The Bert Show
Episode: Vault: Do Women Have Problems With Dating Skinnier Men?
Date: March 25, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode tackles a provocative question: “Do women have issues dating men who are skinnier than they are?” Prompted by a striking statistic reported by Glamour magazine—60% of women won’t date a man skinnier than themselves—the Bert Show team opens an honest and often humorous conversation about attraction, body image, and traditional dating preferences. With candid personal insights and lively listener calls, the cast explores why many women place importance on their partner’s size and how these dynamics affect relationships.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Introduction to the Statistic (01:15)
- Bert (Host) introduces the topic by referencing last week’s conversation about women feeling secretly upset over their male partners’ weight gain.
- He’s surprised to learn that, per Glamour magazine, "6 out of 10 women won't date or even look at a man who is skinnier than they are." (02:05)
- The female hosts react with total agreement, stating that this is a norm among themselves and their friends.
Reasons Behind the Preference (02:50)
- The cast—especially the women—discuss why many women desire a partner larger or more “brawny” than themselves:
- Kristin: "We want to feel small with a guy... We want to feel protected. It’s a whole protection thing.” (03:30)
- There’s a consensus that dating a skinnier man might make women feel less attractive or even “inadequate.”
- “A man should not be able to wear your jeans.” (04:10) - delivered lightheartedly, underlining a physical distinction as important for attraction.
Variety of Experiences (05:00)
- Not all share the same view:
- Some on the show mention preferring “skinnier,” more effeminate guys, and reflect on how personal experiences and sexuality influence attraction.
- Cassie: "The girlier the guy was, the more I wanted to date him." (05:20)
- Some on the show mention preferring “skinnier,” more effeminate guys, and reflect on how personal experiences and sexuality influence attraction.
Listener Calls: Real Stories (06:15–13:00)
Stacy calls in (06:30)
- Describes being with a tall, very skinny husband, despite her being heavier.
- Shares frustration with his high metabolism: “He will go to McDonald's and get like three double cheeseburgers, two large fries, and a large sweet tea. And still it’s so skinny. Drives me crazy.” (07:20)
- Talks about the desire for protection and physical comfort: “Like when you’re snuggling, you want to be able to be in their arms and not be smothering them. Like, you're the pancake.” (08:00)
- Humorously struggles to describe intimate concerns without being explicit: “If you’re doing anything non-traditional, then you don’t want to... crush anybody as a woman.” (09:15)
- Group laughs: “Get off! I can’t breathe!” as a line no one wants to hear during intimacy. (09:40)
Nikki calls in (10:25)
- She and her boyfriend are opposites: “He is five foot eleven, about 135, 140 pounds. I’m 5’2” and a big old gal... There’s a lot of insecurities that come with that.” (10:40)
- Expresses worries about attractiveness and insecurity: “Is he cheating on me because I'm not attractive enough? And the whole thing, like you were just talking about in the bedroom. Am I hurting you? Are you okay?” (11:10)
- Adds humor: “What’s the safe word? I can’t remember the safe word.” (11:30)
Surprising Male Perspective (12:15)
- Bert muses that dating as a skinny guy may be harder than as a short guy, an insight that takes the crew by surprise.
- “If we asked skinny guys if they’d had a harder time dating than short guys, they might almost have a harder time. Seriously? I would never have predicted that.” (12:50)
Notable Quotes
- Kristin: "We want to feel small with a guy... We want to feel protected. It’s a whole protection thing.” (03:30)
- Female host: “A man should not be able to wear your jeans.” (04:10)
- Cassie: "The girlier the guy was, the more I wanted to date him.” (05:20)
- Stacy (Caller): “Like, when you’re snuggling, you want to be able to be in their arms and not be smothering them. Like, you're the pancake.” (08:00)
- Stacy (on intimacy): “Get off! I can’t breathe!” (09:40)
- Nikki (Caller): "There’s a lot of insecurities that come with that... Am I hurting you? Are you okay? What’s the safe word? I can’t remember the safe word." (11:10–11:30)
- Bert: “I would guess if we asked skinny guys if they had a harder time dating than short guys, they might almost have a harder time. Seriously? Yeah.” (12:50)
Important Timestamps
| Time | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:15 | Introduction of topic and statistic | | 03:30 | Female hosts discuss protection/attraction reasons | | 05:20 | Cassie’s take: preferring effeminate guys | | 06:30 | Stacy’s call: living with a much skinnier husband | | 08:00 | Physical comfort in relationships | | 09:40 | Group laughs on intimacy and physical size | | 10:25 | Nikki’s call: insecurities dating a skinnier man | | 11:30 | Humor around intimacy and safe words | | 12:50 | Bert on challenges for skinny vs. short men |
Tone & Noteworthy Moments
- The conversation is upbeat, authentic, and peppered with laughter, self-deprecation, and playful jokes.
- Listeners and hosts openly acknowledge insecurities and societal pressures, but also poke fun at their own hangups and awkwardness discussing sensitive topics.
- The interplay between hosts, their varied perspectives, and callers’ stories make for both relatable and humorous radio.
Summary
In this episode, The Bert Show examines the stigma and personal experiences around women dating skinnier men. With a mix of honest confessions, teasing banter, and real-life stories from listeners, the cast explores societal expectations, feelings of attraction, and emotional (sometimes physical) discomfort with dating dynamics that challenge familiar norms. The show’s unfiltered and funny style ensures an engaging listen around a surprisingly universal subject.
