Vault: Her mom is stealing from her brother

Summary

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The Bert Show – Vault: Her Mom is Stealing from Her Brother

Episode Air Date: August 6, 2026
Main Hosts: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & The Bert Show Cast
Episode Theme: Navigating a Family Dilemma—When You Suspect a Parent of Unethical Behavior

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the cast discusses a deeply personal and fraught listener dilemma: a 20-year-old woman, Molly, accuses her mother of stealing funds meant for her 12-year-old brother’s charity fundraiser. The discussion explores conflicting emotions, the ethics of family loyalty versus honesty, and possible courses of action when you discover unethical behavior in those closest to you.

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Key Discussion Segments & Insights

1. Lighthearted Start: Listener Interactions & Fan E-mails

Timestamp: [01:01–02:59]

• The show opens with the team reacting to an unusual listener e-mail involving a creative "naked picture" prank disguised as a Dairy Queen banana split reference.

  • Quote: “If you’re gonna get me to open the picture, you bring up Dairy Queen and ice cream. Of course I’m gonna look.” — Co-Host ([02:29])

• The moment is used to segue into more serious content, marking the friendly, candid tone typical for The Bert Show.

2. Molly’s Dilemma: Explaining the Situation

Timestamp: [03:18–05:00]

• Molly calls in, voice disguised for privacy, revealing her mother “skims” charity funds her brother raises through a personal fundraising event.

• Quote: “My mom has been kind of skimming off the top and I don’t know what to do... these people think they are giving to my brother for the fundraiser and she’s... taking money ... it’s just not right.” — Molly ([03:40])

• Molly elaborates that donors give directly to her mother—sometimes with checks made out to her personally. Her mother under-reports donation amounts to the charity, pocketing the difference.

• Molly is conflicted because she still lives at home, loves her mother, and has never known her to be deceitful before, though she hints at “weird decisions” in the past.

3. Assessing the Evidence & Emotional Complexity

Timestamp: [05:00–05:57]

• The hosts probe: How does Molly know? Is her brother aware?

  • Quote: "Does your brother know this is going on?" — Co-Host ([05:00])
  • Molly confirms her brother and others are in the dark.

• A co-host raises the uncomfortable but important point—does the charity "need" all the money, or is it more about the principle?

  • Molly firmly rebuts: "I don’t think that’s the point." ([05:14])

4. Call-In Advice: Intervention Experiences

Timestamp: [05:32–06:13]

• Laura calls in, sharing a powerful personal anecdote:

  • Quote: “The same thing happened to me ... my mom ended up in jail for a year and a half for stealing from work. ... It’s a horrible feeling when you know it’s going on and you don’t stop it—it just keeps escalating.” — Laura ([05:36–05:44])

• The consensus among the hosts: Molly should confront her mom, ideally with facts and information about legal consequences.

5. On Confrontation & Risks

Timestamp: [06:13–07:18]

• The team brainstorms possible approaches:

  • Simply telling her mother “I know what you’re doing,” or:
  • Taking over the fundraising to prevent future theft.
  • Researching and presenting legal ramifications to her mother for added seriousness.
  • Quote: “If you’re gonna go that far, you like, have to go to internet and have information on what could happen if she gets caught.” — Bert ([06:26])

• Molly feels her mother might simply deny, and worries about damaging their relationship.

6. The Hardline Approach: "Scared Straight"

Timestamp: [08:13–09:08]

• John calls to advocate for a “scared straight” tactic:

  • Quote: “You call the police, you let the police deal with her... whatever the punishment is, you let her deal with it.” — John ([08:34])

• The hosts and other callers recognize the gravity of involving law enforcement—especially when the offender is a parent.

• Co-host reflects on the emotional toll: “To do that with your mom, with the potential of her landing in jail, is a hard decision to make.” — Advisor ([09:08])

7. Episode Wrap: Listeners Weigh In

Timestamp: [09:18–09:41]

• The hosts summarize Molly's predicament and solicit more listener advice.

  • Quote: “She’s 20 years old, 12-year-old brother doing a fundraiser, and mom is collecting the funds. ... Skimming off the top. It sounds like she’s taking half.” — Co-Host ([09:38])

• The collective mood is one of empathy for Molly, coupled with concern over the potential fallout of confronting or reporting her mom.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Molly:

  • “It’s my mom... I can’t believe... I don’t know why she would do something like that.” ([05:17])
  • “There’s just some times where she’d make really, like, weird decisions and choices... she’s the sweetest woman alive.” ([07:37])

• Laura (Caller):

  • “It’s a horrible feeling when you know it’s going on and you don’t stop it, and then it just keeps escalating and escalating.” ([05:47])

• John (Caller):

  • “This is a grown woman who’s stealing from people who are doing things to earn money... You call the police.” ([08:34])

• Co-Host:

  • “If you’re gonna get me to open the picture, you bring up Dairy Queen and ice cream. Of course I’m gonna look.” ([02:29])

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Key Timestamps

• [03:18] Molly introduces her dilemma live, requesting voice disguise.
• [03:40] Molly details her mother’s method and her inner conflict.
• [05:34] Laura shares her cautionary tale of ignoring theft.
• [06:26] Advice: Gather facts before confronting her mom.
• [08:34] John’s “scared straight” approach and legal perspective.
• [09:18–09:41] Hosts summarize and request further listener input.

