John Siracusa

On the latest episode of @RecDiffs, I got to talk about the best YouTube series I’ve seen in years. It’s about Leo. He’s a boatbuilder and a sailor…

Here’s a timestamp link to our discussion, which eventually contains some spoilers:

https://overcast.fm/+E5IPHlr60/27:45

Here’s a link to the playlist on YouTube, if you just want to jump right in. It’s quite a journey…

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB00JHoTw1TeX82Qw8hoFLRJI89Us_jMw

249: Tally Ho — Reconcilable Differences

Rebuilding “Tally Ho.”

Dec 7, 2024 at 5:21pmIvory for Mac
Show threadChris PepperDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs It looks like your first link is busto.
Show threadJohn SiracusaDec 7, 2024
@reppep It should be fixed now.
Show threadMatias KorhonenDec 7, 2024

@siracusa This series has almost entirely taken over my weekend.

Thanks, I guess. 😅

Show threadRouseWorldDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs Thanks for this! I’m not sure I would have come across this story without you two talking about it
Show threadRouseWorldDec 11, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs Also, the YouTube algorithm recommended to me the Round Corner channel. I don’t remember you folks talking about that one, but I could have missed it like I did with the linguistics. Might want to give it a try, seems like another nice English guy trying to restore something old and neglected (a building in this case).
Show threadJon_AlperDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs Recommendation seconded! Remarkable on a number of levels.
Show threadMartinDec 7, 2024
@siracusa I've heard your episode and now I'm on video 25 of his quest. You nailed so so much about why it's good! Great recommendation!
Show threadReinald FrelingDec 8, 2024

@mrtnlst @siracusa and yes, Leo is a skilled marketer indeed 😅

(this is bingable content in its purest form)

Show threadJohn WarneDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs I’ve been looking forward to this discussion! This has been my favorite YT channel for the past several years.
Show threadMischaDec 7, 2024
@siracusa seeing the boat launch a few weeks ago was such a great payoff. I think I started following Tally Ho in like 2020 or something? Totally surreal that everything worked out
Show threadDarryl H. ThomasDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs honestly, I’m not sure which will consume more of my time in the end: watching this playlist (totally hooked) or listening for - and cringing in response to - younger folks’ pronunciations of “important.”
Show threadKevin GlowaczDec 7, 2024

@siracusa @RecDiffs

I wish you included more spoilers! I loved hearing you talk about it, but I’ll probably never watch the 209 episodes of the YouTube series. I’d much prefer to hear your full cliff notes. Oh well

Show threadJohn SiracusaDec 7, 2024
@kjg Just do one episode per month for the rest of your life!
Show threadKevin GlowaczDec 8, 2024

@siracusa okay fine, I did it. I started watching.

It’s fascinating how much “preparing the way” is a heavy theme in these beginning episodes. He never really mentions it though. I only have the language for it because of @RecDiffs

Show threadKarl NelsonDec 7, 2024
@siracusa I watched the Tally Ho videos from pretty early on. Wonderful stuff. Acorn to Arabella is a similar project but he started by felling trees. https://youtube.com/@acorntoarabella?si=iU82Jy_-ajhdj2sU
Before you continue to YouTube

Show threadtayknightDec 7, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs ooh cool. I’ve been a tiny supporter of Leo/tally ho for years. I’ll check this out for sure.
Show threadChancerubbageDec 7, 2024

@siracusa @RecDiffs

Seems like a rabbit hole I might be afraid to fall down for reason of length and time spanned, but if every episode is as short as the intro, it might not be too bad. Perhaps that how you get hooked.

