The Barn Philosopher

Welcome to The Barn Philosopher—where life’s quirks, curiosities, and occasional absurdities meet thoughtful reflection and a good dose of humor.

Join Shelby and Ridge as they dive into the kinds of conversations that resonate with the modern man: relationships, faith, everyday dilemmas, and those head-scratching questions that make life interesting. Shaped by their Y chromosomes and evolving Catholic faith, these two bring a refreshing, honest, and often hilarious perspective on what it means to navigate today’s world.

From deep dives to light banter, no topic is too big—or too small—for the barn. Whether they’re unpacking life’s complexities or finding meaning in the mundane, you’ll find surprising insight around every corner.

So pour a glass, light a pipe, and enjoy the journey. And if you like what you hear, don’t forget to rate, follow, and share—because every barn door opens a little wider with your support.

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#217
Yesterday · 31 min
217 - 100 Years From Now: What Will They Know About You?
Podcast Description In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and I ask a couple of questions that aren't really about us at all. If someone found a time capsule from your life 100 or 200 years from now, what would you want them to know about you? Not just your job, your accomplishments, or the things that ended up on paper—but the things that actually mattered to you. Because eventually, everyone who knew us personally will be gone. What remains may be photographs, documents, newspaper articles, and now the endless amount of information stored on the internet. Future generations may know the facts about our lives and whatever accolades we managed to collect, but they won't know the stories unless somebody leaves them behind. Then we lighten things up with a bucket-list question: What's one thing you absolutely want to do before you die? Shelby's current answer—at least for the last two days—is to travel to every continent. Ridge wants to own a house in another country, possibly Japan or South Korea. He's not entirely sure why. It's just really far away. The bigger question is one you can answer for yourself: What would you want the future to know about you, and what's one thing you still want to experience while you're here? Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone who has a story worth remembering.
#216
Sunday · 22 min
216 - Advertising 101: Stop Wasting Your Money on Me
Podcast Description In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and I take on something neither of us particularly enjoys: advertisements. Shelby has reached the point where seeing an ad can actually make him want to boycott the product. It started with paying for premium subscriptions to get rid of ads, only to watch those same services slowly bring ads back and eventually ask for even more money to remove them again. Ridge has a slightly different complaint: if we're going to be bombarded with ads, at least make them relevant. Why advertise pickup trucks to someone who has absolutely no interest in buying one? Why spend advertising dollars showing us products we already buy? We talk about the strange economics of advertising, targeted ads, paying to go ad-free, and whether companies actually understand who they're talking to. Basically, if you're going to interrupt us, at least make it interesting. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with someone who has rage-quit a service because of too many ads.
#215
September 16 · 24 min
215 - Between Episodes: Life With Ridge & Shelby
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and I just catch up on life. I give an update on the old truck I'm restoring, Ridge talks about getting closer to welcoming a new baby into the world, and we check in on his ongoing sinus problems—which, thankfully, finally seem to be heading in the right direction. Nothing too complicated or profound this time around. Just two guys sitting in the barn, talking about what we've been working on, what's coming up, and what's been going on in our lives. If you've been wondering what Ridge and I have been up to lately, this one's for you. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with someone who enjoys hanging out in the barn with us.
#214
September 14 · 15 min
214 - A Romanian, a German & Two Americans Walk Into A Bar: An Interview Abroad
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and Shelby introduce a recording Rita and Shelby made while traveling through Germany. We were sitting in a biergarten when Rita decided she had the courage to do something I probably would have talked myself out of—walk up to a couple of complete strangers and ask if we could sit down and talk with them. Thankfully, they said yes. We met a young couple in their early 20s. She was originally from Romania and spoke English very well, while her German boyfriend spoke very little English. What followed was a surprisingly easy and interesting conversation about where they came from, how they met, their experiences so far, and what life looks like for them. It wasn't a planned interview or a conversation with experts. It was simply two Americans meeting two young Europeans over a beer and getting a small glimpse into their lives. Sometimes the best part of traveling is getting past the tourist attractions and actually meeting the people who live there. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone who believes the best travel stories usually aren't the ones you planned.
#213
September 6 · 26 min
213 - Dad Jokes: How Bad Could It Get?
