Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona

Episode: 10-22-25 - Entertainment Drill - WED - Would We Go Back In Time To Change Anything About Our Lives

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: John Holmberg
Co-hosts: Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

This episode's central theme is a lighthearted but thoughtful discussion about the "time machine question": If you could travel back in time—specifically, in your own life—would you change anything? The team explores the idea of altering past decisions, with a special focus on health, career, relationships, and physical fitness. The segment contains their trademark banter, self-deprecation, and a blend of humor with reflective moments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kicking Off: Back to the Entertainment Drill (01:19–03:43)

• John Holmberg introduces the segment, giving a birthday shoutout and some motivational commentary about continually improving oneself, regardless of age.
  • “Age is a number. It's your mentality that gets you by.” — John Holmberg (02:06)

2. Janelle Monáe's "Time Travel" and the Real Time Machine Debate (03:43–05:54)

• Brady brings up an interview where Janelle Monáe jokes about “traveling” to the 1970s to see David Bowie, prompting John to riff on time machines and what people would use them for if real.
  • They question her story with mock seriousness, and pivot: “If you have the power of going back in time... Why are you doing music?” — John Holmberg (04:48)
  • Jokes about “killing baby Hitler,” buying early Microsoft or Apple stock, and warning actors not to make questionable movie choices.

3. Would You Really Change Anything? Personal Time Machine Dilemmas (05:54–09:54)

• The team explores a hypothetical: “If you could only go back within your own lifetime, start over at any point, and relive from there, what would you do?”
• John shares that his friend John Gordon claims he wouldn’t change anything: “That absolutely nothing, player. ...Except for maybe a couple of bitches I’d have dumped a little earlier and maybe cut my hair in my 30s.” — John Holmberg paraphrasing John Gordon (05:52)
• The conversation steers toward reliving good memories versus correcting regrets.

4. The Role of Health: Would You Do It Differently? (06:29–12:27)

• John challenges the others: Would you go back and make healthier choices, knowing what will happen with your body?
  • Brady resists the idea, saying he doesn’t regret his dietary choices and points out that some issues are hereditary (kidney problems, high blood pressure):
    • “I never felt like, oh, I shouldn’t have done this to lead to this point.” — Brady (07:51)
  • John makes the case for prevention even when health issues are hereditary—“Wouldn’t you rather have it be the best it can be even if it’s not good, rather than go …‘I’m diabetic, I gotta control this better’?” (11:00)
  • Discussion on how blood pressure is “the silent killer” and the challenges of anticipating health impacts.
• Switching to deeper reflections, John notes he’d focus on physical fitness if given the chance to redo his earlier years.

5. Beyond Health: Sports, Regrets, and Playing 'What If?' (12:27–14:51)

• The group admits they might have taken sports more seriously in their youth—tennis, baseball, even golf—or stuck with certain hobbies.
• Hostility toward the idea of “no regrets,” as John insists, “I didn’t like John’s answer when he said nothing. And I’m like, there’s so much you could do for you.”

6. Lighter Moments: Names, Hair, and More (14:51–16:12)

• Quick detour as they discover they've been mispronouncing Mariska Hargitay’s name, leading to more banter about correcting past mistakes—like their hair care routines.
• John: “Maybe go back in time, maybe get a nose job. ...get a little more serious about hair care.” (15:17)
  • John jokes about washing his hair with soap and damaging it: “I'd have been nicer to my hair. F you, Brett. And that mop on your head.” (16:00)

7. Closing Reflections (16:12–End)

• They wrap up, encouraging listeners to try the “time machine” conversation at home, poking fun at the idea of correcting their partners’ past decisions with a treadmill purchase.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “If you have the power of going back in time... Why are you doing music?”
  — John Holmberg, questioning Janelle Monáe’s priorities with time travel (04:48)
• “Somebody said to me the other day, a time machine, but you can only travel back in your time.”
  — John Holmberg, setting up the central scenario (05:54)
• “I never felt like, oh, I shouldn’t have done this to lead to this point.”
  — Brady, reflecting on regret (07:51)
• “Wouldn’t you rather have it be the best it can be even if it’s not good, rather than go …‘I’m diabetic, I gotta control this better’?”
  — John Holmberg, on prevention and health (11:00)
• “You don't know. But so far, so good on the organs and I want to keep it that way.”
  — John Holmberg, on the value of hindsight (14:07)
• “I'd have been nicer to my hair. F you, Brett. And that mop on your head.”
  — John Holmberg, poking fun at himself and Bret (16:00)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:19 – Entertainment Drill starts; birthday shoutout/motivational riff
• 03:43 – Janelle Monáe’s “time travel” story leads into time machine hypotheticals
• 05:54 – Team discusses limitations of personal time travel and what they'd actually change
• 06:29–08:41 – Personal health, dietary habits, and inevitability vs. agency
• 09:54–12:27 – Debate on hereditary health issues vs. personal responsibility
• 12:27–14:51 – Sports, skill development, and self-improvement regrets
• 15:01–16:12 – Name mispronunciation, appearance, and hair care jokes
• 16:12–End – Closing jokes and encouragement to try the time machine talk at home

Tone and Style

The conversation is a blend of humor, self-mockery, and earnest reflection. The hosts’ camaraderie lends a fun and engaging vibe, even when contemplating more serious “what if?” scenarios about health and life choices. Jokes about “killing baby Hitler,” going back to change careers, or making small vanity tweaks keep it light—true to the show’s irreverent morning format.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode takes a playful but thoughtful dive into the age-old “If you could go back, what would you change?” question—anchored in the hosts’ personal experiences and classic banter. Whether it’s health, fitness, relationships, career, or even something as small as hair care, the gang pokes fun at both the futility and the fantasy of “redos,” while ultimately affirming the unpredictable, often satisfying messiness of life.

Great as an entry point to the podcast, this episode showcases the team’s humor, empathy, and penchant for tangents—making even existential questions sound like a morning chat between old friends.