Full Show PT 3: Tuesday, December 30 [Vault]

Summary

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The Bert Show, Full Show PT 3: Tuesday, December 30 [Vault]

Date: December 30, 2025
Show Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and guests
Main Segments: Listener drama about accidental nudity, Jeweler guest investigates real vs. fake jewelry

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Episode Overview

This lively episode from The Bert Show vault features the cast tackling a mix of engaging listener dilemmas and in-studio fun, maintaining the authentic, humorous, and slightly irreverent tone fans expect. The core of this episode centers around two themes:

• Embarrassing Listener Drama: A woman, Ashlyn, shares an awkward experience involving her boyfriend, his roommate, and accidental nudity. The cast debates respect and intent in new relationships.
• Jewelry Real or Fake Reveal: Guest expert Annette Esposito from Holly Springs Jewelers joins the studio to authenticate listeners’ jewelry, fueling honest, nervous, and amusing reactions.

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Segment 1: Listener Drama – “Did My Boyfriend Set Me Up?”

(Starts at approx. 01:19)

Situation Recap:
Ashlyn recounts how, while staying at her boyfriend’s place, she was led to believe the apartment was empty. He insisted she didn’t need to get dressed just to fetch water from the kitchen – only for her to discover, embarrassingly, that his roommate was indeed there.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Ashlyn Tells Her Story
  (“It was like 11, 11:30, and he asked me to go get us some water...I started putting a sweatshirt on...he's like, 'Oh, no, don't worry about it.' ... I go into the kitchen, and Brad, his roommate, was in the kitchen, and I had no clothes on, and I freaked out, ran back in…” —Ashlyn, 02:00)

• Was it an Innocent Mistake or a Setup?
  The cast argues if Ashlyn’s boyfriend purposely set her up as a joke for his roommate or if it was genuinely accidental.
  (“Was there any way for him to know his roommate was in the kitchen at the time, though?” —Host, 02:49)
  (“He insisted that neither of his roommates were home.” —Ashlyn, 02:59)
  (“Like, he thought it was the most...the most hysterical thing ever.” —Ashlyn, 03:11)

• Respect and Relationship Red Flags
  Different viewpoints emerge on what the incident says about the boyfriend’s maturity and respect for Ashlyn.

  • Crash’s perspective:
    (“...it's kind of funny. I mean, if he knew one of his roommates was home and you were completely naked.” —Crash, 04:00)
    (“Yeah, we're very simplistic. We're amoebas.” —Crash, 04:06)

  • Kristin’s/another cast member's perspective:
    (“If it was intentional...it's disrespectful because it's like he was making a mockery of you.” —A, 05:34)

  • Bert’s take:
    (“If he did that, it's obviously not a guy that...well, you know, I'll use the title of a new book. He's just not that into you.” —Bert, 04:30)

• Focus on the Boyfriend's Reaction, Not Just the Situation
  (“I think that you're more upset by his reaction than what actually happened.” —A, 06:24)
  (“She's mostly upset by the fact that he laughed when she came in and she was upset. That's what she's upset about.” —A, 12:56)

• Advice for Ashlyn

  • Communicate: (“Let him know how you feel...You need to back me up.” —Crash, 08:05)
  • Consider values: (“You're getting to know about him and he's getting to know about you, and you got to determine now is it worth it...” —A, 08:32)

---

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Double Standards:
  “If you're serious about somebody, and you certainly wouldn't talk about your wife like that either.” —D, 07:32

• On Overanalyzing:
  “I think we're analyzing this too much because...even if my partner said don't worry about it, I'm still putting a sweatshirt on if I'm leaving the room.” —A, 06:24

• Comic Relief:
  “You know who this guy is? This guy's the mountain climber on the Price is Right. He was going all the way up the mountain. He just fell off.” —B, 11:01

• On Moving Forward:
  “If it's disrespectful to you, leave dude. Find new dude. But I guess guarantee you right now your honeymoon period is definitely over.” —C, 09:54

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Calls & Audience Input

• A caller agrees it’s about respect and possibly a sign of not being serious.
• Another caller questions whether Ashlyn’s feelings are overshadowing the actual event.
• Callers and the cast joke and banter about dating double standards, further relationships, and male/female perspectives on privacy and boundaries.

Timestamps:

• [02:00] Ashlyn’s Story
• [04:00] Was it a prank by the boyfriend?
• [08:05] Direct advice for Ashlyn
• [12:56] Focus on boyfriend's reaction

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Segment 2: Jewelry Authenticity – “Is My Ring a Fake?”

(Starts at approx. 17:40)

Guest: Annette Esposito, Holly Springs Jewelers / Gemologist

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Would Listeners Want to Know if Their Jewelry Is Fake? 80% of surveyed women say yes, but most backed out from actually learning the truth (“...one by one, they have dropped out when reality struck.” —D, 17:56)

• Tracy’s Diamond Necklace Story

  • Inherited from her mom; doubts about whether it’s a real diamond since her parents were only 16.

