Full Show PT 1: Thursday, June 4 [Vault]

Summary

The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Thursday, June 4 [Vault]

Date: June 4, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Jeff Bird, Jen, Melissa, Mike Sorrentino ("The Situation"), Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)

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Episode Overview

This episode is all about reunions, real talk, and tough choices. The Bert Show celebrates the much-anticipated return of co-host Jeff Bird after stressful contract negotiations left him off the air and the cast in suspense. The show opens up about how much Jeff’s absence changed the energy in the studio, how it affected listeners, and what it means to be a radio family. The episode is filled with personal stories, listener calls, entertainment news, and a deep dive into family, honesty, and responsibility—whether it's reconciling after drama or deciding what to do with a new puppy that's too much to handle.

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Key Topics & Segments

1. Jeff’s Return & The Contract Negotiations

[00:31–06:14] Main Discussion

• Stress & Uncertainty: Bert openly discusses the stress and emotional toll Jeff’s absence took on the cast and listeners.
  • "Jeff leaves this show, it doesn't sound the same. How could it?" – Bird Show Host [01:31]
• Behind the Scenes: The cast details the back-and-forth nature of negotiations with their parent company, Cumulus, and the frustration of having their hands tied.
• Jeff’s Perspective: Jeff reflects on the weirdness and humility of the attention he received, thanking fans and the cast for their support.
  • "I'm not good with, you know, humility. I really, really like myself, but I'm not comfortable with other people liking me." – Jeff Bird [06:39]
• Key Quotes:
  • "The reason I'm in this chair right now is because of the people in this room and no other reason at all." – Jeff Bird [14:11]
  • "If Melissa leaves, show changes. You gotta replace them with somebody who hopefully brings it to the same quality." – Bird Show Host [01:40]
• Listener Calls: Passionate calls and emails from listeners underscored just how meaningful the show and its personalities are in people's daily routines.
  • "It became apparent how...what we do is kind of a big deal. You know what I mean? Like, it's superficial, but it's a comfort thing." – Jeff Bird [08:01]

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2. Listener Loyalty & Authenticity

[06:39–10:34] Community Response

• Passionate Community: The cast discusses how Bert Show listeners are unusually loyal, citing examples like “Bert’s Big Adventure” and emotional support for the team.
  • "What we do here is special and the company saw that and Jeff knows that and we all know that also. So it's together again." – Bird Show Host [15:03]
• Not a Stunt: The show firmly denies rumors that Jeff’s contract drama was a publicity stunt, emphasizing their authentic approach.
  • "100% authentic...we would never put you guys through that." – Bird Show Host [09:41]

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3. Pop Culture & Celebrity News

[16:09–28:24] Entertainment Segment

• Jersey Shore Interview with ‘The Situation’:
  • Mike Sorrentino shares behind-the-scenes stories from the show, discusses the backlash from Italian-American groups, and explains the origin of his nickname.
    • "I'm not representing anybody but myself. I'm having fun. I'm a guy in my 20s, I'm single." – Mike Sorrentino [19:32]
    • "That's a situation right there...yeah, that is a situation." – Mike Sorrentino [20:33]
• Drunk & Disoriented Celebrity Clips:
  • Mariah Carey’s allegedly inebriated award speech: “And please forgive me because I'm a little bit baked.” – Mariah Carey clip [22:28]
  • Ben Affleck’s flirty interview: "You should have that rack on display." – Ben Affleck [23:37]
  • Paula Abdul’s “satellite delay” incident and John Stamos’ jet-lag-and-vodka TV appearance.
  • Classic infamous moment: Joe Namath hitting on a sideline reporter while obviously drunk, “I want to kiss you.” [28:06]

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4. ‘Ask the Divorce Attorney’—Legal Advice for Listeners

[29:01–44:00] Segment

• Evan Summerstein answers a range of listener divorce questions covering:
  • Adultery and Alimony in Georgia:
    • "Under Georgia law, adultery is a bar to alimony." – Evan Summerstein [30:21]
    • Nuances about condonation (forgiveness nullifies adultery as cause for divorce).
  • Rehabilitative Alimony: Short-term support to help recently separated spouses get on their feet.
  • Divorce Without Consent: Explains “divorce by publication” and moving forward even if one spouse refuses.
  • Infidelity’s Impact on Property & Child Custody: “Adultery doesn’t affect your rights to the house or kids, just alimony.” – Evan Summerstein [37:13]
  • DIY Divorce Resources: Points to www.fultonfamilydivision.com for free info/forms for those with limited means.
    • "If your attorney's telling you he's not going to fight for you, you probably need to talk to a different attorney." – Evan Summerstein [41:21]
  • Attorney Communication: Advice for clients who feel their attorneys are stalling the divorce process for profit.
    • "Talk to your attorney about it...explain to me why this is taking so long." – Evan Summerstein [43:06]

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5. Listener Drama: Rehoming the Christmas Puppy

[44:34–51:51] Real-Life Dilemmas

• Caller Karen: Bought a puppy for Christmas, now overwhelmed by the work and considering giving it away. She asks, "Should I lie to my kids about why the puppy's leaving, or tell them the truth?" [44:41]
• Reactions:
  • The cast urges honesty, using it as a teaching moment about responsibility and tough decisions.
    • "I think you gotta sit down with your kids because I think it's a lesson in making mistakes or making hasty decisions." – Jen [47:24]
  • Personal stories about making similar mistakes with pets.
    • “I felt terrible having to give the dogs back…but they’ve got a great family.” – Bird Show Host [47:57]
• Notable Humor:
  • “You could roll it into a responsibility conversation, like: see, now you could also use this opportunity to turn the family against each other.” – Bird Show Host [49:55]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Show Chemistry:
  • "The reason I'm in this chair right now is because of the people in this room and no other reason at all." – Jeff Bird [14:11]
• On Listener Community:
  • "Bert’s Big Adventure exists because our listeners are passionate." – Jen [09:19]
• On Difficult Decisions:
  • "If it's not gonna work for you and the dog's gonna be happier in another home, I think that's the way you should go." – Jen [47:24]
• On Personal Growth:
  • “Reading all the messages, it became apparent how...what we do is kind of a big deal…it's a comfort thing.” – Jeff Bird [08:01]
• On Legal Rights:
  • "Adultery doesn't affect your rights to a division of marital property. That only really affects alimony." – Evan Summerstein [37:13]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Jeff’s Return & Negotiation Drama | 00:31–06:14 | | Listener Loyalty, Authenticity, Email Reactions | 06:39–10:34 | | Jersey Shore/The Situation Interview | 16:09–21:46 | | Celebrity Drunk Moments/Commentary | 22:03–28:24 | | Divorce Attorney Open Line/Legal Q&A | 29:01–44:00 | | Puppy Dilemma & Parenting Honesty | 44:34–51:51 |

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Tone & Takeaways

The Bert Show is as authentic as ever—raw, funny, and honest, balancing real-life dilemmas with celebrity gossip and listener interaction. It’s an episode defined by the value of connection, whether in the studio, on the airwaves, or at home. The cast doesn’t shy away from tough issues, instead choosing to face them (and their audience) with vulnerability and humor.

