Vault: A Mom of Two Needs Help After Losing Everything

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Vault: A Mom of Two Needs Help After Losing Everything"

The Bert Show | May 28, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt edition of The Bert Show, the hosts spotlight the struggles of Kim, a single mother of two, facing severe financial hardship just before Christmas. Through their "Pay it Forward" initiative, the show brings Kim's story—shared by her longtime friend Suzanne—to the airwaves, rallying community support and surprising Kim with a generous gift to help her through trying times.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background: Suzanne Reaches Out for Kim

• Suzanne, a friend of Kim for 16 years, writes in to nominate Kim for Pay it Forward after learning of her recent hardships.
• Kim is a single mother (divorced for two years), recently laid off from her job for at least several weeks during the holidays.
• She’s uncertain about re-employment and is struggling to afford basics, let alone holiday gifts for her children.

Notable Quote:

• “She just doesn’t have money for kids or Christmas and she’s struggling to just meet pay her regular bills as it is.” – Suzanne [01:01]

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Financial Hardship Details

• Kim was left with only $700 at the beginning of the month, which barely covered her rent (~$680).
• After rent, Kim had just $25 for food, gas, and electricity to last the rest of the month.
• Family has provided some help, but not enough to cover all needs.
• Child support from her ex-husband is unreliable—sometimes late or absent.

Notable Quote:

• “Suzanne wrote in her email she has $25 for food, gas and electricity. And the thought of Christmas morning with nothing under the tree for the kids absolutely gets her her pretty down at times, huh?” – Host [02:10]

• “She’s supposed to get [child support] monthly and sometimes, you know, it’s not always on time, it’s late. Many times, you know, he said that there would be times that he wouldn’t be able to pay it. So it’s been really tough.” – Suzanne [02:59]

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The Call with Kim: Surprise and Support

• The Bert Show, with Kim’s friend Suzanne on air, calls Kim directly.
• They explain their Pay it Forward program and her nomination.
• Kim shares that she’s been out of work for two weeks, with hopes (but no guarantee) of returning in January.
• The hosts, with partners Chipper Jones Family Foundation and Georgia’s Own Credit Union, announce a $2,000 gift to cover essential bills and ensure a Christmas for her children.

Notable Quotes & Moments:

• “Well, we can tell you today that Santa will be stopping by your house in a big, big, big, big, big, big way.” – Host [04:26]
• “We want to give you $2,000.” – Host [05:01]
• “Thank you so much.” – Kim [05:11]
• “Girlfriends are the best.” – Host [06:04]
• “Thank you. You’re welcome. I love you. I love you, too.” – Suzanne and Kim [05:56]

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Personal Touch & Real Emotions

• Kim’s kids (ages 7 and 5) can be heard playing in the background, highlighting the reality and immediacy of her situation.
• Suzanne and Kim exchange heartfelt thanks and expressions of love on air, capturing a truly genuine, supportive friendship.
• The hosts reflect humorously on male friendship dynamics for contrast.

Notable Moment:

• “I’d give you a hug, but I’d also be pounding you on the back. Because I’m hugging you, but I’m also hitting you at the same time.” – Host [06:08]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 00:37: Show intro, setup for Pay it Forward, Suzanne’s call-in
• 00:38 – 02:21: Suzanne details Kim’s struggles and finances
• 02:21 – 03:12: Discussion of living paycheck to paycheck and Kim’s situation before Christmas
• 03:55 – 05:14: Suzanne and Kim on air together; surprise announcement and emotional exchange
• 05:27 – 06:08: Personal notes about Kim’s children and light-hearted friendship banter

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Memorable Quotes

• “Santa is gonna spend some serious time in your house now.” – Host [05:44]
• “Hold on one sec. You know, maybe more motivation to do the reality TV show.” – Host, closing the segment with humor [06:35]

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Summary & Themes

This episode of The Bert Show is a moving example of community-driven compassion. It underscores the precariousness facing many working parents—and the difference a helping hand can make. The authenticity of the discussion, the vulnerability of Kim and Suzanne, and the quick action of the Bert Show and its partners come together in a moment that offers both hope and solidarity for listeners. The hosts strike a balance between empathy, practical support, and their trademark humor, making the story both impactful and memorable.

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Transcript

[A]

The Birch Show. It is not too late. You can get us your emails for pay it Forward.

[B]

That's right. We are helping so many families here in the metro Atlanta area because of so many reasons. The recession, the floods. We've had so many different scenarios. But it is not too late. Tell us your story and then we'll see what we can do to help.

[A]

It's exactly what Suzanne did. Hey, Suzanne.

[C]

Hi.

[A]

Good morning. How are you today?

[C]

I'm good. How are y' all doing? Good.

[A]

What's going on with you?

[C]

Oh, just my little girl ready for school.

[A]

How old is she?

[C]

16 months.

[A]

Still in the month stage. Hey, you emailed us a couple of days ago about your friend Kim.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Now, this is a friend that you've had for a long time, right?

[C]

Yes, very long time. Almost 16 years.

[A]

All right, well, give us a little of the history of your friendship and tell us what she's going through right now and how we can help out.

