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Podcast Host 1
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Podcast Host 2
Called us and he has fallen in love with his roommate.
Brandon
So we've been roommates for about two years now. I don't know, I just, I guess because we just spent so much time together and I really get to see who she is behind the scenes. Every girl I go out with, I thought, man, this girl's great. But I always see myself comparing them to her. I find her attractive. I Guess she finds me attractive, but it's one of those, like, she's always had a boyfriend. And then we just slowly. I just got really. Got to know her, and I'm like, man, she really is a cool person. You know, I don't want to be the rebound guy. You know, I feel like if I don't say something, that she's gonna steal her. At first, I think it was more of just a crush because we really just hung out a lot together, and I really got to know her. But, man, I really love this girl, but I'm afraid that I don't want to blow the friendship.
Podcast Host 2
Aww. So we talked to Brandon a little bit, and the women of the bird show and the women in the bird show community said, look, there's probably things she's been doing over the couple of years that may give you an indicator if she's into you or not. And some of those, like Wendy said, was if she cuddles up next to you on the couch while you guys are watching a movie, she has a blanket.
Jen
Blanket or pillow. Or she leaves her door cracked so.
Melissa
You can peek in.
Jeff
She's flashing here when she's getting changed or using the toilet.
Podcast Host 1
Right.
Melissa
Does she wear cute pajamas around the house and care about what she looks like, or does she just, like, slop around in old sweats and no makeup?
Wendy
Posture up.
Jen
Does she sit cool positions to maybe accentuate her booty?
Melissa
I think Melissa said it yesterday. Good posture means she likes you.
Wendy
That's right. That's right, man. That if a woman is like, oh, yeah, she's sticking out something for you.
Jen
Hey.
Wendy
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
So we sent Brandon, Just think of the last, you know, like, year, and has she done some of these things, sit around the apartment, see if any of these subtle indicators are there to let him know if he should make a move or not.
Wendy
And I was nervous because I thought, can he go home and just be subtle about it and just observe, or is he gonna ask questions he shouldn't and start saying things he shouldn't say?
Podcast Host 2
Because now he's looking at her through the eyes of somebody that might have a chance. So everything she does is going to be like, yes.
Wendy
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
She asked me to go ahead and use the remote last night.
Jeff
She loves me.
Podcast Host 2
It's a sure sign. Hey, Brandon.
Brandon
Hey, guys.
Podcast Host 2
Anything happen? You know, now that you knew what the subtle things were to look for, anything happened that might give you an indicator that, yeah, there might be a little chance here?
Brandon
Well, we were watching tv, and out of nowhere, she asked if she can get me something. And so she went and got me a beer from the refrigerator.
Wendy
Okay.
Podcast Host 2
Anybody?
Wendy
Well, she may have been getting up, getting herself something was just being polite.
Jeff
Do you think that maybe Wendy's in your head now with all of her subtle signs and everything that she does?
Brandon
Yeah, I think my head's still gonna blow up.
Podcast Host 2
Was she sitting close to you on the couch, or were you guys on opposite sides of the couch?
Brandon
Well, here's the thing. We're watching tv, and then she stretched out and she put her legs on my lap.
Jen
There you go.
Amy
That is a good sign, Wendy, that.
Jen
That's a clear sign.
Wendy
That's.
Jen
I would do that.
Podcast Host 2
She loves you.
Melissa
Now, would you also do that with a guy friend? If you felt comfortable enough with that guy friend and you thought, there's no way he's interested in me. There's no way he'll hit on me. Would you put your feet on the side?
Wendy
See?
Jen
No, I wouldn't do that to Adam Baum.
Podcast Host 1
No, no.
Wendy
That'd be awkward.
Podcast Host 2
That's a really good point though, Jen. Like, maybe she's gone so far over to the we're just friends side that she would. She would do that.
Jeff
Also overly comfortable, I think I would.
Melissa
Like, if you were just overly comfortable on the friend side, I think I would. So I don't know that if that one's as clear as we think, it's a good one.
Wendy
But at least there's a comfort level, you know, and a non sexual intimacy level there that's established. So I still think that, you know, these are signs on how safe it is for you to talk to her, because I do think that you eventually have to tell her how you feel. But at least I think these are signs that she's not going to, you know, kind of reject you harshly.
