Full Show PT 2: Monday, June 29 [Vault]

Summary

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The Bert Show: Full Show PT 2 – Monday, June 29 [Vault]

Original Air Date: June 29, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Wendy, Melissa Carter, Jeff, Luke, Leslie, Mailbox Worker (Intern Bianca), Central Carroll HS Band Members

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Episode Overview

In this vibrant and candid episode, The Bert Show crew serves up their trademark blend of humor, honesty, and real-life drama. The team shares personal stories (from Texas road trips to joining a marching band), explores awkward and hilarious workplace dynamics, and takes a deep dive into dog park etiquette—sparked by a heated debate about pit bulls. Listener calls, light-hearted banter, and a dose of genuine advice make this an engaging listen for anyone wanting a peek into both the cast’s and their listeners’ worlds.

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Key Segments & Highlights

1. Wendy’s Return to Texas and Country Family Life

[01:02 – 06:54]

• Wendy recounts her trip to rural Texas to visit her dad, delighting the team with tales of “redneck” living: hunting, taxidermy, tractor rides, and Texas state pride.
  • “My dad is a full blown redneck. On the ranch, it’s a beautiful home... but in the backyard, you see this rope—for fox skin, then there’s a squirrel skin.” — Wendy [01:32]
  • The team jokes about hunting, her dad’s devotion to Texas decor (stars everywhere), and painted rocks marking the property.
  • Memorable Moment: The line dancing scene, where Wendy describes the chivalry and dance culture in Texas:
    • “The guys there know how to dance... If you say no, they’re just like, ‘Okay, thank you,’ and walk away.” — Wendy [04:34]
  • Discussion leads to contrasting Southern chivalry and dating culture with Atlanta.

2. Intern Bianca’s (Mailbox Worker) “Older Admirer” Problem

[07:00 – 13:12]

• Bianca shares her workplace saga: multiple much-older customers (“like seven”) regularly hit on her at her mailbox job—some slipping her money and making awkward passes.
  • “It’s like I’m a magnet for old pervs.” — Mailbox Worker [10:15]
  • The cast jests about whether she accepts all the money (“Not all of them!” [12:57]), and poke fun at office dynamics and dating older men (her family seems to have a trend).
  • The conversation balances humor and slight exasperation, eventually noting generational dating gaps.
  • Memorable Exchange:
    • “Do you meet anyone you’d actually go out with?” — Bert
    • “No, they’re all 50-plus—a big gap, it’s just creepy.” — Mailbox Worker [10:08–10:32]

3. Melissa Carter Joins the Central Carroll High School Marching Band

[14:49 – 24:25]

• Melissa is invited to fulfill a bucket-list dream: not just attend, but actually march with Central Carroll High in the Rose Bowl Parade.
  • Details include the selection process (only 12 high school bands nationwide), and Melissa learning on-air she’ll be playing trombone.
    • “You’re gonna be playing trombone.” — Band Member [20:35]
  • Joking about Melissa’s coordination, practice, and the ribbing she gets for being an honorary high school ‘tromboner’.
    • “This is the most ironic moment we’ve ever had... Melissa is gonna be a tromboner.” — Bert [21:49]
  • Melissa takes the challenge seriously amid the laughs, pledging to practice and even ask listeners for trombone-shopping advice.

4. Workplace Drama: Leslie’s “Mysterious Text” Turns to Bullying

[26:01 – 35:39]

• A listener, Leslie, recounts receiving an anonymous, ominous text ("It's not all about you. Leave it alone.")
  • The show investigates—revealing it’s from a coworker, possibly over a work opportunity.
  • Follow-up:
    • Leslie’s attempts to resolve it (calls, emails) only result in more harassment and trouble with HR.
  • “Now I’m getting texts from random numbers, just taunting me—‘We’re watching you’... almost threatening.” — Leslie [30:01]
  • The team gives advice: ignore the messages (“delete them all, send to spam” [33:01]), be the bigger person, and document for HR.
  • Listener Advice: Suggestions for reverse lookups; debate on HR’s efficacy and the importance of not letting workplace bullies win.
    • “If you find out who it is, let us know—Melissa will go up behind him with her new trombone.” — Jeff [35:24]

5. Hot Topic: The Pit Bull Debate at the Dog Park

[37:15 – 51:08]

• Bert revisits a controversial topic: criticizing aggressive dogs at the dog park, particularly pit bulls, based on recent incidents.
  • He suggests a park monitor to address repeated aggression, recounts seeing pit bull-related incidents, and admits personal wariness.
  • Melissa adds that (in her experience and from a nurse friend) pit bulls cause the most severe injuries, mainly because of their bite strength, not necessarily higher aggression.
    • “Pit bulls have these massive jaws, and when they grab, they don’t let go... that’s what causes so much injury.” — Melissa Carter [45:54]
  • Listener call-ins and emails: Defend the breed, citing therapy dogs, loving family pets, and contests CDC stats.
    • “It was sort of implied that pit bulls were human-aggressive—and they’re not.” — Carly (caller) [47:24]
    • The team clarifies—emphasizing the difference between dog aggression and human aggression.
  • Jeff cites CDC fatality stats:
    • “238 people killed by dogs in 24 years—32% of them by pit bulls. The next highest was Rottweiler, at about half that.” — Jeff [49:10]
  • The segment wraps on the note that while owners feel maligned, public perception is unlikely to shift soon—especially in light of high-profile dog fighting scandals.
    • “That’s a tough one to shake... Listen to these statistics Jeff rattled off.” — Bert [50:28]
    • “Bert made an observation. Melissa made an observation. I read a statistic. Leave us alone.” — Jeff [50:48]

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Notable Quotes

• On Texas pride:
  • “You will never find people from a state that are more prideful about their state than you will Texas.” — Bert [03:56]
• On the marching band challenge:
  • “She’s never been a tromboner before.” — Bert [22:38]
  • “But imagine my career after that. This could be the beginning of a whole new musical career for me.” — Melissa Carter [21:17]
• On bullying at work:
  • “You really are getting bullied... I never really knew what the definition of being bullied at work is, but this is certainly one of them.” — Bert [31:53]
• On the pit bull debate:
  • “Pit bulls... have these massive jaws, and when they grab, they don’t let go... that's what causes so much of the injury.” — Melissa Carter [45:54]
  • “One third of the people killed by dogs in a 24-year-old study were killed by pit bulls.” — Jeff [49:28]
  • “The general population’s view... of pit bulls as being an aggressive breed... for some the most aggressive breed, that’s gonna be a tough one to shake for y’all.” — Bert [50:28]

---

Additional Segment Timestamps

• [13:16] Regular sponsor/advertisement break
• [14:49] Melissa Carter segment: Marching Band bucket list begins
• [26:01] Listener Leslie’s workplace text drama
• [37:15] Return to pit bull/dog park debate

Note: All sponsor spots, advertisements, and non-content sections have been omitted.

---

Summary

This classic episode showcases The Bert Show’s unique formula: real personal stories, thoughtful (if sometimes controversial) debates, and approachable, unfiltered conversation. Whether recounting quirky Texas culture, grappling with workplace drama, humorously navigating new experiences (marching band!), or sparking debates with strong opinions on pet ownership, the cast keeps it candid. Listener perspectives, expert anecdotes, and playful arguments blend into a genuinely engaging listen—perfect for anyone who enjoys talk radio with heart and humor.

