02-11-25 - Resetting This Morning's Email From Guy Who Wanted To Make Amends w/John Over Gilbert Goon Comments Last Year

Summary

Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona: Episode Summary (02-11-25)

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo

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1. Introduction and Episode Context

In this episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness on 98 KUPD, the hosts delve into the aftermath of last year's controversial comments about the Gilbert Goons—a local group perceived as problematic by the community. The episode centers around addressing a recent email from a listener who seeks to make amends for his previous hostile remarks towards John Holmberg.

Notable Quote:

• Brett: "People are emailing like crazy. Please help me know what you're talking about. What's happening?" (00:39)

2. Recap of Last Year's Gilbert Goons Incident

The hosts revisit the heated discussions from last January, where John Holmberg faced backlash for his remarks on the Gilbert Goons issue. Brocketing tensions led to the creation of hostile online threads and attempts by affected listeners to tarnish Holmberg's reputation.

Notable Quotes:

• Brett: "I was kind of a voice of reason. I thought... everybody calm down. This is a problem. But it's not that bad." (01:44)
• Dick Toledo: "And I fact that whole thread is still up on the East Valley Moms Against Teen Violence Facebook page." (04:34)

3. The Controversial Email and Its Implications

A listener, initially anonymous by using a fabricated Gmail address, sent an aggressive email criticizing Holmberg. The email accused Holmberg of promoting violence against kids and contained personal attacks, including unfounded claims about Holmberg's political and religious affiliations.

Notable Quotes:

• Brett: "He emails back today. Now this was a problem." (04:51)
• Listener's Original Email Excerpt:

  "...I've never heard of you but I will be taking action for the things you're saying about harming kids... You're a Biden loving liberal... white privilege..."

4. Hosts' Reactions and Banter

The hosts express frustration and disdain towards the listener's attempts to sabotage the show. Brett and Brady engage in humorous yet biting exchanges, mocking the listener's apologies and debating the sincerity of his remorse.

Notable Quotes:

• Brett: "I did not accept his apology. Brett Crackett." (09:55)
• Brett: "I don't respect you at all. Oh my goodness." (16:11)

5. Personal Health Updates and Light-Hearted Moments

Amidst the tension, Brady shares a personal health concern regarding his recent urologist appointments and potential kidney issues. The hosts intersperse the serious topic with their characteristic humor about drinking, demonstrating their camaraderie.

Notable Quotes:

• Brady: "Checking on the kidneys for stones." (10:43)
• Brett: "You can't have drinks... I'll drink to Brady's cancer. Let's get rid of it." (11:31)

6. Final Remarks and Future Implications

As the episode progresses, the hosts discuss the potential fallout from the listener's actions, including the possibility of losing their jobs and the show's future. They reflect on the impact of online harassment and the strained relationship with their audience.

Notable Quotes:

• Brett: "Advertisers pulled the plug and... the show goes away. God knows what happens to KUPD." (13:48)
• Brett: "I am vindicated." (17:58)

7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts firmly rejecting the listener's apology and reaffirming their stance against his actions. Their unfiltered responses highlight the challenges of maintaining a morning radio show amidst personal attacks and public scrutiny.

Notable Quote:

• Brett: "I'm not Jesus. I will not forgive you." (16:25)

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Timestamps Overview:

• 00:39 – Brett discusses the influx of emails and the need to reset the morning show.
• 01:44 – Brett recounts the initial discussions about relationship breakups and host personal stories.
• 04:34 – Dick mentions the ongoing hostility on the East Valley Moms Against Teen Violence Facebook page.
• 09:55 – Brett declares he did not accept the listener's apology.
• 10:43 – Brady updates on his kidney check.
• 11:31 – Brett jokes about drinking in honor of Brady's health issues.
• 13:48 – Discussion about the potential consequences of the listener's actions on the show.
• 16:11 – Brett expresses intense frustration towards the listener.
• 16:25 – Brett makes a strong statement rejecting forgiveness.
• 17:58 – Final banter about the listener's ongoing issues.

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Conclusion:

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness provides a raw and unfiltered look into the struggles faced by radio hosts dealing with audience backlash and personal challenges. Through candid conversations and sharp wit, the hosts navigate the complexities of public relations, personal grievances, and the resilience required to maintain their platform.

Transcript

[Dick Toledo]

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[Brett]

Tuesday flying by. People are emailing like crazy. Please help me know what you're talking about. What's happening? I. I have to reset this morning. We were having a great time this morning. You have to look, you have to listen to the whole thing to follow all of it. That's why it's available on the [e-mail] and our app and I don't know however else you get it, I don't care. It's out there.

