Used to be my favorite podcast for 10+ years. Ever tried to listen to a John Lennon interview post-Beatles? Yoko interrupting and jabbering the whole time. Merlin, please stop being Yoko. John is a storyteller. At least on Roadwork, that host knew that John's stories need space to breathe.

I love the back and forth and Roderick is a great story teller, but Merlin disrespects the listeners with his mouth noises, heavy breathing, drinking, and ear piercing ice in glass. Mute button, dude. Use it. And why would you drink tea while recording?! The reason you keep having to swallow is because you’re DRYING yourself out. Someone tell Merlin tea dehydrates your mouth and throat. My doctor told me that when I got my tonsils out, but it’s also pretty well known knowledge. Drink water while recording vocals, not tea.

I can’t wait for the new episode every week. I’m actually listening through the old episodes. I’m on 59 in fact……

if you feel alone on life’s path you’ll quickly find that you aren’t. John is here to guide you. the show is as close to being evergreened as possible so my advice is to start from the beginning and treat it like a living bible

It’s like listening to my younger brother and his lifelong pal Lester. Interesting and somewhat informative but I don’t listen very often. I’m a big fan of Mr Roderick’s work with the Long Winter thing but not this. Five stars none the less.

Merlin & John have been constant companions for the past decade. The show is as good now as ever and will undoubtedly continue to be as long as they continue to make it. I feel that much of my own thinking has been influenced for the better by the hosts introspection, humor, and kindness. Just wanted to share, even though Merlin has made it clear he’s not doing this for clapping.

Perfect fit for my aging hipster need for nostalgia and existential chat. Im always happy to listen to Merlin’s quickness and John’s ramblings.

This podcast would be much more enjoyable if Merlin would let John finish a sentence once in a while. Even their narrow-minded woke idiocy would be tolerable if it weren’t for the constant cross talk.

Please start a ROTL patreon so that I can contribute to keeping this show going in some small way.

This was a great podcast until John was neutered by the cancel culture and Merlin was frightened into compliance. This is now arguably the most boring, safe, banal and humorless conversation you can listen to. But the listening community is safe from even the slightest chance of minor offense now… so the world must be better.

And John is a thicc snacc.

I have been listening to this podcast for ten years. During that period I have moved eight times, worked at eleven different jobs, gone through two cars, and was broken up with three times, and I still listen to the podcast. So I guess it's pretty good. It goes through phases that are a few years each, some phases are awesome (first couple years and the two years before Bean Dad especially) and some phases that were good enough at the time but I don't go back and listen to (when John ran for city council). Start at the beginning, and intersperse it with the current episodes as they come out.

I’ve been ready to go for years, when is this supertrain leaving the station? Update: I just realized that I’ve been listening for ten years?!!! Can that be right? PS. I support John on Patreon and you should too.

I love that this show continues to be a wide-ranging conversation. It never has an agenda, but most of the episodes sure seem to have a point

Two stay at home dads complain about their wives for a hour.

Merlin is so good at getting great stories recorded. This is a unique but wonderful podcast.

Working my way through 400+ episodes, love the show.

I’ve listened for years and years and years. These “THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!” hand wringers, who’ve never listened before, are way off-base. To perform false-appalled, one-star pile-ons, call child protective services, without any research, or point of reference, are disgusting. Take your self-congratulatory keyboard justice elsewhere. You’re of no need and no use here. The kid is alright. Now, go grab your crystals, and alkaline water, and ironically fast for 24 hours. John, prepare the pump chili, no beans.

So much for taking time to reflect and grow, just back to business as usual. Some serious acknowledgment of recent events would have been appreciated. Instead, it’s just back to normal (minus ads). I listened because this felt like being able to listen to a candid conversation between friends, but when you’re just going to never acknowledge the massive elephant in the room it’s so obvious. Glad you’re still doing the classic bit where Merlin helps John with Skype. You know that every listener just wants him to have to figure it out on his own

The episode “Everyone has a hamburger” (187?) made me realize I wasn’t alone. Your own journey with disordered eating makes me believe you’d never inflict that on your daughter. You’re wonderful. Take the time you need to recover but I hope you and Merlin can make more pod. YOUR FEELINGS ARE REAL TAKE CARE OF THEM

Not sure what I would do if this podcast went away for good. It’s been on hiatus for the last two weeks and I’ve missed John and Merlin dearly. Don’t give into the insanely misguided Twitter mobs who are ignorant of all the good this show has done for the world. Don’t stop helping people!

