Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 12-23-25 – Natl Maple Syrup Day Sparks Debate – Naked In Bass Pro Fish Tank

Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogan, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Guest appearances: Ralphie May (via phone/segment), various callers

Episode Overview

On this lively episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness, the crew dives into quirky celebration of National Maple Syrup Day, sparking a heated debate on “real” vs. store-bought syrup, fond childhood food ads, and how America’s breakfast tables divide over guilty pleasures. The show also covers viral holiday studies, weird news (including a naked cannonball at Bass Pro Shops), and engages in some classic, irreverent riffing on holiday traditions, buses, and dinosaur favorites.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Maple Syrup Day and the Great Syrup Debate

Timestamps: 01:52–07:41

• Brady Bogan opens with a cheerful “Happy National Maple Syrup Day,” prompting John and the gang to reflect on authentic maple syrup vs. classics like Mrs. Butterworth or Aunt Jemima.
• John Holmberg admits, “I actually prefer Mrs. Buttersworth over everything I’ve ever had. And maybe I’ve had real syrup and maybe I haven’t. Where do they have it? Like IHOP?” (03:38)
• Brady notes, “You can get [real maple syrup] at Costco,” but John can’t imagine needing “a jug of syrup” (03:54).
• Conversation pivots to the nostalgic allure of Mrs. Butterworth’s commercials, iconic bottle design, and the peculiar “comfort” of talking food mascots.
• Memorable Quote:
  • John: “I like the commercial. She used to make me feel comfortable. She would swing around. I used to hate it when my bottle didn’t come to life and start talking to me about breakfast.” (03:59)

2. Candy Canes, Sugar Intake & Health Risks

Timestamps: 07:48–10:09

• Brady shares a survey on the “right way” to eat candy canes—majority start from the straight end, but a suggestive aside from Ralphie May:
  • “If she starts with the curve and she’s a pro…she’s done that for money.” (08:06)
• The hosts joke about sugar consumption, surprising study results show that avoiding all added sugar may also increase heart risk.
• Ralphie May: “No sugar is bad for you. And all sugar is bad for you.” (08:39)

3. The Dinosaur Debate – Pop Surveys, Childhood Favorites

Timestamps: 10:13–11:43, 27:08–28:59

• A new poll finds 59% of adults have a favorite dinosaur; John points out, “41% of adults that have a favorite dinosaur also have Asperger’s.” (11:06)
• Ralphie May jests about the red flags when dating someone with a dino obsession:
  • “If you’re on a date with somebody, say, ‘what’s your favorite dinosaur?’ and they answer...leave. You could end up in a box.” (10:34)
• The conversation returns later as the crew lampoons radio consultant clichés:
  • John: “That’s why radio’s surviving in all these markets. These great ideas...what’s your favorite dinosaur? You get an hour’s worth of radio out of that.” (27:11)

4. Weird News: Naked Cannonball at Bass Pro Shop

Timestamps: 17:33–19:18, 25:45–26:37

• Brady shares a bizarre headline:
  • 42-year-old Alabama man crashes, strips, storms Bass Pro Shops, and cannonballs into the giant aquarium—twice—before knocking himself out.
• The crew jokes about how this would play out for a radio stunt, with John promising:
  • “Brady, I will pay all of your fees and fines if you do a naked dive into the aquarium of Bass Pro. All of it—so worth it, so good for the show.” (18:26)
• The incident inspires running jokes about hosting “Rock Wars” loser challenges and feeding frenzies.

