The Bert Show — Vault: Cheer Moms Are Out Of Control!

Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & more)
Release Date: February 5, 2026
Theme: Exploring the high-stakes, highly competitive, and often outrageous subculture of cheer moms in youth cheerleading.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the often-overlooked, ultra-competitive world of "cheer moms," inspired by an email from a listener who's newly initiated into the scene. Comparing the stereotype of the "stage dad" in sports to mothers in cheerleading, the hosts and their callers examine the intense parental involvement, rivalry, and drama among moms (and sometimes dads) on the competitive cheer circuit. The conversation uncovers not only the spectacle of cheer moms, including those who dress as cheerleaders themselves, but also issues of parental pressure, emotional stakes, and the impact on the kids.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Cheer Moms vs. Stage Dads

[00:00–01:45]

• The episode begins with an email from a listener drawing parallels between “stage dads” in sports and “cheer moms” in cheerleading.
• The listener admits to strong negative biases toward cheerleading cliques but is now questioning her objectivity due to bizarre behaviors she's witnessing: yelling, backstabbing, intense competitiveness, and moms dressing up in cheer attire.

Quote:
“But it sure seems to me that the majority of the mothers of these cheerleaders are taking this way too seriously... I’ve seen moms cake on their makeup and dress in cheer attire as though they are competing right alongside their daughters.” (Email, read by Host - [00:47])

2. Cheerleader Moms Dressing Up: Fact or Fiction?

[01:45–03:24]

• The idea that adult women attend cheer competitions dressed as cheerleaders sparks incredulity and debate among the hosts.
• Multiple hosts confirm, from personal experience, that while most moms do not wear actual cheer uniforms, many “deck out” in team colors, heavy makeup, and elaborate accessories to the point of potentially upstaging their own kids.

Quotes:
“Adult women go to cheer competitions, dress like cheerleaders.” — Skeptical host ([01:48])
“I didn’t see them in, like, not the cheer outfits, but totally decked out as if they were, like, going on dates... a huge parade of moms just making sure they look the best, their daughters look the best, the teams look the best.” — Former cheerleader host ([02:29])

3. Call-ins: Confirmation and First-Hand Accounts

[03:26–04:46]

• Listeners begin calling in, confirming the chaotic atmosphere: fierce parental involvement, high drama, and affirmation that “cheer mom” behavior is not unique to any one area.

Quote:
“They take it really, really serious...They are. I mean, like, I grew up to call it full makeup and everything and just, you know, really into... they are living, reliving those through their daughters.” — Caller Michelle ([03:36], [04:13])

4. The Scale of the Phenomenon

[04:57–07:23]

• Another caller recounts experiencing the same levels of drama in multiple counties: harsh practices for young children, catty parent rivalries, and the pressure for children as young as four.
• Hosts are both amused and concerned at the request to hear from a mom who actually dresses in cheer attire.

Quote:
“I took [my daughter] out and I’m like, forget this... I decided to wait another year and... it was just as bad. The cattiness and... mothers pitching fits... because they didn’t like that particular person on their team.” — Caller Susan ([05:00–06:27])

5. The Coach’s Perspective

[07:34–08:15]

• A recreational cheer coach affirms that the moms are often more invested than the children, calling the parental behavior “mortifying and embarrassing” for the girls.

Quote:
“The mothers are more into it than the girls are.” — Coach Ashley ([07:46])

6. Over-the-Top Parental Involvement

[09:02–10:56]

• A longtime coach details extreme displays: both moms and some dads dressing up, team-colored mohawks, and constant gossip among parents.

Notable Quote:
“They will literally dress from head to toe... at cheer sport in downtown Atlanta, one of the biggest competitions in the country... They are just totally over the top when it comes to cheerleading.” — Darren, Coach ([09:08], [09:42])

• Surveying the broader landscape, Darren estimates:
  “There’s about 40% sane and 60% hardcore, and they’re living their life through their kids.” ([10:46])

7. A Real Cheer Mom Speaks Up

[12:00–16:53]

• Ashley, a self-described “cheer mom,” calls in to confirm she and her sister-in-law wear cheerleader outfits to competitions. She describes initially being shocked at the behavior but then getting “sucked into it.”
• Ashley stresses she doesn’t relive her cheer days through her daughter; instead, she is often frustrated by the intensity of the coaches and the pressure put on kids as young as seven.

Notable Exchanges:

• “We get fully dressed up in our, you know, mom attire.” — Ashley ([13:38])

• “I looked at these moms going, oh my goodness, what have I got myself into? But... you get sucked into it. You don’t realize it. I might be the only mom that’s brave enough to call, but I’m definitely not the only mom that does it.” — Ashley ([13:51])

• The hosts gently rib Ashley but acknowledge her honesty, ultimately agreeing that too little parental involvement is much worse than too much.

8. Is This a New Trend? Origins and Escalation

[17:13–19:39]

• A final caller, Kate, insists this phenomenon isn’t new. She recalls psycho-cheer-moms from the 1980s, including sabotage of other girls for personal gain—injuries, manipulations, and even attempts at disqualification.
• The discussion references notorious real-life cases (like the Texas "cheer mom" murder plot) and observes how cheerleading has evolved from a hype squad for sports teams into a competitive sport in its own right.

Notable Story:
“I was actually injured very badly... one of the mothers had their daughter... throw me off the back... I was out for six weeks with surgery. I lost homecoming queen... To this day, I still have arthritis.” — Kate ([17:13–18:03])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I bet that we have people that have gone that could either confirm or deny that.” — Host Bert, doubting yet curious ([01:59])
• “Can we please, please, please, please, please get a phone call from someone who dresses — an adult who dresses like a cheerleader? Please...” — Host Cassie, gleeful plea ([06:41])
• “There could be worse things... the fact that these parents are uber-involved is great... It’s a little over the top, but it’s better than not being involved at all.” — Host Kristin ([16:37])
• “Forget The Hills, there should just be a show called Cheer Mom...” — Host Cassie ([11:12])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–01:45 — Episode introduction; reading the pivotal listener email
• 01:45–03:24 — Hosts debate: Do cheer moms really dress the part?
• 03:26–04:46 — Callers confirm the extreme environment
• 07:34–08:15 — Recreational cheer coach weighs in
• 09:02–10:56 — Veteran coach describes parental antics, stats on “hardcore” vs. “sane”
• 12:00–15:25 — Ashley, a real-life dress-up cheer mom, opens up
• 17:13–18:51 — Kate’s story: this isn't a new phenomenon
• 19:05–19:39 — Final reflections; evolution of cheerleading from support squad to fierce competition

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is a blend of humor, disbelief, and genuine concern about the impact of this "cheer mom" culture on children.
• Hosts and callers alike approach the subject with both amusement and empathy, drawing on personal experiences to paint a vivid picture.
• The consensus echoes the sentiment that while over-involvement can be overwhelming, it comes from a place of parental love and passion—albeit sometimes taken to extremes.

This episode offers a revealing, entertaining look at the phenomenon of competitive cheer moms: their motivations, excesses, and the culture they've built on the sidelines of America’s cheerleading arenas.