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and I set out to do something simple: tell dad jokes. That plan lasted about five minutes. We start by talking about the difference between explicit language and adult content. There’s no explicit language in this episode, but that doesn’t mean everything that comes out of our mouths is exactly appropriate for all ages. We spiraled, things got out of hand, and somewhere along the way we realized we probably needed to cut about half the episode. So this is the edited, mom-approved version. Your mom could probably listen to it without being too offended… although she might still have a few questions afterward. It’s dad jokes, bad decisions, questionable conversation, and two guys who really should know better. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with someone whose sense of humor needs a little work. Feel free to send us your favorite dad jokes: thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com
#212
September 3 · 1 hr 5 min
212 - Guilty Pleasures: Rotten Hooves, Corn Cob Pipes & Sandy Cheeks
TJ is back in the barn, and this conversation takes a long, strange road from monk-made beer to some of the internet's more questionable guilty pleasures. Shelby brings special beers back from Germany, brewed by monks at Ettal Abbey, giving the guys something worthy of a proper tasting while TJ explains his unexplainably large corn cob pipe, before the conversation takes a sharp turn. Ridge, TJ, and Shelby talk about the things they watch that they probably wouldn't put on the family television: infected hooves, fights, infected toenails, sandy cheeks, and all the other strange corners of the internet that somehow become fascinating. Some guilty pleasures are harmless. Others are things you might not want your wife to know you spend your free time watching. It's a long road to hoe, but somehow we get from corn cobs to German monks to infected feet and hooves all the way to spearing dinner—and we're not entirely sure how we got there. If you enjoy the strange conversations, unexpected rabbit holes, and questionable interests of the Barn Philosopher crew, rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with a friend who probably has a guilty pleasure they're not telling anybody about.
#211
August 31 · 39 min
211 - Cutting Your Losses: When It's Time to End the Vacation
This is a good topic because there's something very relatable about realizing you don't have to finish a vacation just because you paid for it. I'd lean into the "cut your losses" idea, with a little humor around the vacation slowly becoming less fun. 🎙️ Title Ideas When Vacation Stops Being a Vacation: Knowing When to Go Home Cutting Your Losses: When It's Time to End the Vacation Good Money After Bad: Knowing When to Go Home The Vacation Quit: When Home Sounds Better We Paid for Seven Days, But We're Going Home Vacation or Punishment?: Knowing When to Call It The Art of Going Home Early When the Dunes Aren't Worth It: Cutting a Vacation Short Face Cuts & High Dunes: When Vacation Goes Sideways Sometimes Home Is the Better Vacation Quit While You're Ahead: The Vacation Edition The Point of No Vacation: When It's Time to Leave Throwing Good Money After Bad: The Vacation Trap Three Days Left, Nothing Left to Prove The Hotel Is Paid For: But Do We Have to Stay? 😂 More Barn Philosopher We Could Stay... But Why? This Vacation Has Jumped the Shark Vacation: 0, Going Home: 1 At This Point, We Might as Well Go Home The Vacation Was Fine Until It Wasn't Face Cuts, Sand Dunes & Bad Decisions We Paid for the Vacation. We Didn't Pay to Suffer. ⭐ My Favorites When Vacation Stops Being a Vacation: Knowing When to Go Home Good Money After Bad: Knowing When to Go Home We Could Stay... But Why? We Paid for Seven Days, But We're Going Home Sometimes Home Is the Better Vacation 📝 Podcast Description Sometimes a vacation doesn't end because the vacation is over. Sometimes you just decide you've had enough. In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge, Joan, Rita, and Shelby talk about Ridge and Joan's recent vacation that they decided to cut short. There wasn't one big disaster that ruined the trip. It was a collection of little things—some face cuts, some surprisingly high Michigan dunes, and the slow realization that sometimes you reach a point where you'd rather just be home. That raises the bigger question: When is it time to stop throwing good money after bad? You've already paid for the hotel. You've taken the time off work. You've planned the trip. But does that mean you have to stay just because you've paid for it? Or is there a point where the best decision is to cut your losses, give up the remaining vacation days, and go home? We talk about knowing when to call it, whether leaving early means you've failed at vacationing, and why sometimes your own bed sounds better than whatever adventure you originally planned. Because a vacation is supposed to be a break—and if getting home is what finally gives you that break, maybe it's time to go. If you enjoy the conversation, rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share the episode with someone who's ever decided, "You know what? Let's just go home."
#210
August 27 · 44 min
210 - Trivia With Rita: Couples Who Guess Together, Lose Together
Rita and Shelby decided to test their knowledge against a little trivia—and quickly discovered that confidence and correctness are two very different things. It all started when Shelby came across some surprising statistics about tourism around the world, including how many people travel and how much money tourists spend. That sent the conversation down the road to a full-blown trivia game. The questions cover a little bit of everything: travel in Europe, home repair, food, history, and plenty of miscellaneous facts that seemed like they should be easier than they actually were. The good news? Rita and Shelby worked together on almost every question. The bad news? They were terrible. So grab someone you know, play along with the questions, and see if you can beat them. We're hoping the listeners do considerably better than we did. And really, that's what marriage is about, right? Working together, making decisions, and being confidently wrong as a team. If you played along, let us know how you did. thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with someone who thinks they're smarter than Shelby and Rita.
