Vault: Did she get engaged over the holidays?

Summary

Episode Overview

Episode Title: Vault: Did She Get Engaged Over the Holidays?
Date: June 2, 2026
Podcast: The Bert Show
Cast in This Episode: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and guests
Main Theme:
This episode revolves around Joanna Rodriguez (“Flava J”) and her anticipation of getting engaged to her boyfriend, Jason, over the holiday season. The hosts discuss the stress, expectations, and hilarity of waiting for a proposal, exploring how anticipation can sometimes overshadow the actual experience. There's a blend of humor, honesty, and relatable moments as Joanna recounts her experience waiting for the big moment, only to be left waiting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Anticipation of Proposal (00:34–03:10)

• Joanna’s Situation:

  • Joanna and Jason have been dating almost two years and are at that critical “should we get engaged?” stage.
  • Multiple signs point toward an imminent proposal (family merging, talking about weddings, honingymoons, babies, and both families meeting).
  • Joanna admits to being on “pins and needles” – constantly on the lookout for clues that Jason is about to propose.

• Quote:

  “She thinks a diamond is on the other side of that shoe.” (D, 01:01)

• Friends Getting Married:

  • Pressure is amplified because many of Joanna’s friends are already getting married, increasing her anticipation and anxiety.

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2. Joanna’s Sleuthing and Clues (02:14–04:36)

• Joanna’s Detective Work:

  • She confesses to snooping through Jason’s phone, email, and even the mailbox. She found a text message, mail, and an email indicating a proposal might happen in January.
  • Despite these clues, she admits she can't pinpoint when it will happen.

• Proposal "Hints":

  • Jason’s mom reveals Jason asked Joanna's brother for permission to marry her.
  • Jason suggests Joanna get a manicure (another supposed giveaway).

• Quote:

  “I heard your segment where you thought I was gonna propose to you on the cruise, and I'm not proposing to you on the cruise.” (C quoting Jason, 05:25)

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3. The Cruise and “The Moment” (03:10–06:36)

• Cruise Details:

  • Joanna and Jason take a seven-day cruise after spending Christmas with Jason’s family.
  • Jason brings his Army Blues for a formal night; Joanna plans her dress and hair, convinced this will be the engagement night.

• False Alarms and Clarification:

  • Jason warns Joanna not to expect an engagement ring as her Christmas gift (“it’s not a ring”), trying to manage expectations.
  • He explicitly tells her he won’t propose on the cruise to protect the surprise and let her enjoy herself.

• Joanna Still Hopeful:

  • Despite Jason’s warning, Joanna still believes he’s trying to throw her off and continues to look for signs (even rifling through his suitcase).
  • The hosts tease Joanna for her relentless optimism and “control” issues.

• No Proposal:

  • Ultimately, Jason does not propose during the holiday or cruise.
  • Joanna confesses catching the bouquet at a wedding on the cruise—everyone jokes “the ring is coming!”

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4. The Emotional Impact and Reflection (06:36–09:57)

• Disappointment & Rationalizations:

  • Joanna wonders if discussing the proposal on the radio possibly ruined the surprise or caused Jason to delay.
  • She tries to “let go” of her expectations and promises to stop guessing when the proposal will happen.

• Quote:

  “I'm done talking about it from here on out. I'm not guessing anymore.” (C, 07:17)

• Christmas Gifts Instead:

  • Jason gives Joanna diamond earrings and a playful apron—no ring.
  • Lighthearted misunderstanding as Bert quips, “For a second there, I thought you said, ‘Will cook for Jews.’”

• Listener Calls & Relatability:

  • Listener Ann calls in to congratulate Joanna and commiserate about waiting for a proposal.
  • Theme emerges: wanting the surprise versus the urge to uncover the secret.

• Letting Go (or Not):

  • Joanna insists she’ll be patient (“I will wait as long as he [needs]…”), but the hosts question how genuine this is, joking that she's only saying it publicly in hopes Jason is listening.

