Vault: He Said Something She Can't Stop Thinking About

Summary

The Bert Show Episode Summary

Title: Vault: He Said Something She Can't Stop Thinking About
Date: January 19, 2026
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, et al.)
Episode Theme: Seeking Closure on Unspoken Feelings

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Overview

In this episode, The Bert Show explores the lingering questions left behind by a single, cryptic comment. Tammy, a longtime listener, calls in about something her best friend Mike said to her four years ago—a remark that's haunted her ever since and left their friendship in a gray area. The cast discusses the confusion and unresolved tension that such moments can create, debates the potential implications, and eventually helps Tammy confront Mike live on air.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Ambiguous Comments

• The idea for the segment is introduced: listeners bring unresolved comments to the show for closure.
• Melissa’s earlier experience sets the stage for Tammy’s story.
• The hosts note that nearly everyone has walked away from a conversation unsure whether to be hurt, confused, or introspective.
  • Bert [00:44]: “I think just about everybody has been in a situation like this where you just walk away and you're like, am I supposed to be offended by that? Or what does that mean? Does that redefine our relationship?”

2. Tammy & Mike’s Relationship History

• Tammy describes a deep, platonic friendship with Mike stretching back to college, including joint milestones and shared ups and downs.
• The pair have been best friends for years, talking for hours and supporting one another through difficult relationships.
  • Tammy [01:26]: “We've actually got our job at the same ad agency at the same day. So it's just been a really kind of interesting relationship.”
• The pivotal moment: Four years ago, just before their shared 26th birthday, during a night out Mike made a statement that Tammy can’t forget.

3. The Comment That Sparked It All

• The Quote:
  • Mike (via Tammy) [03:39]: “You're the type of girl who'd make a man like me fall head over heels in love with [her].”
• Tammy recounts the setting, mood, and her own confusion—right as Mike spoke, friends arrived, ending the moment without resolution.
• She never brought it up, and neither did Mike. Life continued as normal, which only fuels Tammy’s uncertainty.

4. Hosts’ Analysis and Speculations

• The cast debates the possible intent behind Mike’s words:
  • Was it a subtle confession?
  • Did he want to test the waters?
  • Was it just an awkward attempt at flirting?
  • Jen [06:35]: "I think he was trying to cryptically say I'm in love with you without saying I'm in love with you, and wanted to see if she'd have a reaction..."
  • Bert [06:57]: “...he was just putting the feelers out there and he wasn’t going to put his ego on the table completely and have her bruise it. So, yeah, I think he put the bait out there, you didn’t take, and he moved on.”
• Tammy admits she's considered a relationship if Mike still felt that way.

5. The Confrontation: Mike Joins the Show

[08:38 – 15:01]

• Tammy, nervous but determined, recounts the specific moment to Mike live on air.
• Mike confirms he remembers the comment and clarifies:
  • Mike [10:19]: "At the time, Tammy, I was actually... I was really, really into you at the time."
  • He saw her as potential girlfriend material but didn't know how to escalate, so made the comment to gauge interest.
  • He interpreted her silence as lack of interest and moved on.
• Tammy and the hosts seek clarification—does Mike still have feelings?
  • Mike candidly states:
    • Mike [11:28]: "Right now I just, you know, I kind of don't see her as anything more than a friend. ... I'm not really interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her at the moment."
  • Mike reveals he's currently seeing someone new and that their friendship has faded somewhat compared to four years ago.

Notable Moment

• Awkward Realization:
  • Tammy [13:03]: "It's just a little weird. I mean, just because you said that, it's odd that you would just say it once. And that was my one chance, and then if I don't react to it, it's just, like, gone."

6. Aftermath and Reflection

• The hosts and Tammy discuss the missed opportunity, emotions stirred by finally addressing the comment, and the shifting dynamics of friendship over time.
  • Tammy [15:50]: “I haven’t been walking around for years wondering if he was in love with me. But it’s just one of those things that. Like, what changed? I don’t know.”
• The cast offers insight into why people keep these questions alive:
  • Cassie [16:23]: "We will do that. We will keep guys around us that we think are... attracted to us. ... Even though you weren't interested in him, it made you feel good to feel like he was in love with you for all of that time."
• They gently remind Tammy (and listeners) not to blame the other person for a closure-seeking delay.
  • Kristin [17:01]: “You can’t get mad at him for you not saying anything, right?”

