Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – 98KUPD

Episode: 01-28-26 – FULL SHOW – WEDNESDAY
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

This episode exemplifies why Holmberg’s Morning Sickness is Arizona’s #1 morning show, blending comedy, cultural commentary, irreverence, and relatable banter. Tackling everything from mental health and local immigration raids, to adult bar behavior, NFL controversies, and oddball family stories, Holmberg and the crew showcase the sharp wit and honest, sometimes raucous conversations that define the show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Praise and Addressing Mental Health

• (02:06–04:36)
  Holmberg opens by reading a listener’s email thanking the show for its openness, especially about seeking therapy, which inspired the listener to do the same:

  “Your openness about that helped me take those steps. I think you should know how much good you do, not just with charity and local stuff, but just with laughs and a unique way you engage with the audience.”
  — Chris (03:05)

  • John reflects on the stigma attached to therapy, especially for men, and equates talking to a therapist with having someone organize your life briefly.

2. Immigration Raid at Zips: Human Trafficking & Public Reaction

• (04:37–19:16)
  The crew discusses a recent high-profile immigration raid at Zips, a local restaurant chain, after reading listener responses from those in law enforcement:
  • Law enforcement clarify the raid is not “rounding up cooks,” but part of a human trafficking investigation.
  • Brett shares a funny but poignant story from his restaurant days, unwittingly hiring several men with the same name (“Chris Valenzuela”) and later realizing he was complicit in casual human trafficking.
  • John emphasizes:

    “Don’t go over there and protest unless you know what they’re up to. This isn’t just a brown guy getting pulled over in his car for being brown. Evidently, there’s something bigger.” (12:14)

  • The dangers of protesting without information, and advice to “let the dust settle before we all react.”

3. Protest Culture & Police Tactics

• (14:06–19:16, 41:01–47:54)
  • Debate escalates over the use of force (pepper spray), personal safety, and what makes an effective protest versus needlessly risking harm.
  • The hosts joke about the French translation of the N-word into “friends” in subtitling.
  • They discuss a viral local video of a protester being shot in the groin with a pepper ball:

    “I could be on the hippie’s side and I can’t… Hippies getting hit in the nuts is funny!” — John (38:05)

  • Brady asks if John has empathy for the pepper-sprayed protesters; John dryly responds no, especially for “idiots who put themselves in that situation.” (44:49)

4. Single Life, Pick-Up Tactics, and Modern Social Etiquette

• (19:16–34:11)
  • John recounts an outlandish encounter at the Rah Rah Room: a young man repeatedly asks a woman if she wants to have sex in the bathroom, shockingly direct.
  • The crew debates whether this “move” ever works, with references to porn’s influence and pickup artist lore.
  • John marvels at the boldness, attributing it to “porn generation” assumptions:

    “The first words out of your mouth, ‘You come to the bathroom and stick it in?’ No thank you!” (25:09)

• Jokes about old-school workplace flirtations, Mad Men, and whether confidence or financial status fuels such behavior.

5. NFL Playoffs, Cheating, and the Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Snub

• (50:41–64:04)
  • Holmberg tackles the controversy around NFL coach Bill Belichick being denied first-ballot Hall of Fame status, interpreting it as an acknowledgment of his (and the Patriots’) cheating scandals (“Spygate,” “Deflategate”).
  • He draws on anecdotes from Heinz Ward and Jerome Bettis about the Patriots knowing play calls:

    “You don’t destroy [the tapes] unless having them get out destroys your product. And I think that’s what would’ve happened.” (52:16)

6. Miscellaneous Banter & Quirky Personal Stories

• Strawberry-Picking Fiasco (77:05–94:45)
  • Brady details a family vacation spent picking strawberries—the others roast him for paying to do migrant labor that’s cheaper in stores:

    “You paid someone to pick something that’s readily available for much cheaper at a store… that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” — John (77:28)

• Gross Food Analogies (47:54–49:07)
  • John analogizes strawberries to biting into a homeless person’s nose, coconut to eating hair/fingernails.
• Fraternity Hazing (111:03–114:13)
  • Old college hazing stories, bizarre pledging rituals, and how much they paid for the “privilege.”

