5: Vault: Was she hiding the fact that she had a child?

Summary

The Bert Show – Episode Summary

Episode: Vault: Was she hiding the fact that she had a child?

Date: May 14, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Bert Show delves into a classic dating dilemma: When (and how) should you disclose important personal details to someone new? Listener Jill wants to know why Russ, a date she thought went well with, has suddenly gone radio silent. The Bert Show team investigates, uncovering layers of assumptions, misunderstandings, and the etiquette of honesty in dating—especially when kids may (or may not) be involved.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jill’s Side of the Story (00:30–02:35)

• Jill recounts her Saturday night date with Russ. It went well—they had dinner, conversation, a kiss, and then decided to return to her house.
• She received an emergency work call and stepped out for approximately 20 minutes.
• The date ended with the promise of a future call, but she never heard from Russ.
• Jill is puzzled and eager to know what went wrong, seeking closure.

Notable Quotes:

• Jill: "Well, he kissed me and said that he would call me and that we would, you know, get together." (00:59)
• Jill: "Yeah, you never know. I mean, it's better now than never, right? Or later. Yeah." (02:30)

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2. Russ’s Perspective and the Kid’s Room Mystery (02:53–07:42)

• Russ admits he hasn't called back because, while he liked Jill, something didn’t feel right.
• He noticed a fully decorated child’s bedroom at Jill’s house, which she didn’t mention during the date. This lack of disclosure made him uncomfortable.
• Russ clarifies he has nothing against kids, but feels it was dishonest not to bring it up, especially when inviting someone over.
• Russ describes the room as having "pink and Barbie dolls and a bunk bed." (06:05)
• The show explores the “right time” to disclose to a date that you have a child or a similar major life detail.

Notable Quotes:

• Russ: "I don't have a problem with kids, but I kind of feel odd that we went an entire evening without her once mentioning that she had a child." (04:08)
• Russ: "If we're going on a date and it's going well, I think that she owes me that sort of explanation. Or just give me the option to have an opinion about it." (04:44)
• Russ (about seeing the bedroom): "I went upstairs and went to the bathroom, and then there was a couple doors open, so I just sort of peeked my head in and." (06:33)
• Russ: “I just. I don't know if I'm ready to deal with somebody who wasn't honest about that from the beginning.” (06:53)
• Host: “Isn’t it the truth, like, if you're really, really super into somebody, though, you just hit them with a text or something over like 48 hours?” (07:31)
• Russ: “Yeah...So I guess I'm not that interested.” (07:37)

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3. Jill Sets the Record Straight (08:00–10:44)

• Jill explains she does NOT have a child; the room Russ saw belongs to her niece, whom she cares for one week each month while her sister is traveling for work.
• The bedroom discovery was due, Jill thinks, to Russ snooping upstairs—perhaps beyond what’s typical guest behavior.
• The co-hosts debate whether it’s normal to “snoop” in someone’s house, and whether Jill should have taken Russ home so early in their acquaintance.

Notable Quotes:

• Jill: "Yeah, I don't have kids and I just can't believe. I don't know. My sister is a flight attendant and I take care of her daughter and my niece like a week out of the month." (08:23)
• Co-host 3: "So he had to go out of his way to go to that room." (08:55)

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4. Dating Etiquette, Safety, and Assumptions (10:44–13:24)

• The conversation turns to the wisdom of inviting a date home early, dating safety, and the prevalence of “snooping” during house visits.
• The crew questions whether Russ’s actions (exploring upstairs) were justified and if his assumptions were fair.
• Jill is ultimately relieved to have clarity and decides she’s no longer interested in pursuing a second date.

