Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness, Fireside Chats (09-12-25)

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD, Arizona)
Episode: Fireside Chats – Kevin Actually Bought WNBA Season Tickets Because Of John – PO Calls In Hoping To Get On Happy Endings
Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Format: Live call-in “Fireside Chats” segment
Main Theme:
Listeners call in with their stories, confessions, and requests during the infamous "Fireside Chats." Typical HMS mayhem ensues: wild deals for concert tickets, surprising WNBA fandom, divorce talk, body image and health struggles, and stand-up ambitions.

Episode Overview

The episode is a classic, irreverent Fireside Chats session where John and the crew take unscreened calls from listeners. Topics range from a son's questionable trade for Tool tickets, a male caller's transformation into a die-hard WNBA fan, divorce tales, and a heartfelt (and hilarious) conversation with aspiring comedian Po, who’s trying to secure a slot at the upcoming Happy Endings comedy show. As always, the guys toggle between genuine support and relentless ribbing, with plenty of adult humor and self-deprecation.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Timestamps

1. The Fireside Chats Begin

[01:15]

• John welcomes listeners, sets ground rules ("watch your language"), and dives right in.
  • Memorable banter about Brett not answering the phone and jabs about Brady’s pizza consumption.

2. Nate’s Offer: Tool Tickets for a Date with His Mom

[01:56–03:33]

• Nate laments Larry not taking up his (now departed to Pennsylvania) mother’s offer for Tool tickets.
• Hilarious breakdown of the “trade” and the embarrassment after his mom found out post factum.
  • Quote:
    John [03:02]: "So now you have to buy Tool tickets like some sort of a commoner. That's disgusting. I'm so sorry for that. And I speak for Larry when I say I'm sorry. I should have boned your mother."
• Shout-out to Nate's PA friend group.

3. Kevin: New WNBA Superfan (Because of John)

[04:12–08:22]

• Kevin calls to thank John for turning him into a fan and a season ticket holder for the Phoenix Mercury.
• Playful disbelief from the crew, jokes about seat quality and sweating players.
  • Quote:
    Kevin [05:01]: "I want to be up close. I can get that juicy sweat on me."
  • John: "Oh, God."
• Kevin explains the entertainment value: short games, meet-the-players opportunities, and family friendliness.
• Kevin agrees to get a Mercury tattoo with John if they win the championship.
  • John [07:41]: "If the Mercury win the world championship, you and I go get Mercury tattoos."
  • Kevin: "I'll do it. I have two sleeves. ... Tattoos are fun."
• Light ribbing about lack of interest in WNBA playoffs.

4. Ted’s “Pause and Toss” and Divorce Recovery

[08:23–13:42]

• Ted brings up the classic 'pause and toss' scene with Salma Hayek in “Dogma,” warning not to go a frame too far to Jason Mewes.
  • Quote:
    Ted [09:22]: "...the very next frame will be a tight, tight close up of Jason Muse's face with an 'oh yeah, give it to me' look. … could be detrimental."
• Banter quickly delves into old-school media habits, home-alone habits post-divorce, and general celebration of Salma Hayek’s filmography.
• Ted jokes about his divorce and his wife leaving him, insisting he’s happy, and the hosts agree wives are “awful.”
• Running jokes about "painting fascia" and how old media (VHS, Betamax, record players) add to his quirks.
  • John [11:41]: "My wife... she was annoying, 'cause, like, she's like, stop eating off at the dinner table like that.'"

5. Po Calls: Health, Comedy, & A Dream Gig

[13:48–22:32]

• Po, an overweight and aspiring comedian, calls to express support and empathy for Brady's health issues.
  • Po [14:17]: "Brady, I love you. You know I love all you guys. ... You're giving you. Yeah, I've given you all the T's and P's, Brady."
• Shares that he’s sober and working on improving his mental and physical health, having lost weight from 500 to ~470 lbs.
  • Honest discussion of obesity: "I have a little complications of getting accuracy on the scale because they only go up to 300.”
  • Po [15:42]: "I'd say right now I'm a svelte about 470 right now."
• Po requests a stand-up gig at HMS’s Happy Endings December show, even though his prior tryout “didn't go so great.”
  • John [17:31]: "How about I just put you on it and give you a chance because this might be the last time you ever go on stage... Now it's like a Make-A-Wish."
  • Jokes about “perspiring” vs “aspiring” comedian.
• Comedic yet encouraging bet emerges:
  • For every 10 lbs Po loses before December 12th, he gets a minute on stage.
  • John [20:51]: "Now send me you accurately standing on a scale... whatever you weigh on December 11th is how many minutes you get."
  • Brainstorming on how Po can find a scale big enough, with zoo and truckstop jokes.
• Banter about fat guys bickering about weight loss, with the line:
  • John [22:13]: "You know what I like, Brett? When two fat guys start arguing about who's gonna lose weight? They get real mad."

6. Episode Wrap-Up: Fireside Chat Recap and Po Motivational Strategies

[23:00–24:36]

• Crew continues riffing on Po’s scale dilemma with multiple creative (absurd) suggestions — two scales, recycling center, zoo, etc.
• Light, characteristic HMS roast closes out the segment.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On Tool Tickets for Mom:
  John [03:02]: "I should have boned your mother."
• On WNBA Seats:
  Kevin [05:01]: "I want to be up close. I can get that juicy sweat on me."
  John: "Oh, God."
• On Divorced Life:
  Ted [11:54]: "I have a VHS and I have a record player."
  John: "That's kind of neat. ... Brett's nodding affirmatively. You are."
• On Po’s Health Journey and Comedy Gig:
  John [17:31]: "How about I just put you on it and give you a chance because this might be the last time you ever go on stage... Now it's like a Make-A-Wish."
• On Motivational Weight Loss Wagers:
  John [20:51]: "Now send me you accurately standing on a scale... whatever you weigh on December 11th is how many minutes you get."
• On Fat Guy Arguments:
  John [22:13]: "When two fat guys start arguing about who's gonna lose weight? They get real mad."

Episode Structure and Tone

• Language & Tone: Bold, explicit, irreverent – classic HMS.
• Flow: Rapid, conversational, hilarious but occasionally touching (notably with Po).
• Hosts: Frequently roast each other and callers, but also support and motivate listeners.

Useful for First-Time Listeners:

• Calls range from raucous humor to surprising vulnerability.
• The episode is a mix of off-the-wall proposals and authentic moments about health, family, and chasing dreams.
• Even amid the jokes, there's real camaraderie and community spirit — listeners feel like part of the show.

For anyone seeking a blend of unfiltered comedy, Arizona radio flavor, and genuine (if rough-around-the-edges) listener engagement, this episode is representative HMS gold.