Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – Feb 25, 2026: Next Big KUPD Contest Announcement, Porkopolis Memories, and Runway Intruders

Overview

In this lively episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, John Holmberg and the crew tease the details of an exciting new KUPD contest to be unveiled at 8am, reminisce about the fate of the legendary Porkopolis BBQ spot (now a Middle Eastern/Indian restaurant), and debate the consequences for a man arrested after running onto the Sky Harbor airport runway. As always, the group’s irreverent banter, inside jokes, and pointed commentary on everything from restaurant signs to mental health and criminal justice take center stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Next Big KUPD Contest (01:08–10:23)

• Major Contest Announcement Tease: John repeatedly hypes the upcoming contest, which will be officially announced at 8:00am, calling it “one of the top fivers we've all done since I've been here for 25 plus years” (03:50).
• How to Participate: Listeners are instructed to get as many people as possible to download the KUPD app and to join text threads to enter hourly code words after 8am. “Our moron bosses just want those numbers to rise. They don't care who. They just want something.” – John (02:38)
• Corporate Radio Satire: John offers his trademark cynical humor about radio execs: “Basically, the simple, they want us to have people on the app... It's run by idiots.” (02:47)
• Hints and Speculation: The prize is described as exclusive, expensive, and usually inaccessible to everyday people. “You have to be a 1%er in the 1 percenter to get.” (04:10)
• Listener Cynicism: John preemptively addresses complaints from the audience, poking fun at those who always find criticism.
• Memorable Quote: “Anytime radio executives start saying that's a good show and it's me, I'm doing something wrong. ... That's like Jeffrey Epstein going, This is the best preschool in all the land.” – John (06:08)

2. Porkopolis’s Reincarnation & Brady’s Food Adventures (15:00– 42:05)

• Old Porkopolis Location Now Indian/Middle Eastern Restaurant: The crew notes the aging “Porkopolis” sign still stands, despite years since its closure, now replaced by a restaurant called “Bhakwani” (Bagwani), sparking jokes about ethnic spelling and cuisine. (15:30)
• Brady's Curiosity: Brady admits, “Curious to see what they...,” leading to relentless teasing for venturing into the old BBQ spot for curry and goat. (16:25)
• Cultural Satire & Irreverent Humor: The crew launches into satirical routines about the menu, decor, and their own paranoia (“too many K's and H's in it”), fusing absurdity with ethnic stereotypes, e.g., “I can tell you by the sign. It's terrible. There's too many K's in it… K's and H's next to each other.” – John (16:26)
• Goat as a Menu Item:
  • “You wouldn't know. You know, I know you don't like it because since then you've never gone home and slow roasted one. And if you liked goat, you'd make one yourself.” – John on Brady’s culinary forays (40:23)
  • “Goat. Goat with sauce. Goat hoof. Goat deep fried. And then you're like, I don't know what it is.” – John (38:26)
• Porkopolis Nostalgia & Skits:
  • Recollection of what the place “used to be,” with the crew imagining Brady revisiting as a confused customer.
  • Skits about finding bomb-making materials and inside jokes (“They make goat and bombs in the back”) delivered in character voices.
• Memorable Satirical Moment:
  • “I would love to film Brady walking around and you do thing where he's just looking up and the camera spins. It spins around you. Like carousels. Around you. You just look like you're... lost in it.” – John (22:29)

3. News: Man Runs onto Sky Harbor Runway (30:15, 42:05)

• Incident Overview: They discuss a news story in which a man was arrested after climbing a fence and running onto Sky Harbor’s runway.
• Holmberg’s Policy Proposal: John suggests that so-called “dummy crimes”—outrageous, senseless acts—should receive automatic life sentences, regardless of mental health defenses. “You go to jail forever. That's the punishment.” (31:32)
• Hostile Act Theory: John ties the lack of accountability in society, including the criminal justice system, to broader cultural shifts—deriding both wokeness and lack of consequences for bizarre behavior.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Dummy crimes are life sentence. And that's a dummy crime.” – John (31:46)
  • “I'm tired of being nice to that. That's enough. It's an excuse. Now we've abused it.” – John on mental health defenses (34:10)
  • “You don't climb fences at airports. Immediately should just laser that dude. Like, whatever, anything. Just obliterate him. Him. No funeral, no car wash to raise money for his pine casket. He's out. You're done.” (42:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That's like Jeffrey Epstein going, 'This is the best preschool in all the land.' It's like, oh my God, you don't want to be on that one.” – John Holmberg, 06:08
• “Our moron bosses just want those numbers to rise. They don't care who. They just want something.” – John, 02:38
• “You have to be a 1%er in the 1 percenter to get.” – John, 04:10
• “K's and H's next to each other. I'm out!” – John, 16:33
• “Goat. Goat with sauce. Goat hoof. Goat deep fried. And then you're like, I don't know what it is.” – John, 38:26
• “Dummy crimes are life sentence. And that's a dummy crime.” – John, 31:46

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Contest Announcement Build-up: 01:08–10:23
• Porkopolis Site & Restaurant Talk: 15:00–42:05
  • Nostalgic reminiscing and skits: 17:01–25:00
  • Menu discoveries (goat, noodles, etc.): 37:37–41:18
• Sky Harbor Runway Story & Criminal Justice Discussion: 30:15; picks up again at 42:05

Tone and Language

The episode is packed with punchy, playful sarcasm and biting wit, often veering into edgy humor and rapid-fire roast-style exchanges between the hosts. Cultural satire and inside jokes are present throughout, but the group’s camaraderie and rhythm keep the tone lively and unmistakably “HMS.”

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

• Expect a fun, freewheeling hour heavy on the inside jokes and Arizona regional flavor.
• The new KUPD contest announcement is the main event—details and instructions revolve around boosting app downloads and community engagement, but the exact prize remains a secret until 8am.
• Fans of the show’s irreverent humor will enjoy the extended riffing on the fate of Porkopolis and the absurdities of both restaurant branding and criminal sentencing.
• The episode is a great example of Holmberg’s blend of radio “old school” cynicism mixed with quick-witted improvisation and interactive listener engagement.

Note: All timestamps in MM:SS format based on transcript start.