1 00:00:09,562 --> 00:00:10,202 Speaker 1: Originals. 2 00:00:10,322 --> 00:00:12,522 Speaker 2: This is an iHeart original. 3 00:00:19,362 --> 00:00:24,162 Speaker 3: In nineteen twenty four, archaeologists at the University of Michigan 4 00:00:24,602 --> 00:00:29,562 Speaker 3: received the opportunity of a lifetime permission to dig up 5 00:00:29,762 --> 00:00:35,882 Speaker 3: a long lost village in Egypt. The town was called Koranis, 6 00:00:35,962 --> 00:00:44,522 Speaker 3: and two millennia ago the place was bustling. Imagine a 7 00:00:44,682 --> 00:00:48,722 Speaker 3: village of four thousand people, teeming with a descendants of 8 00:00:48,802 --> 00:00:54,482 Speaker 3: Greek settlers, old Roman military vets, and of course native Egyptians. 9 00:00:55,322 --> 00:00:59,442 Speaker 3: By day, locals tended to fields of olive trees, wheat 10 00:00:59,562 --> 00:01:04,242 Speaker 3: and figs. By night, they prayed in temples dedicated to 11 00:01:04,442 --> 00:01:12,162 Speaker 3: Crocodilian gods. Fast forward through the centuries and Karanas would 12 00:01:12,202 --> 00:01:16,042 Speaker 3: be little more than a pile of sand. That is 13 00:01:16,442 --> 00:01:23,402 Speaker 3: until the archaeologists from Michigan started digging. The team uncovered 14 00:01:23,722 --> 00:01:31,602 Speaker 3: countless relics, figurines, ornate baskets, priceless papyri, pottery out the wazoo. 15 00:01:32,322 --> 00:01:38,122 Speaker 3: But some of the most astounding fines were toys, dolls, 16 00:01:38,362 --> 00:01:44,042 Speaker 3: spinning tops, play swords, ancient reminders that even two thousand 17 00:01:44,202 --> 00:01:50,602 Speaker 3: years ago, kids were well kids. And one toy stood out, 18 00:01:51,122 --> 00:01:55,482 Speaker 3: a tiny wood horse with wheels for legs. It was 19 00:01:55,522 --> 00:02:00,242 Speaker 3: the kind of discovery that sparks the imagination. You can 20 00:02:00,402 --> 00:02:03,442 Speaker 3: just see it. A bunch of little kids ages ago, 21 00:02:03,882 --> 00:02:08,802 Speaker 3: their bellies pressed to the floor, pushing aroundeld horses. Maybe 22 00:02:08,802 --> 00:02:12,482 Speaker 3: they're pretending to be soldiers headed for battle, or maybe 23 00:02:12,482 --> 00:02:16,682 Speaker 3: they're chariot racers fast approaching the finish line. Frankly, it's 24 00:02:16,762 --> 00:02:23,122 Speaker 3: proof that some toys are just timeless, because centuries later 25 00:02:23,762 --> 00:02:28,362 Speaker 3: little kids would be copying their ancient counterparts, their bellies 26 00:02:28,402 --> 00:02:32,322 Speaker 3: pressed to the floor, pushing around the wheeled horse of 27 00:02:32,482 --> 00:02:38,322 Speaker 3: modern day, the hot wheel Hot wheels are everywhere right now. 28 00:02:38,722 --> 00:02:42,882 Speaker 3: They're in grocery stores and gas stations. There's a Hot 29 00:02:42,882 --> 00:02:45,962 Speaker 3: Wheels TV series and a Hot Wheels movie in the 30 00:02:46,042 --> 00:02:50,402 Speaker 3: works in Arizona. They're even building hot Wheels roller coasters. 31 00:02:51,042 --> 00:02:54,842 Speaker 3: The toy itself has been around since the nineteen sixties, 32 00:02:55,482 --> 00:02:58,922 Speaker 3: and while that's not nearly as old or impressive as 33 00:02:58,962 --> 00:03:03,122 Speaker 3: the wheeled horses of yesteryear, some of the hot wheels 34 00:03:03,162 --> 00:03:06,922 Speaker 3: on the market right now could give the ancient Tree 35 00:03:07,362 --> 00:03:11,482 Speaker 3: of Karanas a run for their money. Don't believe me, 36 00:03:12,242 --> 00:03:13,602 Speaker 3: Ask this guy. 37 00:03:14,082 --> 00:03:16,642 Speaker 1: What I'm in the hunt for is the most difficult 38 00:03:16,642 --> 00:03:17,122 Speaker 1: to find. 39 00:03:17,682 --> 00:03:23,162 Speaker 3: That is Bruce Pascal, and he has a unique hobby. 40 00:03:23,642 --> 00:03:25,602 Speaker 1: I am a hot wheel collector. 41 00:03:26,122 --> 00:03:30,682 Speaker 3: Bruce is a grown man who collects toy cars. And 42 00:03:30,842 --> 00:03:34,682 Speaker 3: if that sounds like child's play to you, think again. 43 00:03:35,202 --> 00:03:38,362 Speaker 1: I have about ten thousand items and the collections valued 44 00:03:38,602 --> 00:03:39,882 Speaker 1: well over two million dollars. 45 00:03:40,202 --> 00:03:45,082 Speaker 3: Bruce owns some of the rarest, hardest to find toys 46 00:03:45,162 --> 00:03:50,002 Speaker 3: on the planet. Some individual cars in his collection are 47 00:03:50,042 --> 00:03:54,882 Speaker 3: worth tens of thousands of dollars, and turns out there 48 00:03:54,962 --> 00:03:58,442 Speaker 3: are a lot of people just like him. 49 00:03:58,762 --> 00:04:00,122 Speaker 4: I collect hot wheels. 50 00:04:00,242 --> 00:04:01,682 Speaker 5: I have hot wheels collector. 51 00:04:02,122 --> 00:04:05,922 Speaker 6: I've owned probably the rarest hot wheels that you could 52 00:04:06,282 --> 00:04:07,722 Speaker 6: possibly am in owning. 53 00:04:08,162 --> 00:04:11,442 Speaker 1: There are fifty thousand collectors, I believe that number is 54 00:04:11,642 --> 00:04:12,642 Speaker 1: much much higher. 55 00:04:12,682 --> 00:04:18,722 Speaker 3: Now, Welcome to Very Special Episodes, and iHeart original podcast. 56 00:04:19,242 --> 00:04:23,002 Speaker 3: I'm your host, Danash Sportz and this is on the 57 00:04:23,122 --> 00:04:27,442 Speaker 3: Hunt for hot Wheels. 