Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – 11-11-25 (FULL SHOW) – 98KUPD

Date: November 11, 2025
Host: John Holmberg (with Brady Bogen & Dick Toledo; Brett Vesely absent)
Main Themes: Honoring Veterans, Coping with Loss, Arrogance of Humanity & Alien Life, Listener Letters, and Comic Relief

Episode Overview

This special Veterans Day episode is marked by heartfelt tributes, comedic banter, and honest reflections on grief. The show opens somberly, announcing the recent passing of co-host Brett Vesely’s father. As Holmberg, Brady, and Toledo process this loss, they blend humor, personal stories, and philosophical musings to bring levity and perspective. Classic HMS segments include reading children’s letters to veterans, debates about aliens, and irreverent commentary on American pop culture, all delivered in the show’s signature irreverent, authentic tone.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Loss and Coping – Brett’s Absence (05:45)

• Announcement: The show opens with John informing listeners that Brett’s father has just passed away and Brett is understandably absent.
  • "Just got word that Brett's dad passed away last night, but in a peaceful way, in his sleep." – John Holmberg (02:15)
• Reflections: The team expresses their affection for Brett, shares stories about parental loss, and discusses how the death of a loved one often brings relief after suffering.
  • "We show our pets more dignity than we [do] our loved ones." – Toledo (05:11)
  • "All the emails are coming in so nice ... Brett's been my guy for the last few years ... the best addition to the show we could have ever asked for." – Listener Bailey (53:51)

2. Tributes and Toaster Jokes (03:18)

• The hosts, struggling to find the “proper” way to honor Brett’s father, joke about Sambuca, Malört, and even pouring out “Ragu” (a comedic nod to Brett’s Italian heritage).
  • "You know what? We'll pour out some ragù for homie. Yeah. It's just. It's just cruddy news. That just sucks. So. To Brett. We love you, kid." – John Holmberg (05:44)

3. Veterans Day – Celebration and Remembrance (07:11, 52:23)

• Veterans Letters: The show’s annual tradition continues as they read children's letters to veterans written by students at Zaharis Elementary (see section below).
  • "These kids are running about a 3.8. Brady. They're pretty bright." – Toledo (08:40)
• Listener Tributes: Listeners send stories and names of family members who’ve served. John reads several submissions, honoring veterans present and past.
  • "Shout out to the graduates of Delta Company in San Diego ... Words cannot express the level of pride we feel." – Kevin Falcone (165:55)

4. The Holmberg Conundrum – Aliens and Human Arrogance (17:31+)

• Listener Email: “Dr. Bill H.”, a self-described retired astrophysicist, writes in to praise John’s theory that alien invaders would destroy the sun, not the Earth—suggesting he’ll title a scientific paper “The Holmberg Conundrum: The Arrogance of Humanity & Alien Encounter.”
  • "We've been telling people we're here for how long? 50 years? ... We're the Corey Feldman of space." – John Holmberg (19:23)
• Science & Satire: The crew teases the scientific community, discussing the likelihood of aliens targeting Earth itself, the “Columbus theory,” and whether humanity is the “space trailer trash.”
  • "If a Rolls Royce pulls up in your driveway ... that's what the aliens are gonna think." – John Holmberg (33:04)
  • "We're so brilliantly arrogant ... we think aliens want to meet us. Do you want to meet trailer trash? Because we're space trailer trash." – John Holmberg (30:16)
• Memorable Bit: The “Homeberg Conundrum” running joke, pledges of nobel prizes, and promises to buy all listeners a house if John’s theory wins an award (42:36).

5. Pop Culture, Sports & Local Color (13:15, 27:22)

• Phoenix Suns: John and friends dissect a strong Suns win and whether the team is championship material, leading to a (comedic) promise of amputation if they go to the finals.
  • "If the Suns go to the finals, I will cut off a toe ... Not the big one. That's for balance." – John Holmberg (15:02)
• Podcast Segues: Classic HMS rants feature discussions on yachting, Jeep pride, random city names, and more, sprinkled with visits to the “Rah Rah Room” and jabs at themselves, listeners, and each other.

