Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – 02-24-26

Episode Title: John’s Back From Eye Surgery – All The Things John Missed Like Jordan At Daytona, USA Hockey Gold And The BAFTA N*Word Blurt - John's Friend Told Him He Was Right About Mexico
Date: February 24, 2026
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo
Producer(s): 98KUPD | Hubbard Radio

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Holmberg returns to the show after recovering from eye surgery, launching straight into the typically irreverent and energetic banter. The gang unpacks all the major stories John missed while out—including Michael Jordan’s odd Daytona moment, USA Olympic hockey, the BAFTA "N-word blurt," and, in classic Holmberg style, John's controversial take on why vacationing in Mexico isn't worth the risk. The episode is packed with dark humor, pointed social commentary, and anecdotes about both personal and pop culture events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John’s Return and Michael Jordan at Daytona

Timestamp: 01:16 – 05:38

• John opens the show joking about what he missed during his absence, immediately launching into a bizarre and controversial video involving Michael Jordan at Daytona:
  • According to John, TV cameras caught Jordan jokingly (and seemingly inappropriately) roughhousing with a kid, which everyone glossed over because, well, "it’s Michael Jordan."
  • Quote: “If Kevin Spacey would have done it, he'd be in jail. […] But Michael Jordan finger kid… well, he can.” – John Holmberg (02:30)
  • The crew riffs about celebrity status, rings, and how society gives passes to icons.
  • Discussion turns to other athletes (Tom Brady, LeBron) and at what point in your career you become untouchable, blending pop culture analysis with signature HMS sarcasm.

2. The Nancy Guthrie Tucson Kidnapping Case

Timestamp: 05:39 – 08:30

• John, frustrated from a week without screens, catches up on the unsolved high-profile kidnapping in Tucson.
• He casts skepticism on media narratives and points out everyone’s tendency to quickly lose interest in once-hyped cases, just like the Ukraine/Russia war.
  • Quote: “I remember when that broke out, how many people had the Ukrainian flag […]. Nobody cares anymore.” – John Holmberg (07:18)
• The hosts note the “TikTok attention span” for ongoing crises both at home and abroad.

3. Celebrity Death GoFundMe Fatigue

Timestamp: 08:31 – 10:46

• A critical look at the recent rash of celebrity GoFundMe pages:
  • John rails against why actors like James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane are so reliant on fan charity, highlighting overall public fatigue and questioning why many don’t carry life insurance.
  • Observations abound about relative popularity as seen in donation numbers and the oddity of very wealthy people throwing in “movie promo” donations (like Spielberg).
  • Quote: “Why am I giving James Vanderbilt money to save his ranch? I need rent.” – John Holmberg (10:06)

4. Olympic Hockey and Gendered Politics

Timestamp: 10:47 – 12:21

• John celebrates the USA Men’s Olympic hockey win, discussing the “Disney ending” and Jack Hughes’s supposed gold tooth plan.
• They hover over differences between men’s and women’s sports, particularly comparing women’s hockey and the WNBA, arguing that while women’s hockey is genuinely good, the WNBA (and even a chunk of the NBA) has become hard to watch.
  • John laments the influx of “hostile act” fouls and blames the NBA’s inclusion of female referees for changing the game’s tempo and culture.
  • Quote: “Before women refereed basketball games, we didn’t have hostile acts. That’s a complete woman’s thing.” – John Holmberg (12:15)

5. Mexico Rant: Safety, Cartels & “Going Cheap”

Timestamp: 19:24 – 35:20

• A major focus is John’s argument about vacationing in Mexico—sparked by his friend’s harrowing experience stuck in a cartel-locked-down resort:
  • Explains his view that defensiveness about Mexican vacations is more about saving money than “authentic experiences.”
  • Quote: “Why do people constantly make excuses for the world's like, North America’s butthole? […] It's gross. It’s not the people and it’s not the visuals. It’s because you’re being cheap.” – John Holmberg (23:44)
  • Shares a long, often dark monologue about Mexico's ongoing violence, kidnapping stories, historical and current crime stats, and how Americans rationalize going there despite known risks.
  • Compares choosing Mexico to playing ball in the house—“it's all good till it ain't.”
  • Memorable moment:
    • “I would blow Michael Jordan every day in the month of March before I’d ever take a trip to Mexico in my lifetime.” – John Holmberg (28:59)
  • The crew jokes about property “value” there versus risk, and the absurdity of rationalizing resort lockdowns as if they’re part of the experience.

