Full Show PT 2: Monday, November 17

Summary

---

The Bert Show – Full Show Pt. 2: Monday, November 17, 2025

Episode Overview:
This episode of The Bert Show is a lively, freewheeling mix of Atlanta humor, pet loss grieving, and a candid interview with "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett about the controversy surrounding the show's race-based tribal divisions. The cast brings their signature blend of banter, improvisation, and listener engagement, exploring both comedic misfires and heartfelt personal experiences.

---

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Atlanta’s “The Vent” Comedy Read: Standup That Tanks (01:33–12:45)

What’s “The Vent”?

• [01:39] Melissa: Explains it as a daily AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) feature where locals submit one-liner commentaries about Atlanta or broader issues—think crowdsourced stand-up, often more miss than hit.

The Cast Attempts “The Vent” as Standup

• The group recreates the feel of a low-rent open mic, complete with laugh tracks and diner ambiance. They each read real “Vent” submissions, poking fun at the lackluster humor.
• [04:21] Jeff (mock intro): “A very funny guy coming to the stage. Put your hands together for, for the first time in Atlanta at this particular TGI Fridays – it’s Burt Weiss.”
• [04:30] Elise: “Really good to be at the Golden Corral here... Today I bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the office, but then I remembered I work from home. Yum.”
• The bit flounders deliberately, with the cast openly acknowledging its awkwardness and resulting in self-deprecating meta-humor:
  [07:04] Elise: "That's a failed bit right there."

Memorable Quotes

• [05:20] Phil: “It’s Atlanta’s fault for this.”
• [06:32] Melissa: “These people have way too much time on their hands to send these comments in.”

Interactive “Finish the Joke” Game

• Jeff begins reading the start of a Vent, and the crew tries to guess the punchline, usually with absurd results.
• [07:53] Jeff: “It’s amazing how those tiny panda cubs grow into such huge bears and I—”
• [08:36] Phil (guessing): “Can’t even get through 400 traffic.”

Listener Calls In

• [09:23] Caller: “No, no, not the lines. Just the way y’all are making fun of it. That’s hilarious.”
• [11:11] Phil: “If you and your son are borderline functional in New York and considered smart here in Georgia, you should go to Alabama—because there you could be brain surgeons.”

---

2. Processing Pet Loss and Preservation (14:27–31:03)

Elise Shares Her Pet Loss Experience

• [14:27] Elise: “Just weird around the house... when you lose a pet like we did. He’s been in our family for eight years... Last week, they found a tumor on our dog’s liver, and we had to put him down. It was awful, awful, awful.”
• She reflects on the daily reminders and odd emotional voids left by her dog, Kahuna, and the post-vet fog.

The Team’s Approaches to Pet Memorials

• Discussion turns to pet cremation, and Elise reveals they chose this for Kahuna.
• [16:59] Phil: “For a lot of people, your pets are part of your family... when I grew up, every time a pet would die, we’d bury them in our yard. Well, I don’t have a yard. Once I’m in an established place, that’s where I plan.”
• Humor surfaces as they joke about urns and the social awkwardness of introducing new partners to “my animals’ ashes are in the closet.”

Freeze-Drying & “Pet Preservation”

• Elise brings up a listener-suggested website: petpreservations.com, introducing the option for freeze-drying pets as an alternative to cremation or burial.
  • [18:27] Elise (reading): “Pet preservation, also known as freeze drying, is the comforting alternative to your pet’s burial or cremation.”
• The team jokes at length about the possibility—and absurdity—of sending your deceased pet on ice via FedEx to Colorado to be preserved.
• [20:24] Elise: “You could do anything you wanted. One of the FAQs is, ‘what position will you put my pet in?’ ...You may include any description that you think may be helpful.”
• Laughter ensues as they imagine bizarre pose requests and social scenarios:
  [20:47] Mark Burnett (joking): “What if you sent a picture of your Jack Russell terrier humping somebody’s leg?”

Listeners Share Shocking & Strange Memorial Tales

• Callers recount stories of neighbors cremating cats in backyard chimineas or storing pet monkeys in their freezers for years.
• [23:07] Caller: “Neighborhood comes outside...she says ‘Oh, sorry about the smell, but the cat died and we put him in the chiminea.’”
• The cast is both horrified and amused:
  [23:15] Caller: “They do have a privacy fence, thank God.”

Testimonial Letter: The Freeze-Dried Pomeranian

• Jeff reads a letter from a pet owner who had their dog freeze-dried and shipped home.
  • [28:43] Jeff: “When we first opened it, it was very scary because he looked just like he was alive. My mom started to cry. My dad was silent.”

---

3. Interview: “Survivor” Race-Based Tribes Controversy (32:25–46:35)

Mark Burnett Discusses Survivor's Decision (and Fallout)

• Background: The new “Survivor” season on CBS divides tribes by race, stirring local and national controversy.
• [33:26] Mark Burnett: “We finally got to a point where we had four ethnic groups... And the worry really was if you put them on one big tribe or two tribes, certain groups may gang up against another... So let’s split them initially so they have to vote off within their own ethnic group.”
• Burnett’s thesis: While controversial, the move exposes realities about segregation and may foster honest conversations; he expects that as tribes merge, viewers will observe integration.

Listener Confrontation and Debates

• [38:23] Caller (Shawnell): “You are promoting segregation, and especially in the United States... we still have so many great strides to make. You’re using money as a way to continue with segregation and prejudice.”
• [39:03] Mark Burnett (reply): “Your opinion—that’s why people are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, so you can say whatever you want to say... Once you see it, I hope you’ll be just as vocal if it breaks down stereotypes and people are just people.”
• The hosts facilitate both sides. Some callers support the show’s premise, arguing it reflects and may confront real-life social boundaries.
• [41:58] Caller (Alicia): “People like to be around people like themselves. I think it’s a genius idea.”

Burnett’s Reflections on Ethnic Socialization

• [43:39] Mark Burnett: “Almost to a person, in casting people said, ‘Yeah, I work in a multi-ethnic company but spend almost 100% of my time with people of my own group.’ ...Race is an emotional and difficult subject in America.”
• [45:03] Burnett (to Elise): “What’s happened is over the last couple of weeks, people have thought about it more and are realizing...it’s unlikely that it’s going to be this kind of mean, slanderous, racial epithet show.”

Notable Moment: Cast Humor and Honesty

• [46:15] Elise: “I got beat up pretty badly. People actually turned me around on it... by the time we were done taking phone calls, people were like calling me a moron, like, that’s not what this is about.”
• [46:29] Jeff: “Regardless, everybody’s watching. Agree or disagree, you got them to watch.”

