Merlin’s Barn Podcast

Part two of Matt’s Russian adventures. Matt was sent to the Embassy in Moscow to fix many many things. In his three months he explored, experienced and brought back stories to share. Enjoy part two! 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

Why do Merlin and Tasia live in a barn? Was this part of a purposeful search? Was there a plan to move? No. It just happened, and it happened because it was meant to. So many people were involved in making it happen. Tune in for the story told by Merlin and Tasia. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit merlinsbarn.subst...

Matt spent 85 days working in Moscow in 2025-2026. Here Matt shares his discoveries, adventures, local culture and more with Tasia, Nicole, Merlin, and most importantly, you!!! The first of 2 or possibly 3 episodes. Enjoy! The cat theater in Moscow: Yury Kuklachev’s House of Cats This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit m...

Tons happens in this second to last episode, we survived hellish road conditions, stinky bathrooms, a list minute crossing into Alaska to Deadman’s lake. Mortimer Makes it 100 miles, the gang decides to head for the Arctic Circle a nd 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

A fun ramble through Home Depot, Breyer horses, Hummel Punting and the loss and re-discovery of the one ring! And a second ring! 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

Follow the Alaska or Rust trip from the signpost forest through breakdowns in Whitehorse through to Destruction Bay. 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

An engineer, a scam artist, the most honest salesman, and a showman. The car you never heard of, a tragedy in several parts. 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

Alaska highway lodges, Liard Hotsprings, buffalo herds, the Watson Lake Signpost forest and at the end outtakes about Okapi and plumbing nerds. Enjoy the show! 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

The first in what we hope to be a series, Carnies are People Too, we hang out with strongman, sage, author and wedding officiant Hot Todd Lincoln! Enjoy our wonderful conversation. 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

Meet the gang that drove the Alaska Highway and join us on our first leg to Fort Nelson. 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

When they burned his house he built a steel teepee. He ran for President multiple times. He said," The Royal blood of peasants flows in my veins." He lived on an airfield covered in ww2 surplus. We chat with Scott Roberts who was friends with Mahalchik. Merlin and Scott on a typical day. To see photos of Mahalchik’s “Fabulous Fifty Acres” visit these websites: Weird NJ RoadsideAmerica.com Spacesar...

The third installment of Merlin's 2017 Alaska or Rust adventure. With Merlin, Tasia, Matt and Nicole. 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

The story of how an abandoned rat, wandering around our town became part of our lives, along with MANY other rambles and anecdotes. 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

Sourtoe cocktail, breakfast horrors, odd skeletons and the cat AND rat distribution system. Enjoy the short promo video. 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

The trip begins for real as merlin and crew work against a deadline to cross the United States and meet the convoy in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. They experience various states, deal with breakdowns, rescue a fellow Jeeper from Canada, cache a firearm in the oilfields and finish up in Crosby North Dakota meeting a a WW2 vet who drove the Alcan on the 50th anniversary in a WW2 truck. This is ju...

Wow, it’s episode 30! And we have much much more for you. Rolling for the Stans Part 2! We roll dice and work our way through another round of Matt’s stories from working in the various stan countries. Learn about how to make the Afghan army wave, the glorious (seriously!) subways of Tashkent, Soviet truck building, Embassy nerf wars, insanely hot foods and more! Tune in on Tuesday to any fine pod...

The gang discuss roadtrip stories as a lead in to Merlin’s Alaska or Rust vintage Jeep Journey. Merlin describes how the Alaska or Rust plan eveolved, how he was invited to join, and how a series of breakdowns almost kept him from going. Saved in the end by hours of work, good friends and a donation by an amazing auto repair shop, this is the beginning of the Alaska or Rust Story. This is the firs...

It’s our first “Rolling for the ‘Stans” episode. Matt has been to every central Asian nation’s capitol from Ashgabat to Nur Sultan with stories from every one of them. With Matt, Tasia, Merlin and Nicole as studio audience. 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

In honor of Spooky Season Tasia and Merlin chat with the wonderful Beck, the unofficial witch of Hanover PA, about their store, their path, and the ridiculousness of some recent issues that we call “The Hanover Witch Hunt”. A fantastic interview, you will enjoy listening to Pennsylvania's only legal tarot reader, Beck. I bet the clues from last week make sense now!!!! Enjoy the episode. This is a...

This is an OLD recording, maybe 11 months ago Matt did a deep dive on pumpkin floods and we saved it for Spooky Season. It’s a shorter one, sound quality is not as good, but it’s darned fun! We will make up for it in the next episode which is an absolutely awesome full length interview with Beck of the Serpent’s Key. Until then, enjoy being overwhelmed by pumpkins!! This is a public episode. If yo...

This week it’s all about pushing the limits of pushing a wheelbarrow. Download to listen in as we discuss the history of pedestrianism, exhibition walking and wheelbarrow sports. It’s a wild one with chloroform, a pet wolf, poisoned beer, lamentations on the state of the fair and even hair sculpture. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

Merlin begins his summer break with a trip to New England to spend time with his parents and nephews……. aaaaaand returns in time for an almost week long power outage where he goes through generator after generator. Met Ed LIES!!!!!! Matt consoles Merlin while learning about swanboats. Substation fire in Adams County (second substation down!) Solving problems with a massive WW2 Generator. Thanks Pa...

Louis Scholz, an inventor, a WW2 scientist, a man who worked on the Manhattan project. This episode explores high speed photography, glowing trees, radiation and Merlin’s hatred of cars designed by committee. Merlin shares a personal connection to a local and unheard of eccentric scientist and inventor. In the pre-show meeting Matt discovers he too has a connection to the story. This is a public e...

The prior post of the episode has a blip at the end where the exit music overruns the conversation. This version you get the WHOLE episode!!!! Join Matt, Cody and Merlin to hear about the wonders of Southbend Indiana, and why the Studebaker Electric Fountain should have been prevented. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...

Stranger danger, a trip to Southbend, the strange constant reincarnation of the Studebaker Electric Fountain, and Moriarty the Mifflinburg Monkey. 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