20: Vault: High Schoolers Sound Off on the Vent Line.

Summary

The Bert Show: "Vault: High Schoolers Sound Off on the Vent Line"

Date: May 15, 2026
Podcast Episode: 20
Hosts: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & The Bert Show Cast

Episode Overview

This episode centers on The Student Vent Line, a unique segment where high school (and some college) students anonymously call in to vent about their personal frustrations, school struggles, and social challenges. The Bert Show hosts play back the voicemail confessions, react candidly, and add humor and empathy, shining a light on what’s truly weighing on students. The episode balances laughs with genuine insight, and even gets suggestions for a future teacher vent line.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose and Power of the Student Vent Line

• [00:49] The hosts explain the purpose:
  • Provide students a space to feel heard when they may not feel understood at home or school.
  • Encourage honest, anonymous expression to help relieve stress.
    Quote:

  "You don't feel like you're understood. Sometimes you just need to be heard." – Co-host (00:49)

2. Social Pressures and Cliques

• [01:26] Caller #1 vents about the damaging culture of cliques and the anxiety that even a "look" can cause social "suicide."
  Quote:

  "It's really annoying how like just one look can make you go into like social suicide... Glad you guys are letting us vent." – Student Caller (01:26)

3. Unfairness Between Hardworking and Laidback Students

• [01:39] Caller #2 compares herself to a peer who slacks off yet parties and lies, expressing frustration that hard work isn’t always recognized or rewarded.
  • Hosts relate: Share college stories about "slacker kids" that still excel academically, sometimes without effort.
    Quote:

  "I had a roommate like that… he'd be busting my ass, man, studying all the time... And I'd end up with, like, a C, and he'd get, like, a 98." – Co-host (02:14)

• Hosts reflect:
  • Express the hope that life will eventually catch up with the “slackers” when real habits matter.

  "At some point, they have to apply themselves... it'll catch up to them." – Co-host 2 (02:54)

4. Frustrations with Instructors

• [03:10] Caller #3 (on her way to a Spanish midterm) vents about a teacher:
  • The teacher isn't a native speaker.
  • She is critical about students' accents but may not teach what’s actually on the test. Memorable moment:

  "She wants to... judge us on how we talk and speak Spanish, and it just really me off... about to fail." – Student Caller (03:10)

• Hosts’ take:
  • Tease the language of "judging" vs. "grading" and how performance is constantly evaluated.

  "Why are you judging me? You're always evaluating everything I do. Get off my back." – Co-host (03:53-04:02)

5. Relationship Drama and Escalating Emotions

• [04:17] Caller #4 gives a raw and colorful rant about her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, complete with threats and vivid insults.
  • She describes wanting to physically confront the ex and dramatically display her “weave.” Quote:

  "I swear, I want to go rip her weave out of her hair... And take her weave out and hang it from a street post." – Student Caller (04:17, 04:44)

• Hosts’ reaction:
  • Acknowledge this is the "disturbing" message referenced at the start. Balance concern with humor about her “thorough” plan.

  "That's a lot of talk. We've said it's just venting, you know... I appreciate halfway through a woman who's thorough and thinks plans through." – Hosts (04:54, 04:58)

6. Listener Suggestion: Teacher Vent Line

• [05:10] Caller (Kim) suggests letting teachers have their own vent line.
  • Hosts agree, noting teachers need the outlet, especially at the end of the school year. Quote:

  "When we're done with the student vent line, we'll turn it into our teacher vent line. Oh, that's a really good idea." – Co-host (05:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Peer Pressure:

  "Just one look can make you go into like social suicide." – Student Caller (01:26)

• On Academic Unfairness:

  "I'd end up with, like, a C, and he'd get, like, a 98." – Co-host (02:14)

• On Unsupportive Teachers:

  "She doesn't even have a fluent accent. And then she wants to, like, just judge us on how we talk and speak Spanish." – Student Caller (03:10)

• Most Intense Rant:

  "I'm going to get her alone and I'm going to beat the crap out of her... take her weave out and hang it from a street post." – Student Caller (04:17, 04:44)

• Hosts' Take on Venting:

  "It's just venting, you know... halfway through a woman who's thorough and thinks plans through." – Host/Co-host (04:58)

• On Teacher Vent Line:

  "That's a great idea. We'll do that... To get you guys like through those last three weeks of school when you're just ready to explode." – Co-host (05:29)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:49 – Introduction to the Student Vent Line and its purpose
• 01:26 – Caller #1: Social cliques and isolation
• 01:39 – Caller #2: Hard work vs. party culture
• 02:14 – Hosts’ college roommate story
• 03:10 – Caller #3: Spanish teacher frustrations
• 03:53 – Hosts mock "judging" vs. "grading"
• 04:17 – Caller #4: Intense relationship conflict rant
• 05:10 – Listener Kim suggests a Teacher Vent Line
• 05:29 – Hosts pledge to create Teacher Vent Line in the future

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Tone & Style Note

The Bert Show’s tone is conversational, candid, and gently irreverent. Listeners will feel a mix of camaraderie, solidarity, and humor — with the hosts validating the struggles of students everywhere while poking affectionate fun at drama and venting. They create a safe and entertaining outlet for student voices.

