The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Tuesday, January 20 [Vault]

Original Air Date: January 20, 2026 | Pionaire Podcasting

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show delves deep into the realities and frustrations of teaching through a candid conversation with "Dr. Arielle Jeff," an anonymous educator/blogger. Key subjects include teacher-parent dynamics, discipline challenges, administrative support, and the emotional toll of the profession. The show later shifts gears to an in-depth interview with American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, exploring her single "Baby Mama," her personal struggles, literacy obstacles, and the drive behind her memoir. The episode then rounds out with a lively segment where cast and callers share stories about how parents discovered their children were using birth control, sparking discussions on growing up, parental denial, and changing norms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inside the Realities of Teaching (00:00–13:38)

Guest: Dr. Arielle Jeff (teacher, under voice disguise)

Teacher-Parent Tensions

• Dr. Arielle Jeff shares the challenge of parental denial regarding children's shortcomings.
  • "People want to know how their kids are doing. You tell them. ... They want you to stroke their ego." (00:40, Dr. Arielle Jeff)
• Story of an angry parent refusing to believe her child neglected homework, blaming the teacher.
  • "I have five college degrees. I did not misplace Steve's paper...he just didn’t do it." (01:43, Dr. Arielle Jeff)
• Cast agrees this resistance is common, though not universal.

Facing Blame and Hostility

• Dr. Jeff receives harsh blog comments, even blaming her for student tragedies.
  • "Over the weekend, I had a student and her father, they were killed in a car accident...one of the comments in the blog back to me was...this is karma. I'm sorry, a child dying is not karma." (03:22, Dr. Arielle Jeff)
• The cast is appalled by this, highlighting the ignorance and cruelty of some critics.

Why Teachers Leave the Field

• 50% of teachers leave within the first five years.

• Dr. Jeff outlines top reasons:

  1. Parents — lack of support or blame shifting.
  2. Discipline — minimal authority, students face few consequences.
  3. Administrative Support — feeling isolated, excessive paperwork.
  4. Workload — many hours beyond the school day.

• "Parents and discipline are the number one reason. Lack of support from administration, too much paperwork, and you put in a lot of hours." (05:03, Dr. Arielle Jeff)

• Shout-out to a former intern and other teachers who echo these sentiments.

The Discipline Dilemma

• Policies prevent teachers from escalating most misbehavior, placing burden on teachers rather than supporting them.
  • "You can only send a kid to the office for level three up to level five...the second time you sent a child up...they came to your classroom to observe you, to see what you were doing." (06:32, Dr. Arielle Jeff)
• Administration often sides with parents, fearing lawsuits.

Parental Perspectives and Changing Attitudes

• Some callers, like parent Trisha, recognize their children aren’t perfect and support teacher discipline.
  • "If they misbehave...I want to know...then I do what I need to do as a parent at home." (10:29, Trisha)
• Cast reminisces about a time when parents and teachers were partners, not adversaries:
  • "If you have ever questioned the teacher for disciplining your kid, you are wrong." (11:32, Bert)

Passion for the Profession

• Despite challenges, Dr. Jeff stays because of genuine love for teaching:
  • "I could be making six figures somewhere else, but I choose to stay because I truly love to teach. The mandates make it hard to enjoy it." (12:39, Dr. Arielle Jeff)

2. Fantasia Barrino Interview: On Survival and Identity (13:43–31:20)

Fantasia’s Post-Idol Journey

• Fantasia reflects on her life if she hadn’t won American Idol:
  • “I'll still be trying. ... trying to go after it, trying to better myself.” (17:20, Fantasia Barrino)
• Inner strength fueled by her daughter Zion and desire to break cycles of abuse and disappointment:
  • "I looked in the mirror and I said to myself, this is not the way I'm supposed to live. This ain't Fantasia. I have dreams, I have visions, and I gotta go after them." (18:01, Fantasia Barrino)

The "Baby Mama" Anthem: Message & Controversy

• Discussion on whether the song glorifies teen motherhood or tells hard truths:
  • "That song...was to bust everybody in the head and say, you know what? Even though we have kids, we can still be somebody, regardless of the fact." (20:55, Fantasia Barrino)
• Fantasia insists it’s an anthem for struggling single mothers, not to encourage the lifestyle but to offer recognition and pride in perseverance.
  • "It wasn't to glorify it. ... The verse is talking about how we struggle." (22:38, Fantasia Barrino)
• Pushback from Bert about the lyric “backbone” of the community:
  • “I just don't think you're sending the right message by saying that baby mamas...can be the backbone of a community.” (24:16, Bert)
  • Fantasia responds: “Yes, we can. We can be...until you can go through some of those things and be in some of those people's shoes...then you can call me and talk about that.” (25:03, Fantasia Barrino)

