Vault: She Left a Funeral Early To Meet a Man?!

Summary

The Bert Show: "Vault: She Left a Funeral Early To Meet a Man?!"

Date: May 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively and authentic episode of The Bert Show, the hosts bring listeners into a comedic and heartfelt saga involving producer Joanna and her self-imposed mission: to land an on-air interview with an A-list celebrity filming in Atlanta. The episode’s main theme is Joanna’s relentless pursuit (bordering on obsession) to track down actor Josh Duhamel—taking listeners on a step-by-step adventure full of missed connections, frantic road trips, creative problem-solving, and the ultimate, serendipitous face-to-face meeting. The show weaves in support, playful banter, and classic Bert Show charm.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joanna’s Celebrity-chasing Challenge

• Mission: Joanna set out to book Jamie Foxx, Josh Duhamel, or Katherine Heigl for the show, as all were filming locally.
  • “I said that I was going to get either Jamie Foxx, Josh Duhamel or Katherine Heigl on the radio to do an interview because all of them right now are shooting movies in Atlanta.” (Joanna, 02:39)
• She focused on Josh Duhamel after hearing numerous sightings of him around Atlanta (04:05).

2. The Near Misses

• CNN Center Confusion: Joanna missed an opportunity at CNN Center, driving circles because she didn’t realize it was a public space (03:17–03:40).
  • “She just drove around the outside of the CNN Center three times.” (Co-host, 03:35)
• Fruitless Stake-Outs: She scouted bars, hotels, and even Whole Foods on listener tips—all with no luck (04:03–04:31).

3. The Funeral — and the Dilemma

• On the day her boyfriend had Army duties at a funeral, Joanna receives a call that Josh Duhamel is at Tin Lizzy’s in Buckhead (05:18–05:23).
• She contemplates abandoning post-funeral plans to dash back to Atlanta for a potential encounter.
  • “I said, I’m an hour and a half away. You have to do this for me. You have to go up to him... I can’t let this go by. This is, like, the only chance…” (Joanna, 05:23)

4. The Race Back and The Bar Scene

• Joanna recounts a frantic road trip—limited by her boyfriend’s slow driving—while she frenetically texts her friend Susan to keep tabs on Josh (06:02–06:46).
  • “I’m yelling at him the whole time. I’m like, you need to go faster. We need to make it back to Atlanta. I need to talk to this guy. I can’t let this slip away.” (Joanna, 06:11)
• She arrives 90 minutes later; miraculously, Josh is still there (06:46–06:48).

5. Strategizing the Approach

• Joanna is nervous, underdressed for the venue, and tries to formulate a plan to grab Josh’s attention.
• With Susan’s encouragement, she sends him a Jäger bomb as an icebreaker (09:31–09:32).
  • “Buy him a shot. He'll come over and say, thank you if you buy him a shot. And I was like, that is a great idea.” (Joanna, 09:26)
• Ends up buying shots for the whole group—six in total (09:56).

6. The Encounter and The Ask

• Josh comes over to thank her; Joanna fumbles nervously but pitches the show.
  • “My name is Joanna Rodriguez. I’m a producer for The Bert Show here in Atlanta. We’re a morning show, and I really want to get you on…” (Joanna, 10:54)
• Josh is gracious and familiar with the show’s challenge, agreeing to come on for an interview (11:14–11:32).
  • “Yeah, sure, I'll come on and do an interview.” (Josh, relayed by Joanna, 11:32)
• She gives him the show’s celebrity contact number, and a member of Josh’s group confirms he’s heard about her and the challenge (12:20–12:26).

