The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #163 (09.01.18)
Aired: February 13, 2026
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Powered by: GiveMeTheVIN.com
Episode Overview
This powerhouse episode delivers the full John Clay Wolfe Show experience: off-beat car talk, wild workplace drama, raucous humor, classic rock debates, and a parade of memorable stories and callers. The team—John, Bob O. Darling, DJ Pre K, Turley, J.D. Ryan, and special guests—navigate everything from scorned exes and rock concerts to wild stories about meth, road rage, and listener call-ins. Mixing high-energy banter with candid advice and killer jokes, it’s classic JCW—raw, irreverent, and totally unpredictable.
Key Discussion Points
Tribute to John McCain
[00:29–03:43]
- The show opens with a somber tribute to Senator John McCain, reflecting on his complex legacy.
- Bob O. Darling expresses his respect:
"His true colors—the last few years, I've been impressed more than virtually any other Republican holding public office today." – Bob O. Darling (01:51)
- The crew jokes about emotional moments in making the tribute, balancing seriousness with show’s signature irreverence.
Workplace Drama: "Scorned Woman" Strikes Again
[04:16–15:39, 18:33–21:21]
- A dramatic, nearly sitcom-level saga unfolds as a manager’s soon-to-be ex-wife storms their workplace:
- She grabs his wallet, yanks out $2,000, stuffs it in her bra, and storms out, later allegedly trying to run him over in the parking lot.
- John’s Lesson:
"You never know how they're going to react. It's just like trapping a coon under a spotlight in a room." – John Clay Wolfe (06:08)
- The crew discusses how to prepare for breakups (lock down finances; "freeze your accounts, take your guns to your dad's house... they'll pay for themselves in two divorces." – Bob O. Darling [06:58]).
- Listeners call in to share their own crazy ex stories, fueling the show's recurring "woman scorned" theme.
Musical Showdown: Journey’s New vs. Old
[23:40–34:14, 35:06–38:28]
- After attending a Journey/Def Leppard concert with his daughter, John initiates an on-air A/B test of Steve Perry vs. current Journey singer Arnel Pineda (whom the crew jokingly and repeatedly misidentifies by ethnicity).
- "He's from the Philippines!" – DJ Pre K corrects John (37:42)
- The team plays clips and compares vocals:
- DJ Pre K’s take: "I'm a Steve Perry fan, but I'm kinda digging this." (33:06)
- Hilariously deadpan debate about Pineda's nationality becomes a running gag.
Listener Car Calls & GiveMeTheVIN.com
Throughout
- Callers phone in to get rapid-fire value quotes and advice on selling their vehicles—anything from classic Corvettes to high-mileage trucks.
- John’s no-nonsense, sharp-witted approach:
"I buy cars on the radio. Oh yeah, we're back." – John Clay Wolfe (23:30)
- Real testimonials shared: one caller says GMV beat CarMax by $4,500 (64:48).
Rock & Roll and Pop Culture Banter
[17:14–18:35, 23:40–24:47, 28:16–29:38]
- Tangents on classic album covers, musical trivia, and stadium concert nostalgia.
- Anecdotes about the ZZ Top “barbecue” album cover, Queen's “Bicycle Race,” and jokes about Def Leppard’s aging lead singer.
Sports, College Football & Trash Talk
[44:42–45:44, 83:39–84:56]
- Classic Red River rivalry banter: Texas vs. Oklahoma football, jokes about what’s (and who’s) come out of Oklahoma.
- DJ Pre K: "Only two good things came out of Oklahoma: Indians, okay? Kevin Durant, those two things." (23:08)
- College football season hype; plans for a remote broadcast at LSU.
Outrageous News & Listener Stories
[54:40–57:31, 61:13–64:41, 139:53–140:17]
- “What Was She On?” Game: Guessing which substance inspired wild news headlines.