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For more:
Call The Bert Show at 1-855-BertShow or visit thebertshow.com for future episodes and listener interactions.

Transcript

[Jeff Bird]

Oh, I have had no luck lately. Wait.

[Lady Luck Britsky]

Lady luck Britsky. I got you. I've had so much luck on spinquest.com they have all of my favorite games, slot games, live blackjack craps and bubble craps. You can even get a 30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[Jeff Bird]

10 bucks for 30. I'm headed over to spinquest.com right now.

[Spinquest Announcer]

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[Bird Show Host]

The Bird show if you haven't been listening the last couple of days, we have tried to detail for you guys as much as we have been able to the stalemate between Jeff and Cumulus when it came to his contract. Jeff's contract expired on December 31st and he hasn't been with us all week while they tried to work it out. And it's been, it's been, they've both been very hard headed about the whole thing if you ask me. And it's been a stressful, stressful time for everybody in here. It's been very stressful for Jeff and his family. Also. I have received very few emails the last week that have been enjoyable to read because if you think about it, none of them are complimentary. The ones that say, hey, you guys will be fine without Jeff, I get offended by because they belittle Jeff's role on the show and that's my friend and he's our partner. The ones that say, hey, I won't listen again if Jeff's not there aren't fun to listen to either because for obvious reasons, there's nothing I could do about it. The ones that were demanding that I bring Jeff back were frustrated, frustrating also because I had nothing to do with it. I've been fighting for Jeff now for six weeks, eight weeks with corporate. So I'm doing everything I can. So reading the email saying, hey, you gotta bring Jeff back or show's never gonna be this same. Well, you're right. I mean, I know everything that you guys wrote in emails the last couple of weeks are absolutely true. Jeff leaves this show, it doesn't sound the same. How could it? If Melissa leaves the show and we've got no Melissa, the show changes and it changes for the worse for a while. And then you got to replace him with somebody hopefully that we bring up to the same quality level or beyond, you know. So it has been no joy for anybody the last couple of weeks for sure. It's taken its toll on everybody in here. We've all sort of been on edge. The studio has felt Empty to us the last couple of days, too, partially because Melissa wasn't here as well. But not having Jeff in here has left a huge void for all of us. So I don't know. I've been getting the tweets and the emails, and I've just been getting more and more frustrated the last couple of days because there's nothing I could do about it. We've done everything that we can. If Jen could run over to Cumulus the last couple of days and, you know, figure out a way to get this done, it would have happened. Wendy too. Melissa, I'm not so sure.

[Melissa]

No, I don't.

[Jen]

I would have interrupted nap time.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, I would.

[Melissa]

Had to get on a phone to make the appointment. I'm not going to.

[Bird Show Host]

Too much effort. Just tell me tomorrow what happened.

[Melissa]

Yeah, just fill me in later.

[Caller/Listener]

Whatever.

[Bird Show Host]

So the bottom line is this, is that through weeks and weeks and weeks and months and months of negotiations that. That Jeff dollar is coming back to the Birch Show. Okay. We are gonna be a family again.

[Jen]

Good. Good.

[Bird Show Host]

And I don't know the details of the whole thing, but I do know this, that Jeff should be here any second.

[Melissa]

Oh.

[Bird Show Host]

He will be in studio this morning. And it is thankfully done. Done. Done. Done.

[Jen]

You're sure?

[Bird Show Host]

Yes.

[Jen]

It's, like, signed on the dotted line. Done.

[Bird Show Host]

It has been so close to being done for a while now, but I am much like you, so skeptical that could. Anything could turn because these.

[Jen]

There he is. Hey. Hi, Jeff.

[Bird Show Host]

Dad, get over here. Jen was just asking 100. Are we 100% certain this is done? Are you sure?

[Jen]

Are you really, really sure?

[Bird Show Host]

I remember you.

[Jeff Bird]

I remember you.

[Melissa]

I'm so excited.

[Jen]

Hi.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Hey.

[Bird Show Host]

You got a haircut.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Jeff Bird]

You do.

[Jen]

It's good.

[Jeff Bird]

I had a lot of time to do a lot of things.

[Jen]

Yeah, we noticed. We've been working.

[Jeff Bird]

Yeah.

[Bird Show Host]

Jeff just said to me, are you 100% sure this is.

[Jen]

Are you 100% sure? Like, signed on the dotted line? Done.

[Bird Show Host]

Jeff and I have gone through same thing the last couple of days. Like, we weren't gonna allow this to happen unless it was 100% signed, sealed, delivered, and signed. And because it really. I mean, things have been so turbulent the last couple of months and last couple of weeks especially, that it felt to me like the negotiations were blowing from one end to the other. On one day, Jeff and I would talk and was like, all right, buddy, looks like it's gonna happen. And then the next day, Jeff and I would talk, and it was like, doesn't look like it's gonna happen. Then the next day it's fine. Then it sucked. So he's been on this emotional roller coaster. He's putting his mic in with Jessica also. And every day, he didn't want to leave. You know, he hasn't wanted to leave either. And every day, him and Jessica have been going through this as a family as well.

[Jeff Bird]

There were moments.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, right. There were moments, actually, during this whole thing that I almost advised him to take off.

[Jen]

Really?

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah. Just because of the way everything was handled. In some cases, yeah.

[Jeff Bird]

But that's all behind us, right?

[Jen]

Is it all behind us?

[Jeff Bird]

Yes.

[Jen]

I don't know why I want to see it. Show me the big stack of papers with that stapler that's extra big. I actually see your signature on it.

[Jeff Bird]

I actually thought about bringing it in, like, framed yesterday, because I signed it yesterday, and it's not. And I was also. It's not really that big. It's only three pages, really only. It's actually only two pages. And I wanted so much more than that. Like, I wanted.

[Melissa]

I want to be bound.

[Jeff Bird]

I wanted it in one of those little attorney things like the Da Vinci Code. Like, I didn't want just two pieces of paper. I wanted something written on the flesh of someone. But whatever, it's done.

[Melissa]

Welcome back, Jim.

[Bird Show Host]

You must want to say more than that about it.

[Jeff Bird]

Well, yeah. I heard the break with Serial Monogamist this morning, and I've got. I'm not going to make her cry yet, but, God, you're an idiot. So I hope we can talk about that again. And I honestly.

[Bird Show Host]

That wasn't a caller. If you weren't listening, that was Jen

[Jeff Bird]

Hobby, and I haven't listened to the show since. That was the first. The first break I heard was that one this morning, so I missed it.

[Melissa]

Well, and also welcome back because we're glad that you have the key to the cabinet that has all the supplies in it. That's what we were really upset about.

[Jeff Bird]

You guys haven't had spoons.

[Melissa]

I have not been able to eat.

[Bird Show Host]

We came to that realization a couple of days ago that if for nothing else, you gotta come back and at least give us the key to the cabinet.

