The Bert Show: "Vault: Can This Old Wives Trick Predict A Baby's Gender?"
Air Date: March 18, 2026
Hosts: The Bert Show cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and special guests
Episode Overview
In this light-hearted and humorous episode, The Bert Show cast and friends put an old wives’ tale to the test: Can the classic "needle on a string" (or ring, or necklace) trick really predict a baby's gender? With several expectant mothers in the studio, and a lively mix of skepticism and belief, the team investigates the tradition’s accuracy and origins—while making their own official baby gender predictions. The episode is filled with banter, curiosity, and fun personal stories surrounding pregnancy superstitions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introducing the Gender Prediction "Talent" (01:17–03:45)
- Jessica’s Claim: Jessica, one of the guests (and Jeff's wife), claims she has a "sixth sense" for predicting baby genders with near 90% accuracy.
- Jessica (02:28): “I have a sixth sense. And you're just gonna have to accept that.”
- Setup for the Experiment: With multiple pregnant women present—Anna, Tracy, and Mikaleen—the group decides Jessica will record her official predictions for each.
2. Making Predictions (03:45–06:17)
- Jessica's Picks (05:47–06:17):
- Mikaleen: Boy
- Tracy: Girl
- Anna: Boy
- The predictions are made on-air and will be revisited after actual gender reveals.
3. The Needle Test Explained (06:41–08:23)
- Mikaleen Details the Trick:
- Hold a needle (or any weight) on a string over the pregnant woman’s wrist.
- Circle motion = girl, back and forth = boy.
- The test allegedly also registers past pregnancies, miscarriages, or abortions, and will not move on someone who’s never been pregnant.
- Mikaleen (07:06): "It will show if you had a miscarriage or abortion or anything like that. ... And the needle did not move whatsoever [on my aunt who’s never been pregnant].”
4. Live Demonstration & Reactions (08:01–13:16)
- Homegrown Science: Jeff tries the test using a wedding ring on a string (“it just has to be a weight”). They perform the experiment on several women present.
- Experiences: Results seem to match predictions, stirring excitement and disbelief.
- Co-host (10:46): “With Tracy, it stopped, and then it started again in a circle. And with Anna, it stopped and it stopped, then started again, swinging back and forth.”
- Skeptical Notes: They discuss whether the type of weight or exact technique matters, and recount previous instances where the test "tracked" family pregnancies accurately.
5. Questions and What-Ifs (12:16–12:42)
- Twins & Other Variables: Hosts wonder if the trick behaves differently for twins or multiple pregnancies.
- Co-host (12:16): “Now if someone is pregnant with twins and don’t know it yet, I wonder if it does it twice or stops and does it twice?”
6. Wrapping Up and Looking Forward (13:16–13:28)
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Other Variations: The team notes you can use any personal object as the weight (needle, ring, necklace).
- Jessica (13:19): “The girl last night did it with a necklace, and she did it to me also. And I was really happy to find out that I wasn’t pregnant.”
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Awaiting Results: They agree to revisit Jessica’s predictions after the official baby gender reveals to see if the old wives’ trick (and Jessica’s "gift") stand up to reality.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Jessica’s Confidence:
- (02:28) “I have a sixth sense. And you’re just gonna have to accept that.”
- On the Practicality of the Trick:
- Co-host (07:45): "Now, are you sure it's circle for a girl and back and forth for a boy?... That's important to know."
- Live Reaction:
- Jeff (09:45): "This is really freaky. I haven’t seen anything like this in my life."
- Debunking or Confirming Superstition:
- Jessica (13:19): “I was really happy to find out that I wasn’t pregnant. Thank you.”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [01:17] - Jessica announces her claimed gender-predicting ability
- [03:45] - Jessica provides official on-air gender predictions
- [06:41] - Needle/ring trick explained and tradition discussed
- [08:15] - Live experimentation with the trick
- [10:46] - Demonstration observations and skepticism
- [12:16] - Discussion about twins and multiple pregnancies
- [13:16] - Wrap-up: Results pending actual baby gender reveals
Summary
This episode blends classic morning show humor with earnest curiosity as the Bert Show crew and their guests put a legendary pregnancy superstition to the test. As Jessica confidently makes her predictions for which coworkers will have boys or girls, the cast explores the “needle on a string” method both hands-on and through personal anecdotes. The mix of playful skepticism, authentic surprise at the results, and open discussion of tradition makes for a fun listen—especially as everyone waits for the real answers, promising a follow-up episode.
Useful For: Anyone curious about pregnancy superstitions, gender prediction traditions, or who simply enjoys the friendly, candid banter typical of The Bert Show.
Key Takeaway: Sometimes, it’s less about scientific accuracy and more about sharing laughs and stories—with a hint of suspense until the big baby gender reveals!