• Quote:

  “You are saying that because you think he's listening right now, and you think that's gonna help you get the engagement. Liar.” (B, 09:57)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:01 | D | “She thinks a diamond is on the other side of that shoe.” | | 04:36 | B | “So you were thinking...he wants me to get my manicure so my hands look nice when he puts that beautiful diamond ring on it.” | | 05:25 | C (quoting Jason) | “I heard your segment where you thought I was gonna propose to you on the cruise, and I'm not proposing to you on the cruise.” | | 07:17 | C | “I'm done talking about it from here on out. I'm not guessing anymore.” | | 07:39 | C | “And a cute apron that says, ‘We'll cook for shoes.’” | | 09:57 | B | “You are saying that because you think he's listening right now, and you think that's gonna help you get the engagement. Liar.” |

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Important Timestamps

• 00:34: Introduction of Joanna’s engagement anticipation scenario
• 03:10: Details about the holiday cruise and formal plans
• 04:36: Jason’s Christmas “fake-out” warning
• 05:25: Jason tells Joanna he won’t propose on the cruise
• 06:36: Realization—no engagement during the vacation
• 07:17: Joanna’s vow to stop guessing about the engagement
• 09:42: Caller Ann sympathizes and shares her own experience

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Overall Tone & Style

The episode is characterized by humor, teasing, and honest discussion about the dynamics of anticipation and surprise in proposals. The cast and callers blend authentic, vulnerable sharing with laughter and playful banter, making the story relatable to anyone who has waited expectantly for a big romantic moment.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode offers an entertaining and heartfelt glimpse at the mixture of hope, anxiety, and hilarity that accompanies waiting for a proposal. Joanna’s experience—amplified by all-too-human curiosity and impatience—sparks laughter and empathy from the cast and listeners alike, reminding everyone that sometimes, life’s big surprises are best left to unfold on their own.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

That music means Joanna Rodriguez. Is that Mike?

[C]

I would like to be referred to as my New Jersey shore name, which is Flava J. Flavo J.

[D]

That's your guidette name. Flavor J.

[C]

Flavor J in the house.

[B]

Jen, you can explain this better than I can. This period, this stage that Joanna and Jason are in right now, okay? Or she, like, knows it's gonna happen.

[D]

Well, when you're in love and you've been dating for a long time. Cause you guys have been together almost two years, right? It's right about that two year mark where you start thinking, oh my gosh, we're in love and I want to get married. And he wants to get married. And you've talked about marriage and you've, you know, maybe mentioned about weddings or oh, well, when we get married, we're gonna do this differently. Or you think, God, you know what, we should do that for a honeymoon someday. Or you've talked about potential babies at this stage, both sets of parents, you've met each, you know, and, and most of the time the parents have met each other at this point. So like the families are starting to merge. You know, it's gonna happen any day now, but it's up to the guy to decide. And usually the woman would've wanted it to happen a little bit faster than the guy would've wanted it to happen. So you're sort of on pins and needles expecting it to happen. You're excited, but you're also nervous because you just wanted to like, hurry up, let's hurry up and get it along. Like, we know what's gonna happen. And especially like where Joanna is and a lot of her friends are getting married, she's like, I want to plan my wedding. And she's like, I want it to be my day. I'm ready for us to have like our moment. And so that's where she is right now. And every time he takes her to dinner, does something special, holds her hand in a special way, she thinks a diamond is on the other side of that shoe.

[C]

I think he's down on the knee.

[B]

Now, she's also stacked the deck here a little bit because she snooped through his phone and through his email. So.

[D]

Yeah, you little sneaky.

[C]

And mailbox.

[B]

And mailbox. And so you've seen things that you know that this is about to happen. You just haven't really been able to pinpoint when exactly.

[C]

I mean, it started with a text message, and then I found a piece of mail and then happened to find

[D]

a piece of mail.

[C]

She mailed it.

[E]

Open this mail.

[D]

And souped in it.

[C]

Our names start with J. Federal.

[D]

I got confused, by the way.

