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Unidentified Parent
Are you really buying a car online on AutoTrader right now?
Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget.
You can really have it delivered or pick it up. I think kid is walking up the slide.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Really?
Unidentified Parent
Autotrader, Buy your car online. Really?
Are you really buying a car online on AutoTrader right now?
Really?
At a playground?
Yeah, really? Look at these listings from dealers.
Wow. Your search can really get that specific. Really? And you just put in your info and boom, car's in your budget.
Mom needs a second.
Honey, you can really have it delivered.
Really? Or I can pick it up at the dealership. One sec, sweetie. Mommy's buying a car.
Child
Mommy, look.
Unidentified Parent
I think your kid is walking up the slide.
Kim Zolciak
Kyle.
Co-host or Interviewer
Again?
Unidentified Parent
Really? Auto trader. Buy your car online. Really?
Kim Zolciak
The bird show.
Radio Show Host
Hi. Kim Zolciak is on from Real Housewives of Atlanta. Hey, Kim.
Kim Zolciak
Good morning. How are you guys? Good.
Radio Show Host
What's going on?
Kim Zolciak
Same old, same old.
Radio Show Host
Well, not really. It's never the same old same old with you.
Kim Zolciak
You're right. Actually, a little bit of drama. You know, just read the. Read the Internet.
Radio Show Host
Yeah. We are respecting Kim's request. There are some rumors online right now that Kim will not be part or will she be part of the next season of Real Housewives of Atlanta? And they're doing some negotiating stuff, and lawyers are talking to lawyers. So we are respecting that. And we're not gonna ask her about an obvious question this morning.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Are you not telling us the whole truth? And will you be on Real Housewives of Atlanta? Are you the next Atlanta housewife? Is that what's happening here?
Radio Show Host
Well, this is what I gotta ask you about here, Kim. And I'm not B.S. and, like, I'm really sort of. I'm leaning towards not being on this show. But Princess, who you know really well, she's a. I love her.
Kim Zolciak
I actually love her.
Radio Show Host
She's awesome. It's this woman that I met in Dolvett's gym one day, and I didn't know that she was a creator of reality TV shows or producer of TV shows at all. But, you know, I see her in the gym. We exchange highs and stuff, and we've hung out a couple of different times, but I had no idea that she did this kind of thing. And she is putting together a show now called Boys Club. Boys Club Atlanta. And basically, it's just like five or six guys that are socially connected in Atlanta. They want to follow you around with cameras, and they want to see how you live your lifestyle. And it would be me. My friend Dolvette has been asked to consider it. My friend Justin has been asked also, Kenny Burns, who you guys know, I've brought him in here before. He's very well known in the hip hop and urban world. Crucial. Crucial. He might be part of it also. And there's some names that she threw around that I didn't know. But I'm really on the fence about being part of this thing. Really, Based on what I see on your show. Like, I don't want to put my. I don't think that. And I said this to you when you were in studio. I don't think that I could be as strong about the criticisms and as you have been.
Kim Zolciak
I'm just telling you, you should just run like hell.
Radio Show Host
Don't do what you're saying.
Kim Zolciak
Yeah, I think that the first. The first year that I did the show, I was oblivious to what I was doing. You know, I had no idea how successful it would be. I really didn't know what I was doing. It was just kind of fun. Exhausting, but fun. And so then I looked so terrible the first year. I had to come back last year and really redeem myself publicly. But I think, you know, you have to weigh your options. There's pros and cons to everything, but it's really hard. I'm stronger than I've ever been. I have no. But it's taken a toll on my children. I mean, you have kids. The kid part is really, for me, the hardest. My kids are. You know, they have their moments where they come home, mommy, why does it say this? And some of the stuff, you know, is so outlandish, and my kids can't comprehend it.
Radio Show Host
But your personality is so different from mine. Like, when I see you arguing with the girls and you're, like, raising your voice and you guys are getting into these fights. I can understand how that could affect your kids. That's just not in my nature. So I.
