Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona's #1 Morning Radio Show

Episode: 10-03-25 – Waiter Announced His Pronouns To John's Table Confusing Everyone / Ozzy Pyramid 2003 BO
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: John Holmberg with Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Special Segment Guest: Ozzy
Summary by Podcast AI

Episode Overview

This episode opens with a comedic and candid discussion among the Holmberg crew about the cultural confusion and awkwardness surrounding pronoun usage, sparked by a recent restaurant experience. The team then launches into a lighthearted game, "Ozzy Pyramid," themed around St. Patrick's Day and all things green, featuring their resident Englishman "Ozzy" as the cluegiver.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pronoun Dilemma: Humor & Social Commentary (01:11–07:59)

• Awkwardness when service workers announce pronouns:
  John recounts being startled when his waiter introduced himself by pronouns, leading to a larger comedic exploration of how to navigate pronoun etiquette in everyday life.

• Perceived contradictions in LGBTQ+ visibility:
  John jokes about how those advocating for equality also introduce themselves with pronounced visibility—“You want to be left alone but wave this giant, bright flag and announce your pronouns.” (01:22, John Holmberg)

• Confusion and pressure around correct usage:
  The crew expresses confusion over remembering and using various pronouns, which leads to a stream of jokes about how easy it is to "screw up" and the perceived minefield of modern dining etiquette.

• Strategies and workarounds:
  They jokingly debate using generic terms like “boss,” “chief,” or sticking strictly to names to avoid misgendering.

  “It's a massive setup for failure. And you want to tell the manager, ‘Hey, I don't need to know his pronouns. I don't care about his personal life.’”
  —John Holmberg (03:27)

• Cultural observations:
  John notes cultural variation in pronoun enthusiasm, joking about specific Phoenix neighborhoods being more likely to display this behavior (04:36–05:06). He points out the added challenge for cooks with language barriers.

• Generational differences in salutations:
  The crew riff on “boss,” “chief,” “bruh,” and “my man,” reflecting on how older, simpler terms (“sir”) have faded, replaced by more casual or performative greetings.

  “Sir was nice. The old generations had it right. Hello, sir—that was a nice—that's gone.”
  —John Holmberg (07:11)

2. Icebreaker Banter: Names and Nicknames (06:10–08:19)

• The rise of casual monikers:
  They bemoan being called “bruh,” “boss,” or “my man,” and joke about which nicknames suit each of them best, culminating in a riff about being called “pirate” as an oddly positive outlier.

  “Bruh’s my thing. I get bruhed a lot, and I hate it... I’m an adult, you know that, right?”
  —John Holmberg (06:44)

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Pronouns in Service:

  “I've had that happen before where people will say, ‘Hi, my name's Kevin, he/him.’”
  —John Holmberg (02:12)

  "It's check, please, because I know I'm gonna screw up."
  —Braden (03:22)

• On Uncomfortable Nicknames:

  “You’re built for boss... I get bruh. Bruh’s my thing. I get bruhed a lot, and I hate it.”
  —John Holmberg (06:44)

  “Sir was nice. The old generations had it right.”
  —John Holmberg (07:11)

Segment: The Ozzy Pyramid Game (09:20–15:41)

• Premise:
  Ozzy (in his signature English accent and comedic persona) is the clue-giver in a fast-paced, St. Patrick’s Day-themed game inspired by the classic "Pyramid" format. Contestants call in and pick categories like "Green Things" or "St. Patrick’s Day Items."

• Highlight Moments:

  • Game chaos and hilarity:
    Ozzy’s clues are over-the-top and sometimes unclear, leading to a mix of comically correct and wildly off-target guesses.

    Ozzy: “Don’t get him angry. He starts tearing the place up. You can’t do anything about it.”
    Patrick (confused): “Bring the pecans?”
    (12:07–12:08)

  • Contestant confusion as Ozzy’s accents and clues bewilder all:

    “Oh, he's just so Reverend Angry. ... Oh, it was the Incredible Hulk again, I’m sorry. I ran out of clues.”
    —Ozzy (13:22–13:51)

  • Self-aware humor:

    Ozzy: “I'm adding that to the list, though. That is a good one, Tom.” (13:51)

  • Recurring green-related answers:
    Participants guess green beer, green puke, green clover, leprechaun, and Incredible Hulk, with coaching and encouragement from the hosts.

  • Meta-jokes about the game's difficulty:

    “The clues are there. The clues are absolutely there. I don’t know if that wasn’t Ozzy’s fault, was it? No, not at all.”
    —Patrick (15:46)

Prize Giveaways & Community Engagement (15:41–16:17)

• Listeners who score in the Ozzy Pyramid game win tickets to concerts (Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, Systematic, Stereo Mud, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park).
• The hosts hype up the local radio scene and encourage listeners to call in for their chance.

Conclusion

Tone & Takeaway:
As always, Holmberg’s Morning Sickness blends irreverent, quick-witted banter with subtle social critique and lighthearted audience interaction. The episode delivers a comical look at evolving social norms, especially regarding pronouns and greetings, mixed with the show’s trademark games and community prizes. The chemistry between the hosts and their willingness to laugh at themselves and pop culture keeps listeners engaged and entertained.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

• Expect laughs as the crew tackles the confusion around pronouns in the wild.
• Enjoy Ozzy’s over-the-top St. Patrick’s Pyramid game, even if the clues sometimes make no sense at all.
• Get a playful slice-of-life from Arizona’s most popular rock radio morning crew, brimming with local color, sarcasm, and the odd pirate reference.