The John Clay Wolfe Show — Episode #540 (01.31.26)
Date: January 31, 2026
Episode Overview
On this sprawling, energetic installment, John and the crew deliver their trademark rapid-fire blend of car talk, wild listener stories, irreverent humor, and candid behind-the-scenes chatter. Topics range from ice storms and Philly snowplow drama to bizarre car auction results, sex and aging, sports betting among teens, and Oklahoma’s “realest” life lessons. Recurring bits — like the Lightning Round, Backtracks, and the “Truth” segment — keep the action tight and unpredictable. If you’re new to the JCW universe, buckle up for fast laughs, off-color jokes, and surprisingly thoughtful moments in the mix.
Key Segments, Topics, & Insights
1. Opening & Business Updates
00:45 – 04:11, 24:54 – 28:39
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Classic Car Buyer Recruitment:
- John seeks new talent for bidding on classic and collector cars for GiveMeTheVIN, ideally "an older guy that's an encyclopedia" in Dallas/Fort Worth, but encourages young experts too.
- Also mentions hiring needs in Baton Rouge, Nashville (Mount Juliet, TN), and Philadelphia area offices.
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Expansion News:
- New office in Mount Juliet, TN.
- The show is now airing in Philly (WMMR 102.9 FM).
"I really need somebody that will bid these cars and knows what hiccups in the current market. A walking VIN number guy."
— John, 00:53
2. Philly’s Snow Plow Viral Incident
04:11 – 06:14
- Panel discusses a viral video from Philly of a snowplow driver intentionally burying illegally parked cars—and laughing about it—inciting local outrage.
"If your car look like this, just go ahead back in the house."
— Laughing Philly snowplow driver, 04:43
3. Texas Ice Storm & Team Gets Snowed In
06:14 – 08:03; 29:48 – 32:58
- JD, Bobbo, and Pre K recount being snowed in at the studio/barndominium for multiple days.
- Conversations about driving skills in ice, who bailed out and who got stuck, and scarcity of supplies.
- Hilarious honesty around coping — "cabin fever," the lack of food, and bringing Goldfish crackers and weed for survival.
"Bobbo and Pre K got stuck. They spent a couple nights here."
— John, 08:12
"You get that indica... you know, I'm a little hungry... we got goldfish here."
— Bobbo, 39:56
4. Lightning Round – Live Car Appraisals
10:23 – 16:32; 48:49 – 52:04; 86:00 – 89:09
- Listeners call in to get live bids on their cars (e.g., 2026 Silverado, 2013 Sonata with an emotional backstory, 1965 Corvette Grand Sport replica, Ford F-250s, dump trucks, right-hand drive Skylines).
- John’s expertise on valuations, nuances in pricing, and “straight talk” advice is on full display.
- Sometimes poignant: a maintenance man shares how students gave him a car after his son's passing.
"I'd keep that car. I'd keep driving it. It's not gonna break down on you. It's got great miles..."
— John, advising a listener, 15:05
5. Relationship/Sexuality, Humor & Social Commentary
17:01 – 22:03; 95:55 – 98:13
- Discussion of a study about men’s desire for sex peaking in late 30s/early 40s and women’s "after watching a few episodes of gay hockey."
- Candid and humorous exchanges about "gay affectation," growing up, sibling dynamics, and how upbringing affects personality.
- The team's banter pushes boundaries, but they couch it in authentic, sometimes self-deprecating commentary.
"She used to dress me up as all three Supremes."
— Pre K, 20:12
"We've offended the gays, we've offended the hockey fans, we've offended Oklahoma."
— JD Ryan, 21:24
6. Legendary Oklahoma Caller Story
49:48 – 59:04; 57:38 – 59:00
- Epic phone call with “Brian from Oklahoma,” a colorful caller who sells cars, runs a tree business with brothers, and shares stories of blindness by gunshot, meth-prison sentences, and family fights.
- Show embraces the wild "real America" anecdotes, with John joking about the perpetual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry.
"Y'all think I make fun of Oklahomans for no reason? I mean, you're just painting the picture."
— John, 58:32
7. Classic & Collector Car Auction Madness
74:28 – 84:20
- John describes absurd car auction prices — a 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood somehow going for ~$93k, a rusty Lincoln getting $1 million, and why these sales aren’t real market indicators.
- Debunks money laundering and tax loopholes; it's often just "rich people trying to buy back a memory."
- Cautions against overpaying and shares tips for spotters & buyers.
