Vault: She is being harassed by more anonymous texts

Summary

Episode Summary: "Vault: She is being harassed by more anonymous texts"

Podcast: The Bert Show
Date: June 29, 2026

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode revisits a previous listener drama involving Leslie, a caller being harassed at work via anonymous, unsettling text messages. The Bert Show team investigates the situation alongside Leslie, explores workplace bullying, and crowdsources solutions and support from the audience.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of the Anonymous Texts

• [01:32] Host: The show recaps an earlier segment asking listeners to share mysterious texts they’ve received. If a listener provides the sender’s number, the hosts reach out to uncover the story.
• [01:51] Leslie: Received an anonymous text saying, “It’s not all about you. Leave it alone.” Attempts to reply only got dismissive responses.
• [02:14] Host: Calls the number after the show and discovers it’s not a random sender—Leslie’s coworker is behind the message.
• [02:36] Coworker (via phone): “You can just let her know… it’s not a good idea to backstab your fellow coworkers. It will come back to you. And she knows what? She absolutely knows what’s going on.”
  • Memorable moment: The tone of the coworker is described as “almost threatening.” ([02:58])

2. Tensions at Work Escalate

• [03:19] Leslie: Shares workplace context—there’s an upcoming convention, and she suspects competition within her office.
  “All I’ve done is vented to one coworker, so I really have no idea who this person is who is so vindictive.” ([03:36])
• [04:00] Host: Asks Leslie about returning to work after the on-air reveal.
• [04:09] Leslie: “There’s been some developments.” Despite advice, she repeatedly called the mystery number—eventually, the line disconnected.
• She sends a bulk office email addressing the harassment, which gets her in trouble with HR (“You need to keep this drama out of the workplace, blah, blah, blah.”) ([05:31])

3. Anonymous Bullying Intensifies

• [05:31] Leslie: After the email, she’s targeted by multiple, taunting texts from other unknown numbers: “We’re watching you,” and “You better be careful—almost threatening.”
• [06:13] Advice Giver / Co-host: “That’s bullying. Did you report that to human resources?”
• [06:18] Leslie: Hasn’t, feeling isolated and unsure if even HR can be trusted.

4. Listener and Host Reactions: Boundary Between Drama and Stalking

• [06:44] Leslie: “Feels like it’s like a stalker problem.”
• [07:22] Host: Affirms Leslie’s being bullied and that this is now a real HR/workplace problem:
  “I mean, I don’t know, you really are getting bullied. Like, I never really knew what… being bullied at work is, but this is certainly one of them.” ([07:22])
• [07:47] Host: Changing her number isn’t a real fix since work would need it anyway.

5. Tech and Tactics—How Bullies Hide

• [08:08] Spinquest Promoter: “There’s websites where you can set up fake numbers and stuff.”
• [08:11] Leslie: Surprised—wasn’t previously aware of number-masking services.

6. Advice from the Hosts, Co-hosts, and Listeners

• [08:20] Co-host & Commentator: Suggests ignoring/blocking the texts as the fastest way to remove the bullies’ power:
  “If you continue to respond or call the numbers back or whatever, it just sort of fuels the fire.”
  “Take away that power—ignore it entirely.” ([08:33])
• [08:57] Listener Kathy: Recommends using reverse number lookup websites to try to identify senders and present evidence to HR.
  • Leslie and others note success is unlikely if senders use burner/temporary phones.

7. Formal Procedures and Escalation

• [09:47] Host: Strongly encourages Leslie to go to HR with thorough documentation:
  “It’s an HR problem because it really is creating tension at work for you... So it is an HR problem.”
• [10:07] Co-worker/Advice: Advises putting everything in writing and date-stamping all HR communications “so you have something in writing.”
• [10:16] Leslie: Expresses reluctance due to past reprimand by HR, but agrees it’s become necessary:
  “I think I was just sort of tentative because… I had gotten in trouble with them about the whole thing. Wanted to deal with it myself. But I mean, at this point I need, you know…” ([10:16])
• Hosts reiterate ignoring the texts is the quickest way to make the harassment stop.