---

Notable Quotes

• Elise [14:27]: “Just walking throughout the house, expecting to see him or in my office... just expecting to see him there—he’s not there anymore... It’s just really, really odd, you know?”
• Phil [16:59]: “When I grew up, every time a pet would die, we’d bury them in our yard. Well, I don’t have a permanent yard… your pets are part of your family.”
• Mark Burnett [33:26]: “It was really following normal television…which is putting a few token minorities just to appease the NAACP…We finally got to a point where we had four ethnic groups…The worry really was if you put them on one big tribe…certain groups may gang up against another…So let’s split them initially.”
• Caller Shawnell [38:23]: “You have the audacity to sit there and say you’re trying to relieve [segregation] by continuing segregation? That’s disgusting.”
• Mark Burnett [39:03]: “I respect what you’re saying. I just hope once you’ve seen it and it plays out that you’ll be just as vocal saying, ‘Hey, I didn’t really get it, but wow, that really broke down stereotypes and people are just people.’”
• Jeff [46:29]: “Regardless, everybody’s watching. Agree or disagree, you got them to watch.”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|----------------| | “The Vent” Comedy Read & Banter | 01:33–12:45 | | Pet Loss Stories, Grieving & Preservation | 14:27–31:03 | | Survivor “Race Tribes” Interview (Mark Burnett)| 32:25–46:35 |

---

Tone & Style Notes

• Playful, irreverent, and self-aware: Much of the show’s humor comes from acknowledging when bits fall flat and from riffing on one another’s ideas.
• Inclusive and empathetic: Despite the laughs, Elise is open and emotional about her pet loss, and the cast is sensitive to listeners’ personal calls.
• Unflinching on controversy: The cast provides space for both critics and defenders of the “Survivor” race-based tribe concept, aiming for open dialogue and honesty.

---

In summary:
This Bert Show episode oscillates between comic disaster and thoughtful discussion. A failed comedic experiment with "The Vent" gives way to genuine, heartfelt talk about grief and unconventional ways to memorialize pets. The show pivots into a direct, at times tense, conversation about race and television with Mark Burnett, confronting uncomfortable realities while still aiming for understanding—and always with their trademark mix of honesty and wit.

Transcript

[Burt Weiss]

Unregalo de bus mobile Para ti, para mi. Laura.

[Paige Desorbo]

Si, Laura.

[Burt Weiss]

El plani limitado de bus mobile. Cuesta solo dies dolar es almes los primeros dos mes iloco paintas Gracias, Laura. De nada, Laura.

[Elise]

Ye galas fiestas y el mejor regalo esparati offerta valid and boost mobile. Punto com dies tonres almes los primeros dos mes bintico.

[Burt Weiss]

I don't know about you, but it feels like you can't go anywhere without hearing about GLP1 medications. I mean, it's like the topic right now, whether it's your group chat, if you're at brunch, or if you have that friend who lost a lot of weight and suddenly knows everything about GLP1s. But how do you know if GLP1s are actually right for you? That's the tricky part. Hers is making women's healthcare so much easier. They connect you with a real medical provider who helps you find the best plan for your goals and your budget. And if the medication's right for you, it's all part of a doctor developed program with check ins, ongoing care and 247 support. No weird hidden fees, no memberships, just help that actually fits into your life. Whether you want to lose weight or grow thicker fuller hair or find relief from anxiety, hers has you covered. Visit4hers.com Bert to get a personalized, affordable plan that just gets you. That's F-O-R-H-E-R-S.com Bert for hers.com Bert we lost by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness or quality by the fda. Prescription required. See website for full details, important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan purchased.

[Elise]

The Bird Show. All right, Jen. Hobby. For those that haven't ever actually read the vent in the ajc, what is it?

[Melissa]

It's basically this place where you can send in your commentary about Atlanta, the world around us, something that's bugging you, something you think is funny. And it's basically like giving you the opportunity to send in your one liners about what's going on in the world. And so everybody emails in or mails in their one liners to the vent. I think they also have a phone line or whatever. And then they print them up in the AJC every single. And I guess they pick the cream of the crop and print them in there. And so it's just, you know, just sort of a funny way to read Little opinions about what's going on in Atlanta from Atlantans.

[Elise]

I'm reading over some of the lines. I guess this is the. Is this the event from yesterday?

[Jeff]

This is yesterday's.

[Elise]

Yeah. And it does play out, like, you know, if you've ever gone to, like, the improv or stand up comedy act and there's somebody just really bad and you have to do that fault, you know, the false laughter thing.

[Melissa]

Right.

[Elise]

That's how the vent plays out to me every single day. And Jeff has highlighted. I'm just reading over the vent that he highlighted for me. And I don't know that there's any way to really pull this off at all.

[Jeff]

Well, I think it's all in the. It's like a sitcom. The sitcom doesn't have to be great as long as you have the proper laugh track.

[Elise]

Well, first you need the proper ambiance. So here we are.

[Phil]

All right.

[Jeff]

We're in a busy restaurant.

[Elise]

Yes. I'm doing stand up comedy at the Landmark Diner while you come check out the stars. There I am in the front doing my stand up comedy. So all of these are based out of the vent from yesterday. Okay.

[Melissa]

We need to pull back the ambiance.

[Elise]

The ambiance a little bit. Well, I haven't hit stage yet.

[Melissa]

Ambiance is a little loud.

[Jeff]

Oh, okay.

[Phil]

Well, everybody's still going through the buffet line.

[Jeff]

Yeah. You want an introduction?

[Melissa]

Yeah. Buddy Love needs to introduce me.

[Elise]

Sure.

[Jeff]

Well, it's not Buddy Love appropriate. We're not in a club. We're in a.

[Elise]

Well, there's usually a warm up guy.

[Phil]

Yeah. Introduce him like you. Like you were your dad.

[Jeff]

Yeah.

[Phil]

Your retired father.

[Jeff]

It's a comedy club, so everybody's just.

[Elise]

Hanging out right now. It's kind of loud. Sorta at the comedy club cafeteria.

[Jeff]

Hey, everybody. Thank you very much for coming out tonight. We appreciate you coming by. Don't forget, set your cell phones and pagers to vibrate. For those of you who still have pagers, make sure you turn those to vibrate. We got a great show for you tonight. I just want to remind you, take care of your waiters and waitresses. They're taking good care of you. We also have a two drink minimum, so if you haven't gotten that second one, order up. It's sure going to help this next guy be funn. Ladies and gentlemen, a very funny guy coming to the stage. Put your hands together for the first time in Atlanta at this particular TGI Fridays, It's Burt Weiss.

[Elise]

Thank you. Not really sure why they laughed right there.

[Jeff]

They said they were a little late on the DJI Friday show.

[Elise]

Really good to be at the Golden Corral here tonight with you guys. Today I bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the office, but then I remembered I work at home. Yum. Thanks. You know, the Pandas must have hired Seger's public relations guy. That's all I know. I don't even get that one.

