Vault: Blackmailing Her Boss Backfired Big Time!

Summary

The Bert Show Podcast Summary

Episode: Vault: Blackmailing Her Boss Backfired Big Time!
Date: March 12, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, The Bert Show revisits an explosive and ethically-charged caller story from their archives. Carly, a listener, called in after she attempted to blackmail her boss with incriminating photos to avoid layoffs at her company. The cast and listeners weigh in on the risks, moral consequences, and real-world fallout when workplace desperation triggers a tripwire—blurring lines between self-preservation and criminality.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Carly’s Blackmail Attempt

• Background: Carly captured photos of her boss flirting with a woman at a bar, with the intent of using the images to prevent being laid off amidst company downsizing.
• Initial Action: Along with a co-worker, Carly confronted her boss, presenting the photos as leverage (00:46–02:14).

  “We have some information that would be in your best interest to keep private. I said, and we want to keep this information private as well. Handed him the camera phone, he looked through it and his face turned red.”
  —Caller Jessica (01:29)

• Boss’s Response: The boss remained composed, told Carly and her friend not to discuss further, and said he’d be in touch.

2. Legal and Ethical Ramifications

• Cast Reactions: Several Bert Show members and listeners highlight the criminal nature of blackmail.

  "This is a felony. And so… it’s just a whole awkward situation all around, you know?"
  —Co-host Guest (02:20)

• Potential Consequences: The cast jokes about being called as court witnesses should the incident escalate, and discuss the seriousness of the offense (02:55–03:15).

3. The Fallout: Carly Gets Fired

• Carly Rejoins the Show: Speaking under voice disguise, Carly reveals she was laid off shortly after the incident (03:38–03:51).

• Details of Termination:

  • Called into a conference room with HR, legal, and multiple supervisors—an intimidating and formal setup (04:03–05:04).
  • No mention of the photos during the meeting; termination framed as part of company layoffs.
  • Carly and her accomplice (the friend who confronted the boss with her) both let go, as well as a few others (08:18–08:46).

  “HR person spoke and said, you know, I’m really sorry, but we have to let you go. And just talked to me about the severance package... They didn’t mention the pictures at all.”
  —Carly (05:09)

• Host’s Insight:

  “I’m assuming it’s a calculated move that they don’t say the reason why we’re letting you go is because of the pictures. That’s—I’m sure corporate... it’s a no fault state, right? I mean, you could get fired for anything.”
  —Host Burt (07:30)

4. Audience and Cast Reactions

• Little Sympathy from Callers: Most callers and show hosts feel Carly’s fate was justified:

  “I think she deserved all of it.”
  —Caller Jessica (08:52)

  “I am so, so glad that this woman was terminated... She got everything that she deserved.”
  —Caller Quentin (09:00)

• A Minority Shows Some Perspective:

  “Honestly, I can’t totally blame her... I know that makes me probably a bad guy, but I can’t totally blame her for trying to do what she could to save her job...”
  —Caller Quentin (11:54)

5. Reflection and Aftermath

• Carly’s Regret: Now that the gravity of her actions has set in, Carly expresses relief it didn’t result in criminal charges.

  “I am really relieved that nothing happened to me. It could have been worse.”
  —Carly (10:23)

• Ongoing Uncertainty: Host Burt reminds Carly legal action could still follow.

  “You don’t know if the phone is gonna ring today or if somebody’s gonna show up at your house... So this may not be over yet.”
  —Host Burt (10:40)

• Carly’s Defense: She plans to deny everything if confronted, stating there’s no written proof, but the hosts point out her radio confession is now public (10:54–11:26).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the weight of the crime:

  “Did you have any shame? Are you feeling any shame at all in what you did and how you handled it?”
  —Host Burt (09:27)

• On workplace procedures:

  “When you get fired... there’s not 10 people in the room. There’s usually somebody from HR and the supervisor.”
  —Co-host Bert (07:44)

• On ethics and desperation:

  “Desperate times call for desperate measures, but it’s illegal.”
  —Host Burt (12:17)

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Timeline & Timestamps

• [00:46–02:14]: Recap and replay of Carly’s original blackmail attempt
• [03:38–03:51]: Carly reveals she got laid off
• [04:03–07:30]: Carly describes her firing and the corporate meeting
• [08:52–09:23]: Listeners call in, mostly condemning Carly’s actions
• [09:27–10:23]: Reflection, discussion of shame, and relief at avoiding criminal charges
• [10:40–11:26]: Hosts warn Carly that repercussions may still come, and note she’s semi-publicly confessed
• [11:54]: Only one caller expresses some understanding of Carly’s desperation

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Takeaways

• This episode delivers a compelling exploration of workplace ethics amid economic hardship, pushing listeners to question where the line is between fighting for one’s job and crossing into criminal territory.
• The hosts maintain a candid, sometimes humorous but always authentic tone, balancing empathy with ethical clarity throughout the discussion.
• Carly’s story serves as a cautionary tale—the cost of panicked decisions in professional crises may go well beyond a pink slip.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Co-host Bert]

cap apply hey, the Birch Show.

[Host Burt]

For those of you that have been listening for the last couple of days, Carly called us and told us straight up she's blackmailing her boss. And a lot of you guys called up and you said, I understand where she's coming from. In this economy, things are so desperate right now, you gotta do what you can to save your job. So Carly has a couple of pictures of her boss. They were all hanging out in a bar one night together and there was just some woman in the bar and he started getting drunk and getting all flirty with this woman and he puts his hand on her leg and starts flirting with her and is probably a little bit too close. And Carly was gonna use those for blackmail. So she goes into her boss's office and she says, look, these cuts that you're gonna be doing, I just wanna let you know I've got these pictures. So the last time we talked to her, this is what she said.

[Caller Jessica]

We just sat down. Well, I just started to say we've heard rumors that there may be some layoffs. And then I said, we have some information that would be in your best interest to keep private. I said, and we want to keep this information private as well. Handed him the camera phone, he looked through it and his face turned red. And then he just kind of stopped for a second and he just kind of took a breath and said, basically, as far as layoffs go, you know, this is not public knowledge. So I would just like you ladies to not discuss this with anyone any further and I will talk to you

[Carly]

a little bit later.

[Caller Jessica]

And that was it.

[Host Burt]

So that's where we left it off. And at this point we were all wondering, I wonder what's going to happen over the next 48 hours? He's got a whole bunch of different things he could do.

[Co-host Guest]

Yeah, and not only that, we. Because we started getting a lot of emails from people who were just talking about how dangerous this is, because, I mean, this is a felony. And so. And we weren't aware of that, I think, when we started, you know, having this conversation. And so it's just this. It's just a whole awkward situation all around, you know?

[Host Burt]

Right. So what's happened over the last 48 hours? Anybody want to make predictions before we get her on?

[Weight Watchers Announcer]

I think HR had a little phone call to her.

[Co-host Bert]

I'm actually surprised she's on with us. Yeah, I figured. I told Tracy yesterday I didn't think we'd ever hear from her again just

[Host Burt]

because she was gonna realize that it was a felony and how serious.

[Co-host Bert]

Melissa forwarded along an email from some lawyer buddy of hers who said that we would be witnesses to her, you know, her trial, her crime. Yes. If she went, this could go to court. And if it did, we would probably be called as witnesses.

[Co-host Guest]

We don't wanna go down. We don't want to go down with the gym. I mean, you know, we don't want to.

[Co-host Bert]

Listen, listen. Bert cannot go to jail after taking those pictures, I'll tell you that.

[Weight Watchers Announcer]

Those are already posted in prison right now.

[Co-host Bert]

Right. I mean, if something happens to this show, we all. We have an obligation to protect Bert right now.

[Host Burt]

I am definitely going to Mexico, I guarantee you.

[Co-host Guest]

Oh, but, yeah, I'm surprised we're talking to her, too.

