Detailed Summary of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" (11-25-25)
Episode Theme:
A humorous, irreverent morning show episode covering the first day of Playdio (a local band competition), musings on why people are aging better after John watches the 30th anniversary "Everybody Loves Raymond" cast reunion, and a no-holds-barred rant on FCC broadcast restrictions in light of bold menstrual blood beauty trends.
Playdio Day One Recap and Reflections
Main Discussion:
- The hosts kick off by recapping the first day of Playdio, the annual competition for local bands.
- John admits Playdio “started off a little shaky but really hit its stride” with some of the best local songs he’s heard—“local or otherwise.” (01:12)
- Notably, the “top two bands from yesterday scored perfect tens across the board,” but neither group can attend the final night.
- John jokes about unreliable band attendance and suggests, “Maybe do Playdio in June or something...by then, we'll have holograms and stuff. It'll be neat. The future.” (03:47)
- Side banter on how the show operates “day-to-day like an alcoholic” and the unpredictability of returning “next year” (03:43).
Why Are We Aging Better?
Catalyst:
- John discusses watching the “Everybody Loves Raymond” 30th Anniversary Reunion. He’s surprised by how good the cast (Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett) looks compared to classic TV stars during reunions.
- "Ray Romano's gonna be 68 next week and...he looks fantastic. Why?" (05:59)
- John contrasts this with celebrities of the past, referencing how “Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz...just ate rocks and gargled glass” compared to the more youthful Raymond cast. (05:03)
- The hosts theorize why people look younger, noting two main aging culprits from the past:
- Cigarettes
- Lead (in gasoline, homes, everyday items)
“We took lead out of gasoline and that's...contributed to our bodies reacting so differently to aging...Lead. They used to drink Jack Daniels and unfiltered Camels all the [time].” – John Holmberg (06:11)
Notable Quotes:
- John: "I'm now five years older than Wilford Brimley was when he filmed 'The Natural.' Oh." (07:11)
- Brady reflects on “high school pictures,” noticing how people looked older younger: “I look at my grandfather when he was 61 and I was 30—looked ancient then.” (09:26)
- Discussion includes a sidebar on classic game show appearances by old stars and how they “looked a thousand” by modern standards. (08:34)
Fun Anecdotes:
- John recalls his dad at 78 hauling an elk down from 8,000 feet of elevation for context of generational differences in aging (08:52).
- The hosts riff on grandparents’ minimalist travel habits: “How many suitcases? One for both of them. One for both. And I'm not kidding, Brett. It was the size of, like, a kid's backpack for school.” (16:43)
The Bizarre: TV, Nostalgia, and "Beauty" Trends
Absurdities in Old TV
- John jokingly breaks down the illogic of "The Roy Rogers Show" where Old West horseback scenes mix with modern cars and World War II references.
“...He would get on his horse and ride places. Then another dude would get in a 1943 Jeep…what year? …and they talk about World War II sometimes.” (11:09–12:57)
Modern Outrage: Menstrual Blood Beauty Masks and FCC Restrictions
- John saw news segments about women using their own menstrual blood for “beauty” facials.
- He launches a signature rant about allowing such things on television while the FCC restricts nudity and vulgar language:
"If I can see a woman covered in period blood on her skin, I can see breasts and not be offended...I should be allowed to cuss." – John Holmberg (19:15)
- The hosts riff on how society’s standards are backwards with anecdotes and mock scenarios (e.g., coming home to a partner wearing a “blood mask”).
- Even the scientific claims about menstrual blood as a skin treatment are scrutinized and mocked.
“Cordell and Cordell won’t take the case. They don’t want to be close to her. It’s horrifying. And that’s a thing on tv. And I saw it last night and I saw it again this morning. Not going home today? No. Just in case.” – John Holmberg (20:31)
- The conversation expands to include placenta pills and the growing normalization of such trends.
Notable Quotes:
- "If I get to see that on TV, then I get to see some breasts because I almost threw up." – John Holmberg (23:32)
- "Calling a woman who's trying to be hot 'brave' is...the worst insult of all time." – John Holmberg, analyzing the term “nude bravery” for celebrities like Lena Dunham (24:53)
HIGHLIGHTED SEGMENTS & TIMESTAMPS
00:58 – 03:26: Playdio Day 1 recap, jokes on band & host attendance, unpredictable future
05:03 – 11:09: Why are we aging better? “Everybody Loves Raymond” Reunion and generational comparisons
12:47 – 17:44: Surreal Roy Rogers TV analysis, grandparents’ travel habits, family anecdotes
19:15 – 21:51: Outrage over menstrual blood as a beauty product, broadcast double standards
23:32 – 25:37: Placenta pills, nudity on TV vs. “gross-out” taboos, “bravery” for nudity, Lena Dunham jokes
TONE & STYLE
- Raucous, irreverent humor with a blend of pop culture nostalgia and social commentary
- Openly mocking, but self-aware, touching on generational nostalgia, bodily functions, and the absurdity of past and present.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
- John’s thought experiment: "If you came home and opened the fridge and there’s a cup of it [menstrual blood] in there…I’d go full Old Testament on the house. I’d stone her to death. And then I’d burn the house down." (25:35)
- On society’s aging improvements: “So the good news is we're aging better. The bad news is we're aging into weirder things.” (17:45)
CONCLUSION
Summary:
This episode of HMS oscillates from tongue-in-cheek Playdio competition banter to a sharp, comedic take on why Gen X and Boomers are "aging better," looping back around to a brash but humorous crusade against perceived media hypocrisy—asking why, in a world that now flaunts menstrual blood beauty masks, the FCC still polices language and nudity.
For listeners who missed it, expect classic Holmberg chaos: pop culture evisceration, personal anecdotes, and boundary-pushing rants, capturing the unfiltered energy that defines the morning show.