"When you take these cars to Barrett-Jackson and you see these things, that is not a market indicator."
— John, 78:58
8. Sports Betting Among Teens, Gambling, and the Car Biz
45:28 – 47:44
- New study: over 1/3 of boys aged 11–17 have bet on sports.
- Humor around teaching kids to gamble, how the GiveMeTheVIN business is “basically sports betting on cars.”
"GiveMeTheVIN.com is just a big ol' sports car betting organization. And truth be told, that's exactly what it is."
— John, 47:01
9. Viral Internet, YouTube Success & Social Media Riffs
25:19 – 28:20; 95:09 – 99:09
- Show celebrates hitting 100k YouTube subscribers (earning the "silver button"—which John jokes he'll blow up with Tannerite).
- Conversation on shifting social media algorithms — people don’t have to subscribe; AI just predicts what you want.
- The Dr. Pepper “good and nice” jingle TikTok/YouTube craze — show debunks rumors that the creator was paid $2 million (AI fact-check confirms: false).
- Their own parodies (Welch’s Grape Soda song, Mountain Dew) and riffing on viral culture.
"People don't subscribe to channels like they used to because the algorithms, the AI shows you what you want to see."
— John, 27:29
"Chat GPT says it is not true. They did not pay her 2 million... typical Internet rumor."
— John, 97:47
10. GasMonkey & Upcoming Community Events
91:57 – 94:25
- Upcoming broadcast at Gas Monkey Ice House (car show, Dallas, next Saturday).
- Community events: Monthly “Cars, Coffee, Quesadillas” meetup at GMTV Garage in Walnut Springs.
11. Games, Bits, and Listener Calls
- Backtracks / Music Quiz: 127:11+ – Backwards David Bowie, listeners guess for rare vinyl prize.
- The Truth Segment: 68:14+ – Listeners rapid-fire their "truths," ranging from the hysterical to the bizarre or dark.
- Jeopardy-Style Game: 142:29+ – Staff and callers compete with wide-ranging pop culture, car, and history questions.
Notable Quotes & Moments
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"Your brisket is dry and flavorless."
— Oklahoma listener roasting Texas, 23:08 -
"We just sat here and got stoned all weekend. Let's just call it what it was."
— John, razzing the crew post-snow-in, 38:00 -
"He brings his cat, Zeke. Let's just say Zeke likes to meow every hour on the hour."
— Bobbo, on surviving the ice storm, 32:08 -
"Dude, buy it from me and you'll get a tax writeoff—at least you can say it’s charity."
— JD, on donating a junkie Land Rover, 103:47 -
"I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but this one made a lot of sense... Epstein was a spy. That's why he got away with all that."
— John, on new Epstein file theories, 112:01 -
"We're not laundering money, we're just buying cars! And we will pay you with a check or a wire..."
— John, 85:48
Tone & Energy
- Playful, Raucous & Candid: Raw, real, sometimes off-color, but always inviting listeners inside both the business and the banter.
- Brash Honesty: No topic is too sacred for irreverence; the show pushes buttons but isn’t aimless—John keeps things moving and (mostly) out of the FCC’s crosshairs.
Standout Timestamps
- 00:45 – Show begins, hiring classic car talent, business expansion.
- 04:43 – Viral Philly snowplow driver bit.
- 07:03 – Team argues over braving Texas ice storm.
- 15:04 – Emotional listener: school gifts a car after tragedy.
- 21:24 – "We’ve offended everyone" meta-joke.
- 49:48 – Brian from Oklahoma’s no-holds-barred call.
- 74:51 – Absurd Barrett-Jackson car auction prices.
- 86:00 – Lightning round: Kia Sportage appraisal.
- 95:28 – Dr Pepper jingle TikTok/YouTube deep dive.
- 112:12 – Epstein files & “Diary of a CEO” podcast recommended.
- 127:11 – Backtracks (David Bowie) segment.
- 142:29 – Jeopardy-style game with listeners.
Takeaways
- If you love cars, comedy, and no-filter radio, this is your show.
- GiveMeTheVIN isn’t just a business—it’s John and team’s vehicle for outlandish stories, real talk, and audience connection.
- Listener interactions—especially from “real America”—are often the best part: you’ll hear things here that no TV or news could script.
- Despite the wild tone, real human moments (from grief to pride to frustration) penetrate the noise, making the show both outrageous and occasionally moving.
Listen for wild stories, stick around for the irreverent wisdom—and if you want to sell a classic car, they probably just dropped knowledge (and a phone number) you need.