The John Clay Wolfe Show – JCW ARCHIVE: Working Hardly (Jan 16, 2026)

Episode Overview

This throwback episode of The John Clay Wolfe Show features an entertaining interview focused on Uncle Roy, a longtime family friend and valued member of the team at GiveMeTheVIN.com. The hosts reminisce about Uncle Roy's decades-long employment, hilarious stories from his work delivering and picking up cars (often under unusual circumstances), and his deep influence within the Wolfe family and company. The tone is informal and humorous, packed with anecdotes about cars, work ethic, mishaps, and the camaraderie that defines the show.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introducing Uncle Roy and His Role (00:45 – 02:02)

• DJ Pre K gives a shoutout to Uncle Roy, now retired but known for his wisdom and humor.
• Uncle Roy managed the drive team for GiveMeTheVIN.com, coordinating drivers and logistics for car pickups and deliveries.
• The week’s bad weather had operations at a standstill. Uncle Roy notes:

  "Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing at all." – Uncle Roy (02:43)

2. Legendary Pickup Stories and Encounters (02:49 – 04:41)

• The hosts prompt Roy to recall memorable car deliveries, focusing on the occasional flirtatious or awkward encounters with clients.
• Notable stories include:
  • The Dallas Hummer H1/H2 pickup where a woman tried to woo Roy ("Hey, you look thirsty. Hey, you look hungry.").
  • The Corpus Christi delivery, which stands out for Roy:

    "I think the one in Corpus is the best… My nerves just wouldn't take it." – Uncle Roy (03:29, 03:35)

  • Roy describes being alone, far from home, surrounded by strangers, and feeling outnumbered:

    "She had a lot of workers out there, and they all just staring at me, so I ain't know what was going on." – Uncle Roy (04:14)

• The crew jokes that Roy is frequently in demand for more than his driving skills.

3. Early Days, Family Ties & Work Adventures (04:41 – 07:44)

• The story of how Roy joined the Wolfe family business in 1968:

  "A cousin working for your granddaddy… came to Mississippi and got drunk, and he had to be to work for the next day, so he conned me driving him back over here… then Roy started working for my granddad." – Roy & Interviewer/Host (05:32–06:39)

• Roy has worked for three Wolfe generations: John’s grandfather, father, and now the current team.
• Young John Clay Wolfe’s childhood involved working for Roy from an early age, running equipment and occasionally getting into mischief.

  "He paid me… $8 an hour. I remember him telling me, don't tell anybody what you're making." – Interviewer/Host (07:16)

4. Lessons in Work and Mischief (07:44 – 10:11)

• Anecdotes highlight John’s attempts to sneak in naps, cruise around job sites, and youthful curiosity—often getting caught by Roy.
  • Example: 12-year-old John going "recon" for girls during lunch:

    "I missed my truck about 11 o'clock one day… here he come driving home… he said, 'Well, I was going down there to see what’s in the girls down there so we can go through there for lunch. I said it recon.'" – Uncle Roy (08:24)

• Uncle Roy was both supervisor and unofficial mentor, teaching equipment skills through hands-on trial and guidance.
• Roy’s philosophy:

  "That's something you can't teach. You had to let him find out on his own… then you fine tune him." – Uncle Roy (09:21, 09:26)

• John tells about overzealous digging:

  "The first hole I dug in the back of the shop was pretty big… about 40ft deep. He got mad." – Interviewer/Host (09:32)

5. Uncle Roy’s Ongoing Wisdom & Reputation (10:11 – 10:28)

• Uncle Roy manages his team with the experience and savvy gained from years of "catching" employees—(including John)—"screwing off" on the job.

  "He knows what they’re doing before they do it... 'Oh, I know. Trust me, I know.'" – Interviewer/Host & Uncle Roy (10:11, 10:28)

Notable Quotes by Segment

• (02:43) Uncle Roy: “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing at all.”
• (03:29/03:35) Uncle Roy: “I think the one in Corpus is the best. I think it was the best... My nerves just wouldn't take it.”
• (04:14) Uncle Roy: “I ain't got nobody for nothing. And she had a lot of workers out there, and they all just staring at me, so I ain't know what was going on.”
• (07:16) Interviewer/Host: “He paid me… $8 an hour. I remember him telling me, don’t tell anybody what you’re making.”
• (08:24) Uncle Roy: “Well, I was going down there to see what’s in the girls down there so we can go through there for lunch. I said it recon.”
• (09:21) Uncle Roy: “That's something you can't teach. You had to let him find out on his own.”
• (10:28) Uncle Roy: “Oh, I know. Trust me, I know.”

Memorable Moments

• Uncle Roy's Corpus Christi story: A mix of comedy and tension as he feels trapped in a strange house by an overly forward client (03:29 – 04:36).
• Childhood job site escapades: John recounts sneaking off in the company truck at age 12—“recon” for girls—unwittingly scaring Roy (07:44 – 08:45).
• Generational ties: The heartfelt realization that Uncle Roy worked for three generations of the Wolfe family, becoming legendary in both the business and the family (06:06 – 06:48).

Structure and Tone

• The show maintains a relaxed, candid, and good-natured tone throughout.
• Conversational style full of inside jokes, laughter, and gentle ribbing, characteristic of long-standing friendships.

Note: This summary omits all sponsor ads, show bumpers, and promotional chatter (occurring in the opening ~0:01-0:24 and close 10:32–end). The focus is on the core content—stories, lessons, and laughter from Uncle Roy and the crew.