The Bert Show – Full Show PT 2: Thursday, March 5 [Vault]

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Overview

This lively Bert Show episode delivers the signature blend of authentic humor, candid conversation, and audience engagement. The primary focus in this segment is on quirky adult habits (like thumb-sucking and attachment to childhood objects) and how these behaviors play out in the dating world. Later, the tone shifts with a cheerful interview of Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block, discussing band rumors, touring life, and fan connections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unusual Dating Confessions: Adults & Childhood Comforts

[01:01–14:37]

• The Thumb-Sucking Boyfriend Story

  • Jen Hobby retells a friend’s shocking relationship revelation: after several months of dating, her boyfriend admitted he still sucks his thumb and sleeps with his childhood blankie at 36 years old.
    • “I just want to be able to be totally myself with you... but I suck my thumb.” – “Rebecca’s” boyfriend (as retold by Host 1, [04:10])
    • The man also explained he avoided overnights because he wanted to maintain his thumb-sucking ritual in private.
    • This revelation was a dealbreaker for Jen’s friend, highlighting how lingering childhood habits can impact adult relationships.
    • “That will make you change your behavior with your kids today if you have kids that are on that cusp of maybe sucking their thumb too long. It’s so bizarre.” – Host 1 ([05:47])

• Listener Call-ins: Not Alone!

  • Multiple listeners confess to ongoing thumb-sucking or sleeping with “wubbies” (beloved childhood blankets) well into adulthood.
    • Angela, a listener, coincidentally sees a grown woman thumb-sucking in a car just as the segment airs ([06:08]).
    • Melissa calls in to admit she’s 24, married, and still sleeps with a set of wubbies, transitioning as they wear out ([06:51]).
    • Lee, 25, confesses she still sucks her thumb for comfort, but only does so in private at night ([08:36]).
    • Lisa, 38, says she’s been unable to break the thumb-sucking habit despite her parents’ best efforts, even with “worm guts” and therapy treatments ([10:29]).

• Host & Caller Reactions

  • The hosts are alternately amused, confused, and empathetic toward callers. Discussions arise about parental approaches to stopping these habits and how much of a stigma exists.
    • “We are seriously talking to people who are with confidence saying, yeah, I suck my thumb.” – Host 1 ([09:53])
    • Listeners share mixed reports on whether partners care about these habits, with a running question: Where is the line for “dealbreaker” behavior?

• Extreme Comfort Habits

  • One listener ups the ante with a story about a man who slept in the same bed as his grandmother until age 18, purely for comfort ([14:08]), sparking a blend of amusement and concern.

2. Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids on the Block) Interview

[15:55–27:05]

• Addressing Rumors: Jordan Knight's Ankle

  • The phone lines were abuzz with panic: a video circulated online supposedly showing Jordan Knight with an injury, raising fears the Atlanta show would be cancelled.
  • Donnie sets the record straight:
    • “Jordan will be there. The show will go on.” ([16:21])
    • Admits it was a video hoax tied to his own first “forays into directing,” and reassures fans that Jordan is “fine” ([16:53]).

• Tour Talk & Band Resilience

  • Donnie asserts that NKOTB never cancels a show—injured or not:

    • “Even if Jordan’s ankle was sprained, if it was broken, he’d be on that stage tomorrow night.” ([18:21])
    • Reveals Danny Wood has completed the tour with a torn hamstring ([18:32]), underscoring the band’s dedication.

  • On fan energy and the Atlanta stop:

    • “The Southern energy is just… overwhelming, it’s seductive… To play in an arena full of southern women is just gonna be—I mean, we’re dying for it. We can’t wait.” ([19:24])

• Getting Older, Performing Harder

  • Donnie reflects on the difference between touring in his teens and now:
    • “In the old days, I’d go into every city and say, ‘Yeah, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that’… Now I know I need my nine hours sleep, I know I need to rest… but it’s really not because we can’t handle it. I go, man, I’m like the Energizer Bunny. Nothing slows me down.” ([20:20])
    • Emphasizes treating each show seriously: “Those people chose us to entertain them during, like, some really bad times… That is a serious honor and a serious responsibility, and I treat it with the utmost respect.” ([21:31])

• Quickfire: Describing the Band in One Word - Joe Mack: “showman” - Danny Wood: “determined” - John Knight: “warm” - Jordan Knight: “star” - Donnie himself: “CEO,” “the rebel with a cause” ([21:57])

• Exclusive “On the Block” Ticket Experience

  • Donnie explains the special ticket giveaway—offering fans a unique, intimate soundcheck or private Q&A:
    • “It is the most intimate way to get to hang out before the show… There’s not another way to really spend good time with the group than this.” ([22:43])

• Playful Flirtation with Producer Tracy

  • Donnie jokes about “unresolved business” with Producer Tracy—she’s called an “Internet hero” for chasing down NKOTB in LA for their first post-reunion interview.
    • “Producer Tracy, I owe you the world. And I intend to give you a good portion of it tomorrow.” ([25:04])
    • Hosts and Donnie riff on “quality time,” teasing Tracy and enhancing the camaraderie.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Adult Thumb-Sucking:

  • “That will make you change your behavior with your kids today if you have kids that are on that cusp of maybe sucking their thumb too long. It’s so bizarre.” – Host 1 ([05:47])
  • “I told him after about six months of dating, and he’s like, you know, just don’t do it in public.” – Lee, thumb-sucking caller ([09:34])
  • “At the end of that six weeks, the psychiatrist gave my mother her money back. And she said she’d never seen a case like it before.” – Lisa, 38-year-old caller ([11:13])
  • “I just want to be able to be totally myself with you… but I suck my thumb.” – as retold by Host 1 ([04:10])
  • “Wouldn’t you think it was a joke?” – Host 3, on dating and odd habits ([08:24])

• On NKOTB’s Work Ethic and Fans:

  • “Even if Jordan’s ankle was sprained, if it was broken, he’d be on that stage tomorrow night.” – Donnie Wahlberg ([18:21])
  • “I know I need my nine hours sleep, I know I need to rest… because I want that two hours every night to be my focus. Nothing is more important than giving every person out there their hard earned money’s worth.” – Donnie Wahlberg ([20:27])
  • “We are not doubting that [Atlanta’s energy]... We’re dying for it. We can’t wait.” – Donnie Wahlberg ([19:24])
  • “Producer Tracy, I owe you the world. And I intend to give you a good portion of it tomorrow.” – Donnie Wahlberg ([25:04])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:01–06:04] – Jen Hobby’s “dealbreaker” thumb-sucking boyfriend story
• [06:04–14:37] – Phone lines open: Listeners share adult attachment stories
• [15:55–27:05] – Donnie Wahlberg (NKOTB) joins: Tour rumors, band anecdotes, exclusive ticket details, producer Tracy spotlight

Tone & Style

• The hosts balance tongue-in-cheek commentary with genuine curiosity and empathy for callers’ quirks.
• Laughter and light teasing are abundant, but there’s also a thread of real reflection about childhood habits and adult relationships.
• Interview with Donnie Wahlberg is energetic and friendly, with playful back-and-forth and NKOTB nostalgia.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

You’ll get a blend of laugh-out-loud moments, surprising admissions from callers, and an energetic check-in with Donnie Wahlberg that reassures fans and offers a behind-the-scenes peek at New Kids on the Block’s ethos. The episode is a reminder of The Bert Show’s ability to turn even oddball topics into insightful, communal conversation—while keeping things fun and very real.