Vault: Ask A Race Part 1

Summary

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The Bert Show: Vault – Ask A Race Part 1

Date: July 27, 2026
Main Cast: Bert (Host), Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Brandon, Co-host Natalie, Producer Natalie, Callers, Panelists

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Episode Overview

Main Theme:
In this candid and light-hearted episode, The Bert Show kicks off its "Ask A Race" series—a segment designed for open dialogue on race, where listeners of different backgrounds can anonymously call in with questions they’ve always wanted to ask people of another race. The goal: break down barriers, confront curiosities, and address stereotypes in a safe, judgment-free zone with honesty, openness, and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Ground Rules (00:30–00:53)

• Host: Reminds listeners that no question is too ignorant and the intent is real understanding:

  "There is no such thing as an ignorant question here because we're gonna set aside getting upset about it so that we can actually get answers from each other and understand each other better." (00:30)

2. Initial Questions: Racial Sensitivity & Trust (01:02–05:32)

• Brandon: Raises a nuanced question about whether Black people are always primed to perceive prejudice or racism in ambiguous situations.

  • Example from the show: A woman is nervous driving in College Park without navigation, leading to debate if the fear is location-based or race-based.
  • Brandon:

    “Is there always a racism or a prejudice? Like, is there the flag that always flies on every play?” (02:45)

• Black Panelists’ Response: Affirm that there’s often an initial sense of caution or wariness around white people, especially if they don’t know the person.

  • “You always wonder what they're really thinking… Not everyone is as friendly, as approachable. So I think it's kind of always... It's always in the back of your mind, what's the real angle?” (03:05–03:10)

• Host: Presses for confirmation:

  • “Anytime that you meet a white person, you've got to wall up immediately until you get to know them because they're white?” (03:19)

• Panelist:

  • “Am I being judged by you?... Every single time.” (03:27–03:34)

• Generational Change

  • Brandon: Asks if this sensitivity is lessening with younger generations.
  • Panelist:

    “It is getting better with time. I definitely see the change... They're not even really as aware of all the issues as I was.” (04:45–04:56)

3. Earning Trust & Unspoken Pressures (05:12–05:22)

• Panelists: Reflect on the mutual feeling of needing to earn trust—both Black and white individuals feeling they need to prove themselves reciprocally.

  • “We know that we feel that we have to prove that we can be trusted to you.” (05:23)

4. "Comfort Zone" and Close Talkers (05:33–06:53)

• Black Panelist: Shares an everyday annoyance—white strangers in line get too close physically.

  • “Why do white people feel it's necessary to be in your comfort zone... when you talk to them?” (05:35)

  • “I turned around and could have kissed the dude…” (06:13)

  • Brandon: Jokes, “Cause he said every time we'd move up one person in line, this guy would move up one and a half persons.” (06:20)

• Group Response: Some attribute it to personality rather than race, but panelist clarifies it’s a frequent observation.

5. Questions from Callers: Stereotypes and Culture (07:09–09:38)

a. Driving Postures – “The Lean” (07:13–07:53)

• Caller:

  • “Why is it when they drive, they kind of lean down in their seat and kind of slump over to the left or the right a little bit?” (07:13)

• Panelist:

  • “Because we're cruising, baby. We're just cruising… That's just cool.” (07:26–07:37)

  • Shares a funny story about a friend driving with his head out the window for extra cool points.

b. Feet on the Dashboard (08:00–08:10)

• Panel flips the script: Asks why white people sometimes drive barefoot, with feet up on the dashboard.

  • “Why do white people have to put their feet up on the dash with no shoes on?” (08:04)

• Panelist: “That is… cause at least the lean over... but there is no comfortable way to put your foot out the window of a car.” (08:10)

c. Walking Slowly Across the Street (08:21–09:19)

• Caller: Asks about the stereotype of Black people walking slowly when crossing the street.
• Panelist:
  • “I thought it was a cool thing, but it just took it to a whole new level when I went to Jamaica… I realized that nobody... no Black people over there were moving fast for anything.” (08:44–09:05)
  • Suggests it’s cultural, not racial, and tied to a relaxed attitude or “coolness.”
• Host:
  • “It's like Black people are daring white people to hit them in the middle of the street.” (09:14)
  • Panelists respond with humor that it’s all in good fun, while others chime in about unresolved historical dynamics.