[Host Burt]

So here she is. She's back on the voice disguiser. Hey, Carly.

[Carly]

Good morning.

[Host Burt]

Good morning. How are you?

[Carly]

I'm. I'm okay.

[Host Burt]

What's happened over the last couple of days?

[Carly]

Well, I got laid off.

[Host Burt]

You did get laid off?

[Carly]

Yeah, I did.

[Host Burt]

Give us some details. How long before the boss calls? Does HR call? Do you get a call from the police? What happens here?

[Carly]

No, I went into work yesterday, and I really wasn't there that long when I got a call from my direct supervisor asking me to come into this. One of our conference rooms.

[Co-host Bert]

Is this the guy that you showed the pictures to? Different guy.

[Carly]

Yeah, it's a different guy. The person that I who was involved with the pictures used to be my direct supervisor, and then he got promoted, so he. He's higher up. He's a dm. So I went into the conference room, and it was. They. I knew. Well, because my manager was in there. The DM was in there. This guy introduced himself as someone from human resources, another guy who was, I guess, corporate attorney and two other supervisors, one woman and one man.

[Host Burt]

So you knew what was coming. You walked in there and they had the whole line of suits right there. You knew what was coming.

[Carly]

You know, I didn't know what was coming because I was so scared that maybe they had contacted the police or I didn't even, I wasn't sure. So my heart was really racing and I just tried to stay calm, but I knew either way it wasn't good. So they just explained. The HR person spoke and said, you know, I'm really sorry, but we have to let you go. And just talked to me about the severance package was very short and you know, she gave her condolences. And they didn't mention the pictures at all. Everyone was just pretty blank. And I just shook everyone's hands and I just walked out. And as I was going out, one of the other supervisors, who's not my direct boss, he said, oh, you know, I'm going over, you know, by your way. Anyway, so he kind of walked with me and was making like a little bit of kind of awkward small talk and he kind of came over to where my area is and I started to just clean out my desk and he was kind of chatting with someone nearby, but I kind of felt like he was there to kind of walk me out.

[Co-host Bert]

He totally does. They always do. I'm surprised they didn't just say, we're going to walk you out.

[Carly]

Yeah, they didn't have a, a security guard or anything. And then I did see someone else walking into the conference room. So I wasn't sure if maybe they were doing it for everyone that way. I wasn't. Anyway, then I kind of just quickly, I just really wanted to get out of there. So I just gathered up some stuff and then he just said, oh, do you need any help? Do you want me to carry anything out? And I said, no, no, I can just going out to my car and oh, here, let me. Gee, let me. And so he kind of escorted me over to the elevator and so that was it.

[Host Burt]

Let me. I'm assuming it's a calculated move that they don't say the reason why we're letting you go is because of the pictures. That's I'm sure corporate or whoever has told her, look, George, it's a no fault state, right? I mean, you could get fired for anything.

[Co-host Bert]

I guarantee you though, they knew about the pictures because when you get fired. Oh sure, like there's not 10 people in the room. There's usually somebody from HR and they ask supervisor.

[Co-host Guest]

That's because they were letting her know.

[Host Burt]

Right.

[Co-host Guest]

They all knew of her actions. And, I mean, it was incredibly wrong, what you did. And dangerous and illegal. Yes, illegal. But I think that they may have. You may have been up on the chopping block anyway. You know what I mean? Like you were saying your companies were doing layoffs. They probably just pushed yours ahead.

[Co-host Bert]

Did your friend get fired, the person who went in there with you?

[Carly]

Yes. Yes, she did.

[Weight Watchers Announcer]

Did anybody else get fired besides you two?

[Carly]

Well, from what we, you know, because we don't know everyone. And I've only spoken to her and one other person, and it seems one manager was. Was let go and then just maybe two others that we know of. So I'm not too sure, you know, if there were more than that. I didn't know everyone.

[Host Burt]

You're not going to get a lot of sympathy here, for sure. Good morning, Jessica. You're on Q100. Hi.

