The Bert Show – Full Show PT 3: Monday, November 24, 2025 [Vault]

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of The Bert Show centers on two major storylines: a heartfelt Pay It Forward challenge inspired by Oprah, and a listener dilemma about marital infidelity. The episode highlights community engagement, the power of collective giving, and the personal complexities behind relationship drama. The crew—Bert, Kristin, and others—balance authentic discussion with humor and warmth as they navigate these topics.

1. The Oprah “Pay It Forward” Challenge and My Sister's House

Starts at ~02:00

Background of the Challenge

• Christy’s Story: Christy, a guest on the show, recounts being invited by Oprah to participate in a special audience challenge. She and her sister Casey were selected after Christy wrote to the show about her dream to help children in need, especially through establishing a children's shelter.
• Oprah's Surprise: “Everyone here today is getting the chance to do something really extraordinary for others. You will each go home with $1,000. Yes, $1,000.” – [Oprah, as played by audio clip, 08:45]
• Challenge Details: Audience members were tasked to creatively spend $1,000 on acts of kindness, with only one week to complete their projects.

Christy's Chosen Cause

• My Sister’s House: Christy and Casey chose to donate their funds to My Sister's House in Atlanta—a shelter and long-term recovery program for women and children facing homelessness and abuse.
  • “These ladies and these children need our help…they develop emotionally, spiritually, and it’s just an amazing place.” – Christy [13:40]
• Scale of Need: The shelter supports 264 women and children, with ongoing material and financial needs (diapers, basic hygiene products, supplies, etc.).
  • “When you put 260 women in a building, think about how much toilet paper you’re using.” – David from My Sister’s House [17:45]

Community Action & Fundraising Push

• Time Crunch: They only have a few days (until Friday) to collect items and donations.
• Kroger Partnership: Ted from Kroger announces a metro-wide campaign allowing shoppers to “round up” their purchases or donate at registers; the fundraiser runs citywide at 134 stores.
  • “For the next two and a half days…our customers can engage with each and every cash register cashier…and make a donation… We’ll round this money up.” – Ted, Kroger [27:00]
  • “You round up on your purchase, or you just go in and you ask one of the cashiers, ‘Where can I donate for My Sister’s House?’” – Bert [30:00]
• Q100 Boost: The Bert Show gives Christy $10,000 worth of on-air advertising to spread the word quickly.
  • “What we’re going to do is tenfold that $1,000 Oprah gave you, and give you that money in advertising … talking about Kroger and the fundraiser…” – Bert [33:40]
• Donation Logistics: Only monetary donations at Kroger due to the quick turnaround. Material donations can go directly via the shelter's website.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This could be one of those days, and one of those projects…I think we’ve proven…the Bert Show community comes together, it is a powerful rolling force.” – Bert [03:10]
• “You just don’t know the kind of change you can make in a very, very, very short amount of time.” – Bert [32:55]

2. Listener Drama: The Cheating Husband & The Wife Who Does Not Want to Know

Starts at ~48:20

Setup: Jessica’s Call

• Situation: Jessica calls in about her best friend (“Delilah”) whose husband has been cheating for 2-3 years. Delilah knows but does not confront him, preferring not to disrupt their apparently happy life.
  • “She feels like he makes good money and he takes care of the kids and takes care of her really well, and she’s happy with her life…she doesn’t want to address this issue.” – Jessica [49:40]
• Crisis Point: The husband says he wants to talk, and Delilah is anxious he might confess the affair, forcing her to act when she’d rather remain in “comfortable denial.”

Host Reflection & Commentary

• Brainstorming Outcomes: The hosts struggle to give advice—how does one avoid or redirect this pivotal conversation? Is it possible to “let him have his cake and eat it too”?
• Moral Quandaries: Should she encourage honesty, or protect her peace by avoiding the talk? Is her happiness real, or built on willful ignorance?
  • “It’s hard for us to encourage honesty and then try to discourage honesty… I just don’t think she can…” – Bert [01:07:00]
• Listener Opinions: One caller chimes in to predict the worst:
  • “He is so leaving her. He’s not going to feel guilty after two or three years, right? All of a sudden, he’s going to feel guilty? No, he’s leaving her.” – Caller [01:11:45]
• Hosts Acknowledge Complexity: “I can understand wanting to keep the family together…she’s happy in the relationship, the kids are happy…so long as it’s not public.” – Bert [01:17:20]

Resolution: Jessica’s Follow-Up

• What Happened: Delilah faces the conversation bravely—only to discover the husband did NOT confess. Instead, he announces a job promotion and a family move to Houston, which actually reassures Delilah (the affair partner won’t be in Houston).
• Delilah’s Attitude: She remains deliberately uninformed, chooses happiness and stability over conflict or truth.
  • “She works really hard at staying in denial, so it’s never really had the opportunity to upset her…” – Jessica [01:19:55]
• Hosts’ Reactions: Shock at the anti-climax; musings on how some relationships are built on “comfortable numbness” and mutual unspoken agreements.

3. Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Everyone here today is getting the chance to do something really extraordinary for others…” – Oprah (audio), [08:45]
• “This is going to be one of those projects. I think we’ve proven…when the Bert Show community comes together, it is a powerful rolling force.” – Bert [03:10]
• “These ladies and these children need our help… It is a place where women can learn how to address the issues and put homelessness behind them.” – Christy [13:40]
• “When you put 260 women in a building, think about how much toilet paper you’re using…” – David [17:45]
• “For the next two and a half days…our customers can engage…We’ll round this money up.” – Ted, Kroger [27:00]
• “I have no idea what to say to that…what do you guys think?” – Jessica [56:05]
• “It’s hard for us to encourage honesty and then try to discourage honesty, I just don’t…” – Bert [01:07:00]
• “He is so leaving her. He’s not going to feel guilty after two or three years… No, he’s leaving her.” – Caller [01:11:45]
• “She works really hard at staying in denial, so it’s never really had the opportunity to upset her…” – Jessica [01:19:55]

4. Key Sections & Timestamps

• [02:00] – Christy introduces her Oprah-inspired Pay It Forward challenge
• [08:45] – Oprah’s audio clip announcing the $1,000 audience gift
• [13:40] – Christy details her motivation and My Sister’s House
• [17:45] – David elaborates on the year-round realities and needs of the shelter
• [27:00–33:40] – Ted from Kroger outlines the citywide fundraising campaign
• [48:20] – Jessica introduces the cheating husband story
• [56:05] – Discussion of moral complexity, hosts’ inability to advise
• [01:11:45] – Listener call-ins; predictions for relationship outcome
• [01:19:55] – Resolution: Delilah’s continued denial and new family move

5. Overall Tone & Takeaways

Throughout, the episode maintains the Bert Show’s signature mix of heartfelt, candid conversation, humor, and community spirit. The hosts are unpretentious, supportive, and not afraid to admit when they don’t have answers—especially in the case of tough personal dramas.

• For Listeners:
  • The Pay It Forward story is a clear call to action, showing what can happen when a community mobilizes quickly for a good cause.
  • The cheating husband dilemma is a nuanced exploration of how people sometimes choose comfort over confrontation.

For more details—visit the Bert Show online for donation links and further episode archives.