Vault: Bert's son was the lead in a musical

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault: Bert's Son Was the Lead in a Musical

Date: June 18, 2026
Theme: Reflections on Parenting, Supporting Kids’ Passions, and the Joy of Watching Your Child Take the Spotlight

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Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode centers on Bert (the host and “Father” in the transcript) recounting the powerful, emotional experience of watching his son, Hayden, take the lead in a youth theatre production of "Seussical the Musical." The cast (Mother, Sibling 1, Sibling 2) joins in to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting, the balance between parental expectations and children's interests, and the pure happiness that comes from supporting kids in what they love—even when it's not what parents originally envisioned.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pride and Joy in Parenting (01:30–03:39)

• Bert (Father) describes the build-up and emotional impact of Hayden’s performance:

  • Hayden participates in a program (“Applause for Kids”) where every ensemble member gets a chance to play a lead.
  • Bert attended several ensemble performances before finally seeing Hayden take center stage.
  • Highlight: “I have never felt joy like I felt on Saturday night… I have never seen that kid happier than he was on Saturday night. This kid loves to make people laugh. He loves to entertain.” (Father, 02:22)

• Reflecting on Parental Emotion:

  • “I had the camera up and I’m recording them, and, like, I’m fighting back tears… It wasn’t that he was doing great or he was doing crappy. It didn’t matter. He was on stage.” (Father, 03:20)
  • The panel acknowledges how supporting a child can bring out pure, vicarious happiness—something unique to parenthood.

2. Parental Expectations vs. Kids’ Authentic Paths (04:33–05:56)

• Letting Go of Preconceived Notions:

  • Bert admits he initially wanted Hayden to be interested in sports, reflecting on common parental desires to share their own passions.
  • “I wanted Hayden’s thing to be my thing. I wanted him to be in sports. Man, I wanted it… That’s not his thing.” (Father, 05:12)
  • Honest acknowledgment that Hayden simply isn’t athletic: “He’s just not good at it. But his thing is, at least for now, this is what he wants his thing to be. This is his team. This is his baseball field.” (Father, 05:38)

• Advice to Parents:

  • “If you can find the thing your kid is happiest in, damn, do it. Because to see them at the height of their happiness, nothing better.” (Father, 05:56)

3. Stepping Outside Gender Norms & Embracing Difference (06:01–07:05)

• Acceptance and Small Struggles:
  • Bert gets candid about discomfort buying Hayden jazz shoes for dance:
    • “I had a problem with it. I’m not gonna lie to you… I thought it would be dad and him at one point going out and getting cleats.” (Father, 06:05)
    • “But he went out and he got his jazz shoes… and he was very proud.” (Father, 06:21)
  • The group explores their own biases and gently rib each other on topics of gender and kid identity, emphasizing support over stereotypes.

4. Natural Talents & Recognizing a Child’s Unique Gifts (04:33–05:12)

• Panel on Natural Performers:
  • “Because there are some people like Hayden… who doesn’t mind being in front of a crowd… He’s pure, pure joy… for him to be not only in front of the crowd, but influencing their reaction.” (Mother, 04:33)
  • The conversation includes acknowledgments that some kids thrive on stage, others don’t, and each path is valid.

5. Sibling Dynamics & Parenting Anecdotes (03:41–04:32 & 06:43–07:18)

• Sibling Commentary:

  • Light banter (e.g., hints that younger sibling Hollis might be more into sports and might have to “defend Hayden in school”).
  • Celebratory tone about Hayden finding his own niche and happiness even if it’s off the expected path.

