It has been a busy month for Our Parking Industry Podcast, and we have a lot to catch you up on. From a timely three-part bonus series tackling one of the industry's most talked-about topics, to new regular episodes covering frontline safety, municipal parking, and a vendor spotlight, there is something here for everyone in the parking world. Here is a look at everything that dropped this past month. 

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Bonus Series: Hidden Fees in Parking (Parts 1, 2 & 3) 

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We kicked off the month with a special three-part bonus series on a subject that affects every corner of the parking industry: hidden fees. Krista Olien, Clyde Wilson, and Leigh Thomas sat down together for all three episodes to have an honest, in-depth conversation about how hidden fees developed, where they show up today, and most importantly, what can be done about them. 

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Part 1: How We Got Here traces the history of parking agreements, from high-risk lease models to today's management agreements, and explores how that shift changed accountability and incentives along the way. The team makes a compelling case that hidden fees are often a symptom of outdated agreement structures rather than simply bad actors, and that the industry is at a turning point. 

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Part 2: What Asset Owners Need to Know moves from history into the current reality, using real-world audit examples to show where hidden fees are appearing today. As parking operations shift toward digitization and offsite management, new layers of fees are being introduced, often without clear visibility. This episode is essential listening for any asset owner who wants to understand what to look for and why transparency matters more than ever. 

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Part 3: Moving from Awareness to Action closes the series with practical solutions. The team digs into the "race to the bottom" on management fees, the rise of SaaS and transaction-based costs, and how the RFP process needs to evolve. There are concrete steps here for both operators and asset owners who are ready to push for a more sustainable, transparent model. 

 

If you only listen to one series this month, make it this one. It is a candid, experience-driven conversation that has real implications for how the industry moves forward. 

 

Episode 10: Frontline Safety in Parking with Nick Nicholas 

 

In this episode, Leigh Thomas and Trina Tutor welcomed Nick Nicholas, a police captain in Orange County, California, for a conversation that does not come up nearly enough in industry discussions: the safety and wellbeing of frontline parking professionals. 

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Nick shares practical insights on situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, and the mental wellness challenges that come with public-facing enforcement work. He also touches on how technology like LPR can support staff without replacing the human element, and why no parking violation is ever worth someone's personal safety. If you manage or work with frontline teams, this episode offers perspective that is both grounding and actionable. 

 

Episode 11: On-Street Parking, Safety, and the Role of Technology 

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This episode brings Krista, Clyde, and Leigh back together to reflect on the conversation with Nick Nicholas and expand the discussion into the broader world of on-street and municipal parking. The team explores the unique challenges municipalities and universities face, from revenue capture and data management to becoming smarter, more informed buyers of technology. 

 

This is a great episode for anyone working in or with municipal parking operations, and it builds naturally on Episode 10 if you want to listen to them back to back. 

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Episode 12: Inside The Lane Featuring Daniel & Henry 

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Our latest Inside The Lane vendor spotlight features Robert Pohrer, an insurance broker at Daniel & Henry Insurance & Risk Management and a former parking operator himself. Robert's background gives him a perspective on parking risk that is genuinely rare in the insurance world. He scaled a valet operation from 50 to 250 employees before transitioning into insurance, and that experience shapes everything about how he approaches coverage for parking companies today. 

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The conversation covers self-insurance strategies, captive insurance models, claims management, and why insurance should be treated as a strategic tool rather than just a line-item expense. It is a shorter episode but packed with practical value for operators of all sizes. 

 

Listen & Subscribe 

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All of these episodes are available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. If you have not subscribed yet, now is a great time. We release new episodes regularly and there is plenty more on the way. 

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Want to connect with TPN Consulting or learn more about how we can support your parking operation? Visit us at parkingnetwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates between issues.