Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona Episode: August 13, 2025 – Heatwave, Chat GPT Poisoning Incident, and Brady's Contradictory Food News

Released on August 13, 2025, "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" on 98 KUPD delivers Arizona's premier morning radio experience. Hosted by John Holmberg alongside Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo, this episode delves into Arizona's record-breaking heatwave, a bizarre incident involving Chat GPT, and surprising food news that contradicts host Brady's own dietary choices.

1. Record-Breaking Heatwave and 1981 Nostalgia

The episode kicks off with a lively discussion about the unprecedented heatwave sweeping through the eastern United States. Doug Hopkins highlights that this summer marks the hottest period since 1981, with 22 states plus Washington D.C. experiencing dew point temperatures reaching 44-year highs.

• Breaking Records:
  Doug remarks, “[06:04] The eastern half of the U.S. has been having the muggiest summer since 1981,” emphasizing the intensity and rarity of the current weather conditions.

• Nostalgic Reflections:
  John Holmberg humorously contrasts today’s scorching temperatures with the early '80s, listing items that weren’t prevalent back then. “They put together a list of things that weren't around in 1981: Cabbage Patch Kids, CD players, Rollerblade inline skates, ciabatta bread,” he notes at [06:31]. This nostalgic enumeration serves to underscore the dramatic changes over the past four decades.

• Pop Culture References:
  The conversation takes a light-hearted turn as the hosts mock the outdated items, such as brining up the popularity of inline skates, which John ties humorously to the homosexual community’s temperature preferences, stating at [07:09].

2. Bizarre Chat GPT Poisoning Incident

Transitioning from weather woes, the hosts delve into a startling and unusual news story: a 60-year-old man in Florida fell victim to poisoning after following dietary advice from Chat GPT.

• Incident Overview:
  Doug Hopkins presents the story at [12:39], explaining that the man sought to eliminate salt from his diet and turned to Chat GPT for alternatives. The AI inexplicably recommended sodium bromide, a substance commonly used in pesticides, leading the man to replace his salt intake with this toxic chemical.

• Consequences and Reactions:
  The man, frustrated by his deteriorating health, mistakenly believed his community was poisoning him and sought medical help only after severe symptoms emerged. Doctors diagnosed him with bromide toxicity. John Holmberg sarcastically comments at [13:34], “The doctor said what you eat sometimes can hurt you. What a terrible doctor,” highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

• Host Opinions:
  Scott Haynes chimed in at [13:10], expressing disbelief and criticizing the flawed advice: “Brady, you tell him. Anytime you tell a guy to try to cut out salt, look what happens to him.”

• Expert Insights:
  Doug adds context about the rarity of bromide toxicity today, noting its decline after the FDA phased out bromide salts between 1975 and 1989 at [14:11].

3. Brady's Contradictory Food News

In a segment usually dedicated to culinary delights, Brady Bogen delivers surprising food news that seems to go against his personal dietary regime.

• KFC's Return of Potato Wedges:
  At [17:53], Brady announces, “KFC is bringing back their potato wedges after five years,” set to become available on August 18th. This news is met with mixed reactions as John Holmberg quips, “You just ordered a gallon,” poking fun at the indulgent nature of the announcement.

• Olive Garden's Soup by the Gallon:
  Continuing his report, Brady shares that Olive Garden now offers soups by the gallon at an affordable price of $2.50 per bowl ([18:10]). John responds humorously, “Drink a gallon of soup, Brady, he gets your chicken. Don't say that. No, I said you can't.”

• Hosts' Banter on Dieting:
  The hosts engage in humorous dialogue about Brady's food choices conflicting with the idea of dieting. John remarks at [19:31], “Soups in general are super duper salty,” highlighting the irony in promoting high-sodium foods amidst health-conscious discussions.

4. Additional Topics and Humorous Segments

Beyond the primary topics, the episode features a variety of entertaining discussions and comedic exchanges:

• NBA's Linguistic Oddities:
  Doug critiques the NBA's colloquial language, specifically the misuse of phrases like “my bad” and “most definitely” at [04:03] and [05:35], adding a humorous take on how sports jargon permeates everyday language.

• Police Chief Interview Blunder:
  The hosts laugh over an interview with the D.C. police chief who fumbles the term “chain of command,” leading to confusion and amusement ([11:55]).

• Homage to Comedy Nights:
  Carlos Mencia plugs upcoming comedy events in the Valley, mentioning performances by himself, Marco, and Annie Letterman at various improv venues ([11:08]).

• Mishaps and Public Incidents:
  Several light-hearted stories are shared, including a man in Nebraska being pulled over naked aside from pants for being too hot ([16:28]), and a Postal Service letter carrier caught stealing credit cards ([15:06]).

• Humorous Visuals and Descriptions:
  The hosts describe bizarre and graphic video clips, from a man stapling his genitals to a woman giving birth to a soccer ball, injecting humor through vivid and exaggerated storytelling ([24:51] - [27:38]).

• Inline Skating Jokes:
  A recurring joke mocks the notion of men inline skating, labeling it the "gayest thing of all time" and humorously suggesting that even Doug Hopkins couldn’t take it seriously ([28:16]).

5. Closing Thoughts

The episode wraps up with a blend of humor and critical commentary, maintaining the show's characteristic balance between entertainment and pertinent discussions. John Holmberg and his co-hosts continually engage in witty exchanges, ensuring listeners are entertained while being informed about the latest news and quirky happenings.

• Final Remarks:
  As the show concludes, Doug and Brady participate in playful banter about diet struggles and the absurdities discussed throughout the episode, leaving the audience with laughs and memorable quotes like Brady questioning if gargling salt water could be a new health fad ([23:19]).

Notable Quotes:

• Doug Hopkins [06:04]: “The eastern half of the U.S. has been having the muggiest summer since 1981.”

• John Holmberg [12:59]: “Is this what's happening right now?”

• Scott Haynes [14:30]: “Brady, look it. You've got a news story. What happened? The guy said, I got to cut out salt. He's dead.”

• John Holmberg [19:31]: “You're done with that too, man. It's lifestyle change.”

• Brady Bogen [18:10]: “Olive Garden comes out to $2 and 50 cents a bowl.”

This episode of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" masterfully blends timely news with humor, ensuring listeners are both informed and entertained. From extreme weather events and AI mishaps to conflicting food news, John Holmberg and his team deliver an engaging and laughter-filled morning show experience.