Vault: A two-minute work call killed the vibe completely.

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Bert Show
Episode: Vault: A two-minute work call killed the vibe completely.
Date: May 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show centers around a classic “second date update” scenario: Jill, a listener, reaches out to the show after what felt like a great first date—only to find herself ghosted afterward. The cast unpacks the possible reasons behind the silent treatment, analyzes dating dynamics, and invites listeners to weigh in with their own perspectives and experiences.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jill’s Story: A Promising First Date with an Abrupt Shift

• Initial Meeting:
  • Jill met her date organically while waiting in line for popcorn at the movies with her friend. The conversation was natural and mutual interest apparent.
  • Despite not usually giving out her number, Jill felt comfortable after her friend approved.
• The Date:
  • They had dinner at a local Irish pub. It was noisy, so they decided to skip the movie and went back to Jill’s place to talk and watch a movie (sort of).
  • They shared a lot of conversation and “a little kissing,” but no further intimacy.
• The Plot Twist: Emergency Work Call
  • Jill received an unexpected call from work and had to step into another room for roughly “20 minutes at the most.”
  • She worried afterward that the break in the evening “killed the vibe.”
  • Jill clarified, “it wasn’t mid-makeout or anything” ([03:57]).

2. Why Hasn’t He Called? Theories from the Cast

• Timing of the Call
  • Focused debate: Did the emergency call or its timing disrupt momentum or arouse suspicion?
• Guys’ and Gals’ Rules
  • Is he following an outdated “three-day rule” before reaching out again?
  • “Don’t guys have some weird three-day rule or something because they don’t want to seem too anxious?” – Jill ([07:29])
• Was there Mistrust or Misinterpretation?
  • Was the emergency call seen as a pretext to end the date or as an awkward exit?
  • “Could be you set somebody up to get you out of a situation that was awkward... ‘Call me, you know, and I’ll excuse myself.’” – Cast Member ([05:11])
• Expectations about Going Back to Her Place
  • The cast speculates her date might have expected more intimacy:
    • “I think that... he was expecting a booty call. And he didn’t get it and he’s done with it.” – Caller ([11:44])
    • “Coming back to your apartment on the first date... definitely alludes to him that something else is gonna happen. It’s a little bit dangerous for you because you met him randomly... I don’t want him knowing where I live.” – Female Cast Member ([12:02])
• Alternative Explanations
  • Maybe he left early to continue the night elsewhere or meet another date:
    • “I don’t think his evening ended when he left.” ([07:49])
    • “He went somewhere else.” ([07:51])
  • Or, as another caller notes, perhaps Jill’s emotional investment so early is a red flag:
    • “If she’s already this hung up and curious about a guy that she’s only spent a couple of hours with... go find something else to do.” ([10:46])
• Practical Date Analysis
  • The timeline: They met for dinner around 7:30 pm, and the work call lasted until about 8:00 pm. They continued talking and kissed before he left around 9:00 pm.
  • The lack of follow-up contact: By Wednesday morning (several days after the Saturday date), she’s heard nothing.

3. Listener Call-Ins and Cast Banter

• Skepticism on Male Intentions
  • Multiple female callers suggest he lost interest because he didn’t “get what he wanted.”
• Defense of Different Dating Perspectives
  • Some hosts argue men might still call after not hitting a “home run” if they enjoyed the date:
    • “We don’t need to go the whole way the first night... we know we’ve set it up for the second night and he would definitely call.” – Host ([11:53])
• Humor and Relatability
  • Jokes about embarrassing apartment contents (“one too many stuffed animals,” “owns four cats”) and movie choices keeping the tone light.
• Logistics of the Date’s Start
  • A caller suggests analyzing how quickly he responded after getting the number might indicate general temperament about dating.

4. Next Steps: The Show’s Plan

• Attempting Closure
  • The hosts propose bringing the guy on air for a follow-up the next day
    • “She will try to strong-arm him to come on tomorrow morning and at least give you some reality on why he hasn’t called.” – Host ([13:06])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jill’s Uncertain Exit:
  • “I got an emergency phone call from work... maybe for like 20 minutes at the most.” ([03:24])
• Dating Rules and Frustrations:
  • “Don’t guys have some weird three-day rule or something because they don’t want to seem too anxious or something?” – Jill ([07:29])
  • “If you’re totally into a girl or you’re totally into a guy, even if you’re traveling, it takes you three seconds to text. You’ll at least make the connection.” – Host ([06:58])
• Cynical Take:
  • “He was expecting a booty call. And he didn’t get it and he’s done with it.” – Female Caller ([11:44])
• Being Proactive:
  • “Go find something else to do. Go find another man. If he’s not going to call you, he’s not all that.” – Female Caller ([10:46])
• Host’s Plan:
  • “We’ll try to get him on tomorrow morning and we’ll get some truth out of him.” – Host ([13:32])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:44] - Jill recounts how she met her date and the events of their first date
• [03:24] - Jill describes the emergency work call and how it might have affected the evening
• [05:11] - The cast discusses possible interpretations for the sudden phone call
• [07:29] - Jill asks about the ‘three-day rule’ in dating
• [08:16] - Callers debate what men expect after being invited back to someone’s apartment
• [10:46] - A female caller encourages Jill to move on and not overthink it
• [11:44] - “He was expecting a booty call. And he didn’t get it and he’s done.” - Caller
• [13:06] - The hosts layout their plan to bring the guy on air for a follow-up

