Garage Sales Unhinged

Welcome to "Garage Sales Unhinged", the podcast where we are talking about weird and wonderful characters, finds, and vibes at garage sales, yard sales, estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Reddit. Everywhere and anywhere that you might find a second hand purchase and some wheeling and dealing.

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94 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes94

Newest first

Sep 2, 2025 · 22 min
The Bronco Market
Hosts Julie and Jake share personal experiences about fitting in during high school, particularly focusing on the pressure to wear branded clothing in the 90s and how Jake chose to avoid it. Julie highlights an innovative concept at East Forsyth High's Bronco Market, a thrift store run by the school which provides necessities to students, reduces stigma with anonymous shopping via QR codes, and gives students work experience.
Aug 26, 2025 · 32 min
Larry King Estate Sale
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' Julie and Jake discuss the recent Larry King estate auction, highlighting the eclectic mix of memorabilia and quirky items like a jellybean portrait of King. As they explore the auction's offerings, they reflect on what their own estate sales might reveal about them, with Julie's travels and minimalistic souvenirs contrasted against Jake's sticky note abundance.
Aug 19, 2025 · 21 min
Date Idea: Outfits From Thrift Store
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' hosts Julie and Jake talk about an innovative date night idea where couples buy outfits for each other from thrift stores within a set budget and wear them on the same night. Their discussion is interlaced with personal anecdotes, including Julie's trip to Australia and humorous stories about their family. They also highlight the social and economic benefits of thrift shopping and suggest it as a budget-friendly, entertaining activity for couples.
Aug 12, 2025 · 20 min
Pay What You Think It's Worth
Julie and Jake focus on the ethics and feasibility of hosting a 'pay what you think it's worth' yard sale, inspired by a lively Reddit thread. They debate the pros and cons, potential issues with honesty, and alternative solutions like using Venmo for payments.
Aug 5, 2025 · 34 min
Second Hand Musical Instruments
In this episode of Garage Sales Unhinged, hosts Julie and Jake take a deep dive into their personal musical journeys. Julie discusses her extensive classical piano training and her aspiration to play jazz piano, while Jake reminisces about his foray into guitar playing and his experience with secondhand instruments. They share humorous anecdotes about their childhood, their parents' quirky behaviors, and the various musical instruments they've tried.
Jul 29, 2025 · 24 min
Thrifting in Hawaii
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' hosts Julie and Jake share personal anecdotes about vacations they took during their childhood and delve into Julie's recent trip to Hawaii, where she explored how the island community handles the secondhand market. Julie visited Goodwill and a boutique thrift store on Oahu, noting the unique challenges and opportunities in the local resale market.
Jul 22, 2025 · 39 min
How to Find an Estate Sale Company with Sarah
In this episode of Garage Sales Unhinged, host Julie welcomes her longtime friend Sarah, who shares her extensive experience in navigating the complexities of finding an estate sale company. They discuss the differences between garage sales and estate sales, then delve into Sarah's personal journey managing her parents' downsizing and the logistical and emotional challenges involved. Sarah offers in-depth advice on evaluating and choosing the right estate sale company, taking stock of valuable items, understanding the contractual aspects, and effectively marketing the sale. This episode is a comprehensive guide for anyone faced with organizing an estate sale.
Jul 15, 2025 · 38 min
Are DVDs Becoming Extinct?
Hosts Julie and Jake discuss their love for movies, mentioning favorite titles like 'My Fair Lady,' 'Goonies,' and 'Labyrinth.' The conversation shifts to the importance of physical media, prompted by the collapse of Redbox and how it has left many DVD kiosks abandoned. They reflect on the differences between owning movies in physical form and relying on streaming services, emphasizing the potential loss of access to beloved films.
Jul 8, 2025 · 27 min
Vacation in Maine
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' Julie recounts a trip to New England where she visited various thrift and antique stores. She highlights unique finds, like Civil War-era portraits and local high school t-shirts, and discusses the benefits of shopping at thrift stores for unique, locally flavored souvenirs.
Jul 1, 2025 · 35 min
Thrifting and Community: Uncovering Hidden Gems with Christine
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' host Julie invites her social media friend Christine as a guest to chat about thrifting. The discussion delves into their passion for thrifting, including the economic, environmental, and personal benefits. Christine shares her journey into thrifting inspired by a friend and explains how it has allowed her to build a distinctive, budget-friendly wardrobe. Both Julie and Christine emphasize the social and community aspects of estate sales, recounting heartwarming stories of connections made.
