Social Commentary

Patio Season! | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 63

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Patio season is officially here, and Tim & Jenni are embracing it in full force. Episode 63 dives deep into the world of outdoor dining—from personal stories and regional favorites to a wildly speculative (and surprisingly convincing) theory about who really invented patio dining in America.

You’ll get their picks for the best patios in Minnesota, including:

  • The Lookout (Maple Grove): The go-to family-friendly patio with beach volleyball, a playground, and fake palm trees. A favorite for exhausted parents trying to enjoy a drink while their kids run wild.
  • Maynard’s (Excelsior): A classic lakeside vibe with bootleggers and boat traffic. Just don’t ask for more than two shots.
  • Pittsburgh Blue (Maple Grove): Hidden in a parking lot but shockingly cozy at dusk. The lighting makes all the difference.
  • French Meadow & The Gnome (St. Paul): Urban patios that are private, peaceful, and full of charm.
  • Ernie’s on Gull Lake (Brainerd): Kids can run free while adults enjoy Greenies and mashed potatoes lakeside.
  • Bar Harbor (Gull Lake): Bootleggers, live music, and those iconic collectible glasses.
  • T.O.T.B in Alexandria Bay, NY: Honorable mention for riverside vibes and A-Bombs.

You’ll also hear about:

  • Jenni’s solo car-buying adventure gone sideways
  • The hidden truth about eating brunch outside (don’t do it—eggs + sun = ew)
  • The surprising stats on how patios increase restaurant revenue
  • Patio music dos and don’ts, and a reminder to never turn your patio into a concert

If you’ve ever argued over rooftops vs lake views, or been personally victimized by a bad swing set investment, this one’s for you.

Come for the patios. Stay for the marriage banter, restaurant recs, and that one time they got a new car and went to the Derby party on the same day.

🎧 Listen now!

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This Is Not a Potluck | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 62

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

This week on The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni dive headfirst into one of their favorite shared joys: hosting dinner parties. THIS IS NOT A POTLUCK EPISODE. But don’t worry—this isn’t some Pinterest-perfect flex-fest. We’re talking real stories here: the Swedish meatballs that were…something else, the apple cider that somehow made it into the Thanksgiving gravy, and the cherry pie that earned Tim some serious pregnancy cravings points.

They also get into why dinner parties matter, how their approach has evolved since having kids, and what makes hosting feel so uniquely vulnerable and rewarding. There’s a surprising amount of research, too:

  • Did you know higher-pitched music makes food taste sweeter?
  • That dinner parties trace back to Ancient Greek symposiums (aka wine-fueled TED Talks)?
  • And yes, that playing music while you cook actually improves your food?

There’s a dive into The Office’s iconic dinner party episode (“That’s what she said!”), a ridiculous tots-in-a-bar story, and an improvised “menu-matching game” where playlist vibes determine what’s being served. Would you serve steak with Sinatra or mussels with Fleetwood Mac? You decide.

Whether you’re planning your next party, dodging another potluck invite, or just here for the stories, this episode’s got something warm, messy, and a little bit sweet—just like Tim’s birthday cakes.

🎧 Listen now!

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Mystery Guest | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 61

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

While Jenni is off adventuring in Nashville, Tim kicks off the episode solo—lit candle, cozy mic, and a hopeful heart. He opens up about drive-thru surprises (including a memorable Eye of the Tiger moment), the weirdly vulnerable pursuit of virtual golf greatness, and how tummy time isn’t just for babies anymore.

But just as things start to settle in… the door opens. Literally.

This week’s episode of The Kids Are In Bed features our very first mystery guest—and we’re not spoiling it here. Let’s just say, they bring a whole new vibe to the show: wholesome, hilarious, and surprisingly insightful.

In this episode:

  • The surprising power of “Eye of the Tiger” at the Starbucks drive-thru
  • A VR golf obsession gone wrong (and what it says about success)
  • Tim’s tender existential breakdown (with posture tips!)
  • A surprise guest who just might outshine us all
  • Taylor Swift lyrics, dreams of first grade, and Easter magic

🎧 This one is part late-night reflection, part chaotic joy, and 100% us.

📢 Got your own “hype song” or an unexpected win to share? Hit us up on social—let’s build the community playlist: Instagram | Facebook

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Rear-Ended by Love | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 59

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Caution: Bumps Ahead — The Wildest Car Crash Stories You’ve Never Heard (Until Now)
Episode 59: The Kids Are In Bed

If you’ve ever hit a deer, been rear-ended in rush hour, or found yourself behind the wheel of a car that didn’t technically have anti-lock brakes (Tim, we’re looking at you), you’re going to feel right at home in this week’s episode.

In “Caution: Bumps Ahead,” we pull into the slow lane and talk all things car accidents—big and small, funny and frustrating, and surprisingly emotional. Jenni reflects on the seven deer she’s hit over the years (yes, seven), the time she flipped her Jeep shortly after getting her license, and how she once got rear-ended by a man named Andre Love… on Valentine’s Day. Tim shares the story of his car’s sudden need for a brand-new engine (covered under warranty, thankfully) and the fateful realization that his first solo car purchase didn’t include anti-lock brakes.

💡 But it’s not just our stories.
We also:

  • Play a real driving test quiz to see if Jenni’s license should be revoked.
  • Highlight iconic wrecks from TV (including a hilarious detour into the world of Grey’s Anatomy, where car crashes are practically a recurring character).
  • Reflect on how car trouble, strangely enough, sometimes leads to something good.

This episode blends storytelling, comedy, nostalgia, and relationship dynamics into a ride that’s just as chaotic and charming as the open road. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the absurdity, or the pop culture deep dives, we promise you’ll leave entertained—and maybe a little surprised by the odds of your own past fender bender.


💬 Got a car crash story? Share it with us!
📖 Bonus: Read Tim’s personal essay about the ultimate April Fools prank (written 13 years ago) that also makes an appearance in this episode.

🎧 Listen now.

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Fool Proof | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 58

/ Tim Severson / 1 Comment
The Kids Are In Bed Podcast – Hosted by Tim & Jenni Severson

April Fools’ Day may not be a national holiday, but it is a global tradition—and in this episode, we explore the wonderfully weird ways people have chosen to fool each other throughout history. Along the way, we ask the most important question of all: Is Jenni actually fool proof? Or has Tim just gotten sneakier over the years?

We kick things off with a real-life insurance snafu that somehow spiraled into one of the most wholesome and pun-filled email exchanges you’ll hear this year. From there, Tim takes us back to college for the greatest prank he’s ever pulled—one so good his mom cried and then reused it on his dad. It’s a story with suspense, drama, betrayal… and Bush Light.

We also dive into:

  • The mysterious and messy history of April Fools’ Day
  • Wild international traditions, including paper fish, flour bombs, and prank-free zones after noon
  • The most legendary pop culture hoaxes, from spaghetti trees to left-handed Whoppers
  • A prank-themed trivia game, where Jenni tries to separate fact from fiction (with surprising results)
  • How our own kids are starting to get in on the April Fools action—some better than others

This episode blends humor, nostalgia, relationship dynamics, and just a bit of chaos—aka, it’s exactly what you expect from The Kids Are In Bed.

Whether you’re a fan of clever April Fools pranks, global traditions, or just hearing stories about people getting emotionally wrecked by their own children, this one’s worth a listen.

🎧 Listen now on

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📩 Got a great April Fools story? Send us a message or drop it in the comments—we might just read it on a future episode.

Want the full version of Tim’s legendary college prank?

An Abnormal Chain of Fools