02-18-26 - The Island Of Dead Celebs Listener Conspiracy Theory - BO

Summary

Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – "The Island Of Dead Celebs Listener Conspiracy Theory – BO"

Date: February 18, 2026
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Listeners/Callers: Paul, Tim, Chris
Station: 98 KUPD, Arizona

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Episode Overview

The episode centers around a humorous and satirical discussion inspired by a listener's conspiracy theory that famous musicians and celebrities aren't actually dead, but instead are living secretly on an exotic island together. The hosts engage callers, riff on the outlandish idea, and continually escalate the absurdity by imagining the logistics and resident list of this so-called "Island of Dead Celebrities."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction of the Listener Conspiracy Theory

• [01:10] Caller “Paul” introduces the idea that stars like Tupac and Biggie are alive and hiding on a tropical island, continuing to make music away from the public eye.
• Holmberg and the team immediately recognize the entertaining potential and gently mock the concept, framing it as a tabloid fantasy.

Notable Quote:

"I can almost guarantee that people like Tupac and Biggie... are probably on some tropical island with their money and still popping out music left and right." – Paul (01:31)

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2. Debating the Feasibility and Logic of the “Dead Celebs Island”

• [02:05] Holmberg asks why stars would need an island and not just hide somewhere less conspicuous, like in the U.S.
• Paul asserts that these celebrities’ fame is too big for any normal place; hence the need for an isolated location.
• The crew jokes about who else might be there: Elvis, Waylon Jennings, Aaliyah, and more.
• Paul shares an irrelevant anecdote about having met Waylon Jennings’ mother-in-law at the airport, which further derails his credibility.

Notable Exchange:

A: "Why wouldn't it just be, like, Florida or Georgia or something?" (02:36)
D: "Everybody knows them around in this area... Montana, Canada, there's some up there in that area." (02:41)

• Holmberg calls out Paul's loose logic, branding it "the rantings of a lunatic."

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3. Taking the Concept to Comedy Heights

• The hosts and show regulars embrace the idea full-tilt:
  • Imagining odd jobs for deceased celebrities: Rock Hudson running a resort, Bruce and Brandon Lee with a dry cleaning business, Payne Stewart playing golf.
  • A recurring joke of John Denver constantly flying a plane around the island.

Memorable Montage:

"It's the most star studded island of late superstars ever. You want dry cleaning, you fight for it." – John Holmberg (05:01)

• They riff on life at the island: Mama Cass’s Chicken Shack, John Denver’s sky banners, and Nicole Brown Simpson being alive on the island.

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4. Callers Join the Farce

• [06:16] “Tim” continues the fiction, saying Elvis started the island and Jim Morrison’s arrival led things to go "to hell."
• The hosts joke about Elvis being a barber in Memphis and how some conspiracy theorists genuinely believe such stories.
• The difference between how the public treats the deaths of celebrities versus ordinary people is examined humorously.

Notable Quote:

"Everybody who's got the conspiracy theory, especially about Elvis, who was like 85, if he's still alive, he's a barber somewhere in Memphis, and nobody can pick up on it." – John Holmberg (06:47)

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5. “Celebrity Only” Entrance Policy

• [11:56] Caller "Chris" asks about which other celebrities could “run businesses” on the Island, e.g., JFK Jr. teaching scuba, Sonny Bono running a ski resort.
• Discussion of the “application process” for entry: must be a celebrity, Pauly Shore not allowed despite his career being "dead."

Notable Quote:

"You gotta fake your own death. But first you must be a celebrity, because as we know, only celebrities fake their death." – John Holmberg (12:16)
"Pauly Shore is famous by default. It's an accident. So he's not allowed on the island." – John Holmberg (12:27)

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6. Satirizing Conspiracy Theories and Public Fascination

• The hosts note the uniquely American fixation with believing celebrities somehow cheat death, referencing how nobody suspects their own grandma of faking her death.
• They expand on how television fantasy may fuel these beliefs.

Discussion Point:

"I don't understand the theory that people think celebrities never die. They go to this mysterious island. ... If grandma dies, nobody ever goes, I think Grandma faked it. She's on an island somewhere." – John Holmberg (10:51)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Anything is possible in the day and age anymore. If somebody says, hey, I can make you die for $50,000, anybody could do it." – Paul (02:11)
• "It's dead Fantasy Island. I love this. Tupac and Biggie just sitting on the beach sipping Mai Tais. Ain't it great being dead?" – John Holmberg (05:14)
• "Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can't you see? Why is this island so funny to me?" – John Holmberg (09:09)
• "It's just our fantasy TV has screwed us all up... No one ever said, Lincoln's not dead. Lincoln's out there on the island." – John Holmberg (11:12)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10 – 02:54: Introduction of Paul’s conspiracy theory & initial debate
• 04:00 – 05:24: Hosts riff on celebrity jobs and daily island life
• 06:16 – 07:25: “Tim” calls in; hosts discuss celebrity afterlife logistics
• 11:56 – 12:39: “Chris” calls in; expansion of island mythos and entry requirements
• 10:51 – 11:20: Commentary on society's obsession with celebrity conspiracies

