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Burt
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Melissa
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Burt
The Bird Show. All right, let me ask this question to you guys even before we tell you the story. If you have any kind of accent at all, any kind, call us right now. In addition, if you can fake an accent really, really well, really, really, really well, give us a call right now. We meant to do this a couple of days ago, but we have heard this common story before. In this case, it is a woman from England who is 60 years old and she had a stroke. And when she woke up, her English accent all of a sudden was transformed into this mixture of what they're calling Jamaican, Canadian and Slovakian. Oh, her accent didn't sound anything like it did before she had the stroke.
Melissa
And they're claiming that it's some sort of portion of her brain that was different, you know, involving her speech patterns and that's what gave her the new accent.
Burt
That's exactly right. In fact, doctors have a name for it. It's called foreign accent syndrome. And there aren't a lot of different cases in the world where this happens, but it has happened over the last couple of years, a couple of times. In fact, the first time that we heard about it was a few years ago when we had this woman, Judy Roberts on, who was American and woke up with the English accent.
Melissa
Wasn't she a Floridian? I thought she was from Florida. That's right. She'd had the stroke and then she came on to talk to us because she was spreading the news about this foreign accent syndrome because she just wanted to help others that were afflicted with the same thing.
Jeff
Because there's 40 people in the whole world who are desperate for attention and have.
Burt
We weren't buying it. We weren't buying it all. Still not really buying it. But this is about two minutes of the conversation with Judy from a couple of years ago. And. And I think it was Jeff that was. I mean, extremely critical of her.
Jeff
She was originally from New York City and then went. Moved down to Florida. Go figure. And so according to Tracy, she had the Yankee New Yorker accent that completely disappeared when she suffered her stroke.
Burt
Judy Roberts is one of fewer than 20 reported cases of something called foreign accent syndrome.
Jeff
Hello.
Burt
She is from Florida, but I think she lived in New York for a while, had a stroke, and. And when she woke up, she had this really strong English accent. This is no lie. Judy Roberts, how are you today?
Natalie
I'm just fine, thank you.
Burt
Okay, now that is. This is not the. The voice we're hearing now has not always been the accent that you've had.
Natalie
No, it hasn't.
Burt
So you had a bit of a. A bit of a northeast accent probably before this happened.
Natalie
No, I had a lot of a northeast accent. You know, once you go through something like this, you're never the same again. It changes you a bit. Somebody said, does it change your personality? Well, of course it does. How can it not when you have to learn to walk and talk again?
Jeff
Two part question. The first part is, do you have a problem with people believing you, that you're faking this, that this isn't real? And the second part of my question is, could you answer my first question in an American accent?
Natalie
In American. Yeah. Well, I couldn't change it. This is what I've got. I'm stuck here.
Jeff
Well, I can do a British accent if you ask me to.
Natalie
So can you, but I can't do an American.
Jeff
I can understand if you're using the English accent. Like, if you gotta go pee, like, where do you go?
Natalie
The loo?
Jeff
Where does that come from?
Burt
Like, have you. Were you.
Jeff
They don't call it the loo in Indiana.
Burt
Had you ever been in England before this happened?
Natalie
No, I haven't. It's just. It's been back in my language center of things that I've heard, I guess, in the past that are coming out and mixing all into one.
Burt
Jeff asked you, do a lot of people not believe what you say?
Natalie
It's hard enough For a stroke patient to have to learn to walk and talk again, an idiot would have to be an idiot to put themselves up for this.
Jeff
A bloody idiot.
Natalie
A bloody idiot is right. Exactly.
Burt
We were critical back then. Even Massey. Listening to it now is like shaking our head like B.
Melissa
One of my best friends, Nikki, is from England and sounds nothing. I mean, you can just tell the words that, that you try to make come out with an accent. And she does not have those at all. I mean, let me be the first one to call BS on this. Well, I mean, the thing is that I couldn't understand is how her vernacular changed. Like Jeff was pointing out, you go from the bathroom to the loo. That's not an accent thing.
Jeff
Let's take the lift to my flat. Pardon me. I seem to have had a slight strange stroke.
Melissa
Every time you do anything I want to finish that crumpet, you bust a vein. Every time you do a British accident.
Jeff
British people are very.
Melissa
You always shout.
Burt
British people are afraid of spitting. And I'm going to have to duck at record speed to get away from it.
Jeff
You need an umbrella when I. When I go British, let's just say.
Melissa
You don't have a stroke.
