Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – Arizona’s #1 Morning Radio Show

Episode: 11-10-25 – FULL SHOW – MONDAY
Host & Crew: John Holmberg (Host), Brady Bogen, Dick Toledo (Bret Vesely out for personal reasons)
Date: November 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This Monday episode is a blend of dark humor, sports venting, and life’s weirdness, as John Holmberg and his crew riff on the fallout from a rough NFL weekend, the drama of fake paternity tests, sketchy sports gambling, and the quirks of social trends and pop culture. With Bret out due to his father’s illness, the team carries on, slipping easily between irreverence and insight in classic Morning Sickness style.

Key Discussion Points

1. Bret's Absence & Radio Family Support

• Segment [00:04–01:30]
  • John opens with heavy news: Bret Vesely is missing the show to be with his ill father. The team reflects on how radio is a “family” and sends their thoughts to Bret.
  • “He’s been a breath of fresh air in this room for a long time. So hopefully Bret and his family are doing what they need to do at this time. It’s not a fun time for them.” (John, 00:23)
  • The emotional letdown sets the early tone, but the team tries to keep things upbeat.

2. NFL Meltdowns & Fan Culture

• Segment [01:30–11:14]
  • The crew laments the Arizona Cardinals' disastrous game. John finds comfort in Steelers fandom, while Toledo, a Seahawks fan, enjoys “hate-watching” the Cardinals.
  • They examine fan schadenfreude—why fans of perpetually bad teams root against dynasties but take cheap shots when the tables turn.
  • “You are coming from the sewers. You were a sewer rat and you’re barking at someone who stepped in dog poop. It’s not equal. It’s not even close.” (John on Browns fans, 03:22)
  • The emotional volatility of football fandom is dissected, blaming roller-coaster loyalty for much of the sports world’s toxicity.

3. Soccer, Fandom, and Cultural Blind Spots

• Segment [09:11–14:30]
  • John confesses he’s “an unaffected, beautiful woman when it comes to soccer” and mocks his cluelessness about teams and traditions.
  • The conversation detours into the tribalism and even dangerous intensity of European soccer fanbases, like Glasgow's sectarian divide, and the lengths some go to display loyalty—or aggression.
  • “That gets pretty tribal… I can’t imagine having that also break my heart…” (John, 12:41)

4. Generational Slang: The '6-7' Phenomenon

• Segment [18:19–21:59]
  • After meeting an unusually enthusiastic 15-year-old fan who wants into radio, John and the gang talk trendy teen slang—specifically, meaningless gestures like “six-seven/juggling nuts” that are sweeping local high schools.
  • “It has no meaning… they just know it makes us crazy… it’s just an announcement of their stupidity.” (John, 20:25)

5. The Fake Paternity Test Crisis

• Segments [22:41–34:02 | 36:06–38:00]
  • A local story about a woman using fake paternity tests and sonograms to manipulate men prompts an epic rant:
    • The crew is floored by the availability of fake DNA tests and sonograms online—confirming via Google that such scams are alarmingly accessible.
    • Personal horror stories are shared about paternity scares, the emotional toll, and legal nightmares.
    • “I didn’t realize there was that kind of sinister out there. Go to a lab immediately and test.” (John, 31:15)
  • Brady and listeners contribute tales of their own, including schemes involving poked condoms and faked miscarriages.
  • Advice: always insist on legitimate, independent paternity testing—don’t trust a piece of paper from the other party.

Memorable Quote:

• “Always finish sexually in a Ziploc bag and take it home with yourself.” (John, 36:13)

6. Sports Gambling Scandals

• Segment [56:10–69:00]
  • Fresh news of MLB pitchers (Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz) indicted for allegedly throwing games for sports bettors leads to a deep dive into gambling’s infiltration of pro sports.
  • The hosts lament how legal, mobile betting has made corruption easier and more tempting—and how athletes from desperate backgrounds might be especially susceptible to pressure.
  • “The mob is back, everybody, and in a big way.…” (John, 57:56)
  • The discussion covers red flags in betting patterns, the danger of exotic proposition bets, and how the root problem is often larger social/economic issues.
  • Riff on how rookie athletes are warned to “abandon your friends” to avoid being bled dry—or worse.