[Jeff]

Hold on a minute.

[Phil]

I think we just evacuated the crowd at Picadillas.

[Jeff]

Apparently, me introducing Burt gets no quiet, but going hold on a minute shuts everyone up.

[Elise]

Well, you're very authoritative.

[Jeff]

I don't think I can let this go on.

[Elise]

Why?

[Phil]

Oh, it was great.

[Elise]

Oh, it's terrible.

[Melissa]

Wait, keep going.

[Elise]

Yeah. I haven't even got.

[Melissa]

But it's not Bert's lines. It's the vent lines.

[Elise]

Yeah, these are my lines.

[Jeff]

Yeah, but it's just.

[Phil]

It's Atlanta's fault for this.

[Jeff]

I'm just thinking that we were sitting in the meeting yesterday, and Bert looked at the calendar, and he goes, God, Wednesday is a gaping hole. We don't have a lot of material. And somehow this idea came up, and because it was a big gaping hole in the schedule.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

We said, let's try this. And I don't know if what we're doing right now is considered good radio.

[Elise]

What else you got?

[Jeff]

Nothing.

[Elise]

And the lines you highlighted for me also. Like, that one's not even funny. The pandemic. Okay, I got one here for you.

[Jeff]

All right, go ahead.

[Elise]

When I hear the big guy, I think a WKRP in Cincinnati, not a Georgia Governor wannabe people.

[Jeff]

Oh, you're part of this whole thing.

[Melissa]

Is the laugh track.

[Jeff]

You're right. That one's better.

[Elise]

What's the difference between the use of the word now and the phrase at this point in time can't work?

[Phil]

I'm about to take my tray up and scrape my food into the bin.

[Elise]

NBC anchor Brian Williams could make the Ice Cream man is Coming sound ominous.

[Melissa]

These people have way too much time on their hands to send these comments in.

[Elise]

Maybe our vent bet was way better than that.

[Phil]

Yeah, because we had done Event Bet before, where we talked about the entries into the vet event, and we decided to make our own entries. And whoever's got in last lost the whole thing.

[Melissa]

Who got in first?

[Phil]

We've done it a couple times.

[Jeff]

A couple of times. It's not who gets in first. It's who gets in last because every event will get published. So I remember once I lost like mine never made it in. And then like, the next one I got in, like, four hours after I submitted it.

[Elise]

Yeah. And there's always. But we have so many bets going on the air right now that there's no way to add another one. All right, so that's a failed bit right there.

[Jeff]

Well, how about this?

[Elise]

That's why we need to work a little bit harder in the post show meeting, people. This is the reason right here.

[Jeff]

How about let's. Let's try this angle of the really bad vent bit. Or should we just end it?

[Elise]

If you're reading this time, then we'll continue it.

[Jeff]

Well, what I was going to say is, why don't I give you.

[Mark Burnett]

The.

[Jeff]

First half of the vent and you guys all take a guess and see if anybody can guess what the second half is.

[Elise]

Okay.

[Melissa]

All right. They're so random. I don't know.

[Jeff]

Well, that's. You got to let yourself go. You have to get creative. Like the vent submitters.

[Elise]

Be the vent out of the box.

[Jeff]

They're creatively free.

[Phil]

Be the vent.

[Jeff]

They are the Hemingway's of our time.

[Melissa]

Right. Okay, got it. No, no, no.

[Jeff]

Thanks, Melissa, you can go first because you're a thespian. It's amazing how those tiny panda cubs grow into such huge bears. Maybe she needs the rest right down the.

[Elise]

Say it again.

[Phil]

Because I can't imagine what the person would have said at the end. Go ahead.

[Jeff]

It's amazing how those. And it's. This is a comical line. This one's funny.

[Phil]

Oh, vent funny, you mean.

[Jeff]

Yeah, or Bircho funny Today. It's amazing how those tiny panda cubs grow into such huge bears and I.

[Phil]

Can'T even get through 400 traffic.

[Jeff]

Jen, your guess?

[Melissa]

I have no idea.

[Jeff]

What is it, steroids?

[Elise]

Let me try this one on you. Why all the excitement about the panda baby? It's just one more child ignored by his father and the government.

[Phil]

Can I get my pecan pie over here?

[Jeff]

Waitress, more coffee.

[Elise]

Thank you.

[Jeff]

More coffee. We are at an elderly person's diner.

[Elise]

Thank God. Can I get a.

[Jeff]

Can you top off my Sanko?

[Caller]

Hi.

[Elise]

Good morning.

[Caller]

How are y'?

[Elise]

All? Hold on, let me turn off the ambiance. All right?

[Caller]

That's funny.

[Elise]

Oh, no, it's not.

[Jeff]

What part of this is funny?

[Caller]

No, no, not the lines. Just the way y' all are making fun of it. That's hilarious.

[Phil]

Okay, well, you want her to guess the next vent thing, Jack? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

No, no, I liked it better when Burt was doing it.

[Elise]

No, hold on a second.

[Phil]

Hold on a second.

[Elise]

Yeah. You think this is funny? We're gonna make you pay for that opinion.

[Jeff]

All right, what's your.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

All right, Callie, finish this vent. Everybody ends up where they're supposed to be.

[Caller]

Oh, God. It's called fate.

[Jeff]

No, Bert. Everyone ends up where they're supposed to be.

[Elise]

Then how come I end up nowhere?

[Jeff]

Melissa? Everyone ends up where they're supposed to.

[Phil]

Be in 400 traffic.

[Jeff]

Except for the panda cubs. Chen. Abby. Everyone ends up where they're supposed to.

[Melissa]

Be, including the big guy.

[Jeff]

The correct answer. Get a laugh track. Ready, Bert?

[Elise]

Yeah, I'm ready. This is the big ending right here, baby. Go.

[Jeff]

All right. Everybody ends up where they're supposed to be. Except for those who don't.

[Elise]

That's one I'm gonna have to sit on today. Thank you, Callie.

[Caller]

Thank you. Have a good day.

[Elise]

You too. Appreciate it. Maybe it was my delivery. Maybe it wasn't the actual line.

[Melissa]

No, it's the lines.

[Elise]

No, I think it's my delivery. In fact, I'm gonna prove it to you, Melissa.

[Phil]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

Melissa. I will not go down alone. That's a burnt.

[Elise]

Just said the starred one is your line.

[Jeff]

Okay, Ambiance.

[Elise]

All right, hold on. Oh, yeah. It only works with the ambiance. It only doesn't work with the ambiance.

[Jeff]

All right, we're at the food court of Lenox Square. Melissa's standing at a table.

[Phil]

All right, thanks so much, guys. And remember to tip your. I don't know, the guys throwing the Frisbees over there in the aisle way. All right, listen, I got one last one for you. Now, if you and your son are borderline functional in New York and considered smart here in Georgia, you should go to Alabama, because there you could be brain surgeons.