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode is a mix of playful skepticism, satire, and improvisational comedy. Holmberg and his crew delight in pushing the "celebrity island" theory to absurd extremes, highlighting the silliness of conspiracy thinking—especially as it relates to celebrity deaths—while also poking fun at public gullibility and the enduring allure of urban legends.

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For listeners:
The episode is a lighthearted deconstruction of how celebrity deaths are mythologized, featuring rapid-fire jokes, creative scenarios, and listener participation. It's an energetic piece that satirizes both conspiracy theories and the sometimes bizarre relationship between fans and fame.

Transcript

[John Holmberg]

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[Doug Hopkins]

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[John Holmberg]

The best of Holmberg's morning sickness. 98 KUPD appear in the Morning Sickness. Have a conspiracy theorist on the line. I believe it's Oliver Stone. Hi there. What's your name?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

My name is Paul.

[John Holmberg]

Paul. Now you think that the dead bodies of rock stars, you believe the conspiracy that Jared could actually be the guy from Subway or could actually be guaranteed that?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Because I don't exactly know. So I can almost guarantee that people like Tupac and Biggie, Notorious B.I.G. is probably on some tropical island with their money and still popping out music left and right and not have to worry about all the drama and all the BS that's going up here, going along up here in the United States.

[John Holmberg]

Why?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Well, I mean, you know, you get a couple number one hits, you know, that's like number one heartbreaker, and you start getting millions of dollars and then you go, okay, well, I want to take a break, but I still want to pop out music. Why not? Why wouldn't you? You got the money, you can do it.

[John Holmberg]

So you think there's like an island of misfit toys for rappers where they just go, no, you know what?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Anything is possible in the day and age anymore. I mean, if somebody says, hey, I can make you die for $50,000, anybody could do it.

[John Holmberg]

Why. But I don't understand. They secret. You're saying that. Who else is on this island?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Who knows? It could be any island where they're not even recognized. They don't. Nobody knows who they are. It could be something like the Bahamas or Jamaican islands.

[John Holmberg]

Why wouldn't it just be like Florida or Georgia or something? Why can't they do. Why do they have to go to some mysterious island?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Because that's. Well, everybody knows them around in this area. You know, when you start getting chart breakers here in the United States, everybody knows you no matter where you go. Montana, Canada, there's some up there in that area.

[John Holmberg]

All right, Bo, I will tell you the only reason I think that Tupac would do this. I think everyone else is dead. So he doesn't want to get shot. I think Biggie's dead. I think Elvis is dead. I think they're all dead. Tupac was involved in very heated east coast, west coast rivalry. He was a gangster and he wanted. He knew that he. He was pinned, basically. And so he just wanted to fake his own death, get out of it. And that's why we still have music from sir, who else is alive that you know? Because this is like an Inquirer story. I'm going to steal and sell.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Inquirer story. Well, I don't know about Elvis because he died the same year I was born. So.

[John Holmberg]

So wait a minute. It all revolves around the year of your birth.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

No, I'm just saying. I don't know. I can't. I can't speak for Elvis, but I know in the last couple of them here, in the last four or five years, it's probably possible.

[John Holmberg]

So you think Waylon is out on an island somewhere?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

I can't exactly say about Waylon because I have. So I really don't know because you haven't.

[John Holmberg]

You haven't met the guy. You've met Tupac and Biggie?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

No, I've met Waylon.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, you have met Waylon?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

I have met Waylon when I used to work at the Phoenix Sky Airport.

[John Holmberg]

Okay.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

I had his mother in law in a wheelchair.

[John Holmberg]

So what does that mean? Okay, so wait a minute. Is Aaliyah. Wait, hold on. Did you just say you had Waylon Jennings mother in a wheelchair?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Yeah, mother in law.

[John Holmberg]

And does that mean what it sounds like, that you actually had Waylon Jennings mother? In a wheelchair.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

No. Okay, like that.

[John Holmberg]

Okay, good. Because you're making me sick. And this is. No, this is the rantings of a lunatic at this point. Well, thank you very much for your conspiracy theories. And if you find this island, call me because it would sounds wonderful and the music would be great.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

If I could, I would.

[Co-host/Producer]

It's an island in the Fiji islands, probably. And they're staying at a resort that Rock Hudson runs.

