Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 11-17-25 – Tickets Now On Sale For This Year's Happy Endings Show – Entertainment Drill – Paris Hilton Says She's Self Made
Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Special Guest: Mountain Man (Toyota) Jay

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness includes the announcement of the annual "Holmberg After Dark: Happy Endings 2025" event, a cameo from "Mountain Man Jay," and the ever-popular Entertainment Drill. The crew covers topics ranging from celebrity self-made myths to notorious historical figures, all laced with their signature sarcasm, irreverence, and candid banter.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Happy Endings Show Announcement

[01:12 – 04:45]

• Holmberg reminds listeners the year is winding down, and Christmas lights are already up.
• Official announcement for "Holmberg After Dark: Happy Endings 2025" at Stand Up Live on December 12.
• Details about pre-parties at Copper Blues, ticket tiers, and the event’s charitable cause (benefitting Arizona Humane Society).
• Memorable moments from previous years—mentions of guest cancellations (Jay Pharoah, Adam Ray) and "the last 15 minutes" that went awry.
• Hints at possible notable guests for the upcoming show and a weight loss stand-up challenge.
• Shout-outs to sponsors Lerner & Rowe and Happy Endings Euthanasia.
• Quote: "All the proceeds from this are going to the Arizona Humane Society...we’re going to have good people there." – John Holmberg [03:27]

2. Surprise Appearance – Mountain Man (Toyota) Jay

[05:47 – 08:46]

• Unexpected in-studio guest: Mountain Man Jay, now self-branded as "Toyota Jay" after parting from previous radio work.
• Jay hints at a tough transition post-radio, with some non-disclosure on what happened and a desire to stay in broadcasting.
• Light ribbing about radio layoffs and severance deals.
• Classic workplace camaraderie and behind-the-scenes radio industry talk.
• Quote: "I was an idiot on Beth and Friends...Now nobody’s going to hire me. So now I just screwed myself." – Mountain Man Jay [07:18]
• Memorable moment: Jay undergoes a mock job interview on-air with the show's hosts.

3. Entertainment Drill

[09:57 – 18:17]

A. Paris Hilton Claims to Be "Self-Made"

[09:57 – 11:29]

• Brady reports Paris Hilton’s claim: “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done on my own.”
• The crew has a field day breaking down the absurdity, highlighting family wealth and connections.
• Comparison to Kylie Jenner and the wider ‘self-made celebrity’ phenomenon.
• Quote: "No one wants to hear a Hilton saying, ‘I did this with no help.’ It’s like, okay, we’re all struggling out here with Holmbergs and Vesleys and Toledos and Bogans." – John Holmberg [11:29]

B. List of Dead Famous People With Questionable Pasts

[11:58 – 15:27]

• A rundown of controversial historical celebrities:
  • Steve Jobs: “Screwed over his best friend…left his girlfriend when she was pregnant…jumped to the head of the organ donor list.” [12:13]
  • James Brown, Coco Chanel (Nazi ties), Hugo Boss (Nazi uniform designer), Paul Walker (dated much younger women at questionable ages), Alfred Hitchcock (abusive to actresses), and John Wayne (racism, sexism).
  • Side tangents: Hollywood casting practices, especially regarding depictions of Indigenous peoples.
  • Humorous asides about radio coworkers and autochthonous claims to racism in baseball (Ted Williams).
  • Acknowledgment that “Mother Teresa and Gandhi” also appear on the list.
• Quote: "What are the odds Brady’s gonna meet the person that he jumped over in the kidney line?...Very minimal." – John Holmberg [13:12]

C. Tech Frustrations – Apple Updates

[15:27 – 16:13]

• Holmberg vents over the latest Apple phone update killing his battery.
• The rest of the crew empathizes, joking about planned obsolescence.
• Quote: "This phone is not old…I just got this thing like eight months ago. And right now, after the update…I'm down to about three hours." – John Holmberg [15:41]

D. NFL Thanksgiving Halftime Performances Announcement

[16:18 – 16:54]

• Upcoming performers: Jack White (Lions/Packers), Post Malone (Cowboys/Chiefs), and Lil Jon (Ravens/Bengals).
• Light sports banter about Chiefs’ performance and who’s worth rooting for.

E. Brief Football Analysis / Deion and Shador Sanders

[16:56 – 18:17]

• NFL talk: Browns, Bengals, Deion Sanders’ son Shador’s rocky moment as a rookie.
• Speculation that Deion will “follow his son” wherever he goes, making him "the Paris Hilton of football."
• Quote: "Shador’s like Paris Hilton. He’s in." – John Holmberg [18:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On celebrity self-reliance:
  “You took a D on video and it made us all in...and it was terrible.” – John Holmberg on Paris Hilton’s claim to be self-made [10:25]
• On Apple:
  “I gotta go throw one of these at a genius. I’ll send Toyota Jay over there. He’s got nothing else going on.” – John Holmberg [16:13]
• On radio industry shakeups:
  “I like when people who get screwed by radio just show up at other radio stations.” – John Holmberg [08:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12 – 04:45: "Holmberg After Dark" show announcement, event details
• 05:47 – 08:46: Mountain Man Jay visits, radio business banter
• 09:57 – 11:29: Paris Hilton "self-made" discussion, Kylie Jenner comparison
• 11:58 – 15:27: Infamous dead people with controversial pasts
• 15:27 – 16:13: Phone update and Apple complaints
• 16:18 – 16:54: NFL Thanksgiving halftime show details
• 16:56 – 18:17: Football chat: Shador Sanders and familial advantages

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is imbued with the show’s trademark irreverence, quickfire sarcasm, and candid, sometimes self-deprecating humor. No sacred cows: celebrities, tech companies, sports stars, and even the hosts themselves are all in the crosshairs.

Fans and first-timers alike will find this breakdown a fitting encapsulation of Holmberg’s blend of local event hype, entertainment opinions, real talk, and offbeat camaraderie—with just enough Arizona flavor to make it feel neighborly.

For tickets and more show info, visit 98kupd.com