[Jeff Bird]

I didn't even think of that. I would have given it to Tracy. I do want to say that. And I wrote about this on my blog, that the attention that this has gotten started out as very humbling. And I'm not good with, you know, humility. I really, really like myself, but I'm not comfortable with other people liking me. So at the Beginning. It was really humbling and really embarrassing. And by yesterday, it was just weird. Like, I seriously felt like there were people walking through hallways of schools, like, with Pepsi cans, doing save Ferris campaigns. Because, I mean, in the whole big scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal. But I appreciate the fact that everybody, including, you know, you all in this room and. But everybody on Facebook and Twitter and the fact that there was an interest like that, I mean, that made me feel good. So that was. That was cool and almost made it worth it, you know what I mean? Like, to go to bed at night and think, wow, this is really cool. People like me and people like the show and people care. As someone who was I unemployed or retired?

[Bird Show Host]

You were unemployed.

[Jeff Bird]

Unemployed, Yeah. I want to come out of retirement. Can I be retired instead?

[Bird Show Host]

Yes, I guess you could say that.

[Jeff Bird]

Okay, so when I was retired, are

[Bird Show Host]

you planning on not working ever again?

[Jeff Bird]

There was a minute there where I was like, I know there were some

[Bird Show Host]

people that were trying to make that happen.

[Jeff Bird]

Yeah, there was a minute there where I was wondering if a guy could sell Mary Kay or a Pampered Chef. But during that time, that brief time, like earlier this week, and reading all the messages, it became apparent how, like, the people that my parents listened to on their low clock radio in the kitchen when they were getting ready, and then how integral and comfortable that becomes part of your life. Like, I remember distinctly who I listened to, who my parents listened to, and then when I became probably 16 and got my own car, like, who I listened to, and, you know, those different morning shows and stuff, and I was reminded of, you know, like, what we do is kind of a big deal. You know what I mean? Like, it's superficial, but it's a comfort thing. So there's also an appreciation there for the people who are fans and who have supported us. I have a lot of appreciation for the fact that they're allowing us to be the ones to be in their kitchen or bedroom or shower or car every morning. That's really cool.

[Bird Show Host]

And I've worked on a lot of different morning shows, but the passion level of Burt show listeners is something pretty unique to me.

[Jen]

Always has been to me, it always has been.

[Bird Show Host]

But you really got to see it the last couple of days, for sure. One way or the other, People are passionate.

[Jen]

I was gonna say from before I ever even joined the show. And you guys doing Masha's graduation, I mean, that was the listeners passion and support coming forward to make that happen. Burt's big adventure exists because Our listeners are passionate about what we do. You know, we're able to do all kinds of amazing things throughout this community because of the listeners. And I think you're right. I think they, they showed up in full force when there was the possibility of Jeff not being here.

[Bird Show Host]

For the one or two or three of you guys that thought this was some kind of publicity stunt for ratings, I, with 100% wholeheartedly tell you this had zero to do with any kind of publicity stunt. This has all been 100% authentic. I would never put our staff through that and I would never put you guys through that. This is not like an April Fool's joke, right? I mean, this is our lives. And we do take it very seriously that we gotta entertain you guys before you get into, to work or school. And there's, there's a trust between the two of us. And we wouldn't stunt you guys with something this big.

[Jen]

We wouldn't be as exhausted as we all are if it were a stunt.

[Jeff Bird]

Especially coming off of a vacation week when listenership is down. If we'll stunt, we're going to do it in primetime rating season when listenership's off.

[Jen]

April, May or June, baby, we're not

[Bird Show Host]

wasting it right now.

[Jeff Bird]

We'll do it. It'll happen at 7:15 when we're kicking off our thousand dollar giveaway people on Monday. Not now.

[Bird Show Host]

Hey, Michael, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Hey, thank goodness that Jeff is back. I love the vert show, but it's been on a comedy hiatus since he's been gone.

[Jeff Bird]

Oh, thanks, man. I appreciate that.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, again, like, I don't know how to respond to stuff like that. Again, there, there are no comments or no emails that feel good because I think the show has been fine the last couple of days. But when you take, when you take a call like that, it's offensive for the people that are in here. So there has been no constructive criticism or no email or no call the last couple of days. That sits well on at any level because the ones that came in that said that it's been fine without you are offensive also to me because you're

[Jeff Bird]

part of our team and they're wrong.

[Bird Show Host]

Hey, Susan, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller/Listener]

Good morning. I won't offend anybody. I just want to say welcome back, Jeff. I'm so happy. And now I don't have to send out any more emails.

[Jeff Bird]

Thanks, Susan.

[Bird Show Host]

Hey, Amy, good Morning. You're on Q100. Hi. Hey.

[Caller/Listener]

I just want to tell Jeff I'M about to cry.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I'm so happy to hear him on the radio.

[Jeff Bird]

That's awesome. But I feel weird about that. I'm not worth it.

[Caller/Listener]

Oh, yeah? Yeah. I've been following you on your blog

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

and everything all week, so it's like everything's good now.

[Melissa]

That was a welcome blog yesterday. You did a great job.

[Jeff Bird]

What do you mean?

[Bird Show Host]

Good morning, Michelle. You're on Q100.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Hey, guys. I was so worried this was going to be like, a toucher thing. I didn't listen to y' all until y' all took over from 99X, but

[Caller/Listener]

he just adds something to the whole

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

team, and I'm glad y' all are whole again.

[Bird Show Host]

Absolutely. I think you guys are all saying what we were feeling the last couple of days.

[Caller/Listener]

Y' all are awesome.

[Melissa]

Thank you.

[Jeff Bird]

That toucher thing was one of those veiled compliment things. I get what you're saying. Very talented. But, God, that guy looked bad at the end of his morning show run here in Atlanta.

[Bird Show Host]

Good morning, Kim. You are on Q100. Hi.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, there.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

How you guys doing this morning?

[Bird Show Host]

Good. How are you?

[Caller/Listener]

I'm doing great. I just wanted to say welcome back, Jeff. I love you so much. I love each and every one of you. I think you all add something very different and special to the show, and I'm just so glad he's back.

[Jeff Bird]

Awesome. Thank you very much.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Thank you very much.

[Bird Show Host]

How's Jessica done with this whole thing? I got a whole bunch of emails wondering how the family has done the whole thing. Because you go through one of these, everybody in your life goes through it.

[Jeff Bird]

She's fine. Yeah. I mean, it was a weird journey. And I joke about the blog thing, but if you do read the blog, there is never a place where my future was in danger. Like, there was never a place where I was gonna lose a house. You know what I mean? So that made everything okay. There's certainly a lot of frustration and a lot of anger and a lot of questioning, you know, which, you know, door to open or whatever, however you want to say it. And that, I think, was really stressful for both of us, especially making decisions, despite. I feel like it's almost like asking out the person who just called you really ugly and fat, you know what I'm saying? Like, that there was a lot of

[Bird Show Host]

that during the negotiations, you mean?

[Jeff Bird]

Yes. And at the end when I. Yeah, so there was a lot. There was a lot of that, like, weird, conflicting, not feeling wanted, but feeling wanted. I will tell you this. And I told this to Bird on the phone. And I'll have no problem saying this, this publicly, but the reason I'm in this chair right now is because of the people in this room and no other reason at all.

