Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

Episode Title: Vault: Do High School Clicks Still Exist?
Release Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Bert (The Bert Show Cast)
Featured Cast: Various co-hosts and callers
Podcast by: Pionaire Podcasting

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show dives into a relatable and nostalgic topic: Do high school cliques still exist in adulthood, or do we ever truly outgrow the social dynamics we experienced as teens? Using a recent episode of Desperate Housewives as a springboard for discussion, Bert and his cast, joined by callers, get real about social roles, personality changes, and the persistence—or fading—of cliques in our adult lives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Desperate Housewives as the Catalyst

[01:22-04:15]

• The episode starts with Bert mentioning a scene from Desperate Housewives which suggests that "high school never really ends."

• The cast plays a segment where two characters, representing a former cheerleader and a self-identified outsider, discuss whether people ever move past their high school personas and roles.

  Notable Quote (from Desperate Housewives):
  "See, I don't think we do. I'm still the outsider that doesn't get invited to the cool parties. And you're still the perky cheerleader who thinks that she can pull the wool over everyone's eyes... Because we're still in high school. The old rules apply."
  —Edie, via Caller/Guest 4, [03:40]

Takeaway: The panel is intrigued by the idea that even as adults, many of us retain those same social constructs or try to replicate them in new environments.

2. Can People Truly Change Their "High School" Persona?

[04:15–06:45]

• The hosts and callers debate if people's high school roles—jock, cheerleader, outsider—get left behind, or simply evolve.

• Callers argue both sides:

  • Some say life events (e.g., having kids early, personal growth) force change,
  • Others argue underlying insecurities and personality traits often persist.

  Bert [04:15]:
  "Does that ever change throughout life? If you were the jock and got special treatment, when you become an adult, do you still remain in the jock clique?"

  • Drew Ski, a caller, shares his transformation from "dorky" in high school to social and popular as an adult, but notes that his core personality stayed the same—it simply became more accepted.

    "I basically act the same. It's just, it's more accepted now than it was back then."
    —Drew Ski, [06:39]

3. Cliques and Social Skills in Adult Life

[07:05–08:42]

• Discussion moves to professional life, particularly sales—where ex-jocks and former cheerleaders tend to thrive due to their social skills and ability to "schmooze."

• The group weighs whether popularity is about athletic ability, looks, or social competence.

  Caller/Guest 3 [07:05]:
  "The absolute best salespeople are the jocks. And the ones you can tell are like the popular girls and the cheerleaders because they've got that whole schmoozing personality and they know how to kiss up better than anybody."

  Bert [08:01]:
  "I think it has very, very little to do with your personality. I can already see...how adults treat the good looking kids differently than they treat kids that aren't as good looking."

4. Reunions & Role Reversals

[08:42-10:31]

• Multiple anecdotes about high school reunions:

  • Some report cliques re-forming even at 10-year reunions,
  • Others describe refreshing changes and blending of groups at older reunions.
  • A notable case: Those who stayed in their small hometowns (and weren't the 'it crowd' in high school) get the spotlight at the reunion.

  Caller/Guest 3 [08:46]:
  "...When I walked in the door of this place, it...was like meeting whole new friends...So, you know, I don't know if the clicks were in my head or if those people just changed, but they're now some of my best friends."

  Bert [09:54]:
  "At the 10 year high school reunion, it's still the same cliques. At least in my school..."

5. Personal Experiences: Cliques Persisting in the Workplace

[10:34–11:48]

• Younger callers point out that even in their 20s, workplace dynamics echo high school social divisions.

• Dress and behavior similar to “alternative” or outsider groups are still subject to judgment.

  Caller/Guest 3 [11:35]:
  "I just see people that I work with that kind of hate on the people that dress like that, and they're not very nice, and it carries on with them. They're bitter."

6. A Nostalgic Look at High School Fashion

[11:48–12:22]

• Light-hearted exchange about '80s and '90s high school fashion—tight jeans, starter jackets, "Choose Life" t-shirts, and big permed hair.

  Bert [12:14]:
  "Yeah, No, I have my Choose Life T shirt on today. Frankie says I'm wearing that one tomorrow."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On change and persistence:
  "If you hated what you were going through, you adjusted to something that works. But if you were [the] cheerleader and jock and really enjoyed that lifestyle, I do think you try to keep that going as long as you can."
  —Caller/Guest 1, [05:13]

• On popularity and adulthood:
  "Everybody has the common factor of we're all dorky."
  —Bert, [09:38]

• On 'inner dorkiness':
  "You embrace it, you embrace it at that point."
  —Caller/Guest 1, [09:44]

Key Timestamps

• 01:22 – Topic Introduction: Do we ever leave high school cliques?
• 03:18 – Desperate Housewives scene exploring old high school roles
• 05:54 – Caller Drew Ski shares transformation from dork to outgoing adult
• 07:05 – Sales departments as 'grown-up cliques' of jocks/cheerleaders
• 08:46 – Experiences at high school reunions (cliques persisting/changing)
• 10:34 – Younger employee describes cliques in the workplace
• 11:48 – Playful reminiscing about '80s/'90s high school fashion

Episode Tone & Style

True to the Bert Show's brand, the discussion is candid, relatable, and occasionally irreverent. The tone is a blend of thoughtful introspection and light, personal banter, with moments of humor and nostalgia. Both hosts and callers bring authenticity, laughter, and occasional self-deprecation.

Summary Takeaways

• Many people experience echoes of high school cliques and roles well into adulthood, though some do break out of their old patterns.
• Certain social skills (or even “statuses” like looks or athleticism) can carry over to adult environments, such as the workplace.
• Life circumstances and time can soften, reinforce, or completely change old social dynamics, as seen in stories about reunions and workplace hierarchies.
• At the end of the day, we all carry a little “inner dork”—and as adults, there’s a kind of freedom in finally embracing it.