In this episode, the guys step out of the barn and let the ladies take the mics. Rita and Joan dive into a deeply relatable conversation about motherly advice — both the kind they give and the kind they wish they’d gotten. Together they unpack the pressures modern moms face, especially in a world where social media can make everyone feel like they’re falling behind.

They reflect on how online validation can overshadow real family connections, how “perfect parenting” culture can push people apart, and why the healthiest relationships often happen offline. It’s warm, honest, and refreshingly grounded — a look at motherhood without the filters.

Don't forget, the best moms rate, follow and share with their kids.

"Pull up a hay bale and join Shelby, Ridge, Joan, and Rita for a no-holds-barred (and zero-shame) confession session on guilty pleasures—the little indulgences we love but probably shouldn't admit to out loud. We start with the present-day stuff: those late-night snacks, trashy shows, questionable music playlists, and habits we'd never post about. Then the conversation rolls back in time to our younger years—think childhood obsessions, teenage crushes on ridiculous trends, awkward phases we still secretly revisit, and the things that made us feel alive before life got complicated. Expect plenty of laughs, surprising admissions (Rita and Joan bring the heat on this one), and a few moments of real reflection: Why do we feel 'guilty' about harmless joys? What do our old pleasures say about who we've become? And is there anything more freeing than owning them without apology? Raw, ridiculous, reverent, and real—just like always. New episodes drop biweekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Podbean, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. Come think (and confess) with us!"

This week on The Barn Philosopher, Ridge, Logan, and Shelby dive headfirst into the bizarre world of rage-triggering nonsense — and discover that humans might actually enjoy being cranky as a hobby. We’re talking social media shouting matches, neighborhood drama that absolutely does not matter, and the eternal battle between “the internet says” versus “reality says”—spoiler: reality is losing.

Logan shows up with enough pent-up frustration to power a small city, Ridge attempts to facilitate something resembling a structured dialogue, and Shelby derails every five minutes with existential questions like, “Why are we like this?” and “Is it possible to fight an algorithm physically?”

By the end, we haven’t cured anger, but we’ve successfully roasted it, measured it, psychoanalyzed it, and possibly offered it a snack.

Rate, follow, share, yell at a friend to listen, or passive-aggressively recommend it to someone who lives in the comments section. Find The Barn Philosopher wherever civilized people pretend not to be furious.

In this episode, Shelby sits down with Rita to talk about cabin fever — and why winter turns us all into slightly restless houseplants in need of sunlight. The conversation drifts (as the best ones do) into Rita’s tropical upbringing, where there was no winter to hunker down through, just a constant fight against the jungle reclaiming everything that didn’t move. We compare that to the Midwest’s seasonal reset, where frost does the pruning for you and boredom creeps in around February.

Thankfully, the grandkids are a built-in cure for winter monotony. Between their projects, imaginations, and general chaos, cabin fever doesn’t stand much of a chance. A cozy chat about seasons, sanity, and how different landscapes shape different rhythms of life.

Don't forget to rate, follow and share!! It's not like you have anything else to do...

In this episode of The Barn Philosopher, Ridge sits down with his longtime friend Logan for a conversation that starts with unserious internet brain-rot questions and somehow ends in childhood nostalgia. The two swap stories about growing up together—tractor tires that almost put Ridge in traction, haunted houses they absolutely didn’t have permission to explore, and fire-related close calls that would make most parents question their supervision strategies.

What might’ve been a normal catch-up between friends quickly becomes a case study in reckless youth, questionable judgment, and the type of small-town experiences that feel universal if you know, you know. It’s funny, familiar, and surprisingly reflective in that way The Barn Philosopher somehow always ends up being—even when no one planned it.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode, rate, follow, and share it with a friend who’s also survived childhood shenanigans.

In this episode, Ridge and Shelby dive into listener emails — or at least Ridge does. With heartfelt questions about rest, parenting, and the fine art of not losing your mind, Ridge thoughtfully breaks things down while Shelby… enthusiastically misunderstands the assignment. A couple of drinks in, Shelby derails, over-explains, and makes a general mess of the proceedings while Ridge heroically keeps the episode on the rails.

It’s chaotic, it’s honest, and it’s proof that interacting with listeners is always an adventure.

Rate, follow, share, and send us more questions — preferably ones Shelby can handle.

In this episode, Ridge’s longtime friend Logan joins us at the barn for the first time, and the conversation naturally turns reflective as we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026. We talk about getting older, realizing we can’t ignore our health forever, and the small lifestyle changes we say we’re going to make.

The conversation wanders through cruise ships that promise relaxation but somehow still nickel and dime you, highlights and letdowns from the past year, and what actually sticks with us as time moves faster than we’d like. We celebrate the new studio as one of the bright spots of 2025, and of course revisit the truck project that started this year and—if all goes well—might finally be road-ready in 2026.

It’s a laid-back, end-of-year check-in with an old friend, equal parts reflection, optimism, and realistic expectations for what the next year might bring.

Find us on all major podcast platforms, and as always—rate, follow, share, and tell a friend.

In this episode, Shelby and Rita talk about their shared appreciation for slide-in shoes—and why they’re not just for lazy people anymore. From the simple joy of slipping them on and off while running in and out of the house, to the surprising practicality that’s won them over, this conversation celebrates comfort without apology.

They also revisit the long, strange journey of Crocs. Shelby admits he never stopped wearing them, even when they fell out of style—and now that they’ve made a comeback, there’s a small (and justified) sense of validation. Along the way, they touch briefly on work boots, comfort versus function, and how personal style sometimes circles back when you least expect it.

It’s a relaxed, funny chat about footwear, habits, and embracing the things that make everyday life a little easier.