Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness (Arizona)

Episode: 10-27-25 - BR - MON - Poll On Paranormal Experiences - Poll Finds Biggest Real Life Fear Is Political Corruption - Brady's Boring Vending Machine And Pumpkin Stem Stories
Air Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness takes a humorous look at American polls about paranormal experiences and deepest fears, interwoven with stories from the hosts’ lives—including Sedona adventures, commentary on yoga retreats, and predictably offbeat takes on mundane news such as vending machines and pumpkin preservation. As always, the crew brings their signature irreverence, quick wit, and good-natured ribbing to every topic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holmberg’s Sedona Adventure & Yoga Nap Critique

• [00:38 - 05:45] John recounts a weekend trip to Sedona, mocking the “Instagram spiritualism/Yoga nap” trend where people, mostly women going through life changes, pay to lay on rocks and nap in nature.
  • Quote: “This gets 100 bucks from each of you. At the end, we're gonna go up, lay out mats, and go to sleep for 30. That's what kindergartners do.” – John Holmberg (02:27)
  • John points out the absurdity of paying for a service that’s freely available in Sedona’s stunning environment.
  • The group riffs on “divorced lady retreats” and how spending and drama inevitably unfold in these settings.

2. Dog Eating Disorder and Hot Air Balloon Landings

• [05:51 - 07:16] John fields a listener’s question about a dog with “pica” (compulsive non-food eating), launching a tangent on odd pet behaviors and introduces fun (and risky) truths about hot air balloons.
  • Quote: “I just learned what pika is from your email… That’s when you eat stuff that isn’t food. It’s called pica. It comes from the Latin word magpie…That was Brady’s nickname in elementary school.” – John Holmberg (06:21)
  • Hot air balloons: “Pilot of a hot air balloon, 20% of landings are all hard landings. That’s too high for me. Two out of ten. Not good.” - John (07:07)

3. Brady Report – “Baseless Fun Facts” Segment

• [08:09 - 09:39] Brady delivers trivia, from the Portuguese origins of tempura to amethyst’s Greek roots, and the morbid fate of all the celebrities mentioned in Madonna's “Vogue.”
  • Quote: “All 16 celebrities Madonna mentions in the song Vogue are now dead…Lauren Bacall was the last to pass away in 2014.” – Brady (09:18)
  • Lively, lightly mocking banter among the hosts about historical trivia.

4. Poll on Paranormal Experiences

• [09:39 - 13:22]
  • U.S. polls show 60% of Americans claim to have had a paranormal experience; 35% felt an unknown presence.
  • 40% believe in ghosts, demons, and psychics; 7% say they’ve “communicated with the dead.”
  • John’s skepticism: “The dead do not communicate back. I can communicate with the dead. I can go talk—one-way conversation…But that’s your brain playing tricks on you because you’ve got a hole in your heart.” (12:30)
  • Quote: “Men 38% are more likely than women 28% to say there’s likely paranormal events they’ve experienced…” – Brady (11:43)
  • Hosts mock the logic of ghost believers, using personal stories (including some gross-out humor).

5. Poll on Biggest Real-Life Fears

• [16:18 - 17:53]
  • Chapman University poll: 69% of Americans cite “corrupt politicians/government officials” as their top fear.
  • Other fears: Loved ones falling ill, financial collapse, cyber terrorism, and death of family.
  • John and Brady riff on the priorities: “That’s our number one fear…Means we got the TV on too much.” – John (16:46)
  • Quote: “You’d think that death of a family member or loved one would be a little higher on my day to day fears than government corruption.” – John (17:34)
  • Comedic exploration of the grim hierarchy, with John considering TV news and politicians’ speeches as more worrisome than losing loved ones.

