We were passing through Escalante, Utah, and met a young couple, Ian and Kaitlyn. Even though they had a sweet home in the heart of this mountain town, they had previously lived in their 1986 Syncro. We got to hear all about how they managed living in the bus—through turbulent weather and life circumstances. 

We were passing through Escalante, Utah, and met a young couple, Ian and Kaitlyn. Even though they had a sweet home in the heart of this mountain town, they had previously lived in their 1986 Syncro. We got to hear all about how they managed living in the bus—through turbulent weather and life circumstances.

Ian and Kaitlin (S6, E6)

Jesse Marshall

A guy with so many stories we had to make a second episode! You already know Jesse from the first episode of this season where he talked about leaving his job as a mortgage banker to start the world’s first mountain bike shuttle service called Coyote Shuttle. When we arrived at Coyote Shuttle, a gentleman was talking with Jesse about a welding job. Jesse is Moab’s go-to guy for fixes and emergencies. In fact, during this interview, he worked on our bus… 

A guy with so many stories we had to make a second episode! You already know Jesse from the first episode of this season where he talked about leaving his job as a mortgage banker to start the world’s first mountain bike shuttle service called <a href="https://www.coyoteshuttle.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coyote Shuttle</a>. When we arrived at Coyote Shuttle, a gentleman was talking with Jesse about a welding job. Jesse is Moab’s go-to guy for fixes and emergencies. In fact, during this interview, he worked on our bus…

Jesse Marshall, the Patron Saint of Broken Things (S6, E7)

We sat down with Paul Austin, the owner and operator of Austin Automotive in Canon City, Colorado. Even though Austin Automotive doesn’t specialize in air cooled VWs like our bus, Paul is more than knowledgable about bay windows like ours. He was willing to spend an afternoon giving our bus the once over before we climbed our way across the Rocky Mountains. 

We sat down with Paul Austin, the owner and operator of <a href="https://www.austinautomotive.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Austin Automotive </a>in Canon City, Colorado. Even though Austin Automotive doesn’t specialize in air cooled VWs like our bus, Paul is more than knowledgable about bay windows like ours. He was willing to spend an afternoon giving our bus the once over before we climbed our way across the Rocky Mountains.

Paul (S6, E5)

Buckle up, folks! This is a good ride. As we crisscrossed California, we stopped by the GoWesty campus in Los Osos to interview the founder and president, Lucas Valdes. It’s hard to imagine, but at one point in time, Lucas’ VW operation was considerably smaller. Lucas talks about how he started in the VW world, what it is like to grow a business, and some of the adventures he’s had along the way. 

Buckle up, folks! This is a good ride. As we crisscrossed California, we stopped by the <a href="https://gowesty.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GoWesty </a>campus in Los Osos to interview the founder and president, Lucas Valdes. It’s hard to imagine, but at one point in time, Lucas’ VW operation was considerably smaller. Lucas talks about how he started in the VW world, what it is like to grow a business, and some of the adventures he’s had along the way.

Lucas, President of GoWesty (S6, E4)

We were cruising around Moab, Utah, when I spied a stretch Vanagon parked on a side street. The side of it read Coyote Shuttle. A google search and a couple phone calls later and we were sitting down with Jesse Marshall (his wife calls him Jesse “VW” Marshall), the owner and operator of Coyote Shuttle. Even though I had called to get the story about the Vanagons, he had lots more stories…

We were cruising around Moab, Utah, when I spied a stretch Vanagon parked on a side street. The side of it read Coyote Shuttle. A google search and a couple phone calls later and we were sitting down with Jesse Marshall (his wife calls him Jesse “VW” Marshall), the owner and operator of Coyote Shuttle. Even though I had called to get the story about the Vanagons, he had lots more stories…

Jesse "VW" Marshall (S6,E1)

This episode is really special. When we started out on our 49 state adventure, we received a lot of encouragement. But then we got a message from a woman Ryan used to work with at children’s services some fifteen plus years ago. Her name is Sally Doyle. Even though Ryan and Sally worked together for years, he had missed an important detail about Sally’s life—she owned a VW bus.