Podcast Host 2
We need to give him, like, concrete homework assignments. Like, if you have been in this situation before and your roommate turned into your lover and it ended up being a really serious relationship for a very long time, then how did you make that move? It's a difficult thing to travel down because I think in most cases, like, the first time, the two you hook up is generally over alcohol.
Wendy
Mm, yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Like, the chemistry is sort of there, and then it's booze that puts you over the edge. But if you're not gonna go that way, then what do you do?
Wendy
That's a great point.
Podcast Host 2
What have you done?
Wendy
My friends that were friends before or best friends or whatever and cross the line, it usually was alcohol induced.
Melissa
Mm.
Jeff
That's just it's like the universal lubricant. Like, it just makes everything go smoother. Everything. Good morning, Everything.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, we get it.
Melissa
We got it.
Podcast Host 2
Amy, you're on Q100. Good morning.
Amy
Good morning, guys. How are you?
Podcast Host 2
Good. You have some advice here for Brandon?
Amy
Yes. It is just so nice to hear this because it just brings back a lot of old feelings. I went through the same thing. I ended up marrying my roommate. We're expecting our first baby any day now, so congratulations. We have a really good relationship, and I couldn't imagine not have married, not being married to him. And I just love to hear that he's in love with her, and I just want him to go for it so much just because of my good story.
Podcast Host 2
But, well, outside of, like, right off the bat, just sitting her down, going, look, I'm having these feelings for you. What can he do that would give him better insight that this is going to be okay? Or to slowly let her know that this is a direction that it's going in? Ideally, I think the best game plan is doing something that she sort of feels like it's heading down that direction, and if she's not comfortable with it, she can subtly sort of turn him down without really turning him down.
Wendy
It doesn't have to be so awkward.
Podcast Host 2
You know what I'm saying?
Wendy
But how did it happen? How did it happen with you and your husband?
Amy
Well, my situation is totally different. It was actually my roommate's boyfriend that she had brought into to live with us.
Jeff
Oh, damn.
Amy
Yeah, so it's like drama in itself, but as it turned out, he moved out and we ended up dating, and so. And then I got married. So it's a. I guess, a little bit different story.
Melissa
Were you your maid of honor?
Amy
No.
Podcast Host 2
Can you give him any advice on what he can do?
Amy
Tell her.
Podcast Host 2
No, it's too soon.
Amy
If he had not have told me, I never would have done it.
Wendy
Never.
Amy
And so I don't know what else to say, because my situation. If he hadn't told me, I wouldn't be married right now, and I wouldn't be extremely happy.
Melissa
What were the words he used? Like, how did he tell you?
Amy
We actually went to a football game at Auburn, and when we got there, we spent a weekend together, just us. And I just saw qualities in them that I was looking for that I never thought about until just me and him were together.
Podcast Host 2
Okay, here's one thing. Here's what I'm taking from that right now. Now, it's not an Auburn game, but is there something, Brandon, that You can do with her for a full day, where you guys are one on one with each other for a full day. So maybe she'll get the same. Have the same thoughts that this listener had.
Jeff
Also, like tantric lovemaking.
Melissa
Subtle Again, really subtle.
Podcast Host 2
Is there an opportunity to do that?
Brandon
What I was thinking was maybe, you know, go out to eat or something. But not asking on a date, but maybe like saying, I want to a gift card from work and say that I gotta use it by this weekend. And if she says, then, you know, maybe she's definitely interested.
Jeff
So you're almost tricking her into a date.
Brandon
Well, I guess that's a good move. But if she says no, then I know she's not interested at all. Right?
Wendy
I don't know if that's the right move to make or not. Because even as a friend, if somebody said, hey, I got a gift card and I gotta use it by this week and you wanna go, even if it's a good friend of mine, I'd be like, well, why can't you just take me to dinner? But going along, what Bert was saying, is there something to. Like, we talked about how she broke up with her boyfriend or her and her boyfriend broke up. I forgot how long ago it was. And, you know, maybe is it an opportunity where he could tell her, you know, let's just get you. I just want to. I don't know how to put this. It can't be a weekend thing, because obviously that's too bold. But then I think dinner's too subtle. I think what Bert's saying is right. Like something where you say, I'm just going to take you away, get your mind off of things. You want to go to the blah. And be a little more bold than a dinner. I don't think that's bold enough.
