The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Friday, March 27 [Vault]

Date: March 27, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, various callers, special guest Seth Rogen

Episode Theme

This episode is brimming with real-life drama, a dose of workplace ethics, the complexity of personal boundaries, laughs, and a celebrity interview. The hosts take listeners through sticky situations: navigating a promotion earned under questionable circumstances, dealing with awkward friendship requests, and setting boundaries in work and life—with wisecracks and relatability. Plus, Seth Rogen drops in for a no-holds-barred chat about Hollywood and life.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Katie’s Dilemma: Promotion from a Résumé Lie

[00:46–13:32]

Background

Katie, a previous caller, lied about her experience on her résumé to get her current job. After being summoned to the office (panic ensues—listeners/judges assumed she’d be fired), she’s unexpectedly offered a promotion.

Discussion Highlights

• Misleading Start: Katie expects to be fired—her boss had asked her to bring in her résumé.
  • "Look, all they had to do is hold up the résumé and she would have known what they meant. They didn't even have to be words exchanged." —Burt (00:46)
• Unexpected Promotion: Instead of a firing, Katie’s boss is moving up, recommending Katie for the position due to (alleged) superior experience.
  • "I was a little dumbfounded... my boss recommended me over her because I have, you know, more experienced." —Katie (02:31)
• Ethical Quandaries & Anxiety:
  • Katie feels guilt over the more qualified coworker who was expected to get the promotion.
  • Internal debate over living with the lie for higher pay vs. doing the ‘right thing’.
  • She asks for advice, expressing genuine turmoil: "I'm seriously sick to my stomach. I don't really know what to do." —Katie (03:05)
• Panelist & Listener Perspectives:
  • Many listeners, contrary to expectation, say “take the job—everyone’s struggling.”
    • "Ride it until the wheels fall—just do it. Everybody’s struggling. Make some money." —Alicia, caller (04:47)
  • Counterpoints: Some panelists condemn blocking a deserving colleague.
    • "Was the company's decision based on false information?" —Co-host (05:22)
  • Katie is torn, reflecting: "I do feel bad about this girl. We eat lunch together. She is my friend. At the same time, I would like this money. I would like this job." (10:34)
• Tone & Humor: Hosts and callers frame the debate with playful banter about work ethic, entitlement, and generational differences.
  • "Back in my day, I do believe we had to lie to get a job." —Co-host (08:36)
  • "Would it change your mind if I said that, like, I was a lot nicer and funnier and prettier than the other girl?" —Katie (09:47)
• Moral Takeaways: Listeners and hosts are split—some push for seizing the opportunity, others call out the unfairness and foreshadow karma.
  • "What this girl has done is committed fraud. And we’re going to let a criminal get a promotion ahead of somebody who has been honest and hard-working?" —Teresa, caller (10:06)
  • "What comes around goes around." —Samantha, caller (12:40)

Notable Quotes

• "I do feel bad. Thank you." —Katie, on struggling with the decision (12:22)
• "A real simple conversation here... You've only been friends with her for two months ... So what? You offend her." —Burt, shifting later to friends segment but reflecting the “move on” advice (22:23)

2. Amanda’s Birthing Room Conundrum

[14:35–23:19]

Background

Amanda, seven months pregnant, befriended a church acquaintance (age 22, also pregnant) just two months ago. The younger woman asks to be present at Amanda’s delivery.

Discussion Highlights

• Amanda’s Dilemma: Uncomfortable with the request—her own sister’s never been present at her birth, but the younger friend is overjoyed, “crying” after Amanda’s husband inadvertently said yes.
• Host and Panel Advice:
  • Many say it’s an overstep, suggesting Amanda firmly say no.
    • "I only show that part of my body to very few people...when something’s coming out of every orifice I got." —Co-host (17:14)
    • "This is your baby. This is your delivery room. There are very few times in your life where you get a chance to be confident enough to put your foot down. This is definitely one of those." —Co-host (20:48)
  • Others (half-jokingly) say Amanda has “brought relief” to a scared young woman and should go through with it.
    • "I think for the health of the young girl's baby, you need to agree." —Host (19:54)
• Humor & Sarcasm:
  • Multiple jokes about personal boundaries and funny “code words” for hospital staff to clear a delivery room (“green popsicle”).
  • "It's your vagina." —Co-host, with the group bantering about owning personal choices (22:55)
• Listener Calls:
  • Some side with Amanda’s need for boundaries; others recall being “traumatized” as pregnant observers at births.