I love this podcast. Though I have never met them, I refer to these guys as “my boys”. They are smart, funny, nerdy, extemporaneous, self effacing, random, insightful, ridiculous and entertaining. It’s like getting together for coffee with college friends once a week. The world is especially desperate, sad and contentious these days. These two provide a familiar and thus comforting distraction.

Love you guys. Please come back

How can anyone who has listened to John over the years think that he’s racist or a bad father!? If you don’t like him, then don’t listen and keep your uninformed opinions to yourselves! This year started out lousy, and when I found out why my favorite podcasts weren’t putting out new episodes it became worse. A new episode of Omnibus came out today, inauguration is tomorrow, so hopefully things get better. John, please come back.

I miss all the great shows

Can’t believe you wouldn’t just help your literal CHILD figure out how to do something. What kind of power tripping monster are you?

I will forever strive to one day be found worthy to embark... Much Love, sir!

Stay Strong John! There may be no subtext on the internets, but we love all the great shows and are here for you.

I’m sad to say I’ve unsubscribed. The whole bean Dad controversy on Twitter was too much for me. Whether a misunderstanding or not, the racial slurs uncovered were just wildly inappropriate, whatever the context. Talk about tweets not aging well. Jesus Christ.

Four star for john, I discovered though this show from omnibus show which is also excellent. I love his stories. One star for the 'host' merlin who is the sterotypical insufferable priveleged tech bro from san francisco / silicon valley who complains about everything. I like this show most of the time but some of merlin's screeds are so groan worthy, they make me embarrassed to want to recommend it to others. Still, the show doesn't work without both of 'em, so merlin is a necessary evil. With both of them together it is a five star show.

It’s giving me life

Dip switch. Always a great conversation.

Incredibly, have listened to every episode of this show, and still love it after so many years. Thanks for sharing your stories with us, J+M.

Delightful

How’s the new episode coming been a while...

Love John but their conversations give me headaches

Unsubscribed. Sorry guys, this was too much. This mock intellectualized critiquing of teachers while we’re in this terrible covid situation was like nails screeching on a chalkboard coming from the two of you.

Thanks!

Listening backwards for 4+ years. This podcast has become a staple of my life. I highly recommend. Consistently fresh and enjoyable conversations. (Yes, when listening at half speed John and Merlin sound drunk and it’s hilarious. Don’t abuse this function). I could go on, but for now, I will keep moving and get out of the way. 🙏

Merlin is closed minded politically, please just stick to drugs and music talk

When we were there, floating beyond Jupiter, reaching our hand out to touch the Obelisk - this is what the space baby gave us. like a series of novels or a decade long TV show, Roderick tells stories of his life with enough reoccurring characters, themes, and jokes to make starting at the beginning worth it - and the pivotal moments in his life that happen during the podcast truly have weight. John is possibly the best storyteller I have ever seen, with Merlin throwing his weight into the corners to try to keep him on the track.

Two men talking about nothing and everything in the most hilarious way possible. Just try it.

John Roderick is amazing when he starts down a path, you never know where the journey will end. Along that path Merlin will interrupt several times and try to be cute in his feminine sensitive way and try to sound woke as if his you tube watching had enlightened him in a such way he is ready to supervise brazen grass roots Twitter movements and change the world from the comfort of his couch.

This is a journey. The destination’s unknown. Even for the hosts.

A delightful podcast where John Roderick attempts to complete his quest to reach Buddha level patience by having his every word interrupted and being talked over by Merlin Mann. A truly astounding and entertaining display of nerves. Bravo!

Honest, self effacing, unpredictable, oddly educational, crude (full size blow up dolls critique). Simply the best two personalities podcasting.

Manic productivity chihuahua interrupts the sleepy indie rock grizzly bear for an hour. 5 stars.

Love checking in with John and Merlinn each week. It's great to hear two friends talk through issues and life.

I recently unsubscribed from this show after the umpteenth time that John took a drink of coffee and made loud snot-sniffing noises on mic. It’s too bad, as I enjoyed the show; however, John’s studied disregard of the portion of the audience that doesn’t want to hear his mouth and nasal sounds finally drove me away. Thanks for all the fun!

I’m only here for John.