Melissa
I think it's definitely gonna be a daytime activity. Whether they go art museum or something like that.
Jen
Maybe aquarium or something. Do like a downtown Atlanta day or something.
Podcast Host 2
Something where you have to interact all day long.
Melissa
Lunch and then braves. Cause I know they're in town on Saturday.
Wendy
But I think her story about the Auburn thing is somehow they were trapped together. If you go to the aquarium or you go somewhere else, she can always say, hey, well, let's take so and so and so and so.
Jeff
Can you get a friend to take you both hostage and leave you locked in the same room together for like.
Podcast Host 2
24 hours and then struggle together will bring you tightness.
Wendy
I think what everybody's trying to get to, though, is there's Got to be something he does where he can get a definitive answer or some clue.
Jeff
The date, the fake date.
Wendy
I don't think that's. I mean, friends go to dinner all the time.
Jeff
Yeah, but he's saying he's gonna say hey.
Wendy
So he's gonna downplay it and say.
Jeff
Hey, look, I've got a gift card. Do you want to go to dinner?
Wendy
I don't spend any money on you.
Jeff
You're creating the trap, right?
Wendy
Here's a gift card you're creating.
Jeff
Hey, hold on. They're poly pessimistic over there. Listen to my story. He's creating the trap. Like, hey, I've got card. You want to go? So now he's not boldly saying he's not asking her on a date. He's inviting her to spend time because of some other circumstance. So he gets her in there, then they have a great dinner, and they have a couple drinks at dinner. Universal lubricant, right? Vodka. So they have a couple drinks at dinner, and then he has. That's the perfect opportunity for him or even her to suggest afterwards that they continue their date somewhere else. And by 2am they're making the beast of two backs.
Wendy
As roommates, do you two hang out a lot?
Brandon
Well, you know, a lot of times we get home from work around the same time. So a lot of times we eat at the apartment, you know, if we have, you know, no plans until later.
Wendy
Because some, you know, roommates and some, you know, friends hang out a lot and do things together. I just wondering if going to dinner and hanging out after dinner is unique for you guys.
Brandon
I mean, we've done it a couple times.
Podcast Host 2
You got to do something bald. A little bit more, I think, than dinner. If you guys are doing that and it's not a special night, then there's no indicator here. Hey, Maryanne. Good Morning. You're on Q100.
Amy
Listen, everybody's getting. Giving you advice is to let her know what you think about her and that if she reacts this way, you'll know that she's not into you. Well, bottom line is even if she's not quite into you, you don't want to frighten her. She still could get into you. What I'm saying is take a day on a Saturday and say, let's go for a short trip, nothing very long. I would recommend driving to Chattanooga for the day, go up to the aquarium there, have lunch and come back. Just do a one day thing.
Jeff
Just, you know, that's gonna be a tough sell. Hey, you wanna go To Chattanooga to go to the aquarium.
Podcast Host 2
Well, why don't we just go?
Jeff
Do you know the biggest one in the world is right there?
Amy
No, I'm talking about a trip into Tennessee on a cool day, a nice summer day. And the mountains are beautiful, the drive is beautiful.
Wendy
I'm working more on the car ride.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, just something like, you know what?
Jeff
Let's get out of here.
Podcast Host 2
Let's just like, something like, let's just get away from the stress. Let's just go to Chattanooga. I mean, I know it's not a place that we would normally go, but let's just go. Ha.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
Wendy
No, I totally think it has to be something like that. Trapped in the car or, I mean.
Melissa
I don't know, trapped in the carp. And I'm like, why don't you just kidnap her roommate? Why do you keep saying trapped? Jeff's like, trap her in when the gifts are due again.
Jeff
Trap her in the car for two hours, Put her in a box under your bed and feed her and take her out when you want to play with her.
Wendy
But if you're trying to have a non date date, then you got to have her attention somehow. Because if it's.
Melissa
If a guy asked me to go for a day trip anywhere, your roommate.
Wendy
Your roommate who you've known for two.
Melissa
Years, you would still know it was going in that direction, which I guess is good. Cause if she says yes, maybe she's into you.
Podcast Host 2
And this could be the subtle. If she says no, then it could be this. You know, she's defining the line without it being uncomfortable.
Melissa
Cause we know when you're trying to get us alone.
Wendy
That's the whole point, is for him to find out if she's into him or not. So not to dance around it to where it takes forever and she ends up dating somebody else.