Kim Zolciak
It's not in mine either. They bring out. I mean, I became the devil. I mean, they just, you know, they just keep pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing, and, you know, you just. Eventually you snap. But they're gonna air that. I mean, what about those little moments where we're having a great time? I mean, they're just gonna edit it, and that's what you sign up for, literally whatever that they want to air. And you're gonna get angry at somebody at some point, and they're gonna capture it on film. And I can guarantee you that's Going to make it to air. I can tell you what will make it to air and the second I do it and what won't.
Radio Show Host
Really now, you know, like, as soon as it comes out of your mouth, you're like, oh, no.
Kim Zolciak
Right. But you need to, you know, if you want to do a business. Like, you know, I just looked at it this year and was like, you know what? I'm going to do a wig line. I'm going to do a book. I want to do my music. So if you. If you're smart about it, it's a great platform to do anything that you want to do in the future or start a company business. It's like free, you know, prep. So if you can keep that in the back of your mind and do it, that's great. But your relationship with your wife, I mean, it takes everything from family to friends. I mean, it's definitely difficult.
Co-host or Interviewer
In what ways do the producers create the drama? How do they fuel it?
Kim Zolciak
I don't know that they necessarily fuel it, but they put you in situations that you normally wouldn't be in. I mean, I would rather take a bullet than have dinner with Sheree. And I have to go have dinner with Sheree sometimes, which, you know, we sit there and then we. Of course, we argue because we don't want to be there, but that's part of the show. It's like, you have to do. You're not going to watch the show. If I had it my way, I would just chill by myself in my house, but I can't do that. They wouldn't have a show. So I'm in situations that I don't really want to be in. And then you can tell.
Radio Show Host
How much time did it take away from your family? Because part of my struggle now is I never feel like I'm spending enough time with my sons. So how much time do you have to spend away from them that you weren't before?
Kim Zolciak
I'm never. I've been in Atlanta four days out of 45. Whoa.
Radio Show Host
I can't do that.
Kim Zolciak
I take my kids. You know, we're leaving to the Bahamas on Sunday with Candy, actually, and it's just gonna be us. No phones, no laptops, no nothing. And I think that my girls. I was home before, so now it's been really hard. My daughter's had problems in school. I just pulled her out of private school, put her in public. I mean, I've had all this stuff going on. You know, you're. You know, you doing the morning show, and then, you know, Being on a television show, I worked last year 16, 18 hours a day. Lisa and I both ended up in the hospital from working so much. This year was a little different. We had a better. It was more organized, but still, you know, six, eight hours a day.
Radio Show Host
What is the work? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Like, I mean, they're shooting here in Atlanta. I'm working on the show most of the day. So what is the additional work? Do they put you into tasks that you have to do each day?
Kim Zolciak
No, you just, you know, come up with stuff. Like, you would, you know, maybe schedule a meeting. I don't know, say you're writing a book. Right. And you, and you wouldn't write a book for another three months, but they would have you say, you know what, go call, you know, your publisher or your lawyer. Let's have a meeting with your lawyer and talk about the book deal tomorrow at 3 o'. Clock. And that's what you would do. It's pretty much your life, but you would. You tend to move a little.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
It's your life and it's your life. And their schedule.
Kim Zolciak
Yeah.
Radio Show Host
When Stacy and I were talking about this the other day, I said, I mean, think about this, Stacy. Zero secrets. Okay?
Kim Zolciak
So saying, I mean, everybody has skeletons in their closet, right? Just go ahead and sign yourself up for the fact that anything that you've ever done and the negative stuff will come out way. I mean, long before the positive ever. So, I mean, look, they're saying I'm a lesbian now. It's a trip. I mean, yesterday, they're just. It's just unbelievable to me. Every, every day it's something for really. And you're related with your wife. I mean, it's just, you know, but honestly, it's just not worth it. I'm not married and I'm trying to juggle my kids. But you have a marriage and it's hard. You know, girls that you dated in the past, I mean, you just name it, it'll come out.
Co-host or Interviewer
Or guys that she dated in the past or, yeah, you have to.
Kim Zolciak
And stuff that you may not know. It's just a lot, you know, you already have, you know, a great show in the morning. I just think that you really need to really, really think about it. Princess is great, but Princess cast the show. She cast all of us on, you know, Housewives. She's selected all of us, and then she's out. And then, you know, whoever would film you guys, Princess is gone. So as great as she is, you can hang out with her at the gym.