Transcript

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[Show Announcer]

You're on the Burt Show.

[Bert (Host)]

So Wendy went not quite to Central America, but she went to Central Texas.

[Wendy]

I did go to another country.

[Leslie]

Texas.

[Wendy]

No, I went to hang out with my dad. Brought my best friend with me to San Antonio, Texas. It's where I'm from. And my dad moved back there and

[Melissa Carter]

built a beautiful home.

[Wendy]

It's about 25 minutes outside of Texas. So it's like the ranch style home. And he's living the country lifestyle.

[Melissa Carter]

You mean San Antonio is that.

[Wendy]

We're outside, just outside San antonio. So it's 25 minutes and my dad.

[Bert (Host)]

You didn't use the word country. Country lifestyle off here.

[Wendy]

My dad is a full blown redneck. I mean, I have to come to terms with the fact that my dad is a redneck. And I'm gonna embrace it because on the ranch, I mean, it's a beautiful home. The home's awesome. But you go to the backyard, all of a sudden you see this rope. And on the rope is a fox skin and then there's a squirrel skin. And I'm like, dad, well, you need

[Jeff]

coats in the winter.

[Luke]

He's a country boy.

[Wendy]

And a squirrel, he's country.

[Luke]

Does a lot of hunting, right?

[Wendy]

First thing my dad thinks of when we wake up is getting his shotgun out, find the next squirrel that is on the porch. I'm like, dad, we're not doing that. I'm on vacation. We're not shooting squirrels. And then he had to show off his tractor. He got a new tractor. So it's this bright orange tractor. So of course we have to go on a tractor ride to look for rocks. Yes.

[Jeff]

We're looking for what?

[Wendy]

Look for rocks. Because he wants to put a brand new rock right there in the front yard.

[Luke]

So.

[Wendy]

Because he's painting on these rocks, like the Texas flag. Like one of them has that.

[Bert (Host)]

That's the most redneck thing. You said that. He is painting the Tex flag on the rock in his front yard.

[Wendy]

There's one already painted. There's one already painted. And then he's gonna put the address on another one. I mean, he wants a. Wow.

[Luke]

There's a full row.

[Wendy]

Row of rocks in the front of the house.

[Bert (Host)]

That is awesome. That's serious.

[Wendy]

So, yeah, we got a tractor ride going to look for rocks, which was fun. Found some cactuses. My friend Lauren brought home some cacti because she thought they were fascinating. I've seen them before. Not really a big deal.

[Bert (Host)]

Now, you knew this about your dad before. Like this wasn't an epiphany, right? Or as you were getting older.

[Wendy]

Well, seeing, seeing the dead skins on there that are all like, they're just laying there.

[Luke]

Shocking.

[Wendy]

It was a little much because I was used to seeing like the deer heads. My dad's a hunter. I was used to seeing the deer heads hanging up in the house. But just to have a pair of antlers hanging out in the shed.

[Jeff]

Well, those ones didn't. They don't fit anywhere in the house. He's going to paint those. The Texas colors.

[Wendy]

They're.

[Luke]

They're.

[Wendy]

There's just no point for them.

[Bert (Host)]

So does he have a Don't mess with Texas bumper sticker on one of his trucks?

[Wendy]

Oh, I'm sure.

[Melissa Carter]

Or everything's bigger in Texas or something like that.

[Wendy]

He's got stars all over the house. Okay. You pull into the driveway, there's a star on two stars on the end of the driveway. Just Texas stars. And then you go to the front of the driveway, there's two more stars. There's stars on the patio. There's stars on the patio chair. There's stars on the door. There's one hanging above. There's stars in the lanterns. I mean, there's stars everywhere.

[Luke]

Do we have framed pictures of W anywhere in the house?

[Wendy]

Yes. There's military stuff everywhere.

[Bert (Host)]

You will never find people from a state that are more prideful about their state than you will Texas.

[Wendy]

And I love it. And the people there are awesome and so nice. We went horse back riding, got away for a little bit. Got to go line dancing and two stepping. And the guys there know how to dance and they will ask you to dance. You don't have to do anything. You just have to simply walk into the club or the line dancing facility and just sit down and a nice boy will come and ask you to dance.

[Bert (Host)]

Now, you said guys can dance in San Antonio, but you also said line dance. Is that really dancing?

[Wendy]

Well, two step in. When you go to two step or you do the east coast swing, like, that takes coordination.

[Bert (Host)]

Okay, so that's real. That gets. You get credit points right there for dancing. If it's.

[Wendy]

It's like country ballroom dancing. So, I mean, they know the steps and they're leading you. You feel like a girl. They present you on the dance floor, so they like give you a little twirl before they start teaching you to dance. And these are good looking guys and they're respectful. If you say no, they're just like, okay, thank you, and they walk away or they ask, can I buy you a drink for a dance? It's really sweet.

[Bert (Host)]

They're not like, why are you being a bitch, man?

[Wendy]

No, they're not cussing at you.

[Bert (Host)]

I didn't ask you to marry me. It said, let's dance.

[Melissa Carter]

I'm sure the woman's gonna say, oh, y. You know, you're right. I'm sorry. Let me dance now.

[Wendy]

Yeah. There's no affliction. There's no hair gel. They are. They're cute in their cowboy hats. Some had the belt buckles going on. But there are some guys who are just dressed normal.

[Bert (Host)]

Do you think that if you lived down there for any amount of time that you'd be sick of that scene too, though? No, no.

[Wendy]

I love the chivalry. They would do anything for girls down there. And I think that it's so awesome to see, even going into a restaurant, people we didn't even know, guys we didn't even know would open doors or wait for us to come and open doors. It's just nice to see a nice guy raised right and respectful of women.

[Jeff]

You know, those guys exist everywhere. They exist in Atlanta too. You just don't seek them out.

[Wendy]

I do seek them out.

[Show Announcer]

No, you don't.

[Jeff]

You go to Boosh World and you stand around and you wait for a Boosh to do that, and they don't. They're too busy making sure their hair looks good and their shirt's tight enough and their tan's okay.

[Luke]

I think Wendy's right, though. I think that there's a different level of chivalry in Texas.

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

Really?

[Wendy]

You're raised with youngers there. I mean, because there's, like, military bases everywhere. There's Air Force, there's army bases. And I think you just grow up with a different. A different level of respect, which I loved and took in the entire time we were there. We just wanted to go out just so guys would be respectful and pull out our chairs and show my friend

[Bert (Host)]

how you do that respect thing.

[Wendy]

I know, it was nice. It's like they didn't want anything from you, but just to dance and teach you how to dance and treat you like a lady. They didn't want anything else. At the end of the night. It was fascinating.

[Bert (Host)]

Yeah, of course they did.

[Show Announcer]

They're only.

[Bert (Host)]

They're only gentlemen for so long. Did you meet anybody that you will stay in touch with?

[Wendy]

I did meet one boy.

[Mailbox Worker]

You did?

[Wendy]

I did. If I lived there, I would have totally pursued him. I got his number, everything, and.

[Luke]

But see, if you lived here, you wouldn't have to pursue him, because he would actually pursue him.

[Wendy]

See, I know. I'm so bummed that I don't live there right now to go and have him pursue me and date him, because he was perfect.

[Bert (Host)]

Show me this land of respectful men.

[Wendy]

I love it.

[Bert (Host)]

Bring me to this land. It's good to have everybody back again, man.

