The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #202 (06.08.19)

Podcast: The John Clay Wolfe Show
Date: June 8, 2019
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Co-hosts: J.D. Ryan, Bobbo, DJ Pre K, numerous recurring characters
Powered By: GiveMeTheVIN.com

Episode Overview

This edition of the John Clay Wolfe Show offers listeners the familiar freewheeling Saturday morning ride – high-energy car talk and live on-air bids, dealership war stories, sports riffing, sex and relationship asides, rock and roll nostalgia, and just enough FCC edge to keep things spicy without crossing the line. Wolfe's team (and, today, some nervous fill-ins for missing regulars) juggle a mix of technical snafus, hilarious real-world calls, auction hustle updates, pop culture ephemera, and unfiltered opinions about current events, music, and the rapid growth of their automotive empire.

Key Themes and Talking Points

1. Running the Show—Behind the Scenes

• Production Chaos: With regular engineer Turley out on vacation, JD takes over the board and chaos ensues ("I'm just being thrown into it. So it's like, okay, here's what we're gonna do. On Tuesday, we're gonna launch the space shuttle. I'm not gonna be here... Here's the password: AX9403. Backslash." – JD, 00:35)
• On-Air Humor About Technical Glitches: The crew riffs on hitting random buttons, running the show solo, and the difference a good producer makes.
• Listener Calls for Video Podcasting: A listener with years of broadcast engineering experience offers to help set up their long-discussed video stream after hearing about past attempts ("I've been working on streaming... You don't even need to be there to video these days, it's so easy." – Listener, 11:38)

2. GiveMeTheVIN.com & Car Business Insights

• Origin Story & Company Growth: Discussion on scaling from selling 8 to 2,000+ cars a month, handling massive volume at Dallas Manheim Auction, and the increasing national reach.

  “Back in 2010, we were picking up eight cars a week... Last month, we moved a little over 2,000 in a month.” – Bobbo, 04:51

• Live Car Appraisals: Listeners call in with makes, models, and VINs for immediate cash offers on the air – from modest daily drivers to high-end exotics.
• The CarMax $100 Challenge: John reiterates his standing challenge: If GiveMeTheVIN can't beat a CarMax offer, they'll send you a $100 check.

3. Life, Culture, Rock & Roll, and Auctions

• Music Nostalgia: Bobbo and JD reminisce about past concerts, Elton John movies ("Rocketman"), Queen's revival after "Bohemian Rhapsody," and other rock legends.
• Hunter S. Thompson & Gonzo Journalism: A deep dive into Fear and Loathing’s origin story, Thompson’s real-life shenanigans, and the mythos of Aspen in the ‘70s.

  “Hunter Thompson invented Gonzo journalism... The story wasn't just about the Super Bowl, it was about his trip and the things he pulled off while he was there.” – Bobbo, 19:36

• Pop Culture Commentary: Opinions on the NBA finals, Drake’s role with the Raptors, American vs. Canadian sportsmanship, and offbeat asides about everything from bar mitzvah gigs to mortgage horror stories.
• Comedy Sketches & Running Gags: Including "Brozetta Stone" (a hip-hop language-learning spoof), “Rush Limbaugh” and “Satan” parodies, riffing on the “Ambulance” (food-heart attack delivery service), and more.

4. Caller Highlights & Memorable Offers

— Fast ‘n’ Furious Car Deals

• Caller: Julie with 2017 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe

  • Wolfe works through her asking price live, lands the deal in minutes.

    "You didn't get drunk and wreck it. Your girlfriend hasn't keyed the side of it? ...OK, what'd you say it takes to buy it?" – Wolfe, 28:08
    Deal struck at $42,000 – "Say Wolf bought my car at 42 grand. Here's the pictures, load it up. We'll be there Monday – or today!" (29:52)

• Caller: Frank, selling ex-wife's Porsche 911 Cabrio

  • Live negotiation, playful venting about divorce, car specs thoroughly vetted on the air.

    “We have the car, and I don’t want this car. It reminds me of her.” – Frank, 42:15

• On the Value of Imperfect Cars:

  • Wolfe breaks down the impact of minor accidents, "dirty Carfax," and how to shop for value.

