Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Bert Faces His Fear Of Airbags?!
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Bert and the Bert Show Cast
Length of Content: ~9 minutes (00:00–08:54)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this throwback “Vault” episode, the Bert Show cast rallies around host Bert as he confronts one of his long-held fears: automobile airbags. After previous episodes challenged each member to face their personal anxieties, Bert steps up to actually sit inside a car as an airbag is deployed—an event orchestrated with the help of auto experts and observed live. The segment showcases the group’s camaraderie, humor, and authenticity while spotlighting Bert’s vulnerability and courage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Facing Fears as a Cast

• The segment opens with the cast recalling how each member recently tackled a personal fear.
• Today, it’s Bert’s turn to face his fear of airbags, with the rest of the team providing support (00:01–00:28).

2. Building Anticipation and Safety Checks

• Nervousness Authentically Shared: The studio expresses their anxiety for Bert, repeatedly verifying that he’s 100% comfortable proceeding (01:18–01:52).
• Bert insists, “I can’t back out now. I mean, this is what we said we were gonna do. We committed to each other, so let’s just do this.” (01:52)
• Technical experts, Drew and Larry from local auto services, are brought in to manage safety and control (02:12–02:43).

3. Detailing the Setup

• Bert describes the dated, worn Mitsubishi he’ll use—a car with over 200,000 miles and a well-used interior, adding realism and color to the event (03:08–03:42).
• Drew explains the unknowns: there’s a slim chance the airbag won’t fire, and it could also be set off prematurely by static electricity (03:42–04:05).
• Bert is instructed to position himself as safely as possible—leaning back with his hands under his thighs, not wearing a seatbelt since there’s no forward motion expected (03:56–04:46).

4. The Moment of Truth: Airbag Deployment

• After confirming all safety steps, Bert counts down, fumbles a bit with nerves, and triggers the airbag’s deployment (05:19–06:41).
• Notable Quote: “Five, four, three, two, one—I’m sorry. Sorry. I got a hair trigger. All right, there’s a whole bunch of smoke coming out of the airbag… it’s like, gets down into your throat and in your lungs, so it’s like really hard to breathe, but I’m all right.” (06:19)

5. Bert’s Immediate Reactions

• Bert is surprised by the intensity, volume, and especially the overwhelming smoke:
  • “I’m really, really surprised by, like, all the smoke that comes out of it. Like, that’s the worst part of it. Maybe because it didn’t hit me in the face, and I’ve got a lacrosse helmet on. But if the doors were closed, you wouldn’t have been able to breathe.” (07:01)
• He describes the smell as “kind of a sulfury smell…like, remember when you had, like, science or biology class and you were just mixing up different chemicals?...it gets it deep into your throat and makes your throat scratch.” (07:37)

6. Group Reflection & Bert’s Takeaway

• The studio congratulates Bert on his bravery and sense of humor persists, with jokes about stacking even more fears:
  • “Well, Bert, we need you to do it again, but we need you to put your mouth over the steering wheel this time.” (07:01, joking)
  • “When you get back to the studio, we've got a refrigerator box full of snakes for you to lie down on.” (08:38)
• Bert admits, “I don’t know that this alleviates my fear at all, but at least I know what’s coming now.” (08:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bert, on sticking with it (01:52):
  “I can’t back out now. I mean, this is what we said we were gonna do. We committed to each other, so let’s just do this.”
• On the airbag deployment (06:19):
  “There’s a whole bunch of smoke coming out of the airbag… it gets down into your throat and in your lungs… but I’m all right.”
• On the aftermath (07:34):
  “They never show you that in the movies when the airbag goes off. They never show you the smoke or anything like that, but it’s way worse than I thought it was gonna be.”
• Bert’s honest confession (08:33):
  “And I don’t know that this alleviates my fear at all, but at least I know what’s coming now.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–00:28: Bert preps to face his fear; cast expresses nerves.
• 01:18–01:52: Studio checks in with Bert’s readiness.
• 03:08–03:42: Description of the car and setup.
• 05:19–06:41: The airbag deployment—countdown and immediate aftermath.
• 07:01–07:37: Bert’s physical and emotional reactions.
• 08:33: Bert reflects on facing his fear.

Tone & Style

The episode remains light-hearted, supportive, and authentic. While the anxiety around the airbag is palpable—“I’m sweating. My palms are sweating for you, Jeff.”—the overall energy is playful and encouraging, thanks to the cast’s camaraderie and signatures jokes.

Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential Bert Show moment: relatable, real, funny, and brave. By inviting listeners along as Bert literally sits with his fear, the show delivers a unique blend of vulnerability and humor, making morning radio both entertaining and cathartic.

Listen to the full episode for the play-by-play of Bert’s big moment and all the jokes and camaraderie that make The Bert Show a morning favorite.