Holmberg's Morning Sickness – 01-29-26: Adam Ferrara In Studio (Desert Ridge Improv)

Main Theme/Purpose This lively episode features comedian Adam Ferrara, who joins John Holmberg and the gang in studio ahead of his stand-up dates at the Desert Ridge Improv. The conversation is wide-ranging—touching on car culture, psychedelic experiences, therapy, family stories, the entertainment business, and their unique perspectives on everyday absurdities. Humor underpins even the most serious topics, true to the show’s irreverent tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Barrett-Jackson Auctions and Car Culture

• The group opens with banter about the iconic Arizona car auction, Barrett-Jackson. Holmberg laments Adam’s absence this year, sharing his amazement at the money flying around (“I can't. I don't know who's complaining that there's something wrong with the economy? Because it's just insane how much money is walking around in there.” ~ [02:00, A]).
• Adam jokes about sending his “representative”—a friend’s six-year-old—to attend in his place, poking fun at the absurdity.
• The guys riff on the million-dollar custom Lincolns on display, mocking the ridiculousness of such wealth in a tongue-in-cheek way:
  • “Daddy, I want an Oompa Loompa.” – Holmberg [02:53]
  • Adam: “Every man has his price.” [02:57]

2. Dreams, Psychedelics, and Therapy

• Holmberg confesses he dreamt of Adam before the show, setting up a segue as Ferrara tells of trying mushrooms to gain self-understanding:
  • Adam: “I did a psychedelic thing.... I did the mushroom because I did all my research.” [04:07]
  • Discusses researching ayahuasca and ketamine but ruling out the more intense/illegal options, preferring a “safe” approach.
  • “My buddy did ketamine…then he got a divorce, but I think he was gonna get a divorce, but it sped it up.” [04:30]
  • Ferrara recounts an anticlimactic guided mushroom session (“I was buzzed, right, but I wasn't smelling colors. I wasn't..."), but describes a therapeutic realization: surrendering his expectations.
  • “I will surrender my expectations.” (the “message” from the session) [07:45]
• Discussion turns to anger, short fuses, and wrestling with one’s own mind, highlighted by Adam’s comic self-awareness.
  • “From zero to homicide in three seconds.” – Adam Ferrara, describing his temper [08:25]
• Both men riff on intrusive thoughts and the duality of their internal dialogue, with plenty of self-deprecating humor about needing therapy.

3. Family, Upbringing, and Roots in Comedy

• Heartfelt and funny stories about their families’ immigrant/gritty roots:
  • Adam on therapy: “You don’t need therapy. You go to confession and tell God what you did. No. Oh, yeah. And my father leaned in and went, ‘Oh, hold it. You don’t confess to nothing.’” [09:23]
  • Hilarious reflection on the promise of Catholic heaven: “Eternity in a gated community with my relatives. This is what—I’m not having a hamburger on Friday to get there. What, are you kidding me?” [10:57]
• Ferrara’s dad’s advice after his first open mic set:
  • “Do it now before your life gets complicated…you better give it everything you got, because one day there’s gonna be an old man looking back at you in that mirror, and you don’t ever want to think, if I only tried a little bit harder.” [14:05 – 14:37]
• Family participation in his career—his mom bringing the whole neighborhood to comedy shows; parents’ unwavering support; his amusing discomfort performing in front of them.

4. Hauntings, Regrets, and Petty Ghosts

• Hysterical section on who they’d haunt if they were ghosts:
  • Adam would haunt Joe Pisarcik (the Giants QB infamous for the “Miracle at the Meadowlands” fumble), seeking sports-related vengeance [18:54].
  • Holmberg says Steve Bartman (the Cubs fan blamed for the 2003 Cubs meltdown).
  • The dark humor extends to discussing “haunting” for revenge, sexual reasons (Dua Lipa gets an inappropriate shoutout), and the Cosby “Ghost Dad” scandal [19:53 – 20:20].

5. Showbiz Realities: Residuals & Life as a Working Actor

• Adam shares the financial struggles actors face—residuals, qualifying for health insurance, and hilarious complaints that ex–Cosby Show actors can’t get their teeth cleaned due to Cosby’s crimes killing syndication [21:01 – 21:59].
• Updates on his recurring role on NCIS—playing “Sloppy Joe Sammy,” a bookie with a food truck, occasionally a “rat” for the detectives [23:08].
  • Talks about makeup, beat-up scenes, and the day-to-day grind for bit actors.
  • “You know what I need? I need a sci-fi movie—so you can go sign autographs at comic cons.” [25:18]
  • Quips about being from "the Lower East Side of the Milky Way."

