Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Bob Marley In Studio (August 2005)

Date: February 20, 2026
Location: 98 KUPD, Arizona
Guest: Comedian Bob Marley
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo, Byron

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness features stand-up comedian Bob Marley in studio, bringing raw, rapid-fire stories about family life, parenting, childhood in Maine, and the absurdity of growing up. The team riffs along with Marley, who unleashes a torrent of vivid comedic tales ranging from dealing with kids’ TV shows to the chaotic dynamics of his own parents. The energy stays high as Marley recounts personal and relatable stories that resonate with everyone who’s struggled with parents, children, or just family weirdness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kids, Parenting, and Absurd Children's TV ([01:12]–[05:47])

• Bob Marley dives into the weirdness of children’s programming:

  • Boohbahs and Teletubbies: Marley describes the strangeness and almost hypnotic nature of kids’ shows, likening them to “dead animals on the road or a stripper that’s like 400 lbs—you gotta watch it” ([01:44], Bob Marley).
  • The “Boo” needs to be kept on in the background for background harmony among the crew ([01:19], Brady).
  • His own experience with a Boohbah toy at Christmas goes from fear to fascination ([01:25], Bob Marley).
  • Kids TV characters: “They’re like little Teletubbies without things on their head. And maybe not as gay. I don't know.” ([02:03], Bob Marley).

• Children waking you up at night:

  • Marley details being startled by his young daughter looming at his bedside at night, referencing horror movies—“She frightens me. […] What's she doing, sizing me up for the trunk or something?” ([02:28], Bob Marley).

• Childhood nostalgia and revisiting parental quirks:

  • Marley mocks the horror of sharing his parents’ bed as a child—a far cry from comfort due to worn-out nightgowns and awkward memories ([03:10]).

2. The Trauma of Kids’ Music and Cartoons ([04:07]–[05:47])

• Turning the TV channel wars of old vs. now:

  • Marley rants about losing control of his own TV and car to his kids’ shows: “You know who I’ve got a beef with? The Wiggles. I will fight every Wiggle there is.” ([04:35], Bob Marley).
  • “Mashed banana, mash banana—pound you right in the head, Wiggle, you little wiggly son of a…” ([04:45], Bob Marley).

• On dangerous car seat installation and safety compared to the loose 1970s:

  • Marley riffs on the absurd complexity of modern car seats compared to sliding around the dashboard as a child ([05:07]).
  • “She’s strapped into that car seat like Hannibal Lecter back there” ([04:54], Bob Marley).
  • Hilarious escalation: “Going two, three miles an hour in the breakdown lane with cones duct-taped to the back of the truck…but back in the day, I’d go 180 miles an hour through a school zone. There’s hookers in the backseat doing blow, Ted Kennedy’s passed out next to me wearing scuba gear.” ([05:29], Bob Marley).

3. Growing Up With a Hardass Dad ([07:09]–[11:10])

• Old school discipline:

  • Marley describes trying to switch off his dad’s TV (“60 Minutes”) to watch cartoons and his dad threatening him: “You’ll watch Scooby-Doo when you get back from the hospital.” ([07:06], Bob Marley).
  • His father’s rage is universally relatable: “My dad was one of these dads that looked like his head was going to explode…” ([07:23], Bob Marley).

• Above ground pool lore:

  • The secret sign of financial success: The Gibraltar above ground pool, complete with duct-taped warning signs (“No horseplay. No alcoholic beverages. No screwing around in general.”) ([08:13], Bob Marley).
  • Story about a neighbor diving and his dad yanking him out: “Know what’s gonna happen to you, Johnson…you’re gonna crack your head open and then you’re gonna wonder what happened.” ([08:42], Bob Marley).

• Household chores mythology:

  • Rant on proper garden hose coiling technique, modeled and taught with “the hoser hanger upper” ([09:31]).
  • Dad’s laziness: “You ever have to do stuff for your dad just because you had your shoes on?... Hey, you got your shoes on right?… Go outside and pave the driveway…” ([10:21], Bob Marley).

4. Wild Family Stories: The Bumblebee Incident ([11:10]–[15:52])

• Dad gets stung in the…
  • Over-the-top anecdote: Marley’s dad is stung by a bumblebee “in the balls,” resulting in a farcical emergency. The description is as physical as it is visual. “I was in the house, and this is what I heard: ‘Ow. Let go of me. Back off.’” ([11:10], Bob Marley).
  • His mother’s confused reaction: “I think he wants to go to the mall. He never wants to go to the mall.” ([12:05], Bob Marley).
  • The aftermath: His mother refuses to let Marley Sr. in the house “with those big balls”—out of concern for her good china ([14:18], Bob Marley).
  • The punchline: “If you died at that point, we would need two pall bearers and two ball bearers.” ([15:21], Bob Marley).

