Miles Between Us
Take a listen about two sisters taking on business, adventures, life and all the miles between together!
Miles Between Us
We're Just Two Sisters Telling It Like It Is
Two sisters separated by sixteen years but united through shared experience launch a brand new podcast that promises to cut through the noise and tell it like it is. Misty and Melissa Sullivan, owners of Bob's Auto Repair and Collision Center in Tallahassee, Florida, pop the champagne and toast to the beginning of "The Miles Between Us" – a podcast that explores their unique journeys, industry expertise, and unfiltered perspectives on life.
Both Florida State University graduates, the Sullivan sisters followed remarkably different paths to eventually become business partners and CEOs of their family's automotive repair business. Misty shares her story of escaping corporate America after a brief stint as a stockbroker, while Melissa recounts her gradual integration into the business that neither initially saw as their career destination. Their candid conversation reveals how the unexpected path often leads to the most fulfilling destination.
The podcast promises to deliver valuable insider knowledge about the automotive repair and collision industries – information that could save listeners significant time, money, and stress. As female owners in a traditionally male-dominated field, they bring a fresh perspective and approachability that distinguishes their business approach. From explaining what mechanics actually drive themselves to warning about misinformation from insurance companies after accidents, the Sullivan sisters are ready to pull back the curtain on an industry that many find intimidating.
Beyond automotive insights, listeners will join the sisters on their adventures, from FSU football games to travels (including Misty's fear of flying) and family gatherings. Their close-knit family dynamic – with 14 relatives all living in Tallahassee who regularly vacation together – creates a foundation for authentic conversations about relationships, balance, and finding joy in real connections.
Subscribe now to join this unscripted, unedited journey with two sisters determined to bring realness back to conversation. New episodes drop every two weeks, with additional content available on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
all right, melissa, pop the official champagne, because we are starting a podcast. Really, we're just gonna drink and talk to you people. Yes, I'm excited. Oh yes, cheers to everything we have coming up. Thanks for joining us guys.
Speaker 1:Super excited, let's do it I guess the cat's out of the bag. We're officially starting a podcast.
Speaker 2:We are officially starting a podcast. Hell, we're starting a brand. Yes, it's a whole movement. Like it's time for everybody to just be real. Tell it like it is. What is it called? It is called the miles between us. And tell them why it's called the miles between us. Melissa, ooh, yeah, so you tell them I'll drink.
Speaker 1:Yes, well, I need a drink first. Honestly, cheers to us, cheers to us, yeah, mm, hmm, ah yes, the sweet taste of just finally doing it. I mean, sometimes that's what you got to do.
Speaker 2:You just have to do it. You know, you've got a dream, you've got something you want to do. You've got a dream, you've got something you want to do.
Speaker 1:Go for it. Yep, first step's the hardest, so yeah, miles between us. Ok, so you and I are quite literally 16 years apart. Oldest, yeah, youngest.
Speaker 2:Yeah, literally miles apart. We've been on such an incredible journey, each of us and different journey, so that's a large part of what this is is we want to take you on the journey that we've had in being both Florida State graduates, leon Lyons Locals, yeah, locals. Day one Shout out to the Rudiger Roadrunners.
Speaker 1:Don't get me started. I know that whole thing I cannot sing, so I will spare you all, but it's a great anthem, yes.
Speaker 2:Raw Rams and the Leon Lions. So, we are happy to be bringing this to everybody and super excited because it really is about our mile markers and where we're going, and again where we've been, because each of our journeys have just taken us down so many different paths, and really what we're looking forward to is that unscripted, unedited- Real life. Real life Y'all. It is time to get real, for real. Like I think we've realized that people just make shit up. Yes, yeah, they just literally make shit up. I'm not sure that.
Speaker 1:That's the main thing I would say about adulting is that I've realized it does not matter who you are, where you are, what position. Just just do your own research. Make sure you fact check people, because it doesn't mean that everything they say is as it is.
Speaker 2:So true, and it's changing every day, right like we're learning technology and and being involved in different things. I mean, we're seeing it in our industry, so we're CEOs and entrepreneurs. We have an amazing auto repair and collision business that we love and, yeah, we're experiencing it there every single day.
Speaker 1:Yes, which it's called Bob's Auto Repair and Collision Center, in case you don't know, and I don't even think we introduced ourselves Well it's you don't know, and. I don't even think we introduced ourselves.
Speaker 2:So it's true, listen, we just kind of feel like I mean, we're talking to each other, so we're going to bring you in too. So I'm Misty and this is Melissa yes, the Sullivan sisters, and yeah, we're just we're super excited about doing this.