This episode is really special. When we started out on our 49 state adventure, we received a lot of encouragement. But then we got a message from a woman Ryan used to work with at children’s services some fifteen plus years ago. Her name is Sally Doyle. Even though Ryan and Sally worked together for years, he had missed an important detail about Sally’s life—she owned a VW bus.

Sally (S6, E3)

Eric Arnold

We met Eric through the old VW network. I read a review of Jerry Steimel’s book Chasing Zorba in Vintage Voice magazine, so I looked up the editor, who happened to be Eric. I dropped him a line with a story idea. Before long I was writing an article for Vintage Voice. When it was all said and done, Eric said, hey if you’re ever out in Las Vegas, let me know. We sat down with Eric and learned quite a bit about what it takes to be a VW photographer. 

We met Eric through the old VW network. I read a review of Jerry Steimel’s book Chasing Zorba in Vintage Voice magazine, so I looked up the editor, who happened to be Eric. I dropped him a line with a story idea. Before long I was writing an article for Vintage Voice. When it was all said and done, Eric said, hey if you’re ever out in Las Vegas, let me know. We sat down with Eric and learned quite a bit about what it takes to be a VW photographer.

Eric Arnold (S6, E2)

Our favorite chef is back to share with us the story of how he became a chef. It's hilarious and heartwarming and sweet and savory. 

Our favorite chef is back to share with us the story of how he became a chef. It's hilarious and heartwarming and sweet and savory.

Detour #2: Xavier's Restaurant Story

Join us for some detours from our usual VW bus talk. We begin each episode by asking people to say and spell their names so we can accurately record it for the podcast and blog. Sometimes it is harder than you think. Also, Nellie has a story about a horse. 

Join us for some detours from our usual VW bus talk.  We begin each episode by asking people to say and spell their names so we can accurately record it for the podcast and blog. Sometimes it is harder than you think. Also, Nellie has a story about a horse.

Detour #1: Names and Nellie's Horse Story

Colin Kellogg, the Itinerant Air-Cooled Mechanic, is a hard person to catch up with, having zig-zagged over 300,000 miles across the US in his bus teaching other VW bus owners how to repair and maintain their own VWs. As luck would have it, we were able to meet up with Colin in sunny Florida and he was kind enough to share his story with us. Buckle up. It’s a wild ride, with a lot of twists and turns, but we promise you’ll learn something. 

Colin Kellogg, the <a href="https://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Itinerant Air-Cooled Mechanic</a>, is a hard person to catch up with, having zig-zagged over 300,000 miles across the US in his bus teaching other VW bus owners how to repair and maintain their own VWs. As luck would have it, we were able to meet up with Colin in sunny Florida and he was kind enough to share his story with us. Buckle up. It’s a wild ride, with a lot of twists and turns, but we promise you’ll learn something.

Colin Kellogg: The Itinerant Air-cooled Mechanic (S5, E1)

We interview those who have dared to drive, ride in, or simply inhabit the coolest vehicle ever created—the VW Bus. Each episode we talk to one VW Bus owner and hear about their adventures and misadventures.

David Dotson

You might be surprised to find out that before David Dotson was Dolly Parton’s right hand man for her nonprofit, he was a VW bus owner. We had the good fortune of interviewing David at the Dollywood Foundation Headquarters in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (in what would be the last interview ever conducted in that building). Tune in to hear David’s VW bus story and about the important work he’s done as CEO of the Dollywood Foundation, including The Imagination Library.

You might be surprised to find out that before David Dotson was Dolly Parton’s right hand man for her nonprofit, he was a VW bus owner. We had the good fortune of interviewing David at the Dollywood Foundation Headquarters in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (in what would be the last interview ever conducted in that building). Tune in to hear David’s VW bus story and about the important work he’s done as CEO of the Dollywood Foundation, including <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Imagination Library</a>.