• The “Glee Effect”:

  • “There’s a reason that Glee is a popular show, because he’s tapping into what so many people are into…but they never get to say their voice in it.” (Mother, 07:05)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I have never felt joy like I felt on Saturday night… I have never seen that kid happier than he was on Saturday night.”
  (Father, 02:22)

• “I wanted Hayden’s thing to be my thing… That’s not his thing. But his thing is… this is his team. This is his baseball field.”
  (Father, 05:12–05:38)

• “If you can find the thing your kid is happiest in, damn, do it. Because to see them at the height of their happiness, nothing better.”
  (Father, 05:56)

• “It wasn't about him kicking ass… Man, he was so content. It was one of the greatest nights of my life.”
  (Father, 04:16)

• “There are some people like Hayden who… love to influence the audience reaction, and other kids would probably throw up at the thought…”
  (Mother, 04:33)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30–03:39: Bert recounts Hayden’s path to the lead role and the powerful joy it brought him as a parent.
• 04:33–05:12: Discussion on recognizing natural talents in children.
• 05:12–05:56: Letting go of parental expectations and embracing a child’s passion, whatever it may be.
• 06:05–06:43: Honest talk about buying jazz shoes, challenging gender norms and personal biases.
• 07:05–07:18: Group reflects on the importance of kids having a voice and representation, referencing the show "Glee".

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Tone and Style

The episode strikes a warm, open, and gently humorous tone. The cast share personal anecdotes, poke gentle fun at one another, and embrace vulnerability—especially Bert, as he admits to his own learning curve in supporting Hayden’s theatrical interests. The conversation is encouraging for parents, offering validation that it’s OK to let go of your own expectations for your children, and that true joy comes from seeing your kids do what makes them happiest.

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Summary Takeaway:
This episode is a touching exploration of modern parenthood—celebrating individuality, challenging biases, and savoring the pride that comes with watching a child fully in their element. Listeners are left with an uplifting message: to support our children wherever their passions may lead, and to recognize that the greatest joy comes from embracing who they truly are.

Transcript

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[Father]

The first show so Hayden had a lead in his play this weekend. He's been doing this play all week long called Seussical the Musical. Right. And it's run out of a place called Applause for kids. He's been, he's been part of their. What do you call it? Troupe. Is that what you call it? Cast.

[Mother]

Right.

[Father]

For a long time. And this is the show that they did this week. So he had a play each week when he was in the ensemble and then on Saturday night. The great thing I love about this place is that they allow everybody in the ensemble cast at one point or another to be a lead some sometime during the week, which I think is really, really cool, right? So Hayden was in the ensemble all week long. So I went to six ensemble shows watching him dance on the side.

[Mother]

You're a good dad.

[Father]

Finally, just to see him on, I guess it was Saturday night. Saturday night.

[Mother]

Yeah.

[Father]

Saturday night.

[Mother]

Man.

[Father]

I'll tell you what, I have never felt joy like I felt on Saturday night. Like, I'm starting to get all choked up talking about it right now. Also, to see Hayden on stage in what I really think is his element. I mean, he. I have never seen that kid happier than he was on Saturday night. This kid loves to make people laugh. He loves to entertain.

[Sibling 1]

That's awesome.

[Father]

He was so happy on Saturday night.

[Mother]

That's awesome.

[Sibling 2]

It's fantastic.

[Mother]

Good for him.

[Father]

It is. Like, now I understand why, Like, I understand the theory why some parents try to pressure people that don't have kids to have kids for these kind of experiences. Like, I sort of get it now. I would never do. But I get what they were saying. Like, you'll just never understand the joy that I have with a child. And I felt that on Saturday night.

[Mother]

Well, I'm sure as a parent, sometimes it gives you the ability to truly 100% be happy for somebody else. As adults, I don't think we can do that for each other. Oh, my God.

[Father]

I had the camera up and I'm recording them, and, like, I'm fighting back tears. And it wasn't that he was doing great or he was doing crappy. It didn't matter. He was on stage. And this little kid, man, was so content and so happy that it was one of the greatest nights of my life.

[Mother]

That's awesome.

[Father]

It was really fantastic.

[Sibling 1]

Did you tell Hollis that when you got home? Just so Hollis knows what I said.

[Father]

You got pretty big shoes. How are you going to beat that? Your brother kicked ass.

[Sibling 2]

Do you remember all of his lines? Since he was the lead?

[Father]

He. I mean, he struggled a little bit in some of the. Some of the areas, but it really wasn't like that night for me. It wasn't about him kicking ass. Like, on ensemble nights when he was sort of unfocused on stage, I would sit him down afterwards and I'd say to him, look, I'm sure your coaches went through this with you, but once you get on stage, you're not hating anymore. Like, you're not allowed to talk to the cast. Like, you're Hayden. You're your character man.