Burt
Our theory here is that if you have an accent or if you're faking it, we should be able to tell pretty easily.
Jeff
We can pick it up right quick.
Melissa
Well, I can tell by your volume.
Jeff
Have you never been to Bread?
Melissa
You're here. I'm going to need you here. I'm going to go with fake.
Burt
Yeah. I say you're not from England yet.
Jeff
You know, they call us the England of the west.
Melissa
Or everybody else in England can't hear.
Burt
So what we want you guys to do is if you have a legitimate accent or you can fake one pretty well, give us a call right now. We'll have it like a 10 second conversation with you and we will try to guess if you have the real or the fake action. Since I have the gift, I was.
Jeff
Gonna say I don't think it's a Wii. I think this is your game.
Burt
Well, I mean I'm probably more credible than you guys are. So it's, it's not even a fair.
Jeff
Yeah, I certainly.
Burt
Competition because I've told you guys before, I have this gift that if you.
Melissa
Didn'T have a stroke to get it, he had this gift. You know, I was born with it.
Burt
Yeah. I can't teach it. Um, it's just, it's an inherent gift and if I hear your accent, I can tell you exactly where you're from the others don't have it, so I don't even want to compete.
Jeff
Yeah, I don't even think we'll. We'll participate. You'll just tell them where they're from and whether or not it's real or fake. Is that it, or do you already know where they're from?
Burt
I already know that where they're from. Even by the way they dialed. Okay, Richard, go ahead. How are you today?
Caller
Hello?
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I do.
Caller
Very good. I can't believe I'm already on board. Show.
Burt
We're very glad you are, but your accent is fake. Fake? Fake.
Caller
How are you gonna say accent is fake? I can't even breathe this.
Burt
Jeff, do you believe the accent is fake or real?
Jeff
Yes. And you are from Puerto Rico.
Burt
You're saying fake?
Jeff
Yeah.
Burt
Javi Fake. Melissa Fake Massey.
Melissa
I'm not good at this game. I'll go with fake.
Burt
That is a fake accent, right, Richard?
Caller
Yeah. You busting me?
Melissa
Yeah.
Burt
That wasn't hard.
Caller
Actually. I'm half Korean, half white. It was supposed to be an Asian accent.
Jeff
Well, your Korean side sucks. You're not good at being Korean.
Burt
It's like you can tell the fake accent.
Melissa
He goes, I can't believe you.
Jeff
You don't believe me?
Melissa
See, that's what got me was the R. I was like, hey, that's sounding kind of real.
Jeff
You gotta say like, okay, then 20 minute. And hang up the phone real quick, and then be on my doorstep. Then I'll believe you immediately. Like in 15 seconds.
Melissa
That's WR.
Jeff
Okay, 20 minutes. Bing Bong. What the hell?
Burt
404. 741. 1,005. Hey, Natalie.
Natalie
Good morning, Burt Show.
Burt
How are you today?
Natalie
I'm wonderful.
Caller
How are you?
Burt
I'm doing great. Natalie, where are you from?
Natalie
Where do you think I'm from?
Burt
Well, you're obviously from England. This is a real accent.
Natalie
Okay?
Burt
Is that right?
Natalie
That's what you think?
Burt
Jeff, is this a real accent or a fake accent?
Jeff
I actually can't participate because I know the answers.
Burt
Oh, you do? Yeah.
Melissa
What is your hometown?
Natalie
I'm sorry?
Melissa
What is the name of your hometown?
Natalie
Oh, right now I'm living in Dallas, Georgia.
Melissa
You're in Dallas, Georgia? But what's your.
Jeff
You can't ask that question.
Melissa
Why? I wanted to hear her talk a little bit more. All she says, hi and how are you?
Jeff
I'm gonna ask her a question that doesn't indicate where she's from.
Burt
Natalie, what's on your agenda today?
Natalie
I'm going to watch some children, and I think we're gonna go to Whitewater and go swimming.
Jeff
Are you going to make a poo in the loo?
Natalie
No.
Burt
Melissa, is this fake or is this real?
Melissa
I think this is real, Jen. I'm going with fake.
Burt
You're going with fake?
Melissa
I'm going with real.
Burt
I'm going with real.
Natalie
Natalie, I'm from Dallas, Georgia.
Burt
Well, obviously you haven't had the stroke yet.
Natalie
No, but I've been practicing this thing forever.
Caller
My boyfriend makes me do it all the time.
Natalie
He's like, do the breach thing hot.
Melissa
It's good, funny.