Speaker 1:So yeah. So what did you do before this? Wow?
Speaker 2:So again, let's talk about how the roads change right. So I went to college Florida State shout out to the College of Business and I got a degree in international business management, marketing, and was one class short of another degree in finance, but this will tell you how old I am somewhat. I graduated in December of 1999. And the reason was Y2K. You don't even know what that was, but Y2K was coming and, quite honestly, the university was scared to death that they were going to lose our records. And so they came to us at the beginning of the semester and said if you're eligible to graduate, you might want to, because we may lose all of your records. And so every single one of us was like we're out, we're out. So when did you graduate?
Speaker 1:Great question Math, math, math. 17. 2017 from FSU 2011,. Leon yes, which already is insane. Yeah, finally using our marketing well, which already is insane. Yeah, finally using our marketing degrees. Go us, it's true.
Speaker 2:It's true. You know what I think. You use them all throughout life, honestly, so you know. After college, so throughout college, I thought I needed the big job, the big career and be with a corporation, and it was all about making money. And I did that. And it was all about making money and I did that. I got my Series 7. I was a stockbroker and I loved my clients, loved my clients and I hated the corporate world Like it is not for me. If you're in the corporate world, god bless you.
Speaker 1:I only lasted six months.
Speaker 2:Right, I tried. Yeah, a difference between a corporate world and a family owned and operated business and entrepreneurs being able to to set your own dreams and goals and have unlimited abilities.
Speaker 1:So so you were a stockbroker.
Speaker 2:I was yeah, and then I left and I was gonna go to law school. Because, in case y'all don't know, I like to argue.
Speaker 1:She good at it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's true, but then I had watched my dad, our dad, grow this business from a one-bay shop to a huge auto repair and collision center on Gaines Street. Our old building just got torn down on Gaines Street.
Speaker 1:It started back in 83. Yeah, one Started back in 83. Yeah, the business started in 83.
Speaker 2:So yeah, so I joined him and kind of brought him into computers.
Speaker 1:Modern world, modern world.
Speaker 2:No paper and pencil and unfortunately the CV axle is not $69 parts labor and tax anymore and I fell in love with it. How did you join us, melissa?
Speaker 1:Well, I think we have similar paths. Yours was a little bit more like yes, I will come in with that. He asked you essentially you know, come in, you see, if you can help me with your modern day thinking. Mine was more so just slide and ride in. I did. What did I do? First I did gymnastics coaching yeah. Then I did momos, Love momos yeah. Then Aveda was that corporate world for just a short little snippet on the radar and then I was doing part-time while I was at FSU.
Speaker 2:Okay, but let's tell them why you were doing part-time at FSU, because you all know the parking at FSU sucks.
Speaker 1:No, I was doing part-time at Bob's. Oh yeah, Full-time at FSU. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:But the reason she was even with us to begin with.
Speaker 1:Back to our regularly scheduled program. So, fun fact, we are recording here at the shop, at our make show studio. So there may be some interruptions, but you won't notice them going forward.
Speaker 2:It's true, it's true yeah, so back to melissa and and starting at the shop, so I think you were always interested in what dad was doing and and well, at least the shop itself not like actually working there, I love the tailgates right, I loved you know, like being a little kid at the shop but like no part of me ever thought I'd work at the shop, like not even an inkling.
Speaker 1:it was just like another. I don't want to say easy transition, but it was there, the help was needed. I was like, well, I'm not sure what I want to say easy transition, but it was there, the help was needed. I was like, well, I'm not sure what I want to do Might as well, just yeah, and it was great.
Speaker 2:We kind of tricked you into it, honestly. So we bribed Melissa Parking at FSU sucked.
Speaker 1:Still does.
Speaker 2:And so it still does. So while Melissa was in the College of Business, melissa would park at the shop and we would drive her to class every day and drop her off and then pick her back up and bring her to the shop. It was so clutch, that was fantastic, and that was how we kind of started roping you in, I think.
Speaker 1:Yep. And then I feel like it was just like a snowball from there to where we had a major crossroad that we had to decide. The lease was running up on gains and it's do we find another place? Do we close doors? And then we just had an amazing opportunity. So I said, sure why not?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, it's absolutely. I cannot imagine doing it with anybody else in the world, no way we really are. I mean, we're sisters, but we're best friends. We have our differences and you know, we think alike in a lot of ways and we also think differently in a lot of ways, but I think it makes both of us better.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, I think we balance each other out.