David Dotson (S5, E7)

Xavier Laurentino is a larger than life, colorful character. He's been a bodyguard, an actor and is now a bonafide chef in New Orleans. We met up with Xavier at his home in NOLA and he told us about leaving his home country of Spain for the States, his travels and adventures across the US in his first beloved VW bus, what it was like to lose everything to Hurricane Katrina, and his future plans for his new bus. 

Xavier Laurentino is a larger than life, colorful character. He's been a bodyguard, an actor and is now a bonafide chef in New Orleans. We met up with Xavier at his home in NOLA and he told us about leaving his home country of Spain for the States, his travels and adventures across the US in his first beloved VW bus, what it was like to lose everything to Hurricane Katrina, and his future plans for his new bus.

Xavier (S5, E10)

After staying several days at McIntyre’s Home for Wayward Buses and Wandering Souls in Miami, Florida, we finally convinced Ian McIntyre—VW bus enthusiast, artist, friend to all, dog whisperer extraordinaire, and all around renaissance man—to sit down with us for an interview. Tune in to hear why Ian created this home-away-from-home in paradise for fellow travelers. 

After staying several days at McIntyre’s Home for Wayward Buses and Wandering Souls in Miami, Florida, we finally convinced Ian McIntyre—VW bus enthusiast, artist, friend to all, dog whisperer extraordinaire, and all around renaissance man—to sit down with us for an interview. Tune in to hear why Ian created this home-away-from-home in paradise for fellow travelers.

Ian (S5, E2)

We connected with Jason Vogen, of OldVolksTV, as well as VolksAmerica and VolksMania magazines, in Austin, Texas right around the time that Volkswagen was premiering the new ID Buzz at SXSW. Jason was there and got the inside scoop. Hear how people reacted to the newest member of the VW bus family and also about Jason’s own VW bus obsession, his dream bus, and the close-knit VW community in Austin.

We connected with Jason Vogen, of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/OldVolksTV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OldVolksTV</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.volksamerica.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VolksAmerica and VolksMania magazines</a>, in Austin, Texas right around the time that Volkswagen was premiering the new ID Buzz at SXSW. Jason was there and got the inside scoop. Hear how people reacted to the newest member of the VW bus family and also about Jason’s own VW bus obsession, his dream bus, and the close-knit VW community in Austin.

Jason (S5, E6)

Before we even set off on this journey, Leslie Lentz, reached out to us to say that her VW bus shared the same name as our rescue dog and faithful canine companion, Jolene… But could we make it all the way to Ontario, Canada for the interview? We could when Leslie also agreed to be our “quarantine address” in Canada. Hear about Leslie’s bus, Jolene, and how Leslie’s VW bus connects her to the music festival scene, BusFusion and a larger community. 

Before we even set off on this journey, Leslie Lentz, reached out to us to say that her VW bus shared the same name as our rescue dog and faithful canine companion, Jolene… But could we make it all the way to Ontario, Canada for the interview? We could when Leslie also agreed to be our “quarantine address” in Canada. Hear about Leslie’s bus, Jolene, and how Leslie’s VW bus connects her to the music festival scene, <a href="https://busfusion.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BusFusion</a> and a larger community.

Leslie (S5, E3)

Jaymi Millard, VW collector and bassist for the band Slaughter (yes, that Slaughter) loves pink guitars, has a pink beard, and has a VW bus story or two to tell. We caught up with Jaymi in his Tennessee kitchen to hear a few tales from the hundreds of buses he's owned.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/pinkbassman/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jaymi Millard</a>, VW collector and bassist for the band Slaughter (yes, that <a href="https://www.slaughterusa.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slaughter</a>) loves pink guitars, has a pink beard, and has a VW bus story or two to tell. We caught up with Jaymi in his Tennessee kitchen to hear a few tales from the hundreds of buses he's owned.

Jaymi (S5, E9)

We met Jennifer and Alice in Austin, Texas, and they were both eager to tell us about their VW buses and what the VW bus community means to them, but the real story was how these two became fast friends over their mutual love for Vanagons. 