58 00:04:29,602 --> 00:04:33,162 Speaker 7: Welcome back to Very Special Episodes. Today's our last episode 59 00:04:33,202 --> 00:04:36,482 Speaker 7: of twenty twenty four, and it's about hot wheels. It's 60 00:04:36,522 --> 00:04:39,962 Speaker 7: also about collections and the things that people obsess over. 61 00:04:40,562 --> 00:04:42,562 Speaker 7: As this one was coming together, I kept going through 62 00:04:42,682 --> 00:04:45,802 Speaker 7: all the toys and video games and baseball cards that 63 00:04:46,002 --> 00:04:48,642 Speaker 7: if I'd only kept them in mint condition, in the 64 00:04:48,682 --> 00:04:52,242 Speaker 7: original packaging. Maybe those would pay for college. 65 00:04:51,842 --> 00:04:52,562 Speaker 1: For my daughters. 66 00:04:54,002 --> 00:04:57,122 Speaker 7: Alas, this is a fun episode, we got to meet 67 00:04:57,122 --> 00:05:00,562 Speaker 7: some lovely people. If you collect something and you think 68 00:05:00,602 --> 00:05:04,002 Speaker 7: we should explore that subculture and a future Very special 69 00:05:04,122 --> 00:05:08,322 Speaker 7: Episodes episode shoot us an email Special episodes at gmail 70 00:05:08,362 --> 00:05:10,082 Speaker 7: dot com. 71 00:05:11,522 --> 00:05:15,562 Speaker 3: Mike Zarnik remembers the day he fell in love. It 72 00:05:15,722 --> 00:05:19,162 Speaker 3: was nineteen sixty eight. He was just a little kid, 73 00:05:19,242 --> 00:05:22,562 Speaker 3: about ten years old, and he was wandering through a 74 00:05:22,642 --> 00:05:25,522 Speaker 3: variety store when something grabbed his eye. 75 00:05:25,882 --> 00:05:29,002 Speaker 4: As I'm walking through the toy aisle, I see hot wheels. 76 00:05:29,362 --> 00:05:33,722 Speaker 3: Mike loved cars. Some of his earliest memories are of 77 00:05:33,762 --> 00:05:37,122 Speaker 3: his dad, a tow truck driver, coming home from work 78 00:05:37,162 --> 00:05:40,722 Speaker 3: with a toy car as a surprise. But the toy 79 00:05:40,882 --> 00:05:44,402 Speaker 3: Mike saw on that shelf was unlike any toy car 80 00:05:44,522 --> 00:05:45,682 Speaker 3: he had ever seen. 81 00:05:46,282 --> 00:05:49,602 Speaker 2: There was really cool paint, there were flecks, there were 82 00:05:49,642 --> 00:05:50,962 Speaker 2: big monster motors. 83 00:05:51,122 --> 00:05:52,122 Speaker 4: It was just amazing. 84 00:05:52,682 --> 00:05:57,162 Speaker 3: Hot wheels were brand new. They had just been released 85 00:05:57,202 --> 00:06:02,162 Speaker 3: by Mattel, a toy manufacturer from California, and ten year 86 00:06:02,242 --> 00:06:06,642 Speaker 3: old Mike Zarnik was their target demographic and. 87 00:06:06,922 --> 00:06:09,722 Speaker 4: Fell in love instantly. The rest is history. 88 00:06:10,282 --> 00:06:14,882 Speaker 3: Love puts it mildly. Mike started scooping up hot wheels 89 00:06:14,962 --> 00:06:19,082 Speaker 3: everywhere he went, and now fifty six years later, he 90 00:06:19,242 --> 00:06:24,082 Speaker 3: hasn't stopped. Mike remembers decades ago asking a girl on 91 00:06:24,122 --> 00:06:27,322 Speaker 3: a date and taking her on a detour to look 92 00:06:27,362 --> 00:06:28,442 Speaker 3: for hot wheels. 93 00:06:28,842 --> 00:06:30,722 Speaker 4: We stopped at one of the stores and I went 94 00:06:30,762 --> 00:06:33,042 Speaker 4: into the toy aisle and she said what are you doing? 95 00:06:33,162 --> 00:06:34,722 Speaker 4: And I said, I'm going to go look at the toys, 96 00:06:35,122 --> 00:06:37,082 Speaker 4: and she gave me a funny look. I just started 97 00:06:37,082 --> 00:06:38,842 Speaker 4: taking things off of the shelf and I said here, 98 00:06:38,922 --> 00:06:41,842 Speaker 4: hold this, hold this, hold this. She had her arms. 99 00:06:41,642 --> 00:06:43,602 Speaker 2: Full and I had my arms full, and I said 100 00:06:43,562 --> 00:06:45,442 Speaker 2: all let's go, and she's well, aren't you going to 101 00:06:45,522 --> 00:06:48,362 Speaker 2: put these back? And I said no, I'm buying all 102 00:06:48,402 --> 00:06:52,362 Speaker 2: of these. And she's like, really, yeah, that's what I do. 103 00:06:52,442 --> 00:06:54,082 Speaker 4: I collect toy cars. 104 00:06:54,482 --> 00:06:58,362 Speaker 3: Lucky for Mike, that same girl agreed to become his wife. 105 00:06:59,162 --> 00:07:02,602 Speaker 3: When Mike wasn't busy looking for hot wheels, he was 106 00:07:02,642 --> 00:07:04,042 Speaker 3: busy thinking. 107 00:07:03,762 --> 00:07:04,802 Speaker 5: About hot wheels. 108 00:07:05,282 --> 00:07:08,562 Speaker 3: He used to work as a school computer teacher and 109 00:07:08,842 --> 00:07:13,162 Speaker 3: naturally decked out his classroom walls with hot wheels posters, 110 00:07:13,762 --> 00:07:16,322 Speaker 3: and when his students were well behaved. 111 00:07:16,282 --> 00:07:18,562 Speaker 4: I would give all the kids hot wheels whenever they 112 00:07:18,562 --> 00:07:18,922 Speaker 4: were good. 113 00:07:20,002 --> 00:07:23,082 Speaker 3: One day, Mike was in the computer lab teaching students 114 00:07:23,122 --> 00:07:26,602 Speaker 3: how to surf this new fangled thing called the Internet. 115 00:07:27,122 --> 00:07:29,122 Speaker 3: When a kid raised their hand. 116 00:07:29,402 --> 00:07:31,562 Speaker 4: So one of the kids says, hey, mister c who 117 00:07:31,642 --> 00:07:33,002 Speaker 4: has the largest hot wheel collection. 