The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #520 – 09.06.25

Live from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega, Alabama

Overview

This energetic episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show finds the crew spread out, with John broadcasting from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at Talladega, while the rest of the team holds it down in studio. True to form, the show meanders through a frenzy of topics—from wild car stories, sharp takes on YouTube and tech monopolies, classic “car segment” banter, to offbeat news and irreverent comedy bits. Special guest Adam Carolla joins the fray for a candid postmortem about a last-minute emcee gig gone wrong and to talk classic cars. The atmosphere is lively, real, and always unpredictable, fueling coffee-fueled discussions about cars, scams, bizarre news, sports, and Southern life.

Main Segments & Key Moments

1. On Location: Talladega, Car Shows, and the Paul Newman Collection (00:38, 22:30, 23:13)

Theme: John is live at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, prepping for a major weekend car show and a fundraiser for the relocation of the Paul Newman race car collection. Adam Carolla is supposed to emcee but gets stranded by a flight delay, throwing John into the hot seat.

• Car Culture: Discussion of rare vehicles on display and Dale Earnhardt’s car.
• Big Events: Triple Crown of Rodding at the Nashville Superspeedway gets a glowing review.
• Museum Awkwardness: John retells the cringey story of unexpectedly hosting a formal dinner in Carolla’s stead.

Quote:
“I felt like I was at an ice cream social at the Baptist church. Wow.”
— John Clay Wolfe (25:20)

Timestamp Highlights:

• [00:38] – Kickoff from Talladega
• [14:03] – Upcoming events
• [22:30] – Car show reviews & importance of Paul's Newman car
• [24:12] – “Am I doing comedy or what?” Host recounts being marooned at the podium

2. “Car Talk” Lightning Round – Bidding, Buying, and Classic Stories (14:37, 15:33, 50:03, 87:00, and throughout)

Theme: The show’s signature segment—listeners call in to get live offers on classic, collectible, and daily-driver vehicles. Stories about cars and the sellers themselves give delightful insight into personalities and car culture.

• Real Deals: Live, unsparing appraisals—no sugarcoating for overpriced or worn-out rides.
• Quirky Sellers: From a beat Infiniti to a near-worthless rusty Cutlass, callers are put through the paces.
• Auto-folklore: Listeners get details on process, value, and John’s droll market analysis (“If you’re not lying, I’m buying”).

Quote:
“Take some pictures of that ugly bitch and send them to me.”
— John Clay Wolfe (about evaluating a Toyota Avalon, 17:54)

Timestamp Highlights:

• [15:33–20:56] – Car bidding parade
• [50:03–55:21] – The value of a ‘68 Camaro, salvage yard Roadmaster, and more
• [87:00] – Lightning round: Overvalued Camaro Z28, Backdraft Cobra kit car
• [124:34] – More live bids, including a high-mile Subaru and listener gratitude

3. News & Weird World: Scams, Fetishes, and Florida (03:22, 39:34, 45:24, 70:21, 76:07)

Themes: Outlandish news stories are a JCW Show staple, skewered with wit. This week features:

• Scams Worldwide: An 80-year-old woman gives up her life savings to a “space-stranded astronaut” romance scammer ([03:22]).
• Odd News Collection:
  • A Dallas guy asks to watch women go to the bathroom.
  • California’s notorious “butt sniffer” is finally back in jail ([76:07]).
  • Florida’s never-ending parade of weird: Arrests at Chuck E. Cheese, foot fetish crimes, and more.

Quote:
“I mean, come on, people. I realize she’s 80, but I’m running out of oxygen. Hell, I’m sorry. My favorite story of the week.”
— J.D. Ryan (05:23)

4. Panel Banter: Tires, Pimping Advice & Dating Realities (05:36-09:49, 38:39, 111:09)

Theme: Relationships take center stage as John and JD dissect a girlfriend’s failed pitch to get a new set of tires, the concept of “shreking” (dating down for comfort or care), and even swinging club standards.

• “Shreking”: The new term for “dating ugly for safety.”
• Swingers’ Rules: “No uggos” allowed in their circle; the perils for mismatched spouses.
• Classic ball-busting: The guys needle each other over past relationships, generosity, and whiskey budgets.

Notable Exchange:
“How many rounds had you had with her?... She needed four rounds on her Neon.”
—John grilling JD about “tire lady” (07:33)

5. Tech Takedown: YouTube, Google, and the Disappearance of Old Media (31:05–34:52)

Theme: John rails against Google/YouTube’s advertising and search practices, highlighting how businesses must “buy back” their own brand names. The show ponders YouTube’s dominance, creator culture, payouts, and the death of cable.

• Insider View: John shares Gimme the VIN’s real ad spend and YouTube revenues.
• Creators as Network Stars: Mr. Beast, YouTube NFL games, and the waning power of Hollywood.

