Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona: Best of HMS Podcasts - May 26, 2025

Podcast Overview

Holmberg's Morning Sickness on 98 KUPD stands as Arizona's premier morning radio show, aiming to entertain, challenge, and engage its listeners with a mix of humor and provocative discussions. Hosted by John Holmberg, the show features co-hosts Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo, who navigate through various topics that resonate with their diverse audience. The episode released on May 26, 2025, titled "BEST OF HMS PODCASTS - MONDAY - May 26, 2025 - Our Gay Listeners Tell Us The Twin Sex Thing Is Big In Gay Community," delves into the intricacies of niche interests within the gay community and the broader societal implications of internet-facilitated group formations.

Main Discussions

1. Twin Sex Fetish in the Gay Community

   The episode opens with Bret Vesley recounting an email story that highlights a sensitive and controversial topic within the gay community. A listener shared an incident involving twins engaged in sexual activities, leading to complex emotional and familial repercussions. Bret reads, “Everybody has their comments. Everybody's. You know, the best part of waking up is the Folgers thing, the commercial. All of it, line after line.”

   The conversation evolves as listeners reveal their perspectives on the prevalence and acceptance of twin dynamics in gay pornography. Brett introduces Patrick Riley, a home solutions provider, segueing into listener interactions about their preferences and societal judgments.

   Notable Quote:

   Bret Vesley (02:57): "I got several emails. I didn't know we had this many gay listeners. We're basically Katie, KB Jr. A lot of gay guys emailing me, led by our king of the gays, Nathan, who started it."

2. Impact of the Internet on Niche Communities

   The discussion shifts to how the internet has transformed the way individuals with specific interests, such as twin fetishes, connect and form communities. The hosts lament the loss of physical barriers, like the infamous beaded curtain in video rental stores, which once served as gatekeepers between mainstream and adult content.

   Bret nostalgically compares past experiences with video rentals:

   Unknown Speaker (05:00): "You know what I think we need is, you know, you remember the beaded curtain at Video Paradise?... You had Manhattan phone book, gummy bears, and tissues."

   This metaphor extends to the broader conversation about how online platforms have both democratized access to personal interests and inadvertently normalized previously stigmatized behaviors by fostering large, visible online communities.

   Notable Quote:

   Unknown Speaker (07:11): "And those leads were loud when you walked through them... It was like Mission Impossible. You're, like, scaling the halls and looking both ways before you walk through that beaded curtain."

3. Societal Implications of an Internet Shutdown

   A thought-provoking segment explores the hypothetical scenario of society operating without the internet for a month. The hosts debate the potential collapse of businesses, the resurgence of taboos surrounding adult content, and the isolation individuals might feel without digital communities.

   Notable Quote:

   Unknown Speaker (09:47): "The Internet... Yep."

   Unknown Speaker (10:38): "And not for... Yeah, but there's the beaded curtain that you can't sit and chat with another dude who likes identical twins having gay sex."

4. Nostalgia for Pre-Internet Social Dynamics

   The hosts reminisce about the discreet nature of adult stores and video rentals before the internet era. They discuss the implicit understanding among patrons and employees about the nature of their visits, contrasting it with today's more transparent and public online interactions.

   Notable Quote:

   Unknown Speaker (12:18): "But an adult store is different because it's like everybody in there is in there for that reason."

Key Insights

• Normalization vs. Stigmatization: The internet has played a dual role in both normalizing niche interests by providing a platform for community building and simultaneously leading to the stigmatization of certain behaviors through widespread exposure.

• Loss of Physical Gatekeepers: The transition from physical barriers, like beaded curtains in video stores, to the open accessibility of online content has removed the subtle gatekeeping that previously regulated access to adult content.

• Community Formation: Digital platforms facilitate the formation of large, sometimes insular communities where individuals with specific fetishes or interests can find acceptance and camaraderie, altering the traditional dynamics of social interaction.

Concluding Thoughts

The episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness provides a candid exploration of how the internet has reshaped the landscapes of personal interests and community formations within the gay community. By addressing sensitive topics with a mix of humor and seriousness, the hosts encourage listeners to reflect on the evolving nature of societal norms and the impact of technology on personal and communal identities.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Bret Vesley (02:57): "I got several emails. I didn't know we had this many gay listeners."

• Unknown Speaker (05:00): "You know what I think we need is... you remember the beaded curtain at Video Paradise?"

• Unknown Speaker (07:11): "And those leads were loud when you walked through them... It was like Mission Impossible."

• Unknown Speaker (09:47): "The Internet... Yep."

• Unknown Speaker (12:18): "But an adult store is different because it's like everybody in there is in there for that reason."

Closing Remarks

Holmberg's Morning Sickness continues to push the envelope by tackling provocative topics that resonate with its audience, fostering a space for open dialogue and reflection on contemporary social issues.