Vault: Can This Old Wives Trick Predict A Baby's Gender?

Summary

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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

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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.

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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)

• 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.”

• 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.

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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.”

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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

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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.

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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!

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Transcript

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[Jessica]

I'm doing an arts and crafts project. Here's the.

[Jeff]

Jeff has, like, needle and thread out.

[Co-host]

Hell hath frozen over everybody. Just kidding.

[Jessica]

Right now, while Jessica, my wife, is still in studio, we are going to do something that we witnessed last night, and then Jessica's also going to make the prediction because we've got a lot of fetuses in here as well. Okay, we have Anna from sales. Hi, Anna.

[Co-host]

Hey, Anna.

[Jessica]

So here's what we're going to do. Jessica has this talent. She thinks where she seems to think she can come on. And she can predict the sex of a child from just looking at the pregnant mom. And she claims to have almost like a 90% accuracy rate. I think it's more like 50%, which would be, I don't know, logical. But she's like, I get it right every time. I know it. And here's what she does is she makes the prediction way early in the pregnancy, and then she doesn't. She make the prediction super, super, super early in the pregnancy. Then she doesn't bring it up again. And then when the baby's born, she declares, I knew it would be. By then, everybody's forgotten what she originally predicted.

It's a good idea.

[Jeff]

Is that true?

[Jessica]

No. I don't know what you're talking about. I get it, right. I have a sixth sense. And you're just gonna have to accept that. He's very angry. He's very angry about my special talents.

Well, now we're surrounded by pregnant people and so I think what we could do. And Tracy is the producer of our show and we've talked about her. She's doing June, right? End of June.

[Jeff]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

We have two first time moms in the studio, so that may add too, because since they've never carried a this, then, you know, have some mothers of multiple children, like, oh, well, I'm carrying this one differently than my last one. So I predict it's this. But we have Anna and Tracy in studio who are first time. Congratulations again.

[Jessica]

And then I'm trying right now to get a third person on because if you go three for three, then it's been declared and it's good if you can go three for three.

[Jeff]

So did you already predict early on in both of these presentations someone else

[Co-host]

would have been in the office?

[Jessica]

No, not in the office. A friend of ours.

Well, no, not really. I mean, I think Tracy was last week I was just talking to her and all of a sudden I just looked at her stomach and I just had this thought. And so that's what I think. And I think I know what she's gonna have. And I just look at Anna and I think I know what she's gonna have. And then our other friend last night, same thing. I could just lay it all out right now. I think I know.

[Jeff]

And Tracy's actually finding out the sex of the baby today.

[Co-host]

Today.

[Jessica]

Right.

So I think the right way that we should do this or the proper way that we should do this is Jessica should make her declaration today what she thinks each person is having. And then on Monday, after Traci finds out, we could get the results.

[Co-host]

We can, you know. Okay. But you haven't talked to Jessica about that, so. No, I believe so. All right, so good. So. And we'll reveal Anna's I guess as well on Monday with Tracy.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Jessica]

Everybody reveals at the same time.

Yeah. And so, Jeff, last night we were at that party and I guessed that my friend at the party, what she's having. And then this other friend of ours came over and randomly said, I have a test that will prove the sex, which he'll explain. And it went to the same sex that I guessed, that I had guessed. It was very bizarre. Very bizarre.

[Co-host]

And this is what this arts and crafts project Jeff's doing is. He's putting together the test.

[Jessica]

Yes.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Jessica]

So. Hey, Mikaleen.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Jessica]

How are you?

[Mikaleen]

I'm good.

[Jessica]

Good. Mike Lean is our third friend, so we have Anna, Tracy, and Mikaleen.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Mikaleen]

Congratulations.

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Anna]

Thank you.

[Jessica]

And your due date Again, Mikaleen, is July 23rd. And here's. Mikaleen's been screwing with Jessica, too, because Jessica declared that she didn't want to know what Mike Lee was having. Wanted to be surprised. So I actually already know what Mike Lean is having.

[Co-host]

And Jessica does not.

[Jessica]

And Jessica does not.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Jeff]

How do you know so early?

[Anna]

Oh, for me?

[Mikaleen]

Well, they.

[Anna]

I don't know. I had an appointment a couple weeks

[Mikaleen]

ago, actually, and they told me what they thought it was, and they said

[Anna]

it's about an 80.

[Mikaleen]

85% chance.

[Jessica]

And when do you find out?

[Anna]

Definitely in a couple weeks.

[Jessica]

Okay. So, Jessica, would you like to make your prediction for Mikaleen's child?

[Mikaleen]

Yes.

[Jessica]

On record, officially. You think Mike Lean is having a boy? A boy. All right, Mike Lean, don't say anything to her until next time we talk.

[Anna]

Okay, perfect.