[Melissa]

Understand that.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, these are tough to go through. They really are. I mean, when you're in any negotiation with any company, it's your job to get the most for your family and the most for yourself. And you take a certain amount of pride in what you do and you want to feel appreciated. And your company, it's their job to keep you there for as little as they can. They've got budgets to take care of also. And how those two meet in the middle is sometimes very, very difficult. In this case, it hasn't been pretty at all. And there's ramifications, I mean, that are probably your attitude is going to be different towards the company because it didn't go as well as you wanted it to. I mean, it's done or a family again. But there's still, I mean, there's some things that in any negotiation, if it's not handled well or you don't feel it's handled well, those linger.

[Jeff Bird]

Indeed.

[Bird Show Host]

And I think you're gonna feel that for a while. But what we do have here is special and the company saw that and Jeff knows that and we all know that also. So it's together again.

[Jen]

Sigh of relief.

[Bird Show Host]

It is together again.

[Jeff Bird]

And I really am, I do, I do appreciate the well wishes. But God, I am so embarrassed by it. Like, it's really not like I don't get embarrassed easily. Especially I don't get embarrassed and people are telling me how much they like me.

[Bird Show Host]

But this is, this doesn't happen often.

[Jeff Bird]

No.

[Bird Show Host]

Hey, the Birch Show.

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[Jeff Bird]

The Birch Show.

[Bird Show Host]

All right, so this guy from the Jersey shore. If you haven't seen the show, it's a bunch of kids from like New York that go on out to the Jersey coast and they party all summer long. And the storyline is very similar to probably most of you guys that used to do this when you were younger. You go to the shore and you just get drunk and you try to have sex all summer.

[Jen]

Well, and they're self proclaimed guidos and Guidettes too. So the Italian American organizations around the country are really upset about this show. There's been a ton of advertisers that have pulled their ads from the show because what do they call it? Like, ethnic bashing? Because these people are such uber stereotypes of what, like, young Italian Americans are like from Jersey. But. But they are who they are. And they tan and they have lots of gel in their hair and they talk funny. And now there's like guido, Guido, like name generators online. What did Joanna say she was the other day? Producer? Joanna was like J. Wow. Or Jay something. I don't know. I mean, everybody is like, all about this.

[Bird Show Host]

It's a. It's a really, really, really funny show. And even if you don't watch it, I think there's some entertainment value in listening to this guy. He calls himself the Situation. And this starts off with just a little sample of the show. Just in case you haven't seen the Jersey Shore yet, girls love guidos. I'm not even joking. I know girls that just go for that. I mean, you can hate on me all you want to, but what can

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

you possibly say to somebody that looks like Rambo pretty much with his shirt off?

[Bird Show Host]

Hello, Mike Sorrentino.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

How are you?

[Bird Show Host]

Good. How are you today, man?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

I'm doing great. I'm just, you know, just, you know, having loving life right now.

[Bird Show Host]

What percentages are you hitting at when you go into a club? If you. If you go out there and you approach 10 women, how many of them are giving you a phone number?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Okay. Before the show? Percentages. Me going into a club, we're probably out of 10 women, and they're all hot. I would say, you know, I had a, you know, I'm being very real. I'd say 70% chance of getting what I wanted. Now, nowadays, you know, it's out of 10 women, let's just say 20.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Really?

[Bird Show Host]

So it's helped. It hasn't hurt you in any way, shape or form?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

No, no way. I can't even go out in public without people mobbing me. But I've been next to some pretty hot chicks lately.

[Jen]

All right, Mike, I've got to know. How do you respond to all these sponsors who are calling your show ethnic bashing because, like, family insurance and Domino's have already pulled out of MTV because they don't like your show and the way you're representing Italian Americans, I feel

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

bad for those sponsors because it's one of the biggest rated shows out there right now. And you know, if they, I mean, that's okay. There are shows that. There's shows out there for every advertiser, which I'm starting to learn, you know, why the advertisers are on each show. So if they don't want to be a part of, you know, our show, that's fine. You know, there's other advertisers that want to, you know, gladly fill in their place, you know, for, you know, our ratings and you know, our future ratings, which I know people are probably signing up at the door for.

[Bird Show Host]

I know this is kind of a deep question, but do you feel somehow some way that you're betraying your heritage? Cuz a lot of people have never been to Jersey, don't know anybody Italian, and you're the only connection they have with the Italian community.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Well, you know what I mean. Nobody has ever pointed it out to me like that. I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm not representing anybody but myself, okay? I'm having fun. I'm a guy in my 20s, I'm single. And what you see out there is exactly what happens sometimes. Now, as per the style in the spiky hair and the six packs, that just happens to be the style of some of us in the house.

[Jen]

All of you, well, all of you

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

can't point the finger at anybody, you know, whether you have spiky hair, six pack or blonde hair and sandals. I mean, whose hands are clean enough to point?

[Bird Show Host]

I'm going to chew on that one. It's a great show, man. And seriously, it feels like back in the day when I was going to Delaware and doing the beach house thing, it's the same thing except you guys are doing it in Jersey. But things don't change.

[Melissa]

And I'm getting a lot of questions

[Jen]

on where the name, the situation stems from.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

The situation the name came from. I was with a couple buddies and we were at a beach club. You know, girls have bikinis and you know, guys have shorts. And at that particular time I was trying to do underwear modeling. And you know, year round I'm usually ripped year, like really ripped. And I just have really good genetics. And I was walking around and some girl was holding her boyfriend's hand and asked, you walk by me? She was like, oh my God, honey, look at his ass. I mean, if you're holding your boyfriend's hand out of respect for him, you just don't do that. And my buddies that were with me were like, dude, That's a situation right there. Just jokingly saying. And then I looked down and I was like, yeah, that is a situation. And it kind of.

[Jen]

Are you definitely the best looking cast member, would you say?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

I would have to say that overall, I think I might be the best looking cast member. I'm very real. And, you know, I think that, you know, I do. Some of the other castmates are good looking, but, you know, you got to. You got to believe in yourself.

[Caller/Listener]

Got a wrap, guys.

[Bird Show Host]

I feel the same way about this cast situation. Thanks a lot, man. Appreciate it. Good luck with the show, dude.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Oh, thank you so much, guys. You guys were awesome. Thank you so much for having me on the show.

[Bird Show Host]

I talk to you later.

[Jen]

Take care.

[Bird Show Host]

If I walked in the door and

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

seen myself, I probably grabbed my girl real quick.

[Bird Show Host]

The Bird show. Mariah Carey, obviously hammered a couple of nights ago in Palm Springs. She's accepting some. Some kind of award in Palm Springs. Right.

[Jen]

And please forgive me because I'm a little bit.

[Lady Luck Britsky]

Yeah,

[Jen]

That went on for five minutes.

[Jeff Bird]

I think she's more. I think there's more to it than just champagne.

[Bird Show Host]

You think she's high?

[Kim]

Listen.

[Jeff Bird]

Yes, listen to that. That is a stoner. If somebody walks up to you and says this, then they are stoned.

[Jen]

And please forgive me because I'm a little bit baked.

[Lady Luck Britsky]

Yeah.

[Jeff Bird]

Ben,

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

I don't know.

[Bird Show Host]

Melissa.

[Melissa]

Yes.

[Bird Show Host]

Your opinion on that?