7. Reflections and Aftermath

• Joanna and the hosts debrief—celebrating her perseverance, quick thinking, and creative approach.
  • “Smart, solid, well played. Here, Bert Show.” (Co-host, 13:30)
• They ask for the one burning question: Is Josh as attractive as rumored?
  • “He is so hot. He really is. He’s such a good looking guy. Really.” (Joanna, 12:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the stress of the chase:
  • “Listening back, I’m like, man, I sounded like an idiot.” (Joanna, 03:43)
• On Joanna’s funeral attire for the bar:
  • “Did you attend the funeral? Were you dressed like you were?” (Co-host, 05:50)
  • “Yes, I am dressed. I’m very conservative… I definitely don’t look like I should be in a bar.” (Joanna, 05:52)
• When Josh agrees to the interview:
  • “Yeah, sure, I’ll come on and do an interview.” (Josh, via Joanna, 11:32)
• On the pressure:
  • “If you don’t [come on], this is really gonna hurt my hoop of my career... It’s a recession. I was like, I’ve got to do anything I can.” (Joanna, 11:10)
• On his good looks:
  • “He is so hot. He really is. He’s such a good looking guy. Really.” (Joanna, 12:56)
  • “He’s just one of those guys that would take a movie role to be ugly because he’s so good looking and couldn’t pull it off because he’s that good looking.” (Co-host, 13:02)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Joanna explains her A-list challenge: 02:28–02:47
• The CNN Center near-miss: 03:08–03:40
• Listener tip and racing from funeral: 05:18–06:46
• Arriving at Tin Lizzy’s: 06:46–07:07
• Approach strategy and buying shots: 09:31–10:08
• The encounter with Josh Duhamel: 10:46–11:44
• Post-meeting reflections and host reactions: 12:20–13:30

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Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is high-energy, genuine, and full of camaraderie and wit. Joanna’s storytelling is self-deprecating and vivid, while the cast’s laughter, teasing, and encouragement amplify the entertainment. The episode maintains the show’s signature blend of personal vulnerability and humor.

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Summary Verdict

This episode’s hilarious and touching account of Joanna’s celebrity stakeout is both a tribute to her persistence and testament to the supportive, go-for-it spirit of The Bert Show. Listeners walk away with a sense of rooting for the underdog—and a hope that sometimes, with a mix of hustle, friends, and a shot of Jäger, you really can make your own luck.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

You're on the Burt Show.

[A]

Four people that get paid to bull with each other all morning and they do.

[B]

Q100 producer Joanna has a self challenge to try to get an A list celebrity that's shooting here in on the show with us. So she was very, very close this weekend. She'll give you an update coming up in just a couple of seconds here. A reminder. Big Wicked tickets are on sale right now. Halloween is Saturday night people.

[C]

Surprise week to get your hands on those tickets right now because this, this party will definitely sell out. And plus you don't want to wait outside the gates. Like once you get there if you already get your tickets online, you just walk up to the front door, hand them, boom, you're in and you're having a good time. You're not waiting in that long line that forms outside of Compound. So go ahead online, figure out which friends are going with you. Get your tickets today.

[B]

Compound has changed its look too. You guys are going to walk in there, going to go, this is Compound right here. So we're going to do that on Saturday night. We've got 25 bartenders for you guys. We got three DJs all mixing in different rooms. It's going to be a great night. This is the place you want to be. I mean we're giving away $5,000 in a sexy costume contest. Think of the hotties that are going to be at this place.

[C]

It's going to be a great, great

[B]

party and dudes too. There are going to be a lot of guys in the contest as well. So get your tickets this week. They are available right now before this thing sells out. Q100 Atlanta Good morning Tracy. You are on the Burt Show.

[D]

Good morning. How you doing?

[B]

Good, how are you?

[D]

Good. I had called in to see when the ghost hunters were going to be on and I understand I missed them already.

[B]

You did. They were on at 6:45 this morning.

[D]

Oh, that's early. Is that going to be what time they're on every morning?

[B]

No, we're going to move it around. They'll be on every day with us this week and we'll move it around a little bit. I'm not exactly sure when tomorrow, but it won't be that early. It won't be 6:45.

[D]

Okay, good. I'm in the car so long every day. Surely I'll catch it.

[B]

The audio that they brought in today is gonna be up online later on this [e-mail] but they went to a police station in Holly Springs and they found some good stuff.

[D]

Oh, good, good. All right, well, I'll catch it later and then hopefully I'll catch it live the rest of the week.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

All right, you guys have a good day.

[E]

You too.

[B]

Thank you. Bye.

[E]

Bye.