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Summary

This episode gives listeners an unfiltered look into the lives and stresses of high school students by sharing honest (and sometimes dramatic) voicemails. The Bert Show team reacts with warmth, empathy, and wit, amplifying the importance of being heard. The segment closes on a forward-looking note, promising to offer the same cathartic space for teachers. The episode is a compelling, real-world slice of teen life and a reminder of the value in letting off steam.

Transcript

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[Co-host]

The Vent line. The student vent line is set up for a very specific reason. Here. You know, you're a student right now. You don't feel like you're understood. Sometimes you just need to be heard.

[Co-host 2]

Yeah. And a lot of people around you may not be listening to you, Your parents may not be listening to you, your friends, other members of your family, your teacher. So we want you to call us and let us know. And it is. Yeah, it's a vent line. It's a voicemail. So you just come on, you vent, you get it out, and then maybe that way you'll feel better.

[Co-host]

The phone number is 404-255-3535 and you can leave a message at any time and I'll start playing these and you guys just tell me when you want me to pause them so you can talk about them. But Josh said there's one in here that's really pretty disturbing.

[Caller/Student]

Hi. I'm really upset that there's like a lot of cliques at schools and everything. And really annoying how like just one look can make you go into like social suicide. It's so annoying. So I'm glad you guys are letting this event because it's really helping me. Okay, bye. Hey. I go to high school and to college and I know a girl who is doing the same thing as me and all. She doesn't do anything and gets away with it. She lies to me, her parents, and all she does is party. I work my butt off in school and she thinks it's a joke and it really, really upsets me. Anyways, thanks for the rant line.

[Co-host]

I had a roommate like that also that used to party all the time, was out till all hours of the night and just had one of Those photographic memories, though. So he would never have to study for a test. And he'd be busting my ass, man, studying all the time. And I'd end up with, like, a C, and he'd get, like, a 98.

[Host]

And that'll make you hate him. Hate.

[Co-host]

Hated them. Hated them.

[Host]

We call those kids the slacker kids. But they got good grades.

[Co-host]

Yeah, they're not really slackers because they did get good grades. You know, you just didn't need to try.

[Co-host 2]

I think it'll catch up with them, though, if you don't have habits of, like. I don't know. I just feel like, stick. You know, stick to your guns. Do, you know, study. Do your thing. And don't worry about them so much.

[Co-host]

At some point, they have to apply themselves.

[Co-host 2]

At some point that's going to catch up to them.

[Co-host]

You won't see it.

[Co-host 2]

Yeah, you won't see it. You won't get the satisfaction of me going, ha, ha. Look at you. But it will catch up.

[Host]

It continues in college because all you have is exams in college, so you get to sleep through class.

[Caller/Student]

Yes. I'm on my way to take a Spanish midterm where the teacher absolutely hates. First off, she's not even Spanish, so I don't understand how she's teaching it in the first place. And she can't even, like. She doesn't even have a fluent accent. And then she wants to, like, just judge us on how we talk and speak Spanish, and it just really me off. And I guarantee you that not one thing that she has quote taught in the class will be on the test. So let me get off the phone because I'm walking into class and about to fail spirit test. Thanks.

[Co-host 2]

I love. And I love the fact that she said. And she judges us instead of it grading us. Judges us on our accents.

[Co-host]

What a great thing to say when you get a grade back. Why are you judging me? You're always evaluating everything I do.

[Host]

Get off my back.

[Caller/Parent]

And then ranking me with other people.

[Host]

He's higher than you. She's lower than you. Lo siento, Jeff.

[Co-host]

That's great. All right, this last one, I think, is the one that Josh said is kind of disturbing.

[Caller/Student]

Here. Oh, my God. My boyfriend has this stupid ex girlfriend that looks like Shamu. She will not go away. She calls his mom, she calls his brothers and his sisters, and I cannot take it. I swear, I want to go rip her weave out of her hair. I cannot stand her. She comes around to where he works, and I swear, one day I'm Going to get her alone and I'm going to beat the crap out of her.

[Caller/Parent]

Oh, good point.

[Caller/Student]

And take her weave out and hang it from a street post. Thanks.

[Co-host]

She's got a plan and everything. Take the weave out and hang it from a post.

[Host]

That's a lot of talk.

[Co-host]

We've said it's just preventing, you know.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

I appreciate halfway through a woman who's thorough and thinks plans through and that's good.

[Host]

Yeah, it's halfway through the semester. Things get a little more edgy during the middle of the school year.

[Caller/Student]

We're going.

[Co-host 2]

God sake.

[Co-host]

Good morning, Kim. You're on Q100.

[Caller/Student]

Yes. I was going to say, why don't y' all have a teacher event line?

[Co-host]

Oh, that's a good idea too. When we're done with the student event line, we'll turn it into our teacher event line. Oh, that's a really good idea.

[Host]

Yeah, we have to do that for the second part of the school year because that's when teachers get the most frustrated.

[Caller/Student]

Okay, thank you. I appreciate it.

[Co-host]

Yeah. To get you guys like through those last three weeks of school when you're just ready to explode. That's a great idea. We'll do that.

[Caller/Student]

Okay, good. Thank you.

[Co-host]

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