[C]

I got confused. So. And then he accidentally forwarded me an email disclosing that it was going to happen in January. And I thought he was trying to throw me off, and I thought he was gonna do it on the cruise. Why did I think he was gonna do it on the cruise? Well, you know, it's a really romantic time. It's the new. It's the holidays. You're starting a new year together.

[B]

And so this is a cruise that you guys took right before Christmas, right? Okay.

[C]

We first went down to Florida to be with his family for Christmas, and then on Sunday after Christmas, we left for our cruise. Cool.

[D]

How long was it?

[C]

It was a seven day cruise. Okay, so you were on there for New Year's. Mm. And he brought his uniform for his army blues for one of the formal nights. And I thought, that's the day he's gonna do it, you know, is on the night that he's all dressed up and I'm all dressed up.

[D]

That's right. And you were like, borrowing your friend's dress tonight.

[C]

Exactly. I had my dress picked out and I had my hair already. I already knew how I was gonna do my hair and everything. Well, a couple of things happened before we left that made me think, oh, for sure. This is totally going down. Like what? Well, one, my mom told me that. That Jason approached my brother and said, I wanna marry your sister. And I want to make sure this is that, you know, for your permission. I wanna marry your sister.

[B]

What do you think he meant by that?

[C]

I wanna marry your sister.

[B]

Did you read into that at all?

[C]

No.

[D]

Wait. First of all, calling foul on your mom for telling you that that's not cool.

[C]

I know, but, you know, I don't know. I was kind of disappointed she said it, but at the same time, I was like, oh, well, then this is perfect. This is totally gonn this, you know, vacation. And then the second thing that happened was when we were in Florida together, he Goes, honey, do you want to go get your nails done? And I said, sure. I mean, I get pedicures, but I don't get manicures. And he goes, do you want to get a pedicure and a manicure?

[B]

So you were thinking.

[C]

And I'm thinking like, oh, he wants me to get my manicure so my hands look nice when he puts that beautiful diamond ring on it. And I'm like, of course I want to go get him manicure, pedicure. Well, when he comes to pick me up from getting my manicure, pedicure, he sits down next to me. I'm drying my hands in the little thing. And he sits down next to me. He goes, listen, I want to tell you something. And I was like, what? He's like, you know, tomorrow's Christmas, and what I'm going to get you for Christmas comes in the same kind of a box that a ring would come in, but it's not a ring. And I just want you to know so you don't get excited and think, you know, that I'm doing it then. And I was like, okay, that's fine. Cause I already think you're gonna do it on the cruise, is what I'm thinking. I never thought you were doing it on the cruise.

[E]

Great.

[D]

Now I got earrings to match.

[B]

Good for him for giving you the warning, though. I think a lot of guys make that mistake.

[D]

Yes.

[C]

Then he said, I want to tell you something else. And I was like, what, honey? He goes, I heard your segment where you thought I was gonna propose to you on the cruise, and I'm not proposing to you on the cruise.

[B]

So he flat out told you before the cruise.

[C]

He just came out and told me that he's not gonna do it. Cause he didn't want me to get all excited, and he wanted me to enjoy the cruise and have a good time and. And not think that every time he, like, stumbled on something, it was on the ground or something. Cause he's kind of clumsy and he falls a lot that he's like, you know, on one knee. And I was like, but seriously, even though he told me that you were

[D]

still like, yeah, right. He's trying to throw me off.

[C]

He was totally throwing me off.

[D]

I would have thought the same thing. I would have been like, oh, good try, buddy. Good try.

[B]

So it didn't change your mentality at all, though?

[C]

Not at all. I still thought the whole time that

[D]

it was like, you're, like, lying.

[C]

But then I snooped through his suitcase, and I didn't find Anything?

[B]

Did you really, Joanna?

[F]

No.

[D]

You went through his whole suitcase?

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

Where was he when you went through it? This is funny.

[C]

He was either in the bathroom or was doing something else.

[B]

Seriously. So you start rummaging as quickly as you can through his suitcase.

[C]

I was like, baby, I need to put away your clothes.

[D]

So it really didn't happen?

