The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #157 (07.14.18)

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Podcast Description: Each week, John Clay Wolfe and his crew talk cars, sports, wild stories, and all things that won’t get ‘em in FCC trouble, plus offbeat humor and real-time car buying, “Pawn Stars style.”
Tone: Energetic, irreverent, spontaneous, unfiltered, and peppered with inside jokes

Episode Overview

Episode #157 of The John Clay Wolfe Show brings the usual boisterous Saturday morning chaos. Broadcasting across several regions from the Wolf Radio Studios and powered by GiveMeTheVIN.com, John and the crew juggle rapid-fire topics including: car buying and selling (live, real deals!), family, European vs. American work culture, vacation stories, buying the “right” car, infamous drunk stories, the difference between Lamborghini and Ferrari guys, the realities of running a major auto auction business, music bits, caller shenanigans, and unpredictable humor. This episode welcomes new West Coast listeners while keeping the raucous tone true to form.

Key Discussion Points & Memorable Segments

Welcome and FCC-Proofed Satire

• Theme: Self-aware blend of irreverence, music bits, and car talk. Relishes dancing near, but not over, the “too far” line.
• Intro Banter:
  • Prank on secretary of State Pompeo’s North Korea trip described via a joking Airbnb listing:
    “Quiet neighbors, great view of dictator corpses.” (00:42)
  • Regional shout-outs: “Good morning, Houston. Good morning Dallas. Oklahoma, Louisiana, West Texas, East Texas...Bakersfield, Las Vegas, and everywhere in between.” (02:16)

European vs. American Work-Life Balance

• Main Point: John reflects on his Danish in-laws’ extended vacations vs. his own workaholic habits, lampooning both sides.
• Quote:
  “I just bought dinner and we're swimming in my pool and he's telling me I work too much!” – John (04:12)

“Abba Money!” and Family Connections

• Topic: John reveals his wife is related to one of ABBA’s original members, leading to a riff on royalty checks, community property, and why men’s hard-earned “buffalo” is always split, but “inherited” money isn’t.
  • “My wife's mother's mother is the hot chick from Abba's sister.” – John (05:21)
  • “It's all about the buffalo, everybody. It's all about the buffalo. Tatanka.” – John (07:09)

Real-Time Car Buying – “Pawn Stars, but it’s Real!”

• Recurring Bit:
  Callers pitch their cars for live bids.
  • John stresses the reality: “When we do a deal, it's actually real. And we don't preset it and pre plan it and say, you say this and then I'll say that – we argue and wrestle on the air for real.” (08:47)
• Memorable Callers:
  • Clint with the Datsun 280Z: Offended by a low offer; John retorts: “You call a girl and tell her you're broke, and you'd like for her to pick you up and take you on a date…Does she call you back? No. Go get your stuff together, tighten up and call us back.” (11:04)
  • Bob with the Nissan Cube: Wrapped with a baked-on Christian radio ad. John: “I think 1500, maybe two Gs. And we may have to repaint it when we're done.” Caller happily sells: “Just so I can say I sold your car!” (14:54)

The “JD Vacation Drunk” Segment

• Topic: Mock-intervention for co-host JD, who is sober but ribbed as a possible “vacation drunk.”
• Best JD Story:
  • “My girlfriend stopped me walking out the front door naked, going to mow the yard at 3am – that was a bad one.” – JD (17:44)
  • On Ambien stories: “If you fight the sleep, you will not know what you did. You'll go outside and mow the yard naked.” – JD (19:54)

Wild Stories: Coke, Lamborghinis, and 80’s Radio

• Nods to Old Radio Days:
  • “I thought you and Stevens and Pruitt used to do it [cocaine] before the show. Stevenson and Pruitt did. They used to lay it out in the newsroom...Jim Pruitt would drive his red Lamborghini…in a neighborhood of eighty thousand dollar houses.” – John (20:24)
  • Homage to radio mentor Jim Pruitt: “Rest in peace, Jim Pruitt. Sounds like you had fun while you were doing.” – John (21:10)

The “Cursed Boat” Saga

• Ongoing Drama: The team can’t sell or keep John’s troubled boat running.
  • Appearance by “Satan” (comedy bit):
    “I’m in the soul business…late at night, I’d give my soul for that boat.” (28:11)
• Quote:
  • “I bought the boat live on air in Lake Conroe…It runs and then it breaks and then this and then that.” – John (24:57)

Live Price Negotiations—Classic “Pawn Stars Unscripted”

• Pattern: Callers hope their “special” trade-ins will fetch more; John delivers blunt reality checks.
  • E.g., Mark & the O2 Avalanche:
    “What does it take to buy, Mark? 10,000 is what it takes to buy Mark's Motor Trend truck of the year, the O2 avalanche…Hang on, y'all. Everybody be quiet. This is the guy I love.” (43:08)

Lambo vs. Ferrari Guy – The Ferrari Phil Interview (45:29)

