Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98 KUPD), Dec 9, 2025 – Full Show (Tuesday)

Episode Overview

The December 9, 2025 episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness is a high-energy, fast-paced dive into the irreverent humor and pointed commentary that characterizes John Holmberg and his crew (Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo). Touching on topics from sports and bar scandals to environmentalism and viral internet drama, the show blends local Arizona news, national controversies, personal anecdotes, and banter, always leaning into a mix of satire, dark humor, and genuine opinion.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Harbaugh Hate, NFL Ref Shenanigans, and Sports Betting

• Harbaugh Brothers Rant

  • Time: 02:56–04:43
    John unleashes a tirade about his deep dislike for the Harbaugh brothers (Jim and John), referencing their "smug" demeanors and laying out an elaborate wish list of fictional mishaps for them ("I'd prefer if it was a plane or a train or a large bus...").

    "The Harbaughs are C words... My phone corrects [Harbaugh] to garbage. Even my phone knows that these people are miserable, horrible, horrible human beings."
    — John Holmberg [03:34]

• NFL Gambling Conspiracies

  • Time: 06:38–08:03
    John speculates on officiating controversies and how the rise in legal, ubiquitous sports betting increases the likelihood of game-fixing, even speculating about Olympic events like archery being rigged due to obscurity and low oversight.

• US Athletes in Minor Sports

  • Time: 08:19–10:35
    The group riffs on obscure Olympic sports and how American competitors are virtually unknown, joking that only “Robin Hood and Ted Nugent” come to mind as archers.

2. Tempe Tavern Scandal & Underage Drinking

• Tempe Tavern Underage Drinking Busts

  • Time: 12:16–23:59
    The show discusses Tempe Tavern’s two recent police raids for hosting hundreds of underage drinkers. The hosts highlight the owner's comically bad PR defense:

    "We here at the Tempe Tavern take underage drinking very seriously. Yes, you do. You most certainly do. And you're great at it."
    — John Holmberg [13:27]

• Fake ID Economy

  • The team jokes Tempe Tavern has a side hustle making/selling fake IDs, complete with parental pickup lines, and nostalgia about their own fake ID attempts.

  "The IDs are so good now, you could travel with it."
  — John Holmberg [20:25]

• Bar Accountability & Law Enforcement

  • They mock the bar’s claim that police should notify them about investigations, comparing it to murderers demanding a heads-up.

3. Prison Mail, Contraband, and Cop Humor

• Prison Letter Ban Discussion

  • Time: 24:48–30:36
    The crew discusses a new Arizona prison policy banning physical mail due to contraband, with John skewering a mother’s complaints about the loss of personal connection:

    "You cut off communication...when you committed the crime…You’re not owed anything."
    — John Holmberg [25:56]

• Creative Contraband Delivery

  • References to drones dropping steak, lobster, and drugs to inmates, and a former cop’s bleak “fentanyl nuke” solution for the drug epidemic.

• Cynicism About Reform

  • John highlights how working in law enforcement leads to a uniquely dark humor, with a focus on how difficult, sometimes futile, reform efforts really are.

4. Environmentalism, Recycling Scams & Littering "Campaign"

• Littering as Protest

  • Time: 46:35–71:58 (recurring throughout episode)
    John unveils his tongue-in-cheek "Holmberg Littering Campaign," meant to draw attention to what he describes as the sham of American recycling programs.

    "I'm going to start a new jobs program where the city can take our taxes to clean up all the trash I shoot out my car window. I think it's brilliant."
    — John Holmberg [53:21]

• Recycling System Critique

  • John details logistical flaws and hypocrisy in recycling rules, arguing that the US is only 4% of the world population and can’t offset pollution from countries like India and China by "sorting milk jugs."
  • Guests and listeners email in—one from the City of Phoenix—insisting there are sorters, but Trip Reeb (their boss) pops in on air to reveal Hubbard Radio stopped recycling years ago, and the cleaning crew just dumps everything together.

• Windmill Blades, Tesla Batteries, and Green Energy Irony

  • The crew express disbelief over how supposedly eco-friendly products (wind turbine blades, car batteries) end up as non-recyclable, buried trash.

• Listener Letters & Barbs

  • John reads listener Kelly's email asking why he's so "mad at the environment," fueling his comedic, semi-sincere campaign for visible, intentional litter to force real discussion.