[Jessica]

Well, I mean, you can talk to her like you can be friendly, but just don't say anything about you, all right?

[Anna]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Okay, Jessica.

[Mikaleen]

Sounds good.

[Jessica]

Thank you, Mike Ling.

[Co-host]

Thank you, Mike Ling.

[Anna]

Okay, Bye, y'.

[Mikaleen]

All.

[Jessica]

Bye, Jessica. Make your prediction for Tracy.

Girl.

You think Tracy's having a girl?

Yep.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Jessica]

And make your prediction for Anna.

Boy.

Boy.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Jessica]

All right, now, boys and a girl. Anna, will you come here a second? This trick, and I think.

[Co-host]

And when does Anna do. We haven't even asked Anna.

[Jessica]

Tomorrow.

[Co-host]

Anna's, like, not soon enough.

[Host]

February 23rd, but hopefully sooner.

[Co-host]

So she's in that stage of. I'm ready now.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

Has anyone done this to you yet? Okay. Hey, Kelly.

[Anna]

Hey.

[Jessica]

Can you explain this needle thing?

[Mikaleen]

Okay. Are you doing the one where you hang the needle over the wrist?

[Jessica]

Yes.

[Anna]

Okay.

[Mikaleen]

It so works. I did it when I was pregnant, and you don't have to be pregnant to do it. Like, I did it to my mother, and it showed every pregnancy she ever had. It will show if you had a miscarriage or abortion or anything like that. We also did it to my aunt, who is gay and never had no intentions of ever having a baby. And the needle did not move whatsoever.

[Co-host]

Okay. So you could test it on me as a. You know.

[Mikaleen]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

I don't know.

[Mikaleen]

If you. If you're not gonna get pregnant, then yes.

[Co-host]

Unless Jesus is coming back, there's no way.

[Mikaleen]

But, yes, it did not move at all. And I did it to a friend, another friend of mine, and they all. Every. Every people who have had babies. We did it to all the parents who. The mothers. And it showed every pregnancy they had. You basically hold it. Hold the string with the needle pointing down on the wrist with your wrist out, and it will go around in a circle. Circle for a girl and back and forth for a boy.

[Co-host]

Really? And then it won't move if you've never been pregnant.

[Jessica]

Now, are you sure it's circle for a girl and back and forth for a boy? Because

[Mikaleen]

I could be confused about that. It's been a while, 10 years since I did that, and I can't remember which is which.

[Co-host]

But can I make a comment, though? Because that's not a needle that you have on.

[Jessica]

It just has to be a weight.

[Co-host]

A weight. Okay.

[Mikaleen]

I don't know. We've done it with a needle, and you can actually do it over the person's belly if they actually are pregnant, but if they're not, we do it over the wrist.

[Co-host]

Like, you hold your wrist out. Oh, because Jeff's doing it as you're talking.

[Jeff]

Yeah, Jeff's doing it right now. He's got his ring on a string, and it's going back and forth, right?

[Jessica]

Yep.

[Jeff]

It's not a circle back and forth, which you were saying would be a boy.

[Anna]

I thought that.

[Mikaleen]

Wait a minute. I thought back and forth was a boy.

[Jessica]

That's what we. That's what we heard. We heard back and forth was a boy.

[Mikaleen]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jessica]

A circle was a boy.

No, last night it was back and forth with Michael Eames.

[Co-host]

Well, that's important to know.

[Jessica]

Did Mike Liens go back and forth?

Yes, because I'm watching.

[Mikaleen]

I had my needle on me because I could do it. And I could tell you because I'm

[Co-host]

watching Jeff's arm not moving, his shoulder not moving his hand not moving, and he just is. He has his wedding ring on a string. And it'll do.

[Mikaleen]

What it will do is it'll stop. It'll, like, say it'll go in a circle, and then it'll stop and it'll start moving again for the next child. I'm going into that dock right there. That is so freaky.

[Jessica]

It's going in the circle for Tracy. That is so weird.

[Co-host]

I'm telling you, in the circle.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Mikaleen]

It will actually, like, if you have four kids, like, say you had girl, boy, girl, boy, it'll go around in a circle, then it'll stop, Then it'll start going back and forth, and then it'll stop.

[Co-host]

That is so weird, because, I mean, basically what happened is that.

[Jessica]

Come here.

[Co-host]

Carter, Jeff has his wedding ring on a string. Like you said, it has to be a weight. Does it have to be a metal weight?

[ZipRecruiter Announcer]

Yeah, back and forth.

[Jessica]

For a boy.

[Mikaleen]

I've always done it with a needle, so I didn't. I've never heard it done with a ring. But like, my mom. My mom had a boy and a girl, but she had a miscarriage before me and after me. And it showed all three, four pregnancies. And the same with my grandmother. Showed the six because she had two miscarriages and four kids.