  • Annette examines and confirms:
    (“It’s real. It’s real.” —Annette, 21:02)
    (“Just looking at it, it’s got a pretty big inclusion...that’s probably why he could afford it, too, because it wasn’t...it’s a diamond...” —Annette, 21:09)

  • Education on diamonds:

    • Inclusions explained (flaws inside the diamond)
    • The “four Cs”: Clarity, Cut, Color, Carat
      (“Do you know the scale? Do you know the four Cs?” —B, 21:50)

• Listener Questions for the Gemologist

  • Black light and diamond fluorescence: Confirmed as normal and a sign of a real stone (“...what happens is a lot of diamonds, it’s called fluorescence.” —Annette, 24:36)

• Kristen’s Ring Mystery

  • Received as a Christmas gift, no paperwork, came “on the tree”; suspicious as husband can’t give ring details

  • Annette verifies it is genuine
    (“It’s real.” —Annette, 29:39)
    (“They’re really nice diamonds, too. They’re a little off color, but they’re very, very clean.” —Annette, 29:43)

  • Valuation:
    (“...about $4,700, $5,000.” —Annette, 30:31)

  • Suspicion and Jokes:
    (“The good news is you’ve got a real ring. The bad news is it’s probably stolen.” —B, 30:00) (“He took it off a corpse.” —D, 30:05)

  • Uncovering More Mysteries:

    • One stone is an older cut, possibly reused (“...one of the diamonds is an older cut. It’s called an open culet at the bottom of the stone is open. So they’re not all cut the same.” —Annette, 31:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Wouldn’t you want to know the truth one way or the other? Or would you just like to say, you know what, I’m sure it’s real, and talk yourself into believing it is?” —D, 18:46
• “Oh, yeah. Cubic zirconia is going to look a little...purpley to us.” —Annette, 23:56
• On financial mysteries:
  (“He isn’t able to explain money missing, so how did he pay for a ‘real’ diamond?” —paraphrased from C, 28:01*)

---

Education Highlights

• Inclusions in Diamonds: Natural flaws, make stones less expensive and more likely to be affordable for young or less wealthy buyers.
• Fluorescence: Many diamonds glow under black light, a trait more common than people think.
• Diamond Cuts and Age: Different cuts signify different eras; mix can suggest stones were recycled from older jewelry.

Timestamps:

• [19:21] Tracy’s story and gemologist’s verdict
• [24:36] Black light and diamonds
• [26:11] Kristen’s ring mystery
• [29:39] Verdict: It’s real
• [31:18] One diamond stone is older

---

Episode’s Underlying Themes & Tone

• Humor & Relatability:
  The cast keeps the tone light, poking fun at themselves, relationships, and traditional gender roles, while also giving space to genuine emotion and concern.
• Authenticity:
  Both segments touch on “knowing the truth,” whether in relationships or with meaningful possessions.

---

Summary Takeaways

• The Bert Show handles listener drama with both empathy and comic irreverence, giving practical — if sometimes cheeky — advice.
• Relationship boundaries, respect vs. humor, and communication are recurring topics, especially in modern dating.
• The jewelry segment combines listener suspense with real education, demystifying how jewelers spot authenticity.
• The cast’s interplay (“Get some testosterone!”; “Be a dude chick!”) keeps things energetic and unpredictable.

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Listeners who missed this episode will get both relatable relationship advice and some fascinating tidbits on diamonds — all wrapped up in the characteristic Bert Show banter.

---

Transcript

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[D]

All right, we got Ash Lynn ready to go. This is the girl that we were talking about that accidentally was naked in front of her boyfriend's roommate and thinks that maybe her boyfriend was behind it. Can you stick around for this? Because I think that you probably have some experience in this area.

[B]

You said naked girl. I figured. All right, I'll go ahead and stick around.

[D]

Hey, Ashlyn.

[C]

Hello.

[D]

How are you this morning?

[C]

I'm good. How are you?

[D]

Good, thank you. What are you wearing?

[A]

Shut up.

[C]

Very funny.

[D]

Thanks for emailing us and thanks for coming on this morning. This seems like it's a bit of a weird situation you got yourself into here.

[C]

Yeah, it's really, really awkward.

[D]

All right, give us the timing of the whole thing and all the details.

[C]

Basically, I've been dating this guy for like two months, and I stay at his place a lot and he kind of stays at mine. Monday, I was staying at his house, and it was like 11, 11:30, and he asked me to go get us some water. And I started, like, putting a sweatshirt on and putting some clothes on. He's like, oh, no, don't worry about it. Nobody's home. Because his two roommates are usually there. And he was like, oh, they're not home. So I go into the kitchen, and Brad, his roommate, was in the kitchen, and I had no clothes on, and I freaked out, ran back in, and he thought it was. And I told him. I was like, oh, my God. Brad was just in the kitchen, and he thought it was hysterical. He started laughing. He wasn't comforting me at all. I don't know if he did that on purpose. I don't know if that's something like guys do to tell me to go in there. I was so humiliated.

[A]

Was there any way for him to know his roommate was in the kitchen at the time, though?

[C]

I mean. No, I didn't hear anything either. But he knows his schedule. He insisted that neither of his roommates were home.

[B]

Do you mind me asking how old you guys are?

[C]

Yeah, I'm 24.