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Takeaway

This candid, emotionally raw episode underscores the complexities of confronting wrongdoing by loved ones. The team balances humor, empathy, and practical advice, ultimately reminding listeners that doing the right thing often comes at great personal cost—but ignoring a problem can lead to even worse consequences.

Mood & Tone: Real, caring, somewhat humorous but anchored in real-life gravity appropriate for the situation.

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Transcript

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[Bird Show Host]

play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. It's the Bird show.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

We have been on the Bird show now for what, nine years. And in that nine years I have not received what I received the other day, which is my first naked picture from a listener.

[Bird Show Contributor]

Really?

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Oh no, don't encourage this.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, I was just gonna say, is

[Bird Show Contributor]

it the morph suit that pushed him over the edge?

[Bird Show Co-Host]

No, it was before the morph suit. But I will. I have to give kudos on the way that he, he got me in or tricked me into opening the picture. Okay. Because anytime you have an email and you have an odd attachment or you don' you know the person who's sending it, you usually just delete it. So maybe I've gotten pictures in the past that I deleted because I mean, you know, I don't know yet. There's an attachment. I don't know you, but this person, I had opened it up on on my cell phone, right? And I was checking the email, open it up on my cell phone and it was talking about how Dairy Queen is selling your favorite ice cream. Because apparently I had said on the air before, the Mayfield ice cream's banana split is one of my favorite ice creams ever. So I said, oh well that is so awesome that Dairy Queen is doing that. Right? So then I opened the attachment and it was a banana split, but there was only one banana on the plate. And then, you know, but there were two bananas on the plate with all the ice cream and everything. So I just. You are kidding.

[Bird Show Contributor]

Did you notice the nuts?

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Not in the picture.

[Bird Show Host]

So the picture that you got is not nearly as offensive because it was creative.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Well, it was still offensive, but I have to give kudos because it's like, if you're gonna get me to open the picture, you bring up Dairy Queen and you bring up ice cream. Of course I'm gonna take a look. And it's like, oh, okay.

[Bird Show Host]

It's a rite of passage, I think.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Exactly.

[Bird Show Host]

It's a radio rite of passage when you get your first naked picture.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

So I got my first naked. Not from a girl, it's from a guy. No, no, don't send me.

[Bird Show Host]

If I were you guys, I would not open any image.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

But I'm just saying if there's an attachment, we're going to delete. I'm saying, this. This guy, the way you got me to open it, I gotta give you kiddos. I just gotta say that was the smart way to do it.

[Bird Show Host]

And you know, there are dudes that are gonna take that as a challenge now. No, they're gonna take it as a challenge.

[Bird Show Contributor]

And just so you know, if you're interested in getting Birder Eye ladies to open a picture, just put in the subject line, this is a naked picture of me. You don't have to put Dairy Queen. Well, actually, I'd open a Dairy Queen picture too, now that I think about it.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Come on now.

[Bird Show Host]

All right, let's get Molly on here. She wants to be on the Voice Disguiser and she thinks that her mom is stealing from her 12 year old. Morning, Molly.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

You're on the Burt Show.

[Molly (Caller)]

Hi, guys. Good morning.

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

Hi.

[Bird Show Host]

How are you?

[Molly (Caller)]

I'm so nervous. Sorry.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Don't be nervous.

[Molly (Caller)]

So do you want me to just go ahead and let you know what's going on?

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, sure.

[Molly (Caller)]

Okay. Well, my brother's doing a fund, a fundraiser. And I don't want to go into real detail because I still live at home with my mom and it's. I mean, my brother has this fundraiser and basically people give him money to support his, you know, raising money for the fundraiser. And my mom has been kind of skimming off the top and I don't know what to do because, I mean, it's my mom and I live with her. And I mean, it's just not right. You can't take money from people. These people think that they're giving to my brother for the fundraiser and she's like. She's taking money from these people when it's supposed to Go to my brother. I can't say anything to her.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

How do you know?

[Bird Show Caller/Advisor]

Did you see her do?

[Bird Show Co-Host]

How do you know she's doing it?

[Molly (Caller)]

Well, I'm there when she gets the money. And she doesn't have people address the money to the fundraiser directly. She's having them address the money to her. So even if they give her a check, she'll cash the check in. Like the. Say you were to donate, like, $5 per mile or something. She would say you donated 250, and then she'd take the rest.

[Bird Show Host]

That's tight.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Does your brother know this is going on?

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

No.