d. The Obsession with Being Cool (09:25–09:38)

• Producer Natalie: Expresses confusion:

  • “I don't understand the obsession with being cool. I don't understand it.” (09:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Racial Sensitivity:
  “You always wonder what they're really thinking… It's always in the back of your mind, what's the real angle?” – Guest/Panelist (03:05–03:10)

• On Generational Change:
  “They're not even really as aware of all the issues as I was. And we're just talking about a 10 year difference, really.” – Guest/Panelist (04:56)

• On Physical Space:
  “I turned around and could have kissed the dude… it's like, dang, dude, would you give me, like, give me an arm's length of space?” – Guest/Panelist (06:13)

• On Cultural Habits:
  “Because we're cruising, baby. We're just cruising. That's just cool.” – Guest/Panelist (07:26–07:37)

• Humorous Stereotypes:
  “At least the lean over… but there is no comfortable way to put your foot out the window of a car.” – Panelist (08:10)
  “It's like Black people are daring white people to hit them in the middle of the street.” – Host (09:14)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:30–00:53: Ground rules: open questions, no judgment.
• 01:02–05:32: Deeper talk on caution, trust, race-based assumptions.
• 05:33–06:53: Personal space and close talkers.
• 07:09–07:53: Driving postures and “the lean.”
• 08:00–08:10: White people's feet on the dashboard.
• 08:21–09:38: Walking slowly across the street, “coolness” and cultural roots.

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Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, at times playful, with the show’s characteristic blend of real talk and humor. Taboos are challenged respectfully—laughter, personal stories, and honest admissions invite listeners into the dialogue without pretense or defensiveness.

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Summary Prepared for New Listeners:
This episode is a frank, often funny, and thought-provoking exploration of cultural differences, hollowing out racial stereotypes and unmasking curiosities on both sides. The questions may seem simple—about driving habits, body language, or how fast people walk—but the answers dig toward the roots of trust, generational change, and the cultural “scripts” we inherit. By putting it all on the table, The Bert Show demonstrates the power of asking—even awkward—questions in good faith, inviting everyone to join in the bigger conversation.

Transcript

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[Host]

The first show we all pretty much know what ask a Race is now, so. 404-741-Q100 if you are a white person and you've always wanted to ask a black person any question, I mean everything is on the board here. There is no such thing as an ignorant question here because we're gonna set

[Co-host Natalie]

aside getting upset about it so that we can actually get answers from each other and understand each other better.

[Host]

White people call up ask black people. Black people call up ask white people. 404-741-Q100 I have a question for white people. White person asking a white person.

[Brandon]

I have a question for black people. And Brandon the

[Host]

Does that bother a black person who right there.

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, a little bit.

[Host]

It does when he doesn't like.

[Brandon]

Well then don't sing along to Train in studio.

[Guest or Panelist]

We play the same 15 songs.

[Co-host Natalie]

Can't help it.

[Guest or Panelist]

It's either Train or Ken.

[Brandon]

Yeah, that's a good point. So is there a I don't think paranoia is the right word, but is there a sensitivity? Do black people acknowledge that they might be more sensitive to race related issues than need be? Sometimes. And I'll give you the for example, it was when Jessica was in here on Friday and she was talking about driving down to College Park, College park to go to the sale for the towels or whatever. And she was talking about how she had the loaner car because her car was in the shop and there was no navigation. And at some point she said she was freaked out because she didn't have any navigation down there.

[Guest or Panelist]

She was freaked out because she didn't know her direction. She was doing it in College park

[Brandon]

and there was the College park and somebody said that's why I made a joke, call Carl and he'll meet you at Cascade, the roller rink where, you know, whatever. And somebody made the observation to me that they couldn't believe a black person said I couldn't believe she Admitted to being freaked out in College Park. And I had to think about it. And then I realized what she said was, she's freaked out that she didn't have navigation when she was nowhere around.

[Guest or Panelist]

She would have said the same in Alpharetta.

[Host]

Had nothing to do with the neighborhood.

[Brandon]

And so I started to think. I'm like, is that. Because that's a tough way I understand it. You know what I mean?

[Host]

What exactly is your question?

[Brandon]

Is it. Is there always a racism or a prejudice? Like, is there the flag that always flies on every play?

