Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 12-24-25 - BR - MIX - We Sent First Ad In Space For Aliens - Brady's Xmas Tree Dump Prank - Jan 2024 - BO
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: John Holmberg
Co-hosts: Brady Bogan, Brett Vesely, Doug Hopkins, Fitz, Byron, Mo

Episode Overview

This festive episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness starts with light-hearted banter and Arizona news but quickly veers into two hilarious main topics:

1. The Lexington, Kentucky tourism board sending Earth's first interstellar travel ad to aliens, and the crew riffing on potential alien visits.
2. Brady’s infamous Christmas tree dump prank from his college years, with iconic prank logic, mishaps, and fiery debate about what makes a “good” prank.

As usual, John Holmberg’s sardonic humor keeps the show lively while the team questions, teases, and roasts each other throughout. Expect classic Morning Sickness irreverence, plenty of “Brady-isms,” and off-the-cuff observations on Arizona life and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Earth's First Interstellar Travel Ad (02:03–04:08)

• Lexington, Kentucky’s Tourism Signal:

  • Brady reveals that Lexington, KY, with FAA approval, sent a bitmap-coded message to the Trappist-1 solar system (02:03–02:53).
  • Signal included images representing:
    • Prime numbers
    • Four basic elements of life
    • A human, two horses
    • Chemical formulae for bourbon
  • Intended as a whimsical invitation: “Visit Lexington, Kentucky.”

• Cosmic Timelines:

  • Trappist-1 is 40 light-years away.
  • “Any aliens won’t get it until 2063. If they respond, we won't get it back till 2103.” (Brady, 02:55–03:18)

• Panel’s Take — Would You Join the Aliens or Fight for Earth?

  • John: “If you have the capabilities to fly from one solar system to ours… I’m joining them. They’re going to win.” (03:47–04:06)
  • Doug: “Oh, the aliens.” (04:06)
  • Brady, hesitating: “Assess it first.”
  • John (mocking): “What are you assessing? They're here. Assessment over.” (04:09)
  • Brett: “If I can’t find Goldblum, I’m out. I’m with the aliens.” (04:44)

Notable Quotes

• John Holmberg (03:47):
  “If you have the capabilities to fly from one solar system to ours, I’m not taking out my 12 gauge and firing away. I’m joining them. They’re going to win.”

• Doug Hopkins (04:06):
  “Oh, the aliens.”

• John Holmberg (04:09):
  “What are you assessing? They’re here. Assessment over.”

• Brett Vesely (04:44):
  “If I can’t find Goldblum, I’m out. I’m with the aliens.”

2. Holiday Weirdness: Christmas Trees & Wild Animals (07:47–11:16)

• Unsold Christmas Trees: Where Do They Go?

  • Brady reports elephants in Berlin Zoo eat unsold Christmas trees (07:47–08:07).
  • Discussion veers into environmental recycling habits in Arizona:
    • Trees are recycled in lakes or for mulch (08:04–08:52).
    • John warns not to throw household trees into local lakes:
      “What Brady is saying, do not take your tree and throw it in a lake...Your tree that's been in your house for a while doesn’t go in a lake.” (08:23–08:46)

• Cautionary Tales: Burning Trees

  • John describes dangerous attempts at burning old Christmas trees:
    “It was a volcano of fire… Don’t burn your trees.” (11:47–12:13)
  • Brett: “My dad almost caught our house on fire… burn the thing in the fireplace.” (11:59–12:05)

3. Brady’s Epic Christmas Tree Dump Prank (12:40–29:42)

Story Summary:

• In college, Brady’s friends pranked him by unloading about 50 Christmas trees onto his front yard after the holidays. They even put a “tree for sale” sign out front (12:40–14:03).
• Brady chased the perpetrators in his underwear but never caught them (12:53–14:30).
• Hilarious debate over “prank or vandalism?” unfolds for more than 15 minutes.

Prank Debate: What Makes a Good Prank?

• John is adamant the prank was just mean, not funny:
  “What is hilarious about throwing trash in someone’s yard? Like, it’s not funny.” (22:04)
• Brady insists it was all in good fun, and his parents thought it was funny (22:38).
• Doug: “You missed the moment when it washed over him when you said they hated you.” (21:35)
• Fitz: “You got treed. It was worse. You got forested.” (21:42)

4. Tallying Other Pranks and Oddities (27:06–29:42)

• A dildo prank on Brady’s car and random Eggo waffles tossed in John’s backyard spark more stories about the show’s internal prank wars.
• John asserts:
  “If my tailgate fell off and I had a bill and my dad got involved. Not a prank. That’s just vandals. That’s Vandal Brady.” (28:18)
• Doug defines a better prank: “A prank is sending Mormons to John’s house, not 50 trees in your yard.” (28:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John, on Alien War:
  “Any idiot that stands in their house with a shotgun shooting at a spaceship…” (05:48)

• Brady, on becoming an alien ally:
  “There'd be some blue foods. Hey, this glop is good.” (05:15)

• John, on pranks with bills:
  “Clean up bill, the city gets involved. Not a prank anymore. They hated you.” (28:26)

• Brett, in disbelief:
  “That’s a big ass truck if you got 50 Christmas trees.” (14:14)

• Waste management listener email (29:14):
  “If there are 50 trees at one house, we would be 50 furious because all we have is pitchforks on our hands.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sending an Ad to Aliens (Travel/Space): 02:03–04:08
• Alien Takeover: Which Side Would You Choose?: 03:47–07:14
• Unsold Christmas Trees: Zoo, Lakes, or Mulch? 07:47–08:52
• Burning Old Christmas Trees: 11:47–12:13
• Brady’s Christmas Tree Dump Prank Story & Reactions: 12:40–29:42
• Listener Feedback – Waste Management: 29:11–29:42

Tone and Energy

The episode is packed with the Morning Sickness team's signature high-energy, irreverent banter. Discussions are punctuated with sarcasm, hyperbole, and fond (and not-so-fond) reminiscences. The hosts constantly roast each other, especially Brady, for his unique takes and dubious prank logic.

Final Highlights

• Travel ad aimed at aliens is perfect fodder for sci-fi riffs and existential hilarity.
• Brady’s tree prank is dissected, ridiculed, and used as a masterclass in “how not to do a prank.”
• Burning and recycling Christmas trees is more dangerous and complicated than listeners might expect.
• If in doubt—never throw anything (including trees and Eggos) in your friends’ yards!

For fans of weird Arizona news, goofy prank histories, and good-natured (mostly) ribbing, this episode is a festive treat packed with quotable moments.