Addressing Literacy & Labels

• Fantasia clarifies misunderstandings about her literacy (labeled “functionally illiterate” on TV), describes her difficulty, and stresses the importance of seeking help:
  • “If there was a word that wasn't familiar to me, my difficulty was my problem. ... They would laugh. ... Now that I'm at the point to where I am now, I started asking for help. ... I'm not afraid now because I've overcome so many of my fears.” (26:19–28:14, Fantasia Barrino)
• Inspires listeners to not give up on themselves or others:
  • "Don't just give up on somebody that quick. Don't do that. You kill people when you do that, and you make them feel like they can't be nobody. But yes, baby, I'm a living example." (29:28, Fantasia Barrino)

Ministry Through Music

• Fantasia sees her singing as her ministry, not formal preaching:
  • "My preaching is my singing. You know, that's how I minister to people, and that's how I help people." (30:24, Fantasia Barrino)

3. How Parents Found Out: Birth Control Stories (31:20–40:08)

Opening the Topic

• Stat: 22% of parents found out their daughters were on the pill from a sibling. (31:20)
• The cast and listeners share personal and secondhand stories of accidental or awkward parental discoveries.

Notable Call-in Stories

• Jen Hobby: Tearful confession to her mom led to a quick doctor’s appointment; never told her dad. (32:37–34:04)
• Jessica: Boyfriend tells her brothers where condoms are hidden; brothers tell parents. Parents don’t mention it for a while out of disbelief. (34:12–34:57)
• Leslie: Mother spots birth control patch while Leslie is in her underwear, questions her openly. (35:28–35:45)
• Mystery Girl: Mom finds the pill when searching for cigarettes – weeks of awkward silence follow. (36:20–36:48)
• Karen: Kept a coded "S" for sex on her calendar; mother confronts after noticing. (37:40–37:57)
• Other cast and listener anecdotes include moms keeping secrets from dads, creative coverups, and parents' mixture of anger, denial, and unspoken acceptance.

Generational Reflections

• The cast comments on parental denial and shifting openness:
  • "Are parents that clueless that they think their 17 and 18 year olds aren't having sex? Oh, hell yeah, dude." (37:02, Host)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Teacher Frustration & Parental Denial

  • "People want you to stroke their ego. ... They want to hear the fluff of it." (00:40, Dr. Arielle Jeff)
  • "If you think you can do better, go apply. ... We need plenty of subs. Plenty, plenty, plenty." (04:31–04:48, Dr. Arielle Jeff)

• On the “Baby Mama” Controversy

  • "It wasn't to glorify it...the verse is talking about how we struggle. ... I know what you go through. I love you. Cause I've been through it." (21:50, Fantasia Barrino)

• On Finding Inner Strength

  • "I had to find it for myself. I had to want to change. I had to want to be somebody." (18:01, Fantasia Barrino)
  • "Don't just give up on somebody that quick. ... But yes, baby, I'm a living example. And I can tell you, you can be whatever you want." (29:28, Fantasia Barrino)

• On Generational Shifts in Parenting

  • "If you have ever questioned the teacher for disciplining your kid, you are wrong." (11:32, Bert)
  • "Are parents that clueless that they think their 17 and 18 year olds aren't having sex? Oh, hell yeah, dude." (37:02, Host)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro & Teacher Interview Begins: 00:00
• Teacher-Parent Stories & Blog Reactions: 01:30 – 04:48
• Teacher Retention, Discipline & Administrative Support: 04:50 – 10:50
• Callers Discuss Teaching & Parents' Roles: 10:21 – 13:34
• Fantasia Barrino Segment Begins: 13:43
• "Baby Mama" Song & Interview: 14:43 – 31:20
  • Struggles and drive: 17:20–20:18
  • Song controversy: 20:18–25:50
  • Literacy & overcoming stigma: 25:59–29:28
  • Faith and singing as ministry: 30:08
• Birth Control Discovery Stories: 31:20 – 40:08

Tone & Style

The episode is a lively, candid exchange, mixing moments of humor, empathy, and serious dialogue. The tone is irreverent yet caring—balancing passionate rants with honest self-reflection and occasional laughter, as is typical for The Bert Show’s brand of “real and funny” morning radio.

This summary covers the main content and major themes of the episode, providing clarity and engagement for listeners and newcomers alike.