65: Horsing Around pt.2: Ranch Ain't Big Enough

Maia Warner-Langenbahn
Aug 7, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jul 21

A true-crime saga that starts with a dressage horse and ends with a shooting. In this jaw-dropping episode, Maia and Grant unpack the wild and winding tale of a barn drama that spirals from elite-level horse training into Facebook call-outs, police showdowns, and a shocking act of violence. After Maia moves her prized mount to a prestigious facility run by ex-Olympian Michael Barone, tensions build with tenant Lauren Ack, whose relentless social media accusations ignite a firestorm that no one sees coming. What unfolds is a story of blurred boundaries, mental health crises, legal chaos, and reputations pushed to the brink. Between the drama, expect plenty of classic detours: Branson, Missouri weirdness, self-checkout kombucha fails, moving-day Ring camera woes, and horse jokes galore. It’s true crime with a mane and a half, and you won’t believe where it goes.

Chapters/Key takeaways to listen for

[00:00:00] Catch-Up
[00:29:08] Ranch Ain't Big Enough: Why moving Charlie to a dressage barn turned into trainer-stalking on Facebook
[00:48:35] CPS at the Gate: “Bullied by a six-three man”
[00:58:30] Emergency Rush: A first responder’s haunting
[01:08:10] Life on the Outside: Barone’s delusions in remission
[01:16:38] Kombucha Checkout Chaos: A rolling Kombucha leak
[01:20:12] Reels FOMO: Dodging Instagram Reels like the plague
[01:28:45] Shark-Bite Bucket List: From non-fatal shark-bite dreams to a must-survive scenario
[01:32:10] Hog vs. Horse Showdown: Clean pigs still snag blue ribbons
[01:40:50] IKEA Relationship Test: One disastrous hex-bolt build

Images Referenced:

*Lauren Kanarek riding - courtesy of CBS (High Time Photography)*

*Lauren Kanarek - courtesy of Erica Yoon for the New York Times*

*Michael Barisone (center) and Lara Jausken Osborn (center right) with Barisone's legal team (Andrew Gimiliano, Chris Deininger, and Ed Blinkas) - courtesy of Nancy Jaffer 2023*

*Michael Barisone riding Ellegria - courtesy of Sue Sickle Photo*

Quotes:

“If you’ve ever been to Silver Dollar City, you know, popcorn, shrimp, and piña coladas like you took Florida and dragged it to the middle of Missouri.” - Grant Thomas
“Branson, Missouri is such a weird place.” - Grant Thomas
“This barn drama is like something out of a soap opera.” - Maia Warner
“You can pay for armored body panels, bulletproof glass. You can even buy vests and helmets for all the passengers.” - Maia Warner

Connect with Us

Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!