Radio Show Host
Here is Summer with a comment. Hey, Summer.
Kim Zolciak
Hey.
Summer
Well, Bert, I don't think that you have a lot to worry. Well, I don't know why you're getting advice from Kim. Because you're not, like, you're not a douche, like, you know what I mean? Like, it's not going to affect your children the way that it affects her because you're not as into drama as she is. So maybe you should get advice from Candy.
Radio Show Host
Well, that's what Kim's saying also is that, I mean, she normally on, on a day to day is not a person that gets into this kind of drama. But the, but the show sort of brings it out of her.
Kim Zolciak
You don't know me, so maybe you
Summer
sure don't say that.
Kim Zolciak
I'm not into drama. It's a show, number one. But I'm talking about personally what goes on behind closed doors and off camera. I'm not talking about. You're watching a show where, you know, I mean, Nini and I were going to LA today together. So, you know what I'm saying? It's a show. That's what the show wants is drama. They're gonna pick it if you watch it, I'm sure. I mean, we're the highest rated cable show for a reason. They're not airing Nene and I, you know, baking cookies, you know what I'm saying? Unless it's lost footage. So they air me baking cupcakes with candy and adding too much oil instead of water. I mean, I'm just saying personally, off camera, a show's a show. It's fun, enjoy it. You don't like it, don't watch it. But I'm talking personally. In your marriage, it takes a toll. You're never home, you know, you're capturing stuff on film. It's stressful. You know, my parents are like fame over family. Where have you been, Kim? Because you can't just. Once you do a show, then you have press and then you got to do all these interviews after that. So, you know, you film for four months and then after that comes a whole bunch of other stuff. You know, the Internet. I mean, every day I'm on the phone with lawyers and publicists and agents trying to juggle whatever somebody's blogging about. I think the blogging, if the blogging didn't exist, I don't think it would be this hard. Really? Wow.
Radio Show Host
So it almost sounds like, you know, I was thinking of it as a great business move for the show, but it sounds like, if it's pulling me away from the show every day, that inevitably our product, the Bird show, would actually suffer from that.
Kim Zolciak
Look at all the. Think about this. Ready? Look at Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. They do a reality show. They're divorced. Look at Travis Barker and Shanna Mogler. They're divorced. So I'm just telling you from my own experience. I mean, my life wasn't cookie cutter, but it was definitely normal. I mean, normal as it could be. But it was great. It was. I had healthy relationships with people. Now it's difficult, and it changes your life forever.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Even you and Big Prabha broke up, didn't you?
Kim Zolciak
Yeah, Jeff.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
I mean, yeah, you just brought up the healthy relationships. And I remember that yours had fallen apart.
Kim Zolciak
I had, you know, as normal as it could be. And I was with him for two and a half years before the show, and my girls and we traveled and we did all these great things. And then just the stuff in the press. I mean, he called me yesterday, popping off at the mouth, and I'm, you know, because of the press, I'm like, why are you. Out of all people, why are you reading the press? Why are you believing all the stuff that they're saying? So, but then it changes your life. I've ended so many of my friendships over the last year, and I've had a lot of people come in only to find out that they want something to gain. People, you know, you have to always look at people to see what they're trying to do and what they're trying to gain now. Whereas before, I just live my life. Nobody cared if you were my friend. You're my friend for real. Now it's like, do you want to be on the show? What do you want? Everybody wants to make my wigs. Everybody wants to write my book.
Radio Show Host
So let's say. Let's say you were arguing for the show. You had nothing but great things to say about it. Argue for me why I should do it.
Kim Zolciak
The only reason why I would tell you to do it is, like I said, if you want to do something in the future, like if you want to start your own company or something of that nature, other than that, really, I just don't know that there's anything that's so positive other than the fact if you can make an impact. I mean, you and your wife have a good marriage. You are a great dad, from what I've heard. I've never seen you with your children, but of that nature, if you think you're strong enough and you can make an impact with people like me with the wig thing. I really feel like I've changed people's views on that, and that was really my goal. If you can change people or touch somebody's life, showing them, however, that you've been married for however many years, et cetera, you can have a business, you can be a husband, a father, et cetera, then that's great. But there's nothing else I can say other than the negative is just. It supersedes the positive.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Bert does want to put out a song called Late for My Date.
