The Bert Show – Full Show PT 2: Thursday, March 19 [Vault] (March 19, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show features a blend of celebrity interviews, listener call-ins with personal dilemmas, comedic banter, and everyday life observations. The main highlight is an in-studio appearance by the band The Fray, who give an intimate performance and candidly discuss band life, writing music, family, and the realities of the music industry. The rest of the episode includes a lively debate about a listener's moral quandary regarding family loyalty, a comedic take on online dating, and a segment on questionable personalized license plates.

The Fray: Special In-Studio Interview & Performance

Introduction & Band Background

Hosts express excitement about the private, VIP performance by The Fray for contest-winning listeners (01:31).
The Fray is described as a "clean-cut" band that "stick to the basics," with little rumor or gossip surrounding them (01:58).
Hosts joke about not knowing what to ask such drama-free guests (02:16).

Touring, Family, and Band Dynamics

Discussion about touring life and its toll on family (05:25–07:58):
- Touring is more frequent due to the changing music industry.
- Joe King: “...the state of the industry is kind of freaky just from our standpoint, tour wise and all that. Gas prices may go up or whatever, but...people have always listened to music. People will always listen to music...” (05:37).
- Ben Wysocki: “Oh, well, definitely the first two years when we're slumming it and having to ask for a loan to pay your bills, that's when it gets a little hard… but now we can say, well, we're going to go for three weeks and then come back for a week or two weeks...” (06:07).
Struggles and support from spouses:
- Joe King: “I wish I was single, as weird as that sounds, because you wouldn’t have anybody to miss, you know. But then at the same time, we wouldn’t have anybody to go home to...” (07:38).
- Ben Wysocki: “I’m happy, though.” (07:54)

Memorable Gigs and Band Origins

Live show highs/lows (04:08–04:39):
- Joe King recalls a memorable Red Rocks show in the rain: “...we all just clicked and we actually had to cover the instruments so that Dave and Joe didn’t get shocked to death. It might have been a funner show for me than them, but I felt like we had synergy that night.” (04:08)
Band formation and early days:
- Mention of band members joining from rival high school bands “out of necessity” (02:34).
How they review performances:
- Used to videotape shows for self-assessment, but “Nobody wants to watch a 2am show on the bus” (04:49–05:21).

Writing Hits & Songwriting Process

‘How to Save a Life’ and vulnerability:
- Joe King: “It’s still uncomfortable just because...you're like, being vulnerable in front of a bunch of people. ...It's like imagining walking into a Starbucks and being like, hello, everyone. I'd like to tell you all about the things that I don't know. So that's hard.” (12:36)
- Host asks if they know a hit when they're making it (12:15).
How songs are written:
- “We have a bunch of little snippets and it's like a junkyard… walk around and...put things together.” (13:24).
- On disagreements: “We are in perfect unison.” (sarcasm, 14:12). In reality, “We vote, actually… Over time, we’re surprisingly diplomatic about things. I think we talk through it till everybody feels comfortable.” (14:25–14:32)
Album naming (14:42):
- Chose self-titled on their producer's suggestion after brainstorming 8–10 options.

Getting Signed: Record Deal Stories

Comparison to sports prospects (15:04):
- Ben Wysocki: “It’s scary and extremely exciting at the same time. The free dinners are really good.” (15:31)
- Joe King shares a tense story about last-minute label offers and the chaos of almost signing to a different label (16:03–16:59).
Is it fun or just stress?
- “It was very stressful.” (17:11)

Playing Live: Exclusive Performances

Live renditions of hits including:
- “You Found Me” (08:25–12:15)
- “Never Say Never” (17:48–21:48)

Life as “The Fray” & Relationships

Valentine’s Day expectations as musicians (21:54–22:59):
- Joe King shares a self-deprecating story: “The first time I met my wife...I played this, like, breakup song for my ex-girlfriend…She stood up and walked away...I must have this woman.”
- “For Valentine's and stuff, we just have to be home. I think that makes all the difference.” (22:14)
Award show nerves and surreal celebrity encounters (23:14):
- Joe King on performing with Stevie Wonder and John Legend: “Thank God Stevie couldn’t see me. But...your mic was not even turned on. You are so white.” (23:28)

The New Album: Artistic Growth and Release (24:17–27:03)