    "If anybody gets something from this: look for dirty Carfax cars that have accident history and buy them 10% less and beat the system." – Wolfe, 65:36

— Listener Testimonials & Auction Stories

• Caller thanks GiveMeTheVIN for a smooth sale:

  “I just sold my car to y’all yesterday, and y’all did a great job. Gave me a fair offer and really quick, like took 15 minutes to get it done.” – Dewey, 90:57

5. Sports, Politics & Pop Culture Free-For-All

• Trump Tariffs: Quick reactions to tariffs on beer, avocados, and tequila.
• Elton John & Brexit: Elton John’s onstage Brexit rant played and dissected.
• NBA & NHL Finals: Side conversations about Raptors vs. Warriors, Canadian politeness, Blues’ Stanley Cup win, and U.S. sports regionalism.
• Politics & Media Satire: Parody calls from “Rush Limbaugh,” jabs at Hannity and Howard Stern; light takes on hot-button political events (Brexit, Trump gaffes, Democrat primaries).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Auction Energy:
  "It is a show of energy unto itself...It takes about two and a half to three hours, and you watch every kind of big profile vehicle roll by... Our goal back then was 100 a month. Last month? Over 2,000." — Bobbo (04:03)

• On Video Podcasting & Technology:
  "When we get a broadcast, a video broadcast, this thing... Well, if we're gonna start doing TV, I gotta lose weight." — J.D., riffing on modern video tools (02:15)

• On International Sales:
  "Somewhere along the line, we lost Stoner Dave. And we've never met anyone with that kind of knowledge..." — Bobbo, nostalgic about lost staff and changing tech (02:41)

• On Customer Service & Transparency:
  "When you get into stuff like [a high-mileage CRV], the Carfax doesn’t matter. Fully depreciated, it just doesn’t matter – if it runs and the AC blows cold, that’s what counts." — Wolfe, 101:25

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Content / Segment | |:--------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:21 | JD takes the controls, technical humor, missing Turley | | 03:03 | John Clay Wolfe enters, pitch for call-ins & car appraisals | | 04:03 | Auction stories, company growth from 8 to 2,000+ cars/month | | 10:47 | Listener offers to help with video podcasting, show tech history | | 14:22 | “If you remember Boogie Nights…” pop culture riffing | | 19:36 | Hunter S. Thompson/Gonzo journalism, Aspen memories | | 25:27 | More car appraisal calls – from Cadillacs to classic Fords | | 35:02 | Rocketman/Elton John review, music nostalgia | | 42:03 | Divorce venting, selling the ex’s Porsche live on air | | 52:03 | Carfax, delayed accident damage, market impacts | | 61:39 | Tariffs, political commentary, Mexican imports | | 80:42 | Sports talk: NBA Finals, Canadian trash talk vs U.S. cities | | 90:57 | “Fast, smooth sale” – listener testimonial | | 115:54 | Flooding, car damage, and insurance implications | | 132:01 | House remodel horror stories – John’s builder angst | | 147:48 | Call from a house inspector, building tips, city codes | | 150:28 | “Man calls 911 to brag about escaping the cops” – bit/story | | 155:01 | “White, Black, Latino, or Other” guessing game | | 177:59 | Jimmy Kimmel’s Canadian trash talk bit – NBA Finals | | 182:01 | College/NFL football fandom, regional sports energy | | 163:40 | On incredible sales growth, risk, and handling $40M a month |

Tone and Takeaways

• Tone: Frequently irreverent, blue-collar-comedic, fast-talking, grounded in car-biz reality, with a healthy amount of self-deprecating humor and open-team banter.
• Insight: The show offers both a master-class in high-volume car sales and a cathartic, relatable escape for listeners who've ever worked in high-pressure, customer-facing industries.
• Flow: The show is loose, intentionally weaving between real calls, riffing on headlines, and classic “guys talking in a garage” energy.

Concluding Thoughts

Even for those who have never listened, this episode delivers a behind-the-scenes view of running a growing national company, surviving (and thriving) amidst live radio chaos, and inviting listeners into the highs and lows of car culture, entrepreneurial hustle, and enduring American pastimes. Car culture may be the hook, but John Clay Wolfe’s community (from Pre K’s comedic storytelling to Bobbo’s rock wisdom) is the engine that keeps the show moving — fast, funny, and always riding the edge.

“We bought 2300 last month. I say that to brag... but also because I’m proud and I want you to know we know what the hell we’re doing.” – John Clay Wolfe (15:38)