Jun 24, 2025 · 30 min
Decluttering Tips
Julie and Jake from 'Garage Sales Unhinged' introduce the episode topic which is decluttering ahead of a sale, with tips on categorizing items into keep, sell, and trash piles. They discuss the emotional aspects of letting go of sentimental items and the importance of selling or donating unused items. They share personal anecdotes about managing clutter, including Julie's strategies for organizing a yard sale and involving kids in decluttering.
Jun 17, 2025 · 22 min
The Simpsons Season 5 Episode 1
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' hosts Julie and Jake have a detailed discussion about Season 5, Episode 1 of 'The Simpsons,' titled 'Homer’s Barbershop Quartet.' The conversation highlights the episode's origins, key scenes, and its satirical retelling of the Beatles' story. The hosts also discuss the community spirit of swap meets and ponder what they would bring to one.
Jun 10, 2025 · 40 min
How to Sell Used Golf Clubs
In the season 3 premiere of Garage Sales Unhinged, hosts Julie and Jake discuss practical tips for selling secondhand golf clubs, comparing local options, like Facebook Marketplace and yard sales, to specialized resell stores like Play It Again Sports and online platforms such as Rock Bottom Golf and 2nd Swing. Julie shares an embarrassing sports memory from receiving a scholarship at a Texas Rangers event, while Jake recounts an accidental triumph in middle school football.
May 20, 2025 · 29 min
Facebook Group of Weird Second Hand Finds
In the season 2 finale of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' co-hosts Julie and Jake explore the Facebook group 'Official Weird Second Hand Finds That Need To Be Shared Page'. Featured items include a grotesque mask, a dainty ring made from dice, an unsettling resin clock, a creepy goat-like doll, a bizarre fish head sculpture, and a mannequin leg planter. Julie and Jake emphasize the joy of discovering and celebrating the odd and unique items found in secondhand markets.
May 13, 2025 · 28 min
Prop Money is a No-No
In this episode of Garage Sales Unhinged, hosts Julie and Jake provide valuable advice on how to avoid falling victim to counterfeit money scams, emphasizing the importance of using money pens to verify currency.
May 6, 2025 · 24 min
Van Gogh or Van No? (Part 2)
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged', hosts Julie and Jake continue discussing the saga of an allegedly 'orphaned' Van Gogh painting known as 'Elimar'. They explore its contested authenticity, discussing various opinions from art collectors, historians, and institutions like the Van Gogh Museum. The episode also touches on the complexities of art authentication, the role of perception in determining authenticity, and how financial incentives can sometimes skew expert opinions.
Apr 29, 2025 · 30 min
Van Gogh or Van No? (Part 1)
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged' with hosts Julie and Jake, they do a deep dive into the intriguing story of a potential Vincent Van Gogh painting bought at a Minnesota garage sale in 2016. This painting, referred to as 'Elimar,' was initially denied authentication by the Van Gogh Museum in 2019. Subsequently, the LMI Group, a data science firm, conducted a comprehensive four-year research project to validate its authenticity. The episode ends with a cliffhanger promising even juicier details in the next installment.
Apr 22, 2025 · 26 min
Antique vs Vintage vs Retro vs Classic: What's the Difference?
Julie and Jake, hosts of Garage Sales Unhinged, share a fascinating discussion about the semantics of terms used to describe secondhand items. They explore the definitions and differences between 'antique,' 'vintage,' 'retro,' and 'classic,' providing examples and discussing their subjective nature. Jake shares anecdotes about their shared experiences with their first car, a 1984 Toyota Corolla.
Apr 15, 2025 · 23 min
Government Garage Sale
Julie and Jake delve into a thought-provoking article from the CATO Institute suggesting the federal government could impact the budget deficit by selling off some of its land holdings. They explore the concept of reducing federal land ownership, mentioning the federal government owning 640 million acres, and the Bureau of Land Management overseeing 245 million acres. They highlight a recent sale of 42 acres in Nevada for $16.6 million and discuss the economic and practical implications of selling federal land.
Apr 8, 2025 · 20 min
"Garage Sale" Video Game
In this episode of 'Garage Sales Unhinged,' hosts Julie and Jake share stories from their childhood, including late-night video game sessions. They highlight a new video game called 'Garage Sale,' developed by students Amelia Zollner and Rishit Khare from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The game offers players a virtual scavenger hunt experience with community-centric undertones. The hosts praise the game as a wholesome alternative to more mainstream, violent video games. They also touch on the game development club at UW-Madison and the nostalgic value of video games.