[Show Announcer]

Listen, it's the Vert show.

[Bert (Host)]

Intern Bianca's up. Each one of our interns has their at mic music, and intern Bianca's is Rihanna. Bianca. Bianca's loving the attention on one hand, but not the attention on another.

[Leslie]

Okay.

[Bert (Host)]

It's always a little flattering, right, when somebody comes on to you. Maybe a little bit.

[Mailbox Worker]

A little bit.

[Spinquest Announcer]

A little bit.

[Luke]

What's going on?

[Mailbox Worker]

Since I work, these old. And I mean very old guys keep hitting on me.

[Bert (Host)]

Like 40.

[Mailbox Worker]

No, higher.

[Bert (Host)]

Higher.

[Mailbox Worker]

Yes.

[American Express Advertiser]

50.

[Mailbox Worker]

Gray.

[Bert (Host)]

50 here at the 60.

[Wendy]

50.

[Mailbox Worker]

60?

[Jeff]

You're talking about here at the radio station? Because he does that to everybody.

[Kathy]

Oh.

[Mailbox Worker]

Oh, well, now I feel better now. Sorry, Bert.

[Jeff]

I wasn't talking about Burt, but it applies there. Yeah, good.

[Bert (Host)]

Where are you talking about? And I mean, is this a boss or is this just.

[Mailbox Worker]

Oh, no. Well, at my job. I'm pretty sure they're listening now.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, don't tell us where. Just tell us what kind of job it is.

[Mailbox Worker]

Um, Pack is mailboxes. We have mailboxes there. Can't really say too much.

[Bert (Host)]

Is there. Is there, like, other stuff? Like, et cetera?

[Luke]

Yeah.

[American Express Advertiser]

No.

[Bert (Host)]

Okay.

[Mailbox Worker]

Yeah. So they're mailbox holders. And, like, what I notice, they keep looking at me. But I'm. I'm a nice person, you know, we have to be nice and stuff. So. So they come in. This one guy, he gave me like $100 because I graduated from my broadcasting school. And he came the next week and kept giving me money. Like, he was like, oh, did I give you money for your graduation? I said, yes. He's like, okay, well, you can have it anyway.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, how did he even know? He's just a customer, right?

[Mailbox Worker]

Well, I've been working there for five years, so I'm. I know all the mailbox holders.

[Wendy]

So you have regulars?

[Mailbox Worker]

Yeah, they're all regulars. And then there are occasional people that walk in, but it's this look they give you when they walk in there. Like they double look like, oh, yeah, I'm coming over there. And then they just come with this walk, like. Yeah. So.

[Jeff]

Well, I think that, I mean, the mentality is if I'm going someplace to do a postal transaction of some sort, I'm not really expecting like a hot young girl to help me. I'm expecting like, you know, somebody, some old government employee who's seedy and doesn't really care to help me.

[Bert (Host)]

Yeah, like you're like some kind of superhero. Like, this is your day job. As soon as you take the glasses and the mailbox, et cetera, uniform on, you're like saving kids and stuff.

[Jeff]

She never said where it was, Bert.

[Bert (Host)]

Oh, yeah, sorry.

[Mailbox Worker]

Yeah, just mailbox.

[Bert (Host)]

So when these dudes come in and you're having these casual conversations with them, I mean, how many are we talking about these older guys hitting on you? Is it one, is it two?

[Mailbox Worker]

It's like seven that come in all the time.

[Luke]

And what do they say? Do they ask you out? They ask.

[Mailbox Worker]

This one guy was like, where's your wife? Because he always comes in here and talks about his wife. So I'm like, where's your wife at? Why does she never come here? He's like, oh, I don't have a wife. I said, oh, okay. I remember you talking about it. He's like, but I'm looking for one. I'm like, oh, okay. Well, you know, if you need help, you know, I'll help you look around for some people. He was like, no, I'm looking right here. And I was like, oh, that's creepy. And you're 20.

[Bert (Host)]

20. So like 50 year old dudes are coming.

[Mailbox Worker]

And I'm like, okay, you know, I can't be rude or nothing, but I don't flirt back with them at all.

[Melissa Carter]

I don't know what it is.

[Mailbox Worker]

It's like I'm a magnet for Old pervs.

[Bert (Host)]

Pretty standard stuff. Does that happen?

[Mailbox Worker]

And it's with my sister too. She's 25 and, you know, she's marrying a 47 year old like my mother. She's. They all my family date older men, but I just can't get with it.

[Wendy]

Yeah, I don't understand that mentality. There's such a big gap in what you know and your knowledge between 60 years old and 20 years old. It's just creepy.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, I mean, I understand from the 50 or 60 year old, the 20 year old wants to be with, you know, sexually, you want to be with somebody young and all that.

[Luke]

Right.

[Bert (Host)]

But from the younger to the older thing, I just don't understand how y' all detach from that. I've never understood that.

[Mailbox Worker]

I don't either.

[Bert (Host)]

Mm, mm.

[Mailbox Worker]

Maybe we should.

[Jeff]

I would think by. I think by the time that I'm 60, I'm not gonna want someone young. I'm gonna be tired.

[Bert (Host)]

So, like, you don't want somebody 80?

[Jeff]

Yeah. So I'd be okay with somebody's rate at the same level as me.

[Wendy]

I think older guys just want to know that they still got it. So they gotta hit on the young thing to see if they can still get at that. And if they can, they can get to you. Then that's what they're looking for.

[Bert (Host)]

Yeah. Watch how panic he would become if you actually said yes. Said yes.

[Luke]

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. Do they really expect the girls to say yes or is it sort of just a fun game for them? Like they're like a cat, like batting you around, like catnip, Like I'm just gonna play with her and have fun for a minute, whatever.

[Melissa Carter]

But, but what you talk about from the women's standpoint, I mean, he's handing you a hundred dollar bills. I think for some women, they're like, well, a 22 year old boy's not doing that to me, so.

[Mailbox Worker]

Well, my boyfriend does. Like, we go on trips like twice a year. I don't pay for anything. I'm glad he's here, you know, and He's.

[Bert (Host)]

And he's 48, right? Your boyfriend?

[Mailbox Worker]

No, he's 21.

[Luke]

Okay.

[Mailbox Worker]

Thank God. But yeah.

[Bert (Host)]

I don't know how you put it.

[Wendy]

I have to tell you about this

[Mailbox Worker]

burp, this one mailbox holder. He comes in all the time and I. I know he's listening. I love you if you're listening. You're the coolest person. But he comes in all the time and we're trying to hook him up with another mailbox holder.

[Leslie]

So

[Mailbox Worker]

we're trying to play matchmaker for this.

[Jeff]

Hey, why don't you take a look at box 208. You know what I'm talking about.

[Mailbox Worker]

Anyway, he comes in and I'm trying to hook him up with this white lady, right? He says, no, I like sisters. I'm like, oh, okay. Then I'm like, okay, what kind? He was like, you know, like he said. He starts pointing. I'm like, oh my God. I'm trying to help you out here and you're trying to hit on me.

[Bert (Host)]

And again, he's howled.

[Mailbox Worker]

He's really old. He has to be 66. Oh, I know he's listening.

[Bert (Host)]

I don't think it goes. I. I wonder if it never goes away. Like if it doesn't matter if you're 66, 76 or 16, just that you want to be attracted attractive to a woman. Never goes away, I hope. Are you taking those hundred dollar bills as they're coming to you, by the way?

