Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 01-13-26 – Wondering If Our Listeners Listen To Herman's Hermits – Reactions/Emails On Choppelgangers From Brady Report
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: John Holmberg with Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo

Main Theme/Purpose

This lively episode blends signature irreverent banter with listener interaction as the crew reacts to their concert ticket giveaway—including to the somewhat surprising Herman’s Hermits show—and reads through humorous "choppelganger" (doppelganger) emails from listeners. The hosts explore topics spanning classic rock nostalgia, celebrity lookalikes, and the unending male debate over height and attractiveness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Concert Passport Winner and the Herman’s Hermits Surprise

• 0:15 – 3:10
  • The team congratulates listener Zach Keim for winning the KUPD 2026 concert passport, which entitles him to tickets for every concert KUPD mentions, including, to everyone’s amusement, Herman’s Hermits.
  • The hosts marvel that Herman’s Hermits (notably frontman Peter Noone, now 78) are still touring. The generational gap and oddity of having both Herman’s Hermits and Five Finger Death Punch on the roster spark jokes about audience overlap.
  • Quote:

    “Yeah, that and Tool. Yeah. You think it’s a good combo?" – John Holmberg (00:31)

  • Playful speculation ensues about the type of crowd and mosh pit Herman’s Hermits would attract.
  • The Five Finger Death Punch 20th anniversary tour is also announced as part of the ticket roster—a stark contrast to the 60s pop group.

2. Musings on Classic Rock, Demographics, and Radio

• 3:10 – 3:55
  • Holmberg wonders aloud if KUPD should really be selling tickets for an act like Herman’s Hermits, suggesting an oldies station might be a more appropriate partner.
  • Noting how acts like the Grassroots have also been part of recent promotions, the group pokes fun at the aging of classic acts and the challenge of keeping concert offerings feeling relevant.

3. Listener Emails: ‘Choppelganger’ Submissions & Celebrity Lookalikes

• 3:55 – 5:10
  • The hosts pivot to listener emails reacting to a prior topic about ‘choppelgangers’ (doppelgangers).
  • Holmberg shares stories of being mistaken for former Seattle Mariner Jay Buhner—even recounting playing along at a Diamondbacks game.
  • Quote:

    “No, I’ve been confused for him at Mariner games. Didn’t make any sense. But I wore a Mariner’s jersey and somebody thought it was him.” – John Holmberg (4:11)

  • Discussion of how casino outings and baseball games lead to these mistaken identities.

4. Debating Personal and Fan-Submitted Doppelgangers

• 5:10 – 7:10
  • More emails pour in, with listeners sending Holmberg mugshots of bald men and offering suggestions ranging from Butterbean (the heavyweight boxer) to UFC fighter Keith Jardine.
  • The conversation gets playful as Holmberg tries to determine where he falls in the pecking order of looks and athleticism compared to these “choppelgangers.”
  • Memorable Moment: Holmberg appreciatively reads,

    “I do have to say thank you to the guy that said Keith Jardine is uglier than me. And he would be my chapel ginger. That’s a tough one for me as well.” (04:59)

5. The Height Confessional: Why Height ‘Wins’ in Doppelganger Debates

• 7:10 – 8:52
  • The conversation turns semi-serious as they debate whether being taller makes someone automatically better looking, given two otherwise identical “chapel gangers."
  • Holmberg insists that being six feet tall trumps being 5’7”.
    Quote:

    “No man. Six feet says I wish I was five seven. But tons of five foot seven inch guys say I wish I was six feet.” – John Holmberg (08:00)

  • The group shares examples from Hollywood, with Tom Cruise’s height tricks on set, and agree the taller version “wins” in most cases.
  • The playful debate includes co-host confirmation:

    “Six footer wins.” – Bret Vesely (07:45)

6. Family Doppelgangers and Listener Stories

• 9:07 – 10:00
  • The hosts discuss doppelgangers within their own families, including children outgrowing shoes and hosts wondering who their daughters resemble.
  • A listener suggests someone’s daughter looks like Fairuza Balk (of "Water Boy" and "American History X"), reinforcing the tradition of debating celebrity lookalikes.
  • They note that women’s suggested lookalikes are often wildly inaccurate, prompting good-natured mockery.

7. Final Bits: The Universality (and Pain) of the Doppelganger Game

• 10:00 – End
  • Holmberg ends the segment reminding listeners that “we’re all uglier than someone else,” and encourages everyone to keep playing the ‘chapel ganger’ game.
  • Teases more hot releases and content to come, keeping the tone playful and self-deprecating.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Herman’s Hermits Appearing with Five Finger Death Punch

  “I like their mosh pits because you can use oxygen tanks to hit the other people.” – John Holmberg (03:00)

• On Listener Doppelganger Emails

  “People are sending me mug shots of bald guys, too. We all don’t look exactly alike, but a few you’ve sent over have been pretty accurate.” – John Holmberg (05:01)

• On the Height Debate

  “I think that would be a thing, that if you were 6ft or taller, you automatically lose to that.” – John Holmberg (05:43)

• On Personal Celebrity Humility

  “I don’t think I’m as handsome as JBuner. And that’s sad, really. Oh, that’s a pathetic thing to admit out loud.” – John Holmberg (04:41)

• Gently Mocking the Process

  “It’s always fun to ask girls the question like, ‘who do you think you look like?’ Because they always come up with something ridiculous.” – John Holmberg (10:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:15 – 01:56: KUPD concert passport winner; jokes about Herman’s Hermits and aging rock acts
• 03:55 – 05:10: Listener ‘chapel ganger’ emails and celebrity lookalike stories
• 05:10 – 06:47: The Butterbean debate—athleticism, looks, and fan submissions
• 07:10 – 08:52: Height vs. looks: breaking down the masculinity metrics
• 09:07 – 10:00: Family doppelgangers and the amusement of kids and partner lookalikes
• 10:00 – End: Concluding remarks on the ubiquity of doppelganger debates; prepping for next show segment

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Irreverent, self-effacing, and full of locally brewed radio chemistry, this episode is a snapshot of the HMS Morning Crew at their best—riffing on music nostalgia, playfully ranking themselves (and each other) against celebrities, and giving listeners a window into the oddly universal human impulse to find lookalikes. Even if you missed the episode, you’ll feel right at home with the inside jokes and trademark Arizona banter.