6. Food, World Records, & American Contradictions (76:14)

• Wasting Food: The crew lampoons a Guinness record holder smashing cucumbers, wrestling with society’s hypocrisy in glorifying waste amid food insecurity.
  • "We celebrate this and then have the nerve to ask for money, for food, for places ... We're busting up cucumbers like nobody's business." – John Holmberg (76:57)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Death & Dignity:
  "We show our pets more dignity than we [do] our loved ones."
  — Toledo (05:11)

• On Human Arrogance About Aliens:
  "We are the Corey Feldman of space. We think we're famous ... and the rest of space is like, 'I'm not going to the Corey Feldman planet. That's dumb. Let's go blow up its sun.'"
  — John Holmberg (19:23)

• On the Suns’ Playoff Hopes:
  "If the Suns go to the finals, I will cut off a toe. Not the big one. That's for balance. ... Maybe I gotta go back to tattoos."
  — John Holmberg (15:01-15:43)

• On Listener Tribute Letters:
  "I hope you win. From Grace."
  "Thank you, hero ... for saving Poliole. Thank you, Fidden, for our Chunchurri churros."
  — Readings from student letters (127:04–130:05)

• On Hypocritical Food Waste:
  "We celebrate this and then have the nerve to ask for money, for food ... busting up cucumbers like nobody's business..."
  — John Holmberg (76:57)

Key Segments: Timestamps & Highlights

Opening & Tributes (05:45 - 09:38)

• Brett’s dad’s passing, affectionate reflection, and coping with grief.

Aliens & Human Arrogance – The “Holmberg Conundrum” (17:31 - 46:41)

• Listener astrophysicist email, running jokes about the Nobel prize, philosophical comedy about humanity’s arrogance.

Phoenix Suns/Local Sports (13:15 - 15:58)

• Suns’ recent performance; John’s comedic promises and sports superstitions.

Listeners’ Letters to Veterans (124:44 - 147:35)

• Heartwarming chaos as the hosts read kids’ unfiltered, poorly spelled, and unintentionally hilarious notes to veterans (“Tang high on the plex,” “Amaraka,” “sarrificing your liver,” and others).
  • "Dear veteran, I am so sorry that you don't get holidays. ... I hope you win. From Grace." (129:03)
  • "Thank you, military, for protecting Amaraka and sacrifice ring your liver." (144:39)

Pop Culture Riffs and Local Color (67:24 - 84:54)

• Yachting, shoe and wheel debris theories, world records, and food waste satire.

Hot Releases & Closing Banter (152:49 - 164:27)

• Video games (GTA 6, Black Ops), TV/film/music picks, and signature technical difficulties with humor.

In the Original Tone

• The show navigates death, respect for veterans, and pop culture with trademark irreverence—never shying away from dark humor or self-deprecation.
• Holmberg’s “Holmberg Conundrum” bit is both tongue-in-cheek and insightful, poking fun at science, pop culture, and listener emails in a style that’s both smart and silly.
• The letters from children segment is a blend of sweetness and comic gold, as the hosts struggle to decipher heartfelt but hilariously incoherent schoolkid submissions.

Conclusion

This Veterans Day episode is classic HMS: oscillating between heartfelt tribute, existential pondering, and brash comedy. Listeners are drawn into moments of shared mourning, community celebration, and laughter at life’s absurdities—reminded of the show’s enduring role in Arizona culture.

Selected Timestamps

• 05:45 — Brett’s absence & team tributes
• 07:11–10:37 — Veterans Day intro, letters tradition
• 13:15 — Phoenix Suns talk & comedic predictions
• 17:31–46:41 — Holmberg Conundrum (aliens/ego)
• 52:23 — Listeners’ Veterans Day tributes
• 124:44–147:35 — Children’s letters to veterans (comedy gold)
• 152:49–164:27 — Hot Releases (music, games), comedic wrap-up

Notable Listener Letter Excerpt:
"Dear veteran, I am so sorry that you don't get holidays. ... I hope you win. From Grace." (129:03)

Signature Holmberg-ism:
"We are the Corey Feldman of space." (19:23)

For More

If you missed the episode, this summary gives you a map of the themes and comedy—but to get the full HMS experience, let the irreverence, warmth, and wild tangents wash over you by listening in.