118 00:07:33,362 --> 00:07:38,082 Speaker 3: Mike thought about it and realized he didn't know, so 119 00:07:38,162 --> 00:07:41,762 Speaker 3: he turned it into a class exercise. They all looked 120 00:07:41,802 --> 00:07:45,602 Speaker 3: it up together. The answer was a collector in Saudi 121 00:07:45,642 --> 00:07:50,802 Speaker 3: Arabia who had fifteen hundred hot wheels toys. Mike paused 122 00:07:50,842 --> 00:07:53,242 Speaker 3: and started doing the math in his head. 123 00:07:53,722 --> 00:07:55,322 Speaker 4: And I'm like, man, I got more than net on 124 00:07:55,362 --> 00:07:56,562 Speaker 4: my wall at home. 125 00:07:57,002 --> 00:08:01,362 Speaker 3: So after work, Mike rushed home and began counting his collection. 126 00:08:02,122 --> 00:08:07,002 Speaker 2: It ended up being three seven and eleven cars. 127 00:08:06,042 --> 00:08:09,522 Speaker 3: More than double what the collector in the Middle East had. 128 00:08:10,402 --> 00:08:13,962 Speaker 3: Mike called up the Guinness Book of World Records and 129 00:08:14,122 --> 00:08:18,522 Speaker 3: soon was crowned holder of the world's largest collection. It 130 00:08:18,642 --> 00:08:24,482 Speaker 3: was just the beginning. Today, Mike's collection includes about thirty thousand, 131 00:08:24,922 --> 00:08:30,042 Speaker 3: I repeat thirty thousand hot wheels. It is essentially a 132 00:08:30,082 --> 00:08:34,482 Speaker 3: physical catalog of practically every car Mattel has ever made. 133 00:08:35,562 --> 00:08:38,082 Speaker 4: There's things in there that I have the only one 134 00:08:38,362 --> 00:08:40,202 Speaker 4: in the world, which. 135 00:08:40,002 --> 00:08:43,202 Speaker 3: In the collector world, makes Mike a pretty big deal. 136 00:08:44,162 --> 00:08:47,082 Speaker 3: Since starting his hobby, Mike has written more than a 137 00:08:47,162 --> 00:08:51,162 Speaker 3: dozen books on hot wheels. He's been featured in magazines 138 00:08:51,242 --> 00:08:55,202 Speaker 3: and canonized by Ripley's Believe It or Not, and yet 139 00:08:55,442 --> 00:09:00,402 Speaker 3: to this day, Mike is still hunting for more every day. 140 00:09:00,842 --> 00:09:03,122 Speaker 2: Every day, every day I go out, I look for something. 141 00:09:03,402 --> 00:09:05,962 Speaker 2: I look for hot wheels, whether we I'm vacation, or 142 00:09:06,002 --> 00:09:07,642 Speaker 2: I've just gone down to the or to get milk. 143 00:09:08,082 --> 00:09:11,922 Speaker 3: Hot wheels collecting, in other words, isn't just a fun 144 00:09:11,962 --> 00:09:15,562 Speaker 3: little hobby Mike does on the side, and frankly calling 145 00:09:15,602 --> 00:09:22,122 Speaker 3: it his obsession feels quaint. No, collecting hot wheels is 146 00:09:22,242 --> 00:09:29,562 Speaker 3: central to Mike's very being, and he's not alone. Before 147 00:09:29,602 --> 00:09:32,522 Speaker 3: we go further, let's switch gears and see how we 148 00:09:32,602 --> 00:09:37,162 Speaker 3: even got here. You've probably heard of Mattel, the toy 149 00:09:37,202 --> 00:09:41,842 Speaker 3: manufacturer behind the Barbie doll. Back in the nineteen sixties, 150 00:09:42,162 --> 00:09:46,602 Speaker 3: Mattel was having great success with girls toys, but its 151 00:09:46,682 --> 00:09:50,482 Speaker 3: lineup of toys for boys was limited. 152 00:09:50,962 --> 00:09:55,002 Speaker 1: In the nineteen sixties, Mattel's profits were made off of 153 00:09:55,402 --> 00:09:56,762 Speaker 1: toy guns and Bozukahs. 154 00:09:57,242 --> 00:10:02,122 Speaker 3: That again is Bruce Pascal. Bruce says that by the 155 00:10:02,202 --> 00:10:06,802 Speaker 3: late nineteen sixties, those toy bazukahs were starting to see 156 00:10:07,562 --> 00:10:10,722 Speaker 3: a little well problematic and what. 157 00:10:10,602 --> 00:10:13,042 Speaker 1: Was happening in the sixties the Vietnam War. 158 00:10:13,522 --> 00:10:17,522 Speaker 3: This was not a good look, so Mattel started looking 159 00:10:17,562 --> 00:10:23,162 Speaker 3: for new ideas. One day, the story goes, Mattel's co founder, 160 00:10:23,322 --> 00:10:27,362 Speaker 3: Elliott Handler, was visiting family when he noticed one of 161 00:10:27,402 --> 00:10:32,082 Speaker 3: the kids playing with a Matchbox car. Toy cars were 162 00:10:32,242 --> 00:10:36,162 Speaker 3: nothing new at the time, and Matchbox, a British brand, 163 00:10:36,682 --> 00:10:38,882 Speaker 3: was among the most popular toys. 164 00:10:39,402 --> 00:10:44,242 Speaker 1: Elliot Handler saw a nephew rolling a Matchbox on his pants, 165 00:10:44,602 --> 00:10:46,522 Speaker 1: and he grabbed it and said, isn't a toy car 166 00:10:46,562 --> 00:10:49,082 Speaker 1: supposed to be on the ground rolling? You know, why 167 00:10:49,082 --> 00:10:50,482 Speaker 1: are you rolling it on your pants? 168 00:10:50,962 --> 00:10:56,082 Speaker 3: Handler started fiddling with the car and immediately realized something 169 00:10:56,282 --> 00:10:57,362 Speaker 3: was off. 170 00:10:58,042 --> 00:10:59,322 Speaker 1: It had no playability. 171 00:10:59,962 --> 00:11:04,962 Speaker 3: Matchbox cars weren't easy to play with. Handler also noticed 172 00:11:05,082 --> 00:11:09,402 Speaker 3: that matchboxes didn't look anything like the cool muscle cars 173 00:11:09,722 --> 00:11:13,082 Speaker 3: burning rubber on the streets in the sixties. It was 174 00:11:13,162 --> 00:11:14,922 Speaker 3: a light bulb moment. 