[Brady]

We'll fax you a transcript.

[Brett]

Yeah, yeah. I never understood that. Did anyone ever do when Oprah would say for transcripts of today's show, who ever got the script? But basically it started early this morning talking about winning and losing a breakup or in a relationship. Not like one of those radio things. Tell us. Well, last time, kind of an organic conversation where we found out Brady has his heart broken by a bagelman and then by a local Batman. Brady, you had no chance there.

[Brady]

Still crime fighter.

[Brett]

Yeah. And so you were low man on the totem and she left you for much better such. She won by leaving you.

[Brady]

She upgraded.

[Brett]

Yeah. Big time. Couple times. You and the bagel man were her steps to the top. And who knows where she is now. But that was pretty good. Brett, a couple moments with some drug addicts. You've won most years. Toledo's won almost all his breakups. I'm, I'm, I'm 50. 50. I'm, you know, I'm a punching Judy hitter. But I'll give you some good defense. I'm not. I'm not. I've lost a. I lost the divorce. Although, you know, I'll take it. And again, it's always a win. But I lost it. Like she ended up doing better without me than she did with me. And I, you know, it was a good battle. Like I said, I think I went the distance. But it Went to the judges and it was a pretty clear cut fight. This guy won, therefore she was. No way on that one. I mean, come on. Look. Can't compete with that. No, this dude was. He was good.

[Brady]

Yeah.

[Brett]

Toledo, though. Killer. So we're talking about that. And then this guy says, my big win was I broke up with a girl and then looked her up a few months later and she looked like she had eaten herself. Makes you feel good, Phil. That's true. When they put on tons of weight and they don't look good anymore and you'd never even consider them. That's champion. This one said I had an. This is great. Zeb says, I had an ex breakup with me. She said I was boring. Then she married a guy and like, within a year he had multiple sclerosis, got divorced from him and died of cancer. Is that a win? You're still here. So. Yeah, but then we got the email and I don't know. Should I reread this thing again just for joy? We need another beer if we're going to do that. Do you want to go grab a couple? I can just go crack a couple more just to celebrate again. Richard. Maybe Richard can play the initial story of what caused today's euphoria. And that could be good. Will you play last year's thing? Just. We'll just do it. This is last January during the Gilbert Goonery nonsense that people were attacking my take on them being overreactionary to the goon problem, that you guys had a little problem there, but you acted like you had. No one had ever had teen violence ever in the history of man. And Gilbert had lost their minds. Brady has a friend who was drugged through the mud just for knowing somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody. And it was just. It was out of control. Pitchforks and the fire is what was going on. And I was kind of a voice of reason. I thought because the media was also feeding into it, going, we've got a problem with teen violence. The Gilbert Goons KTAR was awful at that time, losing their mind.

[Brady]

Pretty relentless.

[Brett]

Oh, they want it to be bigger than it actually is. So I kind of said, everybody calm down. This is a problem. But it's not that bad. You had a couple of incidents and it seems to be launched out. So this group of ladies who I was kind of making fun of, the Gilbert moms started a Reddit page against me and encouraged people to call advertisers and try to get. Make it so I could never work again.

[Dick Toledo]

And I fact that whole thread is still up on the East Valley Moms Against Teen Violence Facebook page. That thread is there if you go back if it's still there, go back.

[Brett]

And read about it and then realize how right I was because you'll read their comments and that I don't like to be the Colin Coward of local radio. I was right.

[Dick Toledo]

I know I don't like loving the.

[Brett]

