Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – October 7, 2025

Episode Summary: The Jew-wop Show Day 2 (Brady Out, AI In, and Arizona Nostalgia)

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness ("HMS") is defined by John Holmberg's self-aware humor and banter with co-hosts Brett Vesely and Larry, as they attempt to entertain Arizona while co-host Brady Bogen is away visiting family in Ohio. The show covers a mix of tongue-in-cheek personal stories, pop culture, irreverent perspectives on technology—particularly AI, and plenty of Arizona-centric nostalgia, all delivered in the fast-and-loose style longtime listeners expect. Notably, the crew explores how AI is being hilariously (and sometimes questionably) used by the masses, the end of “local” for the Arizona Republic, and the ever-present march of time—both in voices and technology.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Worm in John’s Brain: The “Changing Voice” Debate

Timestamps: [00:08] – [06:58]

• Premise: John opens the morning rattled by a comment from station boss Tripp Reeb, who told him he sounds “different”—deeper, more mellow—on more recent best-of eps compared to old tapes.
• Nostalgia & Self-Doubt: The team jokes about aging voices and the subtle horrors of listening to one’s own tapes. Brett notes—grimly and humorously—that old recordings of co-host Brady are especially “interesting,” referencing brain fog and aging.
• Studio Changes: John and Brett both mention that the studio’s technical upgrades might affect their sound, leading to a semi-serious debate about audio “compression.”
• Quotable:
  • "Maybe the old tapes sound sped up because they're not compressed through a microphone." (John, [01:43])
  • “I honestly hate to say it, but in the old ones, you and Eric sound alike.” (Brett, [07:04])
• Outcome: John spends much of the show comically self-conscious and referencing the “saber strike” to his confidence.

2. Stories from the Homefront: Farting Neighbors and the Motherland

Timestamps: [13:00] – [17:54]

• John recounts an awkward encounter: After loudly farting and singing “Rooster” by Alice In Chains in the driveway of his rental, he’s confronted by a neighbor—and then accidentally spills sparkling water in his lap in full view of another neighbor’s child, appearing as “the guy who tries to kill neighborhood kids.”
• Reflects on Brady’s absence and family bonds: He discusses Brady's trip to Ohio with his daughter Kirby, theorizing about parental connections and the difficulty of being away from loved ones.
• Notable Moment:
  • "That water was freezing ... right through ice cold water to the balls ... that poor little kid, he just saw a madman with crazed eyes aiming a car at him.” (John, [16:56])

3. Alien DNA and “What If” Thinking

Timestamps: [19:48] – [29:00]

• John dives into a viral article about “alien DNA” in people claiming abduction.
  • “They did a genetic test of their DNA and there’s ... some non-parental strains in here, some sort of anomaly ... for the sake of the story, they're saying it's alien DNA.” (John, [20:19])
• The crew debates the plausibility of aliens, ghosts, and even religion as belief systems:
  • “Aliens seem more reasonable than religion, than what I’ve been presented with.” (John, [27:47])
  • Larry is the resident skeptic.
• Quick tangent: Over-the-top rhetorical pondering about ghost towns, Arizona’s Jerome, and the mythos of Arizona landmarks.

4. Apocalyptic Math and Changing Calendars

Timestamps: [30:50] – [35:12]

• Riffs on recent doomsday prophecies: A pastor’s failed September 23rd prediction is pushed to October 7–8, with much mirth over Gregorian vs. Julian calendar math and Jesus not knowing how to convert time zones.
  • “If Jesus knows everything, he would at least call and say, ‘what time is it there?’” (John, [34:05])
• Observational irony: Arizona’s state holidays, the progression of time, and how calendar oddities create both confusion and fodder for radio comedy.

5. Arizona Nostalgia: The Death of Local Print and Amusement Parks

Timestamps: [39:04] – [46:49]

• Major local moment: Arizona Republic will no longer print in Arizona—papers to be printed in Vegas and driven in.
  • “By the time you get the paper, it was driven five hours ... yesterday’s news today.” (John, [40:00])
• Discussion: Closing of Legend City amusement park and memories of how the Phoenix-Mesa area has evolved from “RubeTown, USA.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “It was Rubetown, USA ... Dave Pratt was entertainment to the masses ... absolutely no thought into anything I say.” (John, [47:03])

6. AI Outrage—Hitler, Hawking, and the Rise of Absurd Machine Comedy

Timestamps: [51:32] – [71:50]

• The show’s emotional centerpiece: John loses an hour to viral AI videos—Hitler quarterbacking the Chiefs, Jesus on a skateboard, Stephen Hawking in the X Games and UFC, Bob Ross wrestling Mr. Rogers, and more.
• Meta-humor and ethical musings: They note the speed at which general public has used powerful video AIs (like “Sora”) for absurd, offensive, and darkly funny memes rather than for potentially world-changing good.
  • “If this is what AI does for us, count me in. … My favorite thing in the world right now: Hitler, Jesus, and Hawking. Great band name, too.” (John, [55:24])
  • “The only dangerous thing … is that people will start thinking Hitler’s funny. … Maybe it softens what Hitler is.” (John, [59:00])
• Honest self-reflection: John worries about history repeating itself in comedy, softening real evil, but delights in gallows humor as “a relief valve” for society’s anxiety.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "These are awful, what you're pulling up. ... We're a terrible group. Just terrible." (John, [61:46])
  • "If you can't laugh at Stephen Hawking or even Hitler on a half-pipe ... that's what we need more of." (John, [74:47])