[Jeff]

Hey, I thought this food court had a Wendy's.

[Elise]

Yeah, yeah. You people need to know that sometimes it's just really, really hard to put in quality entertainment every minute of this show.

[Melissa]

Well, it was funny yesterday in the post show.

[Elise]

Good on paper, it was funny.

[Melissa]

We were having a good trouble.

[Elise]

Amy, Good morning. You're on the bird show, huh?

[Caller]

Hey, I just wanted to say that, like, you know, when you're on 400 or something, there's bad car accident, but you like you can't looking at it. That's kind of what I'm feeling right now. But don't worry, my radio stay right on Q100.

[Jeff]

You're just driving past the bird show right now, hoping you see an arm on the road.

[Caller]

Yeah, I'm looking out there for you.

[Elise]

We are really, really, really testing your loyalty, aren't we?

[Jeff]

You really are.

[Caller]

But you know what? You got me. So keep on doing good radio.

[Elise]

Well, I think we're past that. Stop doing it.

[Jeff]

I think what you meant to say was, start doing good radio.

[Elise]

The Bird show.

[Jeff]

Did you see the game last night?

[Elise]

Of course you did.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

Because you used Instacart to do your grocery restock. Plus you got snacks for the game, all without missing a single play. And that's on multitasking. So we're not saying that Instacart is a hack for game day, but it might be the ultimate play this football season.

[Elise]

Enjoy.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

$0 delivery fees on your first three orders. Service fees apply for three orders in 14 days. Excludes restaurants. Instacart.

[Elise]

We're here.

[Burt Weiss]

A PSA from Instacart. It's Sunday, 5pm you had a non stop weekend. You're running on empty. And so is your fridge. You're in the trenches of the Sunday scaries. You don't have it in you to go to the store, but this is your reminder. You don't have to. You can get everything you need delivered through Instacart so that you can get what you really need. More time to do whatever you want. Instacart for one less Sunday. Scary. We're here.

[Paige Desorbo]

So good, so good, so good.

[Burt Weiss]

Score. Holiday gifts. Everyone wants for way less at your Nordstrom rack store. Save on Ugg, Nike, Rag and Bone, Vince Frame, Kurt Geiger, London and more.

[Jeff]

Because there's always something new.

[Elise]

I'm giving all the gifts this year with that extra 5% off when I use my Nordstrom credit card.

[Burt Weiss]

Santa who join the Nordy Club at Nordstrom Rack to unlock our best deals. It's easy. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you rack.

[Elise]

Just weird around the house the last couple of days. Like when you lose a pet like we did. I mean, he's been in our family now for eight years. And the. I didn't realize it, but I guess you just train yourself in certain situations. Like, my first thought in the morning now is, I wonder if Kahuna's gone out. Which. Which I guess it's always been, but I didn't realize it because I have to catch myself going, you know what? Kahuna's not around anymore, right? Because last week we. They found a tumor on our dog's liver and we had to put him down last week it was awful, awful, awful week. And just walking throughout the house, expecting to see him or in my office, because he's always in my office, like at my feet, just expecting to See him there, he's not there anymore, you know, or like, the thoughts of I gotta feed Kahuna, it's five o', clock, are still there, but there's no Kahuna. Or I walk back in the laundry room and that's where his bowls have been for the last eight years. And then the room just doesn't look right. It's just really, really odd, you know? So it's been a struggle the last couple of days, but I did get some emails over the last couple of days that threw me back. Because you do have to make a decision when you put your dog down like that. Once the dog is gone, at least in our case. I'm not sure how it works in other veterinarian offices. They see you all tore up and they just want to get you out of the office and go start the grieving process. So I'm assuming that Stacy made all of the plans with the vet of what we were going to do with Kahuna before we got in there. Because our vet, like, I don't even remember. Maybe he did. It's just such a fog that day that I don't even remember. But, you know, after he got injected and it was all over, we're both balling and the vet's just like, why don't you go out through the side door so nobody. You don't have to see anybody. You just leave. But we made the decision, or Stacy made the decision that we're gonna have his. Him cremated. So we'll have his ashes somewhere in the house. I'm totally on board on all that. I don't know where we're gonna put him or whatever. I think you did that with your dog too, right, Phil? Phil still has the ashes of his basset hound. Have you done that?

[Melissa]

Yeah.

[Elise]

You have?

[Phil]

Yeah. I was the one saying.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Phil]

I made the joke about how my animals ashes are in the closet.

[Melissa]

And it's.

[Elise]

That's right.

[Phil]

You know, there's a certain amount of time that you don't tell new people in your life. Like, I forgot how long it took.

[Elise]

For me to tell Katie.

[Phil]

Oh, yeah, and by the way, those urns you see there, those mole pads, Right?

[Elise]

That's an icebreaker. That is a definite icebreaker.

[Melissa]

It's a defining moment in your relationship.

[Elise]

Really? For sure. There are others that.

[Jeff]

How many do you have?

[Phil]

Three.

[Elise]

Three.

[Phil]

Well, it's one of those things where when you move so much and you're not in a permanent location, like, you know, your animals are sacred to you. I mean, for A lot of people, your pets are part of your family. And like, if you are not living, like when I grew up, every time a pet would die, then we would bury them in our yard. Well, I don't have a yard. A permanent yard I'm gonna live in for 20 years. So once I'm in an established place, that's where I plan.

[Jeff]

Well, that's a Tennessee thing. Grandpa dies, you bury them in the yard.

[Elise]

There's no room back there.

[Phil]

You prop them up in the rocking chair on the front porch.

[Elise]

Okay, well, there is a way to do that, actually.

[Phil]

Oh, God.

[Elise]

And I got a couple of emails from birth show listeners that have done this themselves. And Jeff, I think your computer is faster than mine. Will you go to pet preservations.com I will read directly from the website. The loss of a loved family pet can be one of the most tragic times in your life, and I can certainly attest to that. The decision you must take following his loss can be both difficult and confusing. For some people, burial is not an option. You may be limited by local regulations and may not have a pet cemetery in your area. You may live in an apartment or community. Don't go to the pictures page yet. Did you guys already go to the pictures page? Don't go to the pictures page.

[Jeff]

Pictures on the front page and that cat won't stop staring at me.

[Elise]

Don't go to the pictures page yet.

[Jeff]

The more I move around, the more she looks at me. I can't get her to stop looking at me.

[Elise]

Still off the website. Perhaps you know that you might someday move from your home and can't bear the thought of leaving your pet behind. Maybe you feel that burial is just not the right choice for you. Some people simply do not believe in the process of cremation. There is an alternative, says pet preservations.com Pet preservation, also known as freeze drying, is the comforting alternative to your pet's burial or cremation.

[Jeff]

So you turn your dog into like dippin dots.

