Garage Logic – Weekly Scramble Podcast
Episode: “SCRAMBLE: Yet another last minute road trip, Yellowstone eruption, and Mike wants his tax money back!!”
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Chris Reivers
Co-host: Mike Fratelloni

Episode Overview

This week’s Weekly Scramble is a lively and personal ride-along as Chris Reivers recounts a spontaneous father-son road trip to Cleveland for a Buffalo Bills game, while Mike Fratelloni shares thoughts on everything from Minnesota state politics and taxpayer frustration, to party hosting hacks and snack obsessions. The episode moves between stories of travel misadventures, stadium experiences, local politics, and the joys and headaches of Minnesota life—shot through with Garage Logic’s trademark blend of humor, candor, and “common sense.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chris’s Father-Son Road Trip Adventure

00:54 – 14:44

• Last-minute planning: Chris took his 14-year-old son, a die-hard Josh Allen/Bills fan, on a road trip to Cleveland for a game due to winter break timing.
• Travel logistics: They left at 10am, making great time through Chicago, but Chris shares classic Midwest travel woes—ice storms and impromptu detours.
• Experiencing Cleveland/Browns hospitality:
  • Meeting helpful and friendly Browns fans along the way.
  • “It was as if God turned down the hairdryer.” — Chris Reivers on getting blasted by lake winds as they approached the stadium (06:06).
• Stadium dynamics & “the Dog Pound”:
  • Chris inadvertently bought tickets in the notorious Browns “Dog Pound” section.
  • “You’re going to hear some words...We don’t repeat anything we hear.” — Chris, warning his son about fan language (07:09).
  • The stadium was “65% Bills fans,” and the crowd’s drunken, hostile energy prompted an early exit (08:47–09:57).
• Road food woes:
  • Chris’s son ate “four jars of cinnamon toffee peanuts” from We Are Nuts during the trip (16:52–17:59).
• Reflections on time spent with kids:
  • “It’s the nonsense. It’s not about how long you’re in the car. It’s the nonsense that takes place.” (13:24)
  • “Fifteen years from now, I’m not going to remember what the damn score of the football game is...but those silly observations, that’s what I’ll remember.” — Chris (14:44)
• Notable moment: Confronting a rude fan—Chris steps in when a Bills fan heckled an injured player:
  • “Bro, not the time or the place.” (16:14)

Timestamped Highlights:

• 05:25 – Visiting the “A Christmas Story” movie location in Cleveland.
• 08:22 – Navigating the raucous Dog Pound and crowd etiquette.
• 13:00 – Dealing with ice storms and closed freeways on the way home.

2. Nuts About “We Are Nuts”

16:40 – 18:33

• On this epic road trip, Chris and his son survived almost exclusively on “We Are Nuts” cinnamon toffee peanuts.
• The snack’s popularity at Mike’s recent party is discussed, underscoring Minnesota’s small-business spirit.
• “He ate four jars of cinnamon toffee peanuts. I am not joking.” – Chris (16:52)

3. Yellowstone “Explosion” & The News

18:52 – 21:56

• Chris gets caught by alarming “Explosion at Yellowstone” headlines—only to learn it was a harmless “mud explosion.”
  • “Is it time to pack up the car and start heading east?” — Chris on overreactive disaster headlines (20:28)
• Tangential discussion of local TV personalities and how news is consumed.

4. Minnesota State Politics & Taxpayer Outrage

21:56 – 28:35

• Discussion on the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal:
  • Chris misquotes former Governor Carlson about Governor Walz needing to “step down,” clarifying he actually said Walz should “step out of the race” (21:58).
• Mike expresses mounting anger over tax fraud:
  • “I want that money back...Who do I sue? Who goes to prison?” — Mike (24:31)
• Conversation explores government accountability, the limits of the governor’s knowledge/accountability, and the need for immediate response when fraud is found.
• Humor—Mike: “If someone walked into my house and stole 100 grand from me, I’d go nutty. Well, someone stole a billion dollars from our state. Why is no one apoplectically pissed and hunting these people down?” (26:30)
• The idea of W-2’s itemizing “fraud/theft” as a line item is floated to raise awareness (27:14).

5. Holiday Party Survival, Catering & Hosting Tips

29:36 – 37:02

• Mike and his wife Nicole’s hosted a festive 100-person holiday party—discussed in detail:
  • “You and your beautiful wife Nicole...You guys do such an amazing job.” — Chris (31:34)
• Pro tip: Hire-a-Host—having professional help at a big party changed the whole experience.
  • “If we wouldn’t have had her there, this girl, we would have been screwed.” — Mike (32:12)
• Cassettas catering and a glut of food—strong Minnesota food culture, and the perils of overordering.
  • “I think she brought 12 two foot by three foot boxes into the house.” — Mike (35:17)
• Hosting boundaries—Mike’s honesty about rarely having people over and hiding out in the garage!

6. Community, Friendship, and the Season

37:32 – 40:14

• Heartfelt holiday wishes and appreciation for the GL/Weekly Scramble community.
  • “Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas—we love you. Thank you for listening.” — Mike (40:14)
• Banter about teenage kids, driving in winter, and the woes of bad small-town radio fill-ins.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Midwest winter driving:
  “Oh, that two hour drive just turned into five.” — Chris, after waking up to ice everywhere (12:43)
• On father-son bonding:
  “It’s the nonsense...the silly observation he made that’s going to make me laugh fifteen years from now.” — Chris (14:43)
• On crowd management:
  “You’re going to hear some words...We don’t repeat anything we hear.” — Chris to his son about stadium fans (07:09)
• On the Feeding Our Future fraud:
  “Well, someone stole a billion dollars from our state. Why is no one apoplectically pissed and hunting these people down all across the world? I don’t get it.” — Mike (26:30)
• On SNACKS:
  “He ate four jars of cinnamon toffee peanuts. I am not joking.” — Chris (16:52)
• On parties:
  “I almost never have a party. It’s kind of my private thing.” — Mike (31:40)
• On hiring party help:
  “She kicked ass...I know, I’m serious, you are awesome.” — Chris about their party helper (32:41)
• Holiday sign-off:
  “Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas—we love you.” — Mike (40:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54–14:44: Chris’s road trip story—planning, drive, stadium experience, family moments.
• 16:40–18:33: Road trip snacks & “We Are Nuts” obsession.
• 18:52–21:56: Yellowstone “explosion” coverage & local news banter.
• 21:56–28:35: Feeding Our Future fraud and Minnesota taxpayer frustration.
• 29:36–37:02: Fratelloni holiday party, catering, and host-hiring secrets.
• 37:32–40:14: Holiday wishes, friendship, and community wrap-up.

Episode Tone and Style

Warm, conversational, and full of Garage Logic’s blend of common sense, nostalgia, wry Minnesota humor, and affectionate ribbing between friends. Personal anecdotes and social commentary mix seamlessly, making local happenings feel both urgent and homey.

Summary

This installment is a quintessential slice of Garage Logic life: road trip tales, epic Midwestern weather, rowdy football fandom, delicious local snacks, thoughtful musings on parenthood, and a healthy dose of Minnesota skepticism about government competence. Listeners can expect funny stories, practical party tips, serious political frustration, and a lot of holiday cheer.