6. Technology, Healthcare, and Modern Life Absurdities

• Long, playful riff on healthcare, pharmaceutical ads, and telemedicine:
  • “Why didn’t he (my doctor) suggest it?” – On ‘ask your doctor’ ads [27:51]
  • Ferrara: “I’m not supposed to go to the doctor with ideas…he’s supposed to have the answer.” [27:52]
  • Telehealth and getting prescriptions online (“I got this,” says Holmberg).

7. AI, Therapy Bots, and Internet Surveillance

• Satirical deep-dive on AI therapists; Holmberg details purposely faking confessions to his AI bot.
  • “You can play with them and tell them you’ve killed people.” [30:40]
  • “The bot’s like, I hope you’re kidding.” – Adam [31:06]
  • Noticing targeted ads after “confessing” odd fetishes to his “therapist,” raising privacy jokes—“there's been cars outside the house...loads of old people commercials are coming up on my stuff.” [33:12]
  • Ferrara: “That's the whole thing: designed to get you to spill intimate secrets so they can advertise to you for fun and profit.” [33:26]

8. Pet Peeves & How to Fix the World

• Closing gag: If Adam were in charge, the first thing he’d ban is “subscriptions to anything."
  • “I’m gonna buy something, I’m gonna give you money, and I never want to see you again.” [29:07]
  • Holmberg’s comedic leap: “We need prostitution apps. We pay them to go away.” [29:31]
• Spirals into a madcap brainstorm about drive-thru ‘ejaculations’, car seat covers, and buffets with sneeze guards [29:31 – 30:03].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Surrendering Expectations and Therapy

  • “I will surrender my expectations.” – Adam Ferrara [07:45]
  • “If you expect life to look one way and it’s not, you get...angry.” [08:08]
  • “From zero to homicide in three seconds.” – Adam Ferrara [08:25]

• On Growing Up

  • “My father would say, ‘Look, my job is to give you a better life than the one I had, so pay attention. Cause I’m tired and I'm running out of money.’” – Adam [13:01]
  • “Do it now before your life gets complicated.” – Adam’s Dad [14:10]

• On AI Therapy Bots

  • “You can play with them and tell them you’ve killed people.” – Holmberg [30:40]
  • “The bot’s like, I hope you’re kidding.” – Adam Ferrara [31:06]

• On How to Fix the World

  • “No more subscriptions to anything. I’m gonna buy something, give you money, and never want to see you again.” – Adam Ferrara [29:07]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:00] Barrett-Jackson/culture of excess
• [03:49] Work dreams, psychedelic rabbit hole
• [04:09 – 07:45] Adam’s mushroom/therapy journey
• [09:23] Comic reflections on Catholic confession/therapy
• [10:57] Heaven and the afterlife, family dynamics
• [14:05 – 14:37] Father’s advice on pursuing comedy
• [18:54 – 19:44] Haunting people as ghosts (Joe Pisarcik, Steve Bartman)
• [21:01] Cosby Show, residuals, actor struggles
• [23:08] Adam’s NCIS “Sloppy Joe Sammy” experience
• [27:51] Medical ads, telehealth, healthcare absurdities
• [30:40] AI therapy, privacy jokes
• [29:07] Adam’s “fix the world”: abolish subscriptions, joke about prostitution apps

Tone & Language

• The episode is quick-witted, irreverent, and playful, representing both the hosts’ and Adam Ferrara’s comedic sensibilities. They use vivid, sometimes dark humor to dissect relatable frustrations with modern life, family, and careers.
• Frequent call-backs, riffs, and improv-style threads are woven throughout. Even the heavier themes (therapy, regret, family) are approached with humor and self-deprecation.

For New Listeners

If you haven’t heard the episode, expect a freewheeling mix of stand-up bits, behind-the-scenes stories, and banter that effortlessly toggles between hilarity and honesty. Adam Ferrara’s blend of candor, family tales, and comic insight meshes perfectly with Holmberg’s wild, unapologetic humor. This is morning radio at its funniest: controversial, smart, and never boring.