#209
August 24 · 40 min
209 - Owala & Obtainable Consumerism: Buy It, Finance It, Replace It
Rita and Shelby start with a simple question: Why do we keep buying the next cool water bottle? From the crazes of the 1990s to today's Owala cups and whatever comes next, they talk about the endless cycle of buying the thing everyone suddenly needs—until the next thing replaces it. But the conversation quickly grows into something much bigger: consumerism and our ability to buy things we may not actually be able to afford. Shelby and Rita coin a new phrase: "obtainable consumerism." It started as affordable consumerism, but the guys—or in this case, Shelby and Rita—realize that isn't quite right. In today's world, something can be "obtainable" simply because a bank will let you finance it. That leads to conversations about seven-year car loans, housing prices, buying things on credit, and what we learned—or didn't learn—from the financial crash of 2008. If you can make the monthly payment, does that mean you can actually afford it? From trendy water bottles to houses that cost more than we ever imagined, this episode is about the strange relationship we have with wanting things, being able to obtain things, and actually being able to afford them. What starts with water bottles ends up questioning the entire American consumer cycle. If you enjoy the conversation, rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone who has ever said, "I can afford the payment."
#208
August 20 · 28 min
208 - We're Better Fighters Than Mom: The Sleepover That Went South
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby and Rita talk about a grandkid sleepover that didn't exactly go according to plan. Two of their grandkids came over for the night, but things quickly went south when one decided he wanted his mom. Before long, the second one followed suit. Shelby took on the role of protector and tried the tough-guy approach—even declaring that he and the kids were better fighters than Mom. It didn't work. Rita took a different approach. With a softer heart, some reassurance, and a little prayer, she was able to calm things down and eventually get everyone to sleep. And in classic grandkid fashion, the next morning neither of them wanted to leave. The experience turns into a conversation about how sometimes the answer isn't to push harder. Sometimes kids need a softer touch, patience, comfort, and someone willing to meet them where they are. We wrap things up with a little Shine or Grind, followed by Shelby surprising Rita with his idea of the perfect kids' birthday party—which naturally involves the barn, cars, and some wrenching. Because apparently Shelby's definition of a great birthday party is: bring the kids to the barn and put them to work. Don't forget to rate, follow and share!
#207
August 16 · 10 min
207 - Shelby's Cousin Arthur: Somehow We Both Turned Out Okay
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby sits down with his cousin and good friend Arthur for his first appearance on the show. Just one year apart, Shelby and Arthur grew up sharing family, memories, and plenty of time at their grandparents' old farmhouse for sleepovers. They look back at growing up in Mansfield, Ohio, and how life in some parts of town gradually changed as they got older. Arthur talks about being glad he eventually got out and reflects on how easily life could have taken a different path. Sometimes getting away from the environment you're growing up in can make all the difference, and Arthur wonders if leaving Mansfield may have saved him from a rougher life. It's a short introduction to Arthur, but hopefully not his last appearance. He's family, he's a good friend, and there are plenty more stories to tell. Join Shelby and Arthur for a conversation about growing up, family, friendship, and the roads we take that ultimately shape the lives we live.
#206
August 12 · 32 min
206 - Ridge Goes Full Night Shift: Joan Loses a Bet
Ridge's wife didn't think he could do it. Three nights chaperoning a kids retreat, staying awake from 11 PM until 7 AM to make sure the kids weren't getting into trouble. Fresh off sinus surgery and already struggling to get enough sleep, Ridge probably didn't have the ideal qualifications for the job—but he accepted the challenge anyway. And somehow... he won. In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge tells Shelby about his three-night adventure as the overnight watchman. While the kids were safely tucked away, Ridge found himself in a surprisingly colorful hotel surrounded by some questionable activity. There were deliveries that were probably not Uber Eats, gunshots in the distance, and a car that apparently decided to spend the night without its wheels. Thankfully, Ridge was only dealing with this environment during the day. At night, his job was simply to stay awake and keep an eye on the kids. But somewhere in all that solitude, exhaustion, and questionable hotel scenery, Ridge discovered something unexpected: peace in prayer. Despite everything, Ridge says he would do it again. Maybe the real lesson is that sometimes the things we think we're going to hate turn into experiences we're glad we had. And maybe his wife was wrong after all.
