The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #173 Summary

Date: November 10, 2018
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Co-hosts & Team: JD Ryan, Bobby Brown, Michael Turley, DJ Pre K, and guests
Theme: “Selling Cars, Rock & Roll, Life, and Laughs”

Overview

This episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show rides through the usual blend of irreverent, fast-paced banter, car business insights, rock and sports talk, and just the right amount of barely FCC-safe humor. The crew dives into everything from creative car buying stunts and wild dealership stories to music legends, bourbon recommendations, pop culture commentary, sports mishaps, and even the perils of robot prostitutes. Special guest Charlie Daniels joins to talk about defying age through music, life lessons, and staying on the road at 82.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Cold Open: Plane Spotting & Sports Banter

00:47 – 02:40

• JD Ryan reveals his childhood fascination with watching airplanes, spurring playful teasing from the group.
• Early-morning banter about the cold weather and the week’s sports, specifically the Panthers vs. Steelers football game.
• John confesses he “ran hills” with his kids that morning, clarifying: “I’m a better coach than a runner” (07:18); finds catharsis in yelling at his “young and lazy” kids.

2. Dealer Van Stunt – “GiveMeTheVIN Van vs CarMax”

04:45 – 06:43; 19:05 – 19:31; 91:00 – 92:44

• John shares his idea to park the “GiveMeTheVIN” van outside CarMax locations and offer $100 bills if GMTV can’t beat their offer on a car: “We're handing out $100 bills just like we do on the website. If we don't beat a CarMax offer, we give you $100 bill” (06:21).
• Plotting logistics to stay off CarMax property, set up by gun shops or restaurants nearby.
• The plan is to publicly challenge CarMax and disrupt their flow—this comes with plenty of jokes at CarMax’s expense and concerns about needing security with that much cash.

3. Cars, Listeners, Appraisals, and Laughs

08:47 – 12:18; 31:04 – 41:21

• Throughout the show, listeners call in to get appraisals for their cars (Silverados, Tundras, Accords, Tahoes, etc.), sometimes with detailed negotiation and running jokes about high mileage, drug running, and Louisiana lifestyles:
  • “Are you running drugs?” – John to a caller in the pecan and crawfish business (10:31)
  • Car-buying protocol is discussed hilariously (“If every car coming in now has a gazillion miles…” (11:23))
• John explains the process and outcomes of selling used cars, the nuances of appraising, and the economics of car trade-ins and leasing.
• Insight into dealers’ tricks regarding lease payoffs, “juice,” and why payoff amounts can change depending if you’re the customer or a third party (63:07 – 64:25):
  • “How the hell can the bank charge have two different payoffs in the same day?”

4. Music Legend Charlie Daniels Interview (1st and 2nd half)

15:15 – 18:24 & 59:58 – 61:44 & 105:14 – 106:58

• First appearance: Charlie Daniels calls in, displaying his signature humility and wisdom at age 82.
  • “So much of what we think about age... you don’t have to act like it. Throw that all out and live your life how you think you should.” – Charlie Daniels (16:39)
  • Discusses not buying into set retirement ages, still doing ~100 live shows/year, finding joy in creativity.
• Second half: reveals backstory of writing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, the creative process, and working with a collaborative producer.
  • “I put seven fiddles on the devil’s part. That’s what it took to get that sound.” (61:15)
• Later: Charlie discusses his daily inspiration book, “Let’s Make the Day Count” (105:14), his marriage (54 years!), and life on the road.

5. Politics, Elections & Satire

13:19 – 15:07; 34:18 – 44:09; 67:05 – 75:01; 125:03 – 128:32

• Hosts riff on the aftermath of the midterms, Beto vs. Cruz, and overall gridlock ahead:
  • “Nothing will get done, just spit and fire and evil and spew for the next two years, balanced” – John (14:10)
• Various political satirists and impressions appear, e.g., “Satan” and Rush Limbaugh chime in on election results and the craziness of the news media (35:26 – 37:41; 72:09 – 74:55).
• Story about the Nevada brothel owner, Dennis Hoff, winning an election posthumously, with the losing candidate’s (parody) concession speech:
  • “He ran a surprisingly strong campaign considering he’s a dead pimp!” (71:03)
• Mock Borat bit on Jimmy Kimmel about “election tamponing”, showing how far the show’s humor and social commentary go.

6. Pop Culture, Movies & TV

25:29 – 27:14; 97:18 – 101:05; 127:08 – 128:52

• Comments on Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen movie):
  • “I haven’t walked out a movie and thought: damn, that’s an Oscar-winning performance—in years.” – Michael Turley
• Review of classic rock moments: Live Aid, Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins, etc.
• Sidebars about TV faves: Breaking Bad’s movie spinoff rumors, Better Call Saul, Sopranos, Ozark, Jack Ryan, Animal Kingdom.
• Recalled missed business opportunity: Blockbuster could have bought Netflix for $120 million, “and now look where Blockbuster’s at.”