[D]

Okay, bye.

[B]

All right, so this is producer Joanna and her own like self inflicted mission here. She's trying to build some credibility with the bird show. Right.

[E]

I decided to take it upon myself and I'm starting to figure out why. Trying to question myself now.

[B]

And it was really like to earn Burt show, you know, like stripes cred here. And what was the challenge?

[E]

I said that I was going to get either Jamie Foxx, Josh Duhamel or Katherine Heigl on the radio to do

[B]

an interview because all of them right now are shooting movies in Atlanta. So that's where we started. And then Joanna was close the other day. One of you guys called in and had a great tip for her that Josh Duhamel was at cnn.

[E]

I got a text message from Jeff telling me that he was filming in some part of downtown Atlanta.

[F]

Joanna, you're gonna have to tell him the details.

[E]

Well, I drove around. I didn't know where to go.

[B]

What do you mean you didn't know? Did you tell her exactly where he was?

[F]

Yes.

[B]

Which was where?

[F]

The CNN Center.

[B]

So you just walked right into CNN Center?

[E]

I didn't. I was afraid that he wasn't. They were gonna let me in and we were trying to figure out where to park and I didn't have any cash on me because it's like $20 parking everywhere.

[F]

She didn't know the CNN center was a public space?

[E]

Yeah, I didn't. Yeah, I thought they were gonna like stop me and tell me, what are you doing?

[F]

So she just, she just drove around the outside of the CNN center three times.

[B]

Bless your heart. That's your little heart.

[E]

Listening back, I'm like, man, I sounded like an idiot.

[B]

All right, so it didn't work out last week, but you thought this weekend was gonna be the weekend?

[E]

Yeah, I thought I had a good feeling about this weekend. Going into the weekend, I had no leads, but I just had this feeling. And on Saturday I went out looking for him. I went to the St. Regis and hung out in the bar area and he didn't show up. And so who Is he.

[B]

Are you, like, focusing on one now?

[E]

I'm focusing on Josh because he's more out and about in the Atlanta area. I've heard more people citing, you know, seeing him out.

[B]

Josh Duhamel. Josh Duhamel said, the rest of us, he has a last name, but you personally have no.

[E]

We have more on first name basis. So. JD I thought that I would be able to spot him. I got a call from a listener after the show that he was at Whole Foods. So I drove to Whole Foods in Buckhead and walked around Whole Foods. I didn't see him.

[B]

Awesome.

[E]

So. And then that Saturday night, I went out looking for him and didn't see him. So I was like, you know what? It's just not going to happen for me. I'm not going to find this guy. Well, Sunday, my boyfriend's in the army, and one of his duties in the army is that when a retired army person passes away, he has to do the present the flag to the widow. Well, he got called to do that on Sunday, and we don't get to spend a lot of time together. So I told him I go with him, you know. So we drove an hour and a half southeast of Atlanta to Thompson Town, whatever, Georgia, and we're doing this whole thing at the funeral. You know, he's presenting the flag. The funeral's over. I walk back to my car. I have a missed call from my friend Susan, and I call her back, and she says, I'm at Tin Lizzie's, and I'm sitting next to Josh Duomo.

[F]

No way.

[C]

You're kidding me.

[B]

No way. Which one? The one in Buckhead or the one in Buckhead? Buckhead.

[E]

And I said, I'm an hour and a half away. You have to do this for me. You have to go up to him. And she's very outgoing, so I kind of had a lot of faith in her that she would. That she would go up to him and talk to him. I said, you have to. You have to talk to him. I can't let this go by. This is, like, the only chance, only opportunity I'm gonna have. So we're driving back, and I'm like, all right, Jason, we're gonna drive back. Drop me off at 10 Lizzies. I mean, he may be there, he may not.

[F]

Did you attend the funeral? Were you dressed like you were?

[E]

Yes, I am dressed. I'm very conservative. You know, I have everything's covered up, and, you know, I have a dress on. I definitely don't look like I should be in a Bar, you know, so

[C]

you have the black veil.

[E]

Yeah. So we. Or maybe you do look like you

[C]

need to be in a bar going

[B]

on God, I need a drink.

