The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Thursday, December 18 [Vault]

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & more)
Podcast: By Pionaire Podcasting

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show centers on the theme of how significant others or family members can create unintended drama in important life and work situations. Through a mix of listener stories, personal anecdotes, and a controversial wedding dilemma, the show explores the potential fallout of loved ones’ actions on careers and relationships. True to The Bert Show’s style, the cast delivers the content with authenticity, humor, and lively caller participation, sparking debates about where responsibility and forgiveness lie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. When Significant Others Cause Trouble

• Kickoff Story: Discussion opens with a high-profile news clip—Sen. Kerry’s wife telling a reporter to “shove it” ([01:03]). The hosts note how significant others’ public outbursts or faux pas can have major repercussions.
• Listener and Cast Anecdotes: The team and callers share stories where partners unintentionally (or recklessly) tanked jobs, reputations, or created tense scenes at social and work events.
  • Example: Story of a woman torpedoing her house closing by mentioning borrowed money in front of attorneys ([01:36]).
  • Wild Party Stories: Recollections of partners behaving badly at Christmas parties—like “Lady Crash” flashing the GM and grabbing guests ([02:31–02:56]).
  • Financial Fallout: A listener recounts the lasting damage after his wife’s thefts led to suspicion and career limitation ([03:02–04:14]).
  • Office Romance Gone Wrong: Crash shares regrets about hiring an ex-girlfriend and nearly losing his job due to her behavior ([04:26–04:59]).
  • Revelations at Work Parties: A caller’s husband drunkenly outed her past relationship with a coworker, leading to alienation at work ([05:01–06:17]).

2. Alcohol, Parties, and TMI

• Recurring Theme: Many stories involve alcohol-fueled mishaps at work or family parties, escalating tension or embarrassing those involved.
  • Quote: “I wonder how many of these involve alcohol. Cause we had a girl in our Christmas party one year... licking the ice sculpture...” (Crash, [06:23]).
  • Caller Amy’s Story: Boyfriend drunkenly insults a professor—not realizing he’s speaking to the professor’s son ([07:00–07:40]).

3. Phone Scams & Lighthearted Moments

• Phone Prank Segment: The show features a classic Bert Show phone scam, where a caller (“Russell”) tries to get money from a long-lost friend for a dubious boat purchase ([07:59–13:18]).
  • Quote: “Dude, it’s wild how I tracked you down. You ever hear classmates calm? ... I’m just reaching out to good friends... see if I can get anywhere from $1600 to $2200 from you.” ([09:14–10:35])
  • Punchline: The call is revealed as a prank, with the friend’s sister having set him up ([13:18–13:25]).

4. The Wedding Speech Dilemma: Jody & The Stuttering Sister-in-Law

• Dilemma Setup ([13:57–14:53]): Jody, a bride-to-be, is upset that her fiancé’s sister—a person with a severe stutter—has been asked to read at the wedding. She fears the ceremony will be “marred” if the stuttering causes delays.
  • Quote: “I feel awful, but I don’t want her to read something... I don’t want the ceremony marred by someone who can’t get the words out.” (Jody, [14:28])
  • Debate: The hosts and callers passionately debate whose day it is and what empathy or inclusion means in this context.
    • Some callers and hosts defend “the bride’s day” and her right to direct the ceremony ([15:51–16:11]).
    • Others strongly criticize the lack of compassion:
      “This is your family, this is your family member, and you’re saying that it would make your day imperfect if she got up there and spoke, even though she can’t speak as eloquently as you.” ([15:21], Host)
  • Middle Ground: The cast generally agrees the fiancé erred by deciding without Jody but disagrees with Jody’s reasoning for excluding the sister ([17:03]).