5. Holiday Traditions: What Can We Ditch (and What to Keep)

Timestamps: 20:01–24:07

• Survey results on which holiday traditions Americans wish would disappear:
  1. Sending Christmas cards (John: “It is the least you can do for somebody. It is thoughtless, meaningless.” (20:17))
  2. Christmas sweaters
  3. Carolers (John: “I think that only works in snow.” (21:51))
  4. Gift giving/Secret Santa
  5. Christmas music
• New traditions discussed: All-day pajamas, quality time over gifts, themed Christmases.
• John’s holiday take:
  • “I love Christmas—the excessive celebration of commerce. It’s the most capitalistic holiday we’ve got.” (22:26)
  • “We dress our houses up like hookers every year…shower each other with stuff that is glorious.” (22:41)
• Lighthearted debate about baking Jesus a birthday cake.
  • John: “You do a birthday cake, really, as a family?” (24:50)
  • Brett: “Never heard of that.” (24:55)

6. Hot Takes on Buses and Public Transit

Timestamps: 13:05–17:33

• Ranking what annoys bus riders: personal hygiene, loud music, smoking/vaping, sexual activity.
• John gets brutally honest:
  • “If you’re at a bus stop right now, I’m sorry, but it’s not going your way. It’s not New York City.” (15:54)
  • “There isn’t one, like, you know, Greta Thunberg in Phoenix that just takes the bus…No, because then you meet the people on the bus, and you’re like, I can’t do this. I don’t love the Earth this much.” (16:18)
• The “bus of the sky” (Spirit Airlines) and light rail get their share of ridicule.

7. Tech Wonders: CES Highlight

Timestamps: 11:42–12:41

• News from the Consumer Electronics Show: LG’s see-through “OLED T” TV – “When it’s off, you can see right through it.” (11:55)
• The gang riff on marketing language and accidental double entendre (“getting rid of the big black rectangle”), leading to more jokes about accidental racism and how laughter reveals character.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John on syrup fakeness: “Mrs. Butterworth is about as fake ass crap as you can get. If it don’t cost over 7 or 8 bucks, it ain’t real.” (06:49, caller)
• Ralphie May: “If you spend $10 on syrup, you got a problem. You got something going on.” (07:26)
• John on Christmas traditions: “We dress our houses up like hookers every year. Throw a tree in there. We dress that like a hooker, and then we just shower each other with stuff that is glorious.” (22:41)
• John on buses: “If you’re at a bus stop right now, I’m sorry, but it’s not going your way. It’s not New York City. If you’re taking a bus here, things aren’t going your way.” (15:54)
• Ralphie May (re: candy canes): “If she starts with the curve…she’s a pro. She’s done that for money.” (08:06)
• On tradition innovations:
  • Brady: “Spend all day in your pajamas.” (21:59)
  • John: “That’s every Saturday and Sunday.” (22:01)

Segment Timestamps

• 01:52 – Brady kicks off the “Brady Report,” National Maple Syrup Day
• 03:30–05:15 – Mrs. Butterworth nostalgia, commercials
• 06:49–07:41 – Call-in: real vs. fake syrup debates, cost gripes
• 10:13–11:43 & 27:08–28:59 – The dinosaur debate, radio consultant satire
• 13:05–17:33 – Bus survey, public transit gripes, bus=life failure analogies
• 17:33–19:18 / 25:45–26:37 – Naked Bass Pro tank incident, recurring joke
• 20:01–24:07 – Which Christmas traditions to ditch, John’s ode to “hooker houses” and capitalist Christmas
• 24:50–25:45 – Jesus birthday cake, family traditions, cake jokes

Tone & Style

Irreverent, quick-witted, and packed with humor. The hosts riff off each other naturally—with John leading much of the sarcasm, gentle ribbing (especially at Brady), and pointed, tongue-in-cheek commentary on American consumerism, pop culture, and the perils of modern life. Occasional (and deliberate) edginess abounds, with playful teases of callers and each other.

In a Nutshell

This episode is an on-brand blend of fun banter, pop culture snark, and slice-of-life Arizona perspective. Listeners get a front row seat to the quirks of morning radio—a mix of nostalgic commercials, random viral stories, and perennial debates over the "realness" of syrup, candy cane etiquette, and why Christmas is better when you celebrate its “hooker house” opulence over reluctant tradition.

Listeners get:

• Hot takes on everything from Bass Pro Shop antics to personal holiday peeves
• A reminder that the joy of Christmas (and radio) is often found in the excessive, the absurd, and the not-so-serious.