Show threadMichaelLCDec 8, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs My dad would have loved this. He was a big wood & metalworker and sailed solo on the Mississippi and Atlantic coast.
Show threadPeter ChristensenDec 8, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs stopped before the spoilers and started watching. What an amazing series. Thanks for the tip. Looking forward to hours of enjoyment.
Show threadJohn SiracusaDec 8, 2024
@petergarner It might seem like a slog at various points, but stick with it! And remember not to subscribe to try to avoid spoilers (though YouTube will still throw them at you).
Show threadPeter ChristensenDec 8, 2024
@siracusa Is there a name for this kind of YouTube video? I’ve been calling it competency porn, which perhaps doesn’t really do it justice. ;)
Show threadJohn SiracusaDec 8, 2024
@petergarner No, there’s plenty of missteps and mistakes. This is just an interesting, ambitious project with the odds stacked against it.
Show threadSageDec 8, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs @hotdogsladies I started watching this morning and I’m currently on e19 while practicing lock picking with a kit I bought from LockPickingLawyer’s website. What have you two done to me.
Show threadJay PDec 8, 2024
@sageolson oooh, tell me about this kit!
Show threadSageDec 8, 2024
@nocturne1 https://covertinstruments.com/products/learn-lockpicking-bundle (just make sure you have a small tray or something to avoid losing any of the little bits in the practice lock!)
Learn Lockpicking Bundle

Show threadJay PDec 8, 2024
@sageolson cool. Might grab the FNG as well. Family might get a kick outta that.
Show threadJay PDec 14, 2024

@sageolson LOL, that clear lock that comes with the FNG is comically lame. But it's not really meant for practicing, so I guess that's ok.

Printing a pinning tray right now to set up the practice lock later….

Show threadJay PDec 22, 2024
@sageolson ML 140 and Abus 55/40 down!
Show threadEmanuelDec 8, 2024

@siracusa this one may hit your interest just as much as Tally Ho. The Essential Craftsman walks you through building a house over 157 Episodes.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZePj70B4IwyNn1ABhJWmBPeX1hGhyLi&si=ZE5afp08JgnmadRF

As an ex construction worker I still learned so much from this.

Before you continue to YouTube

Show threadmichielstamDec 8, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs great recommendation! I am 10 episodes in and already hooked.
Show threadSean HardingDec 8, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs Another good "repairing stuff" YouTube channel I recently discovered. Very satisfying to watch someone who is really good at what he does. I will be interleaving these with Tally Ho videos for a while in my queue... https://www.youtube.com/@MendItMark
Before you continue to YouTube

Show threadKarl SheaDec 9, 2024

@siracusa so glad you liked the recommendation! I really think a full watch is an amazing time. It took me about a year or so to get caught up, but that was with way fewer episodes.

I got into it with the algorithm suggesting me contemporary eps and not thinking I'd like it, but eventually trying one (it was where they were putting on the gunwale) and then decided to start from the beginning.

And yes, what Pete reveals about six months in I never even suspected!

Show threadJohn SiracusaDec 9, 2024
@karlshea I love how he mentioned riding the rails on an earlier episode…and just left it! The other shoe didn't drop (hah) until much later!
Show threadKarl SheaDec 9, 2024
@siracusa oh my god lol
Show threadKarl SheaFeb 21, 2025
@siracusa glad we got a Pete update! I was a little bummed imagining there might have been bad blood.
Show threadCrispyDec 9, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs another +1 for Acorn to Arabella. It started about the same time and has a similar hour count. The boat is a bit smaller but the guy a) has never built a boat nor sailed before and b) harvests all the wood on his tiny family farm. It has some of the same elements: youthful ambition, charming animals, a rotating cast of helpers, setbacks, serendipitous boosts, loves and losses. But it's also fascinating watching him turn his book smarts into real skill and a beautiful boat.
Show threadHaroldinaDec 9, 2024
@siracusa I was so excited when I hit the reveal of the topic. We've been watching for years when I watched a video trying to figure out why you would cast the floors of a boat from bronze. I was so naive I didn't know I was confusing them with sole boards
Show threadZach WolfeDec 9, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs On the subject of “YouTube man does ambitious thing,” Colin Furze’s channel might be of some interest. Basically he has been building a network of tunnels under his property for 9 years. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiO6EfEdVVTNgzeNz9LgJ4MWTHMfwYfPO
Before you continue to YouTube

Show threadColin FrameDec 18, 2024
@siracusa @RecDiffs
Show threadMatt FarrugiaFeb 20, 2025
@siracusa @RecDiffs watched episode 1 after seeing this toot and went on to watch the whole thing back to back (managing to avoid spoilers). Thanks so much for the gift of this recommendation. I found it really life affirming 🙏