Jeff
Why don't you just do this? When she comes home from work tonight, be smelling her clothes. And that will be a perfect indication that you want the relationship to go a little bit.
Wendy
Why don't you just drop your pants to your ankles?
Podcast Host 2
Naked. Naked on the couch.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
Jeff
Wear her clothes. Take off.
Melissa
All in your head.
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Podcast Host 2
So we told you guys that Jeff and I were in Denver for a convention. Jeff actually was there for a couple hours, and I stayed.
Wendy
He went in with good intentions and then changed his flight and came back early.
Podcast Host 2
So I went out to dinner every night with all these different radio guys. Me and a guy that used to work here and a guy from Florida paid for dinner. Well, we all went out to dinner with another group of about, I don't know, probably four or five people. And Dylan decided that he was gonna pick up the check because Dylan works in Denver now.
Melissa
Mm.
Podcast Host 2
So he thought, you know what? It's sort of my hometown, so we've all had a great time here, so I'm gonna go ahead, I'm gonna pick up the check. Which he did.
Melissa
This is generous.
Podcast Host 2
This was Friday night. Yeah. I mean, it's your hometown.
Melissa
Sort of like he was hosting.
Podcast Host 2
He was hosting, right. So he pays the check without incident. We take off, we have a great time. And the next day, I go out with Dylan again, and he says, dude, you know what happened to me last night? He's like, you know that bill that I paid for last night? And I said, yeah, of course. Thanks, man. Said it came to about 140 bucks. It's a lot of money, but, you know, you got six or eight people around. And he left a 14. No, it was 140. Yeah. $14 tip on $140 bill. 10%.
Wendy
Okay.
Podcast Host 2
Ooh. Wow. I don't know. Maybe he didn't think the service was great. I mean, 20% to me is standard. It's pretty much standard now.
Jeff
15% is like your baseline. Right.
Podcast Host 2
Who knows why? Maybe he was putting it on the radio station's dime and he was trying to save some money or whatever. But he realized that night when he got home that the server had crossed out the $14 and put another 14 bucks on there to make it a 20% tip.
Melissa
Now, is that standard for the restaurant that they charge gratuity for, like, large parties?
Podcast Host 2
I mean, there was only like. I mean, there were six or something of us there, I guess, total.
Wendy
But that's a good point. Some say.
Melissa
Some say like six or more. Eight or it's usually eight or more that they'll go ahead and just add the gratuity themselves.
Podcast Host 2
I've never heard six, but I haven't ever.
Melissa
I don't know about six. I don't know.
Podcast Host 2
So he couldn't believe it. And there was somebody, as he was telling the story the next day, that used to be a server and had zero sympathy for him at all. Because, like Jeff said, I mean, 10%, that's.
Melissa
That's kind of a middle finger.
Podcast Host 2
That's kind of a middle finger right there.
Jeff
If he didn't say anything like, I think a 10% gratuity is fair. If you say something to your server during the meal, like, if there's something. If the service is so bad and you address it and there's no corrective action taken. So if they're slow or rude or whatever, and you're like, hey, you know.
Melissa
Can you keep getting them wrong or something.
Jeff
I mean, we finish our drinks and we don't see it for 10 minutes. Can you help us out a little more? And the person's like, yeah, I'll see what I can do. Then you almost leave 10% to make a point, but I can't imagine ever leaving 15% less than 15% for no reason. So I kind of. I'm with the other servers.
Podcast Host 2
I think it's illegal, isn't it?
Jeff
Probably. I mean, it's.
Wendy
For him to have changed it like that.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah. For the server to have changed it and added more money. I mean, what's the difference? Let's say he wanted a 30% tip.
Melissa
Unless it's restaurant policy for groups that are that size.
Podcast Host 2
Let's say it was. But let's say six people. I don't know any restaurant at all that would have that standard for six people.
Melissa
But my point is that even so, he should have pointed it out to him.
Podcast Host 2
Sure.
Melissa
Like, if it was the restaurant policy to say, excuse me, sir, it is restaurant policy. Parties of this much or more, we go ahead and add that Senator gratuity and let him know before he signs off on the bill.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, it just didn't make any sense to me.