Burt
All right, we're one for two. Andre, good morning. You're on the vert show.
Caller
Yes, good morning.
Burt
Fake.
Melissa
Are you choking on something? What's going on there?
Burt
Andre, what is on your agenda today?
Caller
Oh, well, I am headed into work. I'm caught in 85 traffic, and, well, you know, it is quite sucky because it's very bad traffic.
Melissa
This is from that same place Tom Hanks got stuck in the airport from.
Jeff
If I were you, I would. I would. I've got the number of a good ear, nose, and throat guy. You want to have the sinuses cleared up?
Caller
I do need something. Yes, because it is. Allergies here in plant are quite obvious.
Jeff
I'm going with real and Canadian hobby.
Burt
Real or fake?
Melissa
Fake.
Burt
Fake. Fake.
Jeff
Sorry, dude.
Burt
Fake. Right.
Caller
Well, what can I say? I'm Mexican.
Burt
Okay. And good morning, Burcho. All the hits. Q100. Hey, good morning. How are you today?
Caller
I'm doing fine today. What's going on?
Burt
What's your name?
Caller
Paul.
Burt
Paul.
Melissa
Paul, what do you do for a living?
Caller
I work with Maytag.
Burt
Maytag, Tell us a little bit about. Tell us a little bit about your job.
Caller
Yeah, I fix appliances. Washing machine, dishwasher, dryer. You see the commercial? Maytag guy has no work to do. Yeah, yeah, that's the argument.
Melissa
But you actually do have to repair things.
Caller
Yeah, I repair plans. Oh, yeah?
Jeff
Cause in the commercial.
Melissa
So that commercial is a bunch of crap.
Caller
Well, yeah, but no, with all this stuff they're making these days, I'm going with real.
Burt
Javi goes with real. Melissa, Real.
Melissa
It started out almost British, but then it turned Jamaican, and I'm a little confused, so I'm gonna go with fake.
Jeff
Maybe he had a stroke while we're on the phone. Hey, lift both of your arms above your head.
Melissa
Do you smell smoke?
Burt
Are you feeling numb?
Melissa
Can you smile?
Burt
Is your right arm numb?
Jeff
Are you joking?
Caller
No problem.
Burt
Paul, that is a fake accent.
Caller
No, I'm from Jamaican.
Burt
Yeah.
Jeff
Bert, you got a gift.
Melissa
I Think that the gift has been passed to me.
Burt
Sometimes that can happen through the microphone. Frequency Framis.
Caller
I'm from there. I could say, what unassuming Jamaica name.
Burt
Pardon? Huh? I don't know. Beside a line from Cool Runnings. I don't know.
Caller
Cool Runnings. Okay, let me teach you something here. Okay. What if you say in American, it's like, what's going on? Or what's happening?
Jeff
Yeah.
Caller
In Jamaica. Wagon. Yeah. Wagon. Yeah.
Burt
Teach us a bad.
Caller
What's going on? No, no, no. That's not a bad one. No, I don't do bad rating.
Burt
I'm with Massey. Like, I thought I heard one accent, and then I. I thought I heard it changed about halfway through. All right. Good morning. You're on the Bird show. All the hits. Q100. Hi.
Natalie
Good morning.
Jeff
Good morning.
Burt
How are you?
Natalie
I'm fine, thank you.
Jeff
So let's hear your accent.
Natalie
You can't hear it. You can't hear it.
Jeff
Yes.
Burt
You are from also Paulding County.
Natalie
No.
Melissa
So you're gonna have to talk more, though.
Burt
Yeah.
Melissa
What do you do for a living?
Natalie
I work at a law firm as a recruiting assistant.
Melissa
Okay.
Jeff
And do you get how this works?
Caller
Pardon?
Jeff
You understand how this works?
Natalie
Yes.
Burt
Okay.
Natalie
This is how I talk.
Burt
This is your accent.
Natalie
That's my accent.
Melissa
But she's actually foreign, I bet.
Jeff
Oh, she's doing good.
Melissa
Ooh, wacky. I mean, you're the one with the talent, pal.
Jeff
Is it real or is it fake?
Natalie
It's real.
Burt
Hold on. Let me try to guess. I would say it's real. What accent is this?
Natalie
I'm Jamaican.
Jeff
Really?
Melissa
Yes.
Jeff
Well, let's.
Burt
Let's hear the Jamaican accent.
Natalie
Wah. What's up with you, Wagwan? You know, I've been here for 11 years, so people really can't tell unless they talk to me for a while.
