DubLife Diaries The VW Lifestyle Podcast

For the first episode of the new calendar year, DubLife Diaries welcomes Bill Dwyer—a voice, a perspective, and a story that sets the tone for what this year is all about. This episode isn’t just a conversation about Volkswagens. It’s about the people behind the builds, the experiences that shape us, and the moments that keep the VW lifestyle alive year after year. We dive into: Bill’s personal jo...

Jake Raby returns for Part 2, and this conversation goes far beyond engines. We dig into the mindset of true innovators, using the stories as a lens to talk about experimentation, failure, and why progress often looks reckless before it looks brilliant. Jake draws powerful parallels between early automotive innovation and today’s air-cooled VW world—where bold ideas are criticized first, misunders...

Levi and Sherry of Trippin' Seed Tie‑Dye and The Social Mosaic share their lifelong love of Volkswagens, music, and art. From early VW memories and surviving Katrina to building a community through tie‑dye and music, this episode follows their journey to receiving Owsley the Beetle — a community‑built, tie‑dyed VW that symbolizes resilience, generosity, and VW culture. Connect with Sherry &amp...

Cape Code Bugs - Josh Ellis recounts how childhood work in his uncle's body shop sparked a lifelong passion for restoring classic cars and now specifically Volkswagens — from a complete Beetle convertible restoration to painting, upholstery, and engine builds, this dude does it all.  Josh also shares stories of camping in his Westy "Forrest," He's also turning a bus into a photo‑bo...

  DubLife Diaries sits down with Jake Raby — a Marine, self-taught machinist and inventor — to trace his journey from small-town Georgia to inventing the IMS fix that rescued a generation of Porsche engines. Jake explains his hand-built approach to engines, the Type 4 obsession, patented solutions, and why he works without clocks or calendars to guarantee quality. The episode also covers Jake’s wo...

Dan Leadbetter, publisher and editor of VW Trends magazine, joins DubLife Diaries to share his journey from buying a 1964 Beetle to becoming a defining voice in the VW community. He recounts early days typing on a Selectric, working at Small Car Specialties, and the magazine rivalries that shaped the scene. The episode dives into the magazine revival story—how Leadbetter and a small team crowdfund...

In this episode of DubLife Diaries, host Joe Person sits down with Nick Weidelich  a second‑generation technician raised in a family VW shop, to trace his journey from sweeping floors to running garages and working inside dealerships. They cover shop‑floor stories, dealership chaos, the fallout of Dieselgate, Volkswagen’s shift to EVs, and the disconnect between corporate and enthusiasts. Sponsors...

  In this episode of DubLife Diaries, host Joe Person sits down with Eric L. Goodman — president of the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America and founder of the VW Thing Registry. Eric shares his extraordinary journey from a childhood spinal condition to building the award-winning VW hot rod "Das Rod," leading a national VW community of 185,000+, and running businesses that serve developmenta...

Daniel Olortegui, a Southern California native and 22-year Navy veteran, shares his lifelong love for Volkswagen culture. From driving his dad's squareback at 13 to restoring the 1964 VW bus known as the Caribbean Queen, he’s blended community, creativity, and car culture across coasts. In this episode he talks about founding Funkengruven', creating Groofest-Volkstoberfest, and keeping the...

Join DubLife Diaries for a candid conversation with Lance Kohn — educator, lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast, and creator of one-of-a-kind Volksrods. From his first 1969 Beetle to three custom-built rides, Lance shares stories about teaching test prep, DIY metalwork, and the community that fuels his passion. Discover how patience, critical thinking, and creative risk-taking shaped his life, career, a...

In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Barbie Cecil — aka Volkswagen Barbie — shares her journey from childhood slug-bug memories to building a garage full of customized Volkswagens. She talks about acquiring and restoring Phoebe, Farrah, Fiona, and a kit-built beast named Felix, the challenges of mechanical work and body restoration, and how the VW community shaped her outlook. Barbie also discusses...

Brad Long of Long Restoration joins DubLife Diaries to share his journey from late nights in the garage with his dad and son to building award-winning vintage Volkswagens. Discover how backyard restorations grew into a family-run shop that wins Best in Show at Bug Jam back to back, graces magazine covers, and keeps the VW community alive with passion and craftsmanship.  Sponsors and Shout Outs : ...

In this episode we meet Annie Van Orman, a filmmaker-turned-mechanic who restored a 1969 Beetle named Helen Wheels entirely by hand while documenting every step. We cover her creative roots, Star Wars prop work, and how her media skills shaped the way she shares car builds. Annie discusses the challenges of restoration, the support of the VW community, and her hopes to inspire more people—especial...