[B]

How old is he?

[C]

25.

[B]

25. It doesn't sound like something that you would do on purpose. I mean, I wouldn't want my roommates.

[C]

Like, he thought it was the most. The most hysterical thing ever.

[D]

See, now there might be, like, if you're 19 or 20 years old, I could almost see, like, some moron doing that, you know? But I don't know. Does this sound like.

[B]

It doesn't sound like he did it with anything intended, you know, he was just like, oh, you want to get a glass of water? Yeah, go ahead. I mean, it was late at night, so.

[E]

Right.

[C]

But I just don't know why he didn't. He insisted on me not putting my sweatshirt and my sweatpants on.

[D]

So he insists on this? Yeah.

[C]

He's like, oh, no, no, no, no. Don't worry about it. Just run and get some water. When I started getting dressed again and wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

[D]

So let's just. Let's assume that he did this on purpose. What's the motivation behind it? Just as a joke with he and his roommate.

[C]

Honestly, that's what I'm asking.

[A]

To show off his hot girls.

[C]

Is this something guys do? Is this funny to you? I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of. It's kind of funny. I mean, if he knew one of his roommates was home and you were completely naked.

[C]

That's not funny at all.

[B]

Yeah, it is mean. Well, I don't think he meant like mean mean. I just thought it's a guy's sense of humor. We're, you know, we're like that. We're idiots. Yeah, we're very simplistic. We're amoebas.

[D]

404-741-1005 so you think there is a chance that he did it on Purp just as kind of a joke with his roommate?

[A]

I mean, isn't that totally disrespectful to her?

[D]

Completely. If he did that, it's. It's obviously not a guy that. Well, you know, I'll use the title of a new book. He's just not that into you. If he would do that.

[B]

No, I don't think so. I mean, it's just, it's. Now look, it's not like he's, it's not like he's telling his roommates to look through the window if you guys were doing anything physical. I mean, this is just like a naked body, like, whoa, you're naked.

[E]

Haha.

[B]

Like a streaker or something. It doesn't sound like he's trying to do anything that mean.

[C]

I mean, for a girl, it's pretty mean.

[B]

Well, I mean, if you guys were like in the middle. If you guys were in the middle of something like say, making love, and he told his roommates to like look in the window at 11:30, then that's sick. That's mean.

[D]

Do you see a lot of difference between the two scenarios that Crash is saying and the one that actually happened?

[C]

I mean, I do. Obviously that would be a little more like offensive if somebody wants that. But I mean, I, I still think it's similar. I mean, I was, I wasn't wearing any clothes, like for a girl. That's really, really.

[D]

And you weren't wearing them because he told you not to wear them?

[C]

Yeah, he insisted that nobody was home. Just run to the kitchen and get his water.

[A]

I mean, if it was intentional, if he knew the roommate was home, it's disrespectful because it's like he was making a mockery of you, like so that you can be the funny little joke between him and his buddies. I just think that's totally disrespectful. And that means that he's not serious about you. Because I think that most guys will talk about their women or their women's bodies or what they're like in bed if they don't have respect. For them. But if they plan to be with this woman for a really long time, then they're not going to talk about their sexual escapades with that woman.

[D]

Crash doesn't agree with this.

[B]

No, come on, you know, you talk. You chicks talk just as much as men do. You guys talk even worse. And you don't mean it disrespectfully. Bert and I like sometimes joke around. Hey, lady Crash, you know, the other day we were fooling around and woo, it was all fun. And you girls do the same thing and you don't mean disrespect about it. That's just the way humans are. We're curious creatures.

[A]

And listen, I think we're analyzing this too much because 25 year old been together for two months and you know what, Even if my partner said don't worry about it, I'm still putting a sweatshirt on if I'm leaving the room. So I. And the fact that there's a, you know, the fact that he would know the precise moment his roommate was in the kitchen, you know, I just don't think there was that much thought put behind it, you know? And I think that you're more upset by his reaction than what actually happened.

[C]

Well, yeah, his reaction.

[D]

That kind of speaks volumes though. Hey. Hey, Darlene. What's going on?

[C]

Yes, how are you?

[D]

Good, how are you?

[C]

Oh, I'm pretty good. And yes, the roommate is involved and I agree with her. You know, you're making too much out of it. They're young and he's not into her like that or he wouldn't have let the roommate see her. He wouldn't even be talking about her. And it's just one of those guys think she's just one of those girls and she needs to accept her place.

[D]

I'll disagree with Crash on that also in that if I think when guys are dating women that they're really not interested in, then they'll give explicit details of what that woman's like in bed, you know, et cetera, et cetera. But if you're serious about somebody, and you certainly wouldn't talk about your wife like that either.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

You know what I'm saying?

[C]

Well, yeah.

[D]

I mean, most guys, yeah.

[A]

I mean, maybe Crash is an exception to that rule.

[B]

No, I mean, you don't get explicit about it. I mean, even I don't do that. But I still think this is just, this is almost like potty humor right now. Like, oh, you were naked. Ooty doody doody. Like I really. Even if he did do it on purpose. I don't think you should look at him. Like, he totally disrespected you, and he's not into you.