- Kentucky meth stories, cheese grater thefts, and a truly Kentucky quote:
"Who steals a cheese grater?... What got me the most was my soap. You stole my soap!" – Local Kentucky man (55:25)
- Real vs. fake news headline challenge (push-ups on the LAX runway is the real one).
On-Air Skits & Character Bits
[77:31–81:19]
- The crew pranks a local Asian restaurant in a mock search for “Chopstick Perry,” the “missing” lead singer of Journey.
- Bob O. Darling’s “Neil Schon” schtick and various preposterous characters add improv energy.
- Randy the Chipmunk comes out for a Labor Day segment, filled with gibberish, grievances, and chipmunk attitude (107:33–111:51).
Office Fashion & Management Talk
[113:34–116:11]
- Discussion about appropriate office wear and drifting company culture, with ribbing on managers’ attire.
Reflections on Life, Death & Radio Metrics
[124:04–129:11]
- John confronts mortality—Facebook’s "Still Friends" app tells him who’s died or unfriended him.
- DJ Pre K urges John to get life insurance and a doctor visit:
"Why wouldn't you? What I need to do is go to the doctor and get him to stick his finger in my butt." – John Clay Wolfe (127:13)
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
On Handling Divorce Drama [06:08]
"Freeze the account, take your guns to your dad's house, buy some bars for the windows. They'll pay for themselves in two divorces."
— Bob O. Darling
On Car Values [47:07]
"I know his car better than he does, apparently. We bought 2200 cars last month and I know more about his car than he does."
— John Clay Wolfe
On Customer Service [64:08]
"We beat CarMax by $4,500. They didn't take into account about $7,000 or $8,000 worth of extras he put on aftermarket."
— Listener Scott Phillips (calling in, 64:48)
On Classic Rock (and Steve Perry) [33:05–33:15]
"You know, that's not bad...[Pineda] is bouncing off the walls. You've seen the show—he’s amazing."
— DJ Pre K
On Fashion Trends in the Office [113:34–116:11]
"I'm all for the casual look, but a manager—he needs to wear something. I don't need him going all Kyle and wearing a full-blown three-piece suit every day. But at least a collared shirt. Don't look like you rolled off the beach drunk and stoned."
— John Clay Wolfe
On Life & Health [127:13]
"What I need to do is go to the doctor and get him to stick his finger in my butt...it's called a prostate exam."
— John Clay Wolfe
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:29–03:43 – John McCain Tribute & Funeral Politics
- 04:16–15:39 – "Scorned Woman" Workplace Intrusion Saga
- 18:33–21:21 – Fallout & Consequences from the Incident
- 23:40–34:14 – Journey: Steve Perry vs. Arnel Pineda Vocal Showdown
- 44:42–45:44, 83:39–84:56 – Football Trash Talk, Texas vs. Oklahoma, College Football Preview
- 54:40–57:31 – Kentucky Meth/Soap Thief Story
- 61:13–64:41 – “What Was She On?” News Game
- 77:31–81:19 – Prank Call Saga: “Chopstick Perry” the Missing Journey Singer
- 107:33–111:51 – Randy the Chipmunk’s Labor Day Meltdown
Tone and Style
- True to the show’s roots: brash, raucous, deeply Texan, and utterly unfiltered.
- Equal parts comedy, practical advice, and outrageously candid confessional.
- Fast-paced with quick pivots from car deals, to news, to musical history, to inside jokes.
For New Listeners
This episode is packed with the signature energy, chaos, and camaraderie that fans expect from The John Clay Wolfe Show. Highlights include epic tales of workplace drama, car-buying wisdom, classic rock geek-outs, barbed cultural commentary, and a whirlwind of outrageous characters and call-ins. Unpredictable, unfiltered—and very, very funny.
Listen back for:
- Unfiltered car-talk and market insight
- R-rated advice for handling breakups and exes
- Classic rock vocal debates and concert lore
- A parade of prank calls, listener stories, and nearly anything that won’t get them fined by the FCC