Episode Overview

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode: 10-29-25 – Rock Wars: Song For The Driver Of Truckload Of Monkeys That Crashed
Date: October 29, 2025
Theme:
This episode's "Rock Wars" segment is inspired by a wildly bizarre news story about a truck carrying diseased laboratory primates that crashed, potentially unleashing STD-riddled monkeys onto the highway. The hosts compete by choosing the most fitting rock song that the truck driver—or the unfortunate motorist behind—could have been listening to as the monkey chaos unfolded. The episode is filled with quick-witted banter, irreverent humor, and creative musical selections, all in the show's signature irreverent tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Rock Wars Prompt (01:27–03:06)

• Host John Holmberg sets up the challenge, inspired by the real-life "truck full of diseased primates" accident. The story's absurdity spurs the question:
  "What song was the truck driver (or the person behind the truck) listening to when the monkeys got loose?"
• John bans the obvious choice, Steve Miller Band’s “Jungle Love”, due to previous overuse:

  “I'm banning Jungle Love, Brady.” (02:31, John)

2. Rock Wars Rules and Setup (03:06–04:23)

• The segment is officially sponsored, but the focus is on making the most entertaining and creative song picks.
• John riffs about the story:

  “Theme for that insane story that happened yesterday… the truck driver had to tell the cops. Pretty sure they got the STDs. Don't sleep with them. And then about three hours later, they're like, hey, they're just loose monkeys. You're fine… the truck driver knows he didn't just make that up.” (03:10–03:46, John)

3. The Contestant Picks

a. Bret Vesely’s Pick – For the Guy Behind the Truck (04:23–05:10)

• Bret Vesely opts to select the perspective of the dumbfounded driver behind the truck:

  “I'm going with the guy in the car behind because it's safer for me.” (04:23, Bret)

• He picks Cypress Hill’s “Hits from the Bong”:

  “Can you imagine?... you're like, matt, what are you listening to? And this is all you hear in the background. It’s ‘Hits from the Bong.’ Because there is no way anybody is going to believe this story that a truckload of apes... are running around the street, let alone having STDs.” (04:28–04:50, Bret)

• John delights in the image:

  “The dude behind him had to feel like he had done [something mind-altering]... I am definitely dreaming.” (05:10, John)

b. Brady Bogen’s Pick – For the Truck Driver (05:30–05:59)

• Brady Bogen takes the truck driver’s viewpoint and technically attempts to submit “Jungle Love”:

  “This hillbilly was trucking down the street singing along to this song. Guaranteed, ‘Jungle Love’ by Steve Miller.” (05:30, Brady)

• John notes the pick works, if only on a technicality:

  “Went with the other one. Oh, he chose the other. Jungle Love. Ah, the technicality… Technically, they are of the jungle.” (05:40, John)

• The group jokes about monkeys with tramp stamps and other whimsical monkey business (05:11–05:30).

c. John Holmberg’s Pick / Winner – “Monkey Business” by Skid Row (06:16–07:17)

• John Holmberg reveals his pick with John Gordon, the show's arbiter, declaring a winner:

  “Skid Row, Monkey Business.” (06:39, John)

• John admits his delight:

  “I like this one a lot. I got no beef with ‘Monkey Business’.” (07:04, John)

• The others acknowledge the obviousness and quality of the pick.

4. Humorous Commentary & Running Jokes

• Mockery of the situation:

  “One of them has a tramp stamp because she's a whore. Got the STDs, Brady. What's yours?” (05:15, John)

• Expectation of Brady’s (“Convoy”) pick:

  “We all thought Brady was going to go with Convoy. Yeah, for sure. Thought you were like, ‘we got us a convoy’ and one of my trucks just tipped over and dumped out a bunch of poison monkeys.” (06:44, John)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the absurdity of the monkey story:

  “A truck full of diseased primates wrecked... the truck driver had to tell the cops. Pretty sure they got the STDs. Don't sleep with them.” – John, (03:10–03:28)

• Banning the obvious song:

  “I'm banning Jungle Love, Brady.” – John, (02:31)

• Riff on disbelief:

  “There is no way anybody is going to believe this story that a truckload of apes, monkeys, whatever, are running around the street, let alone having STDs."
  – Bret, (04:44)

• Announcing the winner:

  “I'm going to give it to John Humb. That's exactly right. Skid Row, Monkey Business.” – John Gordon, (06:27–06:39)

• Light-hearted closure:

  “I got no beef with monkey business. Here we go... Just the song, the truck driver and the guy behind him were listening to. It's Skid Row, everybody. I win again. It's 98.” – John, (07:04–07:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Prompt Introduced – 01:27–03:06
• Rock Wars Setup & Rules – 03:06–04:23
• Bret’s Pick (“Hits from the Bong”) – 04:23–05:10
• Brady’s Pick (“Jungle Love”) – 05:30–05:59
• Winner Announcement (“Monkey Business”) – 06:16–07:17

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is characterized by irreverent, quick-witted banter and a “no boundaries” comedic approach. The hosts lean into both the absurd and risqué aspects of the monkey truck story, using the Rock Wars format as a springboard for raucous fun and sharp jokes.

Conclusion

Listeners are treated to the full flavor of Holmberg's Morning Sickness: pop culture absurdity meets shock jock humor, with the added layer of 80s/90s rock nostalgia. The segment showcases the hosts’ comedic chemistry and their knack for turning even the weirdest news items into a hilarious on-air game. The clear winner: "Monkey Business" by Skid Row—because sometimes, the obvious answer is the most fun.