Holmberg's Morning Sickness – September 16, 2025 – Full Show Summary

Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness centers on the breaking news of Robert Redford’s death, sparking reflections on his career, classic movies, aging Hollywood legends, and the changing nature of American pop culture. The hosts—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—mix tributes, spirited debates, and comedic banter, branching into tangents about family quirks, hair as a predictor of criminality, the hidden lives of adults (toys/dolls), and Tom Brady’s NFL “double-agent” status.

Tone:
Irreverent, conversational, and comedic with frequent asides, rapid banter, and spirited teasing. The crew’s takes are often tongue-in-cheek, with a deliberate tendency to lampoon both themselves and their subjects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Robert Redford’s Passing – Legacy & Anecdotes

• Main Take: Redford’s death at 89 prompts a nostalgic, irreverent look at his film legacy and the passage of Hollywood “legends.”
• Films Discussed:
  • The Natural: Praised for themes of “never giving up” and resilience (00:52–02:20).
  • All the President's Men: Commended for spotlighting investigative journalism and its move toward “star” reporters (04:00–05:53).
  • The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jeremiah Johnson, Spy Game, Legal Eagles, and more, included with varying seriousness.
• Host Banter:
  • Brady reveals obscure Redford favorites (“Jeremiah Johnson”), much to Holmberg’s disbelief and mockery.
  • They reminisce about how as kids movies like The Natural seemed boring, but gained depth with age.
• On Aging Stars:
  The group discusses how many 70s, 80s, and 90s icons are now nearing the end, with humor and pathos about inevitability (“Jack Nicholson's right around the corner, Pacino, De Niro, Duvall, Eastwood…” 04:00).

Notable Quote:
“Robert Redford had some great movies. None as great as, in my opinion, All the President’s Men... it’s a great movie about the people that were involved in the Watergate scandal… and how journalism became about the reporter, not just the news.” – John Holmberg (05:00)

Timestamped Breakdown:

• [00:52] - News of Redford’s death, immediate reactions, discussing The Natural.
• [02:20] - Redford vs. Wilford Brimley age shocker, The Sting anecdote.
• [03:38] - Redford’s entrepreneurial side — Sundance, and Redford’s place among Hollywood icons.
• [04:00–07:00] - Deep dive into Redford’s most acclaimed (and less acclaimed) movies.
• [07:45–14:00] - Hilarious back-and-forth on Jeremiah Johnson; Brady’s childhood obsession and family road trips to visit the movie’s Wyoming settings.

2. Movies, History, and “Revisionist” American Narratives

• The crew pokes fun at the myth-making of movies like Jeremiah Johnson, the “heroics” of American frontiersmen, and the portrayal of Native Americans. They joke about the questionable historical accuracy and racist undertones of older films.
• Long segment (08:25–18:30) revolves around the plot of Jeremiah Johnson, with Holmberg lampooning Brady’s affection for it and exaggerating its themes for comic effect.

Notable Quote:
"Back in the '70s, it was okay to make movies where he slaughtered a bunch of Indians and became a hero..." – John Holmberg (09:04)

3. The Bogan Family Cowboy Hat Saga

• Personal stories erupt on eccentric family traditions:
  • Brady’s brother Tom’s “addiction years” to a cowboy hat as a child.
  • Extended riffing about kids (and adults) who wear costumes in public; societal expectations vs. letting kids be kids.
  • The group mock-brainstorms psychological theories on outgrowing phases, spurred by memories of cowboy hats and the attire of rural America (19:18–25:40).

4. Haircuts as Predictors of Violent Crime

• John launches into a theory, using recent news/mugshots, that “bad hair” or refusing to address male pattern baldness is a red flag for criminal behavior (30:15–35:32).
• The team laughs through anecdotes about friends and relatives stubbornly holding on to bad combovers.
• Calls for men to shave their heads once baldness hits to avoid looking “like a murderer.”

Notable Quote:
“Combovers—people you cannot trust. They're lying to you with their appearance...your hair says a lot.” – John Holmberg (34:00)

5. Tom Brady: NFL Owner & TV Analyst—Conflict of Interest?

• Conspiracy-theory humor about Tom Brady potentially cheating again, now as a minority owner of the Raiders and as a broadcaster for Fox (43:56–54:28).
• John compares Brady to a “dog that bit people before”—you always keep an eye on him.
• Specifics on why owners should not be allowed to have access to broadcast-level intel (coaches’ meetings, etc.), with analogies of “double agents.”

