Garage Logic: Weekly Scramble Podcast
Episode Title: SCRAMBLE: The hardware store guy takes a MASSIVE hit on the knack scale
Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Chris Reivers & Mike Fratelloni
Episode Overview
This lively episode of the Weekly Scramble gives listeners a dose of trademark "Garage Logic" humor and humility as hardware store guru Mike Fratelloni shares an epic home repair blunder just before a major holiday party. The theme revolves around the importance of common sense—especially during the hectic holiday season—and the sometimes hilarious, sometimes humbling situations it leads to. The hosts banter about decorating fails, local Minnesota happenings, cameos gone wrong, superiority of regional snacks, and the joys and hazards of social media absence and being recognized in public.
Detailed Segment Breakdown
1. Harmony Spirits Visit & Small-Town Americana
00:31–04:05
- Chris recounts finally visiting Harmony Spirits in Harmony, MN, praising the quaint, walkable town and its quality products.
- Mike and Chris encourage listeners to support local distilleries ("Go into your local liquor store and say, do you have Harmony here?" – Mike, 03:04).
- Both discuss the joys and nostalgia tied to small-town living, especially during the holidays.
2. Holiday Season Chaos & Scheduling Woes
04:05–05:20
- Fratelloni expresses dislike for the time-disrupting nature of Christmas and New Year's:
- "I love Christmas...I hate the fact that it’s in the middle of the week because that changes my work week up, that I don’t even know where I’m supposed to be." (Mike, 04:25)
- Chris discusses family pressures and the scramble to prepare for festive gatherings.
3. The Fireplace Spray Paint Fiasco: A Hardware Guy’s Fail
05:20–15:04
- Mike details a botched DIY project: attempting to spray paint fireplace bricks inside, leading to soot-like residue on floors, carpets, and furniture throughout his home just before his wife’s party.
- Vivid storytelling covers:
- Squirrels that got stuck in the flue, necessitating brick replacement years ago.
- Decision to use high-heat spray paint indoors, thinking the chimney would ventilate fumes.
- Unintended paint fallout left a black coating everywhere.
- Mike's realization: "Honest to God, I don't know what I was thinking. I use spray paint on a fairly consistent basis...It was like I had an out of body experience with my stupidity." (Mike, 11:02)
- Chris roasts Mike: "[You] are now on par with the guy who tried to light the hump on fire at the end of his driveway...the guy that took a warm bucket of water to try to defrost his windshield..." (Chris, 10:12)
- Self-deprecation and banter on spouses dealing with their husbands’ messes:
- "She had been doing the floors for days." (Mike, 13:15)
- "[My] grown man toddler." (Chris, 13:26)
- Mike tries to turn blame: "Technically it's her fault for making me have to use the fireplace that I didn't think looked good enough. So I spray painted it." (Mike, 14:12)
4. Viral Cameo Gaffes & Mispronunciations (Happy 'Chinooka')
17:27–22:48
- Mike introduces Chris to Smokey Robinson’s infamous "Happy Chinooka" Cameo blunder:
- "I have no idea what Chinooka is, but happy Chinooka because they said so..." (Smokey Robinson via Mike, 18:26)
- The hosts riff on celebrities struggling with unfamiliar terms and compare it to local "rookie" mispronunciations.
- Mike shares a Mike Tyson voice memo intended for a radio show, leading to nostalgia about their early media days.
5. Minnesota Snack Recommendations & Retailer Shoutouts
22:48–25:13
- Chris hypes "We Are Nuts MN" as the ideal road trip and party snack, available at several regional retailers.
- Anecdote: Chris being recognized in Coburn’s for his GL plug but staying humble.
- Mike plans to bring "We Are Nuts" to their upcoming "Frat Pack" event.
6. Upcoming Frat Pack Meetup at Summit Brewing
25:13–27:31
- The hosts preview a casual listener meetup at Summit Brewery. Mike is surprised by the turnout: "I thought you and I would be there and maybe a couple guys would come...about 30 people said they're coming for sure." (Mike, 25:13)
- They invite anyone interested to join—no reservations needed.
