DubLife Diaries The VW Lifestyle Podcast
DubLife Diaries – Where Volkswagen Stories and Culture Come Alive Welcome to DubLife Diaries – the ultimate VW lifestyle podcast for enthusiasts and anyone who loves a great story on the open road! We dive deep into the heart of VW culture—celebrating the passion, creativity, and community that make these iconic cars more than just machines. From vintage Beetles and Westfalias to Karmann Ghias and Things, every episode highlights the people behind the wheel—the dreamers, builders, photographers, and families whose lives are forever shaped by Volkswagens. 🎙️ What You’ll Hear: Inspiring interviews with VW lovers, business owners, and hobbyists Stories of road trips, restorations, and once-in-a-lifetime finds Behind-the-scenes looks at shows, culture, and the VW lifestyle The role these timeless cars play in creating connection and adventure Whether you’ve been a lifelong “dubber,” are just discovering the VW world, or simply love hearing unique human stories, DubLife Diaries is your front-row seat to the scene. 📅 New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe today and join us as we roll through the stories that keep the Volkswagen community thriving. 🚗 Host: Joe Person – Lifelong VW enthusiast, storyteller, and community connector.
Episodes
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Joe sits down with Kristopher Hayes to dive into one of the most unique Volkswagen builds you’ll hear about. What started as a simple roof rack trade turned into the acquisition of a Karmann Ghia with a story of its own—and Kristopher is taking it to an entirely new level.
Growing up in Grand Junction, Colorado, Kristopher shares his journey from ...
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Joe sits down with lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast Leo Van Delft, whose passion for air-cooled VWs spans more than five decades.
Leo’s journey began in 1972 with a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle. What started as a simple love for the iconic cars quickly turned into a career. While still in college, Leo opened his own Volkswagen repair shop, building a reputation for keeping classic air-cooled machines o...
What does it look like to chase a dream when you fully understand that time is finite?
In Episode 55 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Volkswagen enthusiast John Krahulec to talk about his extraordinary Memento Mori journey — a cross-country adventure built around redemption, reflection, and the machines that shaped his life.
What began with a beautifully restored 1967 Volkswagen Beetle has evolved into a full three-vehicle...
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Joe sits down with award-winning architect Guillermo Marrero — a creative visionary from Puerto Rico whose love for Volkswagen culture runs just as deep as his passion for design.
From childhood memories shaped by classic VWs to a 15-year search that ended with the perfect 1971 Irish Green Karmann Ghia, Guillermo shares the story behind the hunt, the emotion, and the philosophy that fuels his con...
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, we interviewed Nick Jones, a Volkswagen enthusiast from Oklahoma who shared his passion for classic air-cooled Volkswagens and his journey into the dub community. Nick discussed his collection, including his daughter's beloved "Bugsly" a surf-themed Beetle and his bus a 67 single cab known as "the dude."
We explored how Volkswagen culture...
What does it take to turn a lifelong Volkswagen obsession into a movement that impacts enthusiasts across the country?
In this almost 2 hour deep dive, we sit down with Jack Sims — racer, engine builder, event founder, and passionate voice in the VW community. This is not just a car conversation. It’s a legacy conversation.
Jack takes us back to the beginning — childhood fascination, first VW shows, first broken engines, first wins...
What happens when the love for air-cooled VWs turns into something bigger than cars?
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Kurt Siegrist, the driving force behind Bug-O-Rama in Wichita, Kansas — a VW event with a mission that goes far beyond the show field.
Bug-O-Rama isn’t just another car meet. It’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built around giving back. Kurt shares how the event supports kids, veterans, and families in ne...
Episode 50 – The Builder Who Walked Away | Derek Ryan
What happens when the builder… stops building?
In Episode 50 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Derek Ryan — a talented VW builder whose journey in the air-cooled scene took a turn most people never talk about. This isn’t just a car story. It’s a real life story about passion, pressure, burnout, and what it feels like when the thing you love starts to weigh more than it l...
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Darrin "D-Note" Milton — a rapper, entertainer, and hands-on craftsman who’s been building classic Volkswagens since he was a teenager.
Long before the spotlight, D-Note was in the garage learning how to turn wrenches, shape metal, and build cars with intention. That same discipline and creativity followed him to the mic, where his music and performance style reflect the grit,...
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, Joe Person sits down with Joe Kent—a lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast whose journey runs deep through Sarasota’s VW scene, dealership bays, and decades of hands-on car culture.
Joe Kent shares how his passion began with a 1970 Beetle inspired by Herbie the Love Bug, growing up immersed in hot rods, art, music, and late-night garage sessions with friends. What started as a hobby quickly became a cal...
Looking Back at 2025 | DubLife Diaries Year-End Reflection
As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey of DubLife Diaries — the growth, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way.
This video isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Thank you to everyone who watched, commented, shared, and supported this channel throughout the year. Your support means more than you know.
New goals. New...
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 journey and connection to the V...
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, misunderstood second, and only respected aft...
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 & Levi : https://www.facebook.com/tripp...
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‑booth business, and gives practical advice for anyone...
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 work teaching kids in a technical lea...
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 crowdfunded VW Trends back into print in 202...
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 and Shout Outs :
...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 developmentally disabled adults.
Beyond cars, the con...
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 air-cooled scene alive with valve cover...
Popular Podcasts
How do the smartest marketers and business entrepreneurs cut through the noise? And how do they manage to do it again and again? It's a combination of math—the strategy and analytics—and magic, the creative spark. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman as he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing—sitting down with today's most gifted disruptors and compelling storytellers.
CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long.
The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected — from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest’s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It’s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source — a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Dan Bongino Show delivers no-nonsense analysis of the day’s most important political and cultural stories. Hosted by the former Deputy Director of the FBI, former Secret Service agent, NYPD officer, and bestselling author Dan Bongino, the show cuts through media spin with facts, accountability, and unapologetic conviction. Whether it’s exposing government overreach, defending constitutional freedoms, or connecting the dots the mainstream media ignores, The Dan Bongino Show provides in-depth analysis of the issues shaping America today. Each episode features sharp commentary, deep dives into breaking news, and behind-the-scenes insight you won’t hear anywhere else. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dan-bongino-show/id965293227?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sftHO603JaFqpuQBEZReL?si=PBlx46DyS5KxCuCXMOrQvw Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/bongino?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v4_sa_o