[Elise]

To what?

[Jeff]

Those dippin dot things that freeze dried ice cream.

[Elise]

I've never had them, so I don't know what that is.

[Jeff]

Yep, freeze dried.

[Elise]

But basically it's the whole Weekend at Bernie's thing you're talking about. Says, take time to consider all of your options because only you can decide what is best for you and your pet. And then they have a frequently asked questions page. What is freeze drying? Freeze drying is a method of preservation that removes liquid from a frozen object by vacuum. While remaining frozen, the object is able to retain its shape. The Freeze drying continues until all the moisture is evaporated. Then it asks, why would I choose freeze drying over traditional taxidermy? Taxidermy cannot meet the needs of pet preservation. But essentially, they're saying it's the same thing. So, you know, like when you walk into somebody's house and they have the head of the deer that they killed, what they're saying is you can do the exact same thing with any pet. A cat, a dog, a fish, a bird, anything. So when you walk into your house. So when you walk into your house, in my case, there's my English bulldog in any position that I choose to have him freeze in. That's where he would be every single day.

[Phil]

I'm just trying to imagine, like I said earlier, how long it took me to tell Katie that I had urns in the closet of pets. What if she walked into my house?

[Melissa]

Oh, what a cute little dog.

[Phil]

Well, actually, it was my dog, but I mean. Yeah, no.

[Jeff]

So technically, you could. If you had this done, you could just set kahuna on a skateboard and still walk them.

[Elise]

You could do that. You could do anything you wanted. One of the frequently asked questions is, what position will you put my pet in? And the answer is, we request that you send a photo of your pet when you send them to us, you may also include any description that you think may be helpful to ensure the things are done exactly as you wish. All photos will be returned.

[Jeff]

What would happen if you sent a picture of, like, you know, the funny picture of your Jack Russell terrier humping somebody's leg?

[Mark Burnett]

And that's.

[Melissa]

That's exactly what you would do.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Jeff]

And then when people come over, you just take the dog out and set it on their leg. Dude, what are you doing?

[Elise]

I tried to get both Birch show listeners that emailed me about this website that have done it themselves to come on with us, and they wouldn't. Come on.

[Jeff]

We just clicked photos by the.

[Elise]

Oh, no, look at the photo.

[Phil]

Because now there is cloning. You can clone your animal. There's services in which if you don't want to let it go. But of course, it would be a different dog, even though it looked the same, but. And now this. I just feel like it's. There's, you know, death is a part of life, and your pet dies. And you know that going in. They don't live as long as a human. You just gotta let it go.

[Elise]

Look at that.

[Phil]

Would you do that with a human?

[Jeff]

Melissa, come over here.

[Melissa]

Okay. Get it with the bird.

[Elise]

No way.

[Melissa]

I think that the bird wouldn't be that bad. Oh, it's dead.

[Elise]

Yes. All those animals are. Look at that.

[Phil]

Which one looks like it had the same. Where when it dies.

[Elise]

Which ones are you guys looking at? Which pictures?

[Jeff]

I don't know.

[Phil]

It looks like it's asleep and it's. Yeah.

[Jeff]

I don't understand if this is a.

[Melissa]

Guinea pig on the rug, like, standing at attention.

[Jeff]

Who stuff's a guinea pig? Like, just go buy a new one. I think I like if one is. Like, if I had hamsters that died, I'm. I'm convinced my parents would just go to the pet store and swap them out.

[Elise]

And I.

[Phil]

The thing that bothers me is that if parents who will. Melissa, look at this one saying, this is for my child because the child is upset. You're going to. That child's gonna be on a psychiatrist couch in the future.

[Jeff]

I like to call them and say, I've got a betta fish that I really like.

[Elise]

There's one picture of a dog that's laying outside. And I guess you just walk outside and there it is on your deck.

[Melissa]

Yeah, that's a dead dog. Oh, my God, that is weird.

[Elise]

Hey, Michelle.

[Jeff]

And like, like, if they're gonna. They take the picture of this dog, why can't they just put him all the way on the doggy bed? Like he's half fallen off. Like.

[Melissa]

Like he's dead.

[Elise]

Like, he just said, my dead dog looks dead. Hey, Michelle. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Jeff]

I want my money back.

[Caller]

Good morning. It's one thing to, you know, freeze dry or stuff your pet. It's another thing to take cremation into your own hands. One of my neighbors decided to put Kitty in the chiminea one afternoon. Neighborhood comes outside and, you know, she comes outside. Oh, I'm sorry about the smell, but the cat died. And while we put them in the chiminea, so that way we could, you know, go ahead and cremate him.

[Elise]

Are you freaking kidding me?

[Caller]

They have two kids.

[Phil]

I mean, there are.

[Elise]

And they have two kids and they now. Did they all, like, I don't know, kind of like huddle around it and they all had like a ceremony.

[Caller]

They do have a privacy fence, thank God.

[Elise]

Oh, my God.

[Caller]

We didn't know to witness the cremation, but, you know.

[Elise]

Terrible.

[Caller]

God, Kitty's in a better place.

[Elise]

I don't know if that's. Well, with that family, you're probably absolutely right. Oh, hey, Angie. Good Morning. You're on Q100. Hey.

[Caller]

Hey. A girl that I used to work with her mom. Had one of those little pet monkeys like Ross used to have that sat on your shoulder, that little. Whatever the monkey is. And they've had it for 15 years in the outside freezer waiting to do what you're talking about. I don't know what they're waiting on. I don't know why they're gonna do it, but they have the monkey still in the freezer.

[Elise]

That's act. That's absolutely accurate. Because if you go to this website, they say if you're considering this, the first thing that you need to do is put your animal on ice before you ship it out to Colorado. And you can check this out. It suggests that you Fed exit after it's been on ice. You get together with FedEx and you send it out to Colorado. You gotta call FedEx up and go, I got a dead end. I got a dead dog. My dog Kahuna. And I need to get it out to Colorado and FedEx, I guess, will do it for you.

[Jeff]

Now let me ask you a question, and I won't use Kahuna as the example, but pretend we all have animals.

[Elise]

Okay?

[Phil]

Didn't do that to Toby.

[Jeff]

Okay, so let's say that something, you know, tragic happened to one of our animals and we have to put our animal in the freezer. Like, do you have to get rid of all the food that's in the freezer at the time? Or are you.

[Phil]

I think it's one of those freezers you put in the. In the garage. Like one of those where you hang all your food.

[Melissa]

That's awful.

[Jeff]

That's what I'm saying. Like, does it go outside? Like in the.

[Elise]

I'd imagine you keep it in the garage somewhere.

[Melissa]

One box of baking soda is not gonna do it for keeping those.

[Jeff]

But like, like, like what if, like.

[Melissa]

What if you not gonna do it?