8. Lighthearted Note & Wrap Up

• [10:54] Spinquest Promoter (joking): “If you find out who it is, let us know because Melissa will go up behind him with her new trombone.”
• [11:06] Host: “All right, Leslie, thanks for the follow up. Appreciate it. Good luck at work.”
• [11:09] Leslie: “Thank you so much.”

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Coworker (anonymously, via host's callback):
  “It’s not a good idea to backstab your fellow coworkers. It will come back to you.” ([02:36])
• Host:
  “Wasn’t there like a threatening tone at the end of that call, like it’s gonna get worse next time?” ([03:03])
• Leslie:
  “After this happened, I started getting texts from random phone numbers just taunting me, almost saying things like ‘we’re watching you,’ and, ‘you better be careful.’ Like, almost threatening.” ([05:31])
• Advice from Listener Kathy:
  “There are several sites you can go to that do reverse number lookups, including for cell phones. That would make it easier to go to human resources with names.” ([08:57])
• Host:
  “It’s an HR problem because it really is creating tension at work for you… it’s creating problems at work. So it is an HR problem.” ([09:47])
• Leslie:
  “I just wanted to get to the bottom of this because it was getting... to my head.” ([05:31])
• Spinquest Promoter (Humor):
  “If you find out who it is, let us know because Melissa will go up behind him with her new trombone.” ([10:54])

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Important Timestamps

• 01:32 – Introduction of Leslie’s story
• 02:36 – Coworker’s “threatening” message relayed via host
• 03:36 – Context on the workplace tension and the convention drama
• 04:09 – Leslie describes bold steps and fallout in the office
• 05:31 – Leslie’s email to the office and escalation of harassment
• 06:13 – Leslie discusses taunting, threatening texts
• 07:22 – Host recognizes Leslie as a bullying victim
• 08:08 – Disclosure of number-masking technology and strategy
• 08:57 – Listener calls in about reverse number lookup options
• 09:47 – Advice to document and formally report bullying to HR
• 10:54 – Comic relief and episode wrap-up

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Tone & Takeaways

The tone blends empathy and humor, consistent with The Bert Show’s personality—supportive of Leslie, critical of bullies, and encouraging practical action while lightening the mood with jokes. The episode underscores modern workplace bullying, technology-enabled harassment, and the importance of documentation and HR escalation.

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If you missed the episode:
You’ll walk away understanding just how quickly an office dispute can spiral into sustained harassment—and how important it is to document, report, and seek support, even when the process feels isolating or intimidating. The show’s blend of real peer advice and camaraderie reminds listeners to take such issues seriously but also not to lose sight of community and laughter.

Transcript

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[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

One morning we, we asked, look, if you got a random text and you don't know who it came from, go ahead and tell us about the text and then give us the phone number. And what we'll do is we will call that number after the show and we'll find out what the story was behind the text. Because obviously it wasn't intended for you, right? And that's when Leslie called us.

[Leslie (Caller)]

I got a text about three weeks ago and it was a number that I didn't recognize. It was a 6, 7, 8 area code. And it just said, it's not all about you. Leave it alone. What is this? So I texted back, I was just like, huh, who is this? And all that I got back was, seriously, okay.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

So at that point, she's like, a lot of you guys that have just received a random text. You know, it wasn't meant for you. But the story behind it is so intriguing that you'd really like to know where it came from. So she gave me her phone number and after the show, I called that text, text number. And it turned out that the random text wasn't so random. It was one of her co workers. So this is part of the conversation I had with the co worker.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

You know, I can't really go into any detail, but basically, you can just let her know, or she's probably listening right now that you know it's not a good idea to backstab your fellow co workers. It will come back to you. And she knows what? She absolutely knows what's going on.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

That seemed almost threatening. She knows.