Girls boots on the yeah, because I was right. I'm 100% right of what happened played out exactly as I'd guessed and I'm wrong a lot too. But that was one I nailed. So through that thread this dude emails in last year mid January. Listen to this dude didn't leave his name again keyboard nut up. Yeah the email is a made up gmail on the spot sir it starts I do not know your show. I've never heard of you but I will be taking action for the things you're saying about harming kids. How does he know which I'm well I'm sure it went on that website. The lady told him I've been talking about beating up kids which I never have. I moved to Gilbert years ago because it was safe and now it's a crime covered mess. Just like the area you probably live in and think is great. We don't want big city issues here. We don't care if our area is diverse. You seem to think kids being beaten up regularly is part of life. Just get used to it. Let me say it isn't and that's why we're standing up protecting our area from the unwanted elements. So take this is what I got a couple to take your Biden loving liberal this is white privilege comments and keep them to yourself. I read here on this thread that you're a stern wannabe. Ready now right there. I'm like okay guys got an opinion. He thinks I didn't say certain things he's missed. He's been misled. But that's fine. I understand you want to stand up for your hood and you want to make sure you don't have crime anymore. This is where these people always lose me right there. I was fine with them up to this next line. Let me turn this up so I can get my beep right. It says here I read here that you're a stern wannabe and from the sounds of it you've nailed the liberal Jew piece of heart. Bravo sir. Going on Aisle of Garbage. You know what I'm more offended by? You think I'm a Biden supporter. That guy's an idiot. I like that Brett had his in the back when the guy called me a. And so then, so then that was a year ago. Yep, this guy went on some time. Oh by the way. Well, not yet Brett. Not yet. Damn it. I kind of. I left the air out of mine so he emails back today. Now this was a problem. Last year I had advertisers calling. What's going on? I got this group of people calling trying to get us to cancel ads and not be part of anything on this. And I'm like, he's nuts. There's some nutty people out there that think that what I said about my contrary my, my contradictory opinion about the Gilbert Coons thing has fired up this group of moms and I made fun of them and they're mad because I'm kind of right and I think, I think I'm shining a light on them being too self important for the they're bigger than the problem. They want to be the problems solution. They want to be the face of it and not actually solve it. So this morning, actually last night, 6:08pm I get this and I've read it this morning. So bear with me. All you people who enjoyed it already this morning. Just try to wipe away your tears. Yeah, and I really, I'm not going to celebrate like I did earlier. Listen to the podcast but says I'm not including my name. I'm sure after you read it you can probably go back in your archives and find it. It will then be up to you whether or not you flame me or let it go. But this is something I have to do. A little over a year ago during the Gilbert Goons hysteria, I got wrapped up in the entirety of the situation. I realized I was pretty reactionary and maybe doing it saying things I shouldn't have or at least should have thought about before hitting send. In fact, without having done this, I would have never listened to your show after I did write the letter. To refresh I'm the man who called you a poor man's Howard Stern. I believe I disparaged your Jewish faith and also called you a liberal Biden supporter. I was also far too political and tribal at the time and since then have tried to mend those heirs. This said, I am also on my Mayor Culpa tour thanks to the program. I was abusing alcohol and it was making me irrational. I did hear you flame me on the radio after my letter and then someone maybe you did a spot on impression of Howard Stern whom I lived beside the point. I'm emailing you to apologize and tell you that in order for me to advance, I need to do this to people I have wronged. You embarrassed me completely as a racist and an illogical person. And frankly, you weren't wrong. I apologize and hope you can let it go. I really want to include my name, but I don't think I'm there yet. Thank you for your time. Please accept my apology. So this morning, for those of you who are like, what's going on? That's the guy. That's the drunk that tried to get us fired. And no, I did not accept his apology. Brett Crackett. All right, so Brett and I have been drinking all morning. Salute. In honor of this jackass. And again, if you want some real fun, click on that podcast and find. Find the initial reaction. My euphoria was grand. Somewhere around 7 this morning, it's still riding high, but it's not where it was. I mean. I mean, it kind of is. I still think that Brett and I. Cracking drinks in the morning in honor of that drunken boozy's program run. Brady, you should drink too, just for fun. In honor of crushing. I can have one of those. Was it a. It's an ipa. Ipa. It's nice. Yeah. No, you're not gonna.

[Brady]

All right, I'll try.

[Brett]

No, you don't have to. I don't want to. I don't want to pressure you. You're not an alcoholic jerk who emails me. If you were, I would definitely force you to have. It's just a beer, Brady. It's not like.

[Brady]

Yeah, I know, but I. I've got a meeting with urologist at 12:45. I don't know if that'll affect it. Dr. Lynn will understand.

[Brett]

You're fine. Wait, Dr. Lynn? I went to the dentist after going to a spring train or a fall league game covered in alcohol. You can go to your urologist. You're not gonna pee on him.

[Brady]

Yeah. Hear the words you say sometimes. I mean, who talks like that?

[Brett]

98 KUPD. Holmberg's Morning Sickness. He's not gonna know there's beer.

[Brady]

He's into that, huh? Yeah, he's into that.

[Brett]

He doesn't break through.

[Brady]

It's not Dr. Lynn. It's another specialist.

[Brett]

What's going on?

[Brady]

Just a follow up from what happened.

[Brett]

Everything all right? I will find out what was going on that needed a multiple urology visit.

[Brady]

Checking on the kidneys for stones.

[Brett]

Yeah. So you got one check in and now they're. You got to go back again. Yeah, I gotta get something wasn't right. The first time.

