Vault: She makes her plea to Atlanta for her job

Summary

The Bert Show — "Vault: She Makes Her Plea to Atlanta for Her Job"

Air Date: June 8, 2026
Episode Theme:
A live, dramatic competition for a job raise, where listener "Sally" pleads her case on-air, pitting her work ethic against a co-worker for whom listeners ultimately get to vote. The episode captures workplace politics, the challenges of working parents, and how public perception can tip the scales