Spin and Win: The Podcast

The Spin of a Lifetime: Ryan Vickers’ Wheel of Fortune Experience

Meet Ryan Vickers from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada—a school teacher by day and the charismatic host of Reach for the Top, Canada’s beloved academic quiz show once helmed by Alex Trebek. Growing up, Ryan wasn’t a fan of Wheel of Fortune during its "shopping era," but today, he enjoys revisiting those classic episodes. In the fall of 1996, during his senior year of high school, everything changed when tryouts for Wheel of Fortune were announced. After sending in a postcard, Ryan received life-changing news a few weeks later: he was invited to audition. Six months after tryouts, Ryan and his mom traveled to Los Angeles for the taping. Tune in as Ryan shares the excitement, challenges, and unforgettable moments of his journey on Wheel of Fortune. Don't miss how he fared on the iconic game show!

Glitz, Glamour, and Good Fortune: Erica's Story

In this exciting new episode of our podcast, we dive into the life of Erica, a lifelong Wheel of Fortune enthusiast currently residing in the Seattle, Washington area. As a talented makeup artist and fragrance specialist, Erica juggles her career with being a dedicated wife of eleven years and a loving mother to two children. Growing up, family nights were all about watching Wheel of Fortune together, and Erica cherished the glitz and glamour of the show, which also sparked her love for vocabulary. In 2014-2015, Erica took a shot at her dream by attending a Wheelmobile event, but fate had other plans. Undeterred, she vowed to send in an audition tape and in 2020, she created a vision board that prominently featured Wheel of Fortune. On February 22, 2022, she finally sent in her tape, and the rest, as they say, is history! She received a life-changing call on January 23, 2023, and she believed that the numbers held a special significance. When she arrived for the show, Erica experienced a magical moment seeing a double rainbow, a true sign that her dreams were coming true. Competing during XL Week, she not only won a brand-new BMW SUV but also so much more. Tune in to hear more about Erica's incredible journey and the memorable moments that led her to fulfill her lifelong dream!

Classroom to Contestant: Hanna's Unforgettable Game Show Experience

Join us for an exciting new episode featuring Hanna, a dedicated first-grade teacher from Houston! Recently, Hanna appeared on the "Wheel of Fortune" during the special Girls' Getaway episode, teaming up with a friend for an unforgettable experience. Although she's not a seasoned "Wheel of Fortune" fan, her love for game shows inspired her to prepare for the big moment. Influenced by our past podcast guest Eugene, a notable contestant on the show, Hanna jumped into action by playing the game on her phone, tuning into episodes, and even practicing on her Nintendo Switch! In this episode, we celebrate Hanna as the first contestant from the Ryan Seacrest era of "Wheel of Fortune" to join our podcast. Listen in as she shares her journey, including her amazing wins—a luxurious trip to Antigua and over $20,000 in cash! Don’t miss her inspiring story and insights into life as a game show contestant!

From Postcards to Prizes: Bev’s Wheel of Fortune Story

In this episode, we chat with Bev, a retired admin assistant from Colorado who has been a lifelong Wheel of Fortune fan. Bev recalls watching the show as a young girl, back when viewers had to send in postcards to get on the show. She received her first postcard from the show in 1990, never missing an episode—recording it on her VCR if she wasn’t home. Bev’s dedication led her to attend Wheelmobile events, first in 2008 and again in 2015. Though she didn’t get called back at first, she promised herself to send in a video audition every year. Her persistence paid off in January 2018 when she got a call for an audition, and in 2019, she was told she'd be on the show within 18 months. To prepare, Bev watched 15 episodes a week, and her dream finally came true in October of that year. On the show, she won big—taking home a car, over $11,000 in cash, and totaling over $50,000 in prizes, though she opted out of the vacation. Bev’s journey is a testament to chasing your dreams and never giving up, and we’re thrilled to share her story with you.

A Hallmark Life: Tammi Barker's Big Win on Pat's Final Episode

On this episode of Spin and Win: The Podcast, we chat with Tammi Barker, a wife and mom from Northern California who describes her hometown as straight out of a Hallmark movie. Coming from a large family, Tammy has been a Wheel of Fortune fan for as long as she can remember. Some of her earliest memories involve sitting on her great-grandmother’s carpet, watching contestants shop the iconic showroom. One day, after watching an episode, she saw a commercial encouraging viewers to apply for the show. On a whim, Tammi made a short video and sent it in, then forgot about it. To her surprise, she got a call for an audition while standing in line at Disneyland with her kids! She ended up auditioning right there in the park. Tammi’s journey didn’t stop there—she went on to appear in Pat Sajak’s final episode, winning a trip to Barbados and over $8,000 in cash. Listen in as she shares her unforgettable Wheel of Fortune experience!