[Host]

Because he's.

[Father]

He's like his dad. He gets all flighty. Wow, look at the pretty lights, you know? And Just wants to talk to everybody. But being part of the lead that night wasn't for me to go, hey, man, you forgot your lines. There you were. Man, he was so content. It was one of the greatest nights of my life.

[Sibling 2]

And it shows.

[Mother]

And you show. It shows you sometimes a natural talent. Because there are some people like Hayden, who doesn't. Who doesn't mind being in front of a crowd, you know, I mean that he's pure, pure, pure joy at you. Like you said, for him to be not only in front of the crowd, but influencing their reaction and when they laugh. And then, you know, then you have some kids that would probably throw up at the thought of even being up there doing that. And the same with public speaking. Like, I could care less if I'm in front of, you know, however many people. If we do an appearance, it doesn't matter if we're at, you know, a concert, introducing somebody to. In front of thousands of people or whatever, where my sister would throw up at the idea of doing. You know what I mean? So it's cool for you to be able to see firsthand his natural talent.

[Father]

Every kid, I think every kid has their thing. I think what a lot of parents do and what I sort of felt myself starting to do in the beginning was I wanted Hayden's thing to be my thing. I wanted him to be in sports. Man, I wanted it.

[Mother]

I to wanted.

[Father]

You know, when you're a man and you think about having a son, you think about sitting at baseball games and about football games and swinging a bat with your kid and teaching them how to catch a ball. That's not his thing.

[Sibling 2]

Cause Hayden's tried that before, and he's

[Father]

not good at it. He's just not good at it. But his thing is, at least for now, this is what he wants his thing to be. This is his team. This is his baseball field. This is where he gets to help out and other kids get to assist him. And if you can find the thing that your kid is happiest in, damn, do it.

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[Father]

Because to see them at the height of their happiness, nothing better, man.

[Mother]

I think you're a good father for recognizing, not pushing him into what you did. Now what's up?

[Father]

It was a struggle. I'll tell you what. Two weeks ago, he and his mom went jazz shoes shopping. I had a problem with it. I'm not gonna lie to you.

[Sibling 1]

What are jazz shoes?

[Father]

They're like.

[Sibling 2]

They're dance shoes.

[Father]

They're dance shoes with a little heel on them. So when mom said that she was taking them jazz shoes.

[Mother]

Part of performance, part of me.

[Father]

I had the same. I cringed a little. I did. I did. Because I thought it would be dad and him at one point going out and getting cleats. But he went out and he got his jazz shoes, and they came home, and it was the nice little pink box and all, and he was very proud.

[Sibling 1]

No, they're not pink, are they?

[Father]

Yep.

[Mother]

Now. Now the shoes aren't p. We're giving a positive message now that. Don't start because Hollis is going to be the one that's going to be the linebacker that's, you know, that's going

[Father]

to do the sports thing unless he wants to do something else. But I was like you. That hurt to say my son was going to jazz shoes shopping with his mom.

[Spinquest Promoter]

Maybe cringe.

[Sibling 1]

Well, if everything works out, Hollis will be able to defend Hayden in school.

[Sibling 2]

Aw. I think it's great. I mean, he's doing something that he's so passionate about. And every time Hayden comes in here, he's like a little performer in here, too. So I think it's awesome that he's already got his niche.

[Mother]

And there's a reason that Glee is a popular show, because he's tapping into what that so many people are into that, and they never get to say their voice in it. So that, you know, I don't give him a hard time.

[Father]

Jeff, let it be.

[Sibling 1]

I'm not giving anyone a hard time. I am just.

[Father]

You're the bullet. Your parents should have recognized this in you, and you were the pitcher every year in T ball.

[Sibling 1]

I'm just saying.

[Host]

I'm just saying.

[Sibling 1]

I. I understand where you were coming from at that point in the. In the juncture of the conversation about.

[Father]

There was a twitch there for sure.

[Sibling 1]

Yes, I can understand that.

[Mother]

But Hayden was. It was a pure joy for me on Saturday night.

[Father]

Sure. Joy.

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