The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Her Ex Is Pleading For Her To Take Him Back
Date: November 14, 2025
Theme: Should Lisa take her ex back after a year apart—and after he moved on, very quickly, to another woman?

Episode Overview

This episode revisits Lisa’s story: her serious relationship ended when her boyfriend suddenly left to pursue a dream of owning a bar in another city, quickly taking up with a new woman. Now, a year later, he's returned with a grand gesture—asking Lisa to move in and possibly even proposing. The hosts and listeners go deep on whether Lisa should consider taking him back, exploring red flags, the reality of moving on, and the nature of true closure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lisa's Relationship Recap

• Lisa shares the backstory (01:27):
  • Dated a year, talked marriage, future plans (“I could see kids with this man. We were very serious.”)
  • Boyfriend abruptly left Atlanta for Philadelphia to run a bar, tried long distance, but it fizzled.
  • Immediately after breakup, he moved in with a co-worker (“the hostess that was working the bus with him”).
  • A year later, he returns to Atlanta and wants Lisa back.

2. The Return – His Grand Gesture

• The event:
  • He returns on Friday, but only contacts Lisa on Saturday (03:07).
  • Takes her on a drive to show her a townhouse, asks: “Would I move in with him if he bought this townhouse?” (03:10)
  • Lisa’s realization: “Just sitting there in a car with him, I realized that’s not what I wanted.” (03:53)

3. Hosts’ and Lisa's Emotional Responses

• Disbelief at the speed and audacity
  • Burt: “I can’t believe the sack on this guy. I mean, after a year…” (04:44)
  • Hosts debate if it’s romantic or just opportunistic (“That’s like Lifetime movie story!” vs. “I find very little romantic about it.” 05:12-07:00)
  • Questioning financial realities (“Didn’t you also tell us that he was broke?” 06:54)
• The missing conversation about ‘the other woman’
  • Multiple co-hosts shocked Lisa didn't bring up the other woman:
    • “Did he ever bring up the other girl?” (05:56)
    • “You’re telling me your soulmate…comes back… and you don’t rip him a new one?” – Caller Tess (10:43)
  • Lisa: “I just didn’t feel like I needed to talk about it because now... after that year of a lot of pain... I have nothing left for him, really.” (14:41)

4. Callers’ Perspectives

• Skepticism and tough love:
  • Tess: “There are so many holes in this story, it’s like a piece of Swiss cheese.” (10:39)
  • “If your soulmate… how do you not even bring that up?” (11:03)
• Alternative viewpoints:
  • Tracy: “You’re getting a lot of hearsay… Just get it all out in the open and move on with your life.” (11:27)
  • Amanda: “How does she know the hostess wasn’t just a roommate?” (12:20)
  • Destiny: “I think it’s romantic… if she has any feelings for this guy at all, that she would be crazy just to…not have open communication.” (13:30)

5. Why Lisa Didn’t Ask

• Lisa: “That’s why I didn’t ask about the other girl. It just didn’t really matter to me…there was nothing there.” (14:41)
• Host and co-hosts reflect on closure:
  • “Women can do that, man. You turn it off, it’s done.” – Burt (14:59)
  • “It takes us so long to get to that point…but once we’re done, we are done.” – Co-host 3 (15:05)
  • Discussion of how women process breakups differently than men—emphasizing healing and emotional finality.

6. Alternate Possibilities and Reflection

• Burt posits a “what if”: would a different approach from the ex have changed anything?
  • Lisa: “It doesn’t really change anything because…We should do it right away.” (16:25)
• Co-hosts point to the pattern:
  • “He’s just quick. He moved away quickly. He moved the woman in quickly. He’s coming back quick. He wants you to move in quickly.” (16:37–17:01)

7. Final Takeaway

• Lisa stands firm in her decision to move on.
• Hosts summarize the lesson: “Once you’re there, you’ve already been through all the emotion of it, so there’s no turning back.” (17:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lisa’s clear realization:
  • “Just sitting there in a car with him, I realized that’s not what I wanted… I just didn’t want that anymore.” (03:53 – Lisa)
• Burt’s disbelief:
  • “I can’t believe the sack on this guy. I mean, after a year, he hasn’t…” (04:44 – Host (Burt))
• Lisa on closure:
  • “After that year of a lot of pain and turmoil and confusion, I just… I have nothing left for him, really.” (14:59 – Lisa)
• Co-host perspective on moving on:
  • “Women can do that, man. You turn it off, it’s done…there’s no going back.” (14:59 – Host (Burt))
  • “It takes us so long to get to that point. We have to go through so much…Once we’re done, we are done.” (15:05 – Co-host 3)
• Caller Tess’ skepticism:
  • “There are so many holes in this story, it’s like a piece of Swiss cheese.” (10:39 – Caller Tess)
• On romantic gestures versus reality:
  • “That’s like Lifetime movie story! But you got to take… that other girl was a part of the picture.” (05:12 – Co-host 2 and Co-host 3 interjecting)
• Final closure:
  • “It doesn’t really change anything because…We should do it right away.” (16:25 – Lisa)

Important Timestamps

• 01:27 – Lisa recounts her relationship and the breakup
• 03:07–03:53 – Lisa describes the Saturday meetup and realizing she’s done
• 04:44 – Burt expresses disbelief at the ex’s actions
• 05:12–07:00 – Debate among hosts: romantic or opportunistic?
• 10:39–11:16 – Callers challenge Lisa’s version and ask why she skipped the hard questions
• 14:41 – Lisa explains why she didn’t bring up the other woman
• 15:05–15:38 – Discussion of how women process breakups versus men
• 16:25 – Hypothetical: Would a different apology have changed Lisa’s mind?
• 17:24 – Co-hosts reflect on finality after emotional closure

Summary Takeaways

• Grand gestures can’t always undo past hurt, especially when trust is gone and the emotional switch flips.
• Communication, honesty, and acknowledging past wounds are essential—but sometimes, closure comes from within, not from the partner who left or hurt you.
• Listeners and hosts offer a spectrum of responses: skepticism of the ex’s motives, hopefulness for a second chance, and recognition of the emotional work required to truly move on.

A must-listen episode for anyone contemplating a second chance with an ex—and for all who’ve known the hard, final click of moving on for good.