[Brady]

No, there. There is one on an ultrasound. A thing in there that's not a stone.

[Brett]

Oh, check out. You might have a tumor. Why doesn't he teach us any of these things? Brady, tell us this. We're concerned. No.

[Brady]

No concern yet.

[Brett]

Well, sure, there's something on the ultrasound, and you got to keep going back that's concerned.

[Brady]

It's probably a hangnail.

[Brett]

Oh, Jesus. Rose colored glasses has cancer and he won't talk about it. Don't ruin my day with your cancer, for God's sake. I was having fun. I'll drink to cancer. And now my little buddy might have. I'll drink to Brady's cancer. Let's get rid of it. Brady, you have some water. Plus, I noticed you would drink a lot more of those big bottles. There's something going on.

[Brady]

Gotta drink water.

[Brett]

Everything's okay, though. You sure? Are you just that.

[Brady]

Well, we'll find that following up.

[Brett]

Are you worried?

[Brady]

No.

[Brett]

All right. Doesn't mean it's not a thing.

[Brady]

Lived a good life.

[Brett]

All right. This is one of those. Well, remember we were having so much fun this morning. And then he goes Debbie downer over here. My kidneys have tumors in them. I can't have drinks.

[Brady]

Drag the room down.

[Brett]

Jesus.

[Brady]

You know what? I'm gonna have one.

[Brett]

All right. Let's do it. Doctor says I'll explode like one of those soapy bottles if I drink too much. Were you drinking at the Phoenix Open? I didn't notice. There's Brady.

[Brady]

Look at Brady. Sure was.

[Brett]

Why not? Did you have any?

[Brady]

Yeah, I did.

[Brett]

Walked around with a full one all day just to keep people guessing I had a Peroni. Okay, well, then this isn't gonna hurt you. You're always gonna celebrate with us that this alcoholic had to email in an apology. Anyway. Just wanted to reset for the people asking what the hell happened? And then I. And then I get an email from a guy that says, of all the fun and frivolity of hate this morning, somehow you've topped it with Octopus Tracy Morgan. Is there no end to your genius? I don't know. Where does the boundary. I'm like that organic road Brady talks about. I don't know when I'm done. You heal, I heal and then grow. Yeah, Octopus Tracy Morgan might be one of my favorites, too. And it kind of got drowned out by all of these glorious hatred towards this alcoholic who I wish the worst on. And again, the reason I was wishing the worst on him is because a year ago at this time, it would have been two weeks it's 54 weeks from anniversary. Yeah, it's about. It's pretty much. He was the 23rd, I think Toledo said of January. Here we are, 54 weeks later, and had that guy got in his way and advertisers pulled the plug and. And people thought I was wrong enough to take me off the air. Brett loses his job. Brady loses his job. Toledo loses his job. I lose my job. Larry probably loses his job. The show goes away. God knows what happens to kupd because it's kind of all hinging on. There's no plan for that. So it disrupts many, many, many lives. And he would have celebrated every second of that. Of my. My downfall, of my despair. That dude would have done it.

[Brady]

He'd be doing what we're doing right now.

[Brett]

Exactly. So him. Him emailing and. No, I'm getting fired up again. Here we go again. Him emailing me this morning. Been saying, you know, please forgive me. I was in a bad spot. No, you. You tried to ruin my life, you piece of. And you're an anti Semite. That's not the iPhone.

[Brady]

That was the beer.

[Brett]

That's not the beer. I've had plenty of beer, and I've never gone. You know who to blame? The juice. I. That kid at the Phoenix Open did. I never done a Heil Hitler. After drinking that's in you, before you drink, the drinking just makes it come out.

[Brady]

No.

[Brett]

Gibson Jr. And he can't have a job anymore. So, no, I don't forgive you, and I never will. You tried to wreck lives because you disagreed with someone. Here I go again. And so what if I'm a poor man's Howard Stern? That's a fantastic compliment. The most successful man in media. Let me tell you something. I'm gonna do it again, Brady. I'm going down the road. I tell you this. Like, in other words, what you're saying is, I would have loved you to die in a gutter while I felt bad about myself. But now that I'm feeling okay, you need to forgive me. Well, I say you. I'm not in a gutter. You put me there. I got out of it because I'm healthy. You laid in the gutter, and now you lost your house. See you in Tolleson. I know you hate what you said in your email was unwanted elements, also known as blacks. And that's now where you have to live. And that's fine by me, I hope. The way Mel Gibson said, you get attacked. I'm not gonna use the words Mel used, but everybody remembers the phrase and yeah, I wish that on you, boozy. You jerk. Poor man's Howard Stern up your ass. See how easy it is to fire me up again? And look at again, I'm beaming. It's like I've had two wedding days. I'm like a blushing bride twice today. So yes, you're in the program. One of the the steps is apologizing for all the things you've done wrong. I'm not in any program. And to quote Corey Taylor, I'm not Jesus. I will not forgive you. Sorry I tried to ruin your life last year. Was the IPA talking. Anyway, Jew cocktails. You and the rest of your Jew friends can all rot in hell when I'm drunk, but when I'm sober, I realize I shouldn't do that.