Quote:
“They just take a loss leader to brand up their product, which is YouTube. And it’s gonna work. They’re gonna take over the world. Somebody’s gonna stop these people. You think Standard Oil was a problem? This is a problem.”
—John Clay Wolfe (31:33)

6. Awkwardness Unplugged: The Fundraiser Fallout (24:44, 79:02)

Theme: John details the trainwreck of stepping in last minute as emcee—a room expecting Adam Carolla and getting John with no script. When Adam finally arrives, they poke fun at the ordeal and the “sink or swim” nature of live events.

• Mutual Roast: Adam and John good-naturedly break down the cringe.
• Live Event Insights: “Read your crowd” and the perils of no prep time.

Quote:
“I can tell you, the crowd wasn’t... I felt like I was at an ice cream social at the Baptist church.”
—John Clay Wolfe

7. Sports & Picks: Football (college/NFL), Fights, and Spit (39:34–43:07, 94:53–103:47)

Theme:

• NFL Spit Off: Discussion of the week’s big NFL scandal—Eagles player Jalen Carter ejected for spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (39:34).
• Betting Roundup: College and pro picks, with Adam Carolla weighing in, and John handicapping based on players’ girlfriends and cuck rumors.

8. Listener Interactions: Fan in Talladega, Stories from the Road (113:04)

Theme:

• Listener “Jake”: 25-year-old fan rides his motorcycle up to meet John live, highlighting the show's reach through social media, not traditional radio.
• Forrest Gump Hiker: Ongoing saga of a listener walking the Appalachian Trail, reporting in from the wild ([89:53]).

9. Bits & Comedy: Mail from Jail, Top 5 Ways to Avoid Butt Sniffers, and More (105:41, 77:43)

Theme:

• “Mail From Jail”: Hilarious and slightly sketchy letters from incarcerated listeners, with Bobbo doing his Johnny Cash.
• Top 5 List: “Ways to Prevent Having Your Butt Sniffed by a Sexual Predator” ([77:43]).
• Irreverent Spoofs: e.g., Florida’s new “Novax Daycare,” satire on anti-vax culture ([37:27]).

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "I felt like I was at an ice cream social at the Baptist church. Wow." — John Clay Wolfe (25:32)
• “Take some pictures of that ugly bitch and send them to me.” — John, about an Avalon for sale (17:54)
• “They just take a loss leader to brand up their product, which is YouTube. And it’s gonna work. They’re gonna take over the world.” — John (31:32)
• “You need to listen to [Easy E’s 'Dope Man'] on the way home today… Trading P for crack.” — John (06:25)
• “How do you fix that? You buy your own name back to be at the top of the fold.”— John, on Google (32:25)
• “There are impersonators, but we also do classic and collector cars. We also do highline cars, Porsches, ferraris, Lamborghinis, rolls, etc. And when I say that, I’m not just talking like we’ve done one. We do, you know, 20 a week…” — John (111:23)

Memorable Bits and Fun

• YouTube and Modern Media: A crash course in how businesses now fight for their own names in ad auctions, with frank revenue talk.
• Car Segments: Fast-paced, unvarnished, occasionally brutal negotiations live on air.
• Odd News: From foot-sniffers and butt-sniffers to Chuck E. Cheese arrests, no strange news item is left untouched.
• Live Show Comedy: Physical awkwardness, especially as John hosts alone at a public event, is mined for relatable laughs.

Episodes Structure

1. Opening (Live at Talladega, show banter, music buttons)
2. Car Segments (continues throughout, intermixed with listener stories and market commentary)
3. Headlines/News (scams, weird stories, sports)
4. Listener Calls and Stories (including Appalachian Trail hiker, classic car owners)
5. Comedy Bits
6. Tech Talk & Media Rants
7. Music & Culture (football talk, concert news, classic rock tributes)
8. Guest Segment with Adam Carolla
9. Closing: Upcoming events, car show recommendations, musical sendoff

Final Takeaway

The John Clay Wolfe Show remains a whirlwind of unfiltered car culture, southern storytelling, and sharp, sometimes irreverent, humor. Episode #520 is a testament to its format: off-the-cuff, real talk about cars, scams, sports, and the absurdity of the world, seamlessly blending deep expertise with deeply unserious fun. Whether you’re a gearhead, a podcast junkie, or just along for the unpredictable ride, this episode delivers a full tank of entertainment.

Listen Highlights:

• [03:22] Romance scam in Japan
• [14:37][15:33][50:03][87:00] Live car offers
• [24:44][79:02] Museum emcee gone wrong
• [39:34][45:24][70:21][76:07] News of the weird (spit, foot fetishes, Chuck E. Cheese, butt sniffers)
• [105:41] Mail from Jail
• [113:04] Fan in Talladega meets John live