Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – 09-23-25

Overview

In this energetic episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness (09-23-25), John Holmberg and the HMS crew dive into a lively discussion of the recent viral NFL moment involving Amon-Ra St. Brown, the return of Jimmy Kimmel to ABC, Arizona politics with Raul Grijalva’s daughter running for his seat, the new astronaut class that could go to Mars, some headline reading shenanigans, and a wild Florida python story. The hosts blend current events, irreverent humor, and their signature banter, all while poking fun at broadcast sensitivities, media mob mentality, and bizarre news.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Viral NFL Touchdown Moment

• [00:40 – 05:00]
• John opens with the viral Amon-Ra St. Brown NFL touchdown celebration, where St. Brown yells, "I run this S-- N----" to the camera, causing a huge reaction.
  • Quote [00:40]: “That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen on TV... We whites don’t have a cool exclamation like that.”
• Discussion around double standards and language on live TV, with jokes about how white players would be punished for similar outbursts.
  • Quote [01:36]: “If Cooper Kupp did that, he’d be suspended for the rest of his life.”
• Hosts riff on the lack of a “cool” phrase for white athletes and joke about Disney/ABC’s lack of a broadcast delay.
  • Quote [03:05]: “We need a phrase like that that won’t get us fired. Cause that had some gravitas.”

2. Jimmy Kimmel’s Return to ABC and Broadcast Mob Tactics

• [05:53 – 17:22]
• Discussion moves to ABC’s handling of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and return, pointing out hypocrisy and fear-driven decisions in broadcast management.
  • Quote [06:00]: “They have no foundation. ABC. None. They blew it twice. They blew it in the initial suspension… They’re putting him back on tonight.”
• Concerns over affiliates demanding apologies and donations as conditions for broadcasting Kimmel’s show, with Holmberg referencing Adam Carolla’s advice:
  • Quote [08:13]: “Never apologize to a mob. A mob is never right—apologize to a person.”
  • Quote [10:06]: “When you apologize to a mob, you’ve admitted wrongdoing. They don’t accept your apology… it sets a precedent.”
• Recap of Gilbert Gottfried’s firing by Aflac as an example of the danger of apologizing to mobs.
  • Quote [12:18]: “He said it was $275 grand a year… the biggest mistake he made was apologizing... it lit him on fire.”

3. Mob Mentality, Cancel Culture, and Broadcasting Concerns

• [14:29 – 17:22]
• Extended commentary on how social media outrage mechanisms lead to “mob tactics” rather than genuine accountability.
• Holmberg reiterates that while he doesn't care for Kimmel, the emotional aspect should be separated from the workplace and contract issues.
  • Quote [15:43]: “Cancel culture, to me, is when… the FCC gets involved and your employers cave. It’s not cancel culture. It’s mob tactics. It’s government interference.”
• Group agrees the cycle of outrage never ends if companies cave to pressure.

4. Arizona Politics: Raul Grijalva’s Daughter Running for Office

• [21:53 – 27:30]
• Switch to state politics after learning Raul Grijalva has died, and his daughter is running for his seat.
• Cast discusses the apparent absurdity of political dynasties and how family succession doesn’t happen anywhere but politics.
  • Quote [22:27]: “In what other industry outside of just succession of CEOs… can the wife or child just step in?”
• Touches on other political successions like Sonny Bono's wife taking office.
  • Quote [22:58]: “It happens all the time down there with Tucson again with Mark Kelly. At least he was an astronaut and stuff.”

5. NASA’s New Astronaut Class and the Mars Mission

• [27:30 – 32:26]
• Noting how NASA has just graduated a diverse, youthful new astronaut class expected to pioneer missions to Mars.
  • Quote [28:29]: “You forget that they’re so young… they’re going to shoot up to Mars here, which I find outrageously great.”
• Explains the logistics and variability of a Mars trip (7-9 months each way), riffing on how the uncertainty would be unacceptable in any other travel context.
  • Quote [29:26]: “If I’m going on a trip… you’ve got to give me a 60 day give… I’m not going to Mars with the 7 to 9 month plan.”