[Jessica]

Freaky. Thanks for the call, Kelly.

[Mikaleen]

Okay, guys, have a good one.

[Jessica]

Hey, Melissa.

[Jeff]

This is really freaky. I haven't seen anything like this in my life.

[Jessica]

So the circle is a girl, right?

[Anna]

Yes.

[Jessica]

Okay.

[Host]

Yeah, I just looked it up, so

[Jeff]

so far, it would be that it was right.

[Anna]

Mm.

[Jeff]

Or that Jessica was right.

[Jessica]

Okay.

[Jeff]

It's above Melissa's wrist, and it's not really moving.

[Co-host]

It just kind of stopped.

[Jessica]

It's just sitting there.

[Jeff]

Yeah, it's just sitting there.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

Isn't that weird? Wow.

[Jeff]

That is freaking.

[Jessica]

So who is.

[Co-host]

Let me better visually explain, because I think we keep talking. So he has the ring on a string, and he hangs it directly over. Right there at the pulse point, over the inside wrist of someone's. Of these women's outstretched arms. And then it's almost as if once he puts it on there, then it's almost like the ring resets itself, because at some point, it kind of. Kind of stops, and then it starts its motion or non motion. So when it was over my wrist, he put it on there. Of course, with motion, it was just kind of swinging around. But then all of a sudden, it just almost like stopped. You know, like, I could see that it kind of got.

[Jeff]

But 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.

[Mikaleen]

You know what?

[Jessica]

Let's try it again. But, Jen. Cause you know what? Maybe it's some weird. No, I don't want to do it to you. I want you to do it to somebody else, but do it to Anna and see if it's still.

[Co-host]

It does. It has same results.

[Jessica]

We have to make a video of this and put it up online.

[Jeff]

Yeah, you're right. We do. Okay, so you got to get it

[Jessica]

real close, but don't touch.

[Jeff]

It's not really moving at all.

[Co-host]

It's not really doing anything. Is it the same wrist, Anna, that you used before?

[Jessica]

Yeah, maybe. You only have one shot.

There it goes.

[Jeff]

There it Goes.

[Jessica]

Oh, my gosh.

[Co-host]

It did start moving back and forth again.

[Jessica]

Oh, my goodness.

That's fre. Weird.

I know.

Why is that happening? I don't want the voodoo. Get the voodoo out of me now.

[Mikaleen]

Jen has it really weird. Jen has the voodoo.

[Jeff]

Okay, Tracy, come here.

[Mikaleen]

Let's try it.

[Jessica]

Hey, Nemesha, welcome to Voodoo fm.

[Anna]

I'm sorry.

[Jessica]

This is crazy.

Whoa.

[ZipRecruiter Announcer]

Tracy's just automatically started.

[Anna]

It is.

[Mikaleen]

You know what?

[Anna]

I. One of my daughter's friend's mom at school.

[Mikaleen]

This was a while back, right?

[Anna]

Almost two years ago. And she showed me. I took up, like, a gold bracelet, you know, and I, like, made it like a circle with my hand and, like, dropped it in the little circle three times and just held it down.

[Jeff]

It's working.

[Anna]

And it would do, like, circle for a girl, because I already have a girl. And when I was pregnant, I didn't find out the sex of my baby. And then it would do circle, and then it would do back and forth. And that meant a boy, and he turned out to be a boy.

[Co-host]

Wow. Now if. Now if someone is pregnant with twins and don't know it yet, I wonder

[Anna]

if it does it twice or stops and does it twice, you mean?

[Co-host]

Yeah, like, if it does anything different. If, you know.

[Mikaleen]

Yeah, it's wild.

[Jeff]

So if this thing is right, I

[Anna]

mean, I just kept doing that and doing that, and then he just turned out to be a boy. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm so excited. And, you know, and I guess with

[Co-host]

twins with different genders, I guess, like, paternal twins is what I was thinking. Because if it's identical, then. Yeah, it doesn't matter.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

So if this is accurate, then Anna will tell us on Monday that she's having a boy according to the. Tracy will tell us having a girl

[Co-host]

according to that test. And I'm not pregnant, so that's good.

[Jessica]

We'll find out on Monday that Melissa's not having a baby. Our friend who is on with us, our friend Mike Lean is where I saw this, because a girl grabbed Mike Lean's arm and did this, like, made it happen. And it said boy for her. Right. So it would be boy. Tracy's having a girl. And Anna and Michael, you'll both be having a boy according to the freaky ring voodoo trick. Yeah.

[Co-host]

And it doesn't have to be a ring. It could be a needle or any weight or necklace.

[Jessica]

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. Thank you.

Especially considering she was on her fourth drink.

I had a drink and I was like, thank God.

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