Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – “The AC In The Building Is Out - Loving New Jersey Campaign Featuring Jack Ciaterelli”

Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Station: 98KUPD, Hubbard Radio (Arizona)

Overview

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness rides high on technical frustrations, office camaraderie, and a giddy fixation on an unfortunate political candidate's name. The crew hilariously navigates their broken air conditioning while riffing on New Jersey's “Jack Ciattarelli” campaign, marvel at a viral “Pomeranian girl” story, recap Brady’s oxy-fueled struggle resisting piles of chicken wings, and find time to (sorta) pay tribute to late actor Graham Greene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Studio Troubles: The Air Conditioning Meltdown

• Broken AC as Metaphor: The show opens (01:09) with John lamenting the persistently broken air conditioning. This sparks a series of comedic complaints about the studio’s tech failures and management’s apathy.
  • “Our air conditioner doesn't work at all. How many times do I talk about new AC unit.com? These people. These people let their air go out. Are you kidding?” (John, 01:40)
  • The crew jokes about DIY fixes, unqualified coworkers attempting repairs, and the building's ancient infrastructure.
• Workplace Irony: Pointed out that veteran staff (like “Rudy”) are more likely to be seen doing odd jobs than real repair techs.
• Comic Visuals: Hypotheticals of giant “orange tubes” and magnetic service vehicle signs (“Bob’s AC”) bring a “Simpsons”-like feel to the chaos.

2. "Jack Ciattarelli": Name Gags and Campaign Slogans

• A Name Made For Morning Radio: Much of the episode (05:47–15:00) is dominated by a gleeful, sophomoric riff on New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s name.
  • “His name is Jack Shitarelli. And I don't know how his campaign thinks…you don't know Jack Citarelli until you meet Jack Citarelli…Don't think I'm not going to say his name a billion times today.” (John, 06:18)
  • The hosts play with the phonetics (“Shitterelli”) and roll out fake campaign slogans like “You don’t know Jack!” and “I back Jack.”
  • Memorable Quote: “How did he make it out of school without going to jail? He had to get in fight after fight. That dude is exactly the guy I want in office for something.” (John, 07:41)
  • Repeated speculation on why opponents aren’t exploiting the name, and visions of T-shirts and national office.
  • Brady adds, “Whatever money the opponent has, forget it.” (06:52)
• Meta-Humor: They call out how news anchors blitz through the surname to avoid giggles—mirroring the hosts’ barely-contained laughter.
  • Repeat Gag: Anytime there's a tough call or a dead-end debate: “We're not gonna put blacks on leashes and walk them around anymore. That's not happening. And you can take that to the bank. And my name ain't Jack Ciatarelli. Stop it.” (John, 17:08)

3. Simulation Glitches: Viral Oddities

• Traffic Cone Shark: John introduces his theory that “the simulation is broken” after hearing about the viral “orange shark” in Costa Rica (04:45).
  • “They caught a traffic cone colored shark. There's a color glitch in the simulation!” (John, 04:44)
  • Comparison of the shark’s hue to road cones, and jokes about wanting “more of those” in the sea.
• The Pomeranian Woman: Next, the story of a human woman who identifies as a Pomeranian, with her “handler” walking her on a leash.
  • “She looks like a kind of a broke dick Nicki Minaj... And the guy comes over and walks her every day. She's basically saying, this is nobody's business.” (John, 04:45)
  • Crew riffs on the couple’s logic, potential for offense (“you can’t strap a leash to a black lady and walk around…” John, 22:04) and absurdities of explaining such behavior to neighbors and family.
  • Brady: “Dress up and having fun.” (23:19)
  • John: “Don’t leash up people, especially people of color. That’s bad. And vote Chitterelli.” (25:54)
  • Attempts to tie everything weird or broken in the show to the Jack Ciattarelli meme.

4. Brady vs. Chicken Wings: Oxy Continues

• Sidelining for Surgery: Brady is fresh from surgery and high on OxyContin, which results in a peculiar, subdued presence (“about 9:50 he turned like yellow and we started to worry”—John, 27:25).
• Wings Temptation: The team recalls Native dropping off “10,000” wings (27:25–30:00) and the conscious effort to not leave high, hungry Brady alone with them.
  • “Leaving you alone in there was like saying, oh my God, I've left Brady in there with—he’s covered in honey in the beehive.” (John, 29:03)
  • Despite “enjoying the smells,” Brady passes the test: “It was a test and you passed.” (John, 30:14)

5. Accidental Tribute: Graham Greene

• Listener Complaints: A listener points out the show didn’t acknowledge the death of Native American actor Graham Greene (27:13).
  • “I didn’t even know he was gone until after the show...We know him, but he’s not like a huge household name.” (John, 27:14 & 31:32)
  • Brief recollections of his roles in “Dances With Wolves" and an honest admission that John hasn't seen all of Schindler’s List either.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• John on AC woes:
  “This thing will remain broken. It's been broken for over a month. I've asked a couple of times, but—I ain’t doing that anymore. No one around here likes me so…” (02:27)

• John obsessed with campaign slogans:
  “If this thing's going to break this badly where you know people's name and I can giggle at it constantly as, like, I'm a teenage boy. Count on Jack Citarelli being T shirts. I'm going to—posters in my front yard… You don't know Jack Cittarelli?” (08:04)

• Brady on campaign merch:
  “How are the hat sales? Do we know the merch…that he serves?” (09:04)

• John on proud surnames:
  “You Italians are so proud of your names that it can be that bad and you're still not going to abandon it. I'm out on that one. You know what that was? That happened at Ellis Island.” (19:30)

• John on resisting temptation:
  “Leaving you alone in there was like saying, oh my God, I've left Brady in there with—he’s covered in honey in the beehive…it was a bad idea. Could have ended you and you turned yellow.” (29:03)

• On intentional immaturity:
  “I know it's childish. I get it. But guess what? Welcome to the show. Sorry to break it to you, but I may have that problem. I was dying.” (13:24)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Technical/Studio Griping: 01:09–04:45
• News & Jack Ciattarelli Name Riffs: 05:47–15:10, recurring through 33:44
• Simulation Glitches (Orange Shark, Pomeranian Woman): 04:45–05:47, 17:36–25:53
• Brady vs. Chicken Wings/Oxy: 27:13–30:44
• Listener Questions & Graham Greene: 27:13–32:06
• Movie Rants (Goonies, Schindler’s List): 31:29–32:18

Closing Notes

This episode exemplifies the show's signature blend of Arizona office humor, juvenile wordplay, and side-eye social commentary. The crew’s fixation on Jack Ciattarelli’s name is as relentless as the desert heat, offering a thread of schoolboy glee that ties together maintenance complaints, local news oddities, and even a respectful, if belated, nod to a film legend.

If you missed the episode:

• Expect relentless riffs about a New Jersey candidate with a hilariously unfortunate name,
• Laughs at viral oddities,
• Real talk about chicken wing self-control,
• Plus the kind of inside-office commiseration that’s all too relatable—especially if your AC is out.