The Update: Fallout and Family Reaction

• Jody’s Update ([19:06–29:49]):

  • Jody shares that after the conversation with the sister, the younger sister informs the parents, leading to a sharply worded email from the father-in-law.
    • Quote: “I got a very sharply worded email... he was deeply offended... and said stutterers don’t stutter when they read.” ([20:07])
  • It’s revealed Jody was unaware that many stutterers can read aloud fluently, highlighting misunderstandings about speech disorders ([20:54–21:07]).
  • Tensions rise as Jody pushes blame onto The Bert Show for not “researching” stuttering for her. The hosts and callers push back, finding her misdirected frustration absurd and “clutching at straws” ([21:25–25:15]).
    • Quote: “I was under the impression you guys would do a little research.” (Jody, [21:15])

• Listener Reactions:

  • Brooke ([23:34]): “The moment that she tried to blame this on you guys, you should have hung up on her. ... She is trying to find somebody to take the fall for being so mean.”
  • Carly ([25:00]): “If you didn’t want speaking in your wedding, then why didn’t you just say that to begin with instead of hurting this woman’s feelings and saying this because she stutters.”
  • Mario ([26:29]): “She is so amazing. I cannot believe that there’s people out there that exist like this. She has no heart, no compassion.”

Expert Clarification

• Speech Therapist Input ([27:26]):
  Michelle, a speech therapist, confirms that with practice, most people who stutter can read passages fluently at public events.

  • Quote: “Most people, once they’ve practiced a paragraph over and over, are able to read with perfect clarity.” (Michelle, [27:37])

• Hosts’ Final Take:

  • The hosts express disappointment that, despite new information, the damage to family relationships is likely irreparable. They reflect on the loss of a potentially powerful, uplifting wedding moment:
    • Quote: “It could have been the highlight of the entire wedding because everybody ... would have seen her work to overcome it ... and Jody selfishly ruined it all.” ([32:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On significant others ruining moments:
  “Yeah, you tell a reporter to shove it. That’s a big deal. Who knows if it’s going to inevitably lose him the election?” – [01:28]

• On uncomfortable work parties:
  “She lifted up her shirt and showed the GM... grabbing the butts of the general manager and the general manager's wife as they attempted to leave my birthday party.” – [02:42]

• Jody’s Controversial Rationale:
  “I want my day, you know, I want everything to go smoothly. I don’t want to be there waiting for her to get something out.” – [14:45]

• On Blame-Shifting:
  “I’m gonna say I’m very disappointed with your show... My mission for the next the rest of the year is to try to get you guys off the air.” – [21:25, 29:49]

• Hosts on Wedding Priorities:
  “If you put the ritual in the ceremony before the human beings ... then your priorities are messed up.” – [18:01]

• Listener’s Scathing Critique:
  “If I was this guy and I was marrying you, I would run in the opposite direction. ... You are never gonna live this down. You’re gonna be known as the wicked witch that wouldn’t let the sister read...” – Carly, [25:00–26:20]

• On a Blown Opportunity:
  “It could have been one of the best wedding moments ever. And Jody selfishly ruined it all.” – [32:05]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 01:02: Ad spots and show intro
• 01:03 – 07:51: Significant others causing trouble – stories from hosts and callers
• 07:59 – 13:18: Phone scam prank segment
• 13:57 – 32:10: Jody’s wedding dilemma and live debate
  • [14:28]: Jody explains her concern about the sister's stutter
  • [20:07]: Fallout email from future father-in-law
  • [27:26]: Speech therapist clarifies stutterers and public reading
  • [29:49]: Jody’s vow to “get you guys off the air”
  • [32:05]: Hosts’ closing thoughts on lost wedding moment

Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is vibrant, candid, and humorous, with hosts and callers unafraid to speak bluntly. They challenge self-centered thinking, stand up for inclusivity, and frequently use sarcasm and good-natured ribbing to make their points.

Summary

This Bert Show episode is a rollercoaster of awkward, hilarious, and at times poignant tales about when the people you love wind up being your own worst enemy. The central Jody-wedding saga prompts a compelling discussion on the limits of “my special day” versus compassion and family bonds, ultimately arguing that empathy outlasts perfection. The show closes—after much venting and some sharp remarks—with an important reminder: sometimes, in prioritizing our own comfort, we can deprive others (and ourselves) of moments of extraordinary meaning.