[Melissa]

Well, you know what? I hold my opinion because. No. Yeah. I think that regardless of what happened, because why would you call me out to recognize something like that?

[Bird Show Host]

She's supposed to be in front of me.

[Melissa]

I do like, though. I do like the fact that she acknowledged it.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, me too.

[Melissa]

You know, because.

[Bird Show Host]

Oh, yeah.

[Melissa]

Then if she doesn't acknowledge it, then it becomes, oh, what's happening tomorrow? Mariah Carey, her career. You know, she's must be unhappy in her marriage and all these situations, medication.

[Bird Show Host]

It's happening to her, too. She can't handle the pressure.

[Jen]

She said she didn't eat dinner and she had way too much champagne. Straight up. She admitted it.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Bird Show Host]

You got plenty of celebrities that have been documented as being inebriated in one way, shape or form on tape. This is Ben Affleck. He's kind of drunk and he's in an interview with a Spanish interviewer and he's got his buzz on pretty good. He just starts coming onto this one.

[Kim]

Well, you usually show a lot more cleavageness. What's the story? Why are you covering it up today?

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Why?

[Bird Show Host]

It's Sunday morning.

[Kim]

It's Sunday morning. That Never started before from getting that. I don't think you're trying to fool Sunday morning. You could be in church. You should have that rack on display.

[Bird Show Host]

The deacon.

[Kim]

Right?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Am I right?

[Kim]

That's how it goes. I mean, usually it's a bikini and the whole thing, you know, you should work at Fox here in la. You'd blend right in. They would love you. They do that. Fox, Fox, la, they have a pole

[Bird Show Host]

that they dance on and you watch that.

[Kim]

I love my only thing that I love.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Hello.

[Kim]

Magical.

[Jen]

His wife. Now, Jennifer Garner's got to see that and be like, really? Really? You did that back in the day.

[Bird Show Host]

This one's famous here. Paula Abdul, she was promoting American Idol and she claimed afterwards, I think there was some weird satellite thing going on.

[Jeff Bird]

Right, right, right.

[Bird Show Host]

She smoked a satellite. There was a point there, you know, there were reports you're gonna be kicked off the show. You say Simon. You say Simon Cowell really came to your defense.

[Melissa]

Yeah, but nobody from Fox or no

[Bird Show Host]

one was going to kick me off the show.

[Melissa]

That's just.

[Caller/Listener]

That's.

[Melissa]

Those are people wanting it. And for me, it was like, oh,

[Bird Show Host]

I finally have edge.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Yeah.

[Bird Show Host]

You know, But Simon does not have

[Melissa]

anyone who can play in his sandbox

[Bird Show Host]

as well as I can. You always wiggle.

[Kim]

Wiggle around that much.

[Jeffrey Downey]

You're just wiggling around there in New York.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm a dancer.

[Bird Show Host]

I'm a dancer.

[Melissa]

I'm doing little dance moves.

[Kim]

Oh, all right.

[Bird Show Host]

Wow. You can really tell on that one.

[Jen]

She had to kind of see her.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, we heard her way worse than that on American Idol. People claim that Britney Spears was nice and stony on this home video.

[Melissa]

Oh, this feels so good to itch.

[Kim]

Need to stop doing that.

[Bird Show Host]

That feels like heaven, mama. See what you pass down to me,

[Jeff Bird]

Dude, we're going to do clips of

[Kim]

you burping because I've got like 20 of them.

[Bird Show Host]

I had to say something.

[Melissa]

That's my best.

[Jen]

Yeah, that was their reality show, right?

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah. Couldn't even get the words to come out. John Stamos on Australian tv. Vodka. Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

Just yet. You didn't know Wawa or Ice with that or anything.

[Jeffrey Downey]

Forgot you Australians. I'm just getting over jet lag, you know, and yesterday I did a bunch of interviews and I was like, kind of half asleep, half awake. And you. We fly here, you know, for free to. To promote the shows, you know, and this genius, Downey, something, Jeffrey Downey, took a shot at me at the papers today at being tired, you know, and you know why? You know why?

[Caller/Listener]

He did that why?

[Jeffrey Downey]

Because he has a small penis.

[Caller/Listener]

Well, now you know. Now you know. That's the. That's actually the reason.

[Jeffrey Downey]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. So how do you obviously don't take criticism well.

[Jeffrey Downey]

I do, believe me. I make fun of myself more than anything. But when you fly 15 hours for free, you know, and you would have made a difference.

[Caller/Listener]

I paid.

[Jeffrey Downey]

Say again?

[Caller/Listener]

Would it have made a difference if you'd been paid?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

No.

[Bird Show Host]

You get tired.

[Jeffrey Downey]

I woke up this morning at 2:30 and have not slept since.

[Bird Show Host]

And he's hammered also. Besides not sleeping, he's also drunk. Then there's Joe Namath here. This is the quintessential one here. Have you guys ever seen this or heard this? He's on the sidelines and he's starting to talk football. And I think you can really hear him slurring through this one. Then he starts coming on to the sideline reporter.

[Melissa]

What impresses you about Chad?

[Kim]

I believe everything that anyone else has watched Chad play impresses me. The same thing impresses them. Him. He's a quality, classy quarterback that has a touch on the football. He's not a thrower, he's a passer. His mind is ahead of what the defense is. And if the jets can support him, they will win the championship.

[Melissa]

Joe, it's been a tough season for Jet fans.

[Bird Show Host]

What does it mean to you now? When a team is struggling, how would they kick?

[Kim]

I couldn't care less about the team struggling.

[Jen]

I want to kiss you.

[Bird Show Host]

I just want to kiss you.

[Melissa]

And I love when you're drunk that you think, okay, look. The way I'm going to to make sure that people don't think that I'm drunk is by enunciating every, every syllable. Because that way if I'm speaking correctly, then you know that I am not drunk.

[Jeff Bird]

Because I'm not slurring. I'm saying the Bird Show.

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[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Boyd.

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[Bird Show Host]

The Bird Show Evan Summerstein joins us. How are you this morning?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

I am doing great.

[Bird Show Host]

Good morning, Evan. Is our divorce attorney here? This is the time of year, right? I Mean, everybody's been holding out.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Everybody makes it through the holidays, and then the phone starts ringing.

[Bird Show Host]

Do you get it? Like, right on January 2nd are the voicemails. Are you at full capacity when you go into the office?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Get back in the office after the vacation? Yeah.

[Melissa]

I mean, you have accountants that have tax season. Well, this is like Evan's, like, super bow, Right?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

This will be the divorce season, no doubt season.

[Bird Show Host]

And we can use the voice disguiser on you guys. Also, is there anything. Was there anything to holding out till the new year to file? Any advantage of holding out to 2010 rather than being it in 20?

[Jeff Bird]

You mean like a tax. Like a tax break?

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, or something like that.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah, I guess last minute Christmas presents.

