The Bert Show – "Vault: Listeners Share The Most Desperate Things They Did For Cash"

Aired: February 3, 2026
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, et al.)
Episode Theme:
Listeners call in to share the most desperate actions they’ve taken to survive financially, sparking a candid, moving discussion on the hard choices people make in the face of urgent need.

Overview

This emotionally charged episode focuses on stories of financial desperation—specifically, what people have done when pushed to the edge for cash. The centerpiece is a raw and heart-wrenching call from "Patty," who recounts her experience with homelessness and prostitution as a means of survival, followed by a debate around personal agency, judgment, and empathy. The Bert Show crew and callers navigate sensitive territory, highlighting both the realities and divergent perspectives on the issue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patty’s Story: Surviving Desperation

• Intro to Patty (00:07–00:19): Patty, calling with voice disguised, is nervous but willing to share her experience due to her ability to relate to others in similar situations.

• Homelessness & Decision (00:24–01:59): Patty moved to Atlanta, ended up homeless, and, unable to pay for her motel, decided to engage in prostitution out of sheer survival need.

• Notable Moment:

  "I didn't have any money to pay for the next week, so I had to prostitute. ... it's just scary."
  — Patty (00:26–00:40)

• First Experience & Circumstances (01:00–03:09):

  • Dressed in a fur coat and heels, Patty walked streets in Tucker before connecting with a man who became her pimp and took her to Buckhead, where she made the most money.
  • Patty stresses she was earnestly seeking honest work (e.g., Pizza Hut) but faced barriers like lack of ID and references.

• Duration and Exit (03:01–03:26):

  • Patty spent three months in prostitution before a client offered her a place to stay and helped her escape that life.
  • She describes the psychological toll, notably her "lowest point" after an encounter with an older man.

  Memorable Detail:

  "I was in the bathroom and the condom fell out. ... It was disgusting. I was so scared."
  — Patty (03:36–04:01)

• Impact on Present Life (04:02–05:47):

  • Now working as a secretary, married (without her husband knowing her past).
  • Patty is forever "scarred" by her experiences and would never want her future child to endure the same.

  Quote:

  "I totally was. I mean, I'm scarred. I mean, I'm scarred forever because of what I did."
  — Patty (05:25)

• On Personal Shame & Secrecy (05:44–06:21):

  • Patty admits she's never told anyone, haunted by her memories and the "sick feeling" from those days.

  Quote:

  "You just start remembering the feeling of getting back to the apartment and just scrubbing yourself. ... It's a sick feeling."
  — Patty (06:03–06:21)

• Mechanisms for Coping (06:32–07:06):

  • Patty tried not to mentally engage during encounters, distracted herself with thoughts of better times or her childhood.

• Societal Judgments (07:06–07:27):

  • She rejects the notion that people choose prostitution lightly:

  • "You don't wake up and, oh, I want to be a prostitute today. ... I think it comes because of necessity."
    — Patty (07:06–07:27)

2. Debate: Necessity versus Choice

• Angela’s Call: “It’s a Choice” (07:27–08:45):

  • Angela shares her own story of homelessness at 16, stating she worked up to four jobs and never considered prostitution necessary:

  • "So I don't think it's a necessity. It's a choice. ... did whatever it took."
    — Angela (07:29–08:07)

• Patty’s Response: Context Matters (08:09–10:13):

  • Patty counters that arriving in a new city with no support, ID, or safety net leaves people with fewer options:

  • "It's different for everybody. ... Some of us were not so lucky."
    — Patty (09:36–10:13)

• Reflection on Alternatives (10:13–10:45):

  • Asked what she’d do differently, Patty says she’d have gone back home, even if it meant feeling defeated rather than enduring the trauma of prostitution.

3. Listener & Host Reflections

• Sam’s Call: Compassion Over Condemnation (11:12–11:39):

  • Sam encourages Patty not to let guilt consume her, echoing the importance of empathy:

  • "Most people have a history they aren’t proud of, and there’s nothing you can do about it now."
    — Sam (11:16–11:39)

• Hosts Encourage Therapy (11:39–12:09):

  • Hosts suggest Patty could benefit from speaking to a counselor, acknowledging how such trauma is difficult to bear alone.
  • Patty expresses hesitation about therapy due to fear of her husband’s suspicions.

• Bert’s Reflection: The Role of Safety Nets (12:14–12:47):

  • Bert recognizes his own privilege, having a safety net if things went wrong, and urges empathy:

  • "...if everything fell apart, I would still be able to... I have a safety net. Like, my mom would be my safety net. ... Some people just don’t have that."
    — Bert (12:14–12:47)

• Discussion of Patty’s Backstory (12:47–13:13):

  • The show clarifies that Patty’s journey to Atlanta was funded with stolen petty cash due to desperation.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Patty (on the realities of prostitution):
  "You don’t wake up and, oh, I want to be a prostitute today... I think it comes because of necessity." (07:06)
• Angela (on personal agency):
  "It’s not because you can’t work... Everybody’s hiring and you can find... I could find three jobs." (08:07)
• Bert (about safety nets):
  "You just don’t think sometimes, in those terms, that some people just don’t have that... Scary, man." (12:14)
• Sam (on nonjudgment):
  "Most people have a history that they aren’t proud of—and there’s nothing you can do about it now." (11:16)
• Patty (on the lasting scars):
  "I totally was. I mean, I’m scarred. I mean, I’m scarred forever because of what I did." (05:25)
• Patty (on possible regret):
  "I just wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have came. I would have just tried to work out the problems I had back home." (10:19)

Memorable Moments

• Patty’s vulnerability and honesty about her darkest moments (throughout, especially 03:36–06:21).
• Sharp contrast and debate between Patty’s and Angela’s life philosophies (07:27–10:13).
• Empathetic reflection from hosts and listeners, reinforcing the episode’s message of compassion and understanding (11:12–12:14).
• Bert’s self-awareness regarding privilege and support systems, encouraging listeners to see beyond their own circumstances (12:14–12:47).

Segment Timestamps Overview

• 00:07–07:27: Patty’s detailed story—homelessness, survival prostitution, emotional impact.
• 07:27–10:13: Debate between Angela ("it’s a choice") and Patty ("context matters").
• 10:13–13:13: Reflections from hosts and listeners on shame, judgment, and the importance of empathy and support.

Takeaway

This episode lays bare the complexity of survival decisions under pressure. It is a nuanced conversation about judgment, compassion, and the individuality of people’s paths. Seamlessly blending raw personal narrative with broader social context, The Bert Show reminds listeners that behind every desperate act is a story—and a human being.