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The Best of Car Talk

#2603: Back to Nature

The Best of Car Talk

NPR

Comedy, Automotive, Leisure

4.716.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Holy ‘Mutual of Omaha’, Marlin Perkins! Spiders and Cats and cell phone calls from the top of a California Redwood on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to Car Talk from National Public Radio with us Click and Clack to Tappert Brothers,

0:24.8

and we're broadcasting this week from the division of unintended consequences here at Car Talk Plaza.

0:27.3

It is, I'm going to read this letter as it arrived.

0:30.2

I don't know if I should mention his name, but why not, Phil?

0:33.4

It's probably not often that you are thanked for helping someone's business, but that's

0:37.2

exactly the reason I'm writing.

0:39.0

About six months ago, you were helping a caller with a problem with his Honda.

0:42.4

I can recall your words.

0:44.0

You suggested that he take his Honda Repair Manual and go read through it while sitting on the John.

0:50.5

I remember that call.

0:51.7

I don't.

0:52.7

It is this seemingly innocuous suggestion, which has been a tremendous boom for my business.

0:58.7

You see, I am a colorectal surgeon.

1:02.3

Colorectal surgeon.

1:03.4

And as most good mechanics and many of my colleagues know from experience, performing your research while sitting on the John is an outstanding way to produce

1:12.0

the most gargantuan hemorrhoids.

1:17.0

Since your suggestion on the air, I have seen my business grow at a phenomenal rate.

1:22.6

In fact, I've begun a little medical research study to see if I can tell the make and model of a patient's car by the size of his hemorrhoids.

1:31.5

Isn't that interesting?

1:33.6

Anyway, I can't thank you enough to help with my business.

1:36.4

Should you ever need any duff remodeling, I would be pleased to offer you my services at automotive mechanics rates.

1:43.3

Sincerely, Dr. Philip Dean, from somewhere

...

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