Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: "09-25-25 – FULL SHOW – THURSDAY – Holmberg's Morning Sickness 98 KUPD"

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: John Holmberg
Co-hosts: Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo
Guests: Eric D'Alessandro (comedian), Dale Hellistray

Episode Overview

This Thursday’s edition of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" blends Holmberg’s classic blend of observational humor, local color, and shameless Arizona sports pain. The show swings from last night's baseball game drama and nuanced stadium etiquette to an extended riff on body odor, friendship, and the vital duty of telling your pals when they stink. Regulars Brady, Brett, and Toledo jump in, and guests bring heat: comedian Eric D’Alessandro enters for a riff-heavy interview on man buns, generational shifts, and society’s future, while former NFL pro Dale Hellistray arrives for the sports hour, roasting his own Arizona and Dallas teams. Tangents abound—expect digressions on romantic scams, viral videos, and grandmas who no longer look like grandmas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diamondbacks Game Recap and Ballpark Etiquette

Timestamp: 00:37–10:45

• Holmberg's Night at the Ballpark:
  John recounts the D-backs crushing loss in extra innings, emphasizing how tight the wild card race is. He praises the intensity and execution but laments Arizona blowing golden opportunities.

• Seat Drama & Sign Lady Feud:
  Colorful anecdote about "Sisquatch" (an infamous regular with colossal hair) and a chum "Tom." Tom’s son and friend get ousted from newly emptied seats thanks to a tattletale fan, triggering a sequence of heated "C-word" exchanges, playful mockery of homemade signs, and the etiquette of “seat poaching.”

  “Tom looks at (her) like, what’d you do that for, you dumb C-word?” – John Holmberg (06:00)

• Ballpark Decorum:
  The crew riff on tattletaling, Diamondbacks’ lackluster fans, and what constitutes true sportsmanship in the stands (cheering, not narc-ing, and definitely not bringing signs in the expensive rows).

2. The Power of the Stink: On Friendship, Feet, and Social Obligation

Timestamp: 10:45–34:32

• Suffering Through Stench:
  John details sitting next to someone with "Circle K feet," a smell so powerful it makes him paranoid it might be his own. Side conversations ensue about laundry, “dirty beach” odor, and how to break the news to an unwashed friend.

  “All I did was spend the whole night trying to smell my own balls at a ballpark.” – John Holmberg (20:59)

  “Today is the day, September 25th, that I’d like to announce: You're not a friend unless you tell them, 'You stink' day.” – John Holmberg (14:40)

• Airing Dirty Laundry:
  Stories fly—fraternity houses full of stinky shoes, “promo people” sporting a cologne/dip/BO combo, and how truly good friends intervene.

• Should smelly co-workers get fired?
  Crew says yes for restaurant/service jobs. Brady reminisces about running promos in Milwaukee and how tough it is to fire the “stinky guy.”

3. Scams, Loneliness & AI: The Modern Romance Trap

Timestamp: 54:11–63:12

• Heartbreaking Scam Tales:
  A tragic case: an Arizona woman loses her life savings believing she’s chatting with “Steve Burton from General Hospital” (it’s a con). The segment becomes a comic intervention for the elderly, warning listeners to “toss granny’s cell” if necessary.

  “The cast of General Hospital doesn’t ask random strangers for cash. That’s just not happening.” – John Holmberg (55:30)

• Romance Scam Stats:
  65,000 victims last year with over $1.14 billion lost. The hosts stress: don’t ever send money to someone you haven’t met in person.

4. Cultural Bits: Nicknames, Gatekeeping, and Modern Media

Timestamp: 34:32–49:32, 131:02–151:07

• On Cringy Adult Nicknames:
  “Showtime Shane,” “Hollywood Bob,” and other unfortunate grown-up alter egos spark mockery. The gang relives hilarious or tragic nickname stories, warning, “If you start an introduction with ‘but you can call me…’ at age 40, knock it off.”

• Gen Z, Content, and AI:
  With guest comic Eric D’Alessandro, the show turns philosophical:

  • The “flattening” of youth and adulthood: everyone dresses and acts the same from ages 16–40.
  • Media nostalgia: nearly all our shared culture is 20+ years old; TV and movies don’t unite the culture now.
  • TikTok and content churn: real artistry is lost—a call for the return of “gatekeepers.”