7. Closure and Moving Forward

• Tammy and Mike reaffirm their friendship.
  • Mike suggests they “get drunk this week and laugh a little bit about this.” [14:56]
• The hosts and Tammy acknowledge it will be a little awkward at work, but the air is cleared.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Tammy recounts the unforgettable comment:
  • [03:39] “You’re the type of girl who’d make a man like me fall head over heels in love with [her].”
• Mike admits his past feelings:
  • [10:19] “At the time... I was really, really into you.”
• Mike explains moving on:
  • [11:28] “Right now I just... I kind of don't see her as anything more than a friend.”
• Tammy on missed opportunities:
  • [13:03] "That was my one chance, and then if I don’t react to it, it’s just, like, gone."
• Cassie nails the allure of hope:
  • [16:23] “Even though you weren't interested in him, it made you feel good to feel like he was in love with you...”
• Kristin on responsibility for closure:
  • [17:01] “You can't get mad at him for you not saying anything, right?”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:00–02:16: Introduction, segment concept, Tammy introduced
• 02:16–05:48: Tammy recounts history and the big moment
• 06:35–07:13: Hosts’ takes and speculation
• 08:38–15:01: Live conversation with Mike; reveals, clarifications
• 15:01–17:39: Aftermath, reflection, host advice, closure

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, and open. The cast brings levity even to awkward moments, keeping the mood supportive and light. Dialogue is authentic, balancing empathy with practical advice.

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Summary

This episode highlights the universal experience of agonizing over “the one thing someone said” and shows how time, unspoken feelings, and missed chances can impact even the closest friendships. Tammy and Mike’s frank on-air conversation offers both a teachable moment in communication and closure for years-old ambiguity. In the end, the episode reminds listeners: speak your truth sooner—otherwise, the window may close before you know it.

Transcript

[A]

You're on the Burt Show. All right. Melissa used our. We used Melissa as the example for our very first. What did you mean by that?

[B]

Yeah, what did they mean by that? The example was my friend Ashley came on the phone yesterday because a few weeks ago, there was a comment that she had made, and then the conversation was diverted into another direction. So I left that. You know, I was hanging out thinking, what? Well, what did she mean by that? And started analyzing what she meant. And instead of just trying to do a guessing game, we had Ashley on yesterday. She answered the question, and so there's closure to that. So now I understand what she meant. But there's so many situations in which something happened between you and a friend or whoever, and you're thinking, well, what. What exactly did they mean by that? So we invite you to do the same thing as I did is where you come on and that person comes on, and then you kind of get closure on whatever comment was made.

[A]

We got a whole bunch of emails about this yesterday because I think just about everybody has been in a situation like this where you just walk away and you're like, am I supposed to be offended by that? Or what does that mean? Does that redefine our relationship? What. What does that mean?

[C]

And.

[A]

And Tammy emailed us with probably the quintessential example. Morning, Tammy.

[C]

Good morning.

[A]

How are you?

[C]

I'm doing great.

[A]

All right, give us a little bit of the history here. Who are we talking about? You and who?

[C]

My best friend, Mike.

[B]

Okay, Mike.

[A]

Okay. And the history between you and Mike.

[C]

I guess I did it really fast. We have been friends. First of all, we're both going to turn 30 years old at the same day, October 8th.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And we're really good friends. We've been friends for, well, since we graduated college and just, It's. We've actually got our job at the same ad agency at the same day. So it's just been a really kind of interesting relationship. We've had our. We've never had our ups and downs together, but we've definitely brought our. You know each other through, like, really tough times. We both had really crappy relationships and just best friends talked on the phone for hours. It's just. We do a lot of stuff together. We got a gang of friends that we just all go out with.

[A]

He's like a best bud of yours.

[C]

Yeah, he's really. I don't know, he's just a really great guy. Anyway, when I heard that, I definitely have one that is. I've been wondering about. For. About Four years. Okay, four years.

[A]

Four years ago?

[C]

Well, yeah, exactly. Well, it's almost. It was right when we were turning 26. So I was thinking about it and it's exactly four years ago because it was right before our birthdays. I remember that and I remember everything about it. Okay, well, what happened was we were meeting friends from work, Kim and Wayne, our best friends from work, and we're all gonna go out and we were at the restaurant first. It's 9:30. I remember sitting across from him and we were just, you know, talking about everything, talking about people we work with, what was going on. I remember exactly what I was wearing because he was making jokes about it because it was like, I don't know, it was like this velvety looking shirt and he was like, oh man, oh, you're getting sexy or something like that. I don't know. He's just like joking and it was just like crazy. Anyway, he says we were talking about everything and he, for some reason, and I've tried to analyze why he said it at that moment, but he kind of leans towards me. It was getting loud in the restaurant. It's about 9:30. He leans forward and I, I just was almost like, you know, I remember just kind of like, what is he doing? What is he saying? And he said, you're the type of girl who'd make a guy like me fall head over heels in love with him. And I just went like, you know how, like you just. Your mouth opens. You like.