6. Brief World Travel Riffs (Colombia, Sudan, and “Warlords”)

Timestamp: 32:01 – 34:47

• John mentions other risky destinations (Colombia, Sudan), comparing them to Mexico for listeners always seeking the “next affordable, dangerous” vacation.
  • Quote: “If ‘warlord’ is in the brochure, I’m out.” – John Holmberg (33:27)
  • The crew agrees: just because a place is “visually stunning and cheap,” that doesn’t mean it’s worth the danger.

7. BAFTA Awards and Tourette’s Controversy

Timestamp: 16:25 – 19:22

• Recap of a viral, awkward BAFTA moment where a man with Tourette's shouted the N-word multiple times on stage near Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.
  • The hosts dissect the incident: was it truly unpreventable, or was there bias in who gets a pass for using racial slurs?
  • Quote: “The only pass, but it’s the only. Taught me something about Tourette’s. He didn’t yell that at Will Ferrell. He was like, oh. So it was in his brain. It was racist, and it was calculated. He just couldn’t keep it inside.” – John Holmberg (17:37)
  • Satirical take on how “the PC-ness” of certain words evaporates if there's medical excuse.

8. John’s Eye Surgery & Listener Reactions

Timestamp: 37:21 – 40:41

• John shares quick thoughts on his recent eye surgery (torn retina):
  • Frustration with listeners who think endorsements/advertisements mean those products are a cure-all (in this case, Lasik and Schwartz Laser Eye Center).
  • Sarcastically discusses the mental toll of eye injuries and catching up with how the show handled his absence (including an AI-generated obituary for John).
  • Quote: “Torn retina is horrifying. […] Nothing will F you up more mentally and physically than when your eye goes south.” – John Holmberg (38:35)

Memorable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|-------| | 02:30 | John Holmberg | "If Kevin Spacey would have done it, he'd be in jail. […] But Michael Jordan finger kid… well, he can.” | | 07:18 | John Holmberg | “I remember when that [Ukraine war] broke out, how many people had the Ukrainian flag […]. Nobody cares anymore.” | | 10:06 | John Holmberg | “Why am I giving James Vanderbilt money to save his ranch? I need rent.” | | 12:15 | John Holmberg | “Before women refereed basketball games, we didn’t have hostile acts. That’s a complete woman’s thing.” | | 23:44 | John Holmberg | “Why do people constantly make excuses for the world's like, North America’s butthole? […] It's gross. It’s not the people and it’s not the visuals. It’s because you’re being cheap.” | | 28:59 | John Holmberg | “I would blow Michael Jordan every day in the month of March before I’d ever take a trip to Mexico in my lifetime.” | | 33:27 | John Holmberg | “If ‘warlord’ is in the brochure, I’m out.” | | 38:35 | John Holmberg | “Torn retina is horrifying. […] Nothing will F you up more mentally and physically than when your eye goes south.” |

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |-----------------------------------------------------|----------|----------| | Michael Jordan at Daytona & Celebrity Privilege | 01:16 | 05:38 | | Tucson Kidnapping, Public Attention Spans | 05:39 | 08:30 | | Celebrity GoFundMes & Public Fatigue | 08:31 | 10:46 | | Olympic Hockey, Gender in Sports | 10:47 | 12:21 | | NBA Refereeing and Rule Changes | 12:22 | 16:25 | | BAFTA Incident: Tourette’s and Racial Slurs | 16:25 | 19:22 | | Mexico Vacation Rant & Listener Story | 19:24 | 35:20 | | Dangerous Travel Destinations, Warlords, Sudan Riff | 32:01 | 34:47 | | Eye Surgery, Misconceptions, Listener Antics | 37:21 | 40:41 |

Final Thoughts

This episode is classic "Holmberg's Morning Sickness," blending dark, sometimes controversial humor, pop culture, and brutal honesty about life's weirdness—both in the world and in the hosts' lives. Whether mocking Michael Jordan’s “untouchability,” fearing cheap vacations in Mexico, or dissecting the quirks of sports, the crew’s blend of banter and sharp opinion keeps things unpredictable. For longtime listeners, John’s return brings a torrent of pent-up rants and laughs; for new listeners, this is a bold taste of the show’s flavor.

Catch future episodes on 98KUPD, weekdays 5:30am–10am, or streaming at 98kupd.com.