Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona

Episode: 02-24-26 - John's Getting Annoyed By His Eye Patch - Moving Company Guys Rescue Amber Alert Toddler From Kidnapper - Rape Accusations Leveled In Top Model Documentary

Date: February 24, 2026
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness mixes signature humor with topical discussions about John's ongoing eye patch woes, a remarkable real-life Amber Alert rescue, reflections on reward systems for missing people, and a candid conversation about the portrayal of sexual assault in classic films and reality TV—prompted by a new documentary about America’s Next Top Model. Throughout, the hosts riff, joke, and dig into uncomfortable cultural moments, keeping things engaging for both loyal and casual listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John’s Eye Patch Adventures

• John discusses his frustration with the eye patch he’s wearing post-surgery and the surprising challenges of getting it to stick to his face.
• He muses about women’s ability to glue things to their faces (re: makeup and beauty routines), expressing newfound respect:
  • Quote: “Here’s another thing, ladies. I have more respect for you and your abilities to glue stuff to your face to not be ugly. Oops, sorry. To glue stuff to your face, not be ugly...” — John, (01:08)
• Describes fumbling with the medical adhesive and weighing the pros and cons of switching to a pirate-style patch for practicality and humor:
  • “Look at this mess that I’ve got on my head.” — John, (01:44)
• The group riffs about pirate patches vs. medical patches, comparing the “Days of Our Lives” aesthetic to novelty items:
  • Quote: “The pirate thing is very Days of Our Lives. It’s kind of almost like I’m trying to be a character, but I have not—not thought about...” — John, (03:18)

2. Amber Alert Success Story & Reward Talk

• John recounts how a moving company crew helped rescue a kidnapped toddler after spotting them during an Amber Alert.
• Shares his own reaction to Amber Alerts and how most people dismiss them until an actual rescue occurs:
  • Quote: “I thought I’d turned those off. I don’t care about anybody missing. Didn’t. So this amber alert goes off... I dismiss it like all the rest of us did.” — John, (04:16)
• Breaks down the details: moving company workers matched a real-life scene to the Amber Alert and intervened.
• The gang jokes about how Amber Alert rewards should work and contrast them to Old West “dead or alive” posters and modern criminal bounties:
  • Quote: “You don’t want to go old west Tombstone on this... does the poster say dead or alive? Because otherwise, I’m not looking.” — John, (06:02)
• Humorous debate about whether you’d get partial reward money if you found a missing person deceased, and how motivation might shift based on payout:
  • “If I also find her kind of in a decomposing condition in a bush somewhere, I get half, right?” — John, (08:44)

3. Reality TV Dramas & Sexual Assault Narrative

• Discussion turns to the recent documentary revisiting America’s Next Top Model, revealing a case of sexual assault on the show.
• John critically compares notable problematic scenes in ’80s teen movies (Revenge of the Nerds, Sixteen Candles) with how reality TV has filmed and handled potential sexual assault:
  • Quote: “The 80s were loaded with them [rape scenes], and they’re classics... The Revenge of the Nerds rape scene doesn’t age well.” — John, (19:11)
• Talks about how old films normalized bad behavior and how modern scrutiny is exposing those issues.
• On America’s Next Top Model, John describes a contestant’s assault and the aftermath, including media and production responsibility:
  • Quote: “A girl got drunk in a hot tub... she started making out with [male models]... the cameraman filmed the whole rape... and then they, like, cut it up and aired it.” — John, (20:33)
• Group contemplates where responsibility lies—in production, the participant, or the culture at large.

4. Contest Tease & Listener Engagement

• John hints at a big contest announcement coming the next morning (at 7:00am). He urges listeners to download the app and get friends/family involved for a better chance at winning.
  • Quote: “This is going to be amazing. Brett, trust me, this is worth it. So, you know, wake the kids, phone the neighbors. This is a worthwhile deal.” — John, (13:55; 14:30)
• Explains how listener participation impacts radio metrics and why they run these promotions.
• Encourages coordination—enlist people to join, send codewords, and increase odds of winning, with plenty of tongue-in-cheek encouragement to “nag Nancy Guthrie” for more entries.

5. Remembering Robert Carradine & 80s Movie Legacies

• Briefly notes the passing of Robert Carradine (Lewis from Revenge of the Nerds), reflecting on his legacy and the odd focus on his later roles (e.g., Lizzie McGuire).
• Uses his character’s story arc to segue into the discussion of problematic comedy and “lessons” taught by 80s films.
• Quote: “Louis Skolnick is a legend and absolutely—in a disguise and raping the prom queen. And he did it and cheered, yay. And we were in the theater going, ‘he got her’... It’s a horrible scene. It does not age well.” — John, (18:40)

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Here’s another thing, ladies. I have more respect for you and your abilities to glue stuff to your face to not be ugly. Oops, sorry.” — John, (01:08)
• “The pirate thing is very Days of Our Lives. It’s kind of almost like I’m trying to be a character...” — John, (03:18)
• “I thought I’d turned those [Amber Alerts] off. I don’t care about anybody missing.” — John, (04:16)
• “Does the poster say dead or alive? Because otherwise, I’m not looking.” — John, (06:02)
• “If I also find her kind of in a decomposing condition in a bush somewhere, I get half, right?” — John, (08:44)
• “The 80s were loaded with them [rape scenes], and they’re classics... The Revenge of the Nerds rape scene doesn’t age well.” — John, (19:11)
• “A girl got drunk in a hot tub... the cameraman filmed the whole rape... then they, like, cut it up and aired it.” — John, (20:33)
• “Wake the kids, phone the neighbors. This is a worthwhile deal.” — John, (14:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Eye Patch Fiasco & Beauty Rituals: (01:08–04:06)
• Amber Alert Rescue & Reward Satire: (04:16–10:03)
• Contest Announcement Tease: (12:08–16:19)
• Robert Carradine Discussion & 80s Comedy Reflection: (17:19–19:11)
• America’s Next Top Model Documentary & Cultural Reckoning: (19:11–23:14)

Takeaways for Listeners

• The crew combines irreverent humor with sharp observations about everything from personal health struggles to disturbing cultural history on TV.
• John’s annoyance with his eye patch becomes a launching pad for broader social commentary, as does the conversation about missing persons and public reward systems.
• The episode boldly tackles difficult subjects around media, victimhood, and the normalization of sexual assault in pop culture—balancing uncomfortable truths with signature HMS irreverence.
• Fans are strongly encouraged to tune in for the next episode to catch the big contest reveal and increase their chances by enlisting friends and family.

For full hilarity and candid cultural critique, catch the full episode or check back tomorrow at 7:00am for the big contest reveal.