5. Current Events & Viral Outrage

• Cinnabon Racist Incident

  • Time: 127:10–137:47
    The team reviews new footage and GoFundMe drama surrounding a Cinnabon employee caught on camera using racial slurs. John lampoons the viral hysteria and notes the irony of the woman raising $120,000+ online for her legal fees:

    "The N-word girl has like a couple hundred thousand bucks—she lost her job at Cinnabon...and they gave it to her in a weekend because she called the customer the N word."
    — John Holmberg [96:29]

• GoFundMe & Outrage Economics

  • John notes that controversial virality pays outsized rewards, comparing the racist Cinnabon worker’s windfall to the struggles of ordinary folks.

6. Bizarre News, Popular Culture & Listener Interaction

• News Oddities
  • Canadian uses a snowblower in neighbor dispute, pantsless drunken woman walks down a Florida street, and inmates in France wear regular clothes.
• Brady’s History & Fun Facts
  • Red Vineyard at Aries is the only Van Gogh to sell in his lifetime; Dramamine was invented by accident, etc.
• Email Banter
  • Listeners write in to debate, fact-check, or support show points, often fueling new tangents or jokes.

7. AI & Music, New Releases, and Holiday Bits

• AI Covers

  • Time: 149:57 onward
    Brett plays AI-generated Motown versions of “Enjoy the Silence” and Hotel California, riffing on how AI is already providing what listeners want—sometimes more than live musicians.

• Christmas Music & Viral Lists

  • Kylie Minogue’s “Hot in December” and Luke Spiller’s Christmas song are reviewed (“Christmas song = trash”), alongside stats about the most played jukebox tracks (AC/DC, Skynyrd, Eminem).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Harbaugh Rant [03:34]:
  “The Harbaughs are C words...Even my phone knows that these people are miserable, horrible, horrible human beings.”
  — John Holmberg

• Tempe Tavern's PR Statement [13:27]:
  “We here at the Tempe Tavern take underage drinking very seriously. Yes, you do—and you’re great at it.”
  — John Holmberg

• Recycling Skepticism [53:21]:
  “I’m going to start a new jobs program where the city can take our taxes to clean up all the trash I shoot out my car window. I think it’s brilliant.”
  — John Holmberg

• Trip Reeb's Intervention [115:56]:
  "We don't recycle because we don't care. We don't have Hubbard print because we know it doesn't [work]."
  — Trip Reeb

• Cinnabon Outrage [96:29]:
  “The N-word girl has like a couple hundred thousand bucks—she lost her job at Cinnabon...and they gave it to her in a weekend because she called the customer the N word.”
  — John Holmberg

Memorable Timestamps

• 00:00–02:20 – Sponsor plugs, intros, and quick banter
• 02:20–07:56 – NFL/Harbaugh brothers/Sports gambling conversation
• 12:16–24:11 – Tempe Tavern underage busts/fake ID economy
• 24:48–30:36 – Prison letters, contraband, and police humor
• 46:35–71:58 – Recycling, environmentalism, and Holmberg’s littering campaign
• 127:10–137:47 – Cinnabon racist incident and GoFundMe economics
• 149:57–158:12 – Music, AI, and holiday hilarity

Language & Tone

True to the show’s name, expect dark humor, sarcasm, local references, and a willingness to offend or push boundaries—often on purpose to provoke discussion or laughter. The overall language is raw, informal, and very direct, echoing the comedic, counter-mainstream ethos of the hosts.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode is a showcase of what makes Holmberg’s Morning Sickness a leading Arizona radio show: no-holds-barred comedy, sharp local commentary, and a refusal to take anything—including the show itself—too seriously. Expect quick pivots, playful cruelty, and real time audience engagement with emails and calls. If easily offended, you may want to brace yourself.

Core Segments & Takeaways

1. Sports & Satire:

• The mix of genuine sports fandom and comedic rants sets the tone for a day’s “us vs. them” banter.

2. Arizona Oddities:

• Local scandals—Tempe Tavern, city recycling—are front and center, often becoming fodder for larger cultural critiques.

3. Viral Outrage Deconstruction:

• The crew tears into social media echo chambers (Cinnabon, GoFundMe) with equal parts mockery and exasperation.

4. Absurdism as Commentary:

• The “littering campaign” isn’t really about trash—it’s about exposing performative solutions to real societal problems.

Final Word:
With adrenaline, absurdity, and Arizona attitude, this episode delivers the full Holmberg experience—whether you agree with his takes or just tune in for the ride.