Speaker 2:So let's tell them a little bit about what we're actually planning on talking about and what we're going to be doing. So, yeah, we're going to give you some behind the scenes and some really needed one-on-one to the automotive and collision world because it's scary.
Speaker 1:I couldn't imagine if I never had an auto repair shop for life. I mean, I've never had to look when you move somewhere new, you worry about someone cutting and doing your hair. You worry about auto repair shop for life. I mean, I've never had to look when you move somewhere new, you worry about someone cutting and doing your hair. You worry about auto repair. There's one other one, I'm not thinking of a doctor. True, yeah, yeah. That's really it. I've never had to worry about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's a big deal. I mean, we've seen it over the years. So, being female owned and operated, you know, I think that we bring a little bit different sense of trust to this business.
Speaker 1:I think we're just a little bit more approachable. Right Not to hate on everybody else.
Speaker 2:Well, no, there's some. I mean seriously, those greasy old men are creepy Like. Let's be real. I mean they are, so nobody wants to go to that shop, and I've had my own experiences, which we'll share with you, about people trying to sell you stuff you don't need Telling you need things that aren't even on your car.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, essentially our own stories behind the scenes, just things you should know, I mean how to keep up your car, what the techs even drive. Honestly, that's a great idea to talk about what the techs drive, yeah, like what would they get versus what they wouldn't, just all that kind of stuff. But that's just one little segment and then we can dive in.
Speaker 2:Well, the collision part is going to be amazing, because we hope that you're never in one. But if you are, we can tell you you're going to get the wrong information immediately. You're going to get the wrong information from the police officer first of all, and the insurance is definitely giving you the wrong information. So you know, we're here to kind of bring to light what some of that is and make sure that that people are aware that they have choices and what they should do and, ultimately, that their safety is what's most important when you just you don't know what you don't know, and so once you go through it.
Speaker 1:Obviously you have hindsight's 2020. We wish we all had it when we needed it, but because we have combined experiences of us, our customers, the cars, everything we just want mean even our own staff just went through it last week. So you just want to be able to get out as much information as possible and really just help our community.
Speaker 2:So yeah, absolutely, and we're going to bring them into our lives kind of our behind the scenes. So we are. We are quite adventurous, we do a lot of really fun stuff. I think so we want you guys to get to know us a little bit better and we want to take you on the journeys that we're going on. So we've got some stuff coming up that we're going to take you with us.
Speaker 1:We're going on a plane.
Speaker 2:We're going on a plane. We're going on a plane. Melissa's going to keep me calm.
Speaker 1:She's going to be fine. More champagne, yeah.
Speaker 2:Just again things home. She won't be fine more she. Yeah, just again things that you guys don't know about me. But I don't like being trapped on a plane, it's true, yeah, I love traveling, like, take me, but somebody knocked me out.
Speaker 1:I mean, getting to and from, I think is everyone's worst part about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah so we're gonna take them on our adventures. Uh, cannot wait. So if you guys do not know, melissa and I are florida state semle football fanatics. So, we got that. Honestly, our dad was actually voted number one FSU fan one year, and so we are also members of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. Oh, that's starting next week. Yes, we've got.
Speaker 1:Norvell, which is sold out so Well when you're hearing this.
Speaker 2:It may be well in the past, but it's true, it's true, but we've got a Tassie quarterback club, we've got a game against Alabama.
Speaker 1:Again, we will report in how we feel after this.
Speaker 2:It's true. Let's all take a deep breath together. We've got a new field today. The stadium's looking incredible. So, yeah, you're going to see us at football games. You're going to see us at other events. We're going to bring you into the lives that we actually live on a daily basis and the things we like to do. We're going to have some fun educational interviews. Oh yeah, we do already have people that are excited about the podcast.
Speaker 1:So again, we're getting our feet wet. We're figuring out how to work all this. I'm really proud of us for even figuring out lighting. If it looks good, if it doesn't, we're working on it.
Speaker 2:Let us know. Let us know for sure. But really we just want to educate, entertain and, quite honestly, hopefully inspire somebody, and so that's really what we're wanting to do is just kind of bring everybody together. I think it's really important that Life's too serious right now. Yeah, I mean, come on, everybody's stressed, everybody's tired. Honestly, it sucked, it sucked, stuff's expensive and it's just time to tell it like it is. I'm so, so tired of the fake and so tired of the not really just hearing like you know what today sucked, or you know what? It was actually really great, and let me tell you why. And let's encourage each other. So I think that's going to be super fun. Please let us know anything that you want to know about us that you want us to share with you Secrets, tidbits to the industry If you're looking to buy a car, what kind of car you?