Kim Zolciak
Oh, my gosh, if I could use
Radio Show Host
your beats, that would be great because
Kim Zolciak
I'm a little lazy, you know, I'm just, you know, you can have anything. You can have it all. You can have.
Radio Show Host
Hey, Belinda, what's going on? Hello? Oh, hold on one sec. It really helps if I pick the phone up.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Details.
Radio Show Host
Hey, Belinda.
Kim Zolciak
Hey. Don't do it.
Radio Show Host
You don't think.
Child
I mean, you know, and you talk about, you know, your kids all the time and how much you love your kids and how much you love your wife. And I just, I just think that, you know, there's other ways if, you know, you want to start businesses or you just see, you know, what is the motive behind it. I mean, you're such a family oriented person. I mean, they're just gonna, you know, yesterday you were talking about how sad you were because your dog was gonna get fixed. I mean, you know, they're gonna rip you apart. I just don't think you should do it.
Radio Show Host
And they are critical about every little
Kim Zolciak
thing, critical about everything. They'll talk about.
Radio Show Host
Oh, no.
Unidentified Parent
Oh, let's see if that was on film then.
Kim Zolciak
You and Kim. Yeah, you and Kim are having a beef.
Radio Show Host
Can you grab her again? I just don't, you know, I don't know what the positive again, would be like. I just want to ask him one more thing is that nobody really knew who she was before the show started. So there was this sort of intoxication with celebrity, and now she's got it. So, A, I want to know if she loves it, but B, we have, you know, there's a certain amount of celebrity that goes with just being on the radio. And I'm cool with that level right there. Like I told these guys earlier, you know, if I had to be.
Co-host or Interviewer
It's a total different ball game.
Radio Show Host
It's a totally different ball game. Like, I like going into restaurants and people coming up to us and saying, I listen to the show. I love that. I can call the Hawks right now. And I can get tickets if I want. I like that part of the celebrity, and I'm okay with it. Just staying at that level. Like, I don't need any more.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
You like saying, like, you're really gonna charge me for these appetizers? I don't pay for tickets on the 200 level. Stuff like that, right?
Kim Zolciak
You get all that stuff. And you know what's funny? I was in Lenox Mall, and my girls, we used to go every Saturday, like, out to lunch and shop and do all this stuff. And my daughters looked at me last weekend and said, mom, we haven't been to the mall. We haven't done anything like that in so long. And I said, you know what? Let's go. So I went. I put a hat on. Sunglasses. Forget it. I mean, it took me umpteen hours to get through the front door. And then what happens is you people Twitter. They're like, kim's in the Nike store right now. Kim's here. So then it just becomes this. I mean, it's insane. My kids, after 30 minutes were so over it. It's difficult. It's really difficult.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
Why go through all the trouble of the sunglasses and stuff? Why don't you just get a different wig?
Kim Zolciak
Yeah, I've thought about that. My mom said that, too. I should. But you know what it is? It's my voice. Honestly, I don't know what it is about my voice, but I hear it all the time. I was in the bathroom at the airport and I was talking to my girlfriend. I was like, jen, hurry up. We're going to miss our flight. And they're like, is that Kim from the Housewives? I was like, what? And that's. It's more my voice, really, I think, than my looks. Because half the time, people will tap me on the shoulder from behind.
Unidentified Friend or Co-host
And it's also carrying a glass of white wine. Everywhere you go in the Nike store with a glass of white wine, people are like, wait a minute, that's Kim's.
Kim Zolciak
You know, and you'll drink, you know, a lot more. Really. I mean, you know, people wonder. I mean, Nene and I are like, we need shrinks next year or something. I can't, because the wine's not cutting it. Last year it worked. This year, no.
Co-host or Interviewer
Well, if you've got the shrink, then they may want to follow you into that.
Radio Show Host
Yeah, I've already got the shrink, so, I mean, they can't go into that. They can't.
Co-host or Interviewer
Maybe they can.
