Vault: Bert feels old at 43 yr old

Summary

The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Bert Feels Old at 43

Date: July 16, 2026
Main Theme:
The episode centers around Bert’s candid reflection on what it feels like to turn 43, specifically grappling with the physical changes of getting older, while discussing the more positive personal developments that come with age. The hosts and callers weigh in with advice, humor, and their own experiences about aging, mindsets, and embracing life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bert’s Birthday & Feeling “Old”

• [01:01] Bert: Opens up about his birthday and a new sense of feeling old at 43, mostly attributed to recent physical struggles from a soccer injury:
  • “This is the first year that I really feel like I'm 43 today...I just can't do the things physically that I used to.” (Bert, 01:01)
• The injury, from playing soccer with younger people (and as someone not previously experienced in soccer), makes him dwell on aging’s impact on the body.

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2. “Is 43 Even Old?” — Friends Counter Bert’s Mindset

• [01:32] Friend 2: Disputes that 43 is old—“43 is not old. So I really don't think that's old. And it's not just because I'm 40… I didn't think 43 was old.” (01:32)
• Suggests the injury is more due to inexperience in soccer than age, attempting to make Bert feel better.
• [02:06] Friend 2: Advises embracing aging: “If you think 43 is old, it's only going to get worse from here... I believe in growing old gracefully. I don't believe in fearing getting older.”

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3. The Bright Side of Aging

• [02:22] Bert: Reflects on the positives:
  • Greater comfort and authenticity in himself.
  • “I'm definitely more comfortable in my own skin now that I'm older. I just care generally less about what people think of me, and I'm okay with that...I'm handling my relationships now with a lot more honesty. That stuff all comes with age.” (02:22)
• The main struggle is with the bodily limitations—less stamina, slower recovery, physical activities are tougher.

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4. State of Mind vs. Age

• [03:10] Friend 1: Highlights that aging is as much mental as physical:

  • “There are some people that are 40 and they're an old 40 or they're a 50 and they're an old 50... My mom and dad are in their 60s, but they certainly don't act like old 60s... it's a state of mind.” (03:10)

• Contrasts those who “seem old” at a young age with others who stay youthful well into later decades.

• [03:53] Bert: Observes: “I know 30 year olds that their mentality are like 55...It almost feels like they're just slowly watching the clock, waiting for retirement and then waiting to die.” (03:53)

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5. Live in the Moment & Enjoy the Days

• [04:25] Bert: Shares advice he received: “The days go by slow, but the years go by very fast. So appreciate the days more and more every single day.”
• [04:43] Friend 2: Urges Bert to shift his outlook now, rather than spend decades focused on aging negatively: “If you live to be 85, you've got 40 something more years to go...you don't want to spend them complaining.”

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6. Listener Caller – Tracy’s 40th Birthday Perspective

• [05:02] Tracy: Calls in, affirms Bert’s point about confidence with age, but embraces it.
  • “I just turned 40 in February. And the one thing that I love about being 40 is exactly what you just said about not caring as much about what other people think...I’m stepping out into myself for the first time in my life.” (05:02)
• She’s enjoying experimenting with style, despite teasing from college students she works with: “If people don’t like it, don’t look, don’t be here. Go, go your own way. I’m enjoying myself. Right?” (05:25)
• Show hosts joke about Bert’s hair and Tracy’s hairpieces, keeping the vibe light and relatable.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:01] Bert: “This is the first year that I really feel like I'm 43 today... I just can't do the things physically that I used to.”
• [02:22] Bert: “I'm definitely more comfortable in my own skin now that I'm older... I'm handling my relationships now with a lot more honesty. That stuff all comes with age.”
• [02:06] Friend 2: “I believe in growing old gracefully. I don't believe in fearing getting older.”
• [03:10] Friend 1: “There are some people... they're an old 40 or they're a young 40... it’s a state of mind.”
• [03:53] Bert: “I know 30 year olds that their mentality are like 55... it almost feels like they're just slowly watching the clock, waiting for retirement and then waiting to die.”
• [04:25] Bert: “The days go by slow, but the years go by very fast. So appreciate the days more and more every single day.”
• [05:25] Tracy (Caller): “If people don’t like it, don’t look, don’t be here. Go, go your own way. I’m enjoying myself. Right?”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:01] — Bert reflects on turning 43 and feeling physical decline.
• [01:32] — Friends counter with perspectives on aging not being “old.”
• [02:22] — Bert discusses greater confidence and honesty with age.
• [03:10] — The role of attitude and mindset in aging (“young” vs. “old” at every age).
• [04:25] — Bert shares advice about appreciating each day.
• [05:02] — Caller Tracy describes her positive outlook at 40.

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Overall Tone

The conversation is candid and humorous, blending authentic self-reflection with practical advice and good-natured teasing. The hosts and contributors keep the vibe optimistic and supportive, emphasizing that age is much less about the number and more about the mindset and approach to life.