[Jeff]

Are cooking dinner and when you reach into the freezer, you've gotta move your cocker spam to the side to get to the pork chops you're gonna throw.

[Phil]

Now imagine again the scenario Katie comes over to my place for our first dinner and she goes in the freezer and there's my dog. Uh, that relationship's not gonna last.

[Melissa]

Bye.

[Burt Weiss]

Bye.

[Jeff]

Or what happens if you put the dog in the freezer to save up the money to get this preservation done and you just can't earn the money and you just become used to it. And so every time you go to get.

[Melissa]

Or wait, you gotta get it out of there before your power goes out and it starts Thawing.

[Elise]

Oh my God. There it is in the freezer right next to all like the chunky monkey ice cream. You gotta go right around the dog.

[Phil]

Oh, just let it go, let it go.

[Elise]

Hey, Amanda, good morning. You're on the Q100.

[Caller]

Hey, good morning, guys. The guy who actually does this was on one of those evening news shows one time, I think it was Dateline or something. And he makes so much money doing this. And the people who come to pick up their animals, a lot of times he'll put them in this glass cage and they'll take the animal home in this glass cage and literally like sit it on their dresser.

[Elise]

Yeah. The one thing you can always count on is you will make money off of people that have kids and people that have animals. So I'm sure this guy is rolling.

[Jeff]

What if you've got the animal in your freezer, right? And you. And you try to do the right thing so you take all the food out. You're like, I can't have this. I can't have, you know, my big dog.

[Phil]

I could put Toby in the freezer.

[Jeff]

I can't have Fluffy in there with, you know, my ground turkey that I'm saving for, you know, whatever. So I take all the food out, but then I'm barbecuing and I burn myself. Do I actually you put the cat on my burn.

[Melissa]

Fluffy simmers you down, right?

[Elise]

Hey, Vicky, good morning. You're on. Kidding me?

[Jeff]

I don't have an ice pack, but I've got a chihuahua.

[Caller]

This lady that used to work with my dad when her dog died, I guess they put it in one of those bags that you can suck the air out with a vacuum.

[Phil]

Yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

And they stuffed it in a cooler and buried it in the backyard. That way every time they move, they can dig up the cooler and take.

[Mark Burnett]

The dog with them.

[Phil]

Oh my God.

[Elise]

A vacuum sealed bag in a cooler. Yep.

[Caller]

And they bury it. And every time they move, they dig up the cooler and bring the dog with them wherever they go.

[Jeff]

Hey, I found some more pictures.

[Melissa]

Oh, no.

[Phil]

Even before this freeze dried thing, I remember as a kid, my parents much older than me and Roy Rogers apparently had a horse. You know, he was famous for whatever. He had his horse stuffed.

[Elise]

Yeah.

[Phil]

And then this is before the freeze dried thing. So I don't know how they did it, but like his pet horse is still.

[Jeff]

He had it stuffed. He had a taxidermist exidermied. You may go see, it's in a museum somewhere.

[Elise]

They'll only do it now for up to pets that are 150 pounds, I guess. But I mean, imagine calling up FedEx going, hey, I've got a dog here.

[Phil]

Got 150 pounds of big dog.

[Elise]

140 pound dog that you can FedEx on out to this guy if it's on ice.

[Jeff]

So technically, you could have Nicole Richie freeze dried or something after that.

[Elise]

Oh, yeah, twice over.

[Jeff]

As long as you get her into the freezer quick enough. Okay. May I read from the. From a letter.

[Elise]

Oh, no.

[Mark Burnett]

Oh, God.

[Phil]

This is a pet owner that's written into the company.

[Elise]

This is like a testimonial.

[Jeff]

Yep.

[Phil]

Oh, God. Wait, wait. Yeah, bring the music down because this way, you know, because this is heartfelt.

[Jeff]

Can I have some ambiance?

[Elise]

Yeah, I can find the sad music for you. Hold on. Okay.

[Melissa]

Can you do it, like, stand up?

[Elise]

There we go.

[Jeff]

I'll tell you, I'm not gonna read the whole thing, but I'll tell you. This is a story of a Pomeranian. He was very, very cute. All black and fluffy, with the biggest dark brown eyes. Everyone wanted to pet him, but he wouldn't let anybody touch him. Except for my mom and dad. Tiny as he was, he was the boss. We had a Chow Chow and two other big dogs, and they always obeyed him. But he had a lot of health problems, and on March 3rd, he passed away. My parents were devastated. So I put the Pomeranian in the freezer and sent him overnight to Colorado. Four weeks later, I received him back. I called my parents and let them know that the box had arrived. They came over, picked up their little doggie. When we first opened it, it was very scary because he looked just like he was alive. My mom started to cry. My dad was silent.

[Phil]

They were glass.

[Elise]

They were blinded with fear.

[Jeff]

They picked up their doggy and took him home. I promised my parents I would find them somebody who would do this for them. And they disowned me. For some reason, the guy's name is deleted. I felt that he really, really did care. So much so that they were ready to turn their baby over to him. And now they have Perseus back. Thank you very much. Pet Preservations.

[Phil]

Perseus. The Pomeranian is theirs forever. That is so sick.

[Elise]

What is it? Pet Preservations.

[Jeff]

Yeah.

[Elise]

And we will not be linking up from all the hits. The Bird Show. Hi, this is Jonathan Fields from the Good Life Project. And today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile. The holidays can feel like a blur. With lists and plans and trying to make everyone happy. Simplicity can be its own kind of gift. Boost Mobile helps You keep things Easy with the $25 Unlimited plan that gives you unlimited talk, text and data for just $25 a month. No contracts, no trade ins, just the freedom to keep the phone you love and focus on what really matters. Because peace of mind is something we could all use a little more of. Visit boostmobile.com to start saving today. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Paige Desorbo]

Hi, it's Paige Desorbo from Giggly Squad. You ever stand in front of your closet and just say I have nothing to wear while you're literally surround clothes because same so I started listing pieces I'm over on Depop and honestly it's been amazing. You can sell what you're done with and someone out there will love it. And the best part about it is there's no seller fee, so the money you make actually stays in your pocket, which feels very chic. It's also insanely easy. I listed something while watching TV and it sold before the episode even ended. So download the Depop app and list your first item today because your old outfit could be someone else's new favorite. Depop where taste recognizes taste Payment processing fees boosting fees still apply. For more info, visit depop.com introducing Family.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

Freedom from T Mobile we'll pay off four phones up to 3, 200 and give you four free phones, all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com familyfreedom up to 800 per line via virtual prepaid card. Typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement example Apple iPhone 16128 gigs $829.99 eligible trade in example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel Contact us.