[Brady]

Did I say that?

[Brett]

And you, you're a decent person if you let me off the hook. You're a jerk if you don't. Cuz I've got a problem. I don't respect you at all. Oh my goodness.

[Brady]

Oh, your counselor will tell you that some people might not forgive you.

[Brett]

I don't give a counselor tells them that or not. I'm telling them that. And I hope you have to go to a meeting later and go, hey, my name's Roger. I've been sober for 38 days. I had a problem with a radio host I disparaged last year and tried to ruin lives. Oh yeah, you sound like a real asshole. I hope they say that to you on AA today.

[Brady]

You're not the guy from Gilbert, are you? The other people in the meeting.

[Brett]

Oh, I heard that this morning. Yeah, you're that dick. Hey, get out. And by the way, Brady's friend at Total Wine has offered up a million dollar policy for you. Anytime you want to drink, drop your name and say poor man's Howard Stern. And then show your ID and Billy will get you free alcohol for the rest of your life. Cause what you need is a Dr. That's what you need more than anything in the world. I think that's right. Oops, I broke the machine. Damn it. No, that's a fact. That's not the one. That was not the sound effect. Don't worry, he's drunk. He didn't understand which one it was. Anyway, he's not awake. And by the way, don't confuse your meetings later Today you have AA at 4 and your clan meetings at 5:30. So don't go in there and say the wrong things in the wrong time or wear the wrong outfit. Anyway, that's why we were so happy this morning. It was a great thing. And that's why Brett and I are drinking. Because we can't salute. Salute. This is the best.

[Brady]

Brady's drinking, too.

[Brett]

We didn't really want to talk to you anymore. You're kind of a downer, you know, with all the cancer. Now here's where my empathy kicks in. True feelings. When you said that you have to go to the urologist to make sure. Because I know you well enough to know that you bottle things up and stuff it way down. So when the doctor told you you've got tumors in your kidneys, you just went, Nobody needs to know about that. I'll just keep coming to the doctor.

[Brady]

Doctor didn't say that.

[Brett]

And it leaks out in little ways. Got another urology appointment. Well, I know multiple urology appointments aren't good, so the good news is you've already lost your hair, so it's all gonna look the same. Yeah, I mean, it might be a nice weight loss program.

[Brady]

Got that. Looked a four, two.

[Brett]

Well, I'm hoping it's all right. What time is your urologist?

[Brady]

1245.

[Brett]

And he's gonna just check your pee and do another ultrasound.

[Brady]

This is a follow up to see.

[Brett]

If there's shade on the thing still.

[Brady]

CAT scan on.

[Brett]

Jesus, this is real.

[Brady]

Thursday, Brady.

[Brett]

This is a real thing. They don't give you CAT scans.

[Brady]

Come on, people get them all the time.

[Brett]

Brett, go give our friend a hug. I don't want to catch it.

[Brady]

Come here, little buddy.

[Brett]

Whatever's swimming around in him, I'm good. Anyway. Wow. That's not good. This guy says. Did you notice in the guy's follow up email, John, he apparently didn't apologize for saying you're a Jew even though you're not. He must have googled and saw your nose. All right, well, that's just as bad as what he wrote. Kyle.

[Brady]

I can't understand where he's coming from.

[Brett]

He does definitely look Jew. Either that or he's the spokesman for Fruit Loops. I'm not sure what he is. Well, screw you anyway. Anyway. Well, I hope Brady doesn't die, and I hope this guy does. And that's just where I live. Why does Brady get the tumors in his cancer and not boozy McBooz head? Why do we have to lose Brady? Why does this guy get to walk the earth? And Brady clearly only has a couple weeks to live? Why in the world does you still think there's a God? It's unfair. You might get some letters today. Voicemails and a voicemail, and maybe a lawyer will call, but I don't care. It. I am vindicated. We got the hot releases coming up a little bit, which Brady will do with the urologist later. It's 98 KUPD. It's out of control now. PD.