Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona

Episode: 11-20-25 - BR - THU

Main Theme: Pac-Man's Record, Thanksgiving Costs, and the “Radius of Love”

Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo, Larry

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness, the crew dives into a variety of lighthearted and thought-provoking topics, from gaming nostalgia and Thanksgiving economics, to reflections on friendship boundaries—“the radius of love”—and how far people are willing to go for holiday gatherings. Along the way, there’s signature banter, offbeat news, and plenty of laughs. The show balances Arizona local flavor, national pop culture, and classic HMS irreverence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pac-Man: The King of Arcade Games

• Discussion: Pac-Man has made $6B in revenue ($19.5B when adjusted for inflation), crowning it as the highest-grossing arcade game—surpassing Space Invaders and Street Fighter II.
• Nostalgia: The hosts reminisce about their favorite arcade games, with a clear affection for Centipede, Tempest, Donkey Kong, and Frogger.
• Quote:
  • John: “I will never put Street Fighter 2 into that mix.” (08:42)
  • “I put my quarters on Centipede, Tempest, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong...” (08:47)
• Tone: Playful competition and '80s/‘90s retro vibes.

2. Thanksgiving Costs and Shopping Trends

• Key Statistic:
  • The American Farm Bureau’s annual survey says Thanksgiving dinner for 10 averages $5.52 per person, down 5% from last year, and continuing a 3-year decline after the 2022 turkey price spike due to bird flu.
• Humor: Confusion arises as Brady gestures up when talking about the price going down, leading to some classic HMS ribbing.
• Quotes:
  • John (mocking Brady’s hand gesture): "Your hand went up like you were riding a roller coaster slowly to the top as you told me that the numbers were falling.” (10:27)
  • Brady: “Sweet.” (10:15)

3. The “Radius of Love”—How Far Would You Go for Family?

• Survey: The average person would drive 172 miles out of their way to pick up a loved one for the holidays, with 5% willing to drive 700 miles. The average real journey: 408 miles for a holiday meet-up.
• Hosts' Take: The guys plot out their own “love radius,” debating how far they’d go for family or friends.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • John: “I don’t think I love anybody 172 miles worth. I think I have a radius of love.” (12:17)
  • Larry: “If you can’t meet me—God, no—not even halfway, I’m not driving 350 miles.” (11:40)
  • John: “If you live outside [my love radius], I stop loving you a little bit… But my hate radius is limitless. … Hate springs eternal.” (12:25, 19:32)
• Fun Banter:
  • Joking about family in distant suburbs and how, for most friends, they’ll only bother to meet up if it’s “monumental—like someone dying or being elected to national office.” (13:32)

4. Oddities & Offbeat News

1. Payback Your Parents Day / National Absurdity Day
   • John muses on whether you really owe parents anything, laughing: “If my parents are asking for cash back for this, it’s not happening. I’ll help them out if they need it.” (06:03)
2. MLK’s Rights Owned by Spielberg
   • “In movies like Selma…none of the speeches featured are real because Steven Spielberg owns the movie rights to his story and all his actual speeches.” (06:47–07:20)
   • Discussion about copyright and how films change material to avoid rights issues.
3. Modern Art Sales
   • The artist behind the $6.2M duct tape banana, Maurizio Cattelan, sells an 18-karat gold toilet for $12.1M.
   • Conversation takes a dark turn as they discuss an art piece featuring Hitler kneeling, sold for $17.2M.
   • John jokes about his “Hitler bathroom art trap.” (21:47)
4. Revenge Quitting Jobs
   • 47% have abruptly quit a job—top reasons: toxic environment, poor management, feeling undervalued.
   • John recalls vivid dreams about killing his boss, Tripp—“It’s just an authority thing…In dreams, I’ve killed a lot of people.” (17:28–17:49)

5. Viral Videos & Internet Oddities (“Radio Videos”)

• Segment: Brady shares wild Internet finds
  • “Balls for a Chin” — Features a man with an unfortunate chin resemblance. Banter about awkward plastic surgery and shaving mishaps.
    • John: “Does he have balls on his chin?” (23:39)
    • Brady: “Pretty much.” (23:43)
    • John: “A decent human being would do that [shave].” (25:01)
  • Trevi Fountain Instagram Fails — Women’s photos at the famous fountain sabotaged by “laser-printed penises.” (26:01)
  • Miss Universe Pageant Fails — Miss Jamaica falls off stage. John quips: “Well, she’s not gonna win…That was her talent, a pratfall.” (27:12–27:58)
• Humor: Playful, sometimes crass, but always fast-paced.

6. Operation Santa Claus (Community Spotlight)

• Brett Vesely (on-site at Local Legends): Out promoting and collecting for Operation Santa Claus—a charitable drive for food, toys, and clothing. Donors get 10% off their tab at Local Legends. “We’re just out here trying to help out people that need a little bit of extra hand...” (29:38)
• Host Endorsement: John: “Pop on by, everybody wins. Local Legends will give you 10 off what you order from them and then you can drop off anything you want.” (31:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John on Holiday Logistics:
  • “I see you every day… I don’t feel a need for you or I to go to each other’s homes at all.” (14:13)
• On Money for Art:
  • “If you hang [Hitler art], you kind of are Hitler, aren’t you? …If you’ve got a proud $17 million piece of Hitler art, you’re kind of him.” (22:59)
• On Modern Art:
  • “Never seen a banana taped to a wall at Sotheby’s—that was actually kind of creative and a statement against how modern art is.” (19:29)
• Brady on Miss Universe Pageant:
  • “That was her talent, a pratfall.” (28:00)
• John on Charity:
  • “Nice job, Brett. We’ll talk to you in a little while.” (31:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Pac-Man as highest-grossing game — (08:24–08:47)
• Thanksgiving Dinner Costs — (09:48–10:27)
• Radius of Love and Holiday Travel — (11:16–14:13, 19:29–21:06)
• Modern Art News (Duct Tape Banana, Gold Toilet, Hitler Art) — (18:54–23:12)
• Revenge Quitting Jobs — (16:49–17:58)
• Operation Santa Claus Announcement (Brett Vesely) — (29:35–31:37)
• Viral Video Segment (“Radio Videos”) — (23:32–28:14)

Tone and Style

The episode is punchy, irreverent, and unmistakably “morning drive.” The hosts lean into sarcasm, self-deprecation, and inside jokes, while also weaving in relatable talk about family, nostalgia, and awkward social realities. Brady’s quirky facts, John’s quick wit, and the back-and-forth with Larry and Brett keep the show lively and high-energy throughout.

Useful For: Even if you missed the episode, this summary delivers the laughs, odd news, and the crew’s unique take on modern life. Whether you love retrogaming, dark humor about art, or just want to know if you really need to drive cross-state for Thanksgiving, this is a classic slice of HMS.