Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD)

Episode: 02-23-26 - BBTL - Break 4 - Brady Report - Larry's Cake Mix Story

Date: February 23, 2026
Host & Cast: John Holmberg (absent this segment), Brady Bogen, Larry, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo
Theme: News, odd Arizona stories, and “remember when” banter, featuring the Brady Report and Larry’s infamous cake mix story

Episode Overview

In this classic “Brady Report” segment of Holmberg's Morning Sickness, the crew delivers their signature mix of Arizona news, peculiar fun facts, and irreverent banter. Larry steps in for John Holmberg, and the team discusses everything from local lottery controversy to classic snack foods and viral animal tales. Larry also shares his unforgettable story about being accused of cocaine possession in his school days because of a bag of cake mix. Their playful, snarky tone, spontaneous humor, and the recurring “what’s wrong with you?” motif are felt throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nostalgia & Venues of the Past

• [01:20–02:12] Larry reminisces about a “Perfect Circle” concert at Club Rio, and the group recalls canceled Rammstein shows and the legendary Bennigan’s restaurant.
  • Quote: “Remember when? This is the remember when conversation. And as they say on the Sopranos, remember when is the worst form of conversation.” — Larry (01:55)
• Lively banter about long-gone venues and favorite sandwiches creates a relatable segment for Phoenix locals.

2. Brady Report – Local News and Fun Facts

Shade Solutions

• Brady plugs "All Pro Shades" as his go-to for heat relief in Arizona summers.
  • “25 footer in my house...added about 200 square feet of extra shade to my back patio. Game changer.” — Brady (02:46)
  • Casual, endorsement-style chat with Larry marveling at 20-degree cooler patios.

National Food Days and Fun Facts

• [03:36–04:28] The team celebrates National Tootsie Roll Day and Banana Bread Day, sharing personal snack preferences and fun facts, including:
  • Voices of Mickey & Minnie Mouse were married in real life.
  • Praying mantises are the only animals with one ear.
• Light teasing about Brady’s hearing issues and topical jokes follow.

Offbeat Historical Fact

• [05:04–05:21] Brady offers an unexpected fact: “One of the first legal slave owners in America was Anthony Johnson, a black man in the 1600s...”
• The topic is met with a brief, awkward silence then deflected with cigarette brand jokes.

3. Arizona Lottery Controversy

• [05:28–08:08] Brady details a legal tangle:
  • A customer ordered 85 tickets at a Circle K in Scottsdale but only paid for 60. The remaining 25 unsold tickets stayed at the store. Later, the manager bought those unsold tickets—and one was a $12.8 million winner.
  • Now, a court battle rages between Circle K and the manager over ownership.
• The crew jokes about what they’d do with the winnings.
  • Quote: “What would you do with $12.8 million, Brad?” — Larry (07:57)
  • Quote: “You guys wouldn’t know because you’d never hear from me again.” — Brett Vesely (08:04)

4. Tech & Online Privacy

• [08:15–09:10] Microsoft Teams’ new feature to reveal an employee’s real-time location at work prompts jokes about VPNs and—true to the show’s form—ways to access adult content at work.
  • “A lot of porn is on Reddit...Just Google what you want and type [Reddit].” — Larry (08:59)

5. Offbeat Headlines

Retiring Mascots

• [09:19–10:12] Mr. Clean is “retiring” after 68 years; the group recalls other mascot “deaths” like Mr. Peanut.
  • “Are they gonna put John Holmberg on the Mr. Clean bottle? He could do it. He looks like Mr. Clean sometimes.” — Larry (10:12)

Russia-Ukraine War

• “A Russian missile took out an Oreo factory in Ukraine.” — Brady (10:30)
  • Delivered deadpan with no deeper political commentary, in line with their usual light but dark humor.

Chinese Escalator Innovation

• [12:35–13:40]
  • Largest escalator in Chongqing, China—half a mile long! The gang debates whether they’d pay to ride it.
  • “I don’t need to go anywhere that bad. Screw that.” — Brett Vesely (13:25)
  • “But you’d ride it for a nickel.” — Brady (13:28)

6. Viral Animal Stories

• [16:27–18:19] “Punch” the macaque monkey in Japan goes viral for dragging a stuffed orangutan doll, with IKEA donating more stuffed animals to help.
  • The group is both amused and moved by the story of animal coping and generosity.
  • “There’s Punch with monkey.” — Brady (17:51)

7. Larry's Cake Mix Story

[14:37–16:19]

• Larry hilariously recounts being accused of bringing cocaine to grade school after students and staff misidentified his bag of yellow cake mix:
  • “They came to my locker, opened it up, tested it...you know how much cocaine that would have to be?” — Larry (14:58)
  • “The question is, why did I bring cake powder to school?” — Larry (15:33)
  • Turns out it was for home ec class—a classic misadventure from Larry’s youth.

8. Teachers Behaving Badly

• [13:40–14:37] Story of a Wisconsin elementary school teacher found using cocaine at school thanks to suspicious behavior and telltale signs in the restroom.

9. Public Transit Etiquette

• [18:32–18:52] Louisiana’s DOTD runs an ad telling people not to poop on city buses, to widespread mockery and disbelief on the show.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On nostalgia:
  • “Remember when is the worst form of conversation.” — Larry (01:55)
• On Arizona property improvements:
  • “It added about 200 square feet of extra shade to my back patio.” — Brady (02:46)
• Lottery controversy:
  • “I’d just finish my shift, take off my uniform, come back, and buy the other remaining tickets.” — Brady (06:54)
  • “What would you do with 12.8 million, Brad?” — Larry (07:57)
  • “You guys wouldn’t know because you’d never hear from me again.” — Brett Vesely (08:04)
• On finding adult content:
  • “A lot of porn is on Reddit.” — Larry (08:59)
• On childhood misadventures:
  • “They came to my locker, opened it up, tested it...that’s cake batter.” — Larry (15:58, 16:12)
• Public transit PSA:
  • “You really gotta say that to people? You can’t poop on the bus.” — Larry (18:42–18:50)

Timestamps to Important Segments

• [01:20] - “Remember when” banter: concerts, Club Rio, Bennigan’s.
• [03:36] - Brady Report: Food holidays, fun facts, Mickey & Minnie, praying mantis trivia.
• [05:28] - Arizona Lottery controversy story begins.
• [08:15] - Microsoft Teams location-tracking & VPN humor.
• [09:19] - Mr. Clean “retires,” mascot memories.
• [10:30] - Oreo factory missile strike in Ukraine.
• [12:35] - Chongqing escalator story.
• [13:40] - Teacher arrested for cocaine use in school.
• [14:37] - Larry’s cake mix/cocaine locker story.
• [16:27] - Viral “Punch the monkey” animal tale.
• [18:32] - Louisiana's no-pooping-on-the-bus ad is mocked.

Tone & Final Notes

This episode is packed with the Morning Sickness’ signature sarcastic, irreverent, and offbeat comedy. Banter flows easily between actual news items, oddball facts, local color, and goofy, personal misadventures. The environment is relaxed and collegial, perfect for regular listeners and easily accessible for newcomers.

For those who may have missed it:

• Expect classic Arizona nostalgia, bizarre headlines, some adult themes, and the always-memorable story of a middle schooler mistakenly branded a cocaine dealer—all washed down with the show’s tongue-in-cheek, “did we really just say that?” humor.