[C]

Oh, goodness. We just know each other forever and raising families together. But she got divorced a couple years ago and has really struggled. I mean, she knew leaving the her, you know, ex husband that this hard. And she found out a couple of weeks ago that they were laying her off for several weeks at Christmas because they just didn't have the business. And they told her she can come back after this for sure of the year if business picks up. So that's kind of iffy. There's, you know, not really. She's not guaranteed that, so. And she just doesn't have money for kids or Christmas and she's struggling to just meet, you know, pay her regular bills as it is.

[A]

And she has been divorced for how long now?

[C]

About two years.

[A]

Okay. And then right before Christmas, she's told, sorry, can't help you out. You. You relayed to us some figures that really kind of indicated to us that are really tough for her right now.

[C]

Exactly. She had, you know, right around like $700 at, you know, the beginning of the month to pay her rent. Her rent was 6,80ish right around there. And so she went ahead and paid it and, you know, she's gotten a little bit of money from family to help with other things, but not a lot.

[A]

Suzanne wrote in her email she has $25 for food, gas and electricity. And the thought of Christmas morning with nothing under the tree for the kids absolutely gets her her pretty down at times, huh?

[C]

Yes, absolutely.

[A]

You don't, you don't even realize, like most, I wonder what the percentage is of people that are forced to Live paycheck to paycheck. Like if something happens to you today, like in her case also, and work comes to you and says, I am so sorry. How many of us really have enough in the bank to sustain for months at a time?

[B]

I think the majority of us would have to live paycheck to paycheck.

[A]

Paycheck to paycheck. So here, this happens to her right before Christmas time and she's got 25 bucks to last for the end, till the end of the.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

She get any money from her?

[C]

Little bit of money since then, but not enough to pay everything.

[A]

Is she getting anything from her ex husband?

[C]

She's supposed to get it monthly and sometimes, you know, it's not always on time, it's late. Many times, you know, he said that there would be times that he wouldn't be able to pay it. So it's been really tough.

[B]

And you said she has two small children?

[C]

She does, she does. How old are they? They're about 5 and 9ish. Right around there. Okay. They grow up so fast.

[A]

Very excited, I'm sure, about Santa coming by.

[C]

Absolutely.

[A]

All right. And your friend's name is Kim, right?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Okay, let's go ahead. Let's get Kim on and let's make sure that she's taken care of on Christmas morning here.

[C]

Okay. Hello?

[A]

Hi, is this Kim?

[C]

Yes, this is Kim.

[A]

Hey, Kim. This is the Burt show and Q100 calling and we're on the radio right now with your friend Suzanne.

[C]

Uh huh.

[A]

How are you today?

[C]

I'm doing good. Good.

[A]

Hey, we have a program here called Pay it Forward and Suzanne emailed us a couple of days ago about you.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And she said that you and your family could use a little help this time of year.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

She said that you're kind of looking at a Christmas here and you were even wondering if Santa was gonna be able to stop by.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Well, we can tell you today that Santa will be stopping by your house in a big, big, big, big, big, big way.

[C]

Aw, thank you.

[A]

You're welcome. We've got some really great friends at the Chipper Jones Family foundation and Georgia's own credit union.

[C]

Uh huh.

[A]

And they are gonna make sure that you are taken care of in a whole bunch of different ways. She said that like you lost your gig a couple of weeks ago.

[C]

Huh?

[A]

You lost your job a couple of weeks ago?

[C]

Just for two weeks.

[A]

Two weeks. And they're promising you that you're gonna be able to be rehired after January.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And you hope. I'm sure you're hoping?

[C]

Yeah, I'm sure.

[A]

Well, she gave us a little bit of an idea of, you know, some of the financial strain that's going on right now, and we want to give you $2,000.

[C]

Thank you so much.

[A]

And we're hoping then that pays for the food and gas and electricity and all that stuff as well.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

You have a seven and a nine year old?

[C]

Yes. Oh, no, she's seven and a five year old.

[A]

Five year old. Okay.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I'll tell you, they're very busy in the background. I can hear that.

[C]

Yeah, they're playing ball.

[A]

Have they relayed to you what they want for Christmas?

[C]

A little bit. Not too much. She hasn't really. We've asked him, and all I get is I don't know?

[A]

Okay, well, you're gonna have to make a list today because with $2,000, Santa is gonna. He's gonna spend some serious time in your house now.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

All right. You want to say hi to Suzanne? She's on the phone with us also.

[C]

Hey. Hey. Thank you. You're welcome. I love you. I love you, too.

[B]

Girlfriends are the best.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

See, guys would give each other a little chest bump right here, you know? You know, I got you. Hey, man, that was cool. That was cool, too. I'd give you a hug, but I'd also be pounding you on the back. Because I'm hugging you, but I'm also hitting you at the same time. All right, you guys, I'll put you both on hold, and we will get in touch with you really, really quickly here. Kim, because obviously Christmas is right around the corner. And you can thank Suzanne because she's the one that told us about you.

[C]

Thank you. You're welcome.

[A]

All right, you guys, hold on one sec. You know, maybe more motivation to do the reality TV show. We had a call that I couldn't take, but the dude was saying it could take our no to Hotlanta campaign to a completely different level, and that may be all the reason in the world to go ahead and say yes to her. Hey, the bird show.