Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona

Episode Date: January 13, 2026
Episode Theme: Comedy, Random News, Social Commentary, & Gen Z Lingo

Overview

In this episode, the HMS crew—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—explores a hilarious range of topics spanning random trivia, generational slang, social inclusion in popular toys, and plenty of self-deprecating humor. They highlight Maya Angelou’s historic achievement, debate the new Gen Z term “choppelganger,” riff on diversity in Barbie dolls, and react to wild news stories with their trademark irreverence. Frequent bursts of nostalgia, good-natured roasting, and banter keep the show’s signature energetic, spontaneous tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Breakfast Banter & Popcorn Mishaps (00:00–01:26)

• The show kicks off with Toledo suffering from a popcorn hull stuck in his throat, setting a humorous tone.
• The crew jokes about breakfast choices, with Toledo lamenting:

  “How come popcorn in your hand is so, like, fragile, but in your throat it’s like barbed wire?” (01:12, Toledo)

National Rubber Ducky Day & CB Radio Nostalgia (01:27–03:36)

• It’s announced that it’s National Rubber Ducky Day.
• The crew reminisces about CB radios and “handles” from trucking culture, mentioning the film Convoy and iconic character names like Rubber Ducky, Widow Woman, and Road Toad.
• CB nostalgia leads to a riff on what their own handles would be, including one especially playful:

  “Young hot anus was another one that I tooled around.” (04:00, Toledo)

Fun Facts & Social Commentary

Maya Angelou’s Historic Role (03:37–05:38)

• The group notes Maya Angelou was the first Black woman cable car conductor in San Francisco.
• Delivers biting social commentary on racism and sexism in history:

  “We were so racist we didn’t trust black women to just ride on cars that were going one way… I can’t imagine being so racist that I wouldn’t trust somebody to just say, ‘Get in.’” (05:04–06:33, Toledo)

Alligators’ Winter Survival (06:59–07:37)

• Discusses pseudo-hibernation—alligators stick their snouts above frozen lakes to breathe.

  “We literally still have dinosaurs… That’s the weirdest thing.” (07:37, Toledo)

Changing American Family Statistics (07:44–08:06)

• 25% of US parents now unmarried, up from 7% sixty years ago.

Celebrity Trivia & Jokes (08:06–08:36)

• Frank Sinatra reportedly hired thugs to beat up Jackie Mason for jokes about his marriage; Mason’s response:

  “Frank Sinatra saved my life one night. He said, boys, that’s enough.” (08:23, recounted by Brett)

Breakup Foods by State (08:41–10:13)

• A viral list of “best breakup foods” includes:
  • Ohio & Indiana: Grilled cheese
  • Arizona: Potato chips
  • Illinois: Popcorn (crew jokes “Fat Pop” for extra-buttery, non-skinny version)

Gen Z Lingo: "Choppelganger" (10:28–12:39)

• Definition: Your choppelganger is someone who looks like you, but better; you’re the “ugly” version.
• Personal examples fly:
  • Toledo: “I’m the choppelganger to about 700 bald guys… I’m at baseline one, and everyone that sort of looks like me, I’m the uglier version.” (12:12, Toledo)
  • Brett claims Butterbean as his choppelganger, but jokes he’s better looking.

Who’s Whose Choppelganger? (12:39–15:56)

• The crew humorously debates celebrity lookalikes:
  • Brady: Andy Garcia
  • Toledo: Johnny Sins, sloth from Goonies, Adam Schefter, and “Easter Island monolith”
  • Brett: Butterbean, Jay from Jay & Silent Bob, Andy Reid
  • Rachel: Rachel Maddow, Richard Marx (“when you had your mullet going”)
• Brett bluntly claims:

  “You think you’re better looking than her? ... Yep.” (32:34, Brett on being choppelganger to a Korean female athlete)

New Diverse Barbie Dolls (19:23–24:57)

• Discussion of Mattel’s recent inclusive dolls:
  • Down Syndrome Barbie, Autistic Barbie, and Diabetic Barbie
  • Amused skepticism about the practicality and value:

    “So only kids who don’t have it should buy this?” (20:01, Rachel) “Can you kill her? ... If her diabetes doesn’t matter if it’s not life threatening!” (22:17, Toledo, about Diabetic Barbie)

• Satirical commentary on the ever-expanding attempts at representation:

  “If we're doing all this... mine’s follically challenged, huge broken nose Barbie. That’s dumb.” (28:31, Toledo)

Notable Social Stories (26:54–28:15)

• Ex-con buys old prison, turns it into re-entry workforce campus for 300 and job training.

  “He’s now the first former inmate to own a prison… house up to 300 people.” (26:54, Brett)

News Oddities (28:46–32:31)

• Man hospitalized after shoving a 7-inch sweet potato up his rectum; crewmates debate the “healing” folklore and express disgust.
• Florida woman arrested for stealing a coworker’s $60 Stanley cup; the cup was wanted to hold breast milk.

Self-Ranking and Beauty Standards (32:52–33:50)

• The team jokingly debates where they each fall on a global scale of attractiveness: upper half to high 50s, except only 3% are “good looking.”

  “Brady’s probably in the upper 70%. He’s a handsome man. Toledo’s closing in on that. Brady and I am pulling up the rear. Still in the upper 60s, high 50s.” (33:20–33:43, Toledo)

Wild Videos & Reactions (34:04–41:01)

• The hosts react to an escalating sequence of viral videos:
  • Medicine ball fitness challenges (34:04–34:55)
  • Hockey hit sends a player crashing onto the backup goalie (36:01–36:39)
  • Bizarre construction site accidents (36:43–37:32)
  • Shock video: “Little people” sex tape; crew fixates on the comical proportions and logistics, ending the segment in obsessed spectacle and laughter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Racism & History:

  "I can’t imagine being so racist that I wouldn’t trust somebody to just say, ‘Get in.’" (06:33, Toledo)

• Gen Z Lingo Debate:

  "Choppelganger means you look like someone else... but an uglier version." (10:34, Brett) "I’m at baseline one... I’m the uglier version." (12:12, Toledo)

• On Inclusive Barbies:

  “Can’t you just make your regular Barbie—oh, she’s autistic?” (20:58, Toledo) “Mine’s follically challenged, huge broken nose Barbie. That’s dumb.” (28:31, Toledo)

• Regarding Odd Beauty Comparisons:

  “Brady’s rose-colored glasses work in mirrors too.” (18:45, listener text read aloud)

• Absurd News:

  “He took it to the next level, which is 7 inch long sweet potato.” (30:22, Brett)

• On the Viral Video:

  “He is literally a foot and a half tall. He’s an Oompa Loompa. Only little.” (38:40, Toledo)

Important Timestamps

• 00:18–01:26 Popcorn mishaps & show kickoff
• 01:49–03:36 CB radio nostalgia & “handle” discussion
• 03:37–05:38 Maya Angelou’s story & historical racism
• 08:41–10:13 Breakup comfort foods by state
• 10:28–14:50 Gen Z “choppelganger” slang & lookalike banter
• 19:23–24:57 Diverse Barbies & representation debate
• 26:54–28:15 Former inmate buys prison—workforce program
• 28:46–29:47 Sweet potato medical emergency story
• 34:04–41:01 Fitness, hockey, shock & sex videos—hosts’ live reactions

Episode Takeaways

• The show blends news, irreverent social commentary, and Gen X-to-Z pop culture in a rapid-fire, unscripted style.
• “Choppelganger” enters the lexicon for self-deprecating lookalike humor.
• The team questions the usefulness and motivation behind ultra-specific toys for diversity, sparking both laughs and sincere thoughts about inclusion.
• Absurd news stories serve as an ongoing source of incredulous humor and playful disgust.
• The episode keeps up a relentlessly comic style, mingling playful insults, cultural references, and sharp group banter—an on-brand morning for the HMS gang.