The Parent's Lounge - Season 5 - Episode 13: Parental Mental Health Night

In this high-energy episode of The Parents Lounge (Season 5), comedian dads Jamie Kaler and Jason Gowin reunite after a short summer hiatus to swap war stories about parenting on the road. Jamie breaks down his 15-day East-Coast “vacation” with kids—five stops, endless repacking, and zero rest—then unleashes a hilariously awkward tale of meeting actor Clancy Brown at the grocery store (yes, the same Clancy Brown he once portrayed in an infamous Carnivàle flashback scene).

Long-time Lounge regulars Freddy Bisteros (wood-working maestro behind Built by Pops), teacher-turned-comic Jay (Baltimore), and new dad Taylor jump in to riff on everything from July back-to-school dates, Arizona heat, and the eternal battle over Roblox screen time to kid-approved reading lists (Jurassic Park for tweens, anyone?). The crew also teases upcoming stand-up gigs, a Patreon-exclusive podcast with impressionist Justin Rupple, and the dream of a full Parents Lounge tour.

If you’ve ever tried to relax while your children knock on the baby-cam at 4 a.m., this episode is your cathartic laugh therapy. Hit subscribe, drop a comment, and remember: “Vacation with kids is an oxymoron.”

Primary keywords: parenting comedy podcast, Jamie Kaler, Jason Gowin, The Parents Lounge, Clancy Brown story, vacation with kids, stand-up dad humor, summer parenting tips, Roblox limits, kid reading habits, Built by Pops woodworking, Baltimore comedy, Arizona heat, back-to-school July, Jurassic Park book, Justin Rupple podcast, parenting lounge tour

Timestamped Breakdown
Time Segment Highlights
0:00 – 2:45 Cold-open & intro Jamie & Jason fire up Season 5; quick catch-up after skipped weeks
2:46 – 9:10 15-day “vacation” rant Five stops on the East Coast, repacking chaos, everyone gets sick; “vacation with kids is an oxymoron”
9:11 – 14:55 Origins of The Parents Lounge Pandemic Zoom dad group, homeschooling material, Jay’s punch-line about Lori Loughlin teaching “Ethics”
14:56 – 24:30 Guest roundup Welcoming stalwarts Freddy & Jay; stand-up road news (TV show Behind the Comedians, Vegas taping)
24:31 – 33:40 Hotel-from-hell story Freddy’s shady Studio City motel, ash-burned curtains, double-hinged mystery door
33:41 – 41:20 Nut-allergy dinner joke & spouse reactions Jamie’s “my wife is allergic to my nuts” bit; why comics’ partners rarely laugh
41:21 – 48:00 Screen-time vs. reading Roblox rationing math, Jurassic Park & Carrie for tweens, Jay’s voice-acting bedtime books
48:01 – 56:50 Clancy Brown supermarket encounter Playing young Clancy in Carnivàle, auditioning by “attacking a chair,” Mr. Krabs revelation for the kids
56:51 – 1:04:40 Dino drawing & kid cursing Jay’s son’s “F-bombosaurus,” parental reactions to swearing art
1:04:41 – 1:12:30 Back-to-school in July Freddy’s kids start July 31; desert heat pickup line woes; national “School Starts” holiday pitch
1:12:31 – 1:18:15 Upcoming shows & Patreon plug Flappers Burbank show (Aug 10), battery Island brewing (Aug 15), Geneva NY & Endicott NY dates, So Cool podcast on Patreon
1:18:16 – End Sign-off “Takes a village”—thanks viewers, library shout-outs, call to subscribe