Holmberg's Morning Sickness – August 19, 2025 (Full Show: Tuesday)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, John Holmberg and his crew – Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo – tackle their signature blend of comedy, irreverent observations, and unfiltered life stories. Today’s show dives deep into:

• The ongoing debate about men vs women and medical care
• Childhood "playing doctor" and its perceived psychological impacts
• Sports nostalgia and the state of modern baseball (with a focus on the Diamondbacks & the Savannah Bananas phenomenon)
• Cultural commentary on team names, political correctness, and quirky TV rebrands
• Bizarre family history revelations, featuring lobotomies, secret relatives, and more
• A heartfelt segment with a firefighter promoting the annual 9/11 stair climb fundraiser

The show is a wild, freewheeling ride across taboo humor, poignant personal stories, and Arizona flavor.

Key Discussion Points

1. Medical Care: Men vs Women (00:10 – 15:14)

• Holmberg's Theory: Women Love Going to the Doctor

  • John riffs on his partner Megan’s enthusiasm for routine medical exams, humorously suggesting that, unlike men, women actually enjoy doctor visits. Ever the provocateur, he links it back to childhood "playing doctor" games:
    • “Playing doctor as a kid starts off the women's simple brains and mushes them into these people who can't get enough of going.” [03:20]
  • The crew jokes about roleplaying, men’s aversion to preventative care, and the absurdity of visiting doctors "when nothing hurts."

• Highlight Reel:

  • On roleplaying:
    • “I could do a Mash reenactment. Yeah. Come on Margaret. Let's go back to the room there, you and I in the tent.” – Holmberg [04:49]
  • On doctor commercials:
    • “Be a man, David. Get in there and have somebody dig around in your butt. That's the opposite of being a man.” – Holmberg [06:27]

• Timestamped Segments:

  • [05:54] – Brett and Brady debate the necessity of regular men's health screenings
  • [10:03] – Jokes about family dynamics and kids playing doctor

2. Childhood Anecdotes & "Playing Doctor" (11:18 – 15:18)

• John recalls awkward childhood experiments and draws tongue-in-cheek lines to adult medical attitudes.
• The segment evolves into stories of childhood games, with humorous undertones about gender differences and psychological development.

3. Wellness Industry Skepticism (13:11 – 15:21)

• The guys poke fun at wellness specialists, life coaches, and the susceptibility of some to pseudo-medical solutions. Sprouts, WebMD, and “organic aisles” all take hits.
• “If you could go to Sprouts to fix what's wrong, you didn't go to a doctor.” – Holmberg [13:41]

4. Baseball Nostalgia & The State of the Game (18:30 – 48:49)

• Baseball's Lost Grit:

  • Holmberg describes a night at the Diamondbacks game with "Coach Marty," a throwback to old-school, tough-love coaching.
  • They reminisce about better days in MLB, reflect on sagging attendance, and the sterile atmosphere at Chase Field.
  • Brilliant storytelling includes a side-by-side of today's sensitive athletes vs. yesteryear’s hard-nosed players.
    • “You get a hit and everybody's dancing and throwing their hats in the air and the sunflower seeds.” – "Coach Marty" via Holmberg [18:56]

• Savannah Bananas & Baseball’s Future:

  • Extensive discussion of the Savannah Bananas, the party-friendly exhibition team, as the hope for fan engagement.
    • “This is the fun of the game. This made me feel like I was 7 or 8 years old.” – Holmberg [42:57]
    • Accounts of on-field antics, comparing them favorably to the "nerd festival" of current MLB.

• Diamondbacks & Stadium Atmosphere:

  • “That is a dead stadium. Even when it's great. Even the World Series to me, had less energy than it should have.” [47:13]

• Team Name Controversy:

  • In-depth riff on former team names ("Indians," "Redskins"), merchandise, fan identity, and the performative nature of rebranding.
    • “It was never offensive. The Indians thing was never offensive to anyone. And if it was, you were just sensitive.” – Holmberg [25:23]

5. Media & Branding Satire (33:03 – 38:29)

• MSNBC rebrand to “MsNow” is roasted for its oblivious, unintentionally feminist branding.
  • “It's the Ms. Now station. And they had like, news outreach, World Something is what the now stands for. And like Ms. Now, which is the now is the national organization for women.” – Holmberg [33:23]

6. Family Madness & Brady’s Family Lobotomy Saga (53:13 – 98:54, Multiple Segments)

• The gang gently interrogates Brady about his convoluted family tree, uncovering a saga of:
  • Lobotomies, mental illness, secret relatives, and suppressed memories.
  • "Your grandma got lobotomized! Your family is a disaster!" – Holmberg [63:14]
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "I never knew this till now. This is great old man advice to women: Take care of that skin." – Holmberg [55:51]
• The discussion spirals into tales of family secrets, suppressed memories, and skepticism about "official" family history. Deeply funny and sometimes surprisingly poignant.