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Summary Tone and Style

The Bert Show keeps the mood witty, empathetic, and unfiltered. The cast and callers combine honesty and humor as they dissect the confusion, double standards, and awkwardness of modern dating—offering both emotional support and light mocking. Listeners feel part of the inner circle, where honest advice meets comedic commentary.

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Final Thoughts

This episode captures the everyday drama of dating in the digital age and the relatable anxiety of “what went wrong?” The Bert Show's blend of humor, real talk, and genuine listener engagement makes for an entertaining, cathartic listen—especially for anyone who’s ever been ghosted after a seemingly perfect first date.

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Transcript

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[B]

The Birch Show. We've been doing this for years now. Second date update. We've all been here before. First date goes great, right?

[C]

Yeah. You feel like the conversation is flowing and the chemistry's there and everything's awesome and you just can't wait for that second date. And then it doesn't happen. You're like, wait a second, what happened there? Obviously something wasn't getting returned that I was feeling. And so you just always wonder, so you just want the answer.

[B]

Jill's in the same place. Hey, Jill.

[D]

Hey.

[E]

Hi.

[B]

How are you?

[D]

Good.

[B]

You're confused.

[D]

Yeah, no, I'm definitely feeling. Yeah. I'm wondering if I'm being rejected or what.

[B]

When was the first date?

[D]

It was just this last Saturday and we met a week before that.

[B]

Okay, and where did you guys initially meet?

[D]

I was at a movie with girlfriend and we were in line for popcorn and there was a long line and these two guys behind us were making jokes and being really friendly and we ended up like talking and they were really nice and I rarely give my number out, but my girlfriend approved and I gave him my number and he said that we should go out sometime. And so we had a really great time last Saturday when we finally got together and then went to an Irish pub around my. Around my house, like near my neighbor in my neighborhood. And we decided to have dinner, but it was kind of loud in there and we wanted to talk and decided to like skip going to a movie theater and just go back to my house. And we talked and ended up watching like, sort of kind of watching a movie at my place and having a really good time.

[B]

Who wants to ask the obvious?

[F]

Yeah, defense sort of, kinda.

[G]

Or did you watch the movie or quotations of watch the movie?

[D]

Well, yeah, I mean, we definitely like we kissed and we're talking probably more than watching, I guess, just because we were really engaged in getting to know each other. And that was probably why so great. Like, everything was going so well, you know?

[B]

Well, this is a key. I hate to ask the question, but it's a. It's a key question here. So did you guys. How do I say this sensitively?

[C]

First, second or third base guys do it?

[H]

No, not at all, actually.

[D]

Well, the one thing that did happen that was kind of a little bit weird, I guess, was I got an emergency phone call from work. And I don't know, maybe I went into the other room, maybe for like 20 minutes at the most.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Because, I mean, I really had to deal with it. And that doesn't happen very often, but when it does, I have to take those. And he said it was fine. He was totally fine with it. When I came back, he understood. You know,

[E]

was the timing of that. Was that like a weird mood killer time?

[D]

Like, I mean, I guess that could have been, but no, it's. I mean, it wasn't. Like, it wasn't mid makeout or anything.

[E]

What do you do for a. You're not a prostitute?

[D]

No.

[B]

Escort. And there's a difference?

[E]

Well, it would just be awkward if she had a client in the other room. All right, I gotta go take care of this guy. He's older. It'll be 15 years old.

[D]

Yeah, that would make things complicated, probably.

[F]

What time did this emergency happen?

[D]

Oh, it was. We met for dinner pretty early after work. So it was maybe around, like, I don't know, 7:30, 7:45.

[B]

Did you feel like he bought the story that it was work that was calling, or do you think that he feels like.

[D]

Could have heard me on the phone in the other room anyway, so there's

[B]

no chance that he's like, oh, my. She's in a relationship and she's on the phone with her boyfriend or she's dealing with some kind of drama going on. Yeah. You don't think that's it?

