The Bert Show – Vault: Interview With Jane Fonda

Podcast: The Bert Show
Episode: Vault: Interview With Jane Fonda
Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Bert and The Bert Show Cast
Guest: Jane Fonda

Episode Overview

This special "vault" episode brings legendary actor and activist Jane Fonda into The Bert Show studio for a candid, wide-ranging conversation. The discussion covers Fonda's departure from acting, her ongoing activism—particularly with the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (GCAPP)—her lifelong struggles with self-acceptance and bulimia, as well as her perspectives on women's empowerment and aging. In a heartfelt closing, Fonda surprises the show with a joyful personal announcement about Bert and Stacy’s first child.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Jane Fonda on Leaving Acting and Finding New Purpose

• No Regrets About Leaving Acting

  • (02:27) Bert asks if she misses acting; Fonda emphatically says no:

    “I test myself. I go to a movie with a part in it that I could have played, and I say, do I miss this? No, I don’t.”

  • Instead, she finds creative fulfillment in her real-life work helping people transform:

    “The thing that I find creative about acting is that you get inside the skin of another person… I’m doing that now, but in real life—working with young people and their parents to figure out, how can you get them to change?” (02:41)

• About the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (GCAPP)

  • (03:17) Fonda describes her role in GCAPP:

    “That is my creative, inspirational life… because it took me 60 years to get my act together. That’s why. And I don’t want other girls and boys to have to wait so long.”

On Personal Struggles and Generational Patterns

• Vulnerability in Personal Relationships

  • (03:36) Fonda opens up about her internal struggles:

    “If I really am who I am and say what I really feel, he won’t love me anymore… You can be a very strong and powerful woman, but behind closed doors you can lose your voice. It’s generational and cultural… and it can be changed.”

• On Being Considered Sexy at 60

  • (04:17) Bert poses a question about Fonda being named one of the sexiest women in film in her 60s. Fonda replies:

    “I think it’s a compliment… other women and girls [should hear] that somebody in their 60s could be considered sexy. But—feeling sexy is what’s happening inside you.”

  • She continues:

    “The more you own yourself and…the more you bring yourself into the activity, the sexier.” (04:34)

• The Late Arrival of Self-Acceptance

  • (04:42) Asked when she first accepted herself:

    “Sixty. Yeah. Isn’t that sad?”

    • She adds encouragement:

      “Never give up. It’s never too late. I’m writing my memoirs and it’s a happy ending.” (04:48)

On Bulimia, Family, and Perfectionism

• Struggling with Bulimia

  • (04:53) Bert references Fonda’s battle with bulimia. Fonda confirms she’s writing about it:

    “You got it. Yes. And I’m writing all about that, too.”

  • (05:07) On the breaking point:

    “For me, the final straw was I either continue with my disease or I die. And I don’t mean necessarily die physically… I had a marriage, two children, a life that I felt had meaning… I had to make a choice: go for the light, go for the darkness.”

• Would She Have Had the Same Struggle Outside Hollywood?

  • (05:36) Fonda:

    “Yes, absolutely. You know why? Because I was never told that I was okay… The only time my parents ever commented was to say I was too fat… Parents have to let their children know that they love them unconditionally, no matter what.”

  • (06:07) The lesson she learned:

    “What happened at 60 was I learned good enough is good enough. You don’t have to be perfect.”

A Surprise (and Emotional) Announcement

• Jane Fonda Makes a Surprise Congratulations

  • (06:12) Jane Fonda shifts gears with a surprise:

    “I am so proud to be the first to tell Atlanta and the first to publicly congratulate Bert and Stacy. They are expecting their first child in early November.”

• Bert and Stacy Reflect on Pregnancy Journey

  • (06:34) Stacy shares a scare in early pregnancy, but the doctors gave the all-clear.

    “It was some kind of cap… What he really thought was that it was a fold in the placenta, but he also said it could possibly be a molar pregnancy…” (06:56)

    • Turns out all is well:

      “We just went back Monday, and it wasn’t there… Perfect pregnancy. Be sure to tell everyone and be happy.” (07:05)

    • Emotional reaction:

      Bert: “Once they tell you that there’s a possibility that you will not have the child, it’s amazing how quickly I became so attached to that picture.” (08:44)
      Stacy: “We’d only known two weeks and all of a sudden I was like, I don’t care… this is what I’m having.” (08:57)

• Jane Fonda Shares Her Own Grandparent Experience

  • (07:46) Fonda humorously describes interpreting a sonogram for her daughter and learning the baby’s sex from a “stud muffin” image.

    “If that’s not a stud muffin, it’s a third leg. So I knew early on.” (08:18)

Notable Quotes

• “If I really am who I am and say what I really feel, he won’t love me anymore… You can be very strong publicly, and lose your voice privately.” – Jane Fonda (03:37)
• “The more you own yourself…the sexier.” – Jane Fonda (04:34)
• “Never give up. It’s never too late. I’m writing my memoirs and it’s a happy ending.” – Jane Fonda (04:48)
• “For me, the final straw was: I either continue with my disease, or I die… I had to make a choice: go for the light, go for the darkness.” – Jane Fonda (05:07)
• “What happened at 60 was I learned good enough is good enough. You don’t have to be perfect.” – Jane Fonda (06:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:27 – Jane Fonda on not missing acting and current work
• 03:17 – Fonda describes the mission of GCAPP
• 03:36 – Personal struggles and generational silence in relationships
• 04:17 – On being considered sexy after 60
• 04:42/04:48 – Achieving self-acceptance at 60; “Never give up”
• 04:53–05:36 – Long-term struggle with bulimia; family impact
• 06:12–07:14 – Surprise pregnancy announcement and journey for Bert and Stacy
• 07:46 – Fonda’s “stud muffin” sonogram story

Memorable Moments

• Honest reflections: Fonda’s candor about deeply personal issues—her sense of self-worth, relationship dynamics, and her experience with eating disorders—anchors the episode with authenticity and resonance.
• Generations of acceptance: Fonda bridges her life lessons to her advocacy, emphasizing that hope and self-worth are fundamental in breaking cycles for future generations.
• Surprise and celebration: Fonda joyfully announces Bert and Stacy’s pregnancy on air, sparking a moment of collective vulnerability and gratitude from the show.
• Warm, humorous storytelling: Both Fonda and the hosts infuse depth with wit, as seen in her “stud muffin” grandbaby anecdote and the show’s banter about gender reveal traditions.

Conclusion

This interview with Jane Fonda is both insightful and moving, blending sharp self-awareness, humor, and humanity. Fonda’s journey from the stage to activism and her hard-won personal revelations speak directly to issues affecting women across ages and generations. The show closes on a high, with laughter and genuine celebration—a reminder of the enduring impact of real conversations.