7. Drinking & Regional Partying Culture

104:44 – 110:03 onward

• Listeners from LA and Texas call to recommend whiskey, bourbon, and scotch (Woodford Reserve, Gentleman Jack, Glenmorangie), with John admitting he needs to “grow up” and drink more like a proper adult.
• Jokes about the drinking cultures of Louisiana (“you people from south Louisiana, call and tell me what you drink besides beer!”);
• Meth jokes aimed at Oklahoma, which callers receive with good humor.

8. Sports, Bets, and Gambling Mishaps

03:04 – 03:15; 117:00 – 119:10

• Recap of football bets—John pays up on an LSU/Alabama spread.
  • “John pays his debts like a Lannister does.” – Michael Turley (23:49)
• New Orleans “voodoo” report – exaggerated bit about Des Bryant’s Achilles injury being the result of “dirty bird” voodoo magic from a fake Cajun witch doctor.
• The team teases JD about being a secret swinger and his upcoming cruise.

9. Bizarre News & "What Were They On?"

84:33 – 88:14

• Game segment: “What Were They On?” features a man who rigged his house Home Alone-style with booby traps against the FBI.
  • “That’s something only a toe-tapper could do, man... they found evidence of paraphernalia linked to meth use.” – DJ Pre K (88:14)
• Reports of a Delta passenger made to sit in feces, and a story about lap dances for food stamps in Ohio.

10. Listener Calls – Fans, Critics, and Converts

47:21 – 80:39

• Many listeners calling in about their cars, but also to share love for the show:
  • “I used to try to blow it off but now I love it. You guys are hysterical!” – Listener (47:30)
  • Donna, a dedicated fan, calls for less music/more talk, complains about PC changes and cutbacks in Dallas (77:21 – 80:39)
• Ongoing riff: “Brokeback Mountain of radio. We can’t quit us.”

11. Car Auctions & Dealer Rants

93:30 – 95:30

• John gives insight into the wild, high-stakes world of auto auctions:
  • “We’ve broken every record at that auction. Most amount of cars ever sold one day, $7 million… highest car ever sold, $380,000!”
• Describes the chaos behind the scenes, the energy required to push “a car every 45 seconds,” and why “I have to be focused. It’s like flying a damn airplane.”

12. Skewering of Societal Trends & Oddities

134:16 – End

• J.D. defends the rights of lonely men to engage in robot prostitution, which leads to a panel discussion about personal loneliness and companionship.
• Capping off with absurdist humor and a bit of introspection.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “So much of what we think about age... you don’t have to act like it. Throw that all out... live your life how you think you should.”
  – Charlie Daniels (16:39)

• “Nothing will get done, just spit and fire and evil and spew for the next two years, balanced.”
  – John Clay Wolfe (14:10)

• “We're handing out hundred dollar bills just like we do on the website. If we don't beat a CarMax offer…”
  – John (06:21 & multiple)

• “The brokeback mountain of radio. We can’t quit us!”
  – JD Ryan (47:39)

• “I want to buy your car, but I have to make sure CarMax doesn’t come out and steal the money from you!”
  – John Clay Wolfe on car-buying stunts (08:20)

• “You need to grow up a little bit, don’t I? I don’t even know how to cook a hamburger.”
  – John Clay Wolfe (108:26)

• “If we don’t beat your CarMax offer, we’ll give you $100.”
  – Show catchphrase, repeated

• “What were they on? — Only a toe-tapper could do, man. Evidence of paraphernalia linked to meth use.”
  – DJ Pre K, game segment winner (88:14)

Segment Guide & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:47–02:40 | Plane-watching, sports banter | | 04:45–06:43 | GiveMeTheVIN van/Cash stunt | | 08:47–12:18 | Car appraisals, caller humor | | 13:19–15:07 | Politics, grumpy politicians, Beto/Ted Cruz election | | 15:19–18:24 | 1st Charlie Daniels interview segment | | 19:05–19:31 | Recurring van/cash segment planning | | 25:29–27:14 | Bohemian Rhapsody, Live Aid discussion | | 31:04–41:21 | Used car appraisals & dealer tricks | | 47:21–80:39 | Listener love/hate, regulars, Donna’s feedback, PC jokes | | 84:33–88:14 | "What Were They On?" (Meth house booby traps story) | | 93:30–95:30 | Auction world, chaos, high-stakes business | | 97:18–101:05 | TV: Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, streaming | | 104:44–110:03| Drinking & regional party culture | | 117:00–119:10| Des Bryant voodoo/prank call | | 125:03–128:32| Jimmy Kimmel’s Borat, political satire | | 134:16–End | Robot prostitution, loneliness, wrap-up banter |

Final Thoughts

This tightly packed episode is a crash course in the John Clay Wolfe Show’s wild style: from genuine car market expertise to total comic anarchy. The recurring segments (appraisals, music legends, "what were they on," politics, and drinking wisdom) are kinetic and unpredictable, but glued together by Wolfe’s authenticity and the absolute lack of sacred cows. If you’re looking for a Saturday morning shot of comedy, car culture, and (un)healthy life advice—tune in, buckle up, and don’t let the FCC catch you.

Listen to the full episode and more at podbean.com by searching “The John Clay Wolfe Show+” or visit johnclaywolf.com.