[D]

I mean, unless he's got, like, a great imagination or he's paranoid. I hope not. I mean, that's how I feel about that kind of a thing.

[F]

Because that's why I was asking about what time. Because it could be interpreted so many ways, like they said. Or it could be you set somebody up to get you out of a situation that was awkward. Like, if anybody uses the whole. Call me, you know, and I'll excuse myself.

[H]

We hung out for a bit after

[D]

that, though, and made out. I mean, not made out, but we kissed.

[C]

That's a funny thing to say.

[D]

Still had quite a bit of time to talk and enjoy each other after that.

[B]

Okay, so how long? The exit here is an important piece. So how did he leave and how long are we talking about between phone call and exiting the door?

[D]

Oh my gosh. I, you know, I'm not sure. It could have at least been more than an hour.

[B]

An hour.

[D]

Okay, between. I mean, between the phone call and. Yeah, him leaving. So that's like a super gentleman. He totally understood that, like I wasn't gonna have him spend the night or.

[B]

That still puts us at a lot like 9 o' clock at night. If you get the call at 7:30, you're on the call till 8. You guys make out.

[H]

My timing could be a little bit off.

[D]

It could have been a little bit later.

[B]

Did he excuse himself or did you just say, you know what, it's a late night, I got to get up tomorrow? Or did he say, look, it's time for me to leave because it's still early?

[H]

I think I initially brought it up,

[D]

but we were both moving toward that direction because we had both been at work all day.

[C]

Okay, okay. So what was the last thing that was said? Like, how did the date totally end?

[D]

That. Well, he kissed me and said that he would call me and that we would, you know, get together.

[C]

Did he give you a specific day he would call you? Like, I'll call you tomorrow or.

[D]

No, no, he didn't.

[C]

Did you guys talk about any work stuff?

[D]

It was kind of casual.

[C]

Did you talk any about any work stuff with him for this week? Like what he's up to?

[D]

A little bit, but it didn't sound like anything overly stressful or concerning.

[C]

He wasn't gonna be traveling or anything like that?

[D]

I don't think so, no.

[H]

Well, even so, I mean, not that

[D]

he mentioned or anything.

[B]

I mean, if you're totally into a girl or you're totally into a guy, even if you're traveling, it takes you three seconds to text. You'll at least make the connection to know that I'm setting this up for when I get back into town. But there's been nothing.

[C]

Well, I mean, it is only Wednesday

[B]

morning at 7:30, but they hooked up on Saturday night.

[E]

There shouldn't there be something. Shouldn't be something on Monday at the latest?

[C]

Yeah, there should be. There should definitely be something.

[E]

Especially considering she was all, I wouldn't

[C]

be totally shocked if it wasn't till today that you heard from him. But it's Disappointing that you haven't.

[F]

Yeah, I don't.

[G]

Right.

[D]

Because don't guys have like some weird three day rule or something because they don't want to seem too anxious or something? Well, we know you guys been at least three days, so I guess that's probably why.

[B]

And we know you guys are onto that now, so that doesn't even work anymore.

[E]

Now it's.

[B]

Now it's a month

[F]

within the calendar year. What?

[B]

Yeah, I don't know. Here.

[F]

Well, I don't think his evening ended when he left.

[E]

He went somewhere else.

[G]

Yes, of course he did.

[F]

I mean, I'm not convinced that, you know, he wasn't with somebody else the rest of the weekend.

[D]

Oh, man.

[E]

I'm not trying to discourage anything, but I agree with Jen that this may be going too soon.

[G]

But I kind of lean on Melissa's side. I think if they were having a great time, they would have stayed longer. 9 o' clock on a Saturday night. On a Saturday night. You're gonna out after that if you're not having a good time.

[B]

Hey, Laura, you got a hunch here, like 10 o'.

[H]

Clock. I used to work in a bar, okay. And I think that when you're single, you know, you go out to a bar, you're 21, 22. These guys are out looking for one thing. They're looking to pick up a woman. I don't think that age for men changes that. I think as a woman you grow up, you see what the men are trying to do and you know, you grow up, they don't. I think that this, this gentleman here

[D]

was probably like, oh my gosh, I

[H]

picked up this lady's phone number at a movie theater. She's going to be easy. And you know, he went out on a date with her and she didn't give it up. Why didn't call?

[B]

Why do you get the label of being easy if you give your phone number out at a movie theater?

[H]

I don't. I think that's how the man perceived it. I don't think the woman probably perceived it like that. And like she said, she doesn't ever usually do that.

[D]

I wouldn't like that at all.

[H]

Men, I think men, not all men either. So I'm not going to categorize it as all men. I just think for the most part, I think that a lot of men see it as being, you know, oh, I got this lady's number. That's going to be easy.

