Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode Title: 11-11-25 – Sad News As We Learn That Bret's Dad Has Passed Away – Making Bold Prediction About The Suns – UofA Science Professor Naming A Dissertation On Aliens After The Holmberg Conundrum
Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Dick Toledo (Bret Vesely not present)
Main Theme:
A blend of sincere reflection, offbeat humor, and irreverent deep dives, this episode centers on the sad news of Bret Vesely’s father’s passing, wild NBA Suns predictions, and Holmberg's offhand theory about aliens inspiring an academic dissertation—the “Holmberg Conundrum”—at the University of Arizona.

1. Opening & Bret Vesely’s Loss

Tone: Thoughtful, irreverent, supportive.

• Announcement of Bret’s Absence ([01:18]):
  • John Holmberg opens with the fresh, somber news that co-host Bret Vesely's dad had passed away peacefully in his sleep just hours earlier.
  • Hosts reflect on their bond with Bret, sharing both warmth and trademark dark humor.
  • "We've grown quite close to him... If you can tolerate some Sambuca, raise him up in Brett's dad's honor and in Brett's family's." – John Holmberg ([02:10])
• Finding the Right Tribute ([02:13]–[04:42]):
  • Attempts at a toast spiral into jokes about terrible liquors and pouring out Ragu in Italian fashion.
  • "We show our pets more dignity than we... our loved ones." – Brady ([04:09])
  • Emphasis on wanting to keep things light for Bret, encouraging listeners to send him jokes and memes for catharsis.
  • "Everybody always emails me and says... you guys were the first ones that made me laugh after this happened." – Holmberg ([05:21])

2. Veterans Day Letters Tradition

Nostalgic Mockery Meets Local Tradition

• The hosts revisit their tradition of reading children’s Veterans Day letters sent from Arizona schools ([06:29]):
  • Playful moaning about bad handwriting and the infamous “Tang high on the plex” letter from years past, now a recurring inside joke.
  • Banter about the possible age of the original “Tang high on the plex” kid, pondering if he’s now an adult ([08:44]).
  • "They're reading at a fourth grade level. They're full of themselves right now... I'm gonna get a house soon." – Holmberg ([07:46])
• John admits that, even as a morning show veteran, reading those letters is both hilariously bad radio and irresistibly funny.

3. Sports Segment: Suns Prognostications

High Energy, Classic Jinxing, and Locks of the Week

• Phoenix Suns Talk ([11:14]):
  • Excitement after a dominating Suns game, especially Grayson Allen’s 40+ point night.
  • "All I've learned in the last couple weeks is that Grayson Allen hated Kevin Durant." – Holmberg ([12:28])
  • Hosts suggest Durant’s departure “freed up” other players and improved locker room vibes.
• Bold Predictions & Show Bets ([15:06]):
  • Kevin Ray (Suns broadcaster) inspires optimism about the Suns’ playoffs prospects.
  • “If the Suns go to the finals, I will cut off a toe. Not the big one—that's for balance. How about my fourth toe from the left on my left foot?" – Holmberg ([15:11])
  • The prediction quickly transforms into less-gory wagers—tattoos, specifically a “311” tattoo if the Suns make the Finals.
  • “I'm actually going to root against the Suns. I'm going for season tickets to root against them.” – Holmberg ([16:11])

4. Listener Engagement & Veteran’s Day Promo

Community Shout-Outs and Comedic Cynicism

• The 6:00 a.m. word for winning $1,000 is announced: “prize.” ([17:11])
• Discussion of listener emails expressing gratitude for the show’s role as comic relief through hard times.