[Guest or Panelist]

I was. I wouldn't say, like, if you.

[Brandon]

Maybe if you don't know the person. Like, is that always, like, maybe the

[Guest or Panelist]

first thought if you don't know the person? I would say 98%, 99%. Because you don't.

[Host]

You.

[Guest or Panelist]

You always wonder what they're. What they're really thinking, what they're a white person. Exactly.

Really?

You really. Not knowing. Really, because not everyone as. Is as friendly, as approachable. So I think it's kind of always. It's always in the back of your mind, what's the real angle?

[Host]

This is pretty deep right here. So what you're saying is anytime that you meet a white person, you've got to wall up immediately until you get to know them because they're white?

[Guest or Panelist]

No, anytime that you meet a white. Well, anytime that I meet a white person, it's almost like, am I being judged by you?

[Host]

Really?

[Co-host Natalie]

Yeah.

[Host]

Every single time.

[Guest or Panelist]

Oh, yeah.

Yeah. You don't know where they're coming from, right?

Definitely.

So you have to say a lot about you.

[Brandon]

Well, Jessica was coming from Sandy Springs, which means you can understand why she was nervous in college.

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, we know Jess, so we knew there wasn't any.

[Brandon]

But if you. If you didn't know her and you overheard that thought, your first thought would be, oh, she's freaked out. To be a part of her.

[Guest or Panelist]

Pardon me. Definitely.

Pardon me.

[Producer Natalie]

You know what?

[Guest or Panelist]

I had a guy. I had a guy ask me. He was in the Greenbright area. He asked me, was it cool to go over there as a white guy?

[Brandon]

I said, man, why?

[Guest or Panelist]

I mean, why wouldn't it be cool? He said he thought he would get snatched out. So we understand that, and I wasn't surprised. So I understand that that's kind of common, that they act kind of, you know, white people kind of act kind of more scared. And I understand it's all kind of reasons why, but it is. It's common.

[Co-host Natalie]

Intern. Natalie.

[Host]

Yeah, Natalie went in on this. Natalie is Natalie.

[Co-host Natalie]

Sorry.

[Producer Natalie]

Yes. That's Right, producer. That's right. No, it depends on the person. Like, if you don't know the person, you're wondering, you know, where are they coming from? Like, one guy, he said, here you go, girl. Now if it had came from one of my girls, that would have been okay. But it's like a white guy. I don't know you. Why are you calling me girl?

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[Producer Natalie]

And sorry.

[Guest or Panelist]

It's so deeply embedded, man. I mean, it really. It's so deeply. We get it from our father, our parent when we get it, so it's there. So we can't deny.

[Brandon]

Does it get better, though? Like, do you see, like, as. Like, do you think your kids will be less sensitive to that than you are and their kids? So it is getting better with time. But see the change.

[Guest or Panelist]

I definitely see this, See the change. Especially with the young, like my nephews and my kids, and everything is definitely different. They're not even really as aware of all the issues as I was. And we're just talking about 10 year difference, really.

[Host]

I'm really surprised by that. Every time you meet a white person, you're always sort of asking where they're coming from.

[Guest or Panelist]

It's all. It's not. It's not really a conscious thing, like, what's your angle? But it's like a. It's almost like it's 50, 50, you

know, we have to earn your trust.

[Co-host Natalie]

It's there.

[Guest or Panelist]

Definitely. Definitely.

[Host]

All right, how about a question?

[Guest or Panelist]

Because we know that you have to earn our. We know that we feel that we have to approve that we can be trusted to you. That's kind of what it is too.

Okay, so.

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[Host]

Okay, car. You have a question for white people?

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, man. Good grief. Listen, I was in the.

[Brandon]

Hey, I didn't preface my question.

[Guest or Panelist]

Check this out.

[Host]

Which one do I go to? I got a list of 400 here.

[Guest or Panelist]

Now listen to this. I was in the line the other day and this guy was right behind me and he was like, right on my heels. So I'm thinking, like, dang, dude, would you give me, like, give me an arm fling? Give me one arm's length of space. So my question is, why do white people feel it's necessary to be, like, in your comfort zone? Like, when you talk to em.

You mean talking to. Or were you in line?

[Host]

What was the situation physical? You mean, like close to you or.