Jeff
Cool. Thanks for the call.
Burt
Yeah. This has gone horribly wrong. Thank you. Started off so promising.
Jeff
Hey, Bert.
Melissa
She had a struck and didn't know it.
Caller
Yeah.
Jeff
Hey. Hey, Bert. Bert, I got one for you. Guess this one. Tell me if this one's real or fake. Hey, Bert, what's going on?
Burt
Well, I need to hear a little bit more. Like, what's on your agenda today?
Jeff
I work at Maytag.
Melissa
Don't hurt yourself. Jeff. Yeah, Shane.
Burt
Would you say that is real or that is fake?
Melissa
I think it's really annoying.
Burt
Tj, Last call. How you doing today?
Caller
Good. How are you guys doing?
Burt
Just great. What is on your agenda today?
Caller
Well, today. Well, I'd actually just got back to my apartment here. And I'm just kind of chilling. I'm only, well, chilling. I'm trying to sit in this ac. This friggin heat killing me.
Jeff
So you're from Brooklyn in 1960?
Caller
Actually, no, I'm from Winston, Massachusetts. It's about 45 minutes outside of Boston.
Melissa
Boston?
Caller
Have you guys ever been there?
Burt
This is your real accent? Yes, this is the real accent.
Melissa
What do you think about the bird show?
Caller
Well, I think you guys are pretty cool. You're funny as hell, I gotta tell you that.
Burt
Are we awakened?
Caller
I usually listen to AAF up there in Boston, but you know, that's just the way it works. I had to change it up. You guys are funny in the morning.
Jeff
You guys are wicked funny. Like you against pisser.
Melissa
It's a pisser.
Caller
Hey, no, it's not a pissa. Only people from Boston say piss up. People in whisper say wicked.
Burt
It's okay, you can't say wicked pissa.
Caller
Well, I can say wicked pissa, but then I sound like I'm from Boston and that's not cool. So people from like Southie and stuff sound terrible.
Burt
I love a Boston accent though. I do. I really do.
Jeff
Oh yeah, me too.
Burt
So we have proven absolutely nothing here. Although that I think maybe we now know that Jen Hobby has the real gifts and I have none at all. But she claims English. Thick, thick English accent. Now she has foreign accent syndrome. Speaks Jamaican, Canadian and Slovakian. Random, Totally random. Now if a Slovakian called up, I wouldn't even be able to identify the. No the accent at all. The Birch Show.
Melissa
So good, so good, so good.
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Melissa
Check out these boots.
Burt
They've got the best gifts.
Natalie
My holiday shopping hack.
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Date: November 10, 2025
Host: The Bert Show cast (Bert, Melissa, Jeff, with callers)
Theme: The Bert Show cast and listeners test their ability to detect real vs. fake accents, prompted by a discussion of "foreign accent syndrome."
In this entertaining and lighthearted episode, The Bert Show crew jumps into a playful challenge: can they and their listeners distinguish between genuine and fake accents? The premise is sparked by a real-life neurological phenomenon—foreign accent syndrome—adding a touch of curiosity to their usual morning banter. The cast invites listeners to call in, try their best accents, and see if the team can guess their authenticity. Throughout the show, the laughter is infectious, skepticism is high, and the friendly rivalry takes center stage.
Natalie, the ‘Authentic’ Jamaican (12:43–13:46):
Jeff’s Turn (Mocking):
TJ from Boston/Worcester (14:28–15:33):
Judy (on foreign accent syndrome):
“This is what I’ve got. I’m stuck here.” (04:10)
Melissa (on skepticism):
“Let me be the first to call BS on this.” (05:02)
Jeff (teasing):
“Your Korean side sucks. You’re not good at being Korean.” (07:55)
Paul (Caller):
“No, I'm from Jamaican.” (11:49)
Natalie (on blending in):
“People really can’t tell unless they talk to me for a while.” (13:55)
TJ (from Worcester):
“Only people from Boston say piss up. People in Worcester say wicked.” (15:17)
Bert (wrapping up):
“We have proven absolutely nothing here…” (15:40)
The episode is playful and irreverent, full of inside jokes, friendly ribbing, and tongue-in-cheek skepticism. The cast is quick to poke fun at each other and the callers, all while mixing education (a real phenomenon) with lighthearted competition and audience engagement.
If you enjoy radio banter, games, and accents, this episode will keep you entertained. The mix of skepticism, failed guesses, and authentic moments captures The Bert Show’s signature spirit—fun, real, and a little bit chaotic.