175 00:11:15,242 --> 00:11:18,442 Speaker 1: And so he told his engineers in nineteen sixty seven, 176 00:11:18,882 --> 00:11:22,882 Speaker 1: let's get in this business. Let's make this car better, faster, cooler, hotter. 177 00:11:23,562 --> 00:11:26,962 Speaker 1: And in May of nineteen sixty eight, out came the 178 00:11:27,002 --> 00:11:28,922 Speaker 1: first sixteen different cars. 179 00:11:29,162 --> 00:11:33,722 Speaker 3: Mittel would make. A Camaro, a Firebird, a Mustang, a Corvette, 180 00:11:33,762 --> 00:11:37,762 Speaker 3: a t Bird. Each car had its own miniature suspension 181 00:11:38,202 --> 00:11:41,882 Speaker 3: allowing it to glide across the floor. It had the 182 00:11:42,162 --> 00:11:47,602 Speaker 3: playability Handler dreamed of, so when the toy finally hit the. 183 00:11:47,522 --> 00:11:49,922 Speaker 1: Shelves, they sold millions. 184 00:11:50,442 --> 00:11:55,242 Speaker 3: Today, those original sixteen hot wheels are must have items. 185 00:11:55,962 --> 00:11:59,602 Speaker 3: A collection of all sixteen, still in their store display 186 00:12:00,042 --> 00:12:02,922 Speaker 3: can sell for over thirty thousand dollars. 187 00:12:03,402 --> 00:12:05,762 Speaker 6: I've tried to explain to some of my friends the 188 00:12:05,842 --> 00:12:08,042 Speaker 6: kind of money that was involved. They're blown away by it. 189 00:12:08,562 --> 00:12:11,522 Speaker 3: That's Woody. It's in another hot wheels collector. 190 00:12:12,322 --> 00:12:16,162 Speaker 6: I've owned probably the rarest hot wheels that you could 191 00:12:16,522 --> 00:12:17,922 Speaker 6: possibly imagine owning. 192 00:12:18,802 --> 00:12:22,362 Speaker 3: Woody is another big name in the hot wheels community. 193 00:12:23,002 --> 00:12:26,922 Speaker 3: Parts of his collection are so rare they've been displayed 194 00:12:27,402 --> 00:12:32,322 Speaker 3: at the Smithsonian. Woody started collecting when he was an adult. 195 00:12:32,842 --> 00:12:35,722 Speaker 3: At first, he just wanted to reacquire the toys he 196 00:12:35,842 --> 00:12:39,642 Speaker 3: used to have as a kid, but then the hobby snowballed. 197 00:12:40,202 --> 00:12:41,802 Speaker 6: It's kind of like a hunt. You want to try 198 00:12:41,842 --> 00:12:44,242 Speaker 6: to find this or that, and I really wanted to 199 00:12:44,282 --> 00:12:46,202 Speaker 6: see if I could find some of these things. 200 00:12:46,642 --> 00:12:50,642 Speaker 3: Woody became addicted to the thrill, to the feeling of 201 00:12:50,762 --> 00:12:54,682 Speaker 3: hunting for the world's most elusive toy cars. 202 00:12:55,162 --> 00:12:57,402 Speaker 6: When you get a phone call from somebody saying, hey, 203 00:12:57,882 --> 00:13:00,202 Speaker 6: my buddy's got a collection. He's looking to sell it, 204 00:13:00,482 --> 00:13:03,562 Speaker 6: you genuinely get excited because you can't wait to see 205 00:13:03,562 --> 00:13:06,042 Speaker 6: what's in there. And no matter how many times it happens, 206 00:13:06,402 --> 00:13:08,522 Speaker 6: you get that feeling over and over again. 207 00:13:09,122 --> 00:13:12,962 Speaker 3: The rush, he says, it is hard to describe, and 208 00:13:13,002 --> 00:13:16,522 Speaker 3: that means Woody is willing to shell out big bucks. 209 00:13:17,162 --> 00:13:19,402 Speaker 3: The most he's ever paid for a toy. 210 00:13:19,202 --> 00:13:22,322 Speaker 6: Car for a single hot wheel about thirty grand. 211 00:13:22,842 --> 00:13:26,322 Speaker 3: And dear listener, you should know that Woody is willing 212 00:13:26,522 --> 00:13:30,562 Speaker 3: to pay more. So if you have old hot wheels 213 00:13:30,562 --> 00:13:34,922 Speaker 3: from your childhood sitting around, listen closely. This might be 214 00:13:35,122 --> 00:13:35,762 Speaker 3: your chance. 215 00:13:36,562 --> 00:13:38,842 Speaker 6: I have been looking for a hot Pink Woody in 216 00:13:38,882 --> 00:13:42,802 Speaker 6: the package that would be technically my holy grail. 217 00:13:42,962 --> 00:13:47,682 Speaker 3: The hot Pink Woody. Now, this car, outside of its 218 00:13:47,722 --> 00:13:51,762 Speaker 3: original box can fetch upwards of five hundred dollars. 219 00:13:52,162 --> 00:13:52,682 Speaker 1: Not bad. 220 00:13:53,242 --> 00:13:57,082 Speaker 3: But if you can find one in the box, Woody promises, 221 00:13:57,642 --> 00:13:59,922 Speaker 3: he will pony up big time. 222 00:14:00,562 --> 00:14:02,762 Speaker 6: I would pay them well if they had one. For sure, 223 00:14:02,842 --> 00:14:05,202 Speaker 6: if somebody really had one and it was legit, I 224 00:14:05,202 --> 00:14:06,762 Speaker 6: would pay them a lot of money. They would be 225 00:14:07,002 --> 00:14:07,722 Speaker 6: very happy with me. 226 00:14:08,362 --> 00:14:11,042 Speaker 3: Now, if you don't mind, I'll be using this commercial 227 00:14:11,082 --> 00:14:14,842 Speaker 3: break to look through mild toy bucks. I suggest you 228 00:14:14,962 --> 00:14:23,962 Speaker 3: do the same. We'll be right back. About forty percent 229 00:14:24,082 --> 00:14:28,202 Speaker 3: of Americans have a collection of some kind. The reason 230 00:14:28,962 --> 00:14:32,802 Speaker 3: might be all in our brains. In the nineteen seventies, 231 00:14:32,962 --> 00:14:37,722 Speaker 3: neuroscientists hooked some people up to machinery and played them 232 00:14:37,762 --> 00:14:42,362 Speaker 3: a series of similar sounds, but then, at random, the 233 00:14:42,442 --> 00:14:48,122 Speaker 3: scientists added a different sound. Okay, they actually changed either 234 00:14:48,242 --> 00:14:51,682 Speaker 3: the intensity or frequency of the beep. We didn't want 235 00:14:51,682 --> 00:14:55,482 Speaker 3: to blow out anyone's ear drums, so duck duck. When 236 00:14:55,642 --> 00:15:01,082 Speaker 3: participants heard the novel sound, their brains lit up. This effect, 237 00:15:01,322 --> 00:15:06,842 Speaker 3: called the oddball paradigm, suggests that people get a neurological 238 00:15:07,082 --> 00:15:12,362 Speaker 3: kick out of experiencing things that are novel, unexpected, or rare, 239 00:15:12,682 --> 00:15:16,522 Speaker 3: and it might be why some people love to collect. 240 00:15:17,122 --> 00:15:22,562 Speaker 3: Collectors know whether it's baseball cards, pez dispensers, or hot wheels. 241 00:15:23,002 --> 00:15:26,282 Speaker 3: You can stumble onto the holy grail at any moment. 242 00:15:26,962 --> 00:15:30,202 Speaker 3: There's a thrill in rummaging through junk and finding a 243 00:15:30,202 --> 00:15:35,482 Speaker 3: piece that's exceptionally unusual, and collectors know that gems can 244 00:15:35,522 --> 00:15:39,602 Speaker 3: turn up anywhere. One enthusiast told us a story about 245 00:15:39,602 --> 00:15:44,282 Speaker 3: somebody finding twenty of those super rare pink woodies in 246 00:15:44,362 --> 00:15:47,602 Speaker 3: the back closet of a dairy queen. That kind of 247 00:15:47,682 --> 00:15:51,642 Speaker 3: novelty is basically catnep for a collector's brain. 248 00:15:52,722 --> 00:15:55,802 Speaker 1: I have a genetic issue. It's called collect itis. 249 00:15:56,522 --> 00:15:58,202 Speaker 3: That again is Bruce Pascal. 250 00:15:59,162 --> 00:16:02,082 Speaker 1: I guarantee you have you ever seen those TV shows 251 00:16:02,122 --> 00:16:06,722 Speaker 1: of hoarders. I probably have a similar gene, but likely enough. 252 00:16:06,962 --> 00:16:09,722 Speaker 1: I have a little bit more control and obsessive compulsive 253 00:16:09,762 --> 00:16:10,602 Speaker 1: of keeping it clean. 254 00:16:11,522 --> 00:16:15,602 Speaker 3: Bruce Pascal first felt the tug of collecting back in 255 00:16:15,762 --> 00:16:19,202 Speaker 3: nineteen ninety nine when his mom gave him a box 256 00:16:19,602 --> 00:16:24,362 Speaker 3: filled with his childhood toys. Rifling through the box, Bruce 257 00:16:24,402 --> 00:16:28,562 Speaker 3: felt a sudden urge to complete his collection. Soon he 258 00:16:28,682 --> 00:16:31,962 Speaker 3: was running ads in newspapers asking people if they had 259 00:16:32,002 --> 00:16:37,202 Speaker 3: hot wheels lying around. Bit by bit, Bruce's collection grew 260 00:16:37,802 --> 00:16:41,482 Speaker 3: and fast within a few months, he'd sign a check 261 00:16:41,642 --> 00:16:45,162 Speaker 3: for one of the rarest hot wheels in the world. 262 00:16:45,162 --> 00:16:46,682 Speaker 1: The Pink Rearload beach Bomb. 263 00:16:47,002 --> 00:16:51,522 Speaker 3: A pink reload beach bomb basically a van with a 264 00:16:51,562 --> 00:16:56,442 Speaker 3: few surfboards attached. The toy, which had been collecting dust 265 00:16:56,522 --> 00:17:01,202 Speaker 3: in the garage of an old Mattel employee, was remarkably rare. 266 00:17:01,842 --> 00:17:04,242 Speaker 3: We pressed Bruce on how much he paid for it, 267 00:17:04,602 --> 00:17:06,802 Speaker 3: but he wouldn't give us an exact number. 268 00:17:07,282 --> 00:17:10,962 Speaker 1: Let's say, over fifty thousand, less than seventy two, somewhere 269 00:17:10,962 --> 00:17:11,722 Speaker 1: in that range. 270 00:17:11,762 --> 00:17:15,322 Speaker 3: You know, you'd think that after landing the deal, Bruce 271 00:17:15,402 --> 00:17:20,402 Speaker 3: would relax, settling down a bit, right. Nope, his brain 272 00:17:20,682 --> 00:17:24,162 Speaker 3: was whirling with ideas for even better fines. 273 00:17:24,682 --> 00:17:28,122 Speaker 1: I woke up one night saying, if that former employee 274 00:17:28,122 --> 00:17:32,082 Speaker 1: who had that pink reilroad beach bomb in his garage 275 00:17:32,122 --> 00:17:36,682 Speaker 1: for all those years, maybe another employee has a rare carnigarage. 276 00:17:37,322 --> 00:17:42,442 Speaker 3: And that is when Bruce began what he calls his odyssey. 277 00:17:42,842 --> 00:17:45,962 Speaker 1: I started putting a list together of every former motel employee, 278 00:17:46,482 --> 00:17:49,482 Speaker 1: contacting them if I could find him, interviewing him to 279 00:17:49,562 --> 00:17:52,402 Speaker 1: learn about the history of the company, and always ending 280 00:17:52,402 --> 00:17:53,842 Speaker 1: the call, did you keep anything? 281 00:17:54,642 --> 00:17:58,002 Speaker 3: When the old employees didn't have a car to give away, 282 00:17:58,442 --> 00:18:03,722 Speaker 3: they often had other memorabilia blueprints, wooden models, bits from 283 00:18:03,762 --> 00:18:07,682 Speaker 3: the design process. Bruce took everything he could get his 284 00:18:07,762 --> 00:18:11,562 Speaker 3: hands on. It wasn't long before his name started going around. 