[C]

I mean, he could do.

[D]

I think he did it on purpose.

[C]

I don't think he's not into me. I just don't know if he's.

[D]

I think if he did it on purpose. You lose him today?

[A]

No, if you're serious about him, I mean, if you're.

[C]

I am. That's the problem.

[B]

Let him know how you feel. I mean, obviously, if he didn't. I mean, you only been together for two months, so obviously you don't know a lot about each other. He may have thought this was his kind of little man humor. You need to let him know, hey, this isn't funny. This is my body. I'm very serious about it. You and I, if we're going to continue this relationship, we need to stay together on this one. You need to back me up. Maybe that's just the way he is, with a little bit of fun. Fun humor. And didn't realize you would react this way.

[A]

I mean, you're still in a stage.

[E]

Hello?

[D]

Hold on one sec.

[A]

Dave, you're still in a stage where you're getting to know each other and. Yeah, no, if I was her, I mean. And based on his reaction, she has every right to be upset by his reaction, and I would really reconsider the relationship because people just don't all of a sudden, after six months, change into these ma. Human beings. You're getting a look at him, you know, and his reaction to things like this, and, you know, like Crash said, if you want to talk about it and get to know each other that way and say, this is, you know, disrespectful, whatever. But, yeah, I mean, I think that you're getting to know about him and he's getting to know about you, and you got to determine now is it worth it, because at two months, it's a lot easier to leave than it would be in two years.

[D]

Hey, Dave.

[C]

Hey, Bert.

[B]

Hey, Dave.

[C]

Crash, do me a favor. Walk over and hands Burt some testosterone.

[B]

Tell him to eat it, good night.

[C]

Be a dude chick. I mean, simple deal.

[D]

What does that mean? Like, if I'm a dude, I can be disrespectful to women?

[C]

No, no, no, it's not disrespectful, but just, you know, everyone. It's not. Every. Every situation is not like, you know, violins and soft, cuddly kitties. Simple deal. Dude set his girl up. Thought it was Gonna be funny. She doesn't find it funny. Tell your. Tell your dude it wasn't funny. Disrespectful. And if it's disrespectful to you, leave dude. Find new dude. But I guess guarantee you right now your honeymoon period is definitely over.

[A]

Hey, dude, let me ask you, you know, as the representative of testosterone, are you married?

[C]

No.

[A]

Are you in a serious relationship?

[C]

I'm sorry?

[A]

Are you in a serious relationship?

[C]

Very much so.

[A]

You are? Okay. So would you make it a joke out of your serious girlfriend to show her naked to your buddies?

[C]

Let me say this. Me, I'm 42 years old, so I'm way beyond the potty humor kind of crapola. And I wouldn't disrespect my woman like that because I love her and I'm gonna marry her. That's me. But I'm also not gonna. You know, to be honest with you, 42 years old, I've been in a relationship for three years, and I don't sleep. I didn't sleep with my girl until like, six months into our relationship because.

[B]

I wanted to make a relationship.

[D]

Come on, be a guy. You should have been trying to hit that after the first time.

[A]

How about you take a bite of testosterone? D. Come on.

[B]

You should have been trying to hit that.

[C]

I just love my woman and I want to make.

[D]

Kind of guy stays in a relationship for six months.

[B]

That sounds like kitty.

[A]

Kitty stuff.

[B]

You know who this guy was? You know who this guy is? This guy's the mountain climber on the Price is Right. He was going all the way up the mountain. He just fell off.

[C]

Dude, I'm just telling you, have a.

[B]

Little consistency for a long time. Great.

[C]

See, I'm sticking with relationship for a long time. And.

[A]

That's what Ashlin is trying to find out. Like, is this an act of disrespect? And I think he just proved it. It is.

[B]

It might have been. It might have been a little bit of disrespect, but I don't think it's the fact that you're going to leave the guy or the relationship. The relationship. The relationship is only two months old.

[D]

So what if this is the kind of guy that is capable of doing something like this and isn't sensitive to her? Yeah. Bye.

[C]

Yeah, I admit that he did it, so I can't confront him and say, don't do that again.

[B]

It's like America's Funniest Home Videos. That's all it is. This is. You guys are way overreacting. You're so overreacting to this.

[A]

No, I disagree. Because if Ash. Ashley. Ashlyn's you know, emotions are legitimate, like, she is legitimately embarrassed, she's legitimately upset, and you're coming crash from it. From his perspective, which may be potty humor, fine. Can these two mesh? I mean, she shouldn't disregard how she feels just because he may be simplistic.

[B]

I agree, but she should let him know, hey, this isn't what I'm like after two months. You don't know that. They're 25 years old. They're still both very immature. And come on. The guy was like, I don't think my roommate's home. Go ahead. That's little potty humor. But to the fact where it's like, you're making it sound like the guy's got cameras set up all over his house and he's gonna have sex with her, and then all of a sudden, like, put it on the Internet.

[D]

I think that just.

[A]

It's.

[D]

It's so disrespectful and so indecent to do to somebody that you really care about.

[A]

And again, I think the issue also is his reaction to it. Like, I think that if he had been comforting to her and consoling to her, it would not have mattered whether he set her up or not.