[E]

So mind you, Jason drives very slow, so I'm yelling at him the whole time. I'm like, you need to go faster. We need to make it back to Atlanta. I need to talk to this guy. I can't let this slip away. Whole time, I'm Texas, my friend Susan, you better make this happen. You know, my job's on the line. This has got to happen today. So I'm, you know, I'm like, keep me updated. If he leaves, you have to grab tackle him something.

[F]

Slash his tires.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

Throw yourself in front of his cab.

[E]

So I'm texting her, like every five minutes. She's like, no, he's still here. He's still here. So I showed up at Tin Lizzie's. All right.

[B]

And 90 minutes late. He was still there.

[E]

He was still there.

[B]

Get out of here.

[F]

So you had facetime with Josh Duhamel yesterday?

[E]

I walked in, I'm sitting. I could have spit at him. I was sitting so close to him.

[B]

Well, you got to give this a play by play here. So when you walk in the door, is he sitting right there at the bar? And you. Because he's a tall dude, do you immediately see him?

[E]

No. I walk in, I call my friend because I'm like, I don't want to wander around the place looking for her. And I said, where are you sitting? She's like, I'm in the back. I walk in, I don't see him immediately. And I sit down and I look at my girlfriend and I said, where is he? She goes, right behind you. So I turn around and we're like, nose to nose pretty much. And I'm like, oh, there he is. And I turn back around. So mind you, my back is to him. So I'm like, okay, how am I supposed to make.

[F]

Who's he there with? Has he got friends?

[E]

Yeah, he's got, like a whole entourage of people.

[B]

A bunch of dudes or is he.

[E]

No, dudes and girls. Not sure you know who they are. Maybe just friends just hanging out.

[B]

And what's he dressed in at this point?

[E]

He's got a baseball cap on and just jeans and a long sleeve shirt

[F]

and a fresh coating of. Beautiful.

[E]

Yeah. And then that shiny wedding ring that kept getting me in the eye kept saying, fergie. Yeah, I was talking to you. So I was like, I have to switch seats with my friends, because if not, I'M not gonna be able to make eye contact. And that's gonna be. My only way in, is to make eye contact with this guy.

[F]

Considering you're dressed conservatively, you can't use your boobs.

[E]

I tried to pull the dress down, but it wasn't good.

[B]

I'm surprised you didn't grab some scissors

[E]

and just go, no one had any scissors.

[F]

And I was like, now, in a situation where you have to be womanly about your approach with Josh Duhamel, and, you know, it's a flirty approach, do you ask Jason to drop you off, or do you tell him to go park and come on in and join us for the fun?

[E]

I wanted Jason to go in with me. Cause he was in uniform, and I was like, that'll get his attention. You know, no guy's gonna be walking around in, like, you know, their uniform.

[F]

Remember the week of Halloween?

[E]

Oh, no. And so I was like, come in with me. And he's like, no, I'm not going into a bar in my uniform. And I was like, fine. Drop me off and scatter. Yes.

[F]

Go drive around the block till I call you again.

[E]

So he went to his friend's house. So he dropped me off. And so I'm there with my two girlfriends, which I love them, because the chances of them being at Tim Lizzies on this particular day was just awesome. I was like, this is great timing. And the fact that they were tracking him and letting me know, like, every five minutes what was going on and what his moves were. So I switched seats, and I'm like, you know, I'm facing him at this point, and I'm like, okay, now I have to figure out. I can't just walk up and interrupt them watching football. I was like, I have to have a way in. I have to have a way to get him to come over here and talk to us. And my girlfriend Susan, you know, comes, buy him a shot. He'll come over and say, thank you if you buy him a shot. And I was like, that is a great idea.

[D]

What?

[E]

You're not full of great ideas, but today you're on it. I don't know what happened.

[F]

Now, the next part of this story is gonna be very interesting because I got one text message that if I buy Josh Duhamel a shot, will you reimburse me? And I wrote back, of course. Whatever you need. And then I think I went and got in the shower or something. Then I got out and said, okay, you need to reimburse me for six shots.