7. Listener Letters: Relationships with Older Men (49:59 – 55:51)

• Reads an email from “Hannah,” a 30-year-old married to a 56-year-old with grandkids and an ever-present ex-wife.
• The crew offers tongue-in-cheek, sometimes brutally honest advice:
  • "You married it. You got to know what you’re getting into... Never date a single mother." [52:13]
  • "His kids hate you. They're nice to you because they have to be." [58:40]

8. Saltriver Stair Climb: Firefighter Fundraiser (127:15 – 142:31)

• In-studio guest Riley Murph (Salt River Fire Dept.) promotes the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb—raising money for firefighters affected by job-related illness, cancer, and those killed in the line of duty.
  • "There's actually… more people that have died from 9/11-related illnesses than… were killed the day of." – Riley [129:51]
• Holmberg reflects emotionally on last year’s climb, encourages participation:
  • "You’re not climbing Everest… you can take a break, you can sit, you can do whatever… you’ll walk away feeling great about yourself." [134:38]
• [Event Details: September 13th. Register by August 22 for event shirt. Saltriverstairclimb.com]

9. Music & Pop Culture Roundup – Hot Releases (147:41 – End)

• Music reviews: Burning Witches, Deftones, Jack the Joker, Three Days Grace, Hives, Bruno Mars, and AI-generated “We Are The World” with world leaders.
• Game: “N Word or F Word” using Ice Cube’s Friday.
• Notable TV/Streaming Recommendations:
  • Amanda Knox drama (Hulu), Peacemaker S2 (HBO Max), Devo documentary (Netflix), Jerry Jones/Cowboys doc (Netflix), and the Terminal List prequel (Amazon Prime).
• Memorable Take: “The Hives. Every week they've released a new song. These Swedish bastards have my heart.” – Holmberg [153:09]

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• On Doctor Visits:

  • “Dudes go to the doctor when something hurts. Women go just for fun.” – Holmberg [07:03]

• On Family History:

  • “You don’t just remember… You were five. So she got that lobotomy and like just functioned around on lobotomized.” – Holmberg [62:53]

• On Old-School Baseball:

  • “I want you to coach me through life for however much longer you’ve got left.” – Holmberg to “Coach Marty” [18:56]

• On Media Rebranding:

  • “It’s the Ms. Now station… You’re just a feminist operation.” – Holmberg [33:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Men vs Women: Attitudes to Healthcare – [00:10 – 15:14]
• Playing Doctor / Childhood Stories – [11:18 – 15:18]
• Baseball & Sports Culture – [18:30 – 48:49]
• Diamondbacks, Fan Atmosphere – [24:05 – 28:46]
• Political Correctness, Team Names – [25:23 – 28:46]
• MSNBC Turns “MsNow” – [33:03 – 38:29]
• Emails & Relationship Advice – [49:59 – 58:40]
• Brady’s Family History and Lobotomy Story – [53:13 – 98:54+]
• Firefighter 9/11 Stair Climb – [127:15 – 142:31]
• Music & Pop Culture (Hot Releases) – [147:41 to end]

Episode Tone

• Irreverent, bold, and often NSFW.
• Crackling with chemistry—hosts poke fun at each other and the world at large.
• Balances absurdist humor with moments of genuine insight and emotion.

Summary

This episode encapsulates the wild spirit of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness: taboo jokes, deep pulls from pop culture, surprisingly emotional detours, and Arizona’s unique flavor. The deep dive into family dysfunction, in particular, is simultaneously hilarious and oddly touching, while the firefighter segment grounds the show in community service and shared memory. If you like raw, real, and occasionally jaw-dropping morning radio, this episode is a must-listen.

For full details on the 9/11 Stair Climb, visit: saltriverstairclimb.com