[B]

How did you respond?

[C]

Well, at the exact moment our friends Kim and Wayne walk over to the table and sit down, and I'm stunned. I'm sitting there and I'm looking at him and then he's not looking at me. Like, it's. He says that and then he like kind of backs out and he's like, you know, they start talking about like football or something and I'm just sitting there like, where did that come from?

[B]

So Tammy, in four years you've never addressed that comment?

[C]

Well, he's never said anything like that again. So, I mean, we talked the very next day. Because we talked the next day at work and you know, it was like, hey, how you doing? Oh, you know, blah, blah, blah. What are you doing tomorrow?

[A]

Business as usual.

[C]

Right. So he's never said anything like that.

[A]

I'm just curious on why you didn't mention it to him over the next 24 or 48 hours and say, what did you mean by that?

[B]

Four years or four years.

[C]

Yeah, I know, I know. I thought about it. You Know what happened? It was one of those things, you know, those things like I kind of was waiting for him to say, and then once it gets so long, then you almost don't want to say. Remember three months ago when you said, you know what I mean? Then it gets weird.

[D]

So you think it's going to be better now when you go, hey, remember 47 months ago.

[B]

Now. Now, are both you and Mike single?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Okay. And he's been single this whole time.

[C]

Since he said that, he's gone out with a couple more people and so have I.

[E]

Well, I'm.

[B]

I mean, that could be telltale if he's been, you know, if he hasn't been in a serious relationship in four years. I mean, they could.

[C]

I. He has been available. I mean, he went through some heartbreak with this one girl, but, you know, so I don't know if that's really available because he was. He was hurting. But, you know, I don't know, it just. Yeah, it is a little weird now that you're making me think about it. I don't know what he's gonna say, but I've been thinking about it. I just want to know what he like. Did he mean anything? Was it like a general thing to just say? It just seems like such a.

[A]

The exact comment again, Tammy, is it.

[C]

Says, you're the type of girl who'd make a man like me fall head over heels in love with them.

[B]

And he said that at 9:30 in the restaurant when there's a lot of noise going on.

[C]

A lot of noise. And I. And we weren't drinking. I remember.

[D]

I was.

[C]

No, no, Tammy, I was.

[E]

That's all right.

[B]

I was teasing. I was teasing at the fact that you remember the four years ago. Because I can't remember two days ago.

[A]

So it's like I'm joking. It's the. It's the time where time stood still for her.

[B]

Exactly.

[D]

He was wearing her velvety shirt. He was wearing, you know.

[C]

Well, it just was so odd. He's. He's a nice guy and he. And he would maybe say a compliment, but that seemed like. I don't know.

[A]

All right, let's debate this here for a second before we give this Guy a call. 404-741-1005. The one line. Once again, Tammy.

[C]

All right. You're the type of girl who'd make a guy like me fall head over heels in love with him.

[A]

What do you got, Jen?

[E]

Oh, I think he was trying to cryptically say I'm in love with you without Saying I'm in love with you, and wanted to see if she'd have a reaction to it. And she hasn't brought it up in four years. So he went, well, tried that. Didn't work.

[D]

Yeah, I threw that out there. It didn't stick.

[A]

Bye. Bye with that Melissa.

[B]

Yeah, because it's not often a guy's gonna use the term in love with, you know, like if a guy, you know, if he was teasing her about looking sexy that night, he'd be like.

[E]

Hey, you frustrated guy.

[B]

Like, you know, he would make sexual somehow. But I think I totally agree with Jen that he was just putting the feelers out there and he wasn't going to put him, you know, his ego on the table completely and have her bruise it. So, yeah, I think he put the bait out there you didn't take and he moved on.

[A]

Now we're going to call this guy and either way the relationship is going to be completely and totally defined. Maybe differently for you now.

[C]

Well, I mean, we've been friends for so long. I mean, I. He's got a great sense of humor. I hope you just like. I don't know, just say, like. Well, I just. I don't know what he. I don't know what I'm even hoping for. I just.

[E]

What if he doesn't even remember saying it?

[B]

Could be. Could be.

[E]

That would probably hurt your feelings, wouldn't it?

[C]

Oh, my goodness. Yeah, I guess so. I mean, in a little, it seems. It's not just saying, like, hey, you're a great girl or something like that. I mean, that's. That's. It's a pretty deep thing to say. I would hope he doesn't seem like that type that would just say anything to somebody. I don't know.

