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!!

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.

In honor of Spooky Season Tasia and Merlin chat with the wonderful Beck, the unofficial witch of Hanover PA, about their store, their path, and the ridiculousness of some recent issues that we call “The Hanover Witch Hunt”. A fantastic interview, you will enjoy listening to Pennsylvania's only legal tarot reader, Beck.

I bet the clues from last week make sense now!!!! Enjoy the episode.

This is an OLD recording, maybe 11 months ago Matt did a deep dive on pumpkin floods and we saved it for Spooky Season. It’s a shorter one, sound quality is not as good, but it’s darned fun! We will make up for it in the next episode which is an absolutely awesome full length interview with Beck of the Serpent’s Key. Until then, enjoy being overwhelmed by pumpkins!!

This week it’s all about pushing the limits of pushing a wheelbarrow. Download to listen in as we discuss the history of pedestrianism, exhibition walking and wheelbarrow sports. It’s a wild one with chloroform, a pet wolf, poisoned beer, lamentations on the state of the fair and even hair sculpture.

Merlin begins his summer break with a trip to New England to spend time with his parents and nephews……. aaaaaand returns in time for an almost week long power outage where he goes through generator after generator. Met Ed LIES!!!!!! Matt consoles Merlin while learning about swanboats.

Substation fire in Adams County (second substation down!)

Solving problems with a massive WW2 Generator. Thanks Paul!!!!

The swanboats in Boston. Much nicer than power outages

Louis Scholz, an inventor, a WW2 scientist, a man who worked on the Manhattan project. This episode explores high speed photography, glowing trees, radiation and Merlin’s hatred of cars designed by committee.

Merlin shares a personal connection to a local and unheard of eccentric scientist and inventor. In the pre-show meeting Matt discovers he too has a connection to the story.

The prior post of the episode has a blip at the end where the exit music overruns the conversation. This version you get the WHOLE episode!!!!

Join Matt, Cody and Merlin to hear about the wonders of Southbend Indiana, and why the Studebaker Electric Fountain should have been prevented.

Stranger danger, a trip to Southbend, the strange constant reincarnation of the Studebaker Electric Fountain, and Moriarty the Mifflinburg Monkey.

Hear how Matt accidentally made a 'Train Garden', some history of why these are so quintessentially Baltimore and Nicole tells stories of childhood Christmas parties in South Baltimore with crab garland. (We apologize that this is our OLD sound before we upgraded the microphones.)