Holmberg’s Morning Sickness (98 KUPD Arizona)

Episode: 10-08-25 - FULL SHOW - WEDNESDAY

Air Date: October 8, 2025
Host: John Holmberg
Co-hosts: Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo (Brady Bogen is out)

Overview

This lively, irreverent episode of Arizona’s top-rated morning radio show features John Holmberg and his team riffing on local sports drama, pop culture controversies, and workplace antics—all in their signature mix of humor, sarcasm, and candid banter. Central topics include the fallout from Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon’s viral sideline punch, the role of physical discipline in football, America’s endless culture wars (from drag queens to pride parades), old vs. new school thinking, and a hilarious AI music segment. Jabs at WNBA, celebrity updates, and local observations round out a show that’s as raucous as it is relatable for Phoenix listeners.

Key Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Opening Shots – Arizona Mornings and “Paradise”

[00:55–01:52]

• Holmberg encourages listeners to step outside and appreciate Arizona’s October weather:

  “Go outside, breathe some of this air… because you live in paradise. And you must recognize it.”

• Light jokes about Maryvale:

  “Unless you’re in Maryvale. Stay inside. You’re gonna get shot.”

2. Jonathan Gannon Punch Controversy

[01:52–17:00]

Incident Details

• Cardinals’ coach Jonathan Gannon fined $100,000 for punching RB Emari Demercado after a critical fumble.
• Holmberg and Brett debate: Is physical discipline ever justified by a coach? Will this get Gannon fired?

Major Talking Points

• Comparison to legendary coaches (Woody Hayes, Bobby Knight) who were fired for physical abuse:

  “Woody’s face is everywhere in Ohio State. He’s legendary. And he got booted because a player finally said, ‘dude's being a little rough.’”
  — Holmberg [06:09]

• The podcast/social media effect:

  “That’s the danger… and the brilliance of podcasting… Everybody’s voice gets heard.”

• Double standards for players vs. coaches
• Workplace analogies (“Try this in a normal job—you’d get sued!”)

Memorable Back-and-Forth

• Brett (pro-punch): “Goddamn, he deserved it. And if it was that big of a deal, he should have jumped up and jacked Gannon right back.” [09:09]
• Holmberg: “A closed fist punch is different than grabbing a guy by the shoulder pads and shaking him. Even smacking somebody in the helmet.” [10:13]
• Brett, half-mocking: “We might as well fire him and bring in a single Gilbert mom to be the head coach now.” [09:03]

Debate: Football Toughness vs. Modern Standards

• Holmberg balances nostalgia for old-school coaching with the reality of workplace violence standards.
• Brett represents “old school,” repeatedly calling criticisms “pussy” behavior.

Notable Listener Quotes:

• “Do we need to just start handing out participation trophies again for all these pussies?” [10:06]
• “If there were different rules for football, it would happen more.” [13:54]

3. Pop Culture & Political Satire

[32:00–44:04]

Drag, Crime, and Fox News

• Holmberg lampoons Fox News’ obsession with drag queens and “fear-based” reporting.
• Notes how merely dressing in drag and committing a minor crime seems to guarantee cable news infamy these days.

  “If you dress in drag and commit a crime…Fox News will have you for months on there.” [36:13]

Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl

• Critique of right-wing uproar over Bad Bunny as a Super Bowl halftime performer.

  “I watched [Fox] for two hours…all they talk about is drag queens and inner city crime.”

• Amused by Speaker Mike Johnson suggesting Lee Greenwood as a mass-appeal halftime show pick.

Musical AI Segments—Classic Rock Goes Soul/Rap

• Teasers for an AI segment later, where rap and rock classics are reharmonized in different genres.

4. Local Culture & Pride Month Scheduling

[44:00–49:55]

• Huge Phoenix Pride Parade staged in October instead of June due to heat.

• Holmberg calls out “prideful when convenient” and wonders why events can’t embrace summer heat.

  “If you’re really prideful…your Pride Month is June. Phoenix is like, no, it's too hot to be proud.”

• Extensive, comedic observations on parade logistics, straight people’s confusion, and the economics of gay divorce.

5. Sports: WNBA, NFL & “Manliness”

[49:55–60:08]

WNBA Finals:

“1.9 million people tuned in…peaked at like 600,000 for the whole [game].”
“Go aces. If it goes 2–1, I start getting nervous about that tattoo again.” (on his on-air bet to tattoo the Mercury logo if they win) [135:46–136:09]

• More talk about sports “toughness,” participation trophies, and public reactions to violence.
• Jerry Jones fined $250,000 for flipping off Jets fans.

  “I was getting my fingers up to scratch the herpe and give a thumbs up at the same time.” (as Jerry Jones) [106:11]

6. Culture Wars: Editing Classics, Gun Control Symbolism

[70:48–85:56]

James Bond Movie Posters: Guns Removed on Amazon

“What kid…is going to be influenced by the poster? Is there any research to prove [removing guns] curbs violence?” [72:00]

• Extended riff: Should we retroactively “clean up” all violent movies?
• Absurdist speculation: “Maybe they'll change Scarface: Say hello to my little friend—Hi, my name’s Timmy!”