7. Sports Broadcasting, Weather, & Minnesota Mindset
28:12–36:02
- Chris recounts a behind-the-scenes NFL broadcast experience in Kansas City, opting to leave before the game—a recurring theme for him ("This is reminiscent of you leaving the Super Bowl." – Mike, 29:12).
- Regional weather differences are mocked ("It might get down to freezing overnight. Well, the overnight low was 40..." – Chris, 31:06).
- Mike and Chris lampoon press box pretentiousness, social media "look at me" culture, and their indifference to follower counts:
- “I don’t care…what sporting news outlet you're working for, I don't give a damn that you have 10 million followers on Instagram.” (Chris, 34:35)
- Brief tangent about St. Thomas basketball and how cool but non-braggadocious it is to attend such events.
8. Being Public Figures: Charitable Events, Aging, & Recognition
36:02–41:19
- Mike describes joining the KS95 morning crew for their Gillette Children’s Hospital fundraiser—only to focus on his bald spot when reviewing video footage:
- “I felt like I was on the top, too. Yup, I’m that old douche...” (Mike, 38:38)
- Both hosts reminisce about their radio careers, work with Crisco and Wes from the KS95 morning show, and staying grounded despite past and present exposure.
9. Odds & Ends: Barber Chaos, Sponsor Shoutouts & Dad Jokes
41:19–44:07
- Mike recounts Crisco’s recent barbershop mishap—“He could not believe it...didn't give him a deal on the haircut...” (Mike, 41:19)
- North American Banking Company is plugged as a friendly, tech-forward local bank.
- Mike shares a punny holiday joke for Chris’s son:
- "Why was the letter E the only letter in the Alphabet to get a Christmas present? Because all of the other letters were not E (naughty)." (Mike, 42:54)
- Episode ends with reminders about the Frat Pack event and shout-outs to sponsors.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- Mike, on his DIY disaster:
"It was like I had an out of body experience with my stupidity." (11:02) - Chris, on local celebrity:
"But it was pretty cool. And I love the partnership too, because like, Coburn's is—that's my spot, right?" (23:57) - About social media:
"I need a break from the cesspool that can be social media." (Chris, 17:54) - Mike, on being humbled:
"Yup, I'm that old douche...I'm just that old fart that's bent over in a hunch. And I feel like a young kid, but I don't look at like one..." (38:38) - Holiday wisdom:
"We are not here to look down upon those who have made a mistake or two. We’ve all been there." (Chris, 12:53) - Classic mispronunciation:
"I have no idea what Chinooka is, but happy Chinooka because they said so." (Smokey Robinson via Mike, 18:26)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:00 — Harmony Spirits, Americana & small towns
- 05:20 — Mike’s fireplace spray paint fiasco begins
- 09:56 — Mike gets roasted for botching the DIY job
- 13:26 — Chris: “This is my grown man toddler.”
- 18:10 — “Happy Chinooka”: Smokey Robinson Cameo gaffe
- 25:13 — Frat Pack meetup preview
- 28:12 — Chris’s Kansas City NFL broadcast story
- 34:35 — Chris: “I don’t care what sporting news outlet you’re working for…”
- 36:10 — Mike at the KS95 fundraiser with Dez and Crisco
- 41:19 — Crisco’s unfortunate barber shop adventure
- 42:54 — Dad joke about the letter E and being “naughty”
Summary Tone
Humorous, self-deprecating, and conversational—true to Garage Logic’s ethos. The hosts are unafraid to poke fun at themselves and relish in the everyday misadventures that come with holiday life, hardware store ownership, and local celebrity. The episode leaves listeners with laughs, relatable stories, and plenty of Minnesota camaraderie.
Takeaways for the Uninitiated Listener
- Small-town pride and supporting local business is core to the show’s culture.
- Even hardware store owners can have epic DIY failures.
- There’s no substitute for self-aware, humble humor.
- Garage Logic is a show where being "not E (naughty)" and never taking yourself too seriously is celebrated.
- Being part of the local scene means both blunders and successes are shared with a wink and a laugh.
Next up: Join the Frat Pack at Summit Brewery, and remember—if you’re going to spray paint bricks, do it outside.
