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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#225
Yesterday · 42 min
225 - Be Fruitful and Multiply: Faith, Family & God's Plan
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Rita and Joan join Shelby and Ridge for a conversation about family, faith, and the little people who turn your life upside down. Ridge and Joan are getting ready to welcome their eighth baby, which seems like as good a reason as any to talk about having children, natural family planning, and what it means to trust God's plan for your family. How do we balance our own plans with what we believe God has planned for us? Where does natural family planning fit into that picture? And how much of family life can you really plan for when kids have a way of making their own plans? We dig into the beliefs, questions, and experiences behind these decisions, with four people bringing their own perspectives to the conversation. Whether you're raising a big family, figuring out what family might look like for you, or just curious how faith shapes these deeply personal decisions, pull up a chair and join us in the barn. If this conversation gives you something to think about, rate, follow, and share The Barn Philosopher with someone who enjoys a thoughtful discussion about faith and family. We'd love to hear your thoughts at thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#224
Sunday · 22 min
224 - Not PDA, Rather PDF: It’s Not You, It’s Me
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby, Ridge, Rita, and Joan get together for what starts as a simple question and quickly turns into an investigation. Ridge reveals that Shelby once messaged him to say he’s uncomfortable talking to Ridge in public. What's wrong with a little public display of friendship (PDF). Naturally, the gang needs to know why. Is it something Ridge says? Something Shelby does? Are they embarrassed by each other, or is there a much more ridiculous explanation hiding in the details? With the wives joining in, nobody is safe from speculation, accusations, or a little good-natured ribbing. Sometimes the best way to understand a friendship is to let everyone else explain what they think is wrong with it. And sometimes, it’s best not to give your friends and wives that opportunity. If you enjoyed the conversation, rate, follow, and share The Barn Philosopher with someone who makes you uncomfortable in public. Send your thoughts, theories, or questionable friendship advice to thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#223
October 21 · 27 min
223 - The Joys of Aging: Creaks, Pops & Planned Obsolescence
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge and Shelby talk about the joys of getting old—or at least all the weird stuff that starts happening to your body along the way. Ridge has an upcoming eye surgery, not because he got injured doing something exciting, but simply because his eyes are wearing out. Shelby has his own collection of unexplained aches, pains, creaks, and pops. Apparently, you don't have to do anything wrong anymore to hurt yourself. Sometimes you just wake up. We talk about the strange realities of aging, how life gets more comfortable as we get older, and why that comfort can make it easier to let ourselves go. Fortunately, we've both found that making time to work out has paid off, helping us feel better and reminding us that taking care of ourselves becomes even more important as the years add up. We're not trying to turn the barn into a fitness podcast. We're just two guys discovering that maintenance matters—not only for old trucks, but for the machinery we're living in, too. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone whose knees make more noise than their old truck. Have thoughts, stories, or advice for two guys trying to keep the wheels on? Email us at thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#222
October 19 · 52 min
222 - Rita and Shelby In Marriage Court: AI Pulled us Into Vacations Somehow?
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Rita and Shelby take our marital disagreements to Marriage Court, with ChatGPT serving up the cases and putting us on the spot. From thermostat battles to Shelby's chronic lateness, we tackle the everyday disagreements that come with sharing a life together. Who's right? Who's wrong? And who is just making up rules to get their way? We also mix in a few travel wishes, because apparently even our dream vacations are fair game for the courtroom. It's a little debate, a little friendly arguing, and a chance to find out whether being married means you've learned to understand each other—or just gotten better at defending your own position. The verdicts are questionable, the evidence is highly personal, and we're not entirely convinced the judge is impartial. Think you can do better than the court? Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with a couple who could use a ruling of their own. Got a case you'd like us to put on trial? Send it to thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#221
October 15 · 22 min
221 - Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner: When Do We Speak Up?