Wendy
Well, I mean, I never was a server, so I don't have the sensitivity that, you know, ex servers do. I'M somewhere in the middle because I certainly would never not tip someone unless it was bad service, but I'm certainly one who would tip low if it was bad service, you know? But I don't agree with them voluntarily changing that without telling Dylan about it.
Podcast Host 2
Hey, Ashley, you're on Q100. Good morning.
Amy
Yeah, I was just going to say, the restaurant I work at here in Atlanta, we add 18% for five or more.
Jeff
Wow.
Amy
Separate checks.
Jeff
But do you. But do you tell them when you make a change? Like if, like.
Amy
Well, no, you don't make a change. I mean, you can't do that.
Jeff
No, but what I'm saying is when you provide them with their receipt, like it probably says on there, 18% gratuity for split checks or parties of five or more. Right.
Amy
Well, it says on the menu when we add it, we have to manually handwrite it on to the check we provide for them. So. But once they sign something, I mean, you can't go back and add it. That's ridiculous.
Jeff
Right. But what I'm saying is if you ever. If you ever forgot to add it and you had to go back to them, you would tell them there's an 18% gratuity. You wouldn't just.
Amy
Yeah, you can't. I mean, it's illegal to go back and change anything they sign.
Podcast Host 2
So.
Amy
Yeah, you would have to.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah. I mean, it would seem like, let's say if the server felt obligated or felt they deserved 30%, then what stops.
Wendy
Them from doing that? Right.
Podcast Host 2
So for five or more, which I've never heard before. Hey, Vince, you're on Q100.
Caller Vince
Hey, how you doing this morning?
Podcast Host 2
Okay.
Caller Vince
My girlfriend's son has been in the server business for a long time. He's worked at Taco Mac and now he works at a place called Bogeys. He got let go from Taco Mac because he. All he did was highlight what the customer had put down, which is illegal for them to do that.
Podcast Host 2
So you can't even put your pen to the receipt.
Caller Vince
No, you cannot.
Melissa
Wow.
Caller Vince
And that's why he got let go. Because of that. Because he just highlighted. Because it was written so lightly.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah. I was always taught, like, if you are leaving a tip and then you decide to leave more or less, that you should scribble it out and put your initials right by it. And that sort of makes sense.
Caller Vince
Yeah, that is correct. That is correct.
Podcast Host 2
Okay.
Brandon
So.
Caller Vince
But yeah, what he did was illegal, so.
Wendy
Wow.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Melissa
Dylan can go back to the restaurant.
Podcast Host 2
Sure, he could. Without a dough, I don't think he's going to, but yeah. To wake up the next morning and go, wait a second. That wasn't me, man.
Melissa
But, Jeff, you said now, as you know, a restaurant owner and that sort of thing, that you would rather hear about it. Like, that restaurant owner would rather have Dylan go back there and tell them about it.
Jeff
Yeah, I mean, I see that you could correct it, right from that point of view, definitely. Because you want to make sure your employee is not doing that. That to 100 different people. But I also think that if you're somebody who's only. I would like to think that if our friend Dylan is only leaving a 10% tip, that the service was really bad poor, and we don't just have a really cheap friend.
Podcast Host 2
Hey, Lee, real quick. You're on Q100. Yeah.
Amy
I was just gonna let you know that most restaurants can do a gratuity on any number of people as long as it's on the menu, but that the party also has the right to refuse the gratuity. And if the server went back and added it on there, that's actually credit card fraud.
Podcast Host 2
The first thing you said there was what? That the server can add.
Amy
Some restaurants have a policy that they can add 18% gratuity on. And if it's one check, it has to be every check.
Jeff
Yeah, you can. As long as you disclose it, you can add whatever you want.
Podcast Host 2
I would think so.
Jeff
You could charge somebody for using a fork. As long as it's disclosed it's on.
Podcast Host 2
The menu, then, yeah, it's fair game.
Jeff
Get it?
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The Bird show.
Podcast Host 2
We all made an agreement with each other a couple of weeks ago that we were all gonna go 24 hours and write down the little lies that we tell.
Wendy
Little?
Melissa
Yeah.
Wendy
Big and small. Right?
Podcast Host 2
Big and small.
Jeff
Well, we have to. I don't know if the reason we did it is because we have to determine what constitutes a lie because we had an issue like omission. Is that a lie?
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, I said that would be my.
Wendy
Biggest defense because there was, like, four categories saying anything.