  “There was a small window when social media was for people who knew how to do something. Now, being a content creator is jail.” – Eric D'Alessandro (148:48)

5. Viral Moments & Odd Arizona News

Timestamp: 69:13–107:11

• Graveyard Shift Coffee Truck Controversy:
  A dark-humored “graveyard shift” coffee truck gets the boot from Mayo Clinic for its skeleton doctor logo. Holmberg and co. dissect appropriateness, patient sensitivity, and why “Hospice Coffee” isn’t a good brand.

  “You don’t want a doctor that’s a skeleton and the word ‘graveyard’ emblazoned across the trailer. It’s not good.” – John Holmberg (68:13)

• Braless Run in Denver:
  A charity run for breast cancer. Panel predicts, “The people you want braless won’t show up.”

6. Sports Hour: Arizona’s Eternal Sports Purgatory

With Guest Dale Hellistray
Timestamp: 151:20–184:26

• Arizona’s Doom:
  Holmberg channels Dale: “Arizona doesn’t get to have nice things.” The Diamondbacks’ knack for blowing bases-loaded chances worsens the point. Lack of crowd energy, reliance on jumbotrons, and passive spectators are roasted.

• Management Masterclass:
  The hosts debate whether DBacks' skipper Torey Lovullo deserves to be Manager of the Year for keeping a stripped-down team competitive. The consensus: if they make the playoffs, absolutely.

• NFL Picks & Sportsbook Banter:
  The regular picks segment goes off the rails as Dale, Brett, and Holmberg bicker about gambling, bad tickets, and the state of their own teams.

• Dog Abuse vs. Human Tragedy:
  A surprisingly serious moment: Dale asks why his wife is more emotional about animal cruelty than tragic human news. Holmberg: “One is more of just a society sucks…with dogs, it’s helplessness and trust.”

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Telling Friends They Stink:
  “You have to do it. Wash your goddamn feet and your whole body. Because it was more than that. It just smelled like dirty feet. Like beach sand in a hotel room after you’re at the beach all day and you get that salt water, you don’t rinse off…” – John Holmberg, 14:40

• On Ballpark Tattletales:
  “She’s evidently the mayor of those three rows and decided that she was…Because she made her sign and she was on the big screen two or three times. So I think she thinks she works for the Diamondbacks…” – John Holmberg, 09:29

• On Friendship and Body Odor:
  “There’s nothing worse than being the stinky guy, the stinky friend.” – John Holmberg, 20:23

• On Nicknames:
  “If you know anybody that starts that introduces themself with ‘but you can call me…’ No, I’m gonna call you your name!” – John Holmberg, 38:47

• On Generational Change (with Eric D'Alessandro):
  “I think being gay now, though, has lost a little bit of its edge…It was more exciting when it was more unacceptable, maybe.” – Eric D’Alessandro, 123:44

• On Content Creation:
  “Being a content creator is jail. It’s miserable, it’s terrible, it’s not good…” – Eric D’Alessandro, 148:48

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Ballpark drama & seat etiquette: 00:37–10:45
• Body odor & friendship: 10:45–34:32
• Romance scams/Avoiding gullibility: 54:11–63:12
• Nicknames & Content Culture: 34:32–49:32, 131:02–151:07
• Graveyard Coffee/KUPD local color: 69:13–107:11
• Sports & Dale Hellistray hour: 151:20–184:26

Overall Tone & Style

True to HMS form, the tone is irreverent, teasing, and rapid-fire—equal parts sports radio, therapy session for average Phoenix dudes, and meta-commentary on the absurdities of both modern and local life. Expect candid talk and quick-witted sarcasm, but also moments of surprising introspection—especially on the nature of friendship, social media, and the state of Arizona sports.

Useful For

• Anyone curious about the real-life etiquette and culture at Arizona sports events
• Listeners who enjoy unfiltered banter about social norms, friendship, and hygiene
• Fans of long-form, tangential comedy mixed with local sports radio energy
• Those seeking warning signs and advice about romance scams
• Anyone looking for a comedic yet thoughtful look at generational change and contemporary media

Listen for:
Ballpark tales, the “Stinky Friend” intervention, epic nickname roast sessions, lessons on AI & loneliness, and the ongoing saga of Dunce Diamondbacks fandom (with a generous helping of C-words).