[John Holmberg]

It's the island of the dead.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

And it could be one of those ones where Lee is down there too. Who knows? Anything, anything's possible.

[John Holmberg]

Payne Stewart maybe playing some golf on the island.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Yeah, exactly.

[Co-host/Producer]

The Bell boys, Bruce Lee.

[John Holmberg]

Sure, you got a whole bunch of them out there. Nicole, she never even got iced by oj. That's why he's so up. She owned an island. That should have been his defense. You should have been OJ's lawyer.

[Co-host/Producer]

The Lee family, Brandon and Bruce have a dry cleaning business down there.

[John Holmberg]

It's the most star studded island of late superstars ever. You want dry cleaning, you fight for it. I don't understand.

[Co-host/Producer]

Tattoos down there welcoming everybody.

[John Holmberg]

It's dead Fantasy Island. I love this. Tupac and Biggie just sitting on the beach sipping Mai Tais. Ain't it great being dead? We got the world food.

[Co-host/Producer]

There's a guy flying a two passenger plane with a banner. It's John Denver going around like free.

[John Holmberg]

It's the best of Homburg's morning sickness. John Denver is flying the plane again.

[Co-host/Producer]

Thank God I'm a country boy.

[John Holmberg]

The island of dead superstars. Denver is flying the plane. We got a guy here on. Oh, now stop it.

[Co-host/Producer]

Oh my gosh.

[John Holmberg]

See, but my proof is tonight, the screen of Queen. Yeah, dead John Denver jokes, five years old. And we're going in the. The funny thing is that we're talking about it tonight. We're doing a screening for a movie with Aaliyah in it. Oh, yeah, right. More point to this guy's island of superstars who fake their death.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yeah, some guy's gonna call up. Yeah, I was on the set on the finishing of the film and she was there after that crash.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, who's this?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Hey, this is Tim.

[John Holmberg]

Tim, turn your radio down just a little bit. What's up, man?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Hey, I was just tooling along here in my automobile and I hear some guys talking about an island. With what? Misfit rockers and bad boy rappers, Right? Yeah, I've been there.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, really? Have you?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Elvis started that island.

[John Holmberg]

Well, he was lonely for a long time until all the rash of killing started to allegedly happen.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

That's right. Jim Morrison showed up and place went to hell.

[John Holmberg]

But Jimmy, where were they all going before Elvis started the island, is my question.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

They're just floating around aimlessly out there.

[John Holmberg]

Because that's my favorite thing about that. Everybody who's got the conspiracy theory, especially about Elvis, who was like 85, if he's still alive, he's a barber somewhere in Memphis, and nobody can pick up on it. Like he needed a second job. It's, oh, this mother ran out a lot faster than I thought it was gonna. He needed to pat his wallet.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

The guy who called was so convinced that, you know, I mean, he's believing it.

[Co-host/Producer]

He was convinced.

[John Holmberg]

He was convinced. I know. It's. It's scary.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Yeah, well, you know, everybody's got an opinion, and we know what to say about that.

[John Holmberg]

Do you exactly. Do you. Do you believe in the island of misfit rockers and bad boy rappers?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

No, I don't.

[John Holmberg]

Okay, good. You're one of us. You can stay. Yeah, we'll talk to you later, man.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Take care, man.

[John Holmberg]

You too. See ya.

[Co-host/Producer]

I just thought, probably on that island there's a good Mama Cass's Chicken Shack or something like that.

[John Holmberg]

Just go through the whole list. I still like John Denver's banner plans, Brady. I think that was the highlight of my day. Come on in. Hey. Silva's here from the island. We're out of otter pops. Can someone who's delivering, who's doing the deliveries to the island, is what I want to know is. We got people that, you know, have to get them food. Unless Elvis is out there like Tom Hanks from Castaway. I got another fishy Biggie. It's your turn. And he's out there just hunting. There's John Denver. What's today's special?

[Co-host/Producer]

It's now a coup. They're Liberty.

[John Holmberg]

Did you just shoot John Denver? They're Liberty Fighters. You did. You shot him out of the sky accidentally. Maybe that's what happened. New conspiracy. Have they ever found his head? No, they never did. It's on the island of Misfit, Superstar rocker heads that lived. It's Metallica here, stone cold crazy. Which as you are, if you believe the island theory, it's the last of Homburg's Morning sickness on 98 KUPD. 98 KUPD. Oh, my God. No, that's a helicopter. Here comes John again. Now, what were you intending to do originally? I was intending to. There you go. But you shot him out of the sky first. Which, yeah, Everybody's got the island identity, hates John Denver. Even dead, even on the island, John Denver's not cool.

[Co-host/Producer]

Some of the things activities you can do is skeet shooting.

