The John Clay Wolfe Show – Episode #97 Detailed Summary

Date: February 13, 2026
Podcast: The John Clay Wolfe Show
Host: John Clay Wolfe
Notable contributors: J.D. Ryan, Michael, Turley, and callers
Powered by: GiveMeTheVIN.com

Episode Overview

This episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show wades through the usual delightful chaos: a heavy theme around the death of Chris Cornell (rock vocalist, frontman of Soundgarden/Audioslave), candid banter about grunge, depression, and rock's troubled artists, car appraisals with a blend of humor, wild radio personalities, and a swirling mixture of fake headlines, sports, and running gags. As always, John and the crew riff on cars, sports, sex, drugs, and rock & roll, blending real talk with radio antics while keeping the FCC just at arm’s length.

Major Themes & Discussions

1. Remembering Chris Cornell & The Legacy of Grunge (00:44–05:09, 17:48–23:21, recurring)

• Chris Cornell’s Impact/The Tragedy of Grunge
  The show opens with a deep dive into the death of Chris Cornell, exploring his influence ("he was the best male vocalist in the business short of Robert Plant" – [20:17]) and the darkness associated with the grunge era. The discussion moves into territory about why so many grunge artists met early deaths, drawing lines to drug use, depression, and the somber tones of the genre.

• Connection to Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  The crew reflects on mental health, suicide, and the inability of even famous, well-loved people (e.g., Robin Williams) to be "saved" simply by their fame or network. The realness of sorrow and addiction comes through, with a repeated refrain that they aren’t making light of depression.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “There’s a reason that most grunge guys don’t last as long as other artists.” – John Clay Wolfe [03:40]
  • “But to hang yourself is just… can’t stick around. I mean, God, I just can't imagine leaving my children and my family” – J.D. Ryan [04:33]
  • “We’re never gonna get away from this kind of crap now. We miss you, man… Best male rock and roll vocalist for the past two decades, three decades.” – John Clay Wolfe [20:15]

• Listener/Caller Feedback:
  Multiple callers reminisce and weigh in on grunge, Chris Cornell, and the visible warning signs in his lyrics and videos.

• Meta-Memo: The show repeatedly plays snippets of Soundgarden and Audioslave, discussing “Pretty Noose” and “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart” as ominous signals.

2. Car Appraisals and Selling Process (10:02–16:06, interspersed throughout)

• Signature bit:
  Listeners call in to have their cars appraised live on air, with John providing on-the-spot offers and sometimes hilarious commentary on car models, caller backgrounds, or the stories attached to the vehicles.

• Radio-Infused Car Commerce:
  Frequent reminders about GiveMeTheVIN.com, recurring offers to beat CarMax, and tongue-in-cheek advice for sellers ("If we don't beat your CarMax offer, we will write you a check for 100 bucks. Well, I say we. It's me. I'll do it." – John Clay Wolfe [15:38])

• Memorable Moments:

  • Caller: “My wife just cannot keep her hands off me. So we got a fork on the way, and I need something bigger.” [10:47]
  • “Why, if she wasn't so horny, you wouldn't be so broke.” – John Clay Wolfe [11:42]

3. Fake News, Real News, and Outlandish Headlines (05:49 onward, notably 58:12, 140:41, 147:16)

• J.D. Ryan presents a rotating segment of bizarre or real headlines for the others to guess their authenticity (e.g., gas station nachos causing paralysis, someone defecating on a boss’s desk after winning the lottery, Taco Bell bribery attempts).

  • “Woman arrested for defecating on boss’s desk after winning the lottery. True or Facebook folly?” — J.D. Ryan [141:15]
  • “That one really happened. The guy by the way, the officer did not take the Taco Bell. He did take the guy to jail.” — J.D. Ryan [149:35]

• Audience Participation:
  The hosts quiz each other and listeners, using oddball headlines as a springboard to absurd stories and improvisational humor.

4. Top 5 (and Worst) Rock Vocalists of All Time (throughout, notably 48:32–50:16, 89:04–90:42, 91:46–93:16, 94:45–95:58, 131:28–133:06)

• Heated Debate and Running Top 5 List:

  • Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) is a consensus #1 among the hosts.
  • Chris Cornell is passionately defended by John as #2, with much debate.
  • Others: Freddie Mercury, Steve Perry, Ronnie Van Zant, Paul Rodgers, Axl Rose, Bruce Dickinson, Eddie Vedder, and more are discussed and argued over with listeners and guest voices (including comic impressions).

• Worst Vocalists List:
  The crew also gleefully names the worst male rock vocalists—including Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Bob Dylan—playing up their quirks and debating listener suggestions.

• Call-Ins:
  Listeners from all over the U.S. call to share their picks and sometimes roast the hosts’ opinions.

5. Car Culture Meets Strip Club Stereotypes (41:42–44:51)

• Humorous Segment:
  The show’s regular, Hannah (a dancer), is quizzed about “stripper cars,” confirming long-standing show jokes about Mustangs, Eclipses, and Corvettes being the rides of choice, with the crew riffing on the “stripper car culture” trope.