285 00:18:12,202 --> 00:18:16,442 Speaker 3: Suddenly he was getting messages from complete strangers asking him 286 00:18:16,482 --> 00:18:20,602 Speaker 3: to check out their hot wheels. Sometimes a widow someone 287 00:18:20,682 --> 00:18:24,202 Speaker 3: married to a deceased hot wheels lover would reach out 288 00:18:24,242 --> 00:18:24,722 Speaker 3: for help. 289 00:18:25,362 --> 00:18:29,082 Speaker 1: I could practically read an email. Dear mister Pascal, I 290 00:18:29,162 --> 00:18:31,722 Speaker 1: tracked you down. My husband passed away. He has three 291 00:18:31,762 --> 00:18:34,362 Speaker 1: thousand cars in his garage. I'm at a loss. Can 292 00:18:34,402 --> 00:18:36,602 Speaker 1: you give me help? A week ago somebody called me 293 00:18:36,642 --> 00:18:37,682 Speaker 1: with ten thousand cars. 294 00:18:38,282 --> 00:18:41,922 Speaker 3: Bruce was not just becoming a hot wheels collector, he 295 00:18:42,082 --> 00:18:46,602 Speaker 3: was becoming a hot wheels consultant. In fact, he would 296 00:18:46,602 --> 00:18:50,842 Speaker 3: amass so much hot wheels ephemera that his collection was 297 00:18:50,882 --> 00:18:54,562 Speaker 3: basically a mini museum, and so he made one. 298 00:18:55,042 --> 00:18:57,882 Speaker 1: I have a four thousand square foot private museum. 299 00:18:58,402 --> 00:19:01,962 Speaker 3: When Bruce first decided to open up his private collection 300 00:19:02,082 --> 00:19:05,762 Speaker 3: to the public for visits, his inbox was flooded with 301 00:19:05,922 --> 00:19:09,722 Speaker 3: four hundred emails from people asking to see it. Which 302 00:19:09,842 --> 00:19:12,602 Speaker 3: by the way, is just a sliver of the hot 303 00:19:12,602 --> 00:19:13,522 Speaker 3: wheels community. 304 00:19:14,202 --> 00:19:17,122 Speaker 1: We used to estimate there are fifty thousand collectors. I 305 00:19:17,202 --> 00:19:20,202 Speaker 1: believe that number is much much higher. Now we have 306 00:19:20,242 --> 00:19:23,522 Speaker 1: an annual convention, the tickets sell out instantly. 307 00:19:24,402 --> 00:19:31,522 Speaker 3: That's right, Hot wheels conventions. It's hard to overstate just 308 00:19:31,642 --> 00:19:37,042 Speaker 3: how popular these gatherings are. At conventions, there are painting 309 00:19:37,082 --> 00:19:41,082 Speaker 3: competitions to see who can customize the prettiest car. There 310 00:19:41,082 --> 00:19:45,602 Speaker 3: are hot wheels brokers scanning the floor looking to negotiate trades. 311 00:19:46,042 --> 00:19:50,802 Speaker 3: There's haggling and bickering. There's even trench coat style deals 312 00:19:50,842 --> 00:19:54,602 Speaker 3: done in the shadows. The black market for hot wheels, 313 00:19:54,642 --> 00:19:56,722 Speaker 3: Bruce says, is very real. 314 00:19:57,362 --> 00:20:01,162 Speaker 1: Mettellius to search employees when they left because they're stealing 315 00:20:01,162 --> 00:20:01,882 Speaker 1: from the factory. 316 00:20:02,482 --> 00:20:05,762 Speaker 3: On more than one occasion, a factory worker has snuck 317 00:20:05,802 --> 00:20:08,882 Speaker 3: off with a hot wheel well that hasn't been released 318 00:20:08,962 --> 00:20:13,562 Speaker 3: to the public yet, releasing pieces of the contraband at 319 00:20:13,602 --> 00:20:14,282 Speaker 3: a convention. 320 00:20:14,802 --> 00:20:18,162 Speaker 1: Do you remember lunchboxes and soup containers. And they caught 321 00:20:18,202 --> 00:20:20,122 Speaker 1: an employee once who had a bunch of hot wheels 322 00:20:20,122 --> 00:20:23,362 Speaker 1: inside the soup container inside his lunchbox. So you get fired. 323 00:20:23,642 --> 00:20:26,202 Speaker 1: But stuff has a way of getting out of the 324 00:20:26,522 --> 00:20:27,562 Speaker 1: factory all the time. 325 00:20:28,402 --> 00:20:31,402 Speaker 3: But the black market is just a small part of 326 00:20:31,442 --> 00:20:34,482 Speaker 3: a convention. Most of the time, it's just a lot 327 00:20:34,482 --> 00:20:36,522 Speaker 3: of adults playing with toys. 328 00:20:37,282 --> 00:20:41,002 Speaker 1: I pity the person who accidentally stays at a hotel 329 00:20:41,042 --> 00:20:44,482 Speaker 1: where we have Hot Wheels convention. We basically take over 330 00:20:44,762 --> 00:20:48,682 Speaker 1: most of the rooms of a hotel and people literally 331 00:20:49,042 --> 00:20:51,282 Speaker 1: put on top of their beds in every inch of 332 00:20:51,322 --> 00:20:55,482 Speaker 1: the room a thousand plus hot wheel related items in 333 00:20:55,602 --> 00:20:59,962 Speaker 1: each room. And it's mind boggling how people are literally 334 00:21:00,082 --> 00:21:03,442 Speaker 1: walking room to room to room to buy and see 335 00:21:03,442 --> 00:21:04,242 Speaker 1: people's collection. 336 00:21:05,042 --> 00:21:08,562 Speaker 3: We visited a Hot Wheels can mention. In fact, it's 337 00:21:08,602 --> 00:21:11,722 Speaker 3: where we did all these interviews, and we have to 338 00:21:11,762 --> 00:21:16,562 Speaker 3: admit we got one takeaway from the experience. Most Hot 339 00:21:16,602 --> 00:21:20,282 Speaker 3: Wheels fanatics aren't in it just for the thrill of 340 00:21:20,322 --> 00:21:24,882 Speaker 3: the hunt, or the money or the potential return on investment. 341 00:21:25,642 --> 00:21:31,162 Speaker 3: It's something deeper and much more personal. Again, here is 342 00:21:31,242 --> 00:21:32,082 Speaker 3: Mike Zarnik. 