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, physically, man. I mean, I turned around and could have kissed the dude. And not just him, but.

[Brandon]

Is this the guy that you sent the tweet about?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Brandon]

Cause he Said every time we'd move up one person in line, this guy would move up one and a half persons.

[Guest or Panelist]

Well, you don't want people to cut if it's in line.

Well, no, that was just in line. That just made me think about this question. But just in general, when I media. Well, when I'm speaking with a white person, people that I don't even know, they're like, Mike to. How close does Mike is to my face, My comfort zone, man.

Yeah, white people are close talkers.

[Host]

Really?

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, they are.

[Co-host Natalie]

Like, I don't feel like that. I think it's just some people are, like, inching closer. I don't think that's everybody.

[Brandon]

Have any of us done that to you?

[Guest or Panelist]

There's been some uncomfortable conversations. Now we all cool now, so it's cool. I can kind of like, push you away. But it's been a couple times, you know, I felt like a piece of DNA, you know,

sales people.

[Host]

That is funny. Hey, Amy. Good morning. You are on Q100. This is Ask a Race.

[Caller]

Good morning. I have a question, and this is for black people. Why is it when they drive, they kind of lean down in their seat and kind of slump over to the left or the right a little bit?

[Host]

That's a good question. That's a really good question.

[Guest or Panelist]

Because we're cruising, baby. We're just cruising. That's.

[Host]

You can barely see.

[Guest or Panelist]

Comfortable.

[Host]

You can barely see over, like, the dashboard. Way down.

[Guest or Panelist]

We're comfortable, though.

[Co-host Natalie]

Is that, like, a sign of being cool or what?

[Guest or Panelist]

Yeah, that's cool. That's all it is. That's just cool. I knew a guy that drove. His head was out the window. He was so cool. So it's leaning.

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[Guest or Panelist]

He leaned so hard to the left. He would drive with his head out the window.

[Host]

Was he, like, biting at the air?

[Guest or Panelist]

Like, that was his thing? That was my man, Louie. Louie drove with his. Cause he's cool.

It looks silly.

[Producer Natalie]

That's too.

[Host]

To you,

[Co-host Natalie]

Caroline.

[Host]

Producer Natalie.

[Producer Natalie]

Now, when white people drive with their feet out the window, that looks silly.

[Guest or Panelist]

Why do white people have to put their feet up on the dash with no shoes on?

[Brandon]

That's true, man.

[Guest or Panelist]

That has socks.

[Brandon]

That is. Cause at least the lean over. I don't know about the head out the window looks comfortable, but there is no comfortable way to put your foot out the window of a car. It's not. It's not comfortable.

[Host]

But white people do do it.

[Guest or Panelist]

Why do black people walk so slowly? Especially if you're crossing the street?

[Brandon]

That's why we're so close to you. We're, like, moving along.

[Guest or Panelist]

The thing is that, I mean, there have been times where I am not at a stoplight. I'm actually cruising the same speed. And if somebody's cross in the street and I have to slow down for them, and then they give me a look as if, you know what? It's my street. I'm just asking, why do black people go so slow?

You know? You know, what I noticed is, now that's a cool thing. I thought it was a cool thing, but it just took it to a whole new level. When I went to Jamaica and recognized that it was. I thought it was an American thing, but I went to Jamaica and realized that nobody. No black people over there were moving fast for anything. So I think it's.

[Brandon]

Nobody in Jamaica's moving fast. And it has nothing to do with black. White has all to do with green.

[Guest or Panelist]

So I'm thinking it was just a cool thing, you know? Just a cool thing. You know, for me, it's.

When I lived in New York, I used to see people get angry like that, and I used to walk slower just to make them mad.

[Host]

Yeah, it's almost like. Like black people are daring white people to hit them in the middle of the street.

[Guest or Panelist]

We have unresolved issues going back to slavery.

You're sensitive. Slavery is long gone.

[Producer Natalie]

But you.

[Guest or Panelist]

You. You're sensitive to us judging you, but then you want to. You're so defensive about. I don't understand the obsession with being cool. I don't understand it.

[Brandon]

Natalie's not defensive. She thinks it's all hysterical. Why do y' all walk slow?

[Guest or Panelist]

And she's like, cause we can get it.

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