Merlin’s Barn Podcast

Merlin's Barn
  • 5.0 (2)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A fortnightly show, join Merlin and friends as they explore the backroads, the quirky, the obsessed, the creative and discuss the detours that take us outside the mundane. Merlin's barn is an actual place that serves as a home, a community center, a museum, a Jeep restoration shop and a crossroads for an amazing array of individuals. Tune in to hear the stories. merlinsbarn.substack.com

  1. FEB 10

    Ep 34: The Man in the Steel Teepee - John Valjean Mahalchik

    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 Spacesarchives.org Aaaand the weird helicopter blimp monstrosity Scott refers to Piasecki Helistat 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

    1h 5m

  2. JAN 27

    Ep 33: Alaska or Rust Part 3, border games

    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

    52 min

  3. JAN 13

    Ep 32: Fake maple, odd skeletons and the rat distribution system

    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

    56 min
  4. Coming on the 13th

    JAN 9

    Coming on the 13th

    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

    1 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Ep 31: Alaska or Rust the Journey Begins

    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 just the first stage of the adventure! if you want even more photos and more of the story you can find the book with over 200 color photos here: https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/alaska-or-rust-book/ 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

    58 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Ep 30: Rolling for the stans part 2!!

    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 podcast purveyors. 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

    51 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    Ep 29: Prepping for the Alaska Highway

    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 first of a series of episodes covering a 28 day 13,000 mile journey that will upload once a month. The book is available here: https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/alaska-or-rust-book/ Enjoy our episodes? Please consider subscribing in order to support further development of this podcast. We have much more planned for you!! 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

    46 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Ep 28: Rolling for the Stans!! (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the rest)

    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

    59 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A fortnightly show, join Merlin and friends as they explore the backroads, the quirky, the obsessed, the creative and discuss the detours that take us outside the mundane. Merlin's barn is an actual place that serves as a home, a community center, a museum, a Jeep restoration shop and a crossroads for an amazing array of individuals. Tune in to hear the stories. merlinsbarn.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Merlin's Barn
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Merlin Hanson
  • Show Website
    Merlin’s Barn Podcast