[Mailbox Worker]

Huh?

[Bert (Host)]

Yeah, you are you taking those hundred dollar.

[Mailbox Worker]

Not all of them.

[Jeff]

Yes you are.

[Bert (Host)]

Not all of them.

[Jeff]

How many of you turned down?

[Mailbox Worker]

I would take them about 2.

[Jeff]

How many is he giving you total?

[Mailbox Worker]

Huh? He only gave me like.

[Jeff]

You're wearing headphones. Don't pretend you didn't hear.

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This is the Birch Show.

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[Show Announcer]

It's the vert show.

[Bert (Host)]

All right, Melissa Carter, you're have to guide me through this because I. All I saw on the schedule was Melissa Carter has joined a high school marching band. And I thought creeper.

[Melissa Carter]

Okay, first of all, don't insult me, okay, Because I'm just supporting the arts. But no, I.

[Bert (Host)]

When a 30 something year old woman wants to go back to high school to join, I mean, if it's a guy, you're like creeper.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, first, I appreciate you calling me 30 something this week, but no, that

[Wendy]

only lasted last days.

[Melissa Carter]

Two more days, you can say that. But it was last, I guess it was last year sometime that we were. Oh, you know what? It was after the holidays. This is what happened. So we, my mother and I for years had watched the Rose bowl parade. So it was when we were gone on vacation and all the, you know, bowl games were going on. And when we got back, I had said that one of the things I want to do on my bucket list sometime before I die, I want to attend the Rose bowl parade because I just think it's.

[Bert (Host)]

And now that you're looking at 40 years old, that bucket list really seems a little bit bigger today.

[Melissa Carter]

I'm hoping I make it to 40. All my life I thought, I'm not going to make it to 40. So I still haven't made it to Thursday yet, but I'm getting close. But the Tournament of Roses parade, if you've never seen it or I mean you've heard of it, Rose Bowl. Each bowl has a parade, but theirs is a unique one because it's the first bowl and, and it's the first parade. And it's also everything is organic in the parade. So all the floats have to be made from organic materials. So I just think that is so creative and so neat. So I happen to say on air that there is someday I want to go to the Rose bowl parade. Okay, so that's where it started.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, to go to.

[Luke]

Just to see it.

[Melissa Carter]

To go to, to see it. I want to be in Pasadena. I want to see the Rose bowl parade. Well, it ends up that one of our own marching bands is actually going to be in the Rose bowl parade in 2011. And I'm talking about Central Carroll High School in Carrollton.

[Leslie]

Okay.

[Bert (Host)]

How exclusive is something like that?

[Wendy]

It's a huge deal.

[Melissa Carter]

It is a huge deal. They can. Because I forgot how many schools. Because we have Central Carroll High School, we have some representatives of the marching band here today. And how many schools apply to be in the Rose Bowl? Parade and how many are actually in it from high schools around the country?

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

There are over 100 across the country that apply for it, and we're one of 12 high school bands in the United States. So we're selecting.

[Luke]

Whoa. Wow.

[Bert (Host)]

And is that all based on, like, a video audition or how is that done?

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

Yeah, we sent in a video. It's about a year in the process. We sent in a video application. They covered everything about our band program, our community, our school. Sent in videos, audio recordings of the band, letters of recommendation, references from all over.

[Bert (Host)]

Is it a little. It's got to be a little bit like when you call a radio Station A B caller 100, you do it, but you don't ever really think you're going to get through. Right.

[Melissa Carter]

Exactly.

[Bert (Host)]

And then you get this acceptance letter in the mail or something.

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

You're like, wow, it was pretty awesome when we got the phone call.

[Bert (Host)]

I bet.

[Mailbox Worker]

I bet.

[Melissa Carter]

Okay, now I did not. So I found out the Central Carroll High School was going to the Rose bowl parade. Not because I was being a creeper or going and searching out, but no, they actually heard me say that on air and actually contacted me and offered me a position in their band so that I could be in the Rose bowl parade with them.

[Bert (Host)]

Literally playing in the band.

[Melissa Carter]

In the band. Yes. And the. The stipulation was that they got to choose the instrument for me. So I. When we talked about it last time, I don't know what instrument I'm going to play. And one of the reasons they're here today is to tell me what instrument I'm going to be purchasing and I'm going to be learning this year so that come January, come New Year's Day, I can be in Pasadena in the Rose bowl parade with them.

[Jeff]

Why don't they have you sing I'm

[Luke]

sorry for your girlfriend because she has to listen to you practice all year. Regardless of what instrument it is, it's going to sound like a dog dying. At least at first. I'm sorry. At least at first.

[Melissa Carter]

I mean, let's play for you in December, and it'll be completely. It'll be like birds singing. It'll be beautif.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, let's embrace this for a second, because you're not just going out there to see the parade. You're actually going to march with these guys in the parade.

[Melissa Carter]

Yes, I will be on the street with Central Carroll High School.

[Luke]

Are you going to get the uniform and everything, Luke? Is she going to get the uniform?

[Mailbox Worker]

No,

[Bert (Host)]

they've got Central Carol Pride they're not doing that.

[Melissa Carter]

We work too hard for this to

[Bert (Host)]

ruin it with her.

[Melissa Carter]

This is funny, but.

[Bert (Host)]

So where are you going to hide her? Like, I mean, if she's not going to be in your uniform, is she, like, going to be in the front, in the middle somewhere? How do you hide her?

[Melissa Carter]

Well, you sound like I'm huge. Like, you sound like.

[Bert (Host)]

I mean, these are experienced kids, and this is a once in a lifetime, and you're gonna be in it.

[Wendy]

So what's your coordination?

[Luke]

What do you think would be best for her to be in the front or the back?

[Bert (Host)]

We could put her in the lion costume. There you go.

[Luke]

Now that is a fantastic idea.

[Melissa Carter]

It would be hard for me to manipulate the instrument if I was.

[Wendy]

Yeah.

[Melissa Carter]

With my lion.

[Jeff]

Without a thumb.

[Melissa Carter]

Without opposable thumb.

[Bert (Host)]

So you. I mean, Luke, you got to take this very seriously. You've probably been playing instruments your entire life here, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So Melissa here can't just come in and take this lightly. She's got to take it very, very seriously. Yeah, pretty much.

[Melissa Carter]

See? Yeah, it looks very intimidating. I mean, he's giving me. He's giving me the eye, so he's going to be my coach. But, yeah, I mean, I do take it. I don't know why you don't think I take it seriously.

[Wendy]

Well, there's so much coordination. Y' all have to be in sync. Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot on the beat while playing an instrument that you have to have memor. Because you can't have a script of music in front of you, so you have to memorize the song, too. All of that together.

[Melissa Carter]

I've been practicing walking for a long time. I can do this. I can kick roll, kick, step roll. I can do that.

[Jeff]

Melissa, you fell off a curb at Disney World and broke your idol six months ago.

[Melissa Carter]

Passed. Jeff, that's in the past. Let it go.

[Bert (Host)]

It's gonna have to be an instrument that's so big. It has to be like a salt shaker or some kind of one of those little things, a little triangle.

[Melissa Carter]

It is up to Central Carroll high school, what I'm going to play in the rose bowl parade.

[Bert (Host)]

All right, so this important decision here, because it has to be something that she can obviously pick up. So what do you got, Luke? She's gonna be playing trombone. That's like a.

