Podcast Summary

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode Title: North Carolina Man Dies After Falling Into Grand Canyon And Bret Has No Desire To See It Again
Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

The August 25, 2025, episode centers on recent news of a North Carolina man falling to his death at the Grand Canyon, sparking a lively and candid discussion among the crew about safety, rescue efforts, and their own ambivalent (and at times irreverent) outlook on the iconic Arizona landmark. Topics humorously spiral from the perils and absurdities of Grand Canyon tourism to modern attitudes about travel, with the crew debating whether wonders like the Canyon have become "obsolete" thanks to technology. Throughout, the show displays its signature blend of dark humor, local flavor, and unfiltered banter.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grand Canyon Falls: How Often and Why (01:38–06:49)

• Brett quizzes the crew on how many people per year fall into the Grand Canyon, revealing the answer is about 10–15 deaths annually.
• John and Brett voice skepticism as to why so many people meet this fate, blaming lack of safety rails and suggesting it's a matter of “natural selection.”
• Rescue Efforts: The hosts express frustration over risky rescue missions for individuals who disregard safety, arguing perhaps bodies should be left where they fall rather than risking further lives:
  • “If you’re too dumb not to see the hole, you belong in the bottom of it.” – Brett (02:08)
  • “There needs to be signs everywhere... If you fall in the Grand Canyon, we're gonna leave you there.” – Brett (03:07)

Memorable Anecdote

• Brett recounts a nerve-wracking experience watching a woman posing for a photo dangerously close to the edge while strong gusts of wind threatened to push her in (04:36).
• He admits he got so anxious, he laid down on the ground out of fear for her.

2. Tourism, Stupidity, and Local Attitudes (06:49–14:23)

• The group muses on the mix of tourists, social media influence, and everyday risk-taking that leads to accidents.
• Brett describes the rescue of animals (burros and horses), equating negligence with human error and the resultant attitude:
  • “If you dick around with a big, strange hole... the hole wins.” – Brady (07:42)
• Camelback Mountain and other local landmarks come up as comparable sites where people overestimate their abilities.

Memorable Moment

• John Holmberg reflects:
  • “It’s the biggest goddamn hole in the world. How are you getting on the edge of this thing?” (04:31)
• The hosts agree that often, people “don’t respect” nature until it’s too late, and locals can be jaded about risks visitors take.

3. EMS Rescues & ‘Let Nature Have Them’ Philosophy (08:08–13:22)

• The crew relives stories of hikers needing rescue, sometimes in extreme weather, and the underlying resentment some locals feel about putting first responders at risk for tourists’ mistakes.
• Brett shares a story about calling in a rescue for hikers on Camelback Mountain during a monsoon—only to get roasted by a firefighter who thought they should have been left to their fate.
• The group jokes about “escorts” (ambassadors) hired to show visitors around and how many “rescues” are a result of questionable decision-making.

Notable Quote

• “Imagine the dudes up there at the north rim. All right, you got a kid from North Carolina fell in. We have to go get him. You know he’s dead. What’s the point?” – Brett (12:10)

4. The Obsolescence of Natural Wonders in the Era of 4K (20:08–27:57)

• A strong thread develops on whether technology makes travel and “natural wonders” irrelevant for new generations.
• Brett and John lament that after seeing the Grand Canyon once, or seeing friends' photos and watching on a 4K TV, it seems unnecessary to revisit:
  • “I got a 4K TV at home. It has just as good a picture as me going out there with all…” – John (20:39)
  • “The Grand Canyon’s obsolete now. Samsung made it possible.” – John (22:19)
• They riff that people would rather see sites virtually or not at all, comparing the Grand Canyon to “screensavers,” and mock those who brag about seeing iconic places in person.
• The group pokes fun at the idea of “going for the food” (fondue in Switzerland, for example) over experiencing sights.

Highlight

• “Fill it up, put some water in it. Make it a pool. Do something good. … The Grand Canyon is now obsolete. Find something new to look at.” – Brett (22:31)

5. Generational Differences: Locals vs. Tourists (19:42, 22:47–28:27)

• The hosts dissect why locals are often less impressed (or even annoyed) by the tourist hype around the Grand Canyon.
• John and Brett recall being dragged to the Canyon with visiting relatives and feeling underwhelmed, compared to the awe of first-timers.
• There’s some gentle teasing around travel “humblebrags”—Brady mentions viewing the Matterhorn from a Swiss chalet, prompting roast from Brett about not “earning” European vacations.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “If you're too dumb not to see the hole, you belong in the bottom of it.” – Brett, 02:08
• “If you dick around with a big, strange hole... the hole wins.” – Brady, 07:42
• “It's the biggest goddamn hole in the world. How are you getting on the edge of this thing?” – John, 04:31
• “The Grand Canyon’s obsolete now. Samsung made it possible.” – John, 22:19
• “Fill it up, put some water in it. Make it a pool. Do something good. … The Grand Canyon is now obsolete. Find something new to look at.” – Brett, 22:31

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment / Insight | |----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:38 | How many people fall into the Grand Canyon annually? | | 02:08 | Attitudes toward rescue efforts for those who fall in | | 04:36 | Brett’s anxious Grand Canyon close-call story | | 06:49 | Animal rescues vs. human rescues and nature’s indifference | | 09:59 | EMS rescues on Camelback, story of calling for help during monsoon | | 12:10 | North Rim rescue attitudes and “let nature have them” philosophy | | 20:08 | Technology lessens the need to see natural wonders in person | | 22:19 | “Grand Canyon is obsolete now. Samsung made it possible.” | | 22:47 | Driving visitors up, locals’ jaded attitude toward the Canyon | | 25:12 | Humblebragging about seeing the Matterhorn in Switzerland | | 28:27 | Returning to the Canyon as an adult; shifting perspectives |

Tone and Style

The episode is marked by irreverent, sardonic humor. The crew mixes genuine awe for nature with deadpan practicality and exasperation at tourists' carelessness. Underneath the jokes, there are pointed critiques of modern attitudes—toward safety, travel, and cultural marvels—that blend dry wit with a hint of local pride and weariness.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode takes tragic news—another fatal fall at the Grand Canyon—and spins it into a roundtable of darkly comic commentary about human folly, the limits of rescue, the “obsolescence” of sightseeing in a digital age, and what locals really think about one of the country’s most legendary tourist attractions. From tales of model photo shoots gone wrong at the rim, to rants about EMS rescues, to a debate over whether a 4K TV beats the real thing, the episode skewers familiar Arizona experiences with humor and honesty. The takeaway? The canyon is as dangerous as ever, but maybe the real threat is that, for some, it just can’t compete with streaming in high definition.