[C]

No, it really did not happen.

[D]

I was still sitting here waiting, listening to you tell all of these stories, thinking you were going to stand up, put your hand in your pocket, and pull it out.

[C]

No, there's no ring.

[F]

I.

[D]

Are you serious?

[C]

But you know what? There was a wedding that took place on the cruise, and guess who caught the bouquet?

[B]

You did.

[E]

I did.

[B]

You did.

[C]

So that means it's coming.

[D]

Wait, hold on a second. You really don't have a ring in your pocket? Let me stand up. Put your hands in your pocket. Let me see. You really aren't hiding a ring?

[B]

See the whole thing. He is waiting for her to just relax about it, man.

[C]

I know.

[D]

I thought for sure it was a done deal.

[C]

I thought it was done here Is

[B]

what he understands, is that this is the only man that he gets to control in this whole process. And the fact that you keep trying to control it, he's not gonna let you do that.

[E]

Mm.

[C]

Mm. I'm just so bummed. And then I was thinking, well, maybe if I hadn't said anything on the radio, he would have still done it. Maybe because he thought that I was coming, he changed his mind. So I'm done talking about it from here on out. I'm not guessing anymore.

[B]

You're not capable of that.

[D]

What did you get for Christmas? I'm just kidding.

[C]

He got me these diamond earrings.

[D]

Beautiful.

[C]

And a cute apron that says, we'll cook for shoes.

[B]

We'll cook for shoes.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

That's hilarious.

[B]

For a second there, I thought you said, we'll cook for Jews.

[C]

And I'm like, it's not appropriate.

[D]

She makes a mean matzo ball.

[B]

Hey, T.C.

[F]

what's going on, people?

[B]

Hey, man. How are you doing?

[F]

Pretty good. This is the inherent flaw with women when it comes to engagement. You know, they steal the thunder from the guy, you know, no matter what happens. And, gosh, you went through the whole trip thinking that it was gonna happen.

[B]

This is like that Birchill caller that we had a couple of years ago. Remember that? She thought it was gonna happen this weekend, then we called her the next

[D]

week, and then Valentine's Day, right?

[B]

It was for three months, and then

[C]

her birthday, and then she ended up breaking up with the dude?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, she put herself this disappointment that she felt every week that she was sure he was gonna propose. You're going through the same thing right now.

[C]

Yeah. And to be honest, it's so weird because he told me, hey, I'm giving you something that's in the shape of a box that a ring would come in, but it's not a ring. And still as you're opening it, your heart kind of sinks because you're thinking maybe you. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.

[D]

And it's not.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Hey, Ann, good morning. You're on the Burp Show.

[E]

Good morning, everyone. How y' all doing?

[B]

Okay.

[E]

Okay, Joanna, congratulations. Or early congratulations, but calm it down. All right, girl? I'm the same way. Because I'm expecting a proposal this year, too. Sometimes just you. You want the surprise. You really do. You really do.

[B]

But she doesn't. And I mean, she doesn't want the surprise so much that her mom is even in on it now.

[C]

Yeah, no, I do want the surprise. But you. I can't help myself but think it's gonna come on, all these special events. I mean, it's just my nature. It's just how I am. I'm going to try and anticipate when it's gonna happen.

[B]

Go ahead.

[C]

But you did go through his suitcase. Yeah, I was just helping him unload his clothes.

[D]

That's not a surprise.

[B]

Do you have a date in your mind? And don't say what it is on the air, but do you have a date in your mind where potentially it could be the next time?

[C]

No, absolutely not. At this point, I am just totally

[D]

going to let it go.

[C]

Yeah, I'm letting it go. It's done. Good for you.

[D]

What if you guys date for a whole other year?

[C]

That's fine. I thought about that, too. I was like, what if we just continue dating for another year? That is absolutely. Because I know.

[B]

Such a lie.

[C]

No, I really. I love him. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. I will wait as long as he.

[B]

You are saying that because you think he's listening right now, and you think that that's gonna help you get the engagement. Liar. Hey, the bird show.