[John Holmberg]

Hey, Tupac, take out John Denver again this friggin thing.

[Co-host/Producer]

Uh huh huh.

[John Holmberg]

Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can't you see? Why is this island so funny to me? This is the concept of people actually buying into this crap. Boss, here comes the plane. Oh, no, it's okay. Tattoo. It is the island of fame, where everyone lives forever. Okay, good, boss. Cause John Denver can't fly. We need a new pilot. Here's Payne Stewart. He will fly our planes. Don't shoot Payne down. That's just not right. Thank you. Payne made it. Payne's virgin flight is a success. Nice.

[Co-host/Producer]

Okay, anyway, I thought, man, there goes the Challenger, you know. Next thing you know, it's like unbelievable.

[John Holmberg]

Don't do the Challenger. He's a king with the sound effects. It's just ridiculously stupid, but funny. And the fact that that guy called up and bought into the whole thing. I totally believe in the island.

[Co-host/Producer]

He's into it.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. And you just hear in the background, just sit right back in o' hara till. Oh, okay, I see. He believes that. Unbelievable. Anyway, so Bobo's entertainment drill that's coming up in just seconds and hopefully more news about stars who pass away and go to this mysterious island. Why do people think I do have one that's soon to go to the Island? It's. It's so weird the way people treat celebrities. Because even just the other night, we're watching flipping around on HBO and Janet Jackson's concerts on, and Geneva is sitting on the couch with me, and she goes, you know, she had AB implants. And I thought, why would you ever think that? Why would someone get ab. And then we told Bo and he's nodding yes, you would have to work twice as hard to make the implants look good.

[Co-host/Producer]

I think it's so she can play the washboard.

[John Holmberg]

On her stomach. I see. I don't think they have to work hard because they have the money. They can just keep buying their bodies. But see, I don't understand the theory that people think celebrities never die. They go to this mysterious island. It's always a conspiracy. If they're. If grandma dies, nobody ever goes, I think Grandma faked it. She's on an island somewhere. Rich grandmas die. Rich celebrities go to the island.

[Co-host/Producer]

Right?

[John Holmberg]

It's just our fantasy TV has screwed us all up because back in the old days, nobody ever said, Lincoln's not dead. Lincoln's out there on the Island. What are you talking.

[Co-host/Producer]

Someone's right now writing a screenplay for.

[John Holmberg]

This the island starring Ben Vereen as.

[Co-host/Producer]

Based on a true story.

[John Holmberg]

Ben Vereen just saved money. He just put him in a fat suit. He's big, he's small. So you put a bullet hole in him. He's Tupac. It's okay. Tupac, I would believe, is still alive because the guy has got, like, 32 bullet wounds and he lived for, like, four days. Exactly. That was surprising. But I don't think anybody's alive. You keep it right here in the island of Misfit toys. It's 98 KUPD. It's the best of Homburg's morning sickness. 98 KUPD. We got a guy in the line who wants to close out our island of fame with one comment. Hi, there. Who's this?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

This is Chris.

[John Holmberg]

Chris, what do you got?

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Hey, I was wondering, since John Denver had the pilots thing locked up, if Kennedy Jr. Is given the scuba lesson.

[John Holmberg]

And then, you know, I had to.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Know if son Bono was running the ski resort up there.

[John Holmberg]

Sure he is. It's a natch.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Yeah.

[John Holmberg]

What about.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

Hey, if Savannah is in charge of entertainment, is there any way I could go?

[John Holmberg]

Well, you gotta fake your own death. But first you must be a celebrity, because as we know, only celebrities fake their death.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

What about since Pauly Shore's career is dead and he had an intimate relationship with Savannah, does he get to go down there every once in a while? No.

[John Holmberg]

See, they do discriminate. You have to be famous. Yeah, yeah. That's the thing right there. Pauly Shore. Yeah. You either have to be famous or funny. Either one. Pauly Shore is famous by default. It's an accident. So he's not allowed on the island.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

He's definitely dead, though.

[John Holmberg]

He's been dead for a long time. It was proof when he came in here and sat with us and almost started crying. Yeah. Pretty much brought him to tears without trying. We weren't really even being mean, and he was upset, so he knows deep down inside. Nice job, man. Yeah, that JFK Scuba school. That's a good idea. Nice job. We'll talk to you later. All right, man. We'll see you, bud. Very nicely done. There's so many celebrities the plain splashing will work for. I never realized that you guys feel on John, Johnny Denver, Buddy Holly, maybe. It's just a big pilot school down there. It's just a big airline. Classes. Thurman Munson, 98.

[Caller (Paul/Tim/Chris)]

It's out of control Now.

[John Holmberg]

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[Doug Hopkins]

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[John Holmberg]

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