Podcast Episode Summary
Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona
Episode: 09-18-25 – BR – THU – This Week Had Pythagorean Square Day – Women Say They Need Girls Night Every 22 Days – AT&T Testing AI Receptionist To Answer Calls Block Spam
Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo, Marcus
Episode Overview
This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness blends the show’s characteristic irreverence with quick-witted humor as the hosts riff on odd news stories, pop-culture tidbits, and listener emails. Themes include odd behavioral science (from women’s socializing routines to elephants with super-smellers), the ever-looming presence of AI in daily life, and the social dangers signaled by a boom in scooter sightings. Listeners get news, personal anecdotes, and reactions to wild viral videos, all filtered through the show’s unapologetically blunt comedic lens.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Sports, Controversy, and Humor
- Kyler Murray & Michael Vick Jersey Incident:
The episode opens with talk about football player Kyler Murray being embroiled in a social media controversy over a Michael Vick jersey.- John comments on giving Kyler one pass but wants an honest explanation:
- “He’s in leather knee-high boots. He’s doing a photo shoot. This was all choreographed. Explain yourself. … Burn your Vick jersey and piss it out. Then all is forgiven.” (01:34–02:08)
- John comments on giving Kyler one pass but wants an honest explanation:
- The hosts joke about forgiving as long as actions are taken, blending their love for sports with a bit of moral ribbing and local football loyalty.
2. Food Culture: National Cheeseburger Day
- Cheeseburger Deals Galore:
Brady celebrates National Cheeseburger Day with an overview of deals at fast food chains.- “Happy National Cheeseburger Day.” (03:59)
- McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Dairy Queen, and White Castle are all mentioned for their special offers.
- Local Burger Spotlight:
- John recommends Aftermath on 16th Street and Bethany as the best cheeseburger in town. (04:59)
3. Viral Outrage & Oddly Satisfying Rules
- In-N-Out’s “Home Run” Code:
Brady recounts a viral TikTok about someone cutting in line at In-N-Out. The staff uses a "home run" code to make line-cutters wait even longer, which the crew finds “smooth.”- “If you’re willing to wait in that line, get some rage, man. ... You’re like the Kyler Murray of lines. What a dick.” (06:06)
4. Fun Facts, Math, Science, and Trivia
- Pythagorean Square Day:
- Brady and John riff on the date 9/16/25 forming a Pythagorean triple.
- “It was 9, 16, 25. The square roots of those numbers make up the Pythagorean…” (06:37–07:18)
- Brady and John riff on the date 9/16/25 forming a Pythagorean triple.
- Military Height Limits:
- The US military’s maximum height is 6’8”, surprising the hosts.
- “That’s a lot of flesh running through the battlefield. You can’t fly planes at 6’8.” (08:14)
- The US military’s maximum height is 6’8”, surprising the hosts.
- Elephants’ Super-Smeller:
- Brady shares that elephants have more scent genes than humans or dogs; John is amazed at the tracking skills and the logistics of “elephant cops.” (08:35–09:34)
5. Relationships & Social Science
- Women Need a ‘Girls Night’ Every 22 Days:
- "78% of women agree that girls nights are vital to feeling recharged—not just as a nice-to-have bonus.” (11:21)
- “Most husbands say they need a girls night every 22 days. Well, not with their wives.” (11:30)
- They jab at the predictability of these events (wine and charcuterie) and how weddings are hardly unique.
- “62% of women say they'd choose girl’s night over a romantic dinner with their partner...” (12:10)
- Relatable banter follows about the need for space in relationships, both male and female perspectives.
6. Technology & AI: The AT&T Receptionist
- AI Call Screening:
- Brady reports AT&T is testing an AI receptionist that screens spam calls and can interact to determine if a call is legit or a robocall.
- “The main element is screening … won’t just give information on the number … can actually ask questions.” (12:36)
- John jokes: “I need this for Doug Hopkins. … Mr. Holmberg doesn’t accept calls from bots. God damn it.” (13:51)
- The team debates privacy and convenience, noting this is basically advanced voicemail and pointing out Google devices already do it (per a listener's email).
- “Isn’t it just extreme voicemail?” (14:14)
- Marcus jokes about old people and smartphones.
- Brady reports AT&T is testing an AI receptionist that screens spam calls and can interact to determine if a call is legit or a robocall.