[Spinquest Promoter]

She knows what she's doing.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Wasn't there, like, a threatening tone at the end of that call, like, it's gonna get worse next time? Didn't she say something like that?

[Co-worker or Commentator]

I don't know. I don't remember.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

But when we got Leslie back on the original caller, she was claiming she had no idea what this thing was all about.

[Leslie (Caller)]

There's this convention in London in the next couple months. There's this new guy there who's, like, really smooth, and it seems like he might be the one getting to go to this convention.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

Do you want to go to the conference? And you've been pitching so that you could go?

[Leslie (Caller)]

Oh, yeah. I mean, all that I've done is vented to one co worker, so I really have no idea who this person is who is so vindictive.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

All right, so that's where it stands right now. So Leslie's on hold, and while Joanne is still looking for caller 100, here. Was that voice disguised? Yeah, it was. Hey, Leslie.

[Leslie (Caller)]

Hi.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Hi. How are you?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

I'm doing fine. How you doing?

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

I'm okay. I'm dying to know what happened the day that you went into work and everybody sort of knew what was going on. It must have been so tense.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah. There's been some developments.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Okay.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Well, I ended up taking. Someone gave me the advice to take to call the number, so I did that. There was no answer. There was, like, a generic voicemail, and I kept doing it, and I tried again a couple days later, and the number was just disconnected. Just doesn't exist anymore. So I ended up sending out this bulk email to everyone at the office saying, like, you know, look, look, guys, you probably all know at this point about what's been happening. I'm sure you've heard me on the radio. I just wish that whoever is responsible for this would come forward and just talk with me directly.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Wow. You said this is a small office or a large office?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

It's a large office.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

And not to interrupt. But it wasn't the advice to call while you were at work to see if somebody's phone would ring in the office. Is that when you did it?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Which I did, but I didn't hear anything.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Okay.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Okay. So you send out this bulk email, and even those that didn't know what was going on now know what's going on. Okay.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Right. Right. And I actually ended up getting into some trouble for sending that email with Human Resources. They called me in and they. You know, they sort of told me that I need to keep this drama out of the workplace, blah, blah, blah. But, you know, I just. I just was. I just wanted to get to the bottom of this because it was getting. It was sort of getting to my head. And then after this happened, I started getting texts from random phone numbers just taunting me, almost saying things like, we're watching you, and, you know, you better be careful. Like, almost threatening.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

That's bullying. Did you now. Did you report that to human Resources?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

No. I mean, I don't even know what to do now because it feels like there's nobody on my side here. And I don't know if they're. If they're coming from.

[Leslie (Caller)]

If.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Now there's, like a. There's, like, a lot of people who are in on this or what, because there's all these random numbers now. Several different phone numbers.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

That's just weird.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

This isn't a word problem, though, anymore, though, is it? I mean, this is.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Well, that's what I'm saying.

[Leslie (Caller)]

I don't know.

[Spinquest Promoter]

It's a petty word problem.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Feels like it's like a stalker problem.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Well, what. What. What I can't believe is you didn't go back to Human resources and say, look, you know, I understand about the email that I sent out, but here's some drama in the office, too, because I'm getting bull. I mean, you're getting bullied by people in the office, you know, and they're listening.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

You know, maybe it's. I mean, I don't. Maybe it's someone on the end. Maybe it's someone in human Resources. You know, I don't know who's on my side.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Well, I mean, I just. Yeah, it's that. And that's petty.

[Leslie (Caller)]

That.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Because they're listening, whoever's doing this, and they're.

[Spinquest Promoter]

They're gonna. And they're gonna start sending you messages as soon as you get off the radio.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Yeah, that's just. That's cowardly, you know? I mean, you don't even know what's going on. You're getting these text messages. You're getting bullied.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

I mean, I don't know, you really are getting bullied. Like, I didn't. I never really knew what sort of, like, the definition of being bullied at work is, but this is certainly one of them.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

Definitely. I mean, phone number. I mean, I know that's a pain

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

with everybody that, you know, I certainly thought about that. It seems crazy to have to do that, but if it goes on like this, I may have to.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Well, the problem there is that you're still going to have to give your phone number to somebody at work.

