Podcast Summary: The Bert Show – Vault: Cindy Levee

Date: November 11, 2025
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Pionaire Podcasting)
Main Guest: Cindy (Ryan Levee’s Mom), with cameo by Adam (soon-to-be stepson)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show centers on the emotional aftermath of U.S. speed skater Ryan Levee’s performance in the Winter Olympics team pursuit event. The hosts talk with Ryan’s mom, Cindy Levee, who provides a heartfelt, firsthand breakdown of the event, her reactions, Ryan's resilience after a disappointing finish, and the bittersweet pride of being an Olympic family. The exchange includes warmth, humor, and a supportive call-in from Adam, Cindy's soon-to-be stepson.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Olympic Tensions and Tribulations

• Hosts and listeners were highly invested in Ryan’s Olympic performance, checking updates frequently (01:03).
  • "I was so invested in finding the results out yesterday of Ryan Levee's competition. I was online all day..." (Host, 01:03)
• Explanation of the event’s competitive format and crucial moments from the actual Olympic broadcast are played (02:23–03:49).

2. How the Team Pursuit Works

• Cindy details the structure of the team pursuit event after some confusion among the hosts (04:29–05:29):
  • Three team members skate eight laps; there are eight teams. Placement in initial races determines seating for the second race.
  • The team’s time is counted when the third skater crosses the line.
  • "There’s three in a team... whoever crosses the line, there's two teams out there at a time... the last one that crosses the line is their time." (Cindy, 04:45)

3. Dramatic Turns and Team Dynamics

• The U.S. team led most of the way but lost to Italy in the final laps, ending their medal hopes (03:15, 05:50).
• Cindy shares emotional details about the race:
  • "They just look so good, the three of them together... my son is in the Olympics, you know?" (Cindy, 06:11)
• Team strategy went awry late in the race:
  • "Chad was supposed to do the last two laps, and Ryan ended up in front... Chad just said, Ryan, keep going, keep going..." (Cindy, 06:57)
  • The team supported one another, despite Casey (the third skater) struggling.

4. Emotions from the Sidelines

• Cindy describes her stress and pride before, during, and after the event (06:00–06:47):
  • "So nerve wracking and just very, very nervous for him. And I always do, always." (Cindy, 08:24)
• The hosts and Cindy discuss disappointment, team support, and how to process the outcome as an athlete and a family (07:39–09:41).
  • "You support your teammates. That's what you do." (Cindy, 09:47)
  • Sympathy is shown for Casey Boudier, the teammate whose Olympic journey likely ended without a medal (07:52).

5. Reflecting on Ryan’s Resilience

• Cindy reflects on comforting Ryan post-race:
  • "Told him how proud I was... he went out there, he worked hard, he did his job, he needs to be proud..." (Cindy, 09:21)
• Ryan plans to race again for fifth place, keeping perspective (10:01–10:28).
  • "Even if you come in fifth place... there are only four other teams in the world... that's pretty good." (Host, 10:12)
  • "That's very good. And that's what we told him." (Cindy, 10:28)

6. Comic Relief: Curling Jokes and Family Stories

• Hosts joke about Ryan’s “housekeeping” experience preparing him to become a curling champion (10:38–11:14).
  • "You started him on his destiny as a curling champion." (Co-host, 11:08)
• Cindy maintains good humor throughout, saying she'd still be proud if Ryan medaled in curling.

7. Family Support: Adam Calls In

• Adam, Cindy’s soon-to-be stepson, calls on-air to offer support and share light-hearted encouragement (12:22–13:12):
  • "Ryan did awesome. Ryan did awesome." (Adam, 12:33)
  • "Next Olympics, just give him his own event..." (Adam, 12:38)
• Cindy and Adam share family banter, highlighting the network of support Ryan enjoys.

8. Community Pride

• The hosts note how Ryan’s journey has energized his hometown:
  • "We've been getting emails, Cumming, Georgia, they're going out of their minds right now..." (Host, 13:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Olympic Nerves:
  "I was off the scale. So nerve wracking and just very, very nervous for him."
  — Cindy, 08:24

• On Resilience:
  "There’s nothing you can do. And you feel proud about what you did, and he feels very proud about what he did."
  — Cindy, 09:47

• Family Support:
  "Told him how proud I was of him and he looked awesome and he needed to be proud for what he did..."
  — Cindy, 09:21

• Comic Relief:
  "You started him on his destiny as a curling champion."
  — Co-host, 11:08

• Community Energy:
  "We've talked about Cumming more over the last two weeks than we ever have before."
  — Host, 13:23

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:03 – Hosts discuss obsession with Olympic results
• 02:23 – Play-by-play of race, national TV comments
• 04:29 – Cindy explains how the team pursuit event works
• 06:11 – Cindy’s emotional perspective watching her son compete
• 06:57 – Breakdown of team strategy and what went awry
• 08:24 – Cindy shares her pre-race nerves
• 09:21 – Cindy’s words of comfort to Ryan
• 10:01 – Upcoming race for fifth place, finding the silver lining
• 10:38 – Curling jokes and Ryan’s “housekeeping” preparation
• 12:22 – Adam calls in to support Cindy and Ryan
• 13:23 – Hometown community outpouring

Summary

This episode beautifully blends real-time sports drama, family emotion, and Bert Show humor around the Olympic story of Ryan Levee and his mother, Cindy. It captures the nerves and pride of an Olympic parent, explains the event’s intricacies in layman’s terms, and offers a lighthearted perspective on coping with results—whether you win, lose, or pick up a broom for curling. Listeners walk away with a sense of the Levee family's resilience, the importance of community, and the unique warmth that defines The Bert Show’s approach.