6. Comedy Sketches & Character Bits (34:23, 96:26, recurring)

• Recurring Characters:
  • Randy the Chipmunk: Offers bizarre, folksy animal stories and lampoons animal cruelty.
  • Son of a Bitch Spot: A mock ad for "the world’s biggest son of a bitch,” full of Texas-bluster and commercial satire.
  • Uncle Waldo: Soap-opera style comedic sketch of an elderly man’s romance.
  • Eddie Vedder & Satan Bits: Parody interviews with “Eddie Vedder” and “Satan,” lampooning grunge deaths and music tropes with surreal radio theater.

7. Sports & Pop Culture Updates (32:15, 134:01–137:13)

• NBA & MLB Roundup:
  Intern DJ Prek summarizes the NBA playoffs (Golden State Warriors' dominance, Spurs drama, Cavs/Celtics), MLB standings (Astros and Rangers), and oddities (e.g., Tom Brady’s wife accidentally revealing his concussion).

• Notable Quote:
  "Would you want your wife talking about your business?" – J.D. Ryan [32:57]

8. Radio Industry Inside Talk, Riffs, and Closing Podcast Chat (153:53 onward)

• Behind-the-Scenes Radio Business:
  The final segment—recorded as an unofficial, uncensored podcast—dives into the business of radio, advertising, media buys, and broadcasting’s evolving landscape. The crew discusses industry ethics, evolving technology, frustrations with sales managers, declining ad rates, and the future of local radio versus streaming and satellite.

• Memorable Quote:
  “The ethics of that industry are worse than the used car [business].”—John Clay Wolfe [178:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “We miss you, man. … Best male rock and roll vocalist for the past…three decades.” – John Clay Wolfe [20:17]
• “You see, even locally procured, finely crafted hydro, that you can pick up for around 290 an ounce, will yield $840 with markup.” – Bob Floyd, The Dope Report [65:44]
• “What fun is [not drinking Everclear]?” – John Clay Wolfe [08:01]
• “You got these three guys over there, and I’m over here.” – John Clay Wolfe, ribbing his cohosts’ musical taste [50:18]
• “I’ve never gotten in the car with a man that drives a Chrysler that didn’t apologize when we got in.” – John Clay Wolfe [119:53]
• “Satan: When he sang that Billie Jean—Michael Jackson’s alive again in our hearts. Music live forever, dog.” [125:44]
• “I love Abilene. I haven’t been there in a long time.” – John Clay Wolfe [144:02]
• “If you gave them in your contract one time to throw the ball in the gutter, they just throw it. Every fucking time.” – John Clay Wolfe [175:25]
• "If you want us to buy your car, you just go to givemetheven.com, load it up and turn it into money." – John Clay Wolfe [15:17]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Chris Cornell/Grunge Discussion: 00:44–05:09, 17:48–23:21
• Car Appraisal Call-Ins: 10:02–16:06 and scattered throughout the episode (e.g., 24:02, 25:40, 36:13)
• Best Vocalists Debate: 48:32–50:16, 89:04–90:42, 91:46–93:16, 131:28–133:06
• Fake News / Facebook Follies: 58:12, 140:41, 147:16
• Randy the Chipmunk & Comedy Sketches: 96:26, 107:18
• Eddie Vedder / Satan Parody: 101:36–105:25
• Sports Roundup: 134:01–137:13
• Radio Business & Industry Off-Air Chat: 153:54 onward

Conclusion & Episode Vibe

The episode is a quintessential John Clay Wolfe blend: a raucous, often blue Texas morning show mixing real car sales with unfiltered, radio-friendly (barely) comedy, pop culture banter, tributes to lost rockers, and listener engagement. Whether you’re here for the cars, the gags, or the unique voice of John Clay Wolfe and his crew, you’ll find a rhythm combining sincere discussion, irreverence, wild characters, and the anthems of rock’s past echoing through every segment.

The crew isn't shy about turning even the darkest topics into accessible, sometimes healing humor—and leave off with calls to listeners both to talk to someone if they're struggling and to remember that “if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.” As always, cars are bought, legends are debated, and the morning radio circus rolls on.

Listen for:

• The best (and worst) rock vocalists as debated by rowdy radio pros and listeners
• Real, live car appraisals with wit and candor
• Raw debates about mental health, music, and loss
• “Radio theater” with in-joke characters like Satan, Randy the Chipmunk, and Uncle Waldo
• Insiders’ gripes and laughs about the state of radio in America

To get your car appraised: GiveMeTheVIN.com

Podcast archive: Find more at JohnClayWolf.com or search "The John Clay Wolfe Show" on PodBean.

Note: All timestamps in MM:SS relative to the episode's progression. Most segments are blended and return, creating a loose, punchy rhythm throughout.