#205
August 9 · 21 min
205 - The Great Roast Beef Showdown: A Nearly Extinct Sandwich Gets Its Last Stand
Ridge walks into the barn expecting a normal episode. Instead, Shelby has a surprise waiting for him: a roast beef sandwich showdown. We're keeping the two sandwich chains a secret for now, but one is a familiar name you'll probably recognize immediately, while the other has become something of a rare bird. Shelby and Ridge put the two roast beef sandwiches head-to-head and run them through the same comparison process they've used for previous food challenges. But this isn't simply about which sandwich tastes better. The Barn Philosopher's P-Rating takes value into account by looking at how much food you're actually getting for your money. That's especially important when you're feeding a big family, a group of friends, or an entire kids' soccer team. A sandwich might taste great, but if you need to buy twelve of them to feed everybody, that's part of the equation. So which roast beef sandwich wins? Which gives you the most food for your money? And can Ridge figure out what he's eating before Shelby reveals the mystery? It's another completely unnecessary food comparison that somehow becomes serious business in the barn. Follow the show, leave a rating, and let us know what food comparison you think deserves the P-Rating treatment next.
#204
August 5 · 31 min
204 - The Yoder Toter Chronicles: The Case for the Man Van
TJ is back in the barn, and this time the conversation isn't about running 100 miles—it's about driving something almost as intimidating: a full-size passenger van. With TJ and Ridge both raising large families, they've graduated from ordinary vehicles to what some affectionately call "Yoder Totters"—big vans built to haul kids, luggage, groceries, and just about everything else. Along the way, they share stories of mountain switchbacks, parking lot adventures, and the unique experience of driving a vehicle that can make you look like you're either transporting a youth group... or offering puppies and candy. Shelby joins the defense of the humble van, explaining why he'd choose one over a pickup truck for much of his construction work. From hauling tools and materials to keeping everything dry and secure, he argues that practicality often beats image. It's a lighthearted conversation about family, work, road trips, and learning to appreciate vehicles that are built for getting the job done rather than turning heads. If you've ever owned a vehicle that was more useful than cool, this episode is for you. Follow the show, leave a rating, and remember: sometimes the most practical ride is also the one with the best stories.
#203
August 2 · 25 min
203 - Running from What?: From Walking a 5K to Running 100 Miles
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby and Ridge welcome their friend TJ to the show for a conversation that covers everything from family life to running farther than most people drive in a day. Ridge has known TJ since childhood, and after marrying Joan, they officially became family. Shelby knew of TJ growing up, though with the age difference, he jokes he was probably more likely to steal TJ's lunch money than become his friend. Fortunately, time has a way of turning acquaintances into good friends. TJ shares stories about raising a large family—even giving Ridge's growing crew some competition—and explains how a casual interest in 5K races gradually evolved into running 10Ks, marathons, and eventually 100-mile ultra-marathons. Naturally, the guys have to ask the obvious question: What exactly are you running from? Beyond the miles, the conversation drifts into shared hobbies like brewing beer, making wine, and enjoying a good tobacco pipe, proving that some of the best conversations happen when friends gather around a table instead of a finish line. Whether you're a runner, a homebrewer, or someone who thinks a 100-mile race sounds completely unreasonable, this episode is full of stories, laughter, and a reminder that we're all wired a little differently. If you enjoy hearing everyday people with uncommon passions, share this episode with a friend who always seems to take hobbies to the next level. Follow the show, leave a rating, and remember: some people collect stamps... others collect miles.
#202
July 29 · 32 min
202 - Germany in the Rearview Mirror: 8 Country Recap & Future Adventures
Our Germany adventure has come to an end, and it's time to look back on everything that made the trip unforgettable. In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby and Rita recap their European road trip, sharing their favorite moments, biggest surprises, and the places that left the strongest impressions. Rita picks Munich as her favorite stop, while Shelby can't get over the beauty of the Alps and the unforgettable mountain roads. The two also reflect on the little things that stood out along the way—public drinking fountains that seemed to be everywhere, surprisingly courteous drivers despite the high speeds, and the joy of exploring without trying to cram every tourist attraction into the itinerary. By the end of the journey, they had driven roughly 1,800 miles, walked an impressive 72 miles, and crossed into eight different countries. More than the numbers, though, it's the people, scenery, and unexpected experiences that they'll remember most. Before wrapping up, Shelby and Rita reveal where their next adventure will take them, proving that one great trip only inspires the next. If you've ever come home from vacation already dreaming about the next one, this episode is for you. Follow the show, leave a rating, and thanks for riding along with us through Germany and beyond. The journey may be over, but the stories are just getting started.