[Bird Show Host]

But outside of that, legally, nothing.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

No, nothing. Yeah. Technically, you have to be married on January 1st or actually December 31st to file jointly for the previous year.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay. So if you're having a problem with your divorce right now or you've been thinking about it strongly and you haven't even started yet, then give Evan here a call, and we'll hook you up. 404.741Q100. Hey, Amy, you're on the voice disguiser.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Hey, there. I have a quick question about the rules of alimony and infidelity in Georgia. If you can prove infidelity, do you have to pay alimony?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Under Georgia law, adultery is a bar to alimony. So if the divorce. If the cause of the divorce is adultery, then that would stop you from being able to receive alimony.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Okay, so if you are in a relationship and the adultery was a few years back, does that nullify that cause?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Well, Georgia has something called condonation. So if that behavior has been forgiven by your spouse and you guys have tried to move on and reconciled after the fact, then you can't later raise that as an issue as the cause of the divorce. So it wouldn't be a bar at that point.

[Bird Show Host]

So what's the timeline on that, though? So let's say Stacey comes home, she screws around on me. We try to make it work. I try to make it work as hard as I. I try everything. It takes me a year to realize that it's not gonna work.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

I don't think there's any real timeline. What it really comes down to is, did you guys reconcile or not? I mean, did you get back to, did you get past it? Did you forgive her for her behavior? And then, in essence, what the judge says is, look, you forgave her. Why should I not forgive her for the same behavior?

[Bird Show Host]

There's such a gray area, though. Like, if I stick around that long, then.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

And you're still trying to just to

[Bird Show Host]

say that I forget. Yeah, I'm still forgiving.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah.

[Jen]

That's why you need a good attorney.

[Bird Show Host]

Right. That's why I'm calling Evan. All right, Amy, thank you.

[Caller/Listener]

Thanks.

[Bird Show Host]

Bye. Bye. And I think sometimes people tune into the show and they only hear half a conversation. They just heard that Stacy screwed around on me. She did not. I was using that as an example.

[Jen]

That was a hypothetical.

[Bird Show Host]

Good morning, Kelly. You were on the Voice disguiser.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Hi, I was just calling because my husband and I have been together for about four years and I've been in school for about five years. And I was just wondering, if I haven't been employed, is there a way I can get alimony since he's been my sole source of income?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Georgia does have alimony. And what you most commonly see nowadays is what's called rehabilitative alimony, which is kind of a short term alimony for a specific purpose. So that would kind of be a situation where he may help you, the court may ask him to help you get back on your feet after the, after the divorce. So to help you get into an apartment or a house and help you pay the bills as you're getting started,

[Jen]

but you're not going to be taken care of for an extended period of time.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

No, you know, I mean that traditional,

[Jen]

no matter how rich he is, right?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah. I mean, that traditional idea of kind of permanent alimony, lifetime alimonyou don't see it much anymore. I mean, you do in very traditional situations where people have been married for 35 years and one of the spouses hasn't worked that entire period. Well, then, yeah, you may be buying on for lifetime, but especially in a short term marriage. You said you had been married for four years. Definitely not a long term alimony situation.

[Bird Show Host]

Here is Kim. She wants to be on the voice disguiser. Hey, Kim, you are on with Evan Summerstein from Hunter Weinstein and Summerstein.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Yes. Hi. Good morning.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Morning.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I have, I think, a pretty tough situation because my husband and I have four children and they range from the ages of eight to a year and a half. And I have been wanting to divorce him for several reasons, one of which is alcoholism. And he just doesn't want to. He doesn't want to do it. He says that it's important for us to be together for the children, which I don't agree to just because of the situation that we're in. And I really don't know how to go about it. I'm just at a loss. I don't know what to do.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

A lot of people call my office and they just have no idea how to get started. Or people call my office and say, I told my husband or wife I want a divorce and they won't give me a divorce. Nowadays it only takes one person to get divorced. The best way to start is contact an attorney, talk to them about what the first steps would be. There's some great information that you can find online also. Fulton county, for instance, even if you're not in Fulton county, great information on their website. I think the address is www.fultonfamilydivision.com. they have forms and all kinds of information on how you'd actually get started on a divorce. The best way to go is just contact an attorney, talk to your friends, and see who. Who they've been represented by if they've been through a divorce. And an attorney can tell you how you get started with the entire process.

[Bird Show Host]

Theoretically, could you get a divorce without ever getting a signature from the other party?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Sure.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

There's a couple situations. One, if you don't know where they're located, if you can't find them, you tried to find them, you can actually get divorced without ever talking to them or seeing them when they do what's called a divorce by publication. But, yeah, you don't ever need their consent. I mean, you'd file the complaint with the court and the sheriff would deliver the papers to them. They don't need to sign to say that they've actually received the papers. And then ultimately, if you went to a trial in front of a judge, if they didn't show up, you win. Pretty easy, I guess.

[Bird Show Host]

Did you get what you need there, Kim?

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I guess so, yeah. I'll look it up online. And thank you.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Sure.

[Bird Show Host]

Bye. Bye. Here is Ryan. Good morning. You are on the voice disguiser.

[Caller/Listener]

I was calling to see I was

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

married after I had children. Do I still need to get my

[Caller/Listener]

children legitimized, or did that happen when we got married?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

You later married the mother of your children, Correct?

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

We have two children.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Under Georgia law, you would be legally recognized as their father if you do later marry their mother.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay, thank you so much. Sure. Bye.

[Caller/Listener]

Bye.

[Bird Show Host]

These are simple today, man. We're rattling trees, dude. Not a lot of excuses. Normally we get the whole story and then the question, yeah, people are ready.

[Jeff Bird]

It's after the holidays. They've had two solid weeks with the like. You don't need the backstory. I Hate them. How do I get rid of them? I don't even want to see them. I don't even. Can I fold it in a paper airplane and throw it through the window?

[Bird Show Host]

Hey, Stephanie. Good morning. You're on the voice disguiser.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Hi. I have a question. I was married for seven years, and I asked for a divorce two years ago, and I met someone about three months after that. We're still not divorced. We're separated. And what I understand, legally separated.

[Melissa]

He.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I left our house and was staying with friends. And so I'm curious if he said, I don't get anything, I don't get the house because I'm an adulterer. And I'm wondering if that is the case.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Well, I mean, technically, the definition of adultery is having sexual intercourse outside of your marriage. But as far as a divorce goes, that adultery has to be the cause of the divorce itself. And if you could go into court and prove that you were already out of the marriage, you had told him you wanted divorce before that, and that the adultery is not the cause of the divorce itself, then it's not really that much of an issue. If you were to prove that, then it wouldn't even be a bar to the alimony that we talked about before.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Okay. Okay. So right now he illegally has everything. All of my furniture, all my belongings. And he says that because of what, being in a relationship now, I don't have any access to any of that or the house or anything. And that he can prove that.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Or even. Even if there's total uncondoned adultery, that doesn't really affect your rights to a division of marital property. That only really affects the rights as far as the alimony goes. You don't give up your rights to ownership of the house or ownership or any of the property that you guys may have together.