Notable Quotes:

• “Tom Brady likes two things: kissing his son on the lips...and cheating in football.” – John Holmberg (48:36)
• “No Yankees should own a Red Sox. You just don’t cross streams like that.” – John Holmberg (54:28)

6. Adults and Toys: Dolls, Collectibles, & Press Releases

• A news item about Stephen Miller (Trump advisor) sparks a hilarious segment about adults “playing with dolls” and how vehement denials by press releases only fuel suspicions (57:24–71:00).
• The guys imagine what it would look like if cohost John Gordon had a room full of Star Wars toys; wildly imaginative sound effects and banter ensue.
• Secondary debate: if adult coloring books for women got a pass, why not dolls?

Notable Quote:
“If you say you don’t play with dolls, guess what, you play with loads of dolls.” – John Holmberg (62:02)

7. Indecent Proposal Revisited

• Robert Redford’s movie “Indecent Proposal” triggers an extended (and often risqué) debate about what amount of money it would take for them to let their spouse sleep with someone else—“the million-dollar question.” (124:15–139:35).
• They flip the scenario for modern sensibilities and gender-bend it for added comedic effect.
• Listeners email in their takes (“$2.2M and you can keep her!”).

Notable Quotes:

• "The Sydney Sweeney remake of Indecent Proposal now — that would get everyone talking all over again." – John Holmberg (131:08)
• “If Hollywood made a remake of that movie, it’d be a tranny now.” – John Holmberg (136:40)

8. Pop Culture Odds & Ends

• The show covers:
  • Hot releases in music and streaming (Jason Bateman’s new show “Black Rabbit” gets hyped – 146:00).
  • Weird news stories—e.g., a Disney World robbery conducted by a man in scuba gear (96:41), special eye drops replacing reading glasses (94:09).
  • The baton-twirling subculture—mercilessly mocked as the ultimate “celibacy kit” (110:01 onward).
  • Listener emails on trending topics.
  • Brief bits of local news, sponsorships, and community shout-outs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Redford and “All the President’s Men”:
  "It's a great movie about the people involved in Watergate...journalism's transition from doing their jobs to becoming the story." (05:00 – John Holmberg)
• On aging: "...89 year old Robert Redford, you got Nicholson’s right around the corner. Pacino, De Niro, Duvall...Clint Eastwood, I mean, he’s hanging by a thread. That dude’s old!” (04:00)
• On combovers and crime:
  “Combovers—people you cannot trust. They're lying to you with their appearance.” (34:00)
• On cowboy hat childhood obsessions:
  “You live in a cartoon. You’re a strange man. But always appreciate it.” (21:12)
• On Tom Brady and NFL cheating:
  “Tom Brady likes two things: kissing his son on the lips...and cheating in football.” (48:36)
• On “Indecent Proposal”:
  “If Hollywood made a remake of that movie, it’d be as a tranny now.” (136:40)
• On adults playing with dolls:
  “If you say you don’t play with dolls, guess what, you play with loads of dolls.” (62:02)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Robert Redford News & Film Legacy: [00:52–13:10]
• Jeremiah Johnson / Family Cowboy Stories: [08:25–25:40]
• Aging Hollywood Icons Discussion: [04:00–05:52]
• Criminal Haircut Theory: [30:15–35:32]
• Tom Brady's Dual Roles—NFL Owner & Broadcaster: [43:56–54:28]
• Adults & Toys; Stephen Miller Disclosure: [57:24–71:00]
• Indecent Proposal Modern Debate: [124:15–139:35]
• Pop culture/jokes on baton twirlers: [110:01–116:34]
• Music & Streaming “Hot Releases”: [142:34–146:43]

Summary for New Listeners

This episode serves as an uncensored time capsule of how American culture, media, and generational attitudes are shifting. The breakup of the morning show is as spontaneous as ever, with news sparking decades-long debates and jokes. John Holmberg leads with brash opinions and biting humor, softened by Brady’s earnestness and Bret’s “everyman” interjections.

Even as they pay tribute to one of Hollywood’s greats, they refuse to take anything—or themselves—too seriously. Whether you’re interested in movie trivia, cultural criticism, NFL gossip, or just want to laugh at unfiltered radio comedy, this episode offers plenty of snapshots, hot takes, and moments of pure unscripted fun.

For more highlights and the full raunchy ride, listen to the podcast directly—preferably in an environment where NSFW humor is welcome!