3. Seth Rogen Interview

[23:27–29:41]

Interview Highlights

• LA Life & Hollywood:
  • Seth admits to being laid-back, referencing LA’s pervasive unemployment: “LA is nice. Cause... everyone’s unemployed. You kind of walk around and like, no one's at work all day. That's more my speed." (24:01)
• Weight Loss for 'Green Hornet':
  • Responds with his classic sarcasm about “bulimia... I’m joking, obviously,” before admitting he simply ate better and exercised. (24:26–24:37)
• Twitter and Social Media:
  • Not on Twitter, finds it “a little insulting” when people assume he’d spend time updating mundane happenings. (25:09; 25:18)
  • Amused if someone impersonates him to promote his projects: “Let him keep going then. Good.” (25:52)
• Career Start & Bombing:
  • Started stand-up at age 12, received no sympathy on stage: “They are more than happy to let you bomb completely and utterly.” (26:21)
• Improv in Film:
  • ‘Knocked Up’ was the most ad-libbed film; roommate scenes particularly improvised. (27:10)
• Marijuana Stance:
  • Firm, unapologetic: “Legalize it.” (29:13)
• Hollywood Movie Overlaps:
  • Not bothered by similar movies (“Observe and Report” vs. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”), says overlap is inevitable, you just “hope your thing is different.” (28:26–28:47)

Notable Moments

• "Never believe anything I say on a talk show." —Seth Rogen (27:00)
• "I'm insulting a lot of people on Twitter and I don't care." —Seth Rogen (25:36)

4. Amanda’s Husband: The Taxman & Overreaching Friends

[31:39–39:09]

Background

Amanda’s husband, a new accountant, is swamped during tax season. Friends (and family) keep asking him to do their taxes for free.

Discussion Points

• Problem Statement: How to say “no” to free tax prep without losing friends?
  • Amanda and her husband overwhelmed with freebie requests: “April 15th goes first.” (32:05)
• Advice from Hosts & Listeners
  • Be upfront: Offer discounted rates or propose bartering with services, but don’t work for free.
    • “I don't come to your work and ask for you to do free services for me. Why would you do it to me?” (34:30)
  • Set a universal ‘No Friends/Family Policy’: Frame refusal as firm/ethical, not personal.
    • Reference ethical codes and “firm policy” as a justification—even if it means fudging a bit.
    • “If she’s doing taxes off the books, and they’re not getting their cut, then she could lose her license.” (37:14)
  • Use Technology: Auto-reply emails politely defer tax help (36:23)
  • Send Mass Email: Before tax season, send a rate sheet to set boundaries (38:28)
• Tone: Supportive banter, camaraderie with new accountants; advice applicable to any “friend with a useful skill.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• [02:31] Katie (Caller): “I was a little dumbfounded... my boss recommended me over her because I have, you know, more experienced.”
• [07:40] Katie (Caller): “But now people lie and get jobs. I honestly believe that. And like, I never thought I'd be one of those people, but I'm kinda okay with it. And I'm really, actually kinda not okay with it.”
• [10:06] Teresa (Caller): “All karma aside, what this girl has done is committed fraud. And we're going to let a criminal get a promotion ahead of somebody who has been honest and hard working.”
• [17:14] Co-host: “I only show that part of my body to very few people...when something’s coming out of every orifice I got.”
• [24:01] Seth Rogen: “LA is nice. Cause...everyone’s unemployed. You kinda walk around and like, no one’s at work all day. That’s more my speed. That’s what I do.”
• [25:18] Seth Rogen: “Do I really seem like I have so little to do, I have to update people on every mundane activity I accomplish?”
• [29:13] Seth Rogen: “Yeah, I mean, not...I mean, not generally, but if you ask me, sure. Legalize it.”
• [34:30] Nick (Caller): “I don't come to your work and ask for you to do free services for me. Why would you do it to me?”

Timestamps by Segment

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------| | Katie’s Job Dilemma—Résumé Lie to Promotion | 00:46–13:32 | | Amanda’s Birthing Room Dilemma | 14:35–23:19 | | Seth Rogen Interview | 23:27–29:41 | | Amanda & The Taxman’s Friends | 31:39–39:09 |

Tone & Takeaway

In classic Bert Show fashion, the tone alternates between empathy, sarcasm, and candid honesty. Each scenario is dissected with humor, real-world advice, and genuine debate—no topic too awkward or controversial, be it résumé fraud, birthing boundaries, or freeloading friends. The show continues to offer a relatable and cathartic listening experience, inviting listener input and moral reflection—with plenty of laughs along the way.