5. "The Holmberg Conundrum": From Radio Bit to Academic Paper

Aliens, Academia, and Human Arrogance

• Wild Theory Gets Recognition ([17:40]):
  • A retired UofA astrophysicist emails John, crediting the show’s recent musings about alien contact as inspiration for serious study.
  • If aliens found our solar system, why visit Earth? Wouldn't they go for the sun instead?
  • Professor asks permission to name his dissertation “The Holmberg Conundrum — The Arrogance of Humanity and Alien Encounter.”
    • “When you theorized that a spacecraft would come and blow up the sun long before it would ever search for a planet with life is so spot on…” – Prof. William H. (read by Holmberg, [18:31])
  • Holmberg and the group riff: “We're the Corey Feldman of space. We think we're famous... but we're not.” ([19:32])
• Philosophical Back-and-Forth ([20:00]–[21:44]):
  • Hosts debate if aliens would care about humanity or just use the sun as a “supercharger.”
  • Holmberg: "If they're hell-bent on destroying stuff, there's the way to do it.” ([20:10])
  • Group jokes about being “the mountain goats of space” or the “merryvale” (a less-desirable suburb) of the universe ([32:45]).
  • “Do you want to meet trailer trash? Because we're space trailer trash... we're going to order the cheapest thing on the menu and embarrass them.” – Holmberg ([31:13])
• Theoretical Extensions:
  • Would the aliens be explorers (like Columbus) or conquerors, repeating historical cycles of colonization? ([33:13], [36:28])
  • “Everything is cyclical and we here on Earth don't have any way to discover anything anymore. Somebody has to discover us.” – Holmberg ([36:28])

6. The "Holmberg Conundrum" as an Academic Legacy

A Joke Turns Real, Kind Of

• Holmberg jokes about Nobel Prize ceremonies, attending if the paper wins: ([23:00])
  • "If, in fact, you do win any prizes for that, I get to at least go to the ceremony because it's technically mine."
• More banter about whether the professor is reputable or an eccentric (“Wild Bill”), and whether Tucson scientists can be trusted ([29:27], [42:05]).
• Playful promises: “If the Holmberg Conundrum wins a prize, I’ll buy everyone listening a house. While supplies last.” – Holmberg ([43:47])
• Mock T-shirt slogan idea: “You owe me a house, bro. The Holmberg Conundrum.” ([43:58])

7. Cultural Satire & Tangents

Barbecue Boredom, Car Envy, Colonial Analogies

• Stories about awkward “dad” and “MBA” conversations at the Suns game—brisket, smokers ([48:55]).
• Extended riff on encountering Aborigine history in Australia and colonial metaphors for alien contact ([33:32], [35:06]).
• “We gave it to him. We’re morons. We’ve seen this.” – Holmberg, likening colonial history to possible outcomes of alien contact ([35:06])

8. Finale & Notable Quotes

Signature Absurdity, Sincerity, and Recaps

• Listeners are reminded (playfully) that the only word that matters for the prize is “prize” with a Z, not “pride.” ([46:33])
• Closing callback: “If the Holmberg Conundrum gets going, everybody gets... I will. Okay. 6:24am 1111 25. If the Homer conundrum wins a prize at all, I'll buy everyone a house while supplies last.” – Holmberg ([43:47])
• Final references to “Tang high on the plex” and the prospect of the show’s legacy becoming scientific canon.
• Signature irreverent sign-off about not worrying about aliens, the internet, or human priorities ([45:29]).

Notable Timestamps & Quotes

• Bret Vesely’s Loss Announced – [01:18]
  • “We start the show miserable... just got word that Bret’s dad passed away last night...” – Holmberg
• Veterans Day Letters & "Tang High on the Plex" – [08:15]
  • “Tang high on the plex is 18? Shut your mouth.” – Holmberg
• Suns Toe/Tattoo Bets – [15:11–16:11]
  • “If the Suns go to the finals, I will cut off a toe... Eh, I’ll go back to tattoos.”
• Holmberg Conundrum Email – [18:31]
  • “I’d like to title it the Holmberg Conundrum: The Arrogance of Humanity and Alien Encounter.”
• Space Trailer Trash – [31:13]
  • “Do you want to meet trailer trash? Because we’re space trailer trash.”
• “You owe me a house, bro” – [43:58]
  • “Would that be our next T-shirt, please? 'You owe me a house, bro.' The Holmberg Conundrum.”

Episode Takeaways

• A blend of real emotion and gallows humor in dealing with loss as a community.
• Bold sports fandom and bets mix good-natured cynicism with giddy hometown pride.
• Wild theories and comedic monologues seamlessly pivot into real-world impact, as a flippant take on alien contact morphs into an academic paper.
• The show’s unique angle: equal parts self-mocking, Arizona-centric, and defiantly odd; every topic—serious or silly—gets the HMS treatment.

For those who missed it:
This episode perfectly encapsulates [Holmberg’s Morning Sickness] at its best—irreverent, heartfelt, local, and just clever enough that you might find yourself referenced in a Nobel lecture for something you once screamed at the radio.