[Caller/Listener]

Okay.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

And that includes kids, too?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

That would definitely include the kids, too. Yes.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Okay, great.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay. I'm getting a little bit of a mixed message here, or maybe I'm interpreting it the wrong way, because I always thought you said before when you were in here talking about divorce, that in the eyes of the Georgia courts, that adultery, they don't really take that into consideration. But I'm hearing something different today.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Well, no, really, there's two. When you look at divorce, there's two big areas that you'd look at as far as support and that kind of thing goes. One is support, alimony, and the other is division of property.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

If the divorce is based on adultery, and that's the grounds for the Divorce, then that would be a bar to receiving alimony. When you're talking about the division of property itself, what you guys have accumulated during the course of the marriage, the adultery probably doesn't have that big of an effect on how that property is going to be divided. I see Georgia is what's called an equitable division state, which means the court's supposed to divide that marital property fairly typically, you're going to see more or less a 50, 50 division when you walk into court, and even things like adultery don't necessarily affect that 50, 50 division.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay, and here is Tom, who wants to be on the Voice Disguiser. Hey, Tom. Divorce advice from Evan Summerstein.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Hey. What it is, I've caught my wife having several affairs. I've already filed for divorce. I had hired a private investigator and got a lot of video of her and a couple of guys together, and, you know, couldn't afford to keep the private investigator going. But their. Their relationships are still ongoing. And I'm wondering if it would help my case to continue to video or audio through the phone or through a videotape them together.

[Bird Show Host]

Good question.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Really. I mean, ultimately, what you need to do is prove to the court that adultery's going on. And it sounds like you've gotten way more than enough evidence of the fact that the adultery's going on. Also, you need to be really careful taping the laws in Georgia on tape. Recording phone calls is very, very strict. You are allowed to tape record any conversation that you're a party to, and you don't have to let the other side know. But if you're not part of that conversation, for instance, if you're tape recording your wife talking to a boyfriend, that is completely illegal.

[Jeff Bird]

So how much of the conversation do you have to be a part of? Like, if she's talking to the boyfriend, can you just run into the room and go, hi, Ma, and run out? And then are you part of it?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

No, you'd have to be part of the conversation between the phone. You'd have to be on that phone or tape recorder.

[Jeff Bird]

That'd be awkward.

[Bird Show Host]

That's something that we got to store in the back of our heads, though. So we could do those. We can record those calls and not need their permission. So long as we're on.

[Jeff Bird]

No, broadcasting is a little different.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay.

[Melissa]

Yeah, nice try.

[Bird Show Host]

Give me a read.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Broadcasting them later comes with other restrictions.

[Bird Show Host]

Here is one last call. Hey, Willow. Good morning. You are on the Voice Disguiser with Evan Summerstein.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Hi. I have a husband that cheated on me, left Me high and dry, took all the money, closed the credit card, left me with no car. I was in the hospital and almost died on last Christmas, he didn't come there. He had spent up over 40 grand in debt and is accusing of me of it. And it's not mine. My attorney's not fighting for me, and he's saying that I won't get alimony. He doesn't want to give me anything. Do I have any rights?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah. First of all, it doesn't sound like a great husband.

[Bird Show Host]

That's why she's splitting.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah, you definitely do. I mean, you said that you have an attorney.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I do, and he told me that he wasn't gonna fight for me. Well, his paralegal told me that he wasn't gonna fight for me in court against the money that he has racked up. I mean, he writes up over 40 grand, and none of that is my money. And he's trying to charge me back for my medical that a judge in a temporary hearing said that he had to pay.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Well, I would just start off with the idea that if your attorney's telling you he's not going to fight for you, you probably need to talk to a different attorney.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

I know, but I don't have any money because I don't work for medical conditions.

[Bird Show Host]

As a sidebar, like, what do you do if you want to get divorced and you have no cash?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Most of the courts have really stepped up on trying to make sure it's what's called pro se, is when you represent yourself. And there's been a lot of articles written lately on pro se, people going forward with divorces. Because of the economy, people aren't able to hire attorneys right now. So the courts have taken a lot of steps to make sure that people can do that on their own. And most of that is on the web. I mean, if you do a search for the county itself, and I'm not talking about doing, like, legal zoom, where you're paying for stuff. I'm talking about free information that's out there that the courts themselves are putting out. When I talked about the Fulton County Family Division, there's forms on there for complaints, for divorce settlement agreements. There's an instruction form that tells you fill in these blanks, and here's exactly the steps you have to take to do it on your own so that they're making that stuff accessible without having to hire an attorney.

[Jeff Bird]

And you give away a free divorce to every 10th caller to your office.

[Bird Show Host]

Right.

[Jen]

My question about somebody who. Because I've had A couple of friends that have dealt with this, they've hired attorneys who started off great, but are stalling the process and making it take a really long time to finish the divorce. Because the more hours they log, then the more money they make.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Sure.

[Jen]

And they know that that's what's going on. Is there anything, Is there anything they can do to speed up the process with their own attorney?

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

There definitely is. I mean, first of all, whether it sounds good or bad, there's plenty of work out there for divorce attorneys. So the odds of a divorce attorney stalling out a case purely. They can bill hours, probably pretty slim.

[Jen]

Okay, so there's probably the client's perception

[Melissa]

of what's going on.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Yeah, it doesn't look that way. I mean, so talk to the attorney about it. I mean, that's the number one thing. I think a lot of clients are just scared to talk to their attorney. If you feel like that's going on or your case isn't moving, call your attorney. Schedule time to go in. Not over the phone. Go in and sit down with them and say, look, explain to me why this is taking so long. What's going on here. I mean, part of the problem sometimes is you're waiting for a court date. It can take 45 days to 3, 4 months to actually get on a court calendar and get your case to be heard nowadays. So sometimes that may be the cause for the delay. It could be the attorney's fault. So it's really a matter of figuring out what the reason is for that delay. And if the fault is, you know, if the problem is the attorney, then go get a different attorney.

[Bird Show Host]

If you don't know where to start, we're giving you a place right here. Evan Summerstein. Just go to our website. We have a link on over to Hunter, Weinstein and Summerstein and you can get in touch with them that way. Thanks, Evan.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Thanks, guys.

[Bird Show Host]

I know you're busy. Very, very, very busy right now. So thanks for your time.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

Good to see y'. All.

[Bird Show Host]

Appreciate it. Hey, the Birch Show.

[Jeff Bird]

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[Jeff Bird]

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[Bird Show Host]

The Bird Show. This is Karen here, and I think the family had a puppy up until a couple of days ago. Hey, Karen.

[Caller/Listener]

No, hi. It's today. It's happening today. And the kids are supposed to be at school.

[Bird Show Host]

I got you. Okay. What's going on?

[Caller/Listener]

Well, I brought my kids a puppy for Christmas. A little black lab, really cute. She's really cute. Her name's Maddie, and she's super cute, but she has a real handful, and I just kind of can't take it anymore.

[Melissa]

She's a puppy. Yeah. Your rescue groups right now are just screaming because you got a puppy for Christmas, number one. And number two, here it is, January.

[Bird Show Host]

What?

[Melissa]

And you're ready to give it back.

[Bird Show Host]

What's the puppy doing that's so out of the ordinary that you're thinking?

[Caller/Listener]

She's just really out of control. She tears everything up. And, you know, I'm not at home during the day. When I get home, there's poop and there's pee everywhere. And, like, you know, anything that's made of paper is completely shredded and all over the house, like snow. And we've tried everything. You know, I've read manuals, and I've been doing the Dog Whisperer. It's not working.