[Melissa Carter]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Bert (Host)]

That's like. And that's. That's major, though, right? I mean, it takes something.

[Melissa Carter]

It's like a brass Instrument.

[Luke]

Fun.

[Melissa Carter]

Come on. It's like a jazz band instrument. It's cool.

[Bert (Host)]

That's like a really big part of the band, right? Yeah, that's the best part of the band.

[Jeff]

Yeah. 76 trombones lead the big break.

[Luke]

Is that why. Why do you say that? Is that. Will you play? Yeah, this is the best part.

[Bert (Host)]

So you're gonna be her coach for the next year or whatever on trombone?

[Luke]

Dude.

[Joanna]

That's.

[Leslie]

Woo.

[Melissa Carter]

I'm excited.

[Bert (Host)]

I'm nervous for you.

[Melissa Carter]

Because imagine, I mean, like, they're allowing me to be part of the Rose bowl parade for them, but imagine my career after that. This could be the beginning of a whole new musical career for me.

[Jeff]

Career? Name one professional tromboner

[Melissa Carter]

you just want. These are high school kids.

[Luke]

She could start ra. No, no, that's a bugle.

[Jeff]

Cause that is gonna. That's gonna be your.

[Bert (Host)]

This is the most ironic moment that we have ever had on the show. The fact that Melissa is gonna be a tromboner.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I know.

[Bert (Host)]

Is the most ironic moment we've had in nine years.

[Melissa Carter]

Guests in the studio. Guests in the studio.

[Jeff]

And that will be your nickname. Just so you know, from now until I don't know you anymore.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, I am proud to play trombone with the Central Carroll High School Marching Band.

[Luke]

You're gonna have a new one, right? Not a old one?

[Melissa Carter]

Yes, I'm going to get it today. I will have a brand new trombone.

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

Not.

[Melissa Carter]

And I will begin to play this. I mean, you know what? Y' all can just make jokes all you want, peanut gallery, but I am taking this seriously. And I will practice all year and by January 1st, I'm gonna be great.

[Bert (Host)]

Do you know how to read music or anything like that yet? Nothing.

[Spinquest Announcer]

Nothing.

[Luke]

Are you gonna be her tutor, like after school?

[Jeff]

Sure.

[Bert (Host)]

This is a big deal. I mean, I'm assuming you just can't pick up a trombone and just emulate. Copy somebody that's next to you. This is gonna take a long time.

[Jeff]

Especially Melissa.

[Bert (Host)]

Yeah, yeah. She's never been a tromboner before.

[Melissa Carter]

That is true. This is gonna be difficult, but I can do it. It's a challenge. I can take this.

[Bert (Host)]

All right. Good luck for that. Now, don't you.

[Jeff]

Have you noticed that Melissa has unusually short arms?

[Melissa Carter]

I don't. I don't. But I will. You know what? I'm happy to let you see my progress as the year goes on.

[Bert (Host)]

Okay, so that's our starting point. So I think today you gotta go out and get the trombone.

[Melissa Carter]

Yes.

[Bert (Host)]

You gotta come tomorrow morning.

[Melissa Carter]

Yes.

[Bert (Host)]

And just give us our first Sample. Okay, so at least we'll have something to compare it to at the very end before you get to.

[Melissa Carter]

I don't know. Why do you get a trombone? I don't know. People can email me about music stores in the Sandy Springs area.

[Bert (Host)]

Ask Luke. I mean, he plays trombone. Where do you get that? Just a music store.

[Jeff]

Do you have an extra one? No, not for her to use.

[Bert (Host)]

All right, so when does. When is her first official rehearsal with you guys?

[Melissa Carter]

They'll be discussing it with me after. After the show.

[Bert (Host)]

These guys are so casual about it.

[Melissa Carter]

I know they're not. Yeah, they're not nervous because I have a feeling they're gonna tell they believe in me.

[Jeff]

I have a feeling they're gonna tell. Melissa, the flight leaves on December 29th. When it really leaves on December 28th. That's how I think it's all gonna come down.

[Bert (Host)]

Melissa, why don't you represent us in the Alamo bowl, and we'll do the Rose bowl by ourselves.

[Melissa Carter]

Didn't you know the Rose bowl is in Texas?

[Jeff]

You're gonna be like Baton Bob, walking through midtown, but with a trombone.

[Wendy]

It's not trombone.

[Jeff]

You're gonna be trombone.

[Central Carroll High School Band Member]

All right, Central.

[Bert (Host)]

Carol, thank you very much for allowing Melissa Carter this opportunity. That's huge, you guys. Thank you.

[Melissa Carter]

Thank you, my bandmates. And congratulations for being in the Rose bowl course. I will be in Pasadena with foundations.

[Leslie]

It's awesome.

[Bert (Host)]

Congratulations, Central Carroll High School. All right, tomorrow morning, you bring the trombone, and we'll see where we're starting. Point is.

[Melissa Carter]

Okay, Perfect.

[Bert (Host)]

Okay.

[Show Announcer]

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[Show Announcer]

The Birch Show.

[Bert (Host)]

One morning we asked, look, if you got a random text and you don't know who it Came from. Go ahead and tell us about the text, and then give us the phone number. And what we'll do is we will call that number after the show, and we'll find out what the story was behind the text, because obviously, it wasn't intended for you.

[Luke]

Right?

[Bert (Host)]

And that's when Leslie called us.

[Joanna]

I got a text about three weeks ago, and it was a number that I didn't recognize. It was a 678 area code, and it just said, it's not all about you. Leave it alone. What is this? So I texted back.

[Leslie]

I was just like, huh, who is this?

[Joanna]

And all that I got back was, seriously?

[Luke]

Okay.

[Bert (Host)]

So at that point, she's like a lot of you guys that have just received a random text. You know, it wasn't meant for you, but the story behind it is so intriguing that you'd really like to know where it came from. So she gave me her phone number, and after the show, I called that text number, and it turned out that the random text wasn't so random. It was one of her co workers. So this is part of the conversation I had with the coworker.

[Leslie]

You know, I can't really go into any detail, but basically, you can just let her know, or she's probably listening right now that you know, it's not a good idea to backstab your fellow co workers. It will come back to you. And she knows what? She absolutely knows what's going on.

[Luke]

That seemed almost threatening. She knows.

[Jeff]

She knows what she's doing.

[Bert (Host)]

Wasn't there, like, a threatening tone at the end of that call, like, it's gonna get worse next time? Didn't she say something like that? I don't know.

[Luke]

I don't remember.

[Bert (Host)]

But when we got Leslie back on the original caller, she was claiming she had no idea what this thing was all about.

[Joanna]

There's this convention in London in the next couple months. There's this new guy there who's, like, really smooth, and it seems like he might be the one getting to go to this convention.

[Luke]

Do you want to go to the conference? And you've been pitching so that you could go.

[Kathy]

Oh, yeah.

[Joanna]

I mean, all that I've done is vented to one co worker, so I really have no idea who this person is who is so vindictive.

[Bert (Host)]

All right, so that's where it stands right now. So Leslie's on hold, and while Joanna is still looking for caller 100, here. Was that voice disguised? Yeah, it was. Hey, Leslie.

[Kathy]

Hi.

[Leslie]

Hi.

[Bert (Host)]

How are you?

[Leslie]

I'm doing fine. How you doing?

[Show Announcer]

I'm okay.

