mission, vision for the future, and many more, this is your chance because Phil is interviewing Mal this time...

America is known as the land of opportunities. So no wonder many people want to take the chance to craft a good life in this land. Today's guest is someone who knows what it's like to live The Great American Dream. NC Shop Talk welcomes Antonio Junior Marquez, best known as Junior of Juniors Custom Upholstery and Golf Cart King in Texas. Junior shares his inspiring story and walks us through his path to success. Junior is one of the hardest-working people in the custom upholstery industry...

How do you combine traditional and innovative? These two words describe today's guest, legendary hot rod interior guru Sid Chavers. Sid has been in the Custom Upholstery business since February 1976 and has his roots in the traditional school of first-generation interior customizers...

There's no challenge so great for a master craftsman. He always gives his best at whatever task is at hand. That is the mindset of Brent Parker, winner of the 2020 NC Auto Interior of the Year award. He is an elite international trimmer based in Central Coast NSW, Australia. Brent won over other talented and skilled trimmers with his incredibly stunning design and unique leather color...

As machines take over production and manual work for many industries, the auto industry still treasures handcrafted interiors. After all, no machine can equal the craftsmanship of a man as skilled as Shannon Walters. NC Shop Talk had him as the featured guest in the June 23, 2021 episode. Today, Mal welcomes back Shannon Walters, owner of Interiors by Shannon, a one-person shop based in Alabama...

In today's episode, Mal speaks with Gil and Linda of Gillin Custom Design, the go-to shop and Orange County's pride in auto and home builds. What makes this shop famous? Let's find out from the owners. 

Gil is one of the original owners of Gillin Custom Design and opened it with Linda in 2006. Thirteen years later, the vision of opening a shop that completed high-end builds from start to finish came to fruition with GCD Auto Studio...