[E]

Especially if you take a look at what movie, like if she's standing in line about to walk into Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. You know, you can hit that easy. Bam.

[B]

I don't understand. What that last caller is saying is that some guys think that if you get the phone number, the girl's skanky. How else are you supposed to like communicate?

[F]

I think she's saying that the guy probably, you know, when he went over there that night, maybe he was, his intention was a hookup and it wasn't going in that direction. So he left and he went and got another, he got one later on that night.

[B]

But Jeff, follow me on this. Let's say dude goes over to the apartment or whatever.

[E]

Yes, sir.

[B]

And he doesn't get as far as he wants to. Sure he's disappointed, but he goes out and he hangs with his friends or he hangs out somewhere else. If you're that guy though, you've put the time in on the first date. So you would call back for a follow up thinking that, all right, I bumped the first date, I'm either gonna set and spike on the second one. But there would always be a follow

[C]

up, especially if she really turned off by something.

[B]

Right.

[G]

Was there anything in your apartment that it's embarrassing, like a dead body or something?

[D]

No, totally not. I mean, but if he did go and do that later on that night then, and I wasn't that girl, then that's, I mean, that's okay.

[B]

Viviana, good morning. You're on Q100.

[H]

Good morning. Hello everyone.

[E]

Good hello.

[H]

Well, really, I hate it for this poor caller. I mean, first of all, if she's already this kind of hung up and curious about a guy that she's only spent a couple of hours with, then, I mean, sweetie, go find something else to do. Go find another man. If he's not going to call you. He's not all at the time. But also I think, you know, she met him on a whim and she invited him back to her place. And it kind of leads along those lines. And he probably thought, oh great, you know, this is a booty call. And he didn't get it and he's done with it. I mean, I have four brothers and I'm. Men are fabulous creatures. But you know, if it's, if it's not going to be worth their time, they're not going to put into it.

[E]

Well, I think the guy, I think once he goes back to the flat and you guys are able to make out for a bit and he's able to get all handsy with the bird, he knows that he can spend Time with her again and probably go even further and probably sag that you're like

[B]

Kevin Costner trying to keep an accent out of a movie.

[H]

I think really, though, I mean, if they left the bar and went back to her place, that he was expecting booty call, he kicked it and he's done.

[B]

But here's what women don't understand is that's a good. That's a good setup. We don't need to go the whole way the first night, but. Cause we know we've set it up

[E]

for the second night and he would definitely call.

[C]

I agree with her, though. Coming back to your apartment on the first date is kind of. I mean, that definitely alludes to him that something else is gonna happen. It's a little bit dangerous for you because you met him randomly in line at the movie theater and then met him for dinner. Like to tell him where you live. Like, to me, as a girl, I'm like, I don't want him knowing where I live.

[F]

Right.

[E]

And she made out with him. So she's clearly in need of some physical affection.

[B]

Katie, good morning. You're on Q100.

[H]

Good morning, Burt Show. Hey, I'm just wondering, from the time that she gave her number at the MOV theater, how long did he wait to contact her after that?

[D]

I mean, if he waited two or three days after the movie theater, maybe

[H]

he's just a guy that waited two or three days to contact somebody.

[B]

That could be a good indicator. How long did it take for him to call you after he initially got your number?

[D]

He called me at the beginning of the week, and it was Tuesday. And how many days Saturday that we met?

[F]

So Saturday called you Tuesday.

[E]

So then we should. We should have a Saturday Tuesday equation. Especially if you gave him some saliva.

[B]

And now we're on Wednesday. Okay, so here's what we will try to do tomorrow morning. If you give producer Tracy all of his information, she will try to strong arm him to come on tomorrow morning and at least give you some reality on why he hasn't called.

[D]

Hey, you never know.

[B]

You never know.

[F]

Yeah, it could be something. There's been plenty of times where we've tried to formulate what happened, and it ended up being something completely different when we got the guy on the line.

[B]

So there's no way of telling. So we'll try to get him on tomorrow morning and we'll get some truth out of him.

[D]

Okay, thank you, guys.

[B]

Okay, hold on one sec. For us.

[D]

All right.

[B]

Yeah, I just. Something happened that night he didn't like the way that she hooked up or what have you. I think it's gonna be pretty basic stuff.

[E]

I think it was a technique issue.

[C]

Could have been a technique lizard tongue or something.

[E]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Or there was something in that apartment.

[F]

Something happened.

[G]

Yeah, something.

[B]

One too many stuffed animals on the pillows.

[E]

She owns four cats.

[G]

She's messy.

[B]

Six, eight cats will do it.

[G]

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