[E]

It.

[A]

She's mostly upset by the fact that he laughed when she came in and she was upset. That's what she's upset about.

[B]

It would be nice after the fact. I don't know how long ago this happened, but it would be nice after his little laughing and his reaction and she still expresses her feelings. It would be like, okay, you know, maybe you're right. I am sorry. I do apologize. It was just a joke that he does. Eventually, if he sees that she is hurt, he should say he's sorry. You know, I mean, he does have to apologize. But again, I just. I don't see this being just done with malice. I can't.

[D]

Hey, Jennifer.

[C]

Hey, good morning, guys.

[D]

Good morning. You'll be the last caller on this. Go ahead.

[C]

Okay, well, I just had a question. Was the roommate in the kitchen, like, eating a bowl of macaroni, waiting for her to walk in? Or did he see her and was like, holy crap, someone else is in the kitchen, too?

[D]

Yeah. Did he look startled? Did he look surprised? Yeah.

[C]

I mean, if he's doing something, the refrigerator door was open. But, I mean, like, if you were set up, then he'd be sitting there waiting for you. Don't you think he wouldn't be in his boxers going, damn, I could really go for a beer.

[D]

No, I think what he'd do is he tried to make himself look busy.

[B]

And then, oh, what a surprise.

[D]

Who knew if it was set up?

[A]

Guys are simplistic, though. I mean, he wouldn't be able to pull it off very convincingly if it was set up.

[B]

He was in there painting the kitchen, you know, so if it looks set.

[A]

Up, it probably was, you know?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And no offense, but if I've been someone who I'm just starting to date in their apartment, they've got roommates. There is no way I'm going to the kitchen naked. I don't care if you tell me nobody's there. I am not dropping that sweatshirt just because my partner said to drop it.

[D]

Hey, Ashlyn. Here. And really, I think Melissa hit on it that the bigger issue here is because you'll never know if he set you up or not. The reaction to you being upset is probably the thing you need to look at here.

[A]

And that's what you're upset about, right?

[B]

Yeah, but come on, Burt.

[A]

Get some testosterone.

[B]

No, I'm gonna wait six months to.

[D]

Have sex with my wife.

[B]

Ashlyn, I'm being serious when I ask you this. It's crash. Are you, like, hot?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, there you go. You just answered your uncle. You have nothing to worry about then. You're hot.

[D]

See ya, Ashlyn. Bye now.

[B]

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Drew, ski lift with your legs, man.

[A]

Santa. Santa, did you get my letter?

[B]

He's talking to you, britches.

[C]

I'm not.

[A]

Of course he did.

[B]

Right, Santa you know my elf Drew Ski here, he handles the nice list. And elf, I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile you can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies, right, Mrs. Claus?

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I'm Mrs. Claus's much younger sister. And at T mobile there's no trade in needed when you switch. So you can keep your old phone.

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Or give it as a gift.

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And the best part, you can make the switch to T mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.

[B]

Guys, my side of the tree is slipping. Kimber, the holidays are better. AT T Mobile switch in just 15 minutes and get iPhone 17 on us with no trade in needed. And now T mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 advice. Connection charge credits and balance due to if you pay off earlier, cancel finance agreement 256 gigs, $830 eligible board in a new line, $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and days required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line.

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[D]

Alright, we have Annette Esposito in studio this morning from Holly Springs Jewelers. And I think it's really funny that when we ask Birch show listeners, look, if you got a piece of jewelry that you were really kind of on the fence about that you didn't know if it was real or if it was fake, would you want to know? And we took a whole bunch of calls and like 80% of those calls from women said yeah, I would want to know one way or another. Even if I did it without my husband knowing that I went and I got the education. I would want to know if it's a. If It's a real diamond or not. Right. So we had all these people set up over the last couple of weeks, and one by one, they have dropped out when reality struck. And we told them, look, we can do this thing until we got down to one person. I'm not exactly sure why that is, but. What's that?

[B]

Chickens?

[D]

Would you just rather not know and just assume?

[A]

It looks so fifth grade.

[D]

You're yeller, you're chicken.

[A]

Well, I wonder if when it comes to crunch time like you said, I wonder if they're like, it would change. Oh, my God. If you found out it was fake. I mean, just imagine the repercussions of that, you know, like if you had this engagement ring, especially, that you found out was fake. I don't know.

[D]

Wouldn't you want to know the truth the one way or the other? Or would you just like to say, you know what? I'm sure it's real, and talk yourself into believing it is?

[A]

If you've been waiting a long time to get engaged, I'm not sure you want to know right off the bat. You might want to bask in that.

[D]

Glory for a little while. Okay, well, first we're going to put Tracy's jewelry underneath the microscope here. And there's kind of monocle underneath the monocle.

[E]

It's a loop.

[D]

A loop. All right. And then we're going to talk to Birch show listener Kristen, whose story is a little bit more intriguing. But, trace, tell us the history behind this piece of jewelry.