#201
July 26 · 23 min
201 - Beer Pressure: The Great Crap Beer Taste Test
The 200th celebration isn't over yet! In this special follow-up episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge challenges Shelby and Rita to a blind tasting of six bargain beers to see if they can actually tell one from another. The mission sounds simple... until the first sip. As the guesses get wilder, one thing becomes clear: Rita has a much better nose for beer than Shelby. Her explanation? After smelling beer on Shelby often enough over the years, she's apparently developed an unexpected talent for identifying what he's drinking. The three compare flavors, make questionable predictions, and discover that even inexpensive beer has more personality than they expected. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or someone who simply enjoys watching friends confidently be wrong, there's plenty of laughter along the way. Join us as we continue celebrating our 200th episode with one more challenge, one more excuse to spend time together, and six beers that probably won't be winning any international awards. If you enjoy these taste-test episodes, let us know what we should put to the test next. Follow the show, leave a rating, and thanks for being part of the first 200 episodes of The Barn Philosopher. Here's to the next 200... preferably with a better beer in hand.
#200
July 22 · 1 hr 1 min
200 - Episode 200! Pizza Showdown: 6 Pizzas, 2 Happy Idiots
Two hundred episodes deserves something special... so naturally, Shelby and Ridge decided to eat a lot of pizza. To celebrate this milestone episode of The Barn Philosopher, the guys gather five pizzas from different restaurants all from the small town of Galion, Ohio, and put them head-to-head in a blind taste test. Judging everything from crust and sauce to toppings, value, and overall flavor. Just when they think the competition is over, Rita arrives with a surprise sixth pizza—a late entry that changes everything. The mystery pizza may not have been the cheapest, but Shelby and Ridge quickly agree it stands above the rest. It wasn't part of the original plan, but it steals the show and proves that sometimes the best contender is the one you never saw coming. Along the way, the guys celebrate reaching 200 episodes, laugh about their shared love of pizza, and admit that while a weekly pizza tasting sounds like the perfect tradition, their wives might have a few thoughts about that plan. Whether you've been listening since the early days in the barn or you've just discovered the show, thank you for being part of this journey. We couldn't have reached 200 episodes without every listener who has downloaded an episode, shared the podcast, or laughed along with us. Here's to 200 episodes, countless conversations, and hopefully many more slices to come. Follow the show, leave a rating, and let us know—what pizza would have been your champion?
#199
July 19 · 23 min
199 - Inkcarceration: Tattoos, Taboos & Toddlers
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby and Ridge discuss a question that reaches far beyond one social media post: when are kids too young for adult environments? The conversation begins after Ridge sees parents debating whether young children should attend the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival. While many people argue that kids should be exposed to everything and allowed to experience life alongside adults, Shelby and Ridge wonder if some places and experiences are simply meant for grown-ups. The discussion expands into a broader conversation about parenting. Are we raising children to become well-adjusted adults, or are we sometimes more concerned with being their friend than being their parent? The guys share stories from their own families, including a funny moment involving a squishy poop toy that leads to a larger discussion about how kids often imitate what they're exposed to—and why the lessons they learn at home matter long after the laughs are over. This isn't about judging parents or criticizing one event. It's about wrestling with where healthy boundaries belong, how childhood has changed, and the responsibility adults have to guide the next generation with intention. If you've ever struggled with balancing fun, freedom, and responsibility as a parent or grandparent, this episode is for you. Follow the show, leave a rating, and remember: children don't need parents who are always popular—they need parents who are willing to help them become the adults they're meant to be.
#198
July 15 · 9 min
198 - Driving the Alps: A German Road Trip
In this special travel episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby and Rita record from the road as they wind their way through the breathtaking Alps of southern Germany. With Rita behind the wheel and Shelby enjoying the view from the passenger seat, the conversation turns to what it's like driving some of Europe's narrow, winding mountain roads. They talk about sharing the road with motorcycles carving through the curves, the surprising courtesy of most German drivers, and the occasional speedster who seems determined to test the limits. It's a shorter episode, recorded in the moment while taking in incredible scenery and another unforgettable day on their European adventure. Sometimes the best conversations happen when there's no destination in mind—just a beautiful road ahead. Join Shelby and Rita as they continue their German journey one mountain pass, one curve, and one conversation at a time. If you've ever found that the drive can be just as memorable as the destination, share this episode with a fellow road trip enthusiast. Follow the show, leave a rating, and remember: sometimes the best views are found on the roads that make you slow down.

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