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:
- The Lexington, Kentucky tourism board sending Earth's first interstellar travel ad to aliens, and the crew riffing on potential alien visits.
- 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)
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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.”
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
- John describes dangerous attempts at burning old Christmas trees:
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.
