Holmberg’s Morning Sickness — Podcast Summary

Episode: 12-17-25
Air Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo
Stations: 98 KUPD | Hubbard Radio, Arizona

Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness is a hilariously rambling, irreverent look at current events and recent listener interactions. The hosts reminisce about classic show moments, offer sharp (and sometimes uncomfortable) insights on celebrity, politics, and world conflicts, and marvel at headlines like a 92-year-old Japanese woman winning an ESports competition. Their quick-fire banter mixes the personal, the pop-cultural, and the absurd, held together by a long-practiced chemistry.

Listener Stories & Show Memories

• Retiring the Theme Song:
  The show kicks off with emails from listeners about their favorite theme song performances, particularly praising Katie and the Hobbs’ "Miles to Nowhere." Listeners call it the “most theme songy theme song” the show’s ever had (03:00).

  • Quote:
    “A true rags to riches story from last place as Katie and the Hobbs the year before, to champions, and I know they will be missed.” — John [02:00]
  • The hosts joke about band upgrades and the prospects of new music teasing, “This new band has big shoes to fill.”

• Classic Show Moments:
  Numerous shout-outs to classic irreverent bits, such as the infamous “Brady 69” segment (06:12):

  • Quote:
    “I remember that you got mad when we were saying, ‘have you ever 69ed?’ …That would have been so good—69 at the Yute Fest with a sex doll…” — John [06:12]
  • The crew roast past segments with relish, including Brady’s reluctance and the legal/lawyer intervention.

Celebrity Deep Dive: The Rob Reiner Murder Story

• The panel is highly fascinated—and troubled—by the ongoing scandal involving Rob Reiner’s son.
  • They dissect old promotional interviews, noticing dark vibes in hindsight:
    Quote:
    “You don’t want to see me when I’m angry. I get real mad.” — Rob Reiner's son in an old interview [12:50]
  • John points out how Rob stepped in to "fix" his son’s erratic, reputation-damaging behavior, likening the dynamic to a “promotional nightmare” (15:03).
  • The hosts discuss the difficulty of being the child of a celebrity, the struggle to make one's own mark, and the tragedy when family history intersects with mental health and violence.
  • John references a listener sending “old clips” to justify political gloating over the murder, which the panel universally condemns as unhealthy and grotesque.
    • Quote:
      “Doesn't mean anybody needs their throat slit. And to be celebratory of that, in a weird way—there’s a certain sickness about that.” — John [23:17]
  • They connect the Reiner story to broader issues about discourse, celebrity children, and the internet age’s quick rush to politicize everything.

Venezuela, War, and Ambivalence

• There's a long, meandering discussion about America’s new, seemingly sudden conflict with Venezuela (28:12).
  • The hosts are bemused and skeptical, as if they've missed the memo, riffing on how bombings and warfare now resemble desensitized video game violence.
    • Quote:
      “Go bomb Venezuela for Christmas...I didn’t know we were even mad at Venezuela ‘til about a month and a half ago, and now I’m pretty sure we’re blowing them up!” — John [29:02]
  • Holmberg jokes about geographical ignorance (“Is it below Panama?”) and their desensitization to global events.
  • Comparisons to classic and current violent video games add a surreal humor to the whole exchange, e.g.:
    • “That’s the new GTA: blowing up boats...If it’s a boat full of nuns, we’re gonna have a problem.” — John [29:29]
    • Reminiscing about old games like “Gato” for Commodore 64, with stick figure deaths (31:25).

Colombia, Coke, and Pablo Escobar Tours

• The crew riff on Colombia, referencing its tourism industry centered on Pablo Escobar and cocaine lore (34:36).
  • Allude to friends who travel there for the cheap prices, wild stories about walled-off sections, and jokingly describe the country in nothing but cocaine, “cocaine land,” and “Powder Island.”
  • John's friend Janny, a “lost boy of Sudan,” provides comedic contrast with his escapades and globe-trotting dating life (37:44).

Old People in Sports & Esports: Age Disparity Riffs

• ESports Champion — At Age 92:

  • The panel marvels and questions the legitimacy/interest of a 92-year-old Japanese woman, Hisako Saiki, winning a Tekken 8 seniors tournament (43:02).
    • Quote:
      “What we’re really celebrating is that they’re not dead.” — John [44:29]
  • They note that in these senior divisions, the competition pool (“how many 90-year-olds are out there playing anything?”) is comically small.
  • Extended, irreverent jokes about Japanese stereotypes, coloring Godzilla books, sushi rolling, and building a PlayStation 5 out of a robot (46:36).

• Old Athletes in American Football:

  • The hosts lament how aging NFL quarterbacks (Philip Rivers, Kurt Warner) still get called up to play, arguing it’s proof of talent shortages or broken sports logic (41:12).
    • Quote:
      “Philip Rivers coming back tells me immediately there’s something very wrong with the NFL that he’s still able to play…Not one guy on a practice squad you couldn’t just pull off?” — John [42:33]
  • Joke about teams fielding the literal children of legendary players if this trend continues.

• Boxing:

  • John derides the trend of boxing legends returning for “celebrity” fights, mentioning Bud Crawford’s retirement and Manny Pacquiao’s unsuccessful comeback (50:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Celebrity Son Syndrome:
  “You’ve lived a life no one can understand. That’s the interesting part of the interview. You’re Tom Hanks’ son…If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t do interviews!” — John [21:29]
• Politics and Partisanship:
  “There’s nothing wrong with saying, 'I still love Trump, but I didn’t like that, that was wrong.'” — John [23:50]
• Global Ambivalence:
  “What about the poor Venezuelans? I don’t even know…If you took all the names off a map, it’s somewhere down there. It’s in that middle part.” — John [39:22]
• Old People Triumphing:
  “I don’t like watching old people win. I don’t like watching old people do anything…Hate when old people do well in sports—hate it, just proves the sport is broken.” — John [44:27], [50:40]
• On Colombia:
  “So their two main exports are cocaine and [Sofía] Vergara. I think America kind of liked pretty much everything you’re doing.” — John [51:29]

Key Segment Timestamps

• [03:00] Listener stories and retiring the “Miles to Nowhere” theme song
• [06:12] Reminiscing about classic bits: Brady and sex doll 69 challenge
• [12:50] Rob Reiner murder case discussion, dysfunctional celebrity families
• [23:17] Political tribalism and reactions to the Rob Reiner story
• [29:02] Venezuela “war” chat, bombings, and video game analogies
• [31:25] Old violent computer games nostalgia
• [34:36] Colombia travel stories, cocaine, and Pablo Escobar tourism
• [41:12] Old athletes and why their presence signals NFL problems
• [43:02] 92-year-old wins ESports tournament: musings on age and talent
• [46:36] Satirical take on Japanese retirement homes, Godzilla coloring
• [50:40] Aging stars in boxing, Pacquiao, Bud Crawford, and Jake Paul

Tone and Style

• Irreverent, Sarcastic, Unapologetic: The episode is fast-paced and never shies from dark or off-color humor, especially when discussing aging, sport, and world affairs.
• Self-aware: The hosts acknowledge their own ignorance and biases, playing up their detachment from headline events and poking fun at stereotypes.
• Engagement-Driven: Much of the episode’s energy comes from listener emails and call-backs to the show’s storied past.

Conclusion

This episode is a microcosm of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness—equal parts wild reminiscing, cultural critique, and raw, off-the-cuff humor. The interplay between the hosts brings continuity and warmth to a show willing to laugh at anything, including themselves, the world, and especially the inexorable march of time.