343 00:21:33,002 --> 00:21:34,762 Speaker 4: A lot of people ask, you know, what's the most 344 00:21:34,802 --> 00:21:37,922 Speaker 4: expensive car? How much money have you spent? To me, 345 00:21:38,122 --> 00:21:39,882 Speaker 4: it's all about the passion. 346 00:21:40,322 --> 00:21:43,962 Speaker 2: Now Wheels brings me back to the time when I 347 00:21:44,002 --> 00:21:48,522 Speaker 2: was ten years old, and I had no worries, no cares. 348 00:21:48,842 --> 00:21:51,602 Speaker 2: It brings me back to my childhood and where I 349 00:21:51,642 --> 00:21:53,842 Speaker 2: don't have to worry about anything or have to deal 350 00:21:53,882 --> 00:21:54,402 Speaker 2: with anything. 351 00:21:54,842 --> 00:21:56,322 Speaker 4: And a lot of collectors that way. 352 00:21:56,362 --> 00:21:56,522 Speaker 7: You know. 353 00:21:56,682 --> 00:22:00,202 Speaker 4: We always talk about trying to buy back our childhood. 354 00:21:59,882 --> 00:22:04,922 Speaker 3: They're trying to buy back their childhood. In twenty sixteen, 355 00:22:05,082 --> 00:22:09,002 Speaker 3: a study in the journal Emotion showed that nostalgia, this 356 00:22:09,282 --> 00:22:13,122 Speaker 3: yearning to connect with the past, can be a net positive. 357 00:22:13,682 --> 00:22:18,082 Speaker 3: It creates continuity with our past selves and it has 358 00:22:18,122 --> 00:22:22,242 Speaker 3: a way of soothing us. When we spoke with Woody Hitsen, 359 00:22:22,682 --> 00:22:25,282 Speaker 3: he practically said that verbatim. 360 00:22:25,202 --> 00:22:27,682 Speaker 6: They do, you know, serve as a reminder of kind 361 00:22:27,682 --> 00:22:29,682 Speaker 6: of like the better time and the easier times in 362 00:22:29,722 --> 00:22:30,482 Speaker 6: my life. 363 00:22:30,602 --> 00:22:32,642 Speaker 3: And so did Bruce Ol. 364 00:22:32,762 --> 00:22:36,002 Speaker 1: We're all kids who some of us are just older kids. 365 00:22:36,682 --> 00:22:41,802 Speaker 3: The French philosopher Jean Balutrigrade called this the miracle of collecting. 366 00:22:42,442 --> 00:22:46,722 Speaker 3: When you collect objects, he said, quote, what you really 367 00:22:46,762 --> 00:22:52,282 Speaker 3: collect is always yourself. A collection, in other words, is 368 00:22:52,402 --> 00:22:55,642 Speaker 3: not just a bunch of random items you throw on 369 00:22:55,682 --> 00:23:00,482 Speaker 3: a shelf. A collection is an outward expression of your identity. 370 00:23:01,042 --> 00:23:03,722 Speaker 3: It's a way of planting your flag and saying to 371 00:23:03,762 --> 00:23:09,362 Speaker 3: the world, behold my tastes, my inst my knowledge. When 372 00:23:09,362 --> 00:23:13,082 Speaker 3: you do that, you ultimately end up running into others 373 00:23:13,122 --> 00:23:17,482 Speaker 3: with similar identities, and it helps you form a community. 374 00:23:18,162 --> 00:23:19,762 Speaker 3: Here again, is Woody itsen. 375 00:23:20,642 --> 00:23:22,762 Speaker 6: You start running into people that are just like you 376 00:23:23,562 --> 00:23:27,082 Speaker 6: pretty soon it's kind of a common bond. And that's 377 00:23:27,082 --> 00:23:29,202 Speaker 6: pretty much what you talk about. Like, you go to 378 00:23:29,242 --> 00:23:32,922 Speaker 6: these conventions and nationals, and you look forward to going 379 00:23:32,922 --> 00:23:35,402 Speaker 6: out to breakfast with your friends and dinner with your friends, 380 00:23:35,442 --> 00:23:37,562 Speaker 6: and I mean, the hot wheels are kind of almost 381 00:23:37,602 --> 00:23:39,402 Speaker 6: secondary at this point, and. 382 00:23:39,282 --> 00:23:42,842 Speaker 3: That, in fact, might be the point of collecting in 383 00:23:42,922 --> 00:23:47,122 Speaker 3: the first place. There are those who suggest that some 384 00:23:47,162 --> 00:23:51,402 Speaker 3: of us have the collecting bug because in the distant 385 00:23:51,602 --> 00:23:56,722 Speaker 3: past it helped our ancestors survive. People who collected, who 386 00:23:56,842 --> 00:24:01,602 Speaker 3: pooled resources, were better able to connect with others and 387 00:24:01,762 --> 00:24:07,242 Speaker 3: maintain a community of support. Collecting, in other words, be 388 00:24:07,242 --> 00:24:11,042 Speaker 3: a tool for staying alive. And for people like Woody, 389 00:24:11,562 --> 00:24:16,482 Speaker 3: that kind of connection makes the cost of collecting immaterial. 390 00:24:17,242 --> 00:24:20,442 Speaker 6: And if the hobby crash tomorrow, it wouldn't bother me 391 00:24:20,482 --> 00:24:23,722 Speaker 6: in the slightest, you know, because I love the toys 392 00:24:23,762 --> 00:24:27,242 Speaker 6: that I have, So, you know, collect for the right reasons. 393 00:24:27,242 --> 00:24:28,402 Speaker 6: You'll always love what you got. 394 00:24:30,362 --> 00:24:34,362 Speaker 3: Since the pandemic, hot wheel sales and toy collecting in 395 00:24:34,442 --> 00:24:38,962 Speaker 3: general has boomed, and lately it's brought in a new 396 00:24:39,082 --> 00:24:40,882 Speaker 3: generation of collectors. 397 00:24:41,442 --> 00:24:43,842 Speaker 5: I have a collection of up to three thousand, two 398 00:24:43,922 --> 00:24:44,962 Speaker 5: thousand hot wheels. 