DubLife Diaries The VW Lifestyle Podcast

What happens when you trade the 9-to-5 grind for life on the road in a 1962 Volkswagen panel bus?
In Episode 77 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Vanessa Cassada, a longtime Volkswagen enthusiast, pinstriper, hand painter, and full-time traveler who has spent more than a year exploring the country in her vintage VW bus with her husband, Adam.
Vanessa takes us back to where her Volkswagen journey began at just 16 years old with her first air-cooled Beetle, and how that early love for Volkswagens eventually led her to a completely different way of life.
We talk about what it's really like to travel in a vintage VW bus, from keeping a 1962 panel bus running across thousands of miles to navigating mountain roads, camping, attending VW events, and discovering some of the most beautiful places in the country.
Vanessa shares stories from driving the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, exploring Oregon and Idaho, attending Volkswagen campouts, and experiencing firsthand the incredible generosity of the VW community. From fellow enthusiasts offering a place to work on her bus to someone lending her a Volkswagen for a campout, Vanessa's stories are a reminder that the Volkswagen community is about so much more than cars.
We also dive into Vanessa's journey as a pinstriper and hand painter, her inspiration from legendary artists like Ed Roth, and how a hobby eventually opened doors.
And of course, we talk about the philosophy behind it all: simplicity, freedom, adventure, and just doing it.
Vanessa and Adam have embraced a minimalist lifestyle, downsized their possessions, and built a life centered around experiences rather than things. Her message is simple: you don't have to wait for the perfect time to start living the life you've dreamed about.
If you've ever dreamed about VW bus camping, traveling the country in an air-cooled Volkswagen, living a minimalist lifestyle, or simply taking the leap into your next adventure, this episode is for you.
🚐 One bus. Two people. An open road. And a whole lot of Volkswagen culture.
In This Episode:
Vanessa's first Volkswagen at 16
Life in a 1962 VW panel bus
Traveling full-time with her husband
VW bus camping and minimalist living
Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
Volkswagen campouts and the VW community
The people who helped keep her bus on the road
Pinstriping, hand painting, and Ed Roth inspiration
Building and maintaining a vintage VW for long-distance travel
Favorite destinations and road-trip discoveries
Why simplicity can lead to a richer life
Vanessa's advice for anyone dreaming about their own adventure
Keeping Volkswagen culture alive for the next generation

Follow DubLife Diaries for more stories from the people, cars, adventures, and communities that make the Volkswagen lifestyle so special.
#DubLifeDiaries #Volkswagen #VWBus #VWBusLife #AirCooledVW #VolkswagenBus #VWCamping #VanLife #VWCommunity #VintageVW #VWLife #VolkswagenCulture

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dublife-diaries-the-vw-lifestyle-podcast/donations

What happens when a $300 Volkswagen Beetle at 18 years old turns into a lifelong obsession?
Meet Jason Wharton — better known as JBug — a Volkswagen enthusiast, collector, artist, BMX racer, land surveyor, club founder, husband-to-be, and one of the longtime personalities helping shape the VW community.
In Episode 76 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with JBug to hear the story behind nearly three decades of Volkswagen obsession. From his first 1969 Beetle in 1995 to owning more than 200 Volkswagens, Jason shares the cars, people, memories, and experiences that made VW culture such a huge part of his life.
We talk about restoring his first Beetle with his dad, growing up around sign painting and art, discovering pinstriping and custom graphics, and how skateboarding, BMX, and Volkswagen culture all became connected along the way.
Jason also takes us through the history of Strictly VW's Auto Club, the club he founded in 1998 that has survived for nearly three decades by keeping things simple: good people, cool cars, and absolutely no unnecessary drama.
And there's plenty more.
We talk about:
• Jason's first Volkswagen and the $300 Beetle that started it all
• Collecting more than 200 Volkswagens
• The cars he wishes he had never sold
• Finding and saving Volkswagens that others had given up on
• Pinstriping, custom graphics, and his work as a licensed Rat Fink artist
• BMX racing, skateboarding, and their connection to VW culture
• Balancing a 25-year career as a land surveyor with his creative pursuits
• The history and philosophy behind Strictly VW's Auto Club
• Building a welcoming, drama-free Volkswagen community
• His eight kids and his family's role in his VW journey
• His upcoming Volkswagen-themed wedding, "Pistons and Rings"
• His current 1964 Single Cab project
• The people who have influenced him throughout the VW community
• His favorite Volkswagen styles and why patina never goes out of style
• What he hopes his legacy will be within the Volkswagen community
This episode is about much more than Volkswagens.
It's about the people behind the cars, the friendships built along the way, and what happens when a passion that starts with one old Beetle becomes a way of life.
If you've ever owned a Volkswagen, raced BMX, built a car, painted a stripe, started a club, or simply found your people through car culture, you're going to want to hear this one.
This is JBug's story.
Welcome to Episode 76 of DubLife Diaries — the VW Lifestyle Podcast.
Follow DubLife Diaries for more conversations with the people who make the Volkswagen community what it is.
#DubLifeDiaries #JBug #JasonWharton #Volkswagen #VW #VWLife #VWCommunity #AirCooledVW #VolkswagenBeetle #VWBus #BMX #Pinstriping #CarCulture #VolkswagenCulture

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dublife-diaries-the-vw-lifestyle-podcast/donations