[Elise]

It was just a couple of weeks ago you guys were calling us outraged. I mean outraged when CBS made this announce. In just a couple of weeks, the new season of Survivor takes 20 castaways to the Cook Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They'll be split into four tribes. How they will do that is guaranteed to be a talking point. For 12 seasons, the show has stranded.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

Americans in exotic locales and split contestants into opposing tribes.

[Elise]

Jan your tribe Chewigong they have been separated by sex. We have a tribe of women versus a tribe of men. And by age, everybody following the lead of the younger women and at times by a bit of schoolyard diplomacy as contestants chose sides on their own. Ashley. For season 13 of Survivor, producers have yet another controversial way to begin the game. 20 people, four tribes, each divided by race.

[Mark Burnett]

I thought it was very gutsy. I think it's going to be very interesting.

[Elise]

All right, so that announcement was made and we played that for you. And not 10 seconds later, all you guys called up and said, what? This is crazy.

[Melissa]

Irresponsible.

[Elise]

Irresponsible. Now, of course, today the phone calls we're getting because you guys know Mark Burnett's going to be on with us, are all saying, great idea, fantastic.

[Jeff]

You guys are God. That guy is brilliant.

[Elise]

Mark Burnett, the producer, executive producer of Survivor, joins us right now. Good morning, Mark.

[Mark Burnett]

Good morning, guys.

[Elise]

How are you today?

[Mark Burnett]

Great, thank you, man.

[Elise]

I tell you, I'm serious when I say that when we made that announcement, initially people were just outraged. And I'm just curious, like, what was the reaction that you were getting from friends and family and people that actually have contact with you? Did they feel this was responsible?

[Mark Burnett]

He's responsible. Actually, people felt that people who knew me and knew the show realized it would probably work out okay. The most vocal people were people who actually, you know, I didn't know, had never seen obviously this season and never seen any season or any episode and didn't realize that actually it was pretty smart to divide them in ethnic groups, their tribes. That meant that you have to vote out your own kind rather than be integrated initially and the danger of ganging up ethnically. Remember, we've never had this many ethnic groups before. It was really following normal television, which I don't agree with, which is putting a few token minorities just to appease the NAACP in some kind of way. And I don't agree with that. We finally got to a point where we had four ethnic groups. It's not all the ethnic groups there are, but the four largest ones and five of each to get a real group. And the worry really was if you put them on one big tribe or two tribes, certain groups may gang up against another just in order to play the game. So let's split them initially so they have to vote off within their own ethnic group. When things settle down, we're integrated. And I felt certain that most people are not bigoted, really. You know, I mean, there's things get said, especially in this country, but in general, most people have a good heart, especially if you get to know other people. It's much harder once you get to know someone to make any sort of judgment based upon whether they're rich or they're poor. A man or a woman, or worse yet, by their race. And we're not idiots. You know, it's a good show. And the most vocal critics admittedly said they'd never seen that. The NAACP yesterday said, hey, we don't necessarily think it's a good idea, but we're not going to make a judgment to have seen it. That's a really intelligent approach.

[Melissa]

Now, there's a little bit of controversy around the naacp, Mark, and that's that the president, Bruce Gordon, is a longtime member of the CBS board of directors. Do you think maybe that's why he's resurfing? Comment?

[Mark Burnett]

No, I think that what they said I read a number of times yesterday to make sure I was clear was that this is kind of a frivolous thing to complain about. There's much more serious issues. Why are there not more African American producers, actors on shows? So on the one level, we will have put on Survivor as of tonight, the most diverse cast ethnically you've ever seen on tv. And one good thing about this, we can't go back. I'm really glad we'll carry on. Put in ethnic groups pretty equally represented, and it may change television that way. And the other thing is, you know, if you remove the modern world and all the judgments of how much money have you got, what car do you drive, what suit do you wear, and things like that, people's judgments on survival are about can you catch fish, can you make a shelter, can you make a fire? And by the way, to get the million dollars, I need to get all kind of people to vote for me. Me, it's like being a politician. You're nice to everybody. So with that in mind, I know the game so well now. Not saying I wasn't nervous. Once it starts, I can't change it. I'm not allowed to go in and talk to them, change what they say. So, yeah, I had stomach aches over it. But I just felt that, you know what, it will get attention for it and it really will go a long way to making people want to meet other people before they make a judgment.

[Elise]

Hey, Mark, let me put you on with Sean Nell. She's a Burt show listener that I think pretty much speaks for a lot, much like a lot of the calls that we took when we first announced this. And I would like you to hear the communication between you and she because she is really kind of a voice.

[Mark Burnett]

Of a lot of angry people on versus the people who called earlier.

[Elise]

Yeah, but that's what I do, and that's what you do.

[Mark Burnett]

But.

[Elise]

Okay, but I've got. I've got calls to put on with you also that are actually for the idea also. Go ahead, Shawnel.

[Caller]

Hi. Good morning, guys. I listen to you every morning. I love you. And I have to say I think it's just irresponsible. And you're using money as a way to continue with segregation and prejudice, and it just shows that people are willing to put aside their moral values for money. And it's wrong. It's so wrong. You are promoting segregation, and especially in the United States, where we. Especially in the south, where we've got such a history of trying to overcome that, and we still have so many great strides to make. You have the audacity to sit there and say you're trying to relieve it by continuing segregation? That's disgusting.

[Mark Burnett]

Well, it's hard to. Your opinion. That's why people dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, so that you can say whatever you want to say. And I respect what you're saying. I just hope once you've seen it and it plays out that you'll be just as vocal saying, hey, I didn't really get it, but, wow, that really broke down stereotypes and people are just people.

[Elise]

You don't think in any way, Mark, that this promotes segregation?

[Mark Burnett]

No.

[Caller]

How can you say that? It's not promoting segregation when you segregate these people right off the bat. You're not allowing them to get to know each other in December who they want. I mean, the game is all about mind playing, and you're putting on a different Persona anyway because eventually you want everyone to vote for you to come up with the prize money. It's all a mind game to begin with, but you're starting it right off the bat. You're not promoting anyone to get to know anyone. And no one on that show is giving 100% of themselves their true form selves. No one is. It's whoever plays the game the best. But you're promoting segregation. Our children are watching and they're thinking, okay, all the strides Martin Luther King did, Rosa park, everything else meant absolutely nothing because we have a show where millions of people are watching and they're going to think it's okay to put black against white, Latina against Asian and everything else. There's enough prejudice with all these racial groups that we have to deal with on a daily basis without having to be promoted on a game show where you're. The whole reason why people are tolerating it is because there's a large amount of money at Stake.

[Mark Burnett]

Well, actually, if you read a number of things that have been written, which I've read almost everything on this now about this year's Survivor, a number of really smart African American journalists have looked at it a different way and said, you know, most this exists, there are still segregations within America, but people just don't want to talk about it. People want to. To avoid it. And so some really smart African American journalists said, you know what this is going to do? They're going to bring up the subject and cause debate about it. And I happen to know by putting people on an island away from the modern world, very unlikely to be against each other.