Notable Quotes:

• Host: "Could you imagine bringing somebody, a first date over to your house?...It's just creepy." (11:22)
• Co-host 1: "Yeah, I think that was a mistake, actually. Jill Overall was taking him back to your place so early." (11:42)
• Jill: "Well, I have friends in the neighborhood. I mean, and they knew that someone was over. So I guess I felt comfortable in that sense." (12:08)
• Jill: "Not so much. I'm really glad that he was honest, I guess about that, but he just made a lot of assumptions, and that's. That's wild." (10:33)

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5. Closure and Final Thoughts (13:24–13:30)

• The hosts and Jill agree that sometimes things fizzle for odd reasons and closure is important.
• Jill is satisfied knowing the truth and moves on without regret.

Notable Quotes:

• Host: "All right, Joe, we'll let you go. At least you got closure on the whole thing." (13:24)
• Jill: "Thanks a lot, you guys." (13:29)

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Jill’s confusing exit and “kid’s room” discovery: (00:35–06:05)
• Russ’s honesty about being put off: (03:35–07:42)
• Revelation that it’s not Jill’s child: (08:04–08:39)
• Debate about dating safety and etiquette: (10:44–12:30)
• Jill gets closure and is ready to move on: (13:24–13:30)

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Tone and Style

Lighthearted, witty, and authentic, The Bert Show tackles the awkward nuances of modern dating. The discussion is candid, often playful, and allows space for honest self-reflection by both the hosts and their listeners.

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TL;DR

Jill wondered why Russ didn’t call after their promising first date. Russ suspected Jill was hiding a child because he discovered a kid's bedroom at her place, but Jill revealed it's her niece's room. Miscommunication and assumptions ended the romantic potential, but provided valuable closure and an entertaining exploration of the challenges of modern dating.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Co-host 1]

Help is always ready before, during and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind.

[Host]

You're on the Burt Show. All right, so these were Jill's words yesterday to us.

[Jill]

We had a really great time last Saturday when we decided to have dinner, but it was kind of loud in there and we wanted to talk and decided to, like, just go back to my house. We kissed.

[Host]

Did you guys do it?

[Jill]

No, not at all. Actually, I got an emergency phone call from work. I went into the other room, maybe for like 20 minutes at the most.

[Co-host 1]

Okay, so how. What was the last thing that was said? Like, how did the date totally end?

[Jill]

Well, he kissed me and said that he would call me and that we would, you know, get together.

[Co-host 1]

Now, Jeff and I both thought initially that it was just too fast, too soon. Like, she called us by Wednesday morning, so it was really just Sunday, Monday, Tuesday that had gone by because they hung out Saturday night. So I don't think it was that crazy that he hasn't called her.

[Co-host 2]

And was there an exchange on Sunday or. No exchange.

[Co-host 3]

I just thought if it was, he left at 10 o' clock on a Saturday night. I thought, he's not interested unless he

[Host]

realized that he wasn't going to get everything that he wanted. Thought, okay, you know, I'll cut the night short tonight and we'll try this again next week. But there's been no other call or

[Co-host 4]

he saw something in her apartment or she's just a bad kisser or something happening.

[Host]

Hey, Jill.

[Co-host 2]

Or his wife came back to town

[Host]

or something like that. Hey, Jill.

[Co-host 3]

Hello?

[Co-host 2]

Hello, Jill?

[Jill]

Hello?

[Host]

Is this Jill? Hey, how are you?

[Jill]

Good.

[Host]

Good. Okay, you've had 24 more hours to think about it. You have any idea what he might say here in a couple of seconds?

[Jill]

Oh, no. I'm curious, though.

[Co-host 1]

Is she gonna be listening? Like she's gonna be on hold, right?

[Host]

Yeah, she won't be. They won't have any interaction together because. Yeah, well, he won't give us the truth. He knows you're on the line, so what we'll do here is we'll put you on hold, we'll talk to him, and then we'll get you back on after he hangs up. So we get Total honesty from him.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Co-host 1]

My stomach hurts for you right now.

[Co-host 4]

Sometimes you just don't want to know the truth at all. Especially if it's hurts.