6. Weird News: Cigar in Bank Tube, Chick-fil-A Vending, and Borning Updates

• [18:11 - 19:58]
  • A man arrested for sending a lit cigar through a bank’s drive-through tube, injuring staff.
  • Discussion of Chick-fil-A’s new vending machine (only cold food, no Sunday service).
  • Quick aside: “I realized that I smell amazing...Dr. Squatch soaps. It’s life changing.” – John (21:07)

7. Public Service: Pumpkin Preservation

• [21:55 - 22:47]
  • Brady imparts a timely PSA: Keep the pumpkin stem on to slow rot, as nutrients remain in the stem.
  • The group feigns lively interest, ribbing Brady’s selection of “important” news.
  • Quote: “Very important PSA, really picked some gems today. I’m glad I smell good because otherwise I’d be upset.” – John (22:40)

8. Highlight Reel: Viral & Gruesome Videos

• [23:11 - 30:43]
  • UFC fight eye-poke (“fingers in his eye, two knuckles down!” - Brady, 23:41), MMA gym roundhouse KO, motocross crash (“That dude’s 20ft up…out before he hits the ground just from fear.” – John, 25:13).
  • Car crash/traffic fail videos—including a mariachi band run over by a truck—elicit dark humor.
  • Memorable: Extended, gross-out discussion on a man eating pancakes while his hand remains suspiciously in the back of his pants, spawning jokes about public hygiene.
  • “Guy says, knuckles deep in an eye. Add some pancakes, and that’s Sedona breakfast.” – Brett (26:03)

9. Random Observations & Local Insights

• [29:09 - 30:15]
  • New I-17 “flex lanes” have “guillotine” security bars designed to prevent wrong-way driving, described in gory detail by John. (“It would cut off everyone’s heads…it’s designed to do it so you’re not…You will never, ever be going the wrong way on Arizona’s flex lanes because you’d be a family of headless people.” – John, 29:50)

10. The Show’s Signature Blend of Banter and Edge

• Throughout, the hosts riff on each other’s stories and news—from failed impressions by Kirby, to poking fun at Brady’s report choices, to the lulls and jolts of their video reel.
  • Capping the episode: Over-the-top comedic description of a graphic video involving a suction-cupped sex toy (30:15-30:43).
  • “Only us balds can stick giant wieners to our heads and have women perform…” – John (30:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “This gets 100 bucks from each of you. At the end, we’re gonna go up, lay out mats, and go to sleep for 30. That’s what kindergartners do.” – John Holmberg (02:27)
• “That’s our number one fear…Means we got the TV on too much.” – John Holmberg (16:46)
• “The dead do not communicate back. I can communicate with the dead…But that’s your brain playing tricks on you because you’ve got a hole in your heart.” – John Holmberg (12:30)
• “Men 38% are more likely than women 28% to say there’s likely paranormal events they’ve experienced…” – Brady Bogen (11:43)
• “Very important PSA, really picked some gems today. I’m glad I smell good because otherwise I’d be upset.” – John Holmberg (22:40)
• “Guy says, knuckles deep in an eye. Add some pancakes, and that’s Sedona breakfast.” – Brett Vesely (26:03)
• “It would cut off everyone’s heads…it’s designed to do it so you’re not…You will never, ever be going the wrong way on Arizona’s flex lanes because you’d be a family of headless people.” – John Holmberg (29:50)
• “Only us balds can stick giant wieners to our heads and have women perform…” – John Holmberg (30:31)
• “All 16 celebrities Madonna mentions in the song Vogue are now dead…” – Brady Bogen (09:18)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Sedona/Yoga Naps Satire: 00:38 – 05:45
• Dog Pica & Balloon Landings: 05:51 – 07:16
• Brady’s Baseless Fun Facts: 08:09 – 09:39
• Paranormal Experience Poll: 09:39 – 13:22
• Biggest Real-Life Fears Poll: 16:18 – 17:53
• Weird News (Cigar, Vending Machines): 18:11 – 19:58
• Pumpkin Preservation PSA: 21:55 – 22:47
• Viral/Gross Video Highlights: 23:11 – 30:43
• Flex Lanes “Guillotine” Bit: 29:09 – 30:15
• Show Close/Banter: 30:43 – End

Tone & Style

• The tone throughout is irreverent, edgy, and laced with dry (and sometimes dark) humor—often satirical, always quick with observational wit.
• The hosts are unafraid to shift from thoughtful social commentary to juvenile humor within moments, lampooning the news, each other, and their own audience.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode encapsulates Holmberg’s Morning Sickness spirit: a mix of hyper-local Arizona color, the lampooning of modern spiritual/self-help fads, honest skepticism of mass culture (from ghosts to politicians), and uniquely grossed-out, boys’-club moments. The hosts’ banter and unfiltered asides make even the most mundane or bizarre news items worth tuning in for.