[Bert (Host)]

I'm dying to know what happened the day that you went into work and everybody sort of knew what was going on. It must have been so tense.

[Leslie]

Yeah. There's been some developments. Okay. Well, I ended up taking. Someone gave me the advice to take to call the number, so I did that. There was no answer. There was like a generic voicemail, and I kept doing it, and I tried again a couple days later, and the number was just disconnected. Just doesn't exist anymore. So I ended up sending out this bulk email to everyone at the office saying, like, you know, look, look, guys, you probably all know at this point about what's been happening. I'm sure you've heard me on the radio. I just wish that whoever is responsible for this would. Would come forward and just talk with me directly.

[Bert (Host)]

You said this is a small office or a large office?

[American Express Advertiser]

Office.

[Leslie]

It's. It's. It's a. It's a large office.

[American Express Advertiser]

Okay.

[Melissa Carter]

And not to interrupt, but it wasn't the advice to call while you were at work to see if somebody's phone would ring in the office.

[Leslie]

Right.

[Melissa Carter]

Is that what you did?

[Leslie]

Which I did. But no one. No one. I didn't hear anything.

[Melissa Carter]

Okay.

[Bert (Host)]

Okay. So you send out this bulk email, and even those that didn't know what was going on now know what's going on. Okay.

[Leslie]

Right, Right. And I actually ended up getting into some trouble for sending that email with human resources. They called me in and they sort of told me that I need to keep this drama out of the workplace, blah, blah, blah. But I just wanted to get to the bottom of this because it was sort of getting to my head. And then after this happened, I started getting texts from random phone number, just taunting me, almost saying things like, we're watching you and, you know, you better be careful. Like, almost threatening.

[Melissa Carter]

That's bullying. Did you now, did you report that to human resources?

[Leslie]

No, I can't. I mean, I don't even know what to do now because it feels like there's nobody on my side here. And I don't know if they're coming from if. Now there's like a. There's like a lot of people who are in on this or what?

[Joanna]

Because these.

[Leslie]

There's all these random numbers now. Several different phone numbers.

[Melissa Carter]

That's just weird.

[Bert (Host)]

So this isn't a word problem, though, anymore, though, is it? I mean, this is.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, that's what I'm saying.

[Joanna]

I don't know.

[Jeff]

It's a petty word problem.

[Leslie]

Feels like it's like a stalker Problem?

[Melissa Carter]

Well, what I can't believe is you didn't go back to human resources and say, look, you know, I understand about the email that I sent out, but here's some drama in the office, too, because I'm getting bullied. I mean, you're getting bullied by people in the office, and they're listening.

[Leslie]

You know, maybe it's. I mean, I know maybe it's someone on the end. Maybe someone in human resources. You know, I don't know who's on my side.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, I mean, I just. Yeah, it's that. And that's petty.

[Joanna]

That.

[Melissa Carter]

Because they're listening whoever's doing this, and they're.

[Jeff]

They're gonna. And they're gonna start sending you messages as soon as you get off the radio.

[Melissa Carter]

Yeah, that's just. That's cowardly, you know? I mean, you don't even know what's going on. You're getting these text messages. You're getting bullied. I mean, I don't know.

[Bert (Host)]

You really are getting bullied. Like, I never really knew what sort of, like, the definition of being bullied at work is, but this is certainly one of them.

[Luke]

Definitely. I mean, change your phone number. I mean, I know that's a pain with everybody that you know, and I've

[Leslie]

certainly thought about that. It seems crazy to have to do that, but if it goes on like this, I may have to.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, the problem there is that you're still going to have to give your phone number to somebody at work.

[Wendy]

Right.

[Leslie]

And I just don't know who this. I just don't know who's behind this.

[Wendy]

Well, why not call those numbers that you're getting the text from?

[Leslie]

Well, I have called a few of them and just got nothing. I don't know if they're like. If these are, like. I don't know if people are just, like, calling from random phones or what. Or texting from random phones.

[Jeff]

There's websites where you can set up fake numbers and stuff.

[Luke]

Oh, really?

[Leslie]

Oh, really?

[Wendy]

I didn't know that.

[Jeff]

Me neither.

[Leslie]

It's just.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, I think we now know where they came from.

[Luke]

I think if you continue to respond or you call the numbers back or whatever, it just sort of fuels the fire. I think you have to be kind of the bigger person at this point and just start hitting delete all the time. Yeah, send them to your spam.

[Bert (Host)]

I think that may be the only way, really, to take away that power is to ignore it entirely.

[Melissa Carter]

Absolutely. Because I'll drive them nuts.

[Bert (Host)]

So I think what would happen if you ignored Them is they'll get worse for a little while because they're demanding attention.

[Luke]

Right. But if they don't get any response from it, it's going to become boring.

[Bert (Host)]

Then they gotta go away. Right.

[Melissa Carter]

So unimpressive.

[Leslie]

Yeah, yeah, Just forget about it. Just stop talking about it, you know?

[Luke]

Yeah.

[Bert (Host)]

Here's Kathy with some advice for you. Hey, Kathy.

[Kathy]

Hey.

[Joanna]

On the website, there are several sites you can go to that do reverse number lookups, including for cell phones, and you can find out who the cell phone numbers belong to. And that would make it easier to go to human resources with names.

[Jeff]

Those things never work.

[Bert (Host)]

Do those work for like, like, let's say somebody went out and got just a, like a pay phone, you know, like a phone that you pay for as you go along?

[Joanna]

No, not usually because you don't have to sign up for those. But a lot of times people aren't that smart and they just use their cell phone.

[Melissa Carter]

Yeah, I think I would. Because they're, they're winning. If you feel like you can't trust anybody in the office, like when you said, oh, I don't know who's behind this. I don't even know if human resource, just like they're saying, be a bigger person and do the proper channels go through the. I cannot believe you have not gone to human resources and said, look, this is what's going on. I don't know what this is, but it's obviously somebody that's threatened by you, so you shouldn't turn around and be threatened by them.

[Bert (Host)]

It's an HR problem because it really is creating tension at work for you. I mean, you don't know where the messages are coming from, but you feel like it's a follow up to somebody that you know is from work. So it's creating problems at work. So it is an HR problem. Even if you go and you just report the numbers and what's happening, it's still something.

[Melissa Carter]

Yeah.

[Luke]

I would put it down on paper and I would, I would. If you go talk to hr, I would follow it up with an email so that you have something in writing that's date stamped, right?

[Leslie]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think that you're right about that. I think I was just sort of tentative because they had, because I had gotten in trouble with them about the whole thing. I just wanted to deal with it myself. But I mean, at this point I need, you know.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, at least from their perspective, they could see why you would send that email out now.

[Bert (Host)]

Right?

[Melissa Carter]

You know?

[Leslie]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's Gotten a little bit crazy.

[Bert (Host)]

Even if you go to human resources and you tell them what's going on and it gets back to whoever that it is at work that you went to hr and they may continue to text message you knowing that it's bothering you, but after a while, it's going to go away if you just ignore it.

[Melissa Carter]

It. Just ignore it?

[Leslie]

Yeah.

[Melissa Carter]

That's so silly.

[Jeff]

And if you find out who it is, let us know because Melissa will go up behind him with her new trombone.

[Melissa Carter]

That's right. That's right.

[Jeff]

Nothing will shut somebody up like a trombone. To the year.

[Melissa Carter]

It's community service.