Jeff
Yeah, there's the little.
Melissa
On that list, Wasn't there four categories?
Podcast Host 2
I'm looking for the list right now. Do you have it over there?
Jeff
I could probably find it, but there was the.
Melissa
Like a white lie.
Jeff
Yeah. And then there was the omission.
Podcast Host 2
White lie, blatant, big ass, bold ass lie. That's like, I know for sure that I'm telling you a lie. And what was the fourth one?
Jeff
Hang on, I'll find him.
Podcast Host 2
I can't remember, but on Average.
Jeff
All right, here are the types of lies. The white lie, the big lie, the exaggeration, and the omission.
Melissa
What's the difference between the big and the exaggeration?
Wendy
Exaggeration is just. It's based in truth, but you just exaggerate it. Where the big lies just. You let out lie, fabricate it.
Jeff
Like, I think a big lie would be, like, for me, would be like, I graduated from Syracuse University because I went there, but I didn't graduate. So that's pretty big lie. The exaggeration would be. No, that would be the exaggeration. The big lie would be, I grew. I graduated from Harvard.
Wendy
Right.
Jeff
Because there's no basis of truth. I've never even been to Harvard except for walking past the campus once. You know what I mean?
Podcast Host 2
So the omission one is easy. I mean, you just don't claim at all that you went to Syracuse or any school at all. Somebody asks you, what school do you go to? I never went to college. I know that's a lie.
Jeff
No, it's a lie. So an omission would be if somebody says, hey, where did you go to school? And I said, oh, I went to Gannon University in Pennsylvania, and I took some classes at Onondaga Community College and.
Wendy
Just left it out completely.
Podcast Host 2
Mm.
Jeff
Just didn't mention Syracuse for whatever reason. Maybe I'm embarrassed of it. Maybe. Whatever. Blah, blah, blah. That'd be the emission. But those are the four categories.
Wendy
So we're just going to take account of how many times we do that throughout the day.
Podcast Host 2
Throughout the day. And what was the number? Do you have that stat there also? Because it was something. It was pretty stunning, like, how many times you lie.
Jeff
Well, I think what you have to do, the way the experiment works, is we would all have to predict today, or whatever day we're going to do this, how many lies of those four categories we would tell in the next 24 hours. And the surprising amount, or the surprising fact is that when you come in, it's usually over double what you said it would be. So, like, I would say, let's say I'm going to be awake probably 16 or 17 hours today. So 18 hours. So I would probably tell at the most, nine lies, like, once every other hour. And that could be as simple as, hey, are you walking by the kitchen? Like, maybe if I get up to. To go to the kitchen, I just don't feel like bringing, you know, burn a bag of chips back. Say, no, no, no.
Podcast Host 2
All right, let's try to predict, going into the 24 hours.
Wendy
Wow.
Podcast Host 2
How many times do you guys think that you will lie or do the omission thing?
Jeff
I'm actually going to say less than nine. I'd like to say seven. Seven for seven is my number, Wendy. And keep in mind, Wendy, you ditched Hobby last night in the middle of a bar and left our band. And it's a mission right there.
Podcast Host 2
So you're gonna have to lie about. You're gonna have to lie about what happened to you sometime today.
Melissa
I'll go with you made me sound so pathetic right there. 10.
Podcast Host 2
10.
Melissa
10.
Podcast Host 2
10 for Wendy.
Melissa
10.
Jeff
Okay.
Wendy
Jen High.
Melissa
I'm good at the omission one. I'm going with 12.
Podcast Host 2
12. Melissa. Melissa's omission is going to be through the roof. You can tell Melissa closes up. I mean, she's got a shuts down.
Wendy
If you don't have anything nice to say, then just sit like a bump on a log. You said seven, Jeff. And you said 12.
Jeff
$1. Bob?
Melissa
Yeah. Why are we predicting our numbers?
Podcast Host 2
Because we're going to count to see how many we actually. And you got to write down all day long today what the lies were and bring them to the table tomorrow.
Wendy
I'm going to go between them. I'll say nine.
Podcast Host 2
Nine. I'll go with 10.
Wendy
Okay.
Podcast Host 2
I think it'll be 10 lives throughout the entire day.
Jeff
Is your family back in town?
Podcast Host 2
They are not. Oh, that's a lie. They are. There's one. No, they're not.