6. Brett’s Headline Reading Challenge

• [32:26 – 36:36]
• Holmberg tests co-host Brett with a seemingly innocuous news headline about an “ancient spear throwing tool,” predicting he can’t read it without dissolving into laughter due to accidental innuendo.
  • Quote [34:48]: “You can’t do it. The headline says: Ancient spear throwing tool brings fun and history to Vermont competition.”
• The entire cast cracks up over how juvenile American humor infects the most harmless stories.

7. Bizarre News: Burmese Python Vomits Deer in Florida

• [38:05 – 44:15]
• Highlighting a recent wildlife story: a massive Burmese python in Florida swallowed and regurgitated a whole deer.
  • Quote [38:47]: “Burmese python vomits deer. It ate a whole deer and then it purged it back up whole… like Bambi’s mom came back out of a snake.”
• Concern over Florida's python population and volunteer-based python eradication efforts, joking about Florida man, shirtless children, and the lack of a serious state response.
  • Quote [40:12]: “You’ve got Florida man as your only defense against pythons.”
• Discusses how this lays groundwork for future tragic stories (i.e., pets and kids could be next).

8. Miscellaneous Banter & Memorable Moments

• Off-hand jokes about the Newhart TV show, barn real estate in New Hampshire, and childhood nostalgia.
• An extended riff on a studio stuffed animal with a highlighter as a fake penis derails the show with the hosts’ childish glee.
  • Quote [46:07]: “He’s got a highlighter where his wiener is.”
• Signature HMS style: playful, irreverent, and constantly riffing off-topic moments into running jokes.

Notable Quotes & Timestamp Guide

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------|---------| | 00:40 | “We whites don’t have a cool phrase like that…” | John Holmberg | | 01:36 | “If Cooper Kupp did that, he’d be suspended for the rest of his life.” | John Holmberg | | 03:05 | “We need a phrase like that that won’t get us fired. Cause that had some gravitas.” | John Holmberg | | 08:13 | “Never apologize to a mob. A mob is never right—apologize to a person.” | John Holmberg (quoting Adam Carolla) | | 10:06 | “When you apologize to a mob, you’ve admitted wrongdoing. They don’t accept your apology…” | John Holmberg | | 12:18 | “The biggest mistake…was apologizing. It lit him on fire.” | John Holmberg (on Gilbert Gottfried) | | 15:43 | “It’s not cancel culture. It’s mob tactics.” | John Holmberg | | 22:27 | “In what other industry outside of just succession of CEOs…can the wife or child just step in?” | John Holmberg | | 28:29 | “You forget that they’re so young… they’re going to shoot up to Mars here…” | John Holmberg | | 29:26 | “If I’m going on a trip… you’ve got to give me a 60 day give…” | John Holmberg | | 34:48 | “You can’t do it. The headline says: Ancient spear throwing tool brings fun and history to Vermont competition.” | John Holmberg | | 38:47 | “Burmese python vomits deer. It ate a whole deer and then it purged it back up whole…” | John Holmberg | | 40:12 | “You’ve got Florida man as your only defense against pythons.” | John Holmberg | | 46:07 | “He’s got a highlighter where his wiener is.” | John Holmberg |

Useful Timestamps for Key Segments

• Amon-Ra St. Brown NFL moment: 00:40 – 05:00
• Jimmy Kimmel, ABC & mob apologies: 05:53 – 17:22
• Politics/political family succession: 21:53 – 27:30
• NASA/Mars astronaut talk: 27:30 – 32:26
• Headline reading game: 32:26 – 36:36
• Python-deer story: 38:05 – 44:15

Bottom Line

This HMS episode is classic morning show chaos: a topical mix of sports, politics, pop culture, and the absurd (sometimes childish) humor that fans expect. John Holmberg keeps the show moving with sharp observations and social commentary, highlighting shifting standards in language, media double standards, and mob mentality—while the rest of the crew keeps things light with derailing jokes, laughter, and plenty of Arizona flavor.

"Never apologize to a mob. A mob will never get together on why they're mad in the first place." — John Holmberg (08:13, quoting Adam Carolla)