The Bert Show – "Vault: Parents Call In To Share Their Experience Having 'The Talk'"

Episode Date: November 19, 2025
Podcast Host: The Bert Show (Pionaire Podcasting)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the anxieties, awkwardness, and real-life strategies parents experience when faced with having "The Talk"—conversations about sex and puberty—with their preteen children. Parents call in to share their stories, concerns, and approaches, with hosts and co-hosts offering commentary, advice, and humor throughout. The tone is open, honest, and lighthearted, providing both solidarity and practical tips for listeners in similar situations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Parental Anxiety Over Having "The Talk"

• Caller Tanya (Mother of an 11-year-old son) expresses her nervousness about broaching the subject, highlighting her son's shyness and discomfort.
  • "He just freaks out and I know that he's just getting to that age...It just stresses me out big time." (01:40)
• Tanya worries about what her son might be learning—or mislearning—from peers at school. She references her own experience having a child young and doesn’t want her son to repeat this.

2. The Challenge of Starting the Conversation

• The hosts discuss how daunting it can be to find the right approach.
  • "I don't even know where you start the conversation. You sit him down, you go, there's something serious I gotta talk to you about." (02:06)

3. The Influence of Peers and Misinformation

• Tanya highlights the desire to prevent her son from getting misinformation at school.

  • "You can get pregnant standing up, that kind of stuff...It worries me just like any other parent out there." (03:51)

• The hosts share a memorable story about a parent telling his daughter she could get pregnant by sitting on a boy’s lap, underscoring how misinformation can persist if not properly addressed.

  • "...he saw his daughter on the lap of a guy at the mall. So he didn't want that to happen anymore. And she went...really thinking that was the truth, you know?" (04:12)

4. Gender Dynamics in "The Talk"

• Caller Leah (Single mother of an 11-year-old daughter) discusses her plan to have "The Talk" after hearing her daughter’s friend has already explained oral sex.
  • "Her best friend told her what explained the oral sex was to her, which was really upsetting...But then this morning she showed me some diamond earrings an 11-year-old little crush boyfriend gave her." (05:49)
• The hosts ask whether talking to a son is different than talking to a daughter.
  • "Is the talk between mother and daughter way different than the talk with mother and son?" (06:48)
• Leah anticipates it might be easier to talk with her daughter than with her son, especially as a single mother.

5. Creating a Comfortable Environment

• Leah shares her strategy: taking her daughter for a walk where they can speak privately, hoping to avoid embarrassment.
  • "We go to the park and walk. So I'm thinking that might be a good place because there won't be other people around...we can just kind of do our little own thing and chat while we're walking." (08:37)
• The co-hosts emphasize not approaching the conversation from a place of discipline or disappointment to foster openness.
  • "I don't know if I'd start that way because that already puts her on the defense for getting in trouble." (09:04)

6. Using Educational Resources

• Caller Anne recommends books as conversation starters:
  • Where Did I Come From?—explains the basics with cartoons, focusing on conception and birth in a straightforward way.
  • What's Happening to Me?—covers physical changes for both boys and girls, again with simple cartoons.
  • "I gave them to my kids, said, here, I want you to look at these. After you look at them, we'll talk if you have questions." (10:19)
• The hosts and co-hosts reminisce about their own learning experiences and how impactful educational books and media can be, specifically mentioning Judy Blume's books.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tanya (on her poker face):

  "I didn't freak out when he told me about the girlfriend thing. Trust me, I had the poker face. But inside I was like, oh, you little pervert." (02:49)

• Leah (on parental openness):

  "Her friends would actually probably come to me before they go to their own parents." (09:28)

• Co-host (on parental duty):

  "That is your job, that you are a parent...So you have to make these tough. You have to have these conversations to make the tough choices." (04:51)

• Host (on impact of books):

  "I still kind of remember the pictures in my head. So it is impactful, you know." (10:52)

• Leah (on observing behavior changes in preteens):

  "All of her friends are already turning 12. They've all started their periods...I would like to see—I don't think when I was 11 and 12, that was what was on my mind." (08:13)

Important Timestamps

• 01:33: Start of content—first caller (Tanya) shares parental worries
• 02:06: Hosts and callers discuss difficulty starting "The Talk"
• 03:51: Concerns about schoolyard myths and misinformation
• 05:49: Leah describes hearing about her daughter's exposure to information from peers and receiving a boyfriend's gift
• 06:48: Discussion of talk differences with sons vs. daughters
• 08:37: Leah shares her walking strategy for having the conversation
• 10:10: Caller Anne recommends helpful books
• 10:52: Host describes lasting impact of educational materials

Summary Flow

• Parents express deep-seated anxiety and humor about having "The Talk" with their 11-year-olds.
• Callers recount their children’s innocence, exposure to misinformation, and early romantic experiences.
• The hosts and listeners offer support, share strategies (including using books and neutral environments), and reaffirm the importance of parental responsibility, no matter how awkward the discussion.
• The community discusses the vital need to be open, non-judgmental, and approachable so children feel safe coming to their parents for the truth.
• Listeners are left with concrete book suggestions and encouragement to follow up after these difficult but crucial conversations.