Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness

Episode: 12-08-25 – Odd End To Raiders Game Has Gamblers Grumbling – 22yo Proclaimed They're Trans Masculine Non Binary And Was Cheered Online Confusing Us
Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Podcast: 98KUPD | Hubbard Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness centers around two main themes:

1. The bizarre ending to the Las Vegas Raiders game and how odd sports outcomes fuel gambling conspiracy theories.
2. Perplexity and comedic commentary around the proliferation of complex gender identities, prompted by a viral story about a 22-year-old publicly proclaiming themselves trans masculine non binary.

The hosts deliver their signature irreverent humor and sharp-witted observations, focusing on generational differences, language confusion, and societal change.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. NFL “Fixed” and Gamblers’ Conspiracies

[01:19–03:18]

• Quick Recap: The team discusses a recent Raiders football game ending with a seemingly senseless field goal, sparking outrage and conspiracy theories among bettors.
• Perceived League Manipulation: Holmberg claims, "we realized that the NFL is completely fixed 100% now and the gamblers own it" (02:06).
• Impact on Gambling: The pointless field goal altered both point spread and over/under, a move described as affecting Vegas bets and fueling distrust among fans.
• Mocking the Spectacle: Bret Vesely quips, "At least show the nod up in the crowd on the Jumbotron" (02:38), sarcastically suggesting the league may as well just admit to fixing games for gamblers.

Notable Quote:

• Holmberg: "That's one for the gamblers. Like, just admit it. That was the weirdest thing I've seen...like, why even trot the team out there?" (02:42)

2. Generational Divide: Trans Masculine Non Binary Identity

[04:52–08:27]

• Viral Announcement: Holmberg highlights a viral social post: a 22-year-old publicly identifies as "trans masculine non binary," and receives widespread support online—something that confounds the hosts.
  • Holmberg says, “I don’t even know what that is. Nobody knows what it is. Okay, good. Trans masculine, non binary. And I don’t know what that means.” (05:01)
• Generational Acceptance:
  • Holmberg argues this identity label is primarily recognized and accepted by people in their twenties, whereas older adults find it baffling or dismissive: “If a 65 year old person shouted that out at Sun Lakes, you'd hear just a bunch of people going ‘shut the up. That's not a thing.’” (05:39)
• Identity and Confusion:
  • The hosts riff on the proliferation of new gender labels, framing it as too many options for confused young people: “A confused person just wants an identity. You give them too many options, trans masculine, non binary becomes one” (05:57).
  • They joke about the complexity by comparing it to complicated NFL plays and glue: “I know gorilla glue sticks to everything.” (05:20)
• Respect for Core Trans Struggles, But Cynicism for Trendiness:
  • Holmberg claims rapid expansion of labels diminishes the struggle of people who are genuinely trans: “...I think this is mean to trans people. The more they say that, the more trans people who have had a real struggle are like, what the...” (07:33)
  • They note gay and lesbian communities are growing weary of the explosion of new letters and identities appended to LGBTQ: “Gays are like, get off our. Get off. No more letters. Get off. What's up?” (07:46)

Notable Quotes:

• Holmberg: “Trans masculine. That sounds like an orchestra I wouldn’t listen to Christmas music.” (08:26)
• Holmberg: “We all know that’s just a kid thing...Then we just threw this slew of experimentation stuff down and they're trying it all. Trans masculine, non binary. That’s bull. Doesn’t exist.” (06:35)

3. Blind Listener’s Observation on Color (and Comedy)

[03:18–03:44]

• An email from blind listener Sean Rockefeller, responding to discussions about race and online controversies.
  • Sean wrote: “I can't see color. So I just call everyone the N word if they talk funny to me at all. Like Brady.” (03:33)
• The crew laughs at the “colorblind” take, with Holmberg remarking, “That was beautiful. That was very MLK. JFK. It was all of it. Thank you, Sean.” (04:00)

4. Listener Awards and Upcoming Events

[04:00–04:55]

• Holmberg discusses the upcoming "Holmberg After Dark" party at Stand Up Live, with Frank Caliendo joining as a special guest.
• A humorous aside about difficulty reaching their deaf candidate for "Listener of the Year," leading to the idea that perhaps Aiden—the "trans" listener—could step in.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Old vs. Young Acceptance:
  • Holmberg: “If it was truly a mental thing, it wouldn’t just be a certain age having the problem.” (06:02)
• On NFL Field Goals and Gambling:
  • Holmberg: “Why even line up for it?...Just changed anyway. Okay.” (02:30)
• On Identity Overload:
  • Holmberg: “You give people options and they’ll take them. But if you tell someone, hey, you might be transmasculine non binary, they’ll look into it like, ‘huh’. A confused person just wants an identity.” (05:57)
• Comic Sarcasm:
  • E (Bret Vesely): "That's a play in the NFL, isn't it?" (06:51)
  • Holmberg: “I need Madden’s chalkboard off to describe. There’s a guy who thinks he’s a girl, but isn’t sure he’s a girl, might not be a guy…” (06:55)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------|:--------------:| | Odd field goal in Raiders game and gambling theories | 01:19–03:18 | | Blind listener’s satirical take on color/race | 03:18–04:00 | | Listener of the Year humor + Gen Z gender discussion | 04:00–08:27 | | Extended riffing on trans masculine non binary | 05:00–08:27 |

Tone, Style, and Flow

• Tone: Irreverent, fast-paced, unapologetically sarcastic; plenty of generational ribbing and comedic exaggeration.
• Language: Casual, sometimes crass; unfiltered morning radio banter.
• Flow: The hosts move quickly from football conspiracies to social commentary, punctuated by sharp one-liners and cultural observations. The discussion is less about providing answers and more about comedic takes and cultural confusion.

In Summary

This episode of “Holmberg’s Morning Sickness” is a quintessential mix of sports cynicism and social commentary, as John Holmberg and crew tackle the overlap between modern NFL drama and the complexities of identity politics. While never mean-spirited, their skepticism, confusion, and jokes about generational divides offer listeners a glimpse into how middle-aged cynics process rapidly changing language and norms—while always finding the humor in the chaos.