[Co-host 3]

Well, she does.

[Host]

You sure you want to know?

[Jill]

Yeah, you never know. I mean, it's better now than never, right? Or later. Yeah.

[Host]

Okay, well, let me put you on hold, okay. And we'll talk to you in a second.

[Co-host 1]

She got confused on the same.

[Host]

Because she's as nervous as you said she is.

[Co-host 2]

So it's worth more than now. Larry, you're being inappropriate.

[Host]

Okay, so here. His name is Russ.

[Russ]

Hey, Russ, how's it going? Good.

[Host]

How are you today?

[Russ]

I'm fine. How are you guys?

[Advertiser 1]

Good.

[Host]

First, thanks for coming on with us. I understand it's awkward for sure.

[Russ]

You know, being on a radio is kind of cool though,

[Co-host 2]

to be honest with you. It's really overrated.

[Host]

Jill is not on the line, so you can speak freely. And really just what she's looking for here is just a little bit of closure because she thought everything went great on Saturday night. And then as of yesterday, Wednesday, she hadn't heard from you. Not a text, not an email, not a call. And she's just going over the date and she's like, what did I do wrong here so I don't make the same mistake again. So can you kind of fill us in?

[Russ]

Yeah, I mean, nothing went wrong. She's good, she's great. She's a great girl. But I. I don't know, I mean, I've just. I guess I've just been busy these past couple days. I've been staying at my parents house. There's been, you know, the rain. Their house got a little bit of flooding so I've sort of been helping them with that. And there's not really. There wasn't anything wrong with Jill. I just, I mean, I don't know. I guess. I don't know. I guess I'm not going to be calling her back because I kind of feel she wasn't that honest with me. About what, frankly. Well, I guess there was a point at which in the evening she went into the other room to deal with something I think was work and she has a kid bedroom and she never mentioned having a kid. And like the bedroom is completely decked out for a child. And I mean, I don't have a problem with kids, but I kind of feel odd that we went an entire evening without her once mentioning that she had a child.

[Co-host 3]

And if she doesn't, that's even creepier.

[Russ]

Well, I mean there's A story that should go with it, or at least some sort of, you know, explanation. If we're going on a date and it's going well, I think that she owes me that sort of explanation. Or just give me the option to have an opinion about it.

[Host]

Now, that's. That's an interesting take because we've talked about this on the air before. Like, if you're a single mom, let's say, then when do. I mean, you've got. You guys haven't even gone through a whole first date yet. So when is she really obligated to bring up that she has a child? Is it the first date, is the fifth date? Or is it when you walk into her house and you're obviously gonna see the room?

[Jill]

She.

[Russ]

She suggested that we go back to her house, you know, and I feel like she should have said it if that was what she wanted to do, because she knew I would probably see. I mean, it's a kid's home.

[Co-host 1]

I agree with that. Because if they had just been out to dinner twice and maybe it hadn't come up yet, and then it comes up on the third date, I wouldn't fault her as much. But if she's bringing somebody back to her place, you gotta tell.

[Co-host 3]

I agree.

[Co-host 4]

And she doesn't have any roommates, right?

[Russ]

She what?

[Co-host 4]

She doesn't have any roommates. Right.

[Russ]

I mean, again, she didn't mention anyone living in the home with her, so I don't. I don't know if she had a roommate. I don't. I don't. I mean, I didn't know she had a kid. So who knows if she has a roommate?

[Host]

What exactly did you see in that room that was just a tip off that, okay, this is a child's room.

[Russ]

You know, pink and Barbie dolls and a bunk bed and, you know, yeah, generally. I mean, that could be her room. But then that's a whole other problem.

[Co-host 3]

Because if you said, like, Star wars toys and stuff like that, I'd be like, well, no, that's not necessarily a K. But the Barbie thing. Yeah. I don't know many adult women that have the Barbies out.