Radio Show Host
Are the cameras in your house all the time?
Kim Zolciak
You Know, last year, they installed them in my kitchen and living room, like, where I would be filming the most permanently. And my cabinets are just. I'm looking at them right now. There's still tape up there. They left them in here permanently this year. No. And they were also in my cars permanently last year, which, when you're in the car and the cameras supposedly aren't on, you still can't be in your car for months. It was crazy in my car. I would tell my kids, no, we can't talk about that right now. Or we don't want. You know, don't do that, because you don't know if they're on or not. And the thing with the cameras is, if you're miked, for example, and you know you want to talk to your wife about something and you say, can you guys shut my mics off for a minute? A, they won't, or B, if they tell you they will, they probably don't,
Radio Show Host
and they can use that, and you don't have any say at all after that.
Co-host or Interviewer
Once you've already signed it all away,
Kim Zolciak
you literally sign your life away. Like, anything that they want. I mean, they'll make fun of your couch, your shoes, your voice, your hair. I mean, you name it, they do it. And it takes its toll emotionally. Like I said. I mean, I'm ten times stronger. But last year, it was so incredibly difficult for me, trying to be a mom, trying to deal with the press and all the hurtful things that they were saying. This was a better year for me. But you just got to really be strong and know exactly who you are and not let it take its toll. It's just. I promise you, it's not worth it. I think that you. In a year from now, I would talk to you, and you would just be like, you know what? I really made a mistake.
Radio Show Host
Okay. I appreciate your honesty. Thanks.
Co-host or Interviewer
What do you think are the things about you and your family they would pick on the most?
Radio Show Host
Oh, God, it could be a lot of stuff. I'm more protective of my family than I am me. It's like, go ahead, take shots of me. But, you know, Stacey's been volunteering at an addiction clinic, you know, so, you know, they're gonna ask her about her addiction to pain medications for a while there, which she's pretty open about, but people get very critical about that. You know, there are arguments that Stacy and I have that very, very personal stuff, you know, like her relationships with my. My friends. Some of the friends that would be on the show might be at jeopardy. You know, there's stuff that dolvette does that Stacy's not totally on board of, you know, and they're gonna expose all that. The relationship between she and her mom sometimes gets tense from time to time, you know, and it's not bad. But I can see when the cameras are on it how it'd be totally blown out of proportion. And I don't know that I want that for them.
Co-host or Interviewer
And hayden wants to be an actress. You were saying earlier you feel like they would pigeonhole you as stage parents.
Radio Show Host
Could be stage parent thing. You just don't know how they're gonna edit it. So I don't know.
Kim Zolciak
That's my daughter brielle. You know, she's. They want her on disney channel right now, and she's so excited about it. I'm so scared to do it. But that's what I'm saying. When you think about it in the future, you know, if I wasn't on real housewives of atlanta, how long would it take me to get brielle where brielle wants to be? Brielle roped hardy for the part. I mean, brielle's doing incredible. She's 12 years old and getting a paycheck from itunes. So, I mean, you can look at it, you know, one of two ways. But really, I mean, with your kids and stuff, it's just really. It's just difficult. And like I said, nobody's perfect. And everybody has skeletons. I don't care what anybody says. And they're gonna judge you. Everything you do, the way you walk, the way you talk, everything. I mean, they make me look like I drink like a fish, smoke like a chimney.
Radio Show Host
You do?
Kim Zolciak
Well, I mean, no, I don't.
Radio Show Host
I'm just kidding. All right, we gotta run. Kim, thank you a lot. I really, really appreciate the advice.
Unidentified Parent
Thanks, kim.
Radio Show Host
All right, so if you read between the lines there, Kim says, you know, I'm hearing her say, don't do it.
Kim Zolciak
I said, reading between the lines, she pretty much blatantly said, no, absolutely not.
Radio Show Host
The bird show.
The Bert Show: Vault – Kim Zolciak Gives Bert Advice About Doing Reality TV
Original Air Date: May 28, 2026
In this engaging episode, Bert and the team invite Kim Zolciak, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, to share hard-earned wisdom about the realities of participating in reality TV. Bert is considering joining a new male-focused reality show in Atlanta and seeks candid advice from Kim on how such an endeavor could affect his career, personal life, and family. The conversation is raw, honest, and laced with humor, offering listeners both entertainment and a reality check on the reality TV industry.
