Merlin’s Barn Podcast

Hear how Matt accidentally made a 'Train Garden', some history of why these are so quintessentially Baltimore and Nicole tells stories of childhood Christmas parties in South Baltimore with crab garland. (We apologize that this is our OLD sound before we upgraded the microphones.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

Merlin chats with Randy Gaulke of Knee Deep in History about exploring the Western Front and guiding tours of the battlefields. To find out more about Randy and his tours visit https://kneedeepintohistory.co m m This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscribe

Hear from Merlin, Tasia and Matt about not only the Idaho Beaver drop, but learn about Geronimo the beaver veteran of many jumps and much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscribe

Matt tells Merlin and Tasia of his adventures in Fall of 2024 in Oxford when he want walking down a tow path and was sucked happily into the world of Canals, Canalboats, and ended up going for a ride. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscribe

Where Merlin originally read about it: https://www.americanheritage.com/red-ghost This was a story Merlin read as a child, and it stuck with him. Now that our recording quality is great, Merlin spent hours doing primary source research to bring you this deep dive into the story of the Red Ghost that goes beyond the original 1961 American Heritage article. Enjoy!!! This is a public episode. If you'...

Matt, Nicole and Merlin tell stories of the barn parties. The time everyone showed up as Merlin. The mini Jeep shows, the Christmas parties and most of all the annual Defenestration party. Put on your silliest hat, grab your favorite coffee mug, take a selfie and send it to us so everyone can participate. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Matt and Merlin discuss the time Merlin ended up on a reality show called “Family Guns.” Merlin and his shop staff restored a WW2 Jeep in 5 weeks for the show. Hear about the reality tv experience, lost palaces in Nepal, ancient weapons stashes, and the fantastic crew of International Military Antiques. To see more about the legendary antique weapons cache discussed in the show follow this link fo...

Matt returns from finding one of the last Toys-R-Us stores in Manilla, along with a surprise! Discussion ensues around the time a sheet of ice and snow clove the chimney from the barn and Matt lead the rescue mission. Tune in for some more barn lore. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscr...

This was a fun episode. 1904 was perhaps the weirdest Olympics ever, and the marathon was insane. Hitchhikers, poison, starvation diets, runners carried over the line...... and then there is Felix Carvajal, dead man running. Matt did a deep dive on perhaps the strangest story of all the marathon runners. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...

Join John and Merlin for this celebration of our improved sound. John, a true Wisconsinite, brings some insight to Matt’s experiences in Wisconsin. From Cheese laws to cheese smuggling and ice fishing the conversation turns to prohibition, rum running and the tale of King Ruby who ran a small town in Appalachia in the 1930s. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscr...

This episode began with Matt taking a deep dive into Pykrete, project Habbakuk of WW2 and ice ships. Pykrete was featured on one of the Mythbusters Alaska Specials where they successfully built and sailed an ice boat. Merlin took another step diving deeper into the world and ideas of Geoffrey Pyke. The discussion lead as far afield as Montessori schools (a Tasia specialty) and Golf Spies in the 19...

We did find a silver lining in the Xenia trip when we traveled to Dayton and visited the Air Force Museum where we received a surprise personal tour from the director. It was Off The Moose! The journey home epitomized sketchy and was quite the adventure. Tasia and Merlin finish the story This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Tasia and Merlin reflect on a journey to Xenia Ohio in 2021. It was Peewee Martin’s 100th birthday jumpfest. The last reunion of the 101st airborne veterans celebrated with reenactors jumping from WW2 Aircraft. A life experience that had many hurdles just getting there, and surviving once we arrived. You can only laugh, that’s what we did!! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this w...

Matt and Merlin bring to you the things in house walls. A friend who found a room, then a rare pre-war German camera. A roll of film locked away, perhaps the grassy knoll? Bathrooms hidden in walls and more. What lies behind your old medicine cabinet? Tune in to find out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsba...

This week’s episode takes us to Sparta, Wisconsin where Matt discovers the somewhat horrifying birthplace of so many roadside fiberglass sculptures. Tasia & Merlin introduce us to Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium. Tune in as we explore roadside America attractions of the past and present. We even discuss Muffler Men/Paul Bunyan sculptures and Uniroyal Girls. Weirdly elephants keep appeari...

Follow along with Merlin as he tries to keep up with Matt, his ball of red yarn and box of thumbtacks. From Russian-American linguists of WW2 to forest fire management to pre-colonial shipbuilding, an imported fungus and thrice recycled wood becoming a picture frame. But there's more, lots more; there's sword swallowers, a turn of the century cupboard and even wood rats! American Chestnut Trees: T...

Merlin tells stories of adventures in keeping his old beetles and Buses running, and times he has had to prove his own existence. There will surely be a follow up to this episode with more old VW stories from friends and family as well. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscribe

A continuation of Episode 3: Places we call home. Matt, Merlin and Tasia discuss the wonder of a place called Sideshow Gelato. This is a bittersweet episode. Near Lincoln Square in Chicago you must visit them soon, Sideshow closes at the end of December. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/su...

Join Merlin, Matt and Tasia as we discuss pubs, diners, shops and more that were and are homes away from home. Please drop us an email to share your stories of favorite places that we can revisit in another episode. Episode 4 will continue this discussion and focus on Sideshow Gelato in Chicago. 4 will air Dec 3rd. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or g...

Hear about the Morse museum of Warren NH, why Warren has a rocket in the center of town, plus other New England stories such as the Sheriff who could never decide what car to drive, and how a hotel was lost in a lake. The Morse Museum Story Redstone Missile Warren NH This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.su...

A ramble about our connections with tools, and characters we have met who keep the old ways going. From the Amish to two old men and a sawmill. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.substack.com/subscribe