[Bert (Host)]

All right, Leslie, thanks for the follow up. Appreciate it. Good luck at work. All right.

[Leslie]

Thank you so much.

[Bert (Host)]

All right. Bye bye.

[Show Announcer]

The bird show.

[Mailbox Worker]

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[Show Announcer]

The Burt Show.

[Bert (Host)]

Melissa, let's take a deep breath here. You ready?

[Melissa Carter]

Yes.

[Bert (Host)]

You ready to get into this?

[Melissa Carter]

I'm ready.

[American Express Advertiser]

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[Bert (Host)]

All right, so if you weren't listening to the show yesterday, let me just quickly recap a conversation that we had in the 8 o' clock hour that really upset a whole bunch of Birch show listeners, specifically owners of pit bulls. Yesterday I said that I went to the dog park in Piedmont park over the weekend and I was really upset by the amount of dogs that were dog aggressive and the owners weren't doing anything about it.

[Wendy]

Right.

[Bert (Host)]

Like the dog would attack another dog. The owner would get their aggressive dog, stop it for a second and let him off the leash again. When the dog got in a fight again, it happened two or three different times. I saw three fights. Two of them had to do with pit bulls over the weekend. Okay. So the initial conversation was really me begging the Piedmont park conservatory that the next time they open up this dog park, which I think is in a couple of weeks. Weeks, is to have some kind of monitor in there, someone that can say, look, because you obviously can't spot your own dog that's being aggressive, that your dog's aggressive, you got to get out of here, take off. See, in a couple of weeks or whatever. So that was my suggestion. And then we started having a side conversation about pit bulls. And I specifically said, you know, two of the three fights that I saw were pit bulls. And I'm weary of pit bulls. Pit bulls, hey, hey.

[Melissa Carter]

Conversation.

[Bert (Host)]

They need to have cut off.

[Wendy]

That's after 8:30.

[Bert (Host)]

So, yeah, I just, you know, I've gone to dog parks my entire life, and I'm going to read some emails that we got from very upset pit bull owners yesterday, But I have gone to dog parks my entire life, and I can unequivocally say that I see pit bulls more aggressive than other breeds.

[Luke]

Sure.

[Bert (Host)]

From time to time, a Doberman will go after another dog. From time to time, a poodle will go after another dog. I've seen my breed, English bulldogs. You know, you get your alpha dogs together, there are gonna be fights.

[Mailbox Worker]

Right.

[Bert (Host)]

But I can tell you that in my experience, that pit bulls always seem to be, like, looking for it. They just got this attitude like, who's next? Let's go.

[Luke]

Right?

[Melissa Carter]

And then my comment was that I felt that. And I have owned a Doberman. I have owned an aggressive dog. And from my perspective, one of the reasons I purchased this Doberman or adopted her is because she was a Doberman and I was new to Atlanta and I needed a good guard dog. So I wanted a dog that had an aggressive nature. I ch Doberman. My comment yesterday was that dogs, and I included German shepherds, Doberman, Rottweiler in this, as well as pit bulls. But owners of these dogs going in, if you chose that breed, you have done it. One of the purposes is so that it'd be good guard dog. You know, its aggressive nature, you know, its protective nature.

[Bert (Host)]

And so that that statement right there was really started the firestorm.

[Melissa Carter]

That is what I got all the emails on, because I had insulted pit bull owners and pit bulls.

[Luke]

How is that insulting, though?

[Melissa Carter]

I am confused on why that's insulting.

[Jeff]

There's nothing insulting about what either Bert or Melissa said. Like, Bert said that I've seen a lot of dog fights and more than Half of them involved, or whatever your statistic was with them. A lot of them involve pit bulls. More pit bulls than any other individual breed. And Melissa said that the owners of pit bulls select those dogs because they have a protective and aggressive nature. There's nothing. Nobody said that if you own a pit bull, you're a bad person and deserve to rot in hell. Or pit bull should be banned from the earth. Nobody ever said that. But the emails that came in were.

[Melissa Carter]

Now what might have. I mean, because both Burn and I yesterday did say that neither one of us would own a pit bull. Like I did say that I don't think I would own a pit bull. What I should have added to that is I also am not a big fan of small D dogs. Like I. It's the same as saying a small dog barks more often than a big dog. I don't think that that is going against what you normally see. And I'm not a big fan of small dogs. I like big dogs. And why? Because I like to feel protected. I like big dogs in my house. So. But I. With pit bulls, yes, it's just a breed that I personally would not own. But that may have been what people misinterpreted as me saying, if you're a pit bull, then you're dumb.

[Jeff]

And. No, this.

[Melissa Carter]

That's not what I said.

[Jeff]

Melissa does own a big dog for protection, but if you have a strobe light, you can throw it into a seizure pretty quickly and totally rob her.

[Luke]

Gg, this email says, and Sully would just lick them to death.

[Jeff]

But in theory, Melissa's house.

[Bert (Host)]

This one says Melissa mentioned that people get pits because they're aggressive. Not true. Capital letters not true. Okay, I rescued mine from abusive owners and now they are therapy dogs. They go to nursing homes as therapy dogs and are very well behaved. And what about Cesar Millan's dogs? He and Daddy and now Junior, who he uses to tame other dogs? Did you know that Helen Keller had a pit bull as a therapy dog? Or that the dog in the Little Rascals is a pit? And by Melissa's reasoning about people wanting pits because they're aggressive. Rachael Ray, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Thomas Edison. Very aggressive guy, Thomas Edison.

[Melissa Carter]

I'm not calling the owners aggressive. And I guarantee Rachael Ray, if she has a pit bull, feels protected at home if somebody rings her bell and the pit bull's bell.

[Jeff]

Melissa's statement is no different than saying that people who get those little Percival dogs, you know what I mean, did not get that dog, little yippee dog, did not get that dog for its protective nature. There's nothing wrong with that. If you get a dog whose maximum weight is less than my cat, you did not buy that dog to protect you in the event someone comes through the window of your house. No yap yap dog owner's gonna call up and go, I can't believe you would say that.

[Melissa Carter]

Well, I'm sure I'll get those emails.

[Wendy]

They.

[Melissa Carter]

But I'm also fascinated by the people who talk about their dogs being sweet. Well, I hope they're sweet in your home because you're the alpha and you have a dog in your home. Of course they're gonna be sweet to their family. That's the point of having a dog in your home. So I don't dispute that the dog can be sweet. I don't dispute rescuing a dog from an abusive environment I think is wonderful. I think that's fantastic. But in general, people are familiar with pit bulls being an aggressive breed.

[Bert (Host)]

And I got a bunch of emails yesterday from people said, let me bring my pit bull into your studio and I'll show you how sweet it is.

[Luke]

Yeah, that's okay.

[Show Announcer]

Yeah.

[Bert (Host)]

Hey, I'm. But B, your dog might be fine in this atmosphere. When I have seen pit bulls be aggressive, it's when there are 20, 30 other dogs running around, they're off the leash and they're more aggressive, in my opinion, than I have seen other rats.

[Jeff]

And you have to acknowledge that Bert didn't say your pit bull is a bad dog. He said that when he observes group dog environments, the majority of the dogs that cause trouble are pit bulls. There is a reason that they are the fighting dog. Like that wasn't there. There's a. There is a very specific reason that Michael Vick didn't have French poodles. You know what I mean? Like, you gotta acknowledge that. Like it's a fact.