[A]

Well, my mom and dad started dating when they were very, very young. And my dad gave my mom a pair of diamond earrings, or I'm assuming they're diamond earrings. When they were 16 years old, my mom lost one of them in the beach. So of course, they're now divorced, and she thought I might like to have the other one. So I had it made into a necklace. But I'm. I don't know. He was 16. Like, can 16 year olds really afford diamonds? But then it's never been told to me that they weren't real diamonds, so I have no idea.

[D]

Does your mom just assume that they were real?

[A]

I don't think she's ever said, like, I think that I've always just assumed they were diamonds. And she's never told me differently. You know, like, I always just said, it's your diamond, you know? You know? You know your diamond earring that you lost. Can I make it into a necklace? And she's like, yeah, sure, your dad gave it to me. So she never said, well, Honey, they're not real diamonds.

[D]

Would this. If you find out it's fake, will you start wearing it less?

[A]

Actually, I don't wear it that much now because I'd always assumed it was real. And it meant so much to me because my dad gave it to my mom that I never wanted to risk losing it. So I kind of have it. But. So I guess I wouldn't wear it less, but I'd kind of be a little bummed, I guess, because, I mean, don't you kind of want to think that. I mean, it's. Isn't it more of a romantic story that my dad gave my mom a diamond at 16 rather than a cubic zirconium?

[D]

Yes, it is.

[A]

But then, you know, think about. You could wear it more because, I mean, if it's not real and you lose it.

[D]

Yeah, you can wear it all the time. Now there's silver lining.

[A]

It's still got sentimental value. Just won't be as expensive to replace. You know what? Now I'm thinking, okay, it's seven o'. Clock. My mom's in the car right now, and she didn't ask for this. And as far as she knows, she got a diamond at 16. And as far as she knows, she passed on a diamond to her daughter.

[D]

All right, well, you're gonna find out very quickly if it's the real deal or not.

[A]

Tracy's mom turned down the radio.

[E]

It was. It's real. It's real.

[A]

Go, dad.

[D]

Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

[E]

And just looking at it, it's got a pretty big inclusion, like an i1, which means that that's probably why he could afford it, too, because it wasn't. It's a diamond. It's white, but it's got a little bit of inclusions in it, so.

[A]

And what's inclusion?

[E]

It's like there's different things in diamonds because they're natural. So they could have different. They could have diamonds inside diamonds. They can have carbon. They can have garnets. There can be different elements inside a gar. Inside a diamond.

[B]

Bert. Not might be able to remember, but I can tell you what an inclusion is because I think most guys know more about diamonds than women do.

[D]

Is.

[E]

I think I'd be educated to buy one.

[B]

Oh, I went to school when I bought Jessica's diamond. Like, I mean, I got school, though.

[A]

To say that guys know more about diamonds than women do.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

You think?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you know the scale? Do you know the four Cs? I know the scale is for all of them.

[A]

I'm not gonna get a diamond, so I don't. I didn't educate myself.

[C]

Honestly.

[D]

I think. I don't think most guys know more than women do.

[A]

I think Jeff may be right.

[B]

Absolutely.

[D]

Clarity. Cut, Cut. Yeah, I'm out. There's another one.

[E]

Carrot weight.

[D]

Carrot carat. There you go. And inclusions are just like the little flaws and stuff in it.

[E]

Yes. And you're gonna. On some diamonds, you're gonna see them more easily than others. And I. One means imperfect.

[D]

Okay, I told you.

[A]

Oh, I'm sorry. But I just want to say specify what the inclusion is in this particular piece.

[E]

It looks like another crystal.

[A]

Okay.

[E]

So it's a diamond. And diamond.

[D]

So there's kind of a cool story behind it. I mean, it would probably cost him a fortune back then, you know what I'm saying? Like, he probably. I don't know.

[A]

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, a fortune isn't that much for a 16 year old.

[D]

That's what I'm saying, though.

[E]

So he.

[A]

I mean, yeah, he made the effort to get my mom diamond earrings, so that's cool.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And she lost one of them at the beach. God.

[D]

While she was making out with another guy. I know, it's terrible.

[B]

God, that's heartbreaking that she lost one.

[D]

Is this about the time of year where a bunch of women will come in to find out if it's real or not?

[E]

Actually, men and women, I mean, we have. I have stuff come through all the time, being a gemologist. I get to. They want to bring it to me to tell them if it's real or not. And I do it all the time. Yeah, I just did it yesterday again to another guy. He inherited a bunch of jewelry from his mother and he doesn't know if it's real or not. So I have to go through and pick out what's real and not.

[D]

I would think that this would be about the time of year that women got jewelry around the holidays. And for three or four weeks it's starting to eat at them. Like they're just not sure. And this would be the week where they go, screw it, I'm gonna go find it.

[A]

Right, Exactly.

[E]

Let me go get it cleaned for Valentine's. Yeah.

[D]

Cleaned, yeah.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

You wanna take a look at that while you're cleaning it? Thank you.

[D]

Is that what they usually say? That's the excuse they use to get in there.

[E]

Well, it's been about a month and it's time to get it cleaned.

[B]

Let me ask a question that all Women wanna know the answer to how easily can you or a trained eye spot a fake immediately if somebody's wearing a big old three karat cubic zirconia, can you tell in passing?

