Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Episode Summary

Episode: 02-02-26
Date: February 2, 2026
Host: John Holmberg, with Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo. Guest: Zachary Ray (son of Suns announcer Kevin Ray)

Overview

This lively episode swings from Arizona sports analysis to jaw-dropping and comedic takes on a truly bizarre viral news story: a man leaving his wife for his biological mother, whom he met as an adult. The morning crew, joined by “Nepo baby” Zachary Ray, riffs through uncomfortable laughter, incredulity, and signature irreverent banter, before swapping wild stories about boxing, wigs, and age-gap couplings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sports Talk: Arizona Cardinals New Offensive Coordinator

[03:39 – 05:35]

• The Cardinals have hired Mike LaFleur as their Offensive Coordinator, notable for his Rams/Shanahan lineage.
  • Holmberg: "Cardinal fans can get a little excited…better than the Vance Joseph thing that was floating around." [03:57]
  • The main knock: LaFleur never called plays for the Rams (Sean McVay did).
• Discussion about whether the Cardinals will stick with Kyler Murray at QB.
  • Zachary Ray: "You gotta figure out the quarterback." [05:40]
  • General agreement that Kyler is likely to "run it back" because of his contract.

2. The Viral Story: Man Leaves Wife for Biological Mother

[07:46 – 16:22, 18:48 – 20:39, 27:02 – 28:29, 34:55 – 35:41]

• Holmberg introduces a news item: a man, Ben, finds his biological mom, Kim West (who gave him up for adoption at 19). After meeting as adults, their reunion turns sexual. He divorces his wife to be with his mother.
  • Holmberg reads the key line: "What should have been an emotional meeting between mother and son immediately turned sexual." [09:37]
  • Zachary Ray's shocked aside: "Oh, my God." [09:54]
• The crew is both horrified and fascinated, with plenty of comic discomfort and incredulity.
  • Brett: "What pornhub video were you watching this weekend?" [10:00]
  • Holmberg: "He hosed the wife a couple times, like, it's just not the same as where I came is what he said." [10:12]
• The social, legal, and moral absurdity are debated:
  • Holmberg notes, "If it was a dude immediately going to jail...he's like, nah, we gotta put you away forever." [15:19]
  • They joke about the "genetic sexual attraction" label in the news and whether this ever goes the other way (i.e., fathers & daughters—answer: almost never).
  • Zachary Ray: "Never. Never." (Pressed about 'feeling' that kind of connection) [13:35]
• They speculate on the psychology and ramifications:
  • "Just know that that lady you're meeting online, when you have that instant connection, could be from the past and might be your mother." – Holmberg [14:26]
• The group’s ultimate take:
  • “Picture your mother right now…now picture her reverse cowgirl. Can you do it? Is it possible? Most…That’s proof. If you’re normal…If not nauseous, drive your car off a bridge…” – Holmberg [19:08]

3. Age-Gap & Cougar Tales: Zach’s Stories

[20:25 – 24:38]

• Holmberg wheels from incest to the more palatable topic of age-gap dating.
  • Zach admits, at 20, he dated a 42-year-old when he worked at a Scottsdale bar.
    • “There’s been a 42 year old.” – Zachary Ray [21:04]
    • “Nice kill, kid.” – Holmberg [21:09]
    • “Did she groom you?” – Brady, in jest [22:47]
  • The gang ribs Zach for his "cougar conquest," urging him to reconnect for a “reunion.”
    • “We should have a reunion…If she’s pushing 50 and still at the pub and grub…” – Holmberg [23:28]

4. Outrageous Sports Moment: Boxer Throws Toupee into Crowd

[29:19 – 34:16]

• They hilariously recount how boxer Gerald "Big Baby" Miller got his toupee knocked off in a bout, then nonchalantly threw it into the crowd.
  • “Instead of trying to flatten it back down, he threw it into the crowd.” – Holmberg [30:28]
  • Zach adds: “Did you see the guy who caught it courtside? Oh, my God.” [30:39]
• The parallels to WNBA player Natasha Cloud losing her hair extension during a game are discussed, riffing on the different reactions in men’s vs. women’s sports.
  • “See, this is why men’s sports has a sense of humor about itself. If your hair falls off…it’s immediately funny..." – Holmberg [37:19]

5. General Humor, Camaraderie, and Notable Moments

• In-between topics, the group banters on:
  • Holmberg and Brady clown on each other and on Zach’s “Nepo baby” status.
  • Zach’s mother-support and affectionate relationship: “When’s the last time you called your mom, Zach? This morning.” [41:54]
• They joke about over-sharing and boundaries, riffing on unhealthy family dynamics given the day’s topic.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the viral story’s twist:
  "What should have been an emotional meeting between mother and son immediately turned sexual."
  — John Holmberg, reading the article [09:37]

• Disbelief:
  "Oh, my God."
  — Zachary Ray [09:54]

• Explaining the ‘connection’:
  "Of course you feel connected. He fell out of your honeyhole. Everybody who's been in there, you have a connection with. He was in there the longest."
  — John Holmberg [15:31]

• On navigating mother-son “romance”:
  "I'm leaving you. I found someone else."
  — John Holmberg, jokingly enacting the break-up [17:29]

• On the toupee snafu:
  "His hair flaps on an uppercut, and the guy punched him, starts laughing…he has to peel it off…then chucks it into the crowd, which is the worst and yet greatest souvenir in the history of sports."
  — John Holmberg [31:37]

• On the difference between men's and women's sports reactions:
  "A man's hair falls off on a pay per view fight and he's the laughingstock…with his arms in the air smiling… A woman's weave comes off, she runs off the court and cries."
  — John Holmberg [37:19]

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Time | Topic / Segment | |--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:39 | Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur; coaching talk; Kyler discussion | | 07:46 | Introduction of viral "man marries mom" story | | 09:37 | Key article quote; room reaction | | 15:19 | Double-standards, legality of mother-son incest, role reversal | | 19:08 | “Picture your mother…” – Holmberg’s ultimate disgust test | | 21:04 | Zach admits to dating a 42-year-old at 20 | | 30:28 | Boxer Gerald Miller’s toupee incident recounted | | 31:37 | The “greatest souvenir” line | | 37:19 | Gender difference in handling on-court hair malfunctions | | 41:54 | Zach jokes about calling his mom every morning |

Recap

• Theme: The show blends sports talk with “news you can’t not react to”—from jaw-dropping real-life taboos to hilarious sports mishaps.
• Tone: Outrageous, irreverent, and hilarious—typical of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness.
• Best For: Listeners who enjoy boundary-pushing comedy, wild news, and raw, unsanitized morning banter.

Listen if you want…

• Unfiltered, comedic disbelief at the world’s most shocking stories
• Ragging on Arizona sports and QB drama
• Gnarly sports anecdotes (fit for a barstool, not the boardroom)
• Nervey, candid guest interplay—especially from Zach Ray’s “cougar” chronicles