5. Telemarketer Torture and Further Parental Madness ([16:45]–[20:19])

• Marley’s pranks on telemarketers:

  • Faking chaos in the house and playing with phone scammers (“Richard, I am going to stab you in the eye!”) ([17:09], Bob Marley).
  • Reminiscing about his dad’s paranoia: thought Sears was tapping the house for a $50 pool skimmer debt and ranted on the phone ([18:15]).

• Family road trips and accidental disasters:

  • Trekking to Martha’s Vineyard, his mother’s constant “Are you hungry?” chorus, and digestive blowups (“I think some of those muffins are starting to peek out of my ass a little bit now…”) ([19:30], Bob Marley).
  • Sound effects and bodily function jokes as only Marley can deliver ([20:20]).

6. Family Legacy and Audience Rapport ([21:02]–[24:47])

• Trying to call Marley’s mom live:

  • Banter about calling his mother, concerns about revealing her number, and her schedule at the YMCA swim class ([21:41]).
  • Voicemail message: “Ma, it's me. I'm on the radio in Phoenix… We were just concerned, Marcia, if there was a muffin poking out or not.” ([22:21]–[22:39], Bob Marley, Brady).

• Reflections on family and performing:

  • Marley laughs about his mother’s attendance at the Tempe Improv, her reactions, and small-town gossip ([22:54], Bob Marley).
  • His mother’s review: “You’re up there talking about me and then you start in with the language and effin’, that’s nice… She’s doing the rosary in between.” ([23:18], Bob Marley).

• **Marley plugs upcoming shows and his website (“bmarly.com”) and jokes about potential sponsorships (“Gibraltar Pool. Yeah, I would love to do it, man.”) ([24:00], Bob Marley).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They’re like little Teletubbies without things on their head. And maybe not as gay. I don’t know...”
    – Bob Marley, [02:03]

• “She frightens me. I’m dead sick. You ever wake up in the middle of the night and your kids just standing next to the bed like Carol Ann from Poltergeist?”
    – Bob Marley, [02:28]

• “I will fight every Wiggle there is. I don’t care if that purple one knows karate. Bring it on, Jeff!”
    – Bob Marley, [04:35]

• “She’s strapped into that car seat like Hannibal Lecter back there.”
    – Bob Marley, [04:54]

• “Going two, three miles an hour in the breakdown lane with cones duct taped to the back of the truck... but back in the day, I’d go 180 miles an hour through a school zone. There’s hookers in the backseat doing blow, Ted Kennedy’s passed out next to me wearing scuba gear.”
    – Bob Marley, [05:29]

• “‘If you died at that point, we would have to have two pallbearers and two ball bearers.’”
    – Bob Marley, [15:21]

• “I think some of those muffins are starting to peek out of my ass a little bit now…”
    – Bob Marley, quoting his mother, [19:30]

• Mother’s review after his show: “You’re up there talking about me and then you start in with the language and effing—that’s nice.”
    – Bob Marley, [23:18]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• [01:12]–[02:10]: Boohbahs and kids’ TV critique
• [02:28]–[03:27]: Childhood memories of sleeping between parents
• [04:07]–[04:52]: The Wiggles and cartoon rage
• [05:07]–[05:47]: Car seat and parenting insanity
• [07:09]–[08:13]: Losing the TV remote to kids, parental discipline
• [08:13]–[09:58]: Above ground pool, poolside warnings, and neighborhood lore
• [11:10]–[15:52]: The infamous bumblebee incident
• [16:45]–[17:41]: Telemarketer prank calls
• [19:30]–[20:20]: Martha’s Vineyard, muffin disaster
• [21:02]–[22:49]: Attempt to call Marley’s mom live
• [22:54]–[23:53]: Family at the Tempe Improv
• [24:00]–[24:47]: End of show, plugs, and sponsor jokes

Tone & Style

The tone is rapid, punchy, and relatable—a blend of blue-collar family sarcasm, vivid storytelling, and self-deprecating wit. Marley’s stand-up persona shines as he transforms everyday horrors and hilarities of family into universally understood comedy, with the hosts gamely teasing, riffing, and amplifying the madness.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in high-energy, nostalgic stand-up storytelling, blending observational comedy with the chaos of real family life. Bob Marley’s outrageous stories and the crew’s spontaneous banter guarantee plenty of hard laughs for anyone who has ever dealt with parents, kids, or the bizarre detritus of American family culture. Perfect for listeners who need catharsis about their own family disasters.

For more Bob Marley:

• Tour and audio clips at bmarly.com
• Catch him this weekend at the Tempe Improv
• No spam—just laughs!