[Molly (Caller)]

No one does. And I have no idea what to do.

[Bird Show Contributor]

Does the charity, in your opinion, need all the money that they're being pledged?

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, they being greedy.

[Molly (Caller)]

I don't think that's the point. You know, I just, like.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Right.

[Molly (Caller)]

It's my mom. Like, I can't believe. I don't know why she would do something like that.

[Bird Show Host]

All right, let's see if we can get you some advice. This is going to be a tight one, though. I really. I'm drawing a blank. 404-741. Q100. Good morning, Laura.

[Laura (Caller)]

Good morning.

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[Laura (Caller)]

She definitely needs to do some sort of intervention. Same thing happened to me when I was younger, and end result was my mom was in jail for a year and a half for stealing from her work.

[Molly (Caller)]

Whoa, whoa.

[Laura (Caller)]

Yeah, she needs to definitely do some intervention because it's a horrible feeling when you know it's going on and you don't stop it, and then it just keeps escalating and escalating. So definitely go and get her help.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Well, I wanted to see if. Just by saying, I know that you're doing that, do you think that would be enough? Well, because she obviously thinks she's doing this with nobody being aware of her taking money from the charity. But if you say, look, I know you're doing this and you just got to stop and that be it, you've

[Bird Show Host]

got two levels to it. First, it's got. It's the I've seen what you've done thing. And the second thing is I think you would if you're gonna go that far. And then. And how old are you?

[Molly (Caller)]

I'm 20.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Okay.

[Bird Show Host]

And if you're gonna go that far, I think that you. You, like, have to go to the Internet and have information on what could happen if she gets caught.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Well, it's a good plan. Come with all your facts straight.

[Bird Show Host]

Yeah, like, I'm concerned about what you're doing.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Yeah, you've got to talk to her, though.

[Molly (Caller)]

I mean, do you think that if. I mean, if she were to get caught, do you think it would be that serious? She could get thrown into jail?

[Bird Show Host]

Yes, it'd be very serious.

[Bret (SpinQuest Promoter)]

Have you.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

She's stealing money from the charity.

[Bird Show Contributor]

You said that, like, if it's a $5 donation, she makes it 250 or whatever.

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

Yeah.

[Molly (Caller)]

And I mean, it's not, you know, like. So let's say someone. It's kind of like per what you do. So let's say, like, he completes set amount of miles. It's not just $5. Like, it's a lot of money. You know, like, let's say he were to do, you know, 20 miles. It'd be $100. She'd be taking 50, and then the rest would be going to the organization.

[Bird Show Contributor]

Have you considered asking your brother to walk twice as far as.

[Molly (Caller)]

No, I haven't.

[Bird Show Caller/Advisor]

I still think if you say something to mom, she's just gonna say, I'm not gonna get caught. Because you're the only one who would know. Why not? Why don't you just take over fundraising for your brother instead of have your mom do it?

[Molly (Caller)]

I mean, I could. I could essentially do that. And it's. I mean, my biggest concern is that she would just deny it. You know, I mean, I love my mom and she's great, and she's never done anything quite like this before. But there's been a tendency in the past for her to kind of like. I mean, she'd do certain things and you'll be like, really? Is she really doing that right now? Because she's the sweetest woman alive. But there's just some times where she'd make really, like, weird decisions and choices, and it's just weird. I don't want to see my mom like that, you know?

[Bird Show Host]

Here is John. John has some advice for you. Go ahead, John.

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

Call the police on your mom.

[Bird Show Host]

On your own mom.

[Bird Show Contributor]

He's playing the three word advice.

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

You ever heard of the scared straight method?

[Bird Show Contributor]

I guess she has now, but she's not gay.

[Bird Show Host]

John, explain to her exactly what that is. She's 20 years old.

[Legal Disclaimer Voice]

Well, I'll tell you what. It happened to me, and it's happened to a lot of other people. But most people it happens to when you're very young, when you don't know the difference from right and wrong. This is a grown woman who's stealing from people who are doing things to earn money because they have to. They don't have any other way to get the money and she's stealing from them. So you call the police, you let the police deal with her in whatever the way they need to. If they have to put her in jail, if they have to find her, if they have to give her community service, whatever the, whatever the reason or whatever the punishment is, and you let her deal with it. Wow.

[Bird Show Caller/Advisor]

I think that's different when you call the police on a younger child because the, the consequences aren't as great. But to do that with your mom, with the potential of her landing in jail is a hard decision to make.

[Bird Show Host]

That's a real tough one. All right, Molly, let me put you on hold for a second, okay? All right, hold on a bunch of you guys want to talk to Molly about this? She's 20 years old and her 12 year old brother is doing a fundraiser and mom is collecting the funds. And Molly here knows that her mom is skimming off the top.

[Bird Show Co-Host]

Skimming off the top. It sounds like she's taking half.

[Bird Show Host]

So what do you do about it here?

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