Jeff
Well, that, that's going to affect your number because you're not going to be around people to actually lie to them.
Podcast Host 2
So unless like Stacy calls, I don't feel like picking up and I say, oh yeah, I was really getting bad reception or something like that.
Jeff
Is that a lie?
Melissa
I do that all the time.
Jeff
If your phone rings and you let it go to voicemail, but you're available to talk, is that a lie?
Wendy
Yeah.
Melissa
Really?
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Well, and, and you.
Melissa
Well, what you saying? Phone calls.
Podcast Host 2
Well, if she says, how come you didn't pick up? What I called before? And I say, I didn't even realize that you called. What if I saw it go to.
Wendy
Voice, the ringer was off.
Podcast Host 2
That's a bold face lie.
Jeff
But what if you never even have to address it with her? What if you're a vet? What if you're in your car and you're doing nothing but singing along to the Sound of Music soundtrack like you often do and you and your phone rings?
Wendy
It happens.
Jeff
You're available to take it and I don't but you hit ignore. That's technically a lie, right?
Podcast Host 2
I think that's a lie because you are available.
Melissa
Because you're like, I'm gonna pretend I'm not busy, so I'm gonna push the button on the top.
Podcast Host 2
That's technically a lie.
Jeff
I'm gonna have to reevaluate my number.
Podcast Host 2
You're on the Birch Show.
Original Air Date: February 17, 2026
Summary of Content (excluding ads and sponsor segments)
In this segment, The Bert Show brings together the cast and listeners to tackle real-life relationship dilemmas, social etiquette debates, and honesty in daily life, all with their trademark playful banter and authenticity. Key topics include advice for a listener in love with his roommate, a dispute over restaurant tipping protocol, and a collective challenge to count their own daily lies.
(Starts ~02:02)
Brandon's Dilemma:
Brandon calls in to share that, after two years as roommates with a woman, he realizes he’s fallen in love with her. He worries about destroying their friendship if he reveals his feelings.
Recognizing the Signals:
The female hosts list classic "is she into you" signals for Brandon to observe:
Observations and Interpretation:
Brandon shares a new incident: while watching TV, his roommate stretches out and puts her legs across his lap.
Advice from Listeners:
Amy calls to share she married her roommate in a similar situation.
Game Plan Brainstorm:
Comic Relief:
The hosts jokingly suggest extreme measures like “Just drop your pants to your ankles” or “Naked on the couch” to lighten the tension (14:16).
(Starts ~15:30)
What Happened:
A friend, Dylan, picks up the check for a group dinner (~$140) and leaves a $14 tip (10%). The server crosses out the $14, replaces it with $28 (20%), and submits it.
Panel Responses:
Restaurant Worker Call-ins:
Consensus:
(Starts ~22:45)
The Challenge:
The cast agrees to spend 24 hours tracking all lies they tell—big, small, and by omission.
Types of Lies Defined:
Predictions:
Each cast member guesses how many lies they'll tell:
Debate Over What Counts:
Purpose:
To spark honesty and self-awareness; the cast will report back tomorrow (“You gotta write down all day long today what the lies were and bring them to the table tomorrow.” – 26:53).
Brandon on Roommate Love:
“If I don’t say something, then she’s gonna steal her [sic]. At first, I think it was more of just a crush…But, man, I really love this girl, but I’m afraid that I don’t want to blow the friendship.” (02:18)
On Boldness in Relationships:
“I think you eventually have to tell her how you feel. But at least I think these are signs that she’s not going to…kind of reject you harshly.” (Wendy, 05:28)
On Tipping Ethics:
"If the service is so bad…then you almost leave 10% to make a point, but I can't imagine ever leaving less than 15% for no reason." (Jeff, 17:54)
On Lying in Daily Life:
“If your phone rings and you let it go to voicemail, but you’re available to talk, is that a lie?” (Jeff, 27:27)
This episode of The Bert Show blends heartfelt listener dilemmas and relatable life situations with practical advice, candid self-reflection, and the cast’s lively humor. The relationship advice segment balances empathy with playfulness, while the tipping debate offers real-world lessons in social norms. The honesty challenge leaves listeners ready for tomorrow’s follow up on who told the most lies.
If you're seeking an episode that wraps authenticity, support, and light-hearted amusement into your morning, this one's a recommended listen.