Vault: Her boss called the show!

Summary

The Bert Show — Vault: Her Boss Called the Show!

Air Date: June 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode throws listeners into a real-life workplace drama, as the Bert Show crew connects live with a listener's boss to settle an unusual office standoff: two co-workers, Sally and an unnamed colleague, both asked for a raise, but their boss decided only one could receive it. In a twist, the boss suggests letting the show’s audience decide who gets the raise, turning a private negotiation into a public contest. With the boss (“Anthony”) calling in, the hosts navigate the blurred lines between workplace seriousness and on-air entertainment, all while keeping things lighthearted and candid.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Back Story: From United Front to Direct Competition

• Sally and a co-worker asked their boss, Anthony, for a raise together, forming a united front.
• Anthony told them there was only enough money for one raise, pitting them against each other for the opportunity.
• The situation was made even more public when Sally discussed it on the radio prior to her meeting.

2. Boss Anthony Calls In: Candid, Playful, and a Bit Chaotic

• Anthony joins the show using a voice disguiser and a pseudonym, bringing humor and openness.
• He jokes, “I thought, what would be more fun than to just fire her on the radio? I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Of course I’m kidding.” (02:50, Anthony)
• Anthony reveals he was intrigued by Sally’s radio involvement and proposes that both employees make their pitches live, letting the Bert Show audience vote for the winner.

3. Host & Co-Host Dynamics: Skepticism, Amusement, Strategy

• The Bert Show cast expresses both amusement and criticism about Anthony’s gamification of workplace stakes.
• Host 2 questions Anthony’s neutrality: “So what is that saying about both these employees? Like, to you, they’re both totally and completely equal? Like there is. Because if you’re putting this in our hands... you really don’t care who gets the job?” (03:44, Host 2)
• Anthony maintains that neither candidate stood out for a raise, but found their assertiveness appealing, so he wanted to make a fun opportunity out of it.

4. Logistics of the Radio Contest and Its Fairness

• The hosts and Anthony strategize: Sally goes on-air to plead her case; her co-worker would have a separate day; then audience votes for 24 hours.
• Concern arises over fairness, with Host 2 noting, “Sally now has three days of character building. Like, people probably dislike her up until this point. So even if her presentation is really good... the coworker may get more votes just because there are people that just aren’t digging on Sally too much.” (06:42, Host 2)
• Co-hosts try to clarify how the candidates can present themselves meaningfully without disclosing job or company specifics.

5. Workplace Transparency and Gameshow Tactics

• Anthony candidly describes the workplace: “Yeah. You can say that. No one’s operating on any brains.” (05:40, Anthony)
• The raise at stake is around $5,000—not insignificant, but not career-making either.
• The episode teases the risks of turning employment decisions into public spectacle, drawing comparisons to reality TV (“Temptation Island,” “Paradise Hotel”).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anthony’s Opening Joke: “I thought, what would be more fun than to just fire her on the radio? I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” (02:50, Anthony)
• Host Reaction: “My heart just sank.” (03:04, Host 2)
• Boss’s Decision-Making: “They just did not stand out to me to get the raise in the first place... Not everyone in the office can get a raise. But they came in kind of demanding... and so I wanted to give them the opportunity.” (03:55, Anthony)
• On Workplace Stakes: “We’re not talking about millions of bucks... It’s about five grand.” (05:49, Anthony)
• On the Contest: “If you guys are going to get some fun out of this, I’m going to, too.” (04:33, Co-host 2 paraphrasing Anthony)
• On Radio Fairness: “She now has three days of character building... even if her presentation is really good... coworker may get more votes just because there are people that just aren’t digging on Sally too much.” (06:42, Host 2)
• On the Format: “How are they going to pitch for their jobs if we can’t talk about what their jobs are...?” (07:14, Co-host 2)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:32: Introduction of the workplace dilemma and context—how the radio became involved
• 02:14: Anthony (the boss) joins the show; lighthearted banter about firing on air
• 03:44: Anthony candid about the lack of a clear winner, opens up to audience involvement
• 05:40: Discussion about the workplace environment, stakes, and significance of the raise
• 06:38: Hosts hash out how the radio contest would work, raising concerns over fairness and anonymity
• 08:33: Sally joins the conversation, learns about the contest plan
• 09:45: Plan to reach out to “employee number two” and finalize the contest setup

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Episode’s Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is trademark Bert Show: irreverent, honest, and quick-witted, but also raises real questions about office power dynamics and the line between personal and professional boundaries.
• Anthony’s playful approach (“I’m gonna have fun too!”) provides comedic fodder, but also makes the stakes feel more TV-game-show than HR-decision.
• The hosts’ skepticism balances Anthony’s levity, questioning whether this is fair to Sally and her co-worker, and whether an audience vote is a responsible way to decide workplace outcomes.

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In Summary

“The Boss Called the Show!” is both a workplace drama and reality-radio experiment. The Bert Show audience is invited to weigh in on the outcome of a real job raise, with both humor and genuine concern in the mix. Listeners can look forward to Sally’s pitch, the mystery co-worker’s response, and the audience’s vote in this unusual office competition—broadcast for all of Atlanta (and beyond) to hear.

Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

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[Anthony (The Boss)]

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[Co-host 1]

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[Co-host 1]

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[Host 2]

All right, so let's get the boss on. And I'm not even sure how this is all worked out. I don't know if Tracy called him. He called her. But what we do know is Sally walked into the office yesterday and she was the second in line to compete for her job. The co worker went in there first she thought was her friend. And then all Sally knows is after employee number one's interview, Sally goes in and then the boss says, you've been talking about this on the radio. Sally says, yeah. And that was pretty much the end of the interview, right at that point.

[Co-host 2]

Yeah, maybe

[Host 2]

so Here is Sally's boss. Hey, boss.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Hello.

[Host 2]

Hi. You are on the voice disguiser.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Okay.

[Host 2]

What should we call you? What? A name that we want to assign you.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

How about Anthony?

[Co-host 2]

Anthony.

[Host 2]

Anthony. All right, Jersey Shores. So, Anthony, what's going on? I mean, here. Sally asked you for a raise last week with a co worker. You obviously made the very smart move and said that I only have enough money for one of you guys, and they started competing against each other for the gig. The last time we talked to Sally about it, like, she was fired up, man. I mean, she had PowerPoint ready to go, and you didn't even give her that chance yesterday.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

No, no. I mean, I heard that she was talking to all of Atlanta on the radio about it, so I thought, what would be more fun than to just fire her on the radio? I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Of course I'm kidding.

[Host 2]

My heart just sank.

[Co-host 1]

Wow, that was cool.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

I got excited about that.

[Host 1]

That's messed up.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

That's good sounded. I mean, she seemed like she was having so much fun with this. I thought I was trying to appeal to Atlanta. I don't know. My idea was that maybe both of the girls would appeal to your listeners on the radio and then have your listeners decide who hits the range.

[Co-host 2]

That's a good idea. I like that.

[Co-host 1]

That's as good as firing them on the radio. You're good.

[Host 2]

So what is that saying about both these employees? Like, to you, they're both totally and completely equal? Like there is. Because if you're putting this in our hands and basically what you're saying is you really don't care who gets the job?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Well, I mean, I guess in the greater scheme of things, no one's exactly equal, but they just did not stand out to me to get the raise in the first place. But, I mean, that's it, you know? Not that they're doing a bad job. It's just that, you know, not everyone in the office can get a raise. But they came in kind of demanding in my office, and I don't know, something about that appealed to me, and so I wanted to give them the opportunity. But I just thought if they were already having fun on the radio, you

[Co-host 2]

were like, if you guys are going to get some fun out of this, I'm going to, too. That's funny. Well, I was curious if we rewind to Friday when they both walked in as a united front, what your reaction was when they, you know, marched into your office hand in hand. We're a team, you know.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Well, it's the first time anyone's ever done that. And so I kind of had nothing but respect for him at the moment, really.

[Co-host 2]

But then you. You flipped it around. You got the control back, saying, I can only give it to one of you.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Well, I'm the boss.

[Host 2]

Did you. Did you have enough money where you could have given some to both, or was this a sort of a power play on your part?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Well, I just don't think it's, you know, giving them something both is. It wouldn't have made that much of a difference to either one of them, but I guess it's a little bit of a boat.

[Co-host 1]

Now, I'm guessing that the job. This employment is not like, we're not. These aren't a couple of pediatric neurosurgeons that we're talking to. Right. This is a little more of a casual work environment.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Yeah. Yeah, you can say that. And I. Yeah, no one's operating on any brains.

[Co-host 1]

And I'm guessing we're not talking about millions of bucks. We're talking about.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

No, no, it's. It's. It's. It's. I'll say it's. It's about five grand.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Co-host 1]

That's big, though.

[Host 2]

That's.

[Co-host 1]

That's good. That's a nice chunk.

[Host 2]

And we can't be talking. We're not talking about an entry level position, but we're not talking about too many phases up from entry level either.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

No, no. I mean, they've been there a while, so. Yeah, not exactly.

[Host 2]

Okay, well, if you're into it, I'll be into it. So your idea would be for, like, Sally to come on tomorrow. She would present her case to the Birchill community and why she deserves the job. Then we get the other co worker on, like, maybe the next day. She presents her reasons, too, and then we put it into the Birchill listeners hands. And then you. If we're going to engage in this with you, then you have to agree that whoever they vote on gets the gig.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Oh, that's. I will be eagerly awaiting.

[Host 2]

The only thing I don't like about this plan is that Sally now has three days of character building. Like, people probably dislike her up until this point. So even if her presentation is really good and better than the co worker, the coworker may get more votes just because there are people that just aren't digging on Sally too much.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

I didn't know she was unlikable on the radio.

[Co-host 2]

Yeah, Val didn't really like her so much.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah, where is Val? Have we heard from her now?