• Insight:
  • “Lamborghini guy is typically younger, flashier, wants to be seen. Ferrari guy is probably...a little more mature, loves the history, could care less if anybody knows they ever own it.” – Ferrari Phil (46:36)
  • “Ferrari guy’s business…probably owns the company. Lambo guy is the guy that works for that guy.” – Ferrari Phil (47:44)

Inside the Car Auction Biz

• Deep Dive into Auctions: John explains how momentum, “strikes,” and emotional energy keep the business alive and risky.
  • “If you stop that train, it costs $2-3,000 to get it rolling again…You gotta get the momentum. You’re managing momentum.” (54:48)
  • “We sell a car every 45 seconds…”
  • Cameo by “Yoda” of the business, Bob Hollenshead: “It’s all about strikes, Johnny. When a car’s got a strike, there’s less people looking at it...could be color, miles, equipment, fax, pedigree…” (89:19)

Listener Calls – From the Absurd to the Heartful

• Strippers, Breast Cancer, & Prayers:
  • Caller: “Beverly, used to call to the stripper pole all the time…the fighting breast cancer man…”
    – Instant prayer from “baby Jesus” (crew member):
    “Dear baby Jesus…shine thine love upon her and help us. She’s a lovely girl.” (38:24)
• Wild Caller Pitches: Everything from tweaker farm trucks (“39 miles per radiator full...depends how long I can keep it shut”) (62:11) to Southern California Focuses with 252,000 miles, “custom exhaust, and 65 mile-an-hour air.” (107:16)
• Bit: Guess What Pre-K Bought at Walmart (six-pack of “wife beater” shirts, $13.96) (77:18)

The Music Bits

• Music Gags:
  • “Africa” by Toto, sampled and mashed up in bluegrass, metal versions, and DJ PreK’s rap remix—a recurring subject and source for digressions. (58:07)
  • “I’m telling you, original is…he’s stealing the beat, but it’s his own lyrics…” – John, on DJ PreK’s take (59:09)
• Backwards/Secret Messages:
  • Playing Britney Spears, Zeppelin, and Queen songs “backwards” to reveal hidden messages (“My sweet Satan…” “It’s fun to smoke marijuana…”). (113:27, 115:50)

End-of-Show Banter—Family, Age Gaps, Real Life

• John’s Wife Joins In: Playful, self-deprecating banter about their age difference (“Take your age, divide by two, add seven, and there’s the number.”) (129:34)
• Callout: Upcoming Louisiana listener party for LSU–Alabama game (96:34 & 131:20)
• Final Thought:
  • “California, we love you…see you all next Saturday.” (131:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Vacation Time Debate & European In-Laws: 02:53–05:15
• Abba Family Connection & Royalty Dollars: 05:16–07:09
• Car Buying on Air — Why It’s Real: 08:03–09:50
• JD’s Drunk Stories & Ambien Mishaps: 17:00–17:59; 19:05–19:52
• Old Radio Days/Cocaine Stories: 20:12–21:10
• Boat Nightmare & “Satan” Bit: 24:21–28:48
• Deal-Making — O2 Avalanche Negotiation: 43:01–45:11
• Lambo vs. Ferrari Guy, w/Ferrari Phil: 45:29–48:23
• Auction Deep Dive & Sales Philosophy: 49:08–57:02
• Praying for Beverly the Stripper: 38:16–38:43
• Musical Covers Segment (“Africa”, others): 57:26–62:07
• Walmart Guessing Game: 76:19–78:33
• Call-in: Tiffany’s 252K-Mile Focus & Bikini Bet: 105:03–107:28
• Backwards Rock Messages Bit: 113:01–116:27
• John’s Age Gap with Wife & “Sweet Spot” Rule: 128:26–129:34

Notable Quotes

• “If you call a girl and tell her you’re broke…and you'd like for her to pick you up and take you on a date...Does she call you back? No. Go get your stuff together, tighten up and call us back.” – John (11:04)
• “Lambo guy is typically younger, flashier, wants to be seen. Ferrari guy is probably a little more mature, loves the history, could care less if anybody knows they ever own it.” – Ferrari Phil (46:36)
• “If you stop that train, it costs $2-3,000 to get it rolling again…You’re managing momentum.” – John (54:48)
• “Dear baby Jesus…shine thine love upon her and help us. She’s a lovely girl.” – Bobbo, as “baby Jesus” (38:32)
• “It’s all about strikes, Johnny. When a car’s got a strike, there’s less people looking at it…” – Bob Hollenshead (89:19)

Episode Highlights

• Blunt, funny, and unfiltered, this episode delivers trademark car-buying drama (in real deals, not bits!), eccentric tales, regional color, and wild musical digressions.
• The crew lampoons themselves, their listeners, and their industry with an edge, but also heart—prayers for loyal callers fighting cancer and real explanations for why folks get lowball bids on their “babies.”
• A must-listen for anyone curious about the true ins and outs of automotive sales, the behind-the-scenes of radio, or just in the mood for off-the-rails, up-tempo Saturday morning fun.

For more, or to get your car bid live on air next week, visit givemethevin.com or find full episodes in the PodBean library.

Caution: Contains language, humor, and subject matter some may find PG-13 to R-rated.