Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 10-10-25
Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

In this energetic and irreverent episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, the crew kicks around a wild mix of pop culture, sports, current events, and medical oddities. The tone is sardonic and quick-witted, with John Holmberg’s trademark blend of ranting, observational humor, and topical chatter. This edition finds the hosts mocking Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American” sellout, musing about human longevity (with Putin and Xi’s supposed immortality quest), loving on football standouts Cam Skattebo and Jaxon Dart, and dissecting the bizarre new heroin “sharing” trend dubbed "blood Bluetoothing." There are also personal stories, sports commentary, and authentic morning show banter, all with a distinctly unfiltered Arizona flavor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the USA" Goes International

[00:28-02:37]

• The hosts react to a listener’s email revealing that country singer Lee Greenwood has rewritten his famously American anthem for other countries, including a Canadian version.
  • “He just replaced America with whoever paid him.” – John [01:46]
• They joke about the awkwardness of hearing the song’s lyrics tailored to other nations and mock the idea of "knockoff" nationalism:
  • “That’s like telling Canada their new national anthem is the Star Spangled Banner, eh? ‘O say, eh, can you see, eh?’” – John [02:13]
• The group comments that this cash-grab move tarnishes Greenwood’s patriotic “brand.”

2. Pop Culture, Sports, and Randomness

[03:01-08:59]

• The crew discusses complaints from listeners about topics like parking spot disputes and halftime show musical acts.
• They pivot to the NBA’s preseason games hosted in China and question both the point of these games and why anyone in the U.S. would tune in at 5am.
  • “There's no better gift America can give to an adversary than preseason basketball.” – John [08:26]

3. Sports Recap: NFL Standouts and Epic Baseball Gaffe

[10:37-18:41]

• Praise for Arizona State product Cam Skattebo and quarterback Jaxon Dart, both for recent performances and their playing style.
  • “Man, is it impressive when he [Skattebo] hits four dudes and then just starts digging those legs in the ground. He is a stud.” – John [11:13]
  • “He reminds me of a poor man’s Mike Alstott... looking for numbers to run into, didn’t try to dodge anyone.” – John [17:38]
• Discussion about football careers, injury risks (e.g., references to RG3), and scouting failures by teams.
• Recap of the Philadelphia Phillies’ playoff elimination by a brutal misplay:
  • “If baseball was still America’s sport, that would be an icon. It still will be. An iconic, horrible play to end… It was Bill Buckner.” – John [13:05]
  • Jokes about the new verb “Kirkering” for botched throws [14:12]
• The group relishes Philly’s sports misery:
  • “Anytime you can kind of make Philadelphia sad as a whole and then do it twice in one night, highly recommend you take that up.” – John [16:27]

4. Putin & Xi: The Immortality Plot

[18:41-24:55]

• The hosts riff on reports of a hot mic catching Putin and Xi Jinping discussing biotech, organ transplants, and aspirations for 150-year lifespans.
  • “That is proof that most leaders in the world are psychopaths. Because nobody should want to live to be 150.” – John [21:57]
• They make darkly comic observations about being “resource suckers,” the absurdity of ultralong life, and old age:
  • “Nothing about 106 says tomorrow’s gonna be better. It’s just a downward slide into misery.” – John [22:26]

5. The Oldest Among Us: When Longevity Isn't a Blessing

[24:46-29:59]

• John celebrates the death of centenarians (notably Sister Jean) as a release from suffering and rails against the societal obsession with extreme old age.
  • “I am so glad you’re dead. It’s fantastic news today because you got out before it got real bad.” – John [27:09]
• Discussion includes global demographics, especially Japan’s aging population, and musings about the possible (joking) effects of nuclear bombs on Japanese longevity [27:17-28:26].

6. Bizarre Drug Trends: "Blood Bluetoothing" and Hotspotting

[30:12-38:03]

• The group breaks down a disturbing trend where drug users share heroin by injecting their blood into each other after shooting up — called “hot spotting” or “blood Bluetoothing.”
  • “The stuff must be amazing because the things they do to get it are crazy.” – John [31:32]
  • “Now they’re doing this hot spotting and Bluetoothing where… you get like a minor heroin high off the heroin infused blood that came out of your heroin friend.” – John [32:15]
• They mock attempts by public health officials to warn heroin users about harm reduction:
  • “Doctors, stop warning heroin addicts what healthy is. Just knock it off. You’re wasting your time.” – John [32:55]
• The absurdity escalates with quips about sharing pizza “bluetooth-style” and how nothing about heroin use is “reasonable.”

7. Solidarity, Stamos, and Bald Caps

[38:03-40:55]

• John describes quitting Coke Zero to support Brady’s dietary needs post-kidney troubles, likening it to friends shaving heads to support cancer patients.
  • “Sometimes you do things to kind of show support for your buddy who’s going through a thing.” – John [39:15]
• Segues into a tangent about John Stamos posing with a bald cap for a cancer support photo shoot, mocking the performative aspect.

8. Classic Rock – Old Dogs and Their Birthdays

[41:30-43:45]

• The show closes out with birthday acknowledgments for rock legends (David Lee Roth at 71; Daryl Hall at 79), riffing on aging and the longevity theme.
• Jokes about Roth living to 106 and the implied horror of that idea.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lee Greenwood Sells Out

  • “He just replaced America with whoever paid him.” – John [01:46]
  • "That's like telling Canada their new national anthem is the Star Spangled Banner, eh?" – John [02:13]

• On Heroin Sharing

  • "Now they're doing this hot spotting and Bluetoothing where... you get like a minor heroin high off the heroin infused blood..." – John [32:15]
  • "Doctors, stop warning heroin addicts what healthy is. Just knock it off. You’re wasting your time." – John [32:55]

• On Longevity

  • “That is proof that most leaders in the world are psychopaths. Because nobody should want to live to be 150.” – John [21:57]
  • “Nothing about 106 says tomorrow’s gonna be better. It’s just a downward slide into misery.” – John [22:26]

• On Philly Sports Fans

  • “Anytime you can kind of make Philadelphia sad as a whole and then do it twice in one night, highly recommend you take that up.” – John [16:27]

• On Old Age

  • “I am so glad you’re dead. It’s fantastic news today because you got out before it got real bad.” – John [27:09]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Lee Greenwood’s Multinational Anthem: 00:28–02:37
• Listener Emails & NBA Preseason in China: 03:01–08:59
• NFL & Baseball Recap (Cam Skattebo, Kirkering): 10:37–18:41
• Putin/Xi Organ Harvesting and Immortality: 18:41–24:55
• Old Age and Longevity Rant: 24:46–29:59
• Drug “Blood Bluetoothing”: 30:12–38:03
• Stamos, Cancer Support, and Bald Cap: 38:03–40:55
• Classic Rocker Birthdays: 41:30–43:45

In Summary

This episode is a full-throttle mix of pop satire, sports analysis, and unfiltered takes – all delivered with the irreverence and camaraderie that defines Holmberg’s Morning Sickness. The hosts bounce between topics, lampooning culture’s sacred cows (and centenarians), poking fun at music and sports idols, and highlighting the absurdities of both political and street-level quests for immortality — whether via organ transplants or questionable needles. If you like your morning talk raw, sharp, and just a little bit transgressive, this episode delivers.