[Host]

And how did you see that room? Were you just heading on over to a bathroom or something and you passed that same room and looked in or what?

[Russ]

Well, yeah, I mean, I went upstairs and went to the bathroom, and then there was a couple doors open, so I just sort of peeked my head in and.

[Co-host 1]

Oh, I would have done the same thing.

[Host]

Snooping around just a little bit.

[Co-host 4]

You have to be nosy.

[Russ]

It Was a bit, maybe a bit nosy, but it was more just curious.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Russ]

You know.

[Host]

All right, so the fact that she didn't.

[Russ]

I just. I don't know if I'm ready to deal with somebody who wasn't honest about that from the beginning.

[Co-host 1]

I understand that that's awkward.

[Host]

Outside of that, did the date go well? I mean, if you would have never laid eyes on that room and never had an idea that there's a child involved, would you have called again over the last couple of days?

[Russ]

Yeah, I probably would have. I mean, it's been busy with my family, but I mean, I would have. I was intending on calling her anyway tomorrow or the next day, but when I got the call from you guys, I just sort of held off.

[Host]

Well, isn't it the truth, like, if you're really, really super into somebody, though, you just hit them with a text or something over like 48 hours?

[Russ]

Yeah. I mean, usually it's. And then the next day or two. So I guess I'm not that interested.

[Host]

Okay.

[Co-host 2]

If she was able to give the kid up for adoption, would you talk? Would you call her?

[Co-host 3]

I know Katie's looking.

[Host]

Alright, Russ, we'll let you go. Thanks for coming on and thanks for being honest. Appreciate it, man.

[Russ]

Yeah, of course. Thank you guys.

[Host]

Okay, dude, thank you.

[Russ]

I appreciate it. No problem.

[Host]

All right, bye. Bye. All right, Jill's back on with us. Hey, Jill.

[Jill]

Hi.

[Host]

Hi. So we just got done talking to Russ. Like you heard, I'm sure. And he said the fact that he was at your house and he saw this bedroom that was obviously decorated for like a four or five year old girl that he assumed was your daughter was really sort of turning him off and that the fact that you never brought it up.

[Jill]

Yeah, I don't have kids and I just can't believe. I don't know. My sister is a flight attendant and I take care of her daughter and my niece like a week out of the month.

[Host]

Okay.

[Jill]

And for him to have gone and seen that room, he would have had to have gone upstairs into my house and like past the bathroom and seen that.

[Co-host 3]

So he had to go out of his way to go to that room.

[Co-host 2]

Was the door open? Was the door to the room open or closed?

[Jill]

It might have been. I figured it would be closed, but it might have been cracked.

[Host]

I think what he said was he passed it on the way to the bathroom, but he did say it was upstairs. So is there a bathroom downstairs also he could have used?

[Co-host 3]

Yeah, so he went upstairs and went down the hall too far and he was big time snooping.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, but I would have snooped.

[Co-host 4]

I would have done the same thing.

[Host]

You would have gone upstairs.

[Co-host 4]

I can't blame him.

[Host]

You wouldn't have gone upstairs.

[Co-host 2]

No way.

[Host]

You might have snooped through, like, the medicine cabinet or something, but you would have walked upstairs.

[Co-host 2]

If the bathroom to use is downstairs, you would not go.

[Co-host 1]

There was a bathroom downstairs and I went upstairs. I've done that before at a friend's house that was having a party. I w. I walked around the downstairs and couldn't find a bathroom, so I went upstairs to use the bathroom. If that was the case, like, I would have definitely looked around.

[Co-host 4]

And depending how long she was on that phone call, it might have been more than 20 minutes. I would have walked around. I got bored.

[Host]

I think while you're on that phone call, he took the time to go and snap the.

[Co-host 1]

Well, we can get it back on and ask him.

[Host]

I guess we could, but either way, it doesn't matter.

[Co-host 2]

That's shady.

