Podcast Summary: Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – August 18, 2025

Episode Title: Giving Props To Putin For His Walk And To Trump For His Aggressive Handshake At Alaska Meeting – Now Women Are Tired Of Man Keeping Where They Listen To Men’s Problems And Feelings
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Date: August 18, 2025

Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness centers on two major themes:

1. The recent high-profile meeting in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin – with a particular fascination for body language, walk, and national showmanship.
2. A new trend dubbed “man keeping” – the growing frustration among women who feel burdened by being the emotional sounding boards for men, and the broader debate about communication in relationships.

Using their signature irreverent, observational humor, the hosts critique world leaders’ public flexes, riff on “flex culture,” and wade into occasionally controversial takes on gender and emotional labor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Body Language, Flex Culture, and National Pride at the Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting

• Opening Impressions

  • John recounts watching the Trump-Putin Alaska summit, focusing almost entirely on the leaders’ body language – particularly Putin’s distinctive walk and Trump’s assertive handshake.
  • Holmberg expresses mock admiration for both figures’ physical posturing, emphasizing that appreciation for style can be separated from political views.

• The “Vlad Walk”

  • “[Putin’s] the coolest walk I’ve ever seen. So cool. … That hand is just – it sticks to his – it’s such a gunslinger move. … Gunslinger. Old west stuff right there.” (John Holmberg, 06:44)
  • The hosts explain that the KGB trained Putin to walk with his right arm close (ready for a gun), and John humorously admits to practicing the “Vlad walk” around his house.

• Trump’s Walk and the Handshake Power Play

  • Trump is described as “zigzagging” down the carpet in a less composed fashion, but redeems himself with a dominant handshake.
  • “Trump wins the end battle… He does that ‘give me, you big boy, handshake’ when he grabs your hand and pulls you in and tops it.” (John, 09:32)

• The Flex of Military Might

  • An American B2 bomber and fighter jets fly directly over the meeting for a “movie moment.”
  • “No one else has access to fly a B2 bomber over the valet, which is pretty much what this was.” (John, 07:46)
  • The hosts compare this to flashy car arrivals at nightclubs—a heavy national “flex.”

• Relative Stature & Podium Heights

  • The podiums were adjusted to highlight the leaders (Trump much taller than Putin).
  • “Noticeably up and over. Trump read about this by request.” (John, 11:02)

• Triumphalism & Satirical Patriotism

  • John jokes about wanting “a B2 to go over for no reason, every house in America”—tying this spectacle to collective pride.
  • “Watching that was cool. And it’s mostly our stuff.” (John, 37:13)

Notable Quotes

• “Vladimir gets out of his plane and he starts his walk. I’m like, all right, one-nothing, Vladimir. Oh, actually, it’s one-one if you count the planes. Planes – America wins.” (John, 03:00)
• “If everybody had a cool walk and a B2 bomber, there’d be no wars. I’m pretty sure that’s a fact.” (John, 29:11)
• “USA won. I’ve been thinking about it all weekend. USA 1, Russia 0. On the big grand scale, he won a couple battles, but I highly recommend strut like Vlad.” (John, 16:46)

2. Changing Generations and Video Culture

• Generational Apathy & the Value of Cool Videos
  • John critiques the younger generation’s priorities, tongue-in-cheek:
    “The future looks bright. Bring on AI. … The next generation’s got it figured out … Is my TikTok getting clicks? … They are oblivious to the idea of peace in the world because they’re the first generation to accept that’s not happening.” (John, 18:44)
  • The hosts place contemporary global issues as background fodder for “awesome videos and facial surgery,” reflecting on shifting values.

3. The “Man Keeping” Discussion: Emotional Labor and Relationship Dynamics

• Introduction to “Man Keeping”

  • John brings up a new article about women feeling overburdened as emotional supporters—calling it “man keeping.”
  • “It’s the unfair burden women take on in a relationship to also be a man’s therapist …" (John, 32:14)

• Shifting Demands: Silent Types to Oversharing

  • The hosts mock the cycle:
    • Past: Men were criticized for being silent, not sharing.
    • Present: Men open up, now it’s “too much.”
    • “Now that you… Now that you… All right. A new modern man is emotional. He tells his feelings. He talks to you about things. Now they’ve made a word. Oh, it’s man keeping. It’s too hard.” (John, 33:30)
  • “We’re an accessory. We’re in and out of style. That’s all we are.” (John, 36:00)
  • Brady and Bret add, “I think the leading cause of divorce is communicating. I think you talk too much.” (Bret, 37:40)

• Reflections on Classic Masculinity

  • The hosts reminisce about the “strong, silent” type and joke about retrograde gender roles, invoking Don Draper and Ward Cleaver.
  • "Don Draper is the ultimate man." (John, 42:35)

Notable Quotes

• “You used to be strong and silent. … We used to be strong and silent. … Now, women are like, ugh.” (John, 35:51)
• “Communicating led to— I don’t like this person, and she doesn’t like me at all.” (John, 40:16)
• “Stop talking to each other, take my advice.” (John, 49:02)

4. Sean Connery Clip and the “Olden Days”

• Playing the Infamous Interview
  • The crew plays a Sean Connery interview about slapping women, debating (tongue in cheek) how social norms and masculinity have changed.
  • “Might get some female.” (Connery, quoted by John, 48:33)
  • John repeatedly clarifies he doesn’t condone violence, but laughs at Connery’s unapologetic coolness.

Notable & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• Putin Walk Analysis (06:44–08:10):
  John describes practicing Putin’s “gunslinger” walk, earning laughter as he details the KGB backstory.

• Handshake Dominance & Podium Details (09:32–11:02):
  Trump’s “big boy” handshake and the intentional podium height adjustment—physical and visual power plays.

• B2 Bomber Flyover Flex (07:46, 13:35):
  Military flyover becomes a metaphor for America’s “flex” over Russia.

• On New Generational Values (18:44–20:10):
  Satirical lament that young people care more about TikTok than peace.

• Man Keeping Rant (32:14–36:35):
  John’s extended critique of the emotional labor debate and shifting relationship expectations.

• Old School Masculinity/Don Draper Discussion (42:35–44:06):
  Nostalgic riff on quiet, mysterious men and the modern crisis of “over-communication.”

• Sean Connery Interview Audio (46:02–48:33):
  They play and react to Connery's infamous remarks, finding humor in bygone attitudes (with caveats).

Tone and Language

• Casual, irreverent, occasionally brash—with tongue-in-cheek satire about politics, masculinity, and relationships.
• Quotes are direct and maintain the off-the-cuff, fast-paced banter of the hosts.
• Political takes are mostly surface-level (focused on imagery and style over substance).

Conclusion

This episode delivers a humorous, wandering, and sharply observational take on a rare U.S.-Russia summit full of power moves and national “flexing,” before launching into a playful but pointed critique of changing demands in gender relations and the concept of “man keeping.” The hosts blend nostalgia, satire, and cultural commentary, remaining true to their self-described mission: “Entertain, question, and disturb.”