Merlin’s Barn Podcast

Join the gang for a Georgian lemonade tasting and more stories from Matt’s rambles abroad. 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

What does Matt do in his spare time while in Brussels? He finds you, dear listener the dullest statue imaginable, and a few really cool ones. Apologies podcast listeners, this minisode is best viewed in addition to listened to. 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

Larry’s 1982 flight over LA captured the attention of the early internet and turned him into a legend. But he wasn’t the first nor the last to take up cluster ballooning. In this episode our research goes to to new heights, even for us. Edit: Here is the link to the David Letterman Appearance . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus ep...

Through the heart of Paris runs a very, very busy river. Packed with commercial barge traffic, tour boats, pleasure boats and one car. A 1964 Amphicar lives on the stern of the Peniche a Dutch barge turned home and office owned by the architect Jacques Rougerie. Rougerie’s work is quite interesting. He works in the domain of underwater habitats. You can see a bunch in this Atlas Obscura article: T...

Join us as we dive into Deno’s world! We discuss starting a shop, cars, customers, planes family and more. We will definitely have Deno back for another session. Enjoy a slice of Deno’s world. 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 1887 Mitrofan Lagidze developed a line of fruit and herbal flavored sodas. These became popular in the Soviet Union and can still be found in Eastern Europe but are almost unheard of in America. Full episode to air later this year with the history of these drinks and so much more. For today it’s just a taste. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

Tasia, Nicole, Matt and Merlin bring stories from both sides of the counter in the wonderful world of food service. 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

7 years ago Merlin had to sell his homestead and move to The Barn. Working full-time and moving his shop at night he eventually reached the point of exhaustion and had to abandon some of the tools to the new owners. We hope you enjoy this minisode and we plan to do more in the future. And of course the full story of the tools will be in a future regular episode. Merlin’s Barn is a listener-support...

Join Matt and Merlin to discuss Merlin’s longtime desire to run the Alaska Highway in winter. Yes we like our cold and snow! Matt and Merlin discuss plans to run the rally in 2028 and their ultimate winter rally car, the Volvo 240 brick. Alcan Rally Page 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...

Honestly, the only solution to the complete incompetence in our town is to run Bubby for mayor…… 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

We start with remembering Dave Eilers, Mr. Ewillys.com. A good friend who passed in June he was one of the key organizers of the Alaska or Rust trip. An author, a Jeeper, an adventurer and so much more. In June we lost both Dave and our friend Mike Pumphrey. Mike was a longtime WW2 reenactor, good friend, helped with the barn move, volunteered at the Mason Dixon Jeep show and so much more. Both ar...

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