We met Jennifer and Alice in Austin, Texas, and they were both eager to tell us about their VW buses and what the VW bus community means to them, but the real story was how these two became fast friends over their mutual love for Vanagons.

Alice and Jenn (S5, E8)

Remember Ben from last season? He road tripped across the US with his best friends Tom, Ed, Tim, Joe (and not-best-friend, Pete)? We were able to catch up with Tom, the ringleader and planner of the trip (now an acclaimed author), and he told us more about how the trip came to be, how he remembers the trip, and what it means to have a group of life-long best friends.

Remember <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/22jZQKbQQKzis4AQdOaUfm?si=705f30560697424d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben from last season</a>? He road tripped across the US with his best friends Tom, Ed, Tim, Joe (and not-best-friend, Pete)? We were able to catch up with Tom, the ringleader and planner of the trip (<a href="https://www.tomgrimes.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">now an acclaimed author</a>), and he told us more about how the trip came to be, how he remembers the trip, and what it means to have a group of life-long best friends.

Tom (S5, E5)

What do you do when your bus breaks down at a gas station in Sopchoppy, Florida and it’s dark and getting colder by the minute and you know no one in the area? You go home with a stranger named Brian Blackwell (nicknamed Blacky). Well… that’s what we did anyway. We met Blacky when he picked us up on the side of the road, but learned a lot more about him when he offered to let us stay in his house for an entire week. Turns out, Blacky is an avid VW collector, runs a wakeboard ministry, and a successful hunting business. Listen to hear all about Blacky’s super-sweet VW collection, but also what would drive him to offer refuge to two total strangers.

What do you do when your bus breaks down at a gas station in Sopchoppy, Florida and it’s dark and getting colder by the minute and you know no one in the area? You go home with a stranger named Brian Blackwell (nicknamed Blacky). Well… that’s what we did anyway. We met Blacky when he picked us up on the side of the road, but learned a lot more about him when he offered to let us stay in his house for an entire week. Turns out, Blacky is an avid VW collector, runs a wakeboard ministry, and a successful hunting business. Listen to hear all about Blacky’s super-sweet VW collection, but also what would drive him to offer refuge to two total strangers.

Blacky (S5, E4)

The bassist from the band Slaughter. A bona fide New Orleans chef who lost everything in Katrina. A Canadian whose bus shares the same name as our dog. The CEO of the Dollywood Foundation. The Itinerant Air-cooled guy and his friend who runs McIntyre’s Home for Wayward Buses and Wandering Souls. A pastor who owns a wakeboarding ministry and took us in for a week. Two friends who met through their VW club. One of the guys who runs OldVolksTV and saw the new ID Buzz when it premiered. Season five is jammed packed with stories and drops on April 18, 2022.Oh, and remember Ben from last season—the guy who road tripped with four of his buddies? Well, we caught up with Tom, the ringleader, and got his perspective on the adventure. Check out the entire season as we relay tales from (mostly) the south. 

The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pinkbassman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bassist from the band Slaughter.</a> A bona fide New Orleans chef who lost everything in Katrina. A Canadian whose bus shares the same name as our dog. The CEO of the <a href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dollywood Foundation</a>. The <a href="https://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Itinerant Air-cooled guy</a> and his friend who runs McIntyre’s Home for Wayward Buses and Wandering Souls. A pastor who owns a wakeboarding ministry and took us in for a week. Two friends who met through their VW club. One of the guys who runs <a href="https://oldvolkstv.godaddysites.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OldVolksTV</a> and saw the new ID Buzz when it premiered. Season five is jammed packed with stories and drops on April 18, 2022.Oh, and remember <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/22jZQKbQQKzis4AQdOaUfm?si=d717ae4bb7074972" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben from last season</a>—the guy who road tripped with four of his buddies? Well, we caught up with Tom, the ringleader, and got his perspective on the adventure. Check out the entire season as we relay tales from (mostly) the south.

Season 5 Trailer

So You Owned a VW Bus

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