The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #517 Summary (08.16.25)

Episode Overview

This episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show blends car talk, pop culture, wild banter, and listener call-ins, powered by the irreverent energy of John Clay Wolfe and his crew. With a focus on everything from automotive buying advice to celebrity relationships, current sports rumors, airline horror stories, and musings on rock 'n' roll legends, the show maintains its characteristic fast-paced, outrageous, and unfiltered style.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Elvis Presley Anniversary & Personal Health

• The crew honors the anniversary of Elvis’s death and reminisces about “the King.”

• John compares his bout with salmonella to the dramatic passing of Elvis, sparking jokes about dying infamously.

  • Quote:
    “I've got salmonella. And I'm not trying to compare myself to Elvis, but last night, I thought I was gonna die.”
    – John Clay Wolfe, [02:39]

  • Recurring theme: “Dying like Elvis” (on the toilet).

2. Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce & Celebrity Culture

• Banter about the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, including the record-breaking New Heights podcast episode (stats cited from John’s wife).

• Discussion about “Swiftie” fan culture and the impact of Taylor's online presence.

  • Notable Stats:

    • 380M views on Instagram
    • 62M on X (Twitter)
    • 35M on TikTok
    • 15M on YouTube
    • 1.3M live viewers

  • Quote:
    “He is deeply in love with her. Like, he is smitten. Like, there's no doubt about it.”
    – Co-host Bob, [05:36]

  • Skepticism about realness vs. a “bit” for their careers; crew concludes it’s genuine.

3. Celebrity Manifesting & Internet Virality

• Playful challenge about "manifesting" a celebrity romance to see if it can “crash the internet.”

• Jokes about manifesting Anne Hathaway, Apollonia (from 1983), Lizzo, and more.

  • Quote:
    “Do it for the show.”
    – Co-hosts urge each other, [09:23]

• Visual and physical jokes about logistics, especially regarding Lizzo (“harpoon her and pick her up with a forklift”)—offering a taste of the show's irreverence.

• Reflection on viral moments and what it takes to break the Internet in 2025.

4. Taylor Swift’s “Super Bowl” Speculation

• Predictions (by Bob) that Taylor will perform at the Super Bowl this year, especially if held in San Francisco, prompting a side discussion on stereotypes and “tracking share”—with risqué humor about likely crowd demographics.

  • Quote:
    “There will be a lot of glitter and a lot of homosexuals if it's in San Francisco.”
    – John Clay Wolfe, [11:45]

5. Travel & Adventures: Sturgis, L.A., and Monterey

• Crew recounts recent trips: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (stories of motorcycles, partying, 'aged slutty women'), Monterey Car Week (Ferrari F40 sales), and show road trips.

• Sturgis is described as a wild, aging crowd but still a spectacle.

  • Quote:
    “Rode motorcycles, drank beer, saw slutty women, aged slutty women. It's not the youngest crowd in the world.”
    – John Clay Wolfe, [22:59]

  • Remarkable sale at Monterey:

    • Ferrari F40: Bids up to $3.3M—discussion of collector car auction strategies, insider dealings among auction regulars.

6. Car Buying Call-ins

• John fields numerous audience calls to price vehicles on air, offering blunt, real-world advice.

  • Key Calls:
    • 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo:
      John critiques owner expectations (“these cars…the flex disc in them goes bad, this goes bad, that goes bad…Nobody’s ever happy with these old cars because they break. It’s a pain in the ass. Eight grand.”)
      – [19:17]
    • 2005 Toyota 4Runner:
      Explains computer vs. human pricing (computers don’t adapt for ultra low miles well – “that’s the problem with computers and how they haven’t taken over people yet”).
      – [50:17]
    • 1989 Camaro RS needing paint:
      Hard truth about project car value and costs.
      – [53:03]
    • Nissan Frontier, 2023, with only 600 miles:
      John offers $36k, jokes about “Nissan glut” and pokes at Carvana’s bait-and-switch tactics.
      – [92:27]
    • 1969 Torino Talladega, partial resto:
      Discusses project risk vs. finished car pricing (“If I’m taking on a project, I’m buying it where I’m going to make some money. That’s my rule.”)
      – [89:15]
    • BMW 2002 TII:
      Blunt assessment of collector market value and risk.
      – [100:04]

7. Mail From Jail – and Satan’s Advice

• Segment features a letter from “Carlos” in jail, lamenting his situation.

• Comedic “Satan” character gives advice—urges Carlos to buck up and enjoy the ride, riffing on prison tropes and pop culture references.

  • Quote:
    “I'm asking for help. God has not answered my prayers. So maybe Satan on your show can give me some answers…”
    – “Carlos,” [30:11]

  • “Satan” responds:
    “Here's what makes it – just a splash of ginger ale. Really lovely. And that guy is making fun of his cellmate and his, quote, girlfriend… It's a men's prison, and they are both. But the girlfriend looks just like Tina Louise in 1965. I'm a ginger guy myself.”
    – [32:23]

8. Current Events: Airline & Sports World

• Southwest Pilot Arrested:
  News and reactions to a pilot being removed from duty for suspected DUI—jokes about “The Flight” film, pilot drinking culture, and airline industry mishaps.

