The Bert Show: "Vault: Did She Take The Risk Of Dating Her Boss?"

Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Pionaire Podcasting
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Amanda (caller/guest)

Episode Overview

This episode revisits Amanda, a listener undergoing a massive life overhaul: quitting her job, moving states, changing her appearance, and even adopting a new name. The hosts check in on Amanda’s progress, the motivations behind her choices, and their own candid reactions. The show also features advice and listener perspectives, making for a lively discussion about transformation, authenticity, and the costs of reinvention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amanda’s Big Changes: Quitting, Moving, Reinventing

• Amanda updates the team: She quit her job, moved back to Ohio, is staying with her parents, and is planning a radical change in hair and name.
• Initial Deception About Quitting:
  • Amanda told her boss she was moving home to Ohio, not sharing the full truth behind her decision.
  • This raises early questions from the hosts about honesty and self-presentation.
• New Job Opportunity:
  • Thanks to a listener referral (through the radio station), Amanda landed a four-month, better-paying temp gig at an Atlanta PR firm, possibly leading to a full-time offer.
  • Amanda is excited yet secretive about project details, citing confidentiality.
• Symbolic Changes:
  • Amanda plans a dramatic hair makeover to mark her fresh start.
  • She'll be using her middle name at her new job for a full identity reset.

2. Hosts’ Perspectives: Skepticism vs. Support

• Mixed Reactions:
  • Some hosts question Amanda’s approach, especially her reliance on half truths and the wisdom of “cutting ties” with friends and former life.
  • Others show empathy, relating to quarter-life crises and the optimism of new beginnings.
  • Skepticism emerges about Amanda’s ability to maintain her new identity, especially with eventual consequences of her secrecy.
• Concern for Honesty:
  • The panel worries that Amanda’s strategy of omission could backfire, hurting friends or eroding trust in future relationships.

3. Listener Advice and Reactions

• Katie’s Perspective (09:44):
  • “No matter what kind of changes that you make in your life, you are core, at the core, the same person and you make the same decisions. Just remember, wherever you are, whatever you do, that's where you're at. And your happiness really depends on you. You have to be true and honest with yourself and everyone around you.”
  • Katie admits sometimes people “have to lie to themselves” for courage but warns true happiness requires self-honesty.
• Melissa’s Reflection (10:47):
  • "It doesn't matter where you are. You still have to live with you and whatever demons are in you... Amanda's not gonna listen to anything. She's psyched about this new job, she's psyched about her new car, and she's gonna get her hair cut. A symbolic, you know, change on the day she moves into her new place."
• Julia’s Warning (11:22):
  • She shares that changing her own life and lying about it led to losing friends and family and needing to rediscover herself to regain those relationships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Exiting Gracefully:
  • Amanda (01:44): “My boss was really cool… She really appreciated how I really kicked it up to 110% right before I left. Because a lot of people just sort of slack off when they quit a job. But I really kicked it into high gear.”
• On Choosing Not to Use References:
  • Amanda (02:43): “Because I got the major hookup… I have a new gig that's going to start on January 4th.”
• Amanda’s Excitement About the PR Job:
  • Amanda (03:20): “It's a four month temporary job with this PR firm, and I'm working on this really special project they said I would be totally perfect for... It pays even more money than my last job.”
• Changing Her Identity:
  • Amanda (05:51): “With a new name and everything. I'm going to be using my middle name. That's how everybody knows me now. My new job.”
• Hosts’ Skepticism:
  • Host (Bert?) (07:16): “It's going to be interesting, if you're honest, to see if it's everything that you thought it was going to be.”
• Amanda’s Determination:
  • Amanda (07:22): “If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. I'll just keep on going because I made a decision and I'm sticking to it, and I'm gonna make my life work no matter what anybody says.”
• On Lying for Courage:
  • Katie (09:57): “Sometimes you have to lie to yourself. You have to tell yourself a story long enough to make you believe it... The facts of your life do not matter. It's the stories that you tell yourself that what matters.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-01:24: Amanda recaps quitting her job and her cover story to her boss.
• 01:43-02:13: Amanda describes a positive exit and her boss’ appreciation.
• 02:33-03:57: Amanda announces new job, thanks to radio show connection.
• 05:09-05:57: Amanda outlines plans for her new look and new name.
• 07:16-08:12: Discussion about honesty in Amanda’s transition to a new life.
• 09:44-10:45: Katie offers advice about the importance of self-honesty.
• 10:47-11:19: Melissa reflects on moving and the limits of geographic change.
• 11:22-11:41: Julia shares hard-earned wisdom about the costs of lying.
• 12:04-13:53: Hosts debate if Amanda will keep in touch and the long-term consequences of her choices.

Tone & Style

The episode retains the Bert Show’s hallmark mix of humor, sincerity, candid skepticism, and real-life relatability. The hosts balance encouragement with tough questions, embodying both the cheerleader and devil’s advocate roles throughout the segment. Listener calls add vulnerability and practical wisdom, rounding out the episode with a sense of communal learning.

Summary

Amanda’s journey serves as a real-time case study in dramatic self-reinvention. While her willingness to embrace change and seek happiness is celebrated by some, others challenge the ethical and emotional ramifications of leaving old ties and truths behind. The conversation ultimately underscores that while environments and appearances may change, true happiness and growth depend on internal honesty—a lesson echoed by listeners and hosts alike. Whether Amanda’s new life delivers what she hopes is left as a cliffhanger—one the Bert Show promises to follow in future episodes.