[E]

If he says. If he says, I was in love with you, I am in love with you. I've always been in love with you. Would you consider going out with him?

[C]

I've thought about that. I definitely think we should give it a try. If that was. I mean, I'm not saying that's the case, but if that was the case. We just have so much history together. I know it's a little weird, but, you know, I mean, part of the relationship has to be like, compatibility and we are really compatible as friends, and I think it would be worth a try. I mean, I'm attracted to him.

[A]

All right, let's get him on here. Jeff, what are the parameters here of getting him on? Does he know why he's coming on?

[D]

He was on hold the whole Time.

[A]

So he knows what's up.

[D]

He knows what's going on.

[A]

Hey, Mike.

[F]

Hey.

[B]

Oh, hi.

[A]

How are you? All right, let's just make this official. And Tammy, why don't you tell Mike exactly why he's on today.

[C]

Mike, it's Tim. How are you doing?

[F]

Hey, girl. What's going on?

[C]

Well, everything's great. Everything's just fine. But I wanted to ask you about something you said a while back. Yes, it was actually about four years ago, almost to the day. At one point, I don't know if.

[A]

You remember, but it was at 9:30. You were wearing something sexy.

[D]

Come on, Tammy, it was 9:37. You were wearing your black leather strap watch.

[E]

Say the quote.

[B]

Say it.

[C]

Tammy, you said to me, you're the type of girl who'd make a guy like me fall head over heels in love with him. Do you remember saying something like that?

[F]

Yeah, well, yeah, I kind of do remember saying.

[C]

Okay, so it's not just me. Because, I mean, I've been thinking maybe I, you know, I misheard it or made it up in some weird way. I don't know.

[F]

No, no, I. I did. I said something like that. I guess that's probably about what I said, the way you remember it.

[C]

But that's. Well, okay. I feel better about that now. And I guess I was just wondering, you know, what kind of what you meant by it, because you. It's. I don't know if you remember, I didn't get a chance to say anything because.

[D]

Because then it was 9:45 and that's the time our friends were coming by.

[C]

Well, yeah, Kim and Wayne stopped by.

[A]

We know the details.

[B]

Mike, what did you mean by that?

[C]

I'm sorry. I'm nervous.

[F]

You guys. All right. You know, it's kind of funny that you. You brought this up four years later, but at the time, Tammy, I was actually. I was really, really into you at the time.

[C]

And, like, as a girlfriend, I was just.

[F]

I thought that you would be a great girlfriend. And I was, you know, I was. I was scared, I guess, of how I would possibly bring it up. I guess so, you know, at the time, I was really trying to kind of raise a flag and say, hey, you know, do you think this might work out? You think we could do this? And unfortunately, we were. You know, the timing was a little off and people walked in right after I finished my sentence and we didn't get a chance to talk about that. And then it was never talked about or brought up again, so I just kind of moved on, I guess. And just assumed that you weren't feeling the same way that I was four years ago.

[B]

Now, Mike, you said a few times in there at that time, do you still have feelings for Tammy?

[F]

Well, I mean, I love Tammy. I mean, Tammy's, you know, she's a great friend. She's been an awesome friend, but right now I just, you know, I kind of don't see her as anything more than a friend. You know, right now I'm not. I'm not really interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her at the moment.

[C]

Well, that's cool. I just want to know, you know, what you meant back then. But that. I mean, I'm a little confused because then you never said anything else, and I didn't get a chance to react back then. But that's cool, you know.

[A]

Well, Mike, let me ask you. Let me ask you this, Mike. I mean, have. Because you never got reaction out of her four years ago, have you just put it out of your mind that that's not even a possibility? So now that she's opening things up, I mean, would you consider something more than just a friendship?

[F]

Well, I mean, at the moment, I'm not really interested in anything like that. You know, I'm seeing somebody else now, and, you know, it's just kind of not. It's a really laid back kind of relationship. So I don't know what's going to happen. But, I mean, we're not quite as close as we were, you know, four years ago. You know, we're kind of branching off a little bit, trying to find our way. So I guess the answer, long and short, is no, not really. Not at the moment. But I don't ever want to lose her friendship. And I hope that.

[C]

No, that. That we're still cool. You know, we're still friends. I just. Yeah, everything's just fine. Everything's fine. It's definitely cool.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

And it certainly won't be weird in the office. You don't have that to worry about.

[C]

Yeah, no, I mean, it's just a little weird. I mean, just because you said that, it's odd that you would just say it once. And that was my one chance, and then if I don't react to it, it's just, like, gone. But I'm definitely cool with that. I mean, you. You're definitely whatever you want to feel is fine with you. I mean, and me, too. I'm fine with that.