Some classic Volkswagens have history. Others have legends.
In Episode 75 of Dub Life Diaries, Joe Person sits down with Tony Hall to tell the unbelievable story of his 1958 Glacier Blue Volkswagen Beetle—a project that became a years-long rollercoaster of missing paperwork, title nightmares, restoration scams, legal battles, and ultimately redemption.
What started as a seemingly simple $1,800 eBay purchase quickly turned into one of the wildest restoration stories you'll ever hear. The Beetle arrived completely disassembled, hidden VIN issues nearly made it impossible to title, and Tony launched a nationwide search to find the original owner in hopes of correcting a decades-old paperwork mistake.
Just when things seemed to be moving forward, the project took another devastating turn after being entrusted to a builder who would later face fraud charges. Tony shares the warning signs he missed, the costly lessons learned, and the emotional journey of eventually tracking down the completed Beetle after it had been sold to someone else.
Whether you're restoring your first classic VW or have lived through your own project-car nightmare, this episode is packed with real-world advice about patience, choosing the right builder, protecting yourself during restorations, and why some cars become part of your family's story forever.
In this episode:
The story behind Tony's rare 1958 Glacier Blue Beetle
Buying a disassembled VW sight unseen from eBay
Solving a costly VIN and title mistake
Tracking down the original owner years later
Avoiding restoration scams and dishonest builders
Recovering from one of the biggest setbacks a VW enthusiast can face
Lessons every project-car owner should hear
Tony's current VW projects, including his 1961 Ragtop
Rapid-fire VW favorites and future dream builds

If you love Volkswagen Beetles, air-cooled VWs, restoration stories, classic cars, and the incredible people behind them, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Dub Life Diaries, where we share the stories, people, and passion that make the Volkswagen community one of a kind.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dublife-diaries-the-vw-lifestyle-podcast/donations

In Episode 74 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Buddy Demers, a lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast whose passion for air-cooled VWs began in the Pacific Northwest and continues today with one of the most recognizable Type 3 Notchbacks around—his 1964 Notchback affectionately known as "Baby Got Sauce."
Buddy takes us on a journey through the Volkswagen scene of the 1990s in Salem, Oregon, where friendships with legends like Ed Edwards of Northwest Metal Works helped shape his love for Volkswagens. From his first matte black '64 Beetle to the hood ride culture, custom suspension builds, and the tight-knit VW community that influenced him, Buddy shares stories that every air-cooled enthusiast will appreciate.
We also dive into the remarkable history of Baby Got Sauce—a Florida-born Notchback that made its way to Hawaii before returning home, eventually becoming the incredible restoration it is today. Buddy opens up about preserving the car's legacy, assembling it with rare period-correct parts, and the unforgettable engine built by the legendary Scooter.
Whether you're into Type 3s, Cal-Look culture, vintage Volkswagens, or simply love hearing the stories behind the people who make this hobby special, this episode is packed with history, inspiration, and plenty of laughs.
In This Episode:
The story behind Baby Got Sauce, Buddy's iconic 1964 Type 3 Notchback
Growing up in the legendary Oregon VW scene
Memories of Ed Edwards, Wagons West, and Wagon Works
Buddy's first 1964 Beetle and how it sparked a lifelong obsession
Rare Volkswagen parts, vintage engine builds, and craftsmanship
East Coast vs. West Coast VW culture
How social media has changed the air-cooled community
Advice for first-time Volkswagen owners
Upcoming VW events and the future of the hobby

If you enjoy celebrating the people who keep the Volkswagen community alive, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow VW enthusiast.
🌐 Learn more about the show and apply to be a guest at DubLifeDiaries.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dublife-diaries-the-vw-lifestyle-podcast/donations

What does it take to build one of the most respected names in the air-cooled Volkswagen restoration world?
In this episode of DubLife Diaries, I sit down with Morrie Hozen of Silver Lining Auto Restoration along with his nephews Moisei Prohoroff and Phil Prohoroff, the team behind West Coast Classic Interiors and Loose Nut Safaris. Together, they're preserving the craftsmanship, quality, and passion that keep classic Volkswagens on the road for generations to come.
We dive into how Morrie left a successful career to follow his passion for restoration, the challenges of building a business from the ground up, and how the family has grown their companies into a thriving operation specializing in some of the finest restorations and parts in the classic VW industry.
We also discuss:
• The truth about running a family business
• What separates an average restoration from an award-winning one
• Why quality craftsmanship still matters in today's world
• The evolution of the air-cooled Volkswagen hobby
• The future of Safari windows and classic VW interiors
• Lessons learned from acquiring legendary VW brands
• Advice for anyone restoring their first Volkswagen
Whether you're restoring your dream Beetle, Bus, Ghia, or simply love hearing the stories behind the people shaping the VW community, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories.
🎙️ Guests:
• Morrie Hozen – Silver Lining Auto Restoration
• Moisei Prohoroff – West Coast Classic Interiors
• Phil Prohoroff – Loose Nuts Safaris
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another VW enthusiast. Every share helps keep the air-cooled community growing.
Follow DubLife Diaries for more conversations with the builders, restorers, racers, collectors, and personalities who make the Volkswagen lifestyle unlike any other.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/dublife-diaries-the-vw-lifestyle-podcast/donations