[Caller Jessica]

I think she deserved all of it.

[Host Burt]

That's what most people.

[Caller Quentin]

I mean, what did she expect?

[Carly]

You know?

[Host Burt]

That's what most are saying. Hey, Craig. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller Quentin]

Hey, guys. I'm a manager at my job at a company where we just had a bunch of layoffs. And, you know, being there and watched, you know, and just my. My heart went out to everybody, and I was. It was really hurting, you know, it wasn't our fault. I am so, so glad that this woman was terminated. It is. It was just. It's awesome that she got everything that she deserved.

[Co-host Guest]

You're lucky you didn't go to jail.

[Co-host Bert]

Yeah.

[Weight Watchers Announcer]

Still lucky, though. It could still happen.

[Host Burt]

Do you have any shame? Are you feeling any shame at all in what you did and how you handled it?

[Carly]

I mean, yeah, I, you know, there was a moment where I thought, oh, my goodness, I'd rather get. I hope they're just going to say that they're letting me, you know, that they're laying me off. Because it kind of hit reality that, oh, my gosh, why is there. Why is the. Why is there a corporate attorney here? Why? You know, I started kind of looking around for a second, like, are there going to be. Like, is the security guard going to be, you know, coming in right after me?

[Co-host Bert]

The corporate attorney was there because they were aware of what you did, and if you brought it up in that meeting, he probably would have immediately stopped it and said, okay, this is a separate meeting, and maybe even called the police.

[Host Burt]

You know, this seems like a pretty Obvious question, but what are you gonna do with the pictures now?

[Carly]

I'm not gonna do anything.

[Host Burt]

I would hope not.

[Carly]

I'm not gonna do anything. I mean, smart. Like I said, I was really desperate, and I thought maybe it would help, you know? But now at this point, I mean, it's just done. And I am really relieved that nothing happened to me. It could have been worse.

[Host Burt]

Well, it may not be done. I mean, this is what you gotta live with now, is that you don't know if the phone is gonna ring today or if somebody's gonna show up at your house and knock on the door and say, you know that thing that you did a couple of days ago? We need to talk to you about that. So this may not be over yet,

[Carly]

you know, but, you know, the thing is, I was thinking about it, and I'll just. I'll just deny it if I have to lie even more. I mean, I'll make up some other thing just to protect myself, but I didn't put anything in writing. You know, it's just his word against mine. And

[Weight Watchers Announcer]

you kind of made your word kind of public because you are on the radio.

[Co-host Bert]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Yeah, but they don't know. You know, you've put me on a voice disguiser, right?

[Host Burt]

Yeah. Nobody can recognize your voice, that's for sure.

[Carly]

And I never said the name of the company. And like you said, so many companies are doing layoffs. I think it would be hard to prove it, but, I mean, I think they would have done something by now. I don't think they'd say, oh, let's let her feel relieved and then.

[Caller Jessica]

Then do something.

[Host Burt]

Carly, let me take at least one call supporting you, actually. Go ahead, Quentin. You're part of the Burt Show.

[Caller Quentin]

Yeah. I just wanted to say, honestly, you know, I can't totally blame her. I know that that makes me probably a bad guy, but I can't totally blame her for trying to do what she could to save her job, you know? I mean, kudos to her for taking, I don't know, more difficult roads, you know, doing something.

[Commercial Announcer]

She did something.

[Host Burt]

It's illegal, man.

[Co-host Guest]

It's ille. It's a felony.

[Host Burt]

It's illegal. And I understand desperate times call for desperate measures, but it's illegal.

[Co-host Guest]

No, it doesn't.

[Host Burt]

No, it doesn't. All right, Carly, we will let you go. And like I said before, I hope you don't get a phone call or a knock on the door. And I hope this is really over for you.

[Carly]

Yeah, I hope so, too. All right.

[Host Burt]

Thanks for sharing with us.

[Carly]

Hey.

[Co-host Bert]

The Birch Show.

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