Kim’s Immediate Reaction:
"I'm just telling you, you should just run like hell." [02:47]
The Cost of Fame:
"It's taken a toll on my children. I mean, you have kids. The kid part is really, for me, the hardest." [02:51]
"My daughter's had problems in school. I just pulled her out of private school, put her in public." [05:28]
Editing and Public Image:
"They're just gonna edit it, and that's what you sign up for—literally whatever that they want to air." [03:40]
Time Demands:
"I'm never—I’ve been in Atlanta four days out of 45." [05:20]
No Secrets:
"Zero secrets. Okay?" [06:32]
"Just go ahead and sign yourself up for the fact that anything that you’ve ever done and the negative stuff will come out way long before the positive ever." [06:38]
Producer Manipulation:
"I don't know that they necessarily fuel it, but they put you in situations that you normally wouldn't be in... Of course, we argue because we don't want to be there, but that's part of the show." [04:45]
Editing and Privacy:
"Last year they installed [cameras] in my kitchen and living room... They left them in here permanently." [15:20]
"If you want to talk to your wife about something...they probably don't turn [the mics] off." [15:57-16:03]
Public Scrutiny:
"Every day I’m on the phone with lawyers and publicists and agents trying to juggle whatever somebody’s blogging about." [08:13]
Changed Relationships:
"I've ended so many of my friendships over the last year, and I've had a lot of people come in only to find out that they want something to gain." [10:14]
Lasting Effects:
"It changes your life forever." [09:39]
Fame vs. Privacy:
"I like going into restaurants and people coming up to us... I’m okay with it just staying at that level. Like, I don’t need any more." [13:33]
Constant Recognition:
"Forget it. I mean, it took me umpteen hours to get through the front door [at the mall]... people Twitter, 'Kim's in the Nike store right now.' So then it just becomes this. It's insane." [13:58]
Business Platform:
"If you want to do something in the future, like if you want to start your own company... It’s a great platform." [11:04]
Impact Potential:
"If you think you're strong enough and you can make an impact with people, like me with the wig thing...showing them...that you've been married for however many years, etc., then that's great. But...the negative...supersedes the positive." [11:04-11:54]
Immediate Advice:
"I'm just telling you, you should just run like hell."
— Kim Zolciak [02:47]
On Being Edited:
"They're just gonna edit it, and that's what you sign up for—literally whatever that they want to air."
— Kim Zolciak [03:40]
On Producer Influence:
"They put you in situations that you normally wouldn't be in... Of course, we argue because we don't want to be there, but that's part of the show."
— Kim Zolciak [04:45]
The Toll on Family:
"It's taken a toll on my children... My daughter's had problems in school. I just pulled her out of private school, put her in public."
— Kim Zolciak [02:51; 05:28]
On the Pressure:
"You literally sign your life away. Like, anything that they want. I mean, they'll make fun of your couch, your shoes, your voice, your hair. I mean, you name it, they do it. And it takes its toll emotionally."
— Kim Zolciak [16:03]
Balancing Fame & Life:
"My daughters looked at me last weekend and said, 'Mom, we haven't been to the mall. We haven't done anything like that in so long.'... I put a hat on, sunglasses. Forget it."
— Kim Zolciak [13:58]
On the Final Decision:
"I promise you, it's not worth it. I think that you—in a year from now, I would talk to you, and you would just be like, 'You know what? I really made a mistake.'"
— Kim Zolciak [16:36]
The conversation is informal and candid, with a mix of humor and sobering truths. Kim Zolciak’s tone is compassionate yet blunt, guiding Bert with the hard-earned lessons of her own experience.
Kim Zolciak’s core advice is clear and emphatic: reality TV can be a great business platform, but the emotional, social, and familial costs are high, often outweighing the benefits. Her honesty provides valuable context for anyone tempted by the spotlight—and for Bert, a compelling reason to think twice.
[Summary excludes advertisements, show intro/outro, and non-content sections. All quotes timestamped for context and clarity.]