[E]

Oh, yeah. Cubic zirconia. Zirconia is going to look a little.

[B]

Purpley to us, like in passing.

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

So you don't even have to have your.

[E]

Well, it depends. I mean, if it's really clean. Yeah, it's hard to tell. But people don't keep their jewelry that clean. So as soon as the cube saconia gets dirty, it gets like a haze and oily surface to it. So it's easier for us to tell.

[D]

All right, before we get you on here with virtual listener Kristen, who wants to know about her ring, Kelly has a question for you. Good morning, Kelly.

[C]

Good morning.

[D]

Hi.

[C]

My question is, every time I'm around a black light, one of my diamonds glow. I have three diamonds in my ring and one of them glows. And I'm sort of curious, is that sort of saying that it's not real or.

[E]

Actually, that's saying it is real. What happens is a lot of diamonds, it's called fluorescence. And back in the 70s when disco was really popular, they used to call them disco diamonds. Cause you'd go into the black light and your diamonds would glow.

[D]

Oh, really? Yeah.

[B]

I'm really curious as to why you're spending so much time around black light.

[C]

Actually, I first noticed it when we took our kids to Rock City and you go through the little fairyland and.

[D]

We'Re pointing stuff out.

[C]

And my husband and I noticed that a couple of our diamonds were glowing. And we started questioning, oh my gosh. Because we had them specially made. We thought we might have got gypped or. But only one of them glows. That means there's different diamonds, different types of diamonds in our rings.

[E]

Oh, yeah, there's all kinds of different diamonds. They have different elements that make them glow. They'll have. Sometimes they'll glow purple, orange. You know, they'll change colors too when the fluorescence hits them.

[D]

Did you think that she just had like one room that had all those rock and roll posters, you know, the.

[B]

Spencer's Gifts Museum, lava lamps, those big glass things that you touch and the little light goes to your hand. Black Sabbath poster.

[D]

All right, Annette Esposito from Holly Springs Jewelers is here. And let's get virtual listener Kristen on the voice disguiser activated. Hello, Kristen. Hello.

[B]

Did you pick her up?

[D]

Nope. Hey, Kristin.

[E]

Hello.

[D]

There you go. How are you?

[C]

Fine.

[D]

How are you doing good? You're on the voice disguiser. There's no way that anybody could recognize your voice at this point. Okay.

[C]

Okay, good.

[D]

Okay, give us a little history behind the ring that Annette is going to be taking a look at here.

[C]

Okay. The ring was a Christmas gift. It didn't come in a box. It came on the tree. There's no paperwork on it. I haven't been told the clarity, the size, where it's from, anything. My husband can't give me any of that information. So I'm just kind of curious.

[D]

What is his reasoning for not giving you that information?

[C]

He just doesn't know. He just. He just kicked it out is what happened.

[B]

He just takes it out from somebody else's house in the middle of the night when they were not home or.

[A]

Well, I. I think she probably can't give too many details because, I mean, she is on the voice disguiser and she doesn't want her husband, right, to know in case he is listening, you know, so she can't give exactly word for word what he said to her. You know, did he get. Did he. I mean, did he say, though, he did go to, like, a store?

[C]

Yes. Excuse me. He did say he got it from a jewelry store. But when I ask him, I'm being nosy, so that's what I'm told, that I'm being nosy.

[B]

But you still should. If you get a rock like that, you need to get it insured. And for that you should get the paperwork from the jewelry store. They'll give you an appraisal. Even a pawn shop will do that.

[C]

Well, I asked for that, and he didn't get it. And I can't imagine why. He couldn't even tell me what size it is. I mean, I don't even know what the carrot is on it.

[D]

If you find out that this thing is a fake, how will it change your attitude towards the ring and towards your husband?

[C]

Well, first, I don't know. I'm really nervous right now because, I don't know, I mean, what do you say to your husband? Thanks for the fake ring. Love you, too.

[A]

Well, I think even if it's real, it brings up questions because if he didn't insure it, like, to me, even if it's real, I would question where it came from. Who did it come from? I don't think it came from a store.

[C]

I don't either because it's not financed. I haven't seen any bills, and there wasn't money taken out of savings. And I mean, I'M Burt. When it comes to finances, he does everything. But I at least know how much is in the bank and there's nothing gone.

[A]

She says she's clueless about finances like you are.

[D]

Yeah, I do nothing. My wife takes care of all the finances in the house, so we're in that boat together. Yeah.

[A]

Is your husband a pretty well off guy? I mean, we talking about somebody who could afford a real diamond?

[C]

He could afford a real diamond, but I don't know that at his time. We could afford a real diamond. Okay, we're not poor, but, you know, I don't. We just got a new car as.

[D]

Well, so it does raise an interesting point. Like, if you find out that it's fake, what do you say to your husband? First. First you're offended that he gives you a fake ring. Then he's offended that you didn't trust him enough, and then I don't. Boy.

[B]

What do you say?

[D]

Anything for the house of mirrors or do you say anything at all? Right.

[C]

Well, my husband is the kind of person who can turn anything that he does around on anybody else who's involved.