Ben Wysocki: “There’s dynamics on this record that we didn’t have on the last record. The softer songs are more delicate and the high energy songs are more intense…we still have that Fray stamp on it.” (24:23)
On the finality of releasing an album: “Feels like it won’t quite be done until Tuesday when it comes out...well, can’t change it now because you just bought it.” (25:15)
They record about 14–15 tracks, narrowing to 10 (25:55).
Joe King's album release tradition: goes to buy the album himself, “...and the guy was like, will there be anything else? And I was like, no, just this. And I went to breakfast with my wife and just waited for the texts to come in.” (26:44)

Listener Dilemma: Family Loyalty vs. Friendship

Paige’s Story (29:40–39:23)

Caller Paige is torn between loyalty to her brother and her best friend (who is married to her brother) (29:40).
Paige’s best friend is deceiving her husband (Paige’s brother) by continuing to eat out and keep a housekeeper, against what they agreed upon to save money—a secret Paige is keeping.
Debate: Should Paige tell her brother, confront her best friend, or stay out of it?
Callers and hosts are divided:
- One camp: Stay out of marital issues, but stop enabling by going to lunch (33:28, 33:48).
- Another: Loyalty lies with family—should at least be stern with her best friend or help her brother (35:14, 36:50, 37:48).
- “You’re just being rude about it. You’re an enabler.” (37:32)
- Paige, after much debate: “I will agree that I have not done what I could be doing, but that’s where I’m sitting.” (37:48)
Consensus: Majority says to cut the lunches and “stay out of it” regarding the marriage, even though it is difficult and emotionally fraught (38:23–38:57).

Online Dating: Is It Only for the Desperate? (41:02–47:14)

Phone screener Shawn was challenged to give online dating a real try.
After a dull first date, tried matching by actual compatibility for her second (42:32).
Shawn reports a low-key, positive experience, but little chemistry: “I could see myself hanging out with him a lot and just being friends.” (45:33)
Her attitude toward online dating remains skeptical: “I still think it’s desperate.” (46:13)
Hosts tease her about stubbornness and possibly being proven wrong (47:00): “She’s starting to be proven wrong, so she’s a little thrown...” (47:31).

Odd News & Everyday Observations

Controversial Personalized License Plates (48:20–52:03)

Host shares a story about spotting a potentially inappropriate personalized license plate referencing the South Carolina Gamecocks (49:01–51:59).
There’s debate over how such plates slip through DMV checks and how context changes their interpretation: “If I can’t say it on the air, the license plate can’t be legal, right?” (49:35)
Humor about the unintended social implications of having such a plate and how it could deter friends from borrowing your car (52:03).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On vulnerability in songwriting:
Joe King (12:36):
“It's like imagining walking into a Starbucks and being like, hello, everyone. I'd like to tell you all about the things that I don't know. So that's hard.”
On making music in a changing industry:
Joe King (05:37):
“People have always listened to music. People will always listen to music. And the way they get it’s changing, and it's gonna be okay, everyone.”
On work-life-musician balance:
Joe King (07:38):
“I wish I was single, as weird as that sounds, because you wouldn’t have anybody to miss, you know? But then at the same time, we wouldn’t have anybody to go home to…”
Listener advice consensus:
Caller Panel (38:21):
“Neither one. Just cut the lunches...stay out of it.”
On personalized plates:
Bert Show Host (49:35):
“If I can’t say it on the air, the license plate can’t be legal, right?”

Key Timestamps

Fray interview/performance begins: 01:00
Red Rocks story: 04:08
On marriages & touring: 05:25–07:58
“You Found Me” live: 08:25
On songwriting/vulnerability: 12:15–14:32
Getting signed stories: 15:04–17:14
“Never Say Never” live: 17:48
Valentine’s Day stories: 21:54
On the new album: 24:17–27:03
Listener Paige dilemma begins: 29:40
Listener calls/advice: 33:28–39:23
Online dating discussion: 41:02–47:14
Personalized license plate story: 48:20–52:03

Tone & Style

Playful, authentic, and conversational; hosts and guests oscillate between humor and heartfelt honesty, fostering a relaxed atmosphere filled with banter and sharply observed commentary.

Summary

This episode shines with its mix of a heartfelt artist interview and distinctly relatable listener call segments. The Fray provide insights into the realities of being a band in today’s music landscape—balancing vulnerability, creativity, and family—while the hosts and callers keep the tone lively, discuss personal dilemmas, online dating cynicism, and the quirks of everyday life. The show embodies the promise of making mornings bearable, mixing laughs, stories, and performances for radio that feels both big-hearted and real.