Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona: Episode Summary (08-08-25)
Release Date: August 8, 2025
1. Introduction and Upcoming Celebrations
John Holmberg kicks off the episode with a warm welcome, reflecting on recent events and upcoming celebrations:
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Brett Vesely's Birthday: John mentions Brett's recent birthday and the plans for a belated celebration.
“Belated birthday for me. And Toledo will be there as well. Big celebration tomorrow night.” (01:46)
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Rooster’s Venue Change: Due to a last-minute change with their usual venue, the celebration is moved to Rooster's, supporting the Humane Society.
“We were going to do it at our normal spot down there at Copper Blues downtown, but ... Rooster stepped up immediately. Like, we'll do it.” (02:10)
2. Brady’s Kidney Health Update
A significant portion of the episode centers around Brady Bogen's kidney health:
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Diagnosis and Surgery: Brady shares that he has a tumor on his kidney, necessitating its removal in late August. John emphasizes the seriousness of Brady's condition.
“Brady, you're going through a health thing. Uh, we're all pretty positive about it ... a tumor on your kidney.” (06:57)
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Diet and Recovery: John advises Brady on the importance of maintaining a healthy diet post-surgery, comparing it to his own experience with a kidney transplant eight years prior.
“Your diet is everything. ... What you eat and put inside you is all your body gets.” (07:15)
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Listener Support: The hosts read and discuss supportive emails from listeners, highlighting the community's positive response and well-wishes for Brady.
“A lot of people who who said nice things about you ... well, of course, they're sending prayers.” (11:19)
3. Listener Emails: The Ryan/Brian Name Mix-Up
The episode features a humorous and insightful discussion about a listener named Ryan, who has been mistakenly called Brian for seven months:
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The Mix-Up: Ryan, who goes by Brian at work, shares his experience of colleagues addressing him incorrectly and the eventual resolution when a coworker addressed the issue.
“He said, 'Isn't it awful? ... everyone there has been calling me by the wrong name.'” (14:26)
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John’s Take: John humorously critiques Ryan's passive approach to correcting his name and encourages more assertiveness.
“He has to pick a fight with somebody at work today. I mean, like just from behind a punch to the back of the head to the closest woman.” (22:06)
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Brady’s Commentary: Brady echoes John’s sentiments, urging Ryan to stand up for himself rather than relying on others to fix his problems.
“What's wrong with him? Oh, worse.” (20:02)
4. Signs Your Company Isn't Thriving
Transitioning from personal anecdotes to broader workplace observations, John introduces a discussion on indicators that a company may be struggling:
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List of Five Signs:
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Round of Firings: Eliminating low-level positions without alarming higher-ups.
“A round of firings. Eliminating low level positions ...” (23:59)
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Job Consolidation: Merging roles without additional pay or clear purpose.
“Job consolidation. Combining eliminated positions into current ...” (24:00)
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Elimination of Small Perks: Removing amenities like quality coffee cups, forcing employees to bring their own.
“Elimination of small perks. Coffee cups and utensils.” (24:07)
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Neglected Building Maintenance: Ignoring necessary repairs, leading to deteriorating office conditions.
“Building repairs are temporarily handled or completely ignored.” (24:50)
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Misleading Reassurances: Sending unsolicited emails that falsely reassure employees about the company's stability.
“Unsolicited emails reminding everyone that everything is okay.” (26:21)
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Relating to Their Own Workplace: The hosts reflect on their radio station's own challenges, drawing parallels with the listed signs.
“It's brown. Big dead tree. ... You have to carry your own coffee cup like it's 1920.” (42:10)
5. Workplace Anecdotes and Banter
The conversation continues with light-hearted yet insightful banter about past and present workplace experiences:
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Old Boss’s Cost-Cutting Measures: Recalling their previous employer's stinginess, particularly regarding office supplies and maintenance.
“Chuck was terrible about the envelopes. ... He had a foot on your throat a little.” (33:23)
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Office Building Deterioration: Discussing visible signs of a company's decline, such as dead plants and malfunctioning facilities.
“We have these stand up walkway lights along the sidewalk. ... It's a great spot.” (36:36)
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Community and Support: Emphasizing the importance of supporting one another in the face of workplace instability.
“If you're a good investor, you won't do it. But if you're just a person with a lot of money and want to help us out, will you buy KESLX and KDKP so KUPD can have it all instead of share it with these losers?” (43:45)
6. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
As the episode winds down, the hosts reiterate their resilience and commitment to their listeners despite the challenges discussed:
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Support for Brady: Continued encouragement and positive vibes for Brady's recovery journey.
“Best help. ... healing fast so you guys can get back to saving lives.” (17:57)
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Encouragement to Listeners: Urging listeners to recognize the signs of a failing company and take proactive steps, whether in supporting the radio station or their personal workplaces.
“If your company is the owner of their own property ... it's a glaring spotlight light on the end days.” (25:18)
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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John Holmberg on Brady’s Health:
“You have a tumor on your kidney. Your kidney's getting removed late August.” (06:57)
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Brett Vesely’s Karaoke Choice:
“I did my 2 Live crew.” (03:11)
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John’s Commentary on Workplace Decline:
“This is exactly us. I know there's a lot of people out there walking into their work, looking around, going, all the plants are dead.” (38:00)
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Humorous Take on Ryan/Brian Situation:
“He's a miserable jellyfish.” (18:31)
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments to focus solely on the core discussions and insights presented during the episode.