Transcript

John Holmberg (0:00)

You're listening to the HMS Podcast, brought to you by MMP Guns.com, your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories. It's John Holmberg here, seeing clear as a bell, thanks to my friends at the Schwartz Laser Eye Center. Well, here we are looking at a brand new year. Can you see yourself in 2026? Can you see it all? I mean, really, maybe in 2026 you should see yourself seeing. Fix those eyes. Vision changes are gradual. You might not even know how bad it's gotten. I know. That was my story. So start the new year by seeing clearly. Visit Dr. Jay Schwartz and his team, Schwartz Laser Eye Center, 480483 Eyes Schwartz Laser Eye center, the official eye center for your Diamondbacks and sons. I'm gonna say this out loud here. You're the most important guest we've had in this room, maybe ever. Policy shaper. Political pundit.

Akash Singh (0:57)

Idiot.

John Holmberg (0:58)

Idiot.

Akash Singh (0:59)

Yeah.

John Holmberg (0:59)

Gosh. Thing is here from the flagrant podcast. You and Schultz are doing that still.

Akash Singh (1:03)

Yeah.

John Holmberg (1:03)

And over the last. I remember when you first came here and you were doing that podcast, I thought it was great because it was a lot of basketball.

Akash Singh (1:10)

Yeah, yeah, dude, I, I miss the sports, to be honest.

John Holmberg (1:13)

It was a lot of basketball talk. Gosh. It's a stand up live tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, if you want to go standup live.com and then like in the blink of an eye, there you are with Donald Trump and you, Bernie Sanders down the front. Bernie Sanders, I forgot about. Yeah, we did all of them and they. Did you ask for them or did they come to you?

Akash Singh (1:36)

I think they came to us and then once a few came, once one or two came, everybody else wanted to come. And then once, you know, they saw that it was effective for Trump, then everybody wanted to come. So, yeah, it's everybody, which is. It's an honor. It's cool. It's amazing how much comes after that. I wasn't aware.

John Holmberg (1:53)

What was the show before Trump? I don't even know the month or week before because you guys had to be talking about, like, alien babies and something crazy.

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode Title: 01-15-26 - Akaash Singh - Stand Up Live - In Studio
Date: January 15, 2026
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Guest: Akaash Singh (Comedian, Flagrant Podcast)

Episode Overview

This episode features comedian Akaash Singh, co-host of the Flagrant podcast, in studio promoting his shows at Stand Up Live. The discussion jumps from his recent meteoric rise in podcasting and interviews with major political figures to life as a stand-up, sports fandom, conspiracy theories, personal stories, and playful debate about Tim Tebow. The tone is quick-witted, irreverent, and occasionally provocative, in classic "Morning Sickness" style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Akaash Singh’s Journey and the Flagrant Podcast

Recent years have seen the Flagrant Podcast explode in popularity, moving from sports and comedy into headline-making interviews with political heavyweights.
- Akaash reminisces missing the days when the podcast was mostly about sports. (01:10)
The shift from basketball and comedy to front-line political conversations (e.g., interviews with Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders).
- Singh describes how once they hosted one or two prominent guests, suddenly "everyone else wanted to come." (01:36)
- There was no pressure from Trump, Sanders, or their teams regarding what questions could or could not be asked. The Flagrant team assures political guests it's not a "gotcha" set-up—"We want to try to make you feel like a human." (02:42)
- Singh reflects on shaping American presidential conversation:
  
  "The next week, you literally shaped the American presidential campaign. Do you realize that?" – Holmberg (02:01)
  "I don't know. We tried to ask most of what we wanted to ask, that we thought he would not get up and walk out for." – Singh (02:07)

Meeting and Assessing Presidential Candidates

Akaash found Donald Trump’s presence and quick wit memorable.
- Trump joked, “That would’ve been bad. I tell you, Joe Biden would have tripped on that thing,” after being warned not to trip. (04:13)
- Holmberg and Singh discuss the commanding presence Trump has—even before politics—echoed in anecdotes from longstanding professionals (04:42).
What surprised Akaash: Even those rumored to be “in decline” are often sharp—singling out Trump as "keenly aware" and "very sharp." (03:37)
Comparison between Trump (charismatic, wants you to like him) and Bernie Sanders (authentic, focused and uninterested in winning you over personally):

"Bernie was not [trying to be liked]. Bernie's like an old man. He's like, look, I care about what I care about. Let's talk about that." – Singh (22:55)

Sports, Fandom, and "The Joy of Hate"

The hosts and Akaash bond over classic sports rivalries (Cowboys, Eagles, Steelers, Ravens, and more), with Akaash openly lamenting his "break-up" with the Cowboys and turning into a more neutral but still passionate NFL observer (09:17).
Joy in sports comes not just from loving your team, but hating your rivals:

"My hate breeds my happiness." – Holmberg (10:30)
"Hate is so entertaining... Without hate, you can't find happiness." – Holmberg (11:09)

Tim Tebow, Cynicism, & Conspiracy Jokes

John Holmberg launches into an over-the-top, satirical riff about not trusting Tim Tebow’s extreme wholesome image, claiming Tebow is “too nice” to be real, and jokingly accusing him of nefarious deeds.