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For listeners or readers, the episode offers reassurance about growing older, encouragement to embrace the upsides of aging, and memorable stories about accepting physical changes while celebrating personal growth.

Transcript

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[Jeff]

Get it The Bird Show One thing Melissa was mad about yesterday was that I told her that I feel. I feel old. This is the first year that I really feel like I'm 43 today. And I just. This is the first year that I just feel that age. And I think it has everything to do with these damn crutches and my knee the last couple of weeks.

[Friend 1]

Of course it does.

[Jeff]

And I just. And the way it happened too, you know, like playing soccer with younger people. And I just feel this year like I'm 43 and I just can't do the things physically that I used to

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be able to do.

[Jeff]

And this is the first year I feel it.

[Friend 2]

Well, I guess, I guess the two things I have. 43 is not old. So I really don't think that's old. And it's not just because I'm 40. When I was 30, I didn't think 43 was old. But then the second thing is that you had never played soccer before. So I also don't think that whether it was a yard full of 20 year olds or 40 year olds playing soccer, I still think you would hurt yourself because it's the third time you had ever been on the soccer field. Do think. You know, I don't think you're old, but I'm just trying to make you feel better. It's not because I'm mad, Jeff.

[Caller Tracy]

It's because

[Friend 2]

it's because. Yeah, I just think that. I think if you think 43 is old, it's only going to get worse from here because you know what I mean? Like, I believe in growing old gracefully. I don't believe in fearing getting older. And so that's why it concerns me that you feel that 43 is old. That's all.

[Jeff]

There are some parts of aging that I think I'm embracing way better than other parts. Like, there is a certain wisdom that comes. I mean, I've had a lot of life lessons, especially the last couple of years. I'm definitely more comfortable in my own skin now that I'm older. I just care generally less about what people think of me, and I'm okay with that. I'm handling my relationships now with a lot more honesty. That stuff all comes with age. It's the physical part of it that I'm really having a tough time. It's the not being able to run as long, not being able to drink as much.

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You just want to be chilling,

[Caller Tracy]

You

[Jeff]

know, and the fact that. And, you know, the fact that I can't pick up a sport at whatever age I want now and fear injury, those are the things that bother me now.

[Friend 1]

I was gonna say, I think we even talked about this over the weekend. There are some people that are 40 and they're an old 40 or they're a 50 and they're an old 50. Or there's people that are a young 40 or a young 50. Like my dad and my mom are in their 60s, but they certainly don't act like old 60s, you know what I mean? Like, they're young and active and they go and do and they travel and nothing holds them back and whatever. And I think it's a state of mind for them rather than other people I know who are much younger than that, who act so much older than that. You know, it's like they turn 50 and they got one foot in the grave. Like, wait, what a. Wait, wait a second. You know, then I have friends that are 50 that, you know, seemingly look and act 40. So I think it's all a state

[Jeff]

of mind, really, because it really does go both ways. Like, I know 30 year olds that their mentality are like 55. They stay home, they do nothing, they're not in any activity or anything like that. And it almost feels like they're just slowly watching the clock, waiting for retirement and then waiting to die.

[Friend 2]

I just think, yeah, I think it's personality approach.

[Friend 1]

Absolutely.

[Friend 2]

I think it's personality because, yeah, I think that you can. I mean, there are people who are in their 20s that, yeah, just hate life, complain about their ailments, complain, you know, you don't have to be older to complain about your body. You know, there's. I know plenty of people who do.

[Jeff]

And at the end of the day, we really only do this just once, you know, so it's like you spend all those years complaining about how you're feeling. Before you know it, it's over. Somebody told me a couple of months ago they were much older than I was and they said, you know, the days go by slow, but the years go by very fast. So appreciate the days more and more every single day.

[Friend 2]

Well, and think about the fact if you live to be 80, if you live to be 85, you've, I mean, you've got 40 something more years to go. So if you start, you know, I don't know, if you start looking at life differently now, you've got 40 years that you're going to complain and you don't want to do that.

[Jeff]

Hey, Tracy, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller Tracy]

Hey, good morning. Love you guys.

[Friend 2]

Thank you.

[Caller Tracy]

Listen, I was, you know, I've been listening to you talking about your birthday. And the physical part is what you have the hardest part dealing with. And I just turned 40 in February. And the one thing that I love about being 40 is exactly what you just said about not caring as much about what other people think. I work at a college here in Atlanta and I mean, they always, they give me such a hard time because I started wearing like these hair pieces and stuff because they're fun and you know, all these little things that I do that I'm just, it's like I'm stepping out into myself for the first time in my life. And if people don't like it, don't look, don't be here. Go, go your own way. I'm enjoying myself. Right?

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[Jeff]

hair pieces and so is Bert.

[Friend 2]

That's true, Bert. You have a good head of hair for a 43 year old.

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