Self-taught craftsman Jason Davis shares his journey from junkyard school to running Davis Customs, specializing in rust repair and body restoration for classic Volkswagens and Porsches. This episode covers his hands-on techniques, memorable builds like the double-cab walkthrough bus and a rare Datsun 510 from Japan, the VW community spirit, and his advice for the next generation of builders.   Sp...

Eric Arnold Photography, owner of a legendary 1977 Westfalia and editor of Vintage Voice, joins DubLife Diaries to share stories from decades in the VW scene. A professional VW photographer with over 300 published features and 75 covers, Eric discusses buses, shows, road trips, award-winning restorations, and the tight-knit community that defines Volkswagen culture. He also explains his photo proc...

Join host Joe Person and guest Liam Sianko-Gundlach of Klunk Garage as they explore the creators journey from a Toyota upbringing to becoming a leading voice in Volkswagen storytelling. Learn how Liam builds mini-documentaries, the origins of iconic VW models, and what keeps the VW community thriving across generations. They discuss standout projects (a Golf, Cabriolet, Beetle, and Fox), platform...

Guinevere Freccia of Freccia Brothers Garage opens up about her family’s 103-year Volkswagen legacy—from the early Greenwich dealerships to restoring Beetles, buses, and squarebacks while fostering a tight-knit VW community that feels more like family than customers. This episode dives into the shop’s current eviction fight, the nonprofit and community efforts underway to save the original locatio...

On this episode of DubLife Diaries, Gary Miller the VW Jawbreaker on YouTube, shares how a childhood memory of sandrail ignited his love for Volkswagens, how he started filming with his son's encouragement, and how he builds unique, perfectly imperfect projects while fostering community. Gary discusses his DIY approach, event favorites like No-Dough Weekend, balancing family and content, and g...

Donnie Prater, raised literally inside Volkswagen culture, shares his lifetime of VW memories — from being put into a tie‑dye onesie at the hospital to learning brake jobs and engine swaps as a kid. He walks through his earliest builds, the heartbreak of blown engines, and the lessons that shaped his mechanical instincts. The episode also covers Donnie’s favorite cars and shows, his rare original...

In this episode of DubLife Diaries Joe interviews Jaye Foster, a self‑taught VW bus builder and owner of an air‑cooled shop in Chattanooga The Bus Stop, about how a lockdown garage project turned into full‑time nomad life. Jay recounts trading for buses, rebuilding a 1977 “Nugget,” long road trips, close calls, and the vibrant nomadic and VW communities that shaped his journey. The episode covers...

Welcome back to DubLife Diaries! In this episode, we sit down with Volkswagen enthusiast Jaga Rai as he shares the tale of his beloved 1975 Canadian standard Beetle, affectionately known as "The Outlaw." Since purchasing the Beetle in 1997, Jaga has defied trends, poured his heart into its unique build, and developed lifelong friendships along the way. Join us as we explore the intricacies...

Welcome to DubLife Diaries, where we dive into the world of Volkswagen enthusiasts and their captivating stories. In this episode, we chat with David Saucier, a well-known figure in the Bay Area (Houston TX)  VW scene, whose connection with Volkswagens dates back to his childhood. From his 67 Deluxe Sunroof Beetle to the Silver Surfer Squareback, David's passion for classic air-cooled VWs is u...

Welcome to DubLife Diaries The VW Lifestyle Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the world of Volkswagens and music with a fascinating guest, Marcel Smit. Growing up in the vibrant environment of a VW Caravel, Marcel shares how his childhood, surrounded by music and classic cars, shaped his passion-filled journey. As the marketing manager of AfriBeetle, Marcel talks about his exciting connection...

Join us at DubLife Diaries for an exhilarating episode where we explore the extraordinary journey of Todd Prater. A man of many talents, Todd has lived the quintessential VW life—transforming his VW bus into a mobile DJ booth and building a YouTube channel around vintage car restoration. In a lively conversation, Todd shares his lifelong obsession with Volkswagens, stemming from a childhood fascin...

Welcome to DubLife Diaries, where today's episode takes you beyond custom cars into a heartfelt journey of resilience and innovation. We're diving into the story of Justin and Claudia Still, who transformed a humble backyard shop into the renowned NVT Rod and Custom. Their story is about grit, family bonds, and the relentless pursuit of passion. Explore how the Stills navigated health chal...