[Bird Show Host]

Have you tried great training or anything like that, or. It sounds like you're giving her so much room to get her paws and her nose into things that she's just not ready for that yet.

[Caller/Listener]

We just. Yeah, but we just can't handle it. And I have three kids, and they're a real handful already. And so. I mean, they love her, but I just. I have a family coming together, you know, who can handle it. And I was gonna make something up, but now the kids are home, so I don't know what to say or do. If they do come today, they might not come because.

[Jeff Bird]

Is it worth having a conversation about the way you should be training the puppy, or have you already decided that the puppy's going?

[Caller/Listener]

I don't. I don't know. She's crazy.

[Bird Show Host]

She's cute.

[Caller/Listener]

She's crazy.

[Melissa]

I'm just curious, if they had. If they had gone to school today, what were you gonna make up and say?

[Caller/Listener]

I don't know. Maybe, like, that Santa needed the puppy back.

[Jeff Bird]

I'm not sure Santa needed his puppy back.

[Jen]

That's not good. You need to think it through a little bit more than that. I do know families that have to give up their animals. I've, you know, had friends that had babies with all these allergies and had to give up their dog because of that or they got a dog and they just couldn't handle it. Because it seems like a great idea when mom and dad decide this is gonna be a really great responsibility, like training tool for the kids, whatever. And then all of a sudden it becomes one more responsibility on mom's list. And I get that, yeah, they're not

[Caller/Listener]

helping and they're too young to help. Really? Yeah. A nine year old a little bit, but not really.

[Bird Show Host]

I made this mistake a couple of years also, you know, ago when Hollis was born. We thought we were ready for dogs at the time, so we went out, we got two English bulldog puppies, cost us an arm and a leg. And then once we got the dogs in the house and with the new baby, it was the biggest mistake that I had ever made in my life. I mean, I felt terrible having to give the dogs back. Luckily enough, our breeder found a great family for them right down the street, and they're still together. But I made that mistake too. But yeah.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

I mean, should I lie or should I tell? I mean, I don't know.

[Jen]

I think you gotta tell them the truth. I think you gotta sit down with your kids because I think it's a lesson in making mistakes or making hasty decisions. Um, I mean, I know most people would like to tell you to, you know, suck it up and keep the dog, because that was your decision. But if it's not gonna work for you and the dog's gonna be happier in another home, I think that's the way you should go.

[Kim]

Here.

[Bird Show Host]

Is Jeff here? Good morning, Jeff. You are on Q100. Karen got herself a puppy for. Got the kids a puppy for Christmas and puppy's little out of hand now, and she wants to give puppy back.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

Well, it's called disciplining the dog, man. Simply, it's lack of being not lazy. You just take care of the dog, okay? You got three kids, you got sure you have enough hands to help take care of the dog?

[Jen]

How old are your children?

[Caller/Listener]

One's nine, one six and one's four.

[Bird Show Host]

Well, the nine year old for sure should be able to help out a little bit. It doesn't even sound like you've put a lot of effort into it, though.

[Caller/Listener]

Well, I'm not. I'm just not there most times during the day. And, you know, he's saying that I have hands to take care of. I have three hands to take care three kids that don't have four take care of the dog as well.

[Melissa]

Well, people are gonna ask, why did you decide to get the puppy in the first place, knowing. Knowing this.

[Caller/Listener]

I didn't know. I didn't know it's gonna be this hard.

[Melissa]

You never had a dog?

[Caller/Listener]

Not one that's crazy like this? No.

[Melissa]

Well, the dog's not crazy.

[Bird Show Host]

It's just a puppy just needs to be trained. You don't have the time to train your dog right now, which means I

[Caller/Listener]

don't, I don't have the money to send it to a school like a, like a dog school.

[Bird Show Host]

Well, this means that your wild puppy is gonna turn into a wild adult dog.

[Jen]

Big lab dog.

[Bird Show Host]

It's gonna be ol Papa pain in the butt as it gets older. So I say go for it.

[Caller/Listener]

Did I say the dog ran away?

[Jen]

No.

[Bird Show Host]

What is wrong with you?

[Jen]

You've got to sit down and be honest with your kids. I mean they're home from school today because of the weather and the snow. I mean it's perfect opportunity to talk to them about it. The four year old may not get it, but the six and the nine year old will get it.

[Bird Show Host]

Now they may step up and say, no, no, no, we'll start helping out more. And at that point I don't know what you do.

[Jeff Bird]

My guess is they probably hate the dog too because it's taking your time away from them.

[Caller/Listener]

No, they love the dog. They love the dog more than they love me. I think.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah. It's gonna be a tough conversation to have for sure.

[Caller with Voice Disguiser]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

All right.

[Bird Show Host]

I'm not really sure what's up.

[Caller/Listener]

There was a way of avoiding it, but I guess why can't.

[Melissa]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Jeff Bird]

Can you do something like somehow make one of, like maybe make the nine year old think they left the door open.

[Melissa]

Stop.

[Jeff Bird]

Because then you could also roll it into a responsibility conversation like see now,

[Bird Show Host]

see now you could also use this opportunity to turn the family against each other. Just say that you're getting rid of the dog because of the six year old. The other kids have been great, but the 6 year old has been bad with the dog. So you have to get rid of it.

[Jeff Bird]

There you go, burnt. Now you're thinking you didn't need me back.

[Evan Summerstein (Divorce Attorney)]

You got it.

[Bird Show Host]

That attitude is contagious.

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Bird Show Host]

I don't know exactly, no one what to tell you here, but I think you know, most of the calls coming in are gonna say that you got the dog, so you should take care of the dog. But I also think that Jen's right. At the end of the day, if you don't have time, then I had to admit my mistake. We gave the dogs back. I felt horrible about it, but they've got a great family. You gotta do what's best for the dog.

[Caller/Listener]

I found a good family for them, I think, and we're done.

[Jen]

Yeah. I mean, I think the life of the dog is gonna be happier with a family that can take care of it and train it and have the time to care for it.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. All right. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.

[Jen]

Just be honest.

[Melissa]

Good luck. Yeah. Don't make up.

[Caller/Listener]

I'm scared, but I'm gonna do it.

[Bird Show Host]

Okay. Bye. Bye.

[Jen]

Good luck.

[Caller/Listener]

Bye.

[Jeff Bird]

She's not gonna do it.

[Bird Show Host]

Didn't you. Who was it in here that had, like, animals all of a sudden were missing from the house and your parents were making his bunny?

[Jeff Bird]

Yeah, it was my. My bunny got out when I was. I don't know how old you are when you own a rabbit.

[Mike Sorrentino (The Situation)]

10.

[Jeff Bird]

And apparently there's a lot of fur and mangled bunny parts around the pen, so dad cleaned all that up and just made it look like it escaped.

[Jen]

It was really killed by the neighborhood cat?

[Jeff Bird]

Yes. And they told me, like this past summer. Oh, you remember a little hickory you got out. My dad's like, hickory.

[Bird Show Host]

That's right, hickory.

[Jeff Bird]

Cat didn't get out. Became an appetizer.

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[Jeff Bird]

The bird show.

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