7. News Oddities and Absurdities
- Florida Man Follies:
Florida driver Larry Rada Jr. leads police on a chase, crashes, flings his kids over a fence, and is booked for child neglect—and 'child chucking,' per John. (15:16–16:00) - First Flying Car Crash:
They discuss two “flying cars” colliding during a rehearsal for a Chinese airshow—both pilots are fine, but it’s dubbed the first-ever flying car crash.- “We’re gonna have plenty of them.” (17:27)
- John recounts the first person ever killed by a car went 7.5mph. (17:39)
8. Scooters as a Societal Warning Sign
- Scooter Sightings and National Decline:
- John develops a tongue-in-cheek theory: the more scooters you see in your city, the closer it is to economic collapse.
- “We are a non-scooter nation. We are first world. … The more scooters you see, the closer you are to third world. Scooters are the precursor for economic problems.” (22:22–22:42)
- Discussion extends to Vespa riders and tuk tuks as further “signs of collapse.”
- “If you see multiple tuk tuks in a day, Jesus is here tomorrow. That’s the end.” (24:00)
- John develops a tongue-in-cheek theory: the more scooters you see in your city, the closer it is to economic collapse.
9. Viral Videos & Audience Discomfort
-
Dumpster Diving for Restaurant Food:
The hosts react in horror and fascination to a video of a woman eating from a leaking restaurant dumpster bag. (19:49–20:43) -
Scooter Bowling:
A video of a scooter accident—comparing the aftermath to picking up a “7–10 split.” (20:43–21:14) -
Gory and Bizarre Medical Videos:
- Includes a degloved forearm (24:11), a skinless penis (24:46), and possible sex-change surgery (25:17). The group reacts with a mix of revulsion and black comedy.
-
Creative NSFW Sexual Antics:
- Strap-on demonstration, urination-based funnel drinking, and “educational” moments.
- “That was more educational than it was … that was pretty good, Brett. So you learned something new on this show.” (28:46–28:52)
- Strap-on demonstration, urination-based funnel drinking, and “educational” moments.
-
Final Word:
- John (sarcastically): “Well, there you go. That’s your world in a nutshell. On September 18, 2025, that’s your world. We call it the Brady Report.” (29:20)
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
“Burn your Vick jersey and piss it out. And then all is forgiven. Kyler, renounce your love of Michael Vick.”
– John Holmberg, 02:08 -
“Happy National Cheeseburger Day.”
– Brady, 03:59 -
“If you’re willing to wait in that line, get some rage, man. … You’re like the Kyler Murray of lines. What a dick.”
– John Holmberg, 06:06 -
“It was 9, 16, 25. The square roots of those numbers make up the Pythagorean…”
– Brady, 06:37 -
“That’s a lot of flesh running through the battlefield. You can’t fly planes at 6’8.”
– John Holmberg, 08:14 -
“We never find them with the dogs. Like really? … When you’re tracking a guy … your body shoots out pheromones. The dogs pick up that.”
– John Holmberg, 10:52 -
“78% of women agree that girls nights are vital to feeling recharged—not just as a nice-to-have bonus.”
– Brady, 11:21 -
“Most husbands say they need a girls night every 22 days. Well, not with their wives.”
– John Holmberg, 11:30 -
“The AI receptionist will say, ‘Who may I say is calling?’ or ‘What is this in regard to?’ … If it fails, the system will hang up or take a message.”
– Brady, 13:12 -
“I need this for Doug Hopkins. If I have an assistant answering the phone all the time, I would train my AI receptionist to say, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Holmberg doesn’t accept calls from bots.’”
– John Holmberg, 13:51 -
“We are a non-scooter nation. We are first world. … The more scooters you see, the closer you are to third world.”
– John Holmberg, 22:22–22:42 -
“If you see multiple tuk tuks in a day, Jesus is here tomorrow. That’s the end.”
– John Holmberg, 24:00
Episode Highlights (by Timestamp)
- Pythagorean Day, Military Height, and Elephant Smelling – 06:28–09:34
- Girl’s Night Survey & Social Science – 11:12–12:21
- AT&T AI Receptionist & Google Phones – 12:36–16:23
- Flying Car Crash & Scooter-Colony Theory – 17:00–24:00
- Dumpster Diving Video, Gory Medical Clips, and NSFW Revelations – 19:44–29:20
Tone & Style
The episode is quintessentially HMS: fast-paced, sarcastic, sometimes crude, and always unapologetically in-your-face. The hosts riff seamlessly between news and banter, listeners’ emails, and shared video reactions, maintaining a comedic yet brash, “locker room” candor throughout.
Useful Takeaway
Listeners get a surreal blend of current events, trivia, and frank social commentary—intertwined with the hosts' signature Arizona-local flavor and raucous humor. If you want a daily download of oddball news and unsanitized opinions, this episode delivers in spades.
