Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98 KUPD)

Episode: 12-02-25 - Charorism Reacts/Emails - Medical Breakthrough As Japanese Man Has Developed Butt Breathing - Man Nearing Completion Of 27yr Goliath Expedition From S.America To Romania - Megan 911 She Needs DirecTV Password
Date: December 2, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness features the crew (John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo, and Megan) riffing on recent listener emails, reacting to new scientific innovations ("butt breathing"), exploring the nearly finished 27-year-long "Goliath Expedition" (a walk from South America to Romania), and reliving daily life annoyances – culminating in a humorous segment about Megan urgently needing the DirecTV password. The tone remains satirical, irreverent, and rooted in the group's characteristic banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Charity, Skepticism, and Big Numbers (01:52–09:24)

• John Holmberg shares personal stories about being involved in charities, expressing skepticism about how charity funds are used and distributed.
• Notes on how organizations often tout big fundraising numbers, but still miss targets and have questionable expenditure.
• Criticizes large salaries of charity CEOs and the commercialization of diseases, especially cancer.

Notable Quotes:

• "Cancer's as big a business as it is a disease." – John Holmberg (09:55)
• "Sometimes you do get punched. That's why I always try to find something that I will give money to and I make sure that it's a good cause." – John Holmberg (07:36)

2. Medical Breakthrough: "Butt Breathing" (09:58–18:24)

• The team reacts to news of a Japanese researcher, Takanori Takebe, developing a technique for rectal oxygenation ("butt breathing").
• Initial childish laughter and disbelief transition into acknowledgment of the scientific utility, such as potential life-saving applications for patients unable to breathe normally (e.g., severe pneumonia, COPD).
• Discussion veers into the inevitable joke responses this story received online—most notably the fascination with whether it means people can "smoke weed" through their butts.
• Holmberg laments society’s inability to marvel at true innovation, instead defaulting to jokes.

Notable Quotes:

• "When you do stuff like that and you're like, oh, I invent a beautiful program to make it so we could breathe through other parts of our body to save lives. And then you hear, 'Can I smoke weed with my ass now?'" – John Holmberg (16:38)
• "But breathing is real. And no one marveled at it... all we think about is, 'Can I smoke weed with my ass now?' We're not worth saving." – John Holmberg (17:35)

3. The Goliath Expedition – 27 Years Walking the Earth (23:06–34:51)

• Recap of the Goliath Expedition, where British adventurer Karl Bushby has been walking from southern South America to Romania for 27 years, avoiding all mechanical transport.
• The crew questions the point of such a journey, considering the isolation and the realization that no one may truly care about the feat after so long.
• Discussion includes skepticism about whether he stayed true to the walking (cheating with rides or flights), the hardships of traveling for so long, and the futility of expecting lasting acknowledgment for extreme personal achievements.

Notable Quotes:

• "You haven't seen anybody for a quarter of a century on a consistent basis." – John Holmberg (24:57)
• "So I can tell you, hey, I am John. I... did the Goliath Expedition. And you're like, wow, that's amazing. And then you turn to the next guy who goes, 'You hear about butt breathing?'" – John Holmberg (25:31)
• "If you're thinking about it, don't." – John Holmberg, after calculating the actual daily mileage (36:54)

4. Listener Reactions and Audience Engagement (38:07–41:27)

• Listener emails and texts keep the flow comedic and interactive, fueling further jokes about the Goliath Expedition (e.g., speculating that "Toledo's dad" could be walking, the math of daily miles walked, and if multiple people truly care).
• A side discussion emerges about the show's influence, such as listeners who are deaf reading the show’s transcripts and feeling part of the audience.

5. Domestic Comedy: Megan's 911 for the DirecTV Password (47:22–52:16)

• The last major comedic segment involves Megan urgently texting John for the DirecTV password, interrupting his day.
• Holmberg and the team riff on the trope of wives interrupting men at work for minor household issues, extending the joke to humorous absurdities (what if pro athletes had to stop games to text their wives passwords?).
• John shares his method for creating memorable (and snarky) passwords, delighting in the indirect revenge of using Megan's name as a codeword in less-than-flattering phrases.

Notable Quotes:

• "Is your day started busy? Okay, yeah, let me just put everything down. Let me just shut her down. This is what Megan needed help. I'm sorry, everybody." – John Holmberg (48:38)
• "It's essentially a phrase that basically says, 'Hey, and in this case, DirecTV, Megan's a C word.' It's awesome." – John Holmberg (51:43)

Other Noteworthy Moments & Running Jokes

• Societal Cynicism: Recurring lament that modern society doesn’t appreciate true innovation (butt breathing), just looks for juvenile angles, or immediate self-serving benefits.
• Pop-Culture Callbacks: References to TV shows (Mad Men) and social changes, including how littering used to be accepted behavior and now is (mostly) taboo (52:40–55:31).
• Physical Challenges as Absurdity: Often, marathon exploits, "challenge" walks, or endurance records are skewered as pointlessly isolating or impractical, especially compared to the daily grind (29:44–31:10).

Segment Timestamps for Important Topics

• Charity & Skepticism: 01:52–09:24
• Butt Breathing – Medical Innovation: 09:58–18:24
• Society’s Reaction to Inventions: 18:25–22:59
• Goliath Expedition Discussion: 23:06–34:51 (plus further call-backs through 41:27)
• Listener Engagement: 38:07–41:27
• Megan’s Password Emergency: 47:22–52:16

Memorable Quotes (Speaker Attribution & Timestamps)

• John Holmberg on Cancer Charity:
  "Cancer's as big a business as it is a disease." (09:55)
• John Holmberg on Scientific Discovery:
  "Poor little Japanese doctor came screaming out of the lab, 'I am going to be hero, win Nobel Prize. What'd you invent? Butt breathing. Can you smoke weed through your ass now? Never mind.'" (18:06)
• John Holmberg on the Goliath Expedition's futility:
  "You go home alone. There's no point other than to be the guy that did it." (24:58)
• John Holmberg on Passwords:
  "It's essentially a phrase that basically says, 'Hey, and in this case, DirecTV, Megan's a C word.' It's awesome." (51:43)
• Byron on the expedition:
  "This clown did it for 27 years." (29:58)
• Bret Vesely on skepticism:
  "Who's the guy that came up with the Goliath [Expedition]? ... A moron." (28:04)

Tone & Style Reflection

The episode is marked by playful ribbing, irreverence, and a balance of genuine social commentary and adolescent humor. The hosts maintain a conversational, sometimes absurd approach to current events, highlighting the challenge of serious discourse in a comedic, morning-show environment. Each topic, no matter how profound (e.g., butt breathing's medical promise or a 27-year expedition), is run through the “Holmberg’s filter” — no sacred cows, always a punchline.

Conclusion

This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness achieves peak balance between commentary and comedy. The crew playfully dismantles societal reactions to news, celebrates and mocks human endurance, and finds humor in everyday life mishaps — perfect for those who appreciate sharp wit laced with a healthy dose of irreverence.