[E]

Okay, six. Yeah, I Had to buy six shots. Because I was like, okay, I can't just buy one shot for him and one shot for me. And then him come over and we do a shot together. I gotta buy the whole table a shot. So we all do a shot together.

[B]

All right, so you order it. It goes to the whole. I need more play by bleed here. So you order the shot. It goes to everybody at the table.

[E]

At my table.

[B]

At your table.

[E]

Okay, so there's five of us and

[F]

one and him and one more of him. And you have the server take the shot over to him.

[E]

Yes, Server took the shot, brought the shots to us, brought one shot to Josh. And she said, the lady over here just bought you a shot. And he looks over and what was the shot of? Jager bomb.

[B]

Ooh.

[E]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

Respectful. It wasn't like a limoncello or something.

[F]

Go big or go home.

[E]

And I'm hungover from the night before. I really didn't want to drink, but I was like, I've got to, you know, I've got to do this shot. So he gets up, he walks over.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[E]

And he says, cheers. And I see that he's trying to walk back, and I go, wait, I need to introduce myself. And he goes, okay. And I said, my name is Joanna Rodriguez. I'm a producer for the Burt show here in Atlanta. We're a morning show, and I really want to get you on to come and do an interview. I told my boss that I would get you on to do an interview, and if you don't, then this is really gonna hurt my hoop of my career. And he was like, oh, I've heard of this.

[B]

Oh, really?

[E]

Really? And I said, you have? And he goes, yeah, I heard of this. He goes, aren't you gonna win something? And I go, no, I'm just gonna keep my job. And I goes, it's a recession. I was like, I've gotta do anything I can. And he was like, yeah, sure, I'll come on and do an interview.

[C]

And I go, really?

[E]

And he goes, yeah, I'll come on. So I'm like, let me get the phone number. And I can't find the phone number. I'm fumbling through. No, I'm fumbling through my phone. I'm shaking. I have never been so nervous.

[F]

Is he cool? Is he talking to you while you're looking for the number?

[E]

He's being so nice. And then my girlfriend was being so, like, I'm a nervous wreck. So she was there, like, filling him in on the details. Birch show 6 to 10am Monday through Friday. And I'm like, thank you. You know, because I didn't tell him all that. And as I'm looking for the phone number, I grab a pen, I write it down on a piece of paper and I hand it to and I said, thank you so much. And then we take the shot and he goes back and sits down.

[B]

All right, so you gave him your number or you gave him the station number?

[E]

I gave him the station number.

[B]

Is that the celebrity, the celebrity line?

[E]

Yes. Okay.

[C]

All right, John, you are close, girl.

[B]

You are close.

[E]

Then as he went back, one of the guys I heard him go, I told you about her. I told you about her.

[F]

Oh, sweet.

[E]

So I guess he's heard. He's heard about my challenge and everything.

[B]

So he knew it was coming and he was totally cool about it. And he's got the number in his hands.

[E]

Yep. Good job, Joanne.

[B]

Very good job.

[E]

Good job. And he said goodbye to me as I was walking away. Indeed. Bye. Didn't.

[F]

At some point, he indicated it would be this week.

[E]

He goes, this week? And I said, yes, this week, please. Okay, okay.

[C]

Now, everybody in this room doesn't care, but all the women listening want to know the one question that you haven't answered yet. How hot is he?

[E]

He is so hot. He really is. He's such a good looking guy. Really. He really is. Yeah.

[B]

He's just one of those guys that would take a movie role to be ugly because he's so good looking and couldn't pull it off because he's that good looking.

[F]

When Brad Pitt tried to do that movie where he'd have the big scraggly beard and everything, people are like, oh, my God, look how hot and ugly he is.

[E]

I just can't. I can't even tell you how, like, nervous. I mean, my sweat glands were in overdrive. I can't believe I was right. I was shaky. I've never been that.

[B]

You're doing great.

[F]

You know what?

[B]

So close.

[C]

Great job.

[D]

Good job.

[F]

Very good job.

[B]

Good job.

[F]

Smart, solid, well played. Here, Birdshaw.