7. Taco Tuesday, Halloween, and “The One That Got Away”

Timestamps: [90:23] – [109:34]

• Taco chat: National Taco Day deals; best/worst taco toppings (olives are bad, lettuce and cheese controversially maligned online), and John’s sincere praise for gross Jack in the Box tacos when drunk.
• Halloween: Arizona is the nation’s least-spirited Halloween state; John laments the lack of decorations, candy buying stats, and local traditions.
• Relationships: The “one that got away” survey quickly devolves into true crime jokes about Bundy and Dahmer, ending with John’s resignation that “they’re gone for a reason.”

8. Local Crazy News and Bits

Timestamps: [110:04] – [125:28]

• Florida woman arrested for unloading 75-100 used tampons on an ex’s lawn. Team debates logistics, ponders “sociopath stuff.”
• Signs of a bad bar: Dirty glassware, off-track betting, and bartender egos.
• On this day: October 7 anniversaries (Spotify launch, Hubie Halloween release, Schwarzenegger elected).
• Brady check-ins: A suite of “crazy” videos from Brady including gorilla attacks, gutter-diving food scavengers, and viral mishaps.

9. Hot Releases: Music & Streaming

Timestamps: [140:00] – [159:47]

• Streaming: John Candy documentary (“I Like Me”) gets an emotional nod. Discussion of Netflix’s “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” prompts debate about true crime and women sympathizing with murderers.
• New music: Songs from Megadeth (“Tipping Point”) and Testament (“Shadowfall”) get played and critiqued.
• Absurd AI soul covers: The team revels in “Soul Biscuit” doing Limp Bizkit's “Nookie,” “Soul Zombie” covering Rob Zombie, and more.
  • John, awesomely: “There’s a whole station waiting for this ... I want to replace my entire catalog of music with this.” ([156:16])
• "N-word or F-word" game — The closing edgy, recurring segment.

10. Entertainment Drill Highlights and Randoms

Timestamps: [163:51] – end

• Offspring tour announcement: with Bad Religion sparks some punk nostalgia.
• Actors hated by their cast: Jim Carrey (“Man on the Moon”), Bill Murray (“Charlie’s Angels”), Wesley Snipes (“Blade: Trinity”), Lindsay Lohan, and Jared Leto (“Suicide Squad”) all get called out for difficult on-set behavior.
• Celeb birthdays: Notables include Mookie Betts, Brie Olsen, Taylor Hicks, and Joy Behar, with the usual deadpan humor about adult film “expiration dates.”
• Final Arizona signoff: John pokes fun at the temporary “Jew-wop Show” and dreams of Katie Hobbs shutting it down for good.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Maybe the old tapes all sound sped up because they're not compressed..." – John ([01:43])
• "If that was air, it was square." – John, post-fart ([13:40])
• "All those people who are abducted by aliens ... they did a genetic test ... for the sake of the story, they're saying it's alien DNA." ([20:19])
• "If you can't laugh at Stephen Hawking or even Hitler on a half-pipe ... that's what we need more of." ([74:47])
• "Arizona Republic ... printing in Vegas and driving 'em here; that's more cost-effective than having your own press." ([40:13])
• "My favorite thing right now: Hitler, Jesus, and Hawking. Great band name, too." ([55:24])
• "These are awful, what you're pulling up. ... We're a terrible group. Just terrible." ([61:46])
• "I spent an hour watching Hawking on that pipe." ([72:02])
• "Hitler AI—come on ... we did it with Hitler shaking hands with Patrick Mahomes. I don't know why." ([58:31])
• "We're a terrible group who occasionally has the nerve to clutch our pearls about what someone says ... the muffins are out of the tin, dude." ([62:43])
• "Nobody beautiful in their mid-to-late 20s is working at a chain restaurant ... Valtrex." ([128:14])

Overall Tone & Spirit

Raucous, irreverent, fiercely self-effacing, and quintessentially local, this episode offers a blend of old-school radio silliness and sharp social commentary on both modern technology (AI humor and dangers), Arizona’s changing landscape, and pop culture. The episode strikes a balance between genuine nostalgia, gallows humor, and knowingly inappropriate bits—anchored by the crew’s unique chemistry and John’s gift for spinning the everyday into an event.

Recommended Segments by Topic/Theme:

• AI Absurdities and Pop Culture Outrage: [51:32]–[75:47]
• Arizona Nostalgia (Media, Legend City): [39:04]–[47:03]
• John's Personal Stories & "Changing Voice": [00:08]–[06:58]; [13:00]–[17:54]
• Taco Tuesday, Halloween, Toppings & Traditions: [90:23]–[109:34]
• Hot Releases & AI Soul Covers: [140:00]–[159:47]

For a taste of classic HMS, don't miss the AI segment, the "farting neighbor" story, and John’s aching over voice changes—then stay for the blend of local color and mockery that make the show a Radio Hall of Fame mainstay.