[F]

Yeah.

[A]

You sure you're fine with that?

[D]

You said you loved me back during the Olympics.

[F]

Yeah, I just. We never, you know, I didn't really hear anything back from you about it. And we never talked about it again afterwards or anything.

[C]

It wasn't really a question, it was a statement. And I, you know, everything's fine. I mean, everybody has a way of doing things and. Yeah, that's good. That was your way of me, and I guess that was my missed opportunity. Didn't react to it right then. That was gone. But everything's fine now. I mean, it's cool, you know, we're all finding our way, as you said. So it's cool. Definitely cool. We're fine.

[D]

Just like, you know.

[A]

Sounds really cool. Sounds totally cool.

[D]

Just like this statement, you know, I'm gonna vote for that actor fellow from California. Reagan.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

I think he'll make a good president.

[C]

No, it's great. Mike, I love you as a friend. You're a great guy. And I, you know, I understand. I mean, I don't exactly understand, like, what changed in four years? But, you know, it's cool. Whatever you want to do is fine with me. And good luck with everything. I mean, you know, you're going to.

[A]

See him in an hour. He's not dying.

[B]

Good luck with everything.

[C]

He's in terminal.

[A]

You're going to see him in an.

[C]

Hour in the office.

[F]

Good luck with that thing called life.

[C]

No, definitely don't feel bad. I mean, you know, it's a little odd, but I'm definitely cool with it. And there will be no problem at work. Don't even think of it. I mean, we are friends. We'll be friends, you know, for a long time and. So cool.

[F]

Let's get drunk this week and laugh a little bit about this then.

[C]

Okay?

[F]

Because, I mean, we're on the Burt Show. How cool can that get?

[C]

Yep, exactly.

[A]

That's very cool. It's all cool.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Thank you, Mike.

[A]

We're gonna let you go. We're gonna keep Tammy around for a couple of minutes. Okay.

[F]

All right.

[A]

But we're not gonna talk about, you.

[D]

See if maybe a up against pain during a showing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind or something.

[A]

See you, Mike.

[D]

First, Indiana Jones.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Tammy, you are cringing. Cring.

[E]

I'm sorry, Tammy.

[C]

Oh, that was weird.

[E]

I'm sorry. I know you're disappointed.

[C]

Well, I don't know. I guess now it's cool. You should have a follow up because now it's like, what changed in four years? I'm the same person.

[A]

Well, I think what happens is once. I mean, once you put it out of your mind, like, okay, she's not interested in me that way. Eventually, you got to move on. I mean, we're talking about four years ago, so up until five minutes ago, you weren't even an option. So he may sit on this. You never know, right?

[C]

And the thing is, I haven't been walking around for years wondering if he was in love with me. But it's just one of those things that. Like, what changed? I don't know.

[B]

You didn't say. I mean, the thing is. I mean, it was a missed opportunity. I mean, he put it out there, you thought about it, and he didn't say anything. So, I mean, it's. I mean, now it's been four years, so, you know.

[D]

Remember when he almost kissed you at the Bee Gees concert?

[E]

It's disappointing because you've been living the last four years feeling like he is in love with you. And in some way or another, you liked that.

[C]

Yeah, I mean, I guess so.

[E]

Because we will do that. We will keep guys around us that we think are, you know, maybe not even in love with us, but we think that they're attracted to us. We think that they, you know, put us on a pedestal or whatever. We're the apple of their eye. Even though you weren't interested in him, it made you feel good to feel like he was in love with you for all of that time. It's kind of this mean, torturous thing we do to guys. Guy friends in our life, but we do it.

[C]

Yeah, I know what you mean now.

[B]

Tammy, the mistake you can't make, which you were almost trickling into making when you talked to Mike, was. You can't blame him for it. Like you said, what's changed in four years?

[E]

Well, you.

[B]

Good luck with that or whatever. Like, you could tell that you were not happy with the response, but, you know, he. You can't get mad at him for you not saying anything, right?

[C]

I know. I've thought about it so many times. Like, what could I have said? Like, the next morning, could I have called up and said, what did you mean by that? But I don't know. I just. I was thinking he would get into it again, but it doesn't really matter. I'm definitely cool that he's a great guy. We're gonna be friends. It was a little awkward for a moment, but, you know.

[A]

Oh, I think that was awkward. Wait till you get into the office.

[D]

Now it's cool.

[E]

Yeah, it's cool.

[C]

I know.

[A]

All right, Tammy, thank you for.

[C]

Thanks. I love you guys.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Now you have closure.

[A]

Yeah. You're on the Birch Show.