[A]

He's a man.

[C]

In the end of the conversation, it would be my fault.

[D]

Yeah, we go to class for that.

[A]

That's years and years of training. Like her genealogy training. That's what the Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scouts, all those. That's what they do. They teach kids that it's not campfires and crap like that.

[D]

We're not learning what north is where south is.

[A]

Those patches for how to lie and how to turn things around on other people. Manipulation school.

[D]

Okay, Kristen, at this point, I will turn it over to Annette Esposito from Holly Springs Jewelers. And she's going to be brutally honest with you if this thing is real or not. Okay?

[C]

Okay.

[D]

Okay, Annette, take it from here.

[E]

It's real.

[D]

It's real.

[E]

Yes. Thank you.

[A]

It's real. That's a realist.

[E]

They're really nice diamonds, too. They're a little off color, but they're very, very clean.

[C]

Oh, okay. So they're off color. How big is it? Can you tell?

[E]

You've got probably about 3/4 carat in the center and about 70s on each side. So you're about a carat and a half total. Way a little over.

[C]

Oh, okay.

[B]

So the good news is you've got a real ring. The bad news is it's probably stolen.

[D]

He took it off a corpse. Well, Kristen, congratulations. At least. At least it's the better of both of two alternatives here. It's real. Right.

[C]

Yes. Well, I mean, even if it is stolen, honestly, if it's real, I don't really care.

[A]

If this were in your shop, about how much would this ring cost?

[E]

You're probably going to be as they're very clean, so you're probably going to be about 4700, 5000.

[A]

Wow.

[D]

About five grand.

[A]

All right, Kristen.

[C]

Hey, that's not too bad.

[D]

Now you're going to start. See, no, but like Melissa says, women think and think and think. So now you're going to start getting all stressed about where'd the money come from?

[A]

Is it an heirloom? Is it something he bought for somebody else in the past? Is it, you know, like all these. Not to plant a scene.

[C]

Think about that.

[A]

So now, of course, I'm sorry.

[D]

Sorry.

[A]

Krista's husband.

[E]

Actually, the mount is kind of new, so I wouldn't think it'd be that.

[A]

Okay, see?

[B]

Okay, so maybe he had. Maybe he proposed to somebody else and was just holding onto the stone and then had the stones replaced in a resetting.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Maybe you would do that, Jeff?

[B]

I'm just wondering if that's a possibility and that.

[D]

Would that be a possibility?

[E]

Well, one of the diamonds is. Is an older cut. It's got. It's called an open culet at the bottom of the stone is open. So they're not all cut the same.

[D]

Which means what?

[E]

That one stone's a lot older than the others.

[B]

So he did get one stone from somewhere else, which.

[A]

No, you could have put it together that way. I'm just curious. I mean, not CSI doing anything. So the. Can you tell us the name of the older cut? Is it. Which stone is it? Is it the center stone or the side stone? One of the sidestones. Okay.

[B]

Is it possible to tell us the name of the other woman he loved?

[E]

Unfortunately, it's not lasered on the side. Otherwise I could be up for you.

[A]

Etched inside the van.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

All right, Kristen, you found out it's real, but now you've got a whole other set of questions that need to be answered.

[C]

So, yes, thank you for that.

[D]

All right. Thank you for coming. She's actually in the other studio.

[A]

Right.

[D]

But we had to put her on the voice of God.

[A]

Kristen's gonna come in studio and, you know, slap my face or something here in a second, but.

[D]

All right, Kristen, thanks a lot. And I'm gonna put you. Well, I don't need to put you on hold because you're in the other studio. Come on down here.

[A]

Come on and get your.

[D]

Honey, I see you Later. Bye bye.

[B]

Get it? The bird Show. The longer you stay alive, the longer you can enjoy Boost Mobile's unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. So here are some tips. Do not parallel park on a cliff. If you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with a price that never goes up, do not mistake a wasp nest for a pinata. If you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. Do not microwave a hard boiled egg. If you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with the price that never goes up. Stay alive and enjoy Unlimited Wireless for 25amonth forever. With Boost Mobile, after 30 gigs, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay 25amonth as long as they remain active on the Boost Mobile unlimited plan.

[A]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[B]

Zoe. This thing weighs a ton.

[C]

Drew, lift with your legs, man.

[A]

Santa. Santa, did you get my letter?

[B]

He's talking to you British.

[C]

I'm not.

[A]

Of course he did. Right, Santa?

[B]

You know my elf Drew here. He handles the nice and elf. I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile. You can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. Right, Mrs. Claus?

[A]

I'm Mrs. Claus's much younger sister. And AT T Mobile there's no trade in needed when you switch. So you can keep your old phone.

[B]

Or give it as a gift.

[A]

And the best part, you can make the switch to T Mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.

[B]

Guys, my side of the tree is slipping.

[C]

Timber.

[B]

The holidays are better. And T Mobile switch in just 15 minutes and get iPhone 17 on us with no trade in needed. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 vice connection charge. Credit and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. 256 gigs $830 eligible for in a new line $100 plus a month plan without a payment. Taxes, fees required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line. Visit t mobile.com this episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.