399 00:24:45,442 --> 00:24:50,282 Speaker 3: That's Annie Elizabeth. She's a content creator, a bonafide car buff, 400 00:24:50,802 --> 00:24:54,642 Speaker 3: and the face of the up and coming hot wheels collector. 401 00:24:55,162 --> 00:24:56,962 Speaker 5: You know, you just say you're gonna buy one, and 402 00:24:57,002 --> 00:24:59,042 Speaker 5: then that's when the spiral begins. 403 00:24:59,682 --> 00:25:03,322 Speaker 3: Annie, who is twenty three, has the same passion and 404 00:25:03,522 --> 00:25:08,402 Speaker 3: gets the same thrill from collecting as the older general, which, 405 00:25:08,522 --> 00:25:12,842 Speaker 3: to no one's surprise, has endeared her to the old guard. 406 00:25:13,762 --> 00:25:17,442 Speaker 5: They love the fact that the newer gen z like 407 00:25:17,922 --> 00:25:21,042 Speaker 5: younger audience is coming and like buying hot wheels. 408 00:25:21,082 --> 00:25:25,442 Speaker 3: But unlike those before her, Annie's collection isn't wrapped up 409 00:25:25,522 --> 00:25:29,842 Speaker 3: in nostalgia for the past, but rather hope for the future. 410 00:25:30,762 --> 00:25:34,322 Speaker 3: Only in her twenties, Annie would love to own some 411 00:25:34,602 --> 00:25:37,922 Speaker 3: real life hot rods, but she hasn't been around long 412 00:25:38,042 --> 00:25:41,362 Speaker 3: enough to build up that sort of collection. But hot 413 00:25:41,362 --> 00:25:44,842 Speaker 3: wheels gave her a way in. She realized that a 414 00:25:44,962 --> 00:25:48,322 Speaker 3: toy collection was a cheap and easy way to own 415 00:25:48,402 --> 00:25:50,562 Speaker 3: the real cars on her bucket list. 416 00:25:51,282 --> 00:25:54,202 Speaker 5: I'm like, way, I can collect a bunch of these 417 00:25:54,522 --> 00:25:57,522 Speaker 5: and like get like a collection of just my dream cars, 418 00:25:57,562 --> 00:25:58,842 Speaker 5: but in hot wheels form. 419 00:25:59,322 --> 00:26:02,322 Speaker 3: Collecting hot Wheels, in other words, is just a fun 420 00:26:02,362 --> 00:26:06,042 Speaker 3: way for Annie to live the dream without breaking the bank. 421 00:26:06,922 --> 00:26:09,202 Speaker 3: Now she buys them everywhere she goes. 422 00:26:10,082 --> 00:26:12,642 Speaker 5: I think it's become an addiction at this point, but 423 00:26:12,722 --> 00:26:15,042 Speaker 5: I think it's a healthy addiction, because I feel like 424 00:26:15,482 --> 00:26:16,722 Speaker 5: there could be a lot worse. 425 00:26:17,442 --> 00:26:21,522 Speaker 3: But Annie's biggest dream isn't to have the biggest collection, 426 00:26:22,002 --> 00:26:26,762 Speaker 3: or the rarest collection or the most expensive collection. It 427 00:26:27,082 --> 00:26:32,442 Speaker 3: becoming part of the collection itself. Each year, Mattel hosts 428 00:26:32,602 --> 00:26:36,082 Speaker 3: the Legends Tour, a traveling car show. 429 00:26:36,522 --> 00:26:40,002 Speaker 5: They go from state to state, cety city and people 430 00:26:40,002 --> 00:26:41,962 Speaker 5: bring out their cars and at the end of the 431 00:26:42,042 --> 00:26:44,722 Speaker 5: day the judges will decide which cars will make it 432 00:26:44,762 --> 00:26:45,722 Speaker 5: to the finale. 433 00:26:46,202 --> 00:26:51,402 Speaker 3: The judges look at real, life sized customized cars. The 434 00:26:51,442 --> 00:26:55,802 Speaker 3: winner they select gets to see their car miniaturized as 435 00:26:55,842 --> 00:26:58,122 Speaker 3: a factory produced hot wheel. 436 00:26:58,682 --> 00:27:00,242 Speaker 5: The goal at the end of the day, for me, 437 00:27:00,322 --> 00:27:06,362 Speaker 5: at least, is getting a Hot Wheels diecast created of 438 00:27:06,402 --> 00:27:07,122 Speaker 5: my own are. 439 00:27:07,842 --> 00:27:11,882 Speaker 3: In other words, going small is just another way to 440 00:27:12,042 --> 00:27:13,042 Speaker 3: dream big. 441 00:27:20,682 --> 00:27:23,922 Speaker 7: Very Special Episodes is made by some very special people. 442 00:27:24,802 --> 00:27:28,042 Speaker 7: This show is hosted by Danish Swartz, Zaren Burnett and 443 00:27:28,162 --> 00:27:32,842 Speaker 7: Jason English. Today's episode was produced with Celia Aniskovic and 444 00:27:32,922 --> 00:27:37,162 Speaker 7: dial Tone Films. Today's episode was written by Lucas Riley, 445 00:27:37,882 --> 00:27:41,562 Speaker 7: editing and sound design by Josh Fisher. Our producers are 446 00:27:41,642 --> 00:27:46,962 Speaker 7: Carl Catle and Josh Fisher. Additional production support by Mary Dow, 447 00:27:47,362 --> 00:27:52,202 Speaker 7: Ramsey Gong, and Marissa Brown. Mixing and mastering by Pinheed Fraser. 448 00:27:52,842 --> 00:27:57,842 Speaker 7: Original music by Alis McCoy. Research and factchecking by Celia Niskovic, 449 00:27:58,202 --> 00:28:02,842 Speaker 7: Lucas Riley, and Austin Thompson. Show logo by Lucy Quintonia. 450 00:28:03,562 --> 00:28:06,602 Speaker 7: Our executive producer is Jason English. If you like the 451 00:28:06,602 --> 00:28:09,002 Speaker 7: email the show, you can reach us at Very Special 452 00:28:09,042 --> 00:28:12,202 Speaker 7: Episodes at gmail dot com. You can check out more 453 00:28:12,202 --> 00:28:16,122 Speaker 7: of Celia's work at dial Tonefilms dot com. We've got 454 00:28:16,122 --> 00:28:19,242 Speaker 7: more episodes in the works with Celia and dial Tone. 455 00:28:20,522 --> 00:28:23,522 Speaker 7: Very Special Episodes is a production of iHeart Podcasts.