Speaker 2:might, that's a big one, yeah we get that call almost every day. So, um, we've got that. Um, we've got again. You've got a son that's getting ready to turn three. I feel old, but yes, yeah, so so melissa's gonna, I've got a grown child, um fun fact.
Speaker 1:So Misty's daughter is three months older than me, it's true, so it's a tangled web we weave, but these are the things that I think are interesting about us and our dynamic because, not to ramble, so we're just going to touch briefly.
Speaker 1:Okay, but our relationship has evolved heavily because it went from growing up under you in a way of like I was the one trying to make sure your daughter could go and do the things. I was a good one at the time, she was a good one, my daughter was trouble, yes. And so now to change the dynamic and be in adulthood and be best friends and sisters and go through similar things, but again with different experiences and different takes on things.
Speaker 2:So yeah, well, and that's one of the most important things to us, so if you see us out and about, you're probably going to see us with family. So there's like 14 of us, a solid squad, here in town and we're actually all best friends. So we vacation together, we have dinners together, like we actually love each other.
Speaker 1:We did not realize how rare this was until again, more and more customers and friends would be like, wow, and I'm like, oh, I'm just used to it. Yeah, it's just normal, we're pretty great.
Speaker 2:I think we're fun. We are pretty great, I think we're fun. So, yeah, I mean I think that's again. We're excited to take you on the journey with us, because we're going to grow and evolve and we're going to share. There's so many different roads.
Speaker 1:We're going to go down the highs and the lows. I'm excited to see where it goes. Again, I'm shocked we're doing a podcast, because you can dream, dream, dream, but really just implementing it is the hardest thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for listening to us guys Like seriously, we are all five of you, thank you, follow us and we've got some great merch coming, because Misty's working very hard on this. Melissa, incredible, let me just say. I know nothing about technology, so she's got us with sound and lights and microphones. We are official, we are official. So again, thank you for joining us, look forward to being excited about it.
Speaker 1:I think everyone's been kind of just eager to even know what we're doing. We haven't really said so. Obviously, when you're hearing this surprise, now you know. But yes, and pay attention to our Instagram and our Facebook.
Speaker 2:YouTube, youtube, and pay attention to our Instagram and our Facebook, youtube, youtube. There's going to be a lot of really great stuff, so our plan is to do this. Once every two weeks we're going to release another podcast. That is the goal. Yeah, so here's to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, two truths and a lie, oh gosh. So you're going to have to guess what the lie is and I'm going to have to guess what your lie is. Do you want me to go first? Yeah, you go first. You go first. Okay, do you want to get my baby sister? I am ambidextrous. I have been to Colorado five times and I lost the spelling bee championship to the word restaurant in fourth grade.
Speaker 2:That is true. That is absolutely true. I've heard that story. I know that that's true, dang, I thought that was a good one.
Speaker 1:I thought that was a good lie. No, because you were devastated.
Speaker 2:You know what I don't misspell anymore though.
Speaker 1:Do not misspell restaurant. You know what I think is just as hard Entrepreneurship. Practice it. It's true. It's true Now, it's your turn.
Speaker 2:Okay, let's talk about mine. So I caught my first tarpon in Key West. Okay, don't make these so hard for me. I think mine was easy. I went to a country illegally, okay, and my favorite color is green.
Speaker 1:Okay, your favorite color is blue. True, it's true, but I honestly thought the tarpon was the life first, because I thought you never caught one.
Speaker 2:I absolutely did that was the largest fish I've ever caught in my life. I fought that tarpon for two and a half hours, wow. And if you don't know this tarpon for two and a half hours, and if you don't know this tarpon will drown so they'll actually sink and drown and so they're big about that.
Speaker 1:On the do they do um tours where you can catch absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:so I had a captain on the boat and after me fighting this fish for so long, he thought he was gonna sink, so he dove in and like swam with this fish to make sure he lived forever. Yeah, it was, it was wild.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we passed the test.
Speaker 2:Cheers to us on our first one. We do really know each other.
Speaker 1:Yes, but here's to us in the miles between us.
Speaker 2:Yes, Yay, oh, I think it was great. Yeah, you did it Unedited. Yes, we did it Unedited.
Speaker 1:Unfiltered Nope.
Speaker 2:Unscripted. Try it again Unscripted. Unedited.
Speaker 1:Real life.