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge brings a phrase he's been chewing on: “Hate the sin, love the sinner.” It's a phrase that sounds simple enough, but something about it bothers Ridge. What does it actually mean? At what point do we confront the sin instead of simply loving the sinner? Can we genuinely care about someone while avoiding the very thing we believe is hurting them? And is refusing to address wrongdoing an act of compassion, or are we just making ourselves more comfortable? We dig into the tension between loving people, disagreeing with their choices, and deciding when—or whether—we should speak up. Shelby, meanwhile, has developed a much less intellectually demanding approach: dismiss both the sin and the sinner and move on with his life. It's probably not the answer Ridge was looking for, but it does save Shelby a lot of mental energy. It's a conversation about faith, judgment, compassion, and the uncomfortable space between accepting people and challenging them. We may not solve the problem, but at least Ridge has something new to think about—and Shelby can go back to not thinking about it. Rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone who enjoys a good conversation—even when there's no easy answer. Have thoughts of your own? Send them to thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#220
October 12 · 24 min
220 - A Nation United, A Nation Divided: Remembering 9/11
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, I sit down with Rita to talk about where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. Shelby was working in construction, going about his normal day and catching bits of the news on a customer's television. Later, at the lumberyard, he got another update as the reality of what was happening continued to unfold. Rita was new to Ohio at the time and was considering returning to Guam. Then the planes were grounded, plans changed, and life took a different direction. Looking back, we agree that 9/11 was a terrible tragedy that brought Americans together in a way few events ever have. For a time, it seemed like our differences mattered less than what we shared. Today, we can't help but wonder how a country that felt so united could become so divided. And there's a personal twist: if it weren't for 9/11 and the events that followed, there's a good chance Rita and Shelby might never have met. It's a conversation about a day that changed the world, the paths our lives took afterward, and how history can shape our lives in ways we never expect. If this episode brings back memories or gets you thinking, rate the show, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share it with someone who remembers where they were that day. We'd love to hear your story, too, at thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com.
#219
October 8 · 14 min
219 - Abortion, Miscarriage & Three Liters of Soda: Ridge Explains Shelby to Shelby
Podcast Description In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Shelby sends Ridge a cryptic message containing three things that seemingly have absolutely nothing to do with each other: abortion, miscarriage, and three liters of soda. Somehow, Ridge manages to turn Shelby's half-formed thoughts into an actual conversation—and, in the process, occasionally helps Shelby understand what Shelby was trying to say in the first place. We get into the difficult subject of abortion and miscarriage, the question of whether men should have a say in the conversation, and the uncomfortable reality that sometimes the things we know are good for us come with a much higher cost than the things that aren't. Having children costs money. Eating healthy costs money. Meanwhile, three liters of soda can be cheap and easy. We use that contrast to talk about the way our culture prices convenience, responsibility, health, and some of life's biggest decisions. This is not a conversation everyone will agree with, and that's okay. It's The Barn Philosopher. We talk about the things people sometimes don't want to talk about—and apparently Shelby doesn't always know what Shelby is talking about until Ridge explains it back to him. Not an episode for everyone. But if you disagree, you know where to find us. Keep the hate mail coming.
#218
September 28 · 22 min
218 - One More Beer Before We Go: Freiburg im Breisgau
In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Rita and I are nearing the end of our trip through Germany, sitting under the trees at a lively biergarten in Freiburg im Breisgau. It's one of our last recordings from the trip, and we spend some time taking in everything we've experienced—from cuckoo clock towns and waterfalls to the strange and wonderful experience of spending days in places where we don't speak the language and somehow manage to get through the day anyway. We talk about the bakeries that seem to be everywhere, our ongoing search for a simple, watered-down American-style coffee, and all the little things that make traveling somewhere completely different from home so much fun. This trip has given us a lot of great memories, and sitting there in Freiburg, we were pretty happy with how the whole adventure turned out. If you've enjoyed traveling through Germany with us, give the show a rating, follow The Barn Philosopher, and share this episode with someone you'd happily get lost in another country with. And if you've got something to say, we'd love to hear from you at thebarnphilosopher@gmail.com. No translation app required.
#217
September 24 · 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
September 20 · 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.

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