  • Quote:
    “It's a felony. Yeah. Once you get caught, you're done. You're done.”
    – Co-host Greg, [34:54]

• Spirit Airlines Commentary:
  The crew rips on the no-frills carrier: “Spirit, they're sticking to cup and ball like paddle ball… flying in a third world country…”
  – [55:49, 56:07]

9. WNBA Pranks (Dildo-Throwing)

• Hilarious discussion about viral trend of fans throwing sex toys onto the court at WNBA games. The crew debates legality, the origins of the meme (TikTok, insinuations about sexuality), and riff extensively.

  • Quote:
    “People throwing dildos on the court at the WNBA games. What is that about, man?”
    – John Clay Wolfe, [64:44]

  • Legal consequences discussed, but mostly lampooned: “Upper deck assault with a deadly rubber Johnson.”
    – [67:01]

10. Pop Culture & Celebrity Gossip

• Charlie Sheen Documentary:
  Mixed reactions—some care, some don’t. Brief clip played (“He was the highest paid TV star of all time. Everything was fine for a while. Nobody got hurt, nobody got arrested. For a while.”)
  – [46:21]

• Pete Davidson’s “Big D*ck Energy”:
  The crew jokes about the origin of his reputation for “BDE,” “He’s so ugly. He’s lucky.”
  – [79:16]

• Manifesting Celebrity Hookups
  John: “Colombian. From the–”
  Eddie: “Oh, the manifest thing.”
  – [09:20]

11. Politics & Redistricting

• Touches on Texas and California redistricting, gerrymandering, and how it’s used to shape voting demographics. Not a deep dive—mostly cynical, knowing jokes.

  • Quote:
    “Why are you doing this? Because we can.”
    – Co-host Eddie, [77:16]

12. Music & Elvis Presley Deep Dive

• Multiple segments connect to Elvis’s legacy—Graceland tour stories, culture vulture discussion, and a backward song ID game (“Blue Suede Shoes,” “Return to Sender”).

• John’s candid reflections on Graceland:
  “He was just a pimp… If you haven’t been to Graceland, it’s worth going to for sure.”
  – [105:59]

  • Elvis as “the original baller,” his culture appropriation and generosity (Cadillacs).

13. Banter, Adult Humor & Podcast Vibe

• Irreverent riffs on topics such as middle school sex ed, swimming attire, and airline "class"—on the edge but continuous, rolling with the show’s boundary-pushing energy.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I've got salmonella. And I'm not trying to compare myself to Elvis, but last night, I thought I was gonna die.”
  – John, [02:39]

• “He is deeply in love with her. Like, he is smitten… It's not a bit. No.”
  – Bob, [05:36]

• “Rode motorcycles, drank beer, saw slutty women, aged slutty women. It's not the youngest crowd in the world.”
  – John, [22:59]

• “This is the problem with computers and how they haven’t taken over people yet…”
  – John, [50:17]

• “Upper deck assault with a deadly rubber Johnson.”
  – Eddie, [67:01]

• “If I was super ugly, I’d hope I had something on there…”
  – John, about Pete Davidson, [80:35]

Memorable Moments & Running Gags

• “Mail from Jail” with advice from “Satan”
• Spirited, semi-inappropriate, but always on-brand humor about sex, race, body types, and generational culture—e.g., breeders’ biology, airport chicks, and the color-coding of retirement community golf carts.
• Live car pricing: brutally honest, sometimes crushing owner’s dreams, but offering real-world wisdom.

Segment Timestamps

• Elvis Memorial & Salmonella Story: [01:06]–[04:10]
• Taylor Swift Discussion: [04:26]–[08:53]
• Celebrity “Manifesting” Game: [09:00]–[10:26]
• Sturgis & Monterey Recaps: [22:24]–[25:48]
• Car Calls (Porsche, Toyota, Camaro, Nissan, BMW): [14:44]–[54:46], [89:15], [100:04]
• Mail from Jail (w/Satan): [29:17]–[33:22]
• Southwest Pilot Arrest Story: [33:28]–[36:54]
• Spirit Airlines Roast: [55:01]–[57:56]
• WNBA Dildo-Throwing: [64:44]–[69:44]
• Pop Culture (Charlie Sheen/Pete Davidson): [46:01]–[80:21]
• Redistricting Politics: [77:05]–[78:41]
• Graceland & Elvis Memories: [105:03]–[107:52]
• Elvis Song ID Game: [94:48]–[104:35]

Final Thoughts

This episode is quintessential John Clay Wolfe—raucous, unpredictable, and loaded with both useful insights (especially in the car segments) and unapologetic humor that regularly crosses lines. The crew's chemistry, storytelling, and authenticity distinguish the show, making even the wildest tangents compelling to regular listeners.

For full episodes & live stream:
Visit jcwshow.com
Call-in number: 800-800-RADIO

End of Summary