[Luke]

It wasn't the golden retrievers, right?

[Bert (Host)]

Well, let me dispute the golden retrievers.

[Jeff]

Like, he wasn't running around with a bunch of. They found a bunch of Pomeranians behind his property in West Virginia.

[Bert (Host)]

I am a 90 pound mother of three and can tell you why I own the dogs I own. These are pit bulls because they are intelligent and incredibly loving dogs. I grew up with a pit bull and I have to tell you that in temp tests that the most likely dog to bite is a golden retriever.

[Melissa Carter]

Alright, well, last night I was at home watching television. Katie, one of her best friends, is a pediatric nurse and she was over Last night, and they happened to have a side conversation because they had taken our dogs for a walk, for exercise last night. They came home, they're just having a conversation. So dogs was the center of the conversation because, I mean, that's what they had just done. So. And pit bulls came up in the conversation. I don't remember how they did. Now, Katie's best friend, I mean, certainly did not give specifics because she's not allowed to. But I did ask the question, since you're bringing up pit bulls and we're talking about this, how long have you been a nurse? And she's like, I've been a nurse for 12 years. And I said, so in your experience, when you have seen children come. Because she's pediatric, so she specializes in children. I said, when you've seen children come in with dog injuries, what is the breed that you see the most? And she said to me that in her 12 years of experience, that it's the pit bulls and that she does not remember seeing because she usually works in the trauma units, that she has not seen severe injuries from a dog of any other breed but pit bulls. Then she went on to explain, though that's a strong statement that she went on to explain. The reason for that is not because pit bull necessarily is the most aggressive dog. It is because pit bulls don't let go. That pit bulls have these massive jaws and that when they hold, when they grab, they don't let go.

[Bert (Host)]

They lock.

[Melissa Carter]

They lock. And that's what caused, causes so much of the injury. So they don't bite and let go like a warning shot. Once they get you, they're not going to let go.

[Bert (Host)]

So there are other dogs that are biting, but they're letting go, but they're

[Melissa Carter]

letting go and not the pit bull.

[Luke]

It's like a nip, maybe more.

[Melissa Carter]

Now, people are going to be mad about that. But this is someone who has 12 years of practicing medicine and in her one view, has seen these injuries. And so again, the commentary is that they have an aggressive nature. And she did mention, she said that it was years ago that they were called the nanny dog, that pit bulls were considered, you know, like, good around children and protective of children. And then she said she's not sure why. In the past 20 years, there has been a change, whether it's inbreeding, whether it's like, Jeff brought up, you know, a lot of the fighting that the camps that are going on that are focusing on pit bulls, but that is what she's seen. And so I said, well, I mean, and that was completely. She did not even hear our conversation yesterday.

[Bert (Host)]

Here's Carly. Hey, Carly. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Kathy]

Hi.

[Bert (Host)]

Hey.

[Kathy]

That was my email. I am the 90 pound mother of three.

[Bert (Host)]

Oh, hey, 90 pound mother three. What's up?

[Kathy]

Well, I just wanted to call in and say that I really felt like yesterday you guys were speaking not from basic knowledge of the breed, but basically going on about how they. I'm sorry, I'm trying to drive in traffic. I'm probably going to kill myself.

[Bert (Host)]

That would be bad.

[Jeff]

No, your dog's gonna do it eventually, so.

[Kathy]

Oh, you're so funny, Jeff. It was sort of implied that pit bulls were human aggressive and they're not.

[Bert (Host)]

Well, I can. Carly, I don't know about human aggressive. Here's what I can tell you because I've seen with my own eyes, in my own experience, that more often when I'm in dog parks, the dogs that are getting into fights. I've seen this with my own eyes. Are pit bulls. So I'm not completely talking out of. With no experience.

[Jeff]

And Melissa just told a story about the scale of injuries versus with pit bull bites versus other dog bites. So.

[Kathy]

But that was from One nurse's opinion.

[Melissa Carter]

12 years experience.

[Kathy]

12 years experience.

[Melissa Carter]

And it wasn't just one incident.

[Kathy]

I understand that, but the fact is that they are not human aggressive dogs.

[Wendy]

But then they're dog aggressive dogs.

[Melissa Carter]

You love pit bulls.

[Kathy]

They may be dog aggressive, but that is part of their temperament and they probably shouldn't be in dog parks.

[Wendy]

That's what Bert was.

[Melissa Carter]

Why did you send the email disputing Bert when you're agreeing with him?

[Kathy]

I'm not saying that they are aggressive to humans. You guys imply that they were aggressive to humans. Justice just said I wouldn't have to kill myself because my dogs probably will.

[Leslie]

Humans.

[Kathy]

And not all of them are aggressive to dogs, but it's not against their original. You know, there's a standard for each breed and being dog aggressive is part of their standard. Now I know some amazing. Amazing. And staffs.

[Joanna]

And pit bulls.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Wendy]

Carly, I think you love other dogs.

[Bert (Host)]

I think you got a little twisted. Yesterday we were talking about the dog parks. I don't even know that human aggressive was even part of the conversation.

[Melissa Carter]

I think that she's.

[Lady Luck]

What?

[Melissa Carter]

She's interpreting what I said about using them as guard dogs for your home.

[Kathy]

Yes. Because they are not guard dogs in the slightest car.

[Jeff]

Carly, just reading from something from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention here in Atlanta. 238 people were killed by dogs in a 24 year old study and 32% of them were killed by pit bulldogs.

[Kathy]

And what were the rest of them? Because I've looked at that study myself.

[Jeff]

The next highest number of fatalities was 44 fatalities. That's about half the percentage. And that was Rottweiler. So one third of the people killed by dogs in a 24 year old study were killed by pit bulls.

[Bert (Host)]

Now the Rottweiler people are calling. Well, I'll call the cdc. Don't call us.

[Melissa Carter]

I have no problem with pit bulls. I have no problem with Rottweilers, Dobermans, German shepherds. I have no problem with that. But I mean, I wish that Carl was here today because Carl, when he was trying to find a dog to protect his home, one of the breeds he was thinking about was a pit bull.

[Luke]

And his wife said no because they have three kids.

[Jeff]

And he acknowledged that it's a, he acknowledged that it's a dangerous dog.

[Melissa Carter]

Know that the last caller grew up with pit bulls. Of course, when you grow up with the breed, you're, you're protective and sensitive about that. And I think people were incredibly sensitive about our conversation yesterday. But the general population's view, whoever's fault it is, if you consider it somebody's fault, but their perception of pit bulls as being an aggressive breed, and for some the most aggressive breed, that's going

[Bert (Host)]

to be a very. And I know you pit bull bull owners do not like that brand, but that's going to be a tough one to shake for y' all because, I mean, listen to this, to statistics Jeff just rattled off.

[Melissa Carter]

Yeah, I think you should. I mean, and I hope that you're organizing to fight the Michael Vicks of the world because they're the ones that have helped add to this reputation.

[Mailbox Worker]

Agreed.

[Jeff]

And we don't have anything against you. Like, you don't have to write and say you never listen and we hate you. Whatever. We're just. Bert made an observation. Melissa made an observation. I read a statistic. Leave us alone. You got a dial on your radio. Feel free to use it if you want, but I'm pretty sure, sure that Vicki's getting into a pretty intense Rottweiler Doberman conversation.

[Show Announcer]

The Bird show.

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