[Jill]

I mean, unless he was trying to find out where my bedroom was or something. But still, I don't think I want.

[Co-host 2]

Were you in here? Didn't you say I went into my bedroom? So you knew where your bedroom was?

[Jill]

Yeah, I know. I mean, whether he was. I don't know. I don't know why he was trying to get. I mean, my. I don't know. Yeah.

[Host]

So either way, like, if we got him back on right now, would you be interested in even having a second date with this guy now?

[Jill]

Not so much. I'm really glad that he was honest, I guess about that, but he just made a lot of assumptions, and that's. That's wild.

[Co-host 1]

Well, and now with the whole radio thing and it's just gonna be weird now it's awkward. Call it.

[Jill]

So I don't know him anyway, or any of his friends, so it doesn't matter.

[Host]

Right. All right, so the bottom line is not your child, it's your niece. And he was either snooping through the house. Jen, I think the scenario that you painted about going up to use the bathroom because you couldn't find the one on the bottom floor, maybe 2 percentile of people would do that. I would search bottom of the house.

[Co-host 2]

Now, I would understand going upstairs, but if there's a bathroom on the first floor, and I'd look for that, and if you have to walk past.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, I'd look for it first.

[Host]

Okay.

[Co-host 2]

But if you have to go upstairs and you use the bathroom and then you have to walk past that bathroom and open A door that's either closed or cracked. And look in there. That's no way. Could you imagine bringing somebody, a first date over to your house? And what if she steps out of the bedroom and she's like, hey. And he's like, oh, hey, up here. Up here. It's just creepy.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, I think that was a mistake, actually. Jill Overall was taking him back to your place so early.

[Host]

Well, I mean, that's for her. That's for her.

[Co-host 1]

Well, I'm just saying, like, I mean, that dude's a stranger.

[Host]

I mean, how many times does this happen in Atlanta? Every weekend? A million times?

[Co-host 1]

I don't know.

[Host]

I'm not saying it's safe.

[Co-host 1]

I don't know.

[Co-host 3]

On a first date.

[Co-host 1]

On a first date. I just think that, like, telling some guy where you live and all that

[Host]

stuff right away is dangerous.

[Co-host 1]

I don't think that's smart.

[Jill]

Well, I have friends in the neighborhood. I mean, and they knew that someone was over. So I guess I felt comfortable in that sense. Like. And I don't think I wouldn't have invited him over if I didn't get the sense when I was at dinner initially with him that, you know, he wasn't, like. He didn't seem like a good guy. And, well, I don't know.

[Host]

Here's Katie.

[Co-host 2]

Good Morning.

[Host]

You're on Q100.

[Russ]

Hi.

[Jill]

Hey. I just wanted to find out why he didn't just say something before he left the house. I mean, you know, he saw the room.

[Co-host 2]

Because you'd have to admit to snooping.

[Jill]

Well, it's a natural thing.

[Co-host 2]

No, it's not.

[Host]

Not to go upstairs. It's not a natural thing.

[Jill]

Okay, so why did he kiss her and tell her he'd call her later? Why wasn't he just an honest man and say, well, he's a dude.

[Co-host 3]

He's a guy.

[Jill]

Exactly.

[Host]

Well, women do the same thing. Give me a break. Women do the same thing. If you don't have a good first date, you don't go, hey, thanks a lot, but this didn't work out for me.

[Jill]

I would.

[Host]

Well, you're very. It's a rare exception.

[Jill]

Well, that's true.

[Co-host 3]

Yeah. Most people aren't confident to do that in person to somebody they barely know. You leave all those rude comments for when you date somebody for a long time.

[Host]

All right, Joe, we'll let you go. At least you got closure on the whole thing.

[Russ]

It's.

[Host]

You know, it's not gonna work out for whatever reason.

[Jill]

Thanks a lot, you guys.

[Host]

All right, Chels, thanks for calling Bye. Bye. It's the vert show.

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[Russ]

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