The Bert Show – Full Show PT 3: Thursday, February 26 [Vault]

Date: February 26, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, guest Tyler Perry, and listener “Crazy” Brian
Main Theme: Adventurous Hitchhiking, Cultures of Fear and Trust, and an In-depth Conversation with Tyler Perry

Overview

This episode of The Bert Show explores adventure, risk, and perception: starting with a group discussion about the lost art and dangers of hitchhiking in today’s world, including an engaging call-in from a modern-day hitchhiker. The second half features a heart-to-heart interview with Tyler Perry, covering his insights into relationships, keeping love out of the spotlight, finding inspiration in hardship, new projects, and community contributions. The tone balances humor, candor, and inspiration throughout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Hitchhiking: Then & Now

[01:31–04:10]

• Nostalgic musings about how hitchhiking was once depicted as “the ultimate freedom” and a rite of passage in past decades, contrasted against contemporary fears and dangers.

  • “You watch all these movies from like the 60s and stuff and people are hitchhiking all over the country and it looks like fun, man. It's the ultimate freedom.” – Bird Show Host (01:31)

• The conversation quickly turns to how both caution and skepticism have replaced the old sense of adventure:

  • “I don't see it that way. I think it's very, very scary.” – Bird Show Co-host (01:38)
  • Reference to urban legends and movies amplifying danger.

2. Listener Spotlight: “Crazy Brian” the Hitchhiking Grad Student

[04:10–12:05]

• Brian, a 27-year-old grad student and army veteran, calls in from the road, sharing real-life experiences and shedding light on modern hitchhiking.

  • He travels during school breaks, relying on the kindness of strangers, and enjoys the unpredictability.
  • "I called one friend in Northern Ohio who lives near Detroit, and he's been seeing this married girl for, like six months, and...he needed somebody to come up and cheer him up, so that sort of just made my decision for me." – Brian (04:31)

• Insight into safety and fear:

  • Brian addresses the paranoia around hitchhiking, suggesting perceived dangers are often overstated compared to real risks like heart disease.
  • “I've never been harassed or hassled.” – Brian (05:24)
  • Discusses the use of a sign reading “Iraq Vet going north” to increase chances of being picked up, and how kindness typically outweighs risk.

• Surprising demographic:

  • Most riders who pick Brian up are not truck drivers, as commonly assumed, but ordinary people, sometimes women (usually with male companions).
  • "Not one truck driver has ever picked me up..." – Brian (07:45)

• Brian’s strategies and gear:

  • Wears a bright shirt and hiking socks to appear non-threatening (“more sensible than somebody who just killed a family”) (08:35–08:59).
  • Stays at cheap motels, like Duffy’s for $16.95 a night (10:32), but would prefer this to sleeping outdoors unless paid, joking, “They used to pay me to do that in the army.” (11:16)

• Attitude toward personal safety:

  • Trusts his appearance (larger build and army background) to deter most would-be criminals, and reiterates faith in the “goodness of strangers.”
  • “I weigh 220 pounds...I think I look like I'd be a lot of work. I mean, I'm not a ninja...but I feel like those kind of people would pass me up, probably.” – Brian (09:14)

• Plans to reconnect:

  • Predicts he’ll be somewhere in Kentucky by the next morning.
  • “I feel positive...I’ll be somewhere in Kentucky tomorrow.” – Brian (11:55)

Memorable Moment:

• Motel anecdote:
  • “1695 a night. Motel room has black light written all over it because there’s not a sheet that I would lay on...” – Bird Show Host (10:58)

3. Interview with Tyler Perry: Relationships, Art, and Inspiration

[14:44–24:26]

a. Communication Misfires Between Men and Women

• Tyler Perry discusses universal relationship challenges, notably miscommunication, especially cross-cultural:

  • "Her whole thing is we have the worst communication...because she's from another country, I just think, am I communicating...right with her, you know?” – Tyler Perry (15:01)

• Tyler advocates keeping relationships out of the public eye to preserve their health:

  • “If you want your relationship to work, you have to...keep it out of the public. Look at people like Brad and Angelina...that's really difficult, especially when you’re just getting to know a person.” – Tyler Perry (16:05)

b. Art Imitates Life

• Admits writing deeply personal stories:

  • “Every bit of them. Are you kidding me? I had a really bad relationship, and I wrote everything in Why Did I Get Married? That’s why so many people can relate to it…” – Tyler Perry (16:58)

• Avoids focusing on physical intimacy in his work:

  • “I've never gotten into sex in relationships...I think sex always clouds everything...Stop having sex and see what you really have.” – Tyler Perry (17:27)
  • Shares an anecdote where a friend took this advice and the relationship quickly ended, exposing its lack of substance.

c. Personal Growth and Resilience

• Reflects on his journey from homelessness to success, highlighting growth and inspiring listeners:

  • “I was in USA Today yesterday...my old apartment…was the apartment I moved in after being homeless...I really want people to know that life gets better. No matter what you're going through, life gets better." – Tyler Perry (19:15)

• Finds catharsis in creativity, using life hardship as storytelling fuel:

  • “What I decided to do was what I always do for my catharsis. I took it to pen and paper. I was listening to LeAnn Womack… ‘I Hope You Dance’...life is short, live every day like it's your last.” – Tyler Perry (19:51)

d. Movie Insights: “The Family That Preys”

• Discusses new film, its themes, and title:

  • Focus on strong matriarchs, family drama, living life fully, and how adversity shapes relatable stories.

• Writing process:

  • “This one really flowed…they stay in my head for months. So when I sit down to write them, they usually come out without any toiling.” – Tyler Perry (21:02)
  • Lighthearted story about directing Kathy Bates (Misery reference).

e. Finding Community and Talent

• On moving his studio and local engagement:
  • Found a warmer community after leaving a less supportive neighborhood; neighbors even clean up outside the new studio.
  • Encourages aspiring actors to watch for open casting calls, managed by casting director Alpha Tyler.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• 04:54 (Hitchhiking origins)
  “I do it as often as I can. I'm a grad student at Emory, and so I do it on my vacations...I used to be in the military. I got back from Iraq in ‘06, and that's when I started doing it.” – Brian

• 05:24 (On safety)
  “This is part of why I do it...I think there's this whole kind of culture of fear...but no, I've never been harassed or hassled." – Brian

• 09:51 (Travel plans)
  “I feel positive...I’ll be somewhere in Kentucky tomorrow.” – Brian

• 15:01 (Relationship communication)
  “Are you kidding me?...Men and women communicate on two different paths." – Tyler Perry

• 16:05 (On privacy in relationships)
  “If you want your relationship to work, you have to...keep it out of the public.” – Tyler Perry

• 16:58 (Mining real life for stories)
  “Every bit of them. Are you kidding me? ...I wrote everything in Why Did I Get Married?” – Tyler Perry

• 19:15 (Hope after adversity)
  “I really want people to know that life gets better. No matter what you're going through, life gets better.” – Tyler Perry

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:31–04:10: Hitchhiking nostalgia & fears
• 04:10–12:05: “Crazy” Brian’s hitchhiking journey & philosophy
• 14:44–24:26: Tyler Perry interview: relationships, inspiration, and career
• 19:15–19:47: Tyler Perry’s motivational story from homelessness to success
• 19:51–21:02: Making of “The Family That Preys,” writing process

Tone & Highlights

• Conversational and humorous: Unfiltered, real talk among the hosts, with playful teasing of Brian and Tyler Perry alike (“Crazy Brian”; Misery movie jokes).
• Candid and inspiring: Tyler Perry shares openly about relationships and personal challenges.
• Relatable and reflective: Both main segments focus on themes of trust, risk, and the importance of human connection, whether on the road or in relationships.

Useful Takeaways for Listeners

• The real-life experience of hitchhiking today is a blend of old-fashioned adventure and modern caution, but kindness and curiosity still exist on American highways.
• Privacy, communication, and a strong foundation are crucial to healthy relationships, especially under public scrutiny.
• Life’s adversities can inspire creative success and hope for others; resilience pays off, as Tyler Perry’s journey demonstrates.
• Opportunities await for those seeking to break into entertainment—keep an eye out for “fresh faces” calls in Tyler Perry’s productions.

For more laughs, stories, and real talk, tune into The Bert Show daily!