7. Celebrity Health & “Prayers for Dolly”

[53:10–64:25]

• Family of Dolly Parton asks for prayers—Holmberg jokes that when “hill folks” do this, it’s serious.

  “They need prayers for Dolly. I think Dolly's about done.”

• Calls for her famous implants to go to the Smithsonian as an American artifact.

  “She’s the first, like, the first Kardashian. She went extreme trailblazer: clown cans before anyone else.” [57:42]

8. AI Music Challenge: Classic Songs Reimagined

[144:36–159:52]

Premise:

• Each host selects a well-known rock song to be re-rendered by AI in a totally different musical genre.

Results:

• Brett’s pick: NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” as a Motown/soul track (absolutely steals the show).

  [Sample: 149:34]
  “Straight outta Compton, crazy mo’ named Ice Cube / Come on, gang called fellas with attitudes…”

• Holmberg’s: Slipknot's “Psychosocial” as a 60s blues rock song—funny, but Brett’s wins handily.

“There is no way my song is beating…you took a different angle. Damn it all. That’s a championship run…” —John Holmberg, [150:03]

Listener Reaction:

• Rave reviews; link to the reimagined song posted on their Facebook page.

9. “Brady Report”: Odd News & Local Flavor

[94:44–128:23]

• Fun facts about average weights for Americans (men: 200 lbs, women: 171 lbs)
• Food news: Long John Silver’s switches to chicken mascot; implications discussed for humanity.
• The dangers of having fat pets (“apple fat ass back into shape”).
• Arizona traffic rankings, lottery winners, and obscure regional restaurants (nobody’s heard of “Skippers”).

10. Odds & Ends: Callbacks and Show Sign-Offs

[172:08–END]

• Celebrates cohost Fitz’s successful gaming charity fundraiser ($10,401 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital).
• Recap: LeBron’s fake retirement tease, AI technology advances, WNBA Finals attendance, and Holmberg’s enduring (and humorous) skepticism of mega-celebrity “greatness.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Arizona’s Fall Weather:
  “We live in paradise, bitch… Unless you’re in Maryvale. Stay inside. You’re gonna get shot.” —Holmberg, [01:06]
• On Coach’s Punch:
  “Think of this in any other job anywhere in the United States. If you throw a punch into the guts of one of your employees…” —Holmberg, [04:26]
• Listener Feedback High Point:
  “Do we need to just start handing out participation trophies for all these pussies?” —Emailer, [10:06]
• On Football vs. Civilization:
  “I’m not saying I’m against it. I’m saying you shouldn’t do it in this world. In today’s world, the smarter move is to not punch an employee.” —Holmberg, [13:37]
• On Media Obsession:
  “If you dress in drag and commit a crime... Fox News will have you for months on there.” —Holmberg, [36:13]
• Bad Bunny Backlash:
  “I watched Fox for more than 30 minutes… you’re just sitting there going, I’m not going outside ever again.” —Holmberg, [38:01]
• AI Music Segment King:
  “Straight outta Compton, crazy mo’ named Ice Cube… (Motown AI version)” —[149:34]
• On Dolly Parton’s Place in History:
  “She is the trailblazer for what ended up being what women do now. Dolly Parton was the original…” —Holmberg, [57:49]
• On WNBA Finals Viewership:
  “1.9 million people tuned in… peaked at like 600,000 for the whole.” —Holmberg, [135:03]

Tone & Vibe

• Raw, sarcastic, and conversational.
• Quick shifts from sports rants to musical diversions, cultural satire, and local color.
• Intentional “pushing buttons” while maintaining self-awareness.
• Strong Arizona/PHX flavor and lots of inside jokes for local listeners.

Episode Structure

• 5:45–9:00: Morning banter, weather, Gannon incident
• 9:00–17:00: The NFL coaching punch debate
• 32:00–44:00: Pop culture riffs, drag queens, pride month
• 70:00ff: Culture war topics, classic movies, gun edits
• 94:00ff: “Brady report” (news, trivia, food)
• 144:00ff: AI song challenge
• 172:00ff: Good deeds, retrospectives, show close

For First-Time Listeners:

This episode captures the unfiltered fun of "Holmberg’s Morning Sickness": mixing local sports hot-takes, pop culture jabs, and random but brilliant audio stunts. The hosts’ chemistry is their superpower—embracing disagreement, ribbing each other, and always looking for the next punchline (sometimes literally). If you can roll with NSFW jokes and lightning-fast pivots between sports, politics, celebrity, and Phoenix life, you’ll enjoy the chaos.

Standout Segment:
Don’t miss the "Straight Outta Compton" Motown AI cover — the highlight of relentless AI commentary and musical creativity ([148:48–154:08]).

Full episode runs ~3 hours; key themes repeat and humor is sharp throughout.