The Bert Show – Vault: Interview With TLC

Date: October 30, 2025
Podcast Host: Pionaire Podcasting
Featured Guests: T-Boz, Chilli (TLC), with references to Left Eye (Lisa Lopes)
Episode Theme:
An open, deeply personal, and often lighthearted conversation with T-Boz and Chilli of TLC about balancing motherhood and fame, coping with the loss of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and the making of their album 3D.

Episode Overview

The Bert Show welcomes T-Boz and Chilli of iconic R&B group TLC for a candid interview. The conversation weaves between family life, the everyday reality of superstardom, and the emotional aftermath of Left Eye's passing. Despite the heavy subject matter, the mood is authentic, with warmth and humor underscoring even the hardest topics. The group shares personal anecdotes about raising children on tour, handling grief in the public eye, and the creative legacy Lisa Lopes left behind.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Expecting a Somber Interview, Finding Joy

[02:15] – [02:40]
The interviewer admits initial concern that the interview would be "depressing" due to having to discuss the loss of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and the group’s hardships, but quickly realizes “we could not have been more wrong here,” as TLC brings positive energy and humor to the studio.

2. Family First: Motherhood in the Spotlight

[02:41] – [04:55]

• The members debunk the idea that they're strict Hollywood health fanatics, joking about junk food and raising children.

• T-Boz shares the practical struggles of balancing a music career and motherhood:

  "It is a big struggle, especially for me...but you know what? I deal with it because it would just be worse to just work, work, work and not ever see him." – T-Boz ([03:17])

• Chilli emphasizes prioritizing family:

  "We always say we put family first and our job second. Because we can reschedule things around our jobs, but you can't reschedule, you know, the first time Chase walks or the first time Tron speaks." – Chilli ([03:43])

• A humorous anecdote about the “Tooth Fairy” and inflation:

  "My son is talking to my Goddaughter...he's like, mom...the tooth fairy is gonna bring me either five or ten dollars." – T-Boz ([03:54])

3. TLC’s Down-to-Earth Reality

[04:29] – [04:55]

• Despite their fame, the hosts are surprised to hear TLC live "normal, average" lives—late-night grocery runs, cooking for their kids, and managing everyday mom life.

  "She was mad cause we were working at 12 midnight. She still had to go to Kroger so she can get Tron's lunch." – Chilli ([04:51])

4. Open Wounds: Talking About Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes

[04:56] – [09:53]

• Approaching the topic of Lisa’s passing, the interviewer admits to lacking a personal frame of reference for such loss.

• The women describe Lisa’s constant presence in their memories and workspace:

  "Not a day goes by...TLC has been like our whole world. ... we've seen each other sometimes more than our family. Like, we were just like TLC. ...So, yeah. Not a day goes by." – Chilli ([05:30])

• TLC members describe their relationship as beyond business—“sisters,” not just coworkers.

• T-Boz shares the pain of seeing Lisa’s mother cope and struggling to imagine her loss as a parent:

  "I don't like to say was—she is our sister, and I know how we feel. So...I really feel bad for her, you know, on a whole nother level." – T-Boz ([06:06])

• Left Eye’s charitable nature and free spirit are highlighted:

  "Lisa gave to others before she gave to herself. Don't give the shirt off her back. ...She didn't care what anybody thought. There's something in life that she wanted to do. She would do it." – Chilli ([07:29])

Notable Pop Culture Tribute

• Missy Elliott’s music video “Work It” features an airbrushed image of Lisa, showing the late member’s continued impact on fans and artists alike. ([06:54])

5. Keeping Lisa “With” the Group—Finishing 3D

[07:58] – [09:53]

• TLC explains that Lisa’s vocals were already included on the new album before her death, but listening to her raps during production was so emotionally taxing they avoided it:

  "...we couldn't even listen to it because it was just too hard. But it's weird, like, now listening now, it's like, she was there, you know what I'm saying?" – T-Boz ([08:12])

• The group discusses feeling Lisa’s spirit during album work, with T-Boz relating the blend of denial and presence.

• Chilli reflects on the challenge of having their grief be so public:

  "You never think your personal life is going to be mixed in with your job...it's like your feelings are just out there for everybody to see." – Chilli ([09:33])

6. The Album 3D—A Group Tribute and Renewal

[09:53] – [11:21]

• TLC moves the conversation to something positive: the new record 3D.

• The album’s title was Lisa’s idea:

  "3D is like three dimensions of TLC. This album is all of our favorites." – Chilli ([10:06])

• T-Boz underscores the record’s importance as a return and a statement of unity:

  "This album was to show everybody that we never broke up. We are sisters, we love each other. ...Whatever you guys love about us individually, you gonna really love the album because that's what we put on there." – T-Boz ([10:24])

• The song “Turntable” is singled out as a tribute to Lisa:

  "There's a certain song that is special to both of us because even though the whole album is a tribute to Lisa, this one is dedicated to her and it's called Turntable." – Chilli ([11:08])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On balancing work and motherhood:

  "We can reschedule things around our jobs, but you can't reschedule, you know, the first time Chase walks or the first time Tron speaks." – Chilli ([03:43])

• On Lisa’s legacy:

  "Lisa gave to others before she gave to herself. ...She didn't care what anybody thought. ...She was, like, a real free spirit." – Chilli ([07:29])

• On grief in the public eye:

  "You never think your personal life is going to be mixed in with your job...it's like your feelings are just out there for everybody to see." – Chilli ([09:33])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:15] – Interview begins with TLC
• [03:17] – T-Boz discusses balancing work and motherhood
• [03:43] – Chilli talks about putting family first
• [04:56] – Transition to discussion of Lisa Lopes's death
• [05:30] – Chilli on Lisa’s daily presence in their lives
• [07:29] – Chilli on Lisa's giving spirit and individuality
• [08:12] – T-Boz and Chilli on including Lisa’s vocals in 3D
• [09:58] – Announcement and discussion of 3D album
• [11:08] – “Turntable” as a tribute song to Lisa

Episode Takeaways

• TLC’s resilience is grounded in their sisterhood and commitment to family—even as global superstars, their “normal” lives continue.
• The loss of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes left a profound emotional void, but her spirit is honored in their music and memories.
• The 3D album stands as both a tribute and a testament to the group’s unity, strength, and creative evolution.

This episode offers both fans and newcomers an intimate look behind TLC’s public image, balancing vulnerability, humor, and tribute in a powerful reflection on loss, love, and legacy.