[Elise]

Mark, in the interest of fairness, I do want to, and I want to be honest with you when I say that most of the calls coming in this morning, for whatever reason this morning are like 80% for. Sounds like a great idea. I don't. I don't. I can't understand what the big deal is. And, like, 20% are feeling like Chanel, whereas before it was the opposite. So. Good morning, Alicia.

[Caller]

Hi. Yes, I listen to y' all every morning, and I remember when y' all were talking about how, like, the nightlife is kind of segregated by choice, you know, So I think it's a really good idea because when, like, at my job, people hang out together and everybody's cool, but when it comes out to everybody going out and having a good time, I mean, we have our own group of people and they have their own group of people, and it's usually segregated, but we've all worked together well. That's why I think this is going.

[Mark Burnett]

To be a really good experiment because.

[Caller]

People like to be around people like themselves. So I think it's a genius idea.

[Elise]

Let me ask you this, because we know you're on very, very, very tight time and you're doing a whole bunch of these today. We can debate this back and forth forever. And I thought that there would be an equal amount of calls, but there's not today. So let's move away from that for just one second and just get a little insight on this. There is one contestant on the show that is from Atlanta, went to Spraberry High School, and her last name is Shadow. Yes, Shadow.

[Paige Desorbo]

Shallow.

[Jeff]

Shallow.

[Elise]

Shallow. Mark, you still there?

[Mark Burnett]

Yeah, I'm here. I'm listening to you.

[Elise]

I'm just curious if you can give us any insight on her at all.

[Mark Burnett]

H O T.

[Elise]

We've seen that she a good competitor, you know?

[Mark Burnett]

You know, you put him in. I can't talk about how people Play the game. But yeah, I can make you laugh about something though. So I was on a vacation and I had like hundreds and hundreds of DVDs of people that applied and my 13 year old son was there with a bunch of his friends. We brought him on this trip and we're looking at that. And all these 13 year old boys were like, oh my God, put her on the show. Oh my God. Or these 13 year old pubescent boys. And you know, I didn't think that much more about it. And it ended up she's on the show so it had nothing to do with them. But when my son found out she was on the show, he's like, dad, see, we told you. We told you. And he's on the phone to his friends. You see that chick we said was hot? She's on the show.

[Phil]

That's great.

[Elise]

We will look for her on Survivor tonight. Any last comments you want to make for anybody that has concerns about tonight?

[Mark Burnett]

The last caller, you know, said something which I totally appreciate. And by the way, I understand race is a very emotional and difficult subject in America. Not other countries, by the way, but there's a different history here, especially in the South. But what the caller said is so true. And I learned that in casting, almost to a person, in casting people said, yeah, I work in a multi ethnic company but I spent all my time almost 100% with people of my own ethnic group. And then you say things like, when was the last time to a white person, when was the last time a black person slept the night in your house? And they're like, never. He said to a black person, when was the last time you had a white house guest overnight in your house? Never. And then I spoke to people who were in Iraq and said, okay, you're there and you go across racial lines, dude, when we're on the streets of Baghdad, we are watching each other's back no matter what color you are. But then when you get to the mess hall, there's a table of Hispanics eating. White people eating. We all love each other because we got each other's back. But I don't know, it's just how we hang out. It's interesting. That caller is so right.

[Elise]

Well, we'll check it all out tonight. I mean, everybody's been talking about it for weeks now. Survivor. Is it 9 o' clock on CBS or is it 8 o'? Clock?

[Melissa]

8 o' clock today?

[Mark Burnett]

8 o'.

[Burt Weiss]

Clock.

[Mark Burnett]

By the way, I want to say to you, thanks, Elise, thanks for being. I know you Would have liked to have a lot more callers just for ratings. But thanks for being honest and admitting that and the fact that you are totally honest. What's happened is over the last couple of weeks, people have thought about it more and are realizing it's unlikely because I'm not an idiot. It's unlikely that it's going to be this kind of mean, slanderous racial epithet show. It's not. Kids can watch it and learn and, you know, it all works out fine.

[Elise]

I hope you're right because my initial thought when this was announced I think was very naive. I got beat up pretty badly. People actually turned me around on it because I thought how great this is going to be that we get to peek inside of each other's cultures when we really don't have a lot of experience there. And I really thought it could be an educational tool. But by the time we were done taking phone calls, people were like calling me a moron. Like, that's the not what this is about.

[Mark Burnett]

The pendulum has swung back, you know, to where you started. And the fact is, one of the things I said, it's people actually criticizing people within their own ethnic groups that really come on interesting on the show. It really is interesting. You know, people are sort of mad at certain things that are said by people within their own groups.

[Elise]

Well, it's going to be interesting to watch tonight, and I'm sure as soon as you're off the phone, the other calls will come in. But I got to tell you, I can't find anybody else to call up and say, I don't think the show is a good idea today. So. So maybe you're right. Maybe it's totally swung. Well, I'll give it a fair chance tonight on cbs.

[Jeff]

But regardless, everybody's watching. Agree or disagree, you got them to watch.

[Mark Burnett]

Hey, guys, thanks for being honest.

[Elise]

All right, Mark Burnett, thank you very much. Bye bye. Hey, the Bird Show.

[Instacart/T-Mobile Announcer]

Introducing family freedom from T Mobile. We'll pay off four phones up to $3200 and give you four free phones all on America's largest 5G network. Visit t mobile.com familyfreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card. Typically takes 15 days. Free phone via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement. Example Apple iPhone 16128 gigs $829.99 eligible trade in. Example iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel contact us.

[Paige Desorbo]

Hi, it's Paige desorvo from Giggly Squad. You ever stand in front of your closet and just say I have nothing to wear while you're literally surrounded by clothes? Because same so I started listing pieces I'm over on Depop and honestly, it's been amazing. You can sell what you're done with and someone out there will love it. And the best part about it is there's no seller fee, so the money you make actually stays in your pocket, which feels very chic. It's also insanely easy. I listed something while watching TV and it sold before the episode even ended. So download the Depop app and list your first item item today because your old outfit could be someone else's new favorite. Depop where taste recognizes taste Payment processing fees boosting fees still apply. For more info, visit depop.com so good, so good, so good.

[Burt Weiss]

Just in thousands of winter arrivals at your Nordstrom Rack store, save up to 70% on coats, slippers, and cashmere from Kate Spade New York, Vince Ugg, Levi's, and more.

[Melissa]

Check out these boots.

[Elise]

They've got the best gifts. My holiday shopping hack Join the Nordy Club.

[Burt Weiss]

Get an extra 5% off every rack purchase with your Nordstrom credit card. Plus, buy it online and pick it up in store the same day for free. Big gifts, big perks. That's why you rack.