7. Rock Wars Segment: Songs Ruined by Comparisons

• (140:01–151:07)
  • Crew challenges each other to find songs ruined by silly impressions (e.g., AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” sung as Alvin and the Chipmunks).
  • Other examples: Danzig songs as sung by Donkey from Shrek, The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" as Jerry Seinfeld.
  • Hilarity ensues as listeners and hosts imagine new associations for popular songs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Mental Health Openness

• “It’s almost like having somebody come to your desk and organize for a minute. It’s very good for you.” — John (03:55)

Human Trafficking Reality Check

• “I didn’t know it was human trafficking, but I was a human trafficker for a while at Tony Roma’s.” — Brett (07:13)
• “Multiple Chrises show up…we didn’t know which ones.” — Brett (07:56)

Protest Wisdom

• “Be smart. Don’t go up to the FBI and start pushing them around…just pick and choose, that’s all.” — John (15:42)
• “You ever see something, you ever look at somebody’s text and see the bottom and it says ‘has notifications silenced’? I always assume that’s—they just singled me out.” — John (31:31)

Pepper Spray & Empathy

• “I could be on the hippie’s side and I can't…Hippies getting hit in the nuts is funny!” — John (38:05)
• “Maybe I don’t have any feelings. Maybe I’m part sociopath, but I find it funny. It’s funny because it’s not me.” — John (39:14)

Bar Hookup Stories

• “First words out of your mouth, ‘You come to the bathroom and stick it in?’ No thank you.” — John (25:09)

Sports & Cheating

• “You don’t destroy [the tapes] unless getting them out destroys your product.” — John (52:16)
• “Patriots were first all the time…after ‘deflate gate,’ suddenly the Patriots…back in the mix. If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying, but don’t get caught.” — John (62:45)

Strawberry “Migrant Work” Vacation

• “You paid someone to pick something…that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” — John (77:28)

Song Ruining (Rock Wars)

• “Thunderstruck by AC/DC—imagine Alvin and the Chipmunks singing it.” — Brady (145:01)
• “Danzig sounds like Donkey from Shrek.” — Brett (146:11)
• “Mr. Brightside by the Killers—as Jerry Seinfeld singing.” — John (147:55)

Highlighted Timestamps for Key Segments

• Listener Email, Mental Health: 02:06–04:36
• Zips Immigration Raid, Human Trafficking: 04:37–19:16
• Protest Culture & Advice: 14:06–47:54 (Pepper spray/nut shot video & empathy debate prominent at 38:05–44:49)
• Rah Rah Room & Pick-Up Moves: 19:16–34:11
• NFL/Belichick/Hall of Fame: 50:41–64:04
• Strawberry Picking Debacle: 77:05–94:45
• Rock Wars – Ruining Songs: 140:01–151:07

Tone

• Edgy, irreverent banter; highly conversational and self-deprecating
• Candid, sometimes dark or politically incorrect humor
• Frequent segues and callbacks to inside jokes or ongoing show themes
• Humorous skepticism toward authority, politics, and pop culture

For New Listeners

You’ll hear:

• Honest, sometimes bracing chat about mental health, masculinity, and public events.
• Candid takes on Phoenix’s local news and personalities.
• Classic sports radio debates—with jabs at cheaters, NFL hypocrisy, and local teams.
• In-the-wild stories and digressions: bizarre vacation tales, bad pick-up lines, gross-out food metaphors.
• Segments that let listeners in on private jokes—“Rock Wars” especially.

No matter where the conversation goes, it’s always funny, unpredictable, and unmistakably Holmberg’s.

For the full experience, listen for the irrepressible chemistry and lightning-quick wit between the crew—especially when conversation veers into territory only they would dare to explore.