7. Listener Emails & Life Advice

• Segment [124:52–139:54]
  • Holmberg’s Monday advice segment fields letters about irresponsible pet ownership, ungrateful guests, and a listener with a “human martini olive” for a future stepdad.
  • Common thread: people need to take responsibility—whether it’s for their dogs, their behavior in others’ homes, or who they let into their mom’s life.
  • Notable Letter: A listener describes his mom’s leeching boyfriend: “He smells like stale beer and engine dirt. He’s a human martini olive. Olive. Exactly. I know.”
  • Advice: Confront leechers directly (“Be a goddamn man. You show up, you pay some bills. If you’re going to live with her, you’re going to kick in. If I find out my sweet mother’s paying anything of yours, you got me to deal with.” – John, 139:02)

8. Odds & Ends: Theaters, Gays, and Tinted Broncos

• Segment [78:26–93:47]
  • John recounts entertaining his openly gay neighbors and marvels at how well gay male couples communicate compared to straight or lesbian couples (lower divorce rates, more honest about attraction).
  • The wonders of the revamped Phoenix Theater and the city's musical/art scene are lauded.
  • John defends his over-noisy, over-tinted Bronco as a midlife indulgence, sharing stories of coworkers being shocked by the faux-engine noise.

9. Pop Culture & Music:

• Segment [120:33–148:51]
  • Box office talk: “Predator Badlands” leads a weak weekend; streaming is eating into traditional movie profits.
  • Nikki Glaser’s “controversial” SNL monologue is reviewed—crew finds the Twitter outrage overblown.
  • Grammy nominations: special mention that the surviving member of Milli Vanilli is up for an audiobook award, inviting jokes about “faking it,” naturally.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “He’s been a breath of fresh air in this room for a long time. So hopefully Bret and his family are doing what they need to do at this time.” (John, 00:23)
• “You are coming from the sewers. You were a sewer rat and you’re barking at someone who stepped in dog poop.” (John, 03:22)
• “It has no meaning… they just know it makes us crazy.” (John, 20:25)
• “Always finish sexually in a Ziploc bag and take it home with yourself.” (John, 36:13)
• “The mob is back, everybody, and in a big way.” (John, 57:56)
• “He smells like stale beer and engine dirt. He’s a human martini olive.” (Listener Letter, 134:36)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:00–01:30]: Opening & Bret’s Absence
• [01:30–11:14]: Sports misery – NFL and fandom
• [18:19–21:59]: Meeting a young listener & discussion of “6-7” slang trends among teens
• [22:41–34:02 | 36:06–38:00]: Fake paternity tests, personal stories, and advice
• [56:10–69:00]: MLB gambling scandal & systemic sports betting woes
• [78:26–93:47]: Entertaining stories about gay couple neighbors, local theater scene
• [120:33–148:51]: Pop culture, box office, Grammys, and the Milli Vanilli memoir

Episode Tone and Style

Holmberg’s Morning Sickness is irreverent, rapid-fire, and keenly aware of the absurdities in modern life. Today’s episode alternates between empathy (for Bret), raw cynicism (about sports, relationships, and parenting), and infectious laughter—often at itself. The team peppers everything with personal stories, local flavor, and bits of blue-collar wisdom (delivered with both edge and affection).

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Expect brutal honesty, no sacred cows, and wild veering between heartfelt and appallingly funny.
• The paternity test discussion is a highlight—funny, bewildering, and genuinely good advice.
• If you’re a sports fan or just fed up with fads, you’ll find kindred spirits here.

This summary excludes commercials, intros/outros, and non-content breaks.