[Host 2]

Sweet pee hadn't called. What were you going to say, Jen?

[Co-host 2]

I was going to ask, how are they going to be able to pitch for their jobs if we can't talk about what their jobs are like, if we can't talk about the details of where your office is or what you guys do or what they do, how are people going to be able to decide? Because, I mean, they can both come on here and say, I'm energetic and I'm organized and I'm always on time, and you know what I'm saying?

[Host 2]

Basically, you're asking us to interview them, but we can't know what the position is.

[Co-host 2]

Yeah. How can they prove, like, my sales were up 14% on this area? You know what I mean?

[Co-host 1]

Well, I think you can say my sales are up 14%. You just can't say that I'm selling

[Host 2]

my Body Blank product or where it is or what.

[Co-host 1]

It sucks.

[Co-host 2]

It's just gonna be hard to do.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

You guys need me to verify any facts they make or any statements. I could do that.

[Host 1]

That's true.

[Co-host 2]

That's really true.

[Co-host 1]

Yeah. And I hope. And I hope we can. Like, they can say, like, statistics like that. Like, I answer the phone call 1.5 rings. Like, I hope it's not. We don't have to be so vague that we can't know that they.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Yeah. As long as my bosses don't know what's happening, I don't really mind what they say.

[Host 2]

I want to.

[Co-host 1]

You know what?

[Co-host 2]

It's gonna be a spiral.

[Host 1]

It's gonna be boss after boss.

[Host 2]

Clear out the entire floor by the time we're done with your office.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Yeah, I don't want to have to compete with anyone else for my range.

[Host 2]

All right, let me get Sally on to see if she's even into this. I mean, she really doesn't have much of an option. Hey, Sally.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Hey.

[Host 2]

All right, the boss is on the line. Also here. The boss has suggested that you make your pitch to the Birch show audience tomorrow. We get your co worker on on Thursday. Birch show listeners vote for it for 24 hours. Whoever gets the most votes gets the gig. This is not our idea. This is your boss's idea. So.

[Co-host 1]

So, really, you just. The only thing you can say is,

[Host 2]

okay, and if

[Co-host 2]

you're not fired yet,

[Anthony (The Boss)]

yeah, that's great news.

[Host 1]

And we can't see your PowerPoint presentation now, which I'm really disappointed about, but

[Host 2]

you can do it on the radio. I mean, you just have to describe to us what we're looking at.

[Co-host 1]

That's always fun. This is a graph. Red, yellow, blue, and green.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

I just can't believe my co worker did that. This is crazy. Yeah, I will go along with it.

[Co-host 1]

She's a dirty, filthy whore. Thinking about that.

[Host 2]

Let me put you on hold, Sally. Okay?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Okay.

[Host 2]

And then we'll talk to you tomorrow morning around the same time, like 7:30ish or whatever.

[Sponsor Voice]

Okay?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Okay,

[Host 2]

Sally. Hey, Anthony.

[Co-host 2]

That girl?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Yes, sir.

[Host 2]

We will try to contact employee number two after the show to see if she's into it. And if she is, it's on starting tomorrow morning.

[Co-host 1]

What do you mean she's into it? If they want the raise, there's no other option.

[Host 2]

But, like, she didn't even sign up for any of this.

[Co-host 1]

Doesn't matter.

[Host 2]

This is all Sally's.

[Co-host 1]

Who's her boss?

[Host 2]

She's got to be on the radio, and she's got to be presenting her case. She wouldn't sign up for any of this.

[Co-host 2]

Sounds like she's competitive enough that she'll come on and win.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Yeah, I guess. Whoever's not into it otherwise loses.

[Host 2]

Okay, so if co worker number two decides this isn't for her, then Sally gets the job.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Hey, we're having fun, okay?

[Co-host 1]

Somebody's got to get this guy.

[Host 2]

This guy up the cumulus. All right, Anthony, let me put you on hold, okay?

[Anthony (The Boss)]

Okay.

[Host 2]

I like it.

[Co-host 2]

I like it.

[Host 2]

I like it for the theater of it. It just doesn't sound like. I mean, how important of a job can it really be?

[Co-host 1]

$5,000.

[Co-host 2]

I also sort of get this feeling that he is just having fun with it. And he is like a cat batting around a little toy right now. And, like, at the end of it, he could be like, hey, guess what? Neither one of you get it. This is fun.

[Host 2]

It's like that old. That reality TV show, Temptation island, where they made the rules up as they went along. There were no rules to Temptation Island.

[Co-host 1]

No.

[Co-host 2]

I love that show.

[Co-host 1]

Paradise Hotel.

[Host 2]

Paradise Hotel.

[Anthony (The Boss)]

The sky.

[Co-host 1]

That was great.

[Co-host 2]

That was so good.

[Host 2]

All right, so we'll see how Sally does. We will listen to her presentation tomorrow morning, try to get co worker number two on on Thursday morning, and then you guys will vote as to who gets the gig. All right? I like it. Thank you, Anthony. Hey, the Birch Show.