[Leslie (Caller)]

Right.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

And I just don't know who this. I just don't know who's behind this. Well, why not call those numbers that you're getting the text from? Why? I have called a few of them and just got nothing. I don't know if they're like. If these are, like. I don't know if people are just, like, calling from random phones or what. Or texting from random phones.

[Spinquest Promoter]

There's websites where you can set up fake numbers and stuff.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Oh, really?

[Leslie (Caller)]

Really.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

I didn't know that.

[Spinquest Promoter]

Me neither.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

It's just.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Well, I think we now know where they came from.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

I think if you continue to respond or you call the numbers back or whatever, it just sort of fuels the fire. I think you have to be kind of the bigger person at this point and just start hitting delete all the time.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

They send them to your spam.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

That may be the only way, really, to take away that power is to ignore it entirely.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Absolutely. Because I'll drive them nuts.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

Mm.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

So I think what would happen if you ignored them is they'll get worse for a little while.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Cause they're demanding attention.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

Right. But if they don't get any response from it, it's gonna become boring.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Then they gotta go away. Right.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

So unimpressive.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah, yeah. Just forget about it. Just stop talking about it, you know?

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Yeah.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Here's Kathy with some advice for you. Hey, Kathy.

[Leslie (Caller)]

Hey. On the website, there are several sites you can go to that do reverse number lookups, including for cell phones, and you can find out who the cell phone numbers belong to. That would make it easier to go to human resources with names.

[Spinquest Promoter]

Those things never work.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Do those work for, like. Let's say somebody went out and got just like a pay phone, you know, like a phone that you pay for as you go along?

[Leslie (Caller)]

No, not usually, because you don't have to sign up for those. But a lot of times people aren't that smart and they just use their cell phone.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Yeah, I think I would. Because they're winning. If you feel like you can't trust anybody in the office. Like when you said, oh, I don't know who's behind this. I don't even know if human resources, just like they're saying, be a bigger person and do the proper channels go through the. I cannot believe you have not gone to human resources and said, look, this is what's going on. I don't know what this is, but it's obviously somebody that's threatened by you, so you shouldn't turn around and be threatened by them.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

It's an HR problem because it really is creating tension at work for you. I mean, you don't know where the messages are coming from, but you feel like it's a follow up to somebody that you know is from work. So it's creating problems at work. So it is an HR problem. Even if you go and you just report the numbers and what's happening, it's still something.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Yeah.

[Co-worker or Commentator]

I would put it down on paper and I would, I would. If you go talk to hr, I would follow it up with an email so that you have something in writing that's date stamped.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Right?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah, yeah. I, I mean, I, I think that you're right about that. I think I was just sort of tentative because they had, because I had gotten in trouble with them about the whole thing. Wanted to deal with it myself. But I mean, at this point I need, you know.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Well, at least from their perspective, they could see why you would send that email out now.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Right?

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

You know?

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's gotten a little bit crazy.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

Even if you go to human resources and you tell them what's going on and it gets back to whoever that it is at work that you went to hr and they may continue to text message you knowing that it's bothering you, but after a while it's going to go away if you just ignore it and.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

Just ignore it.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Yeah.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

That's so silly.

[Spinquest Promoter]

And if you find out who it is, let us know because Melissa will go up behind him with her new trombone.

[Advice Giver / Co-host]

That's right. That's right.

[Spinquest Promoter]

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[Advice Giver / Co-host]

It's community service.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

All right, Leslie, thanks for the follow up. Appreciate it. Good luck at work. All right.

[Leslie (Caller, continued)]

Thank you so much.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

All right, Bye.

[Leslie (Caller)]

Bye.

[Show Host (The Burch Show)]

The Birch Show.

[Leslie (Caller)]

Hey, everybody.

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