“I can't watch Tim Tebow do anything. I firmly believe Tim Tebow is a... bottom and he's been planted here and he's programmed and he's got an agenda and it's all going to hurt us eventually. ... I think he's trafficking kids.” – Holmberg (06:00, 06:48)
- Akaash lightly pushes back, maintaining Tebow was “the kindest guy,” obsessed with helping kids escape trafficking, and fun to talk to. (06:14)
- The back-and-forth is playful, with repeated clarifications it's all in jest:
  
  "No, I don't think he's trafficking children. Let's be clear." – Singh (08:02)

Fertility Struggles and Relationship Dynamics

Akaash shares personal insights about trying to start a family, acknowledging both he and his wife faced challenges and the emotional toll it took.

“It's rare as a man that you're like, I wish this is my fault. I wish my sperm didn’t work. But I wish in that moment my sperm didn’t work.” – Singh (13:18)

Conspiracies, Suspicion, and the Moon Landing

Akaash admits he tries not to dive into conspiracy rabbit holes (“You could get me with a conspiracy, so I try not to go down that…”). (13:59)
Holmberg humorously confesses to losing faith in the moon landing, prompted by modern moon mission hype and inconsistency in messaging.

“Over Christmas break, I realized I no longer believe in the moon landing. ... I just don't anymore.” – Holmberg (14:05)

Wild Personal Story: The Cameraman Debacle

Akaash recounts how his lead cameraman with a gambling problem pawned tens of thousands of dollars' worth of his equipment, initially denying theft:

“He goes, I didn't steal it. I pawned it.” – Singh (17:58)
The ordeal resolved (mostly), but Akaash laments the breach of trust and offers practical, if resigned, solutions for the future (18:48–19:05).

The Aftermath of High-Profile Interviews

The pressure, scrutiny, and responsibility that came after hosting political megastars:

“Now you become a target. Now there’s articles written about you... Deciding who you are. ... And it’s like, I truly don’t really like either party and I don’t want to be that. ... At the end of the day, we want to be standups.” – Singh (20:29)
The danger of being seen as a political voice rather than a comedian:

“...At the end of the day, it's like, dude, I'm a human being who's just as flawed as anybody else. ... There was a cost to that.” – Singh (21:15)

Humanizing Politicians

Being in the room with someone as prominent as a president revealed their basic humanity:

“He is warm... They're chameleons, but in the room with us, he was a warm guy. ... Everyone is a human being.” – Singh (21:59)
Bernie’s authenticity stands out:

"[Bernie] cares about what he cares about. ... The most authentic to me." – Singh (22:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On podcasting with political heavyweights:

“The next week, you literally shaped the American presidential campaign.”
— John Holmberg (02:01)
On interviewing Trump:

“I tell you, Joe Biden would have tripped on that thing.”
— Donald Trump via Akaash Singh (04:13)
On engaging with enormous political egos:

“Some of us are wired very differently. Because the stuff that you gotta go through... I don't want it.”
— Akaash Singh (22:17)
On the joy of sports hatred:

“Hate is funnier, and it's more fun, and it actually makes you happier. Without hate, you can't find happiness.”
— Holmberg (11:10)
On skepticism about saintly public figures:

“I can't watch Tim Tebow do anything... I think he's trafficking kids.”
— Holmberg (06:00, 06:48, running gag)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:59–03:45 – Origins of Flagrant's political pivot; booking Trump, Sanders, and more.
03:37–04:55 – Akaash describes his impressions of Trump’s sharpness and the energy of powerful people.
05:21–09:41 – Sports fandom, football rivalries, and hate as happiness.
06:00–08:02 – Playful debate: Is Tim Tebow too nice to be real?
12:00–13:36 – Akaash discusses fertility challenges and relationship effects.
14:05–15:50 – Conspiracy theories: Moon landing skepticism and black hole humor.
16:23–19:05 – Akaash’s cameraman pawns his equipment: trust and betrayal.
19:16–22:17 – Post-Trump interview reflections: fame, responsibility, and the cost of being taken seriously.
22:51–24:00 – Bernie's authenticity and old Brooklyn Dodgers stories.

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode stays fast, loose, and wide-ranging, blending comedy, real talk, and satire, with Akaash Singh easily matching the "Morning Sickness" crew's tone and pace.
While irreverence is constant (with recurring barbs about Tebow and playful shots at public figures), there’s an undercurrent of thoughtful reflection on the oddities of sudden fame, media responsibility, and the nature of power.
Singh’s takeaways are grounded: respect for the human side of public figures, and a desire to keep his craft rooted in stand-up, not punditry.

Closing

Akaash Singh’s advice for changing the world:

“Come to Stand Up Live. Thursday, Friday, Saturday. You lobbed it up, I dunked.” (24:36)

Holmberg: “Thank you. I'm so impressed... It's been awesome. Leave us with words of wisdom, all you've been through.”

Singh: “Great to be here. Y'all are my favorite.” (25:47)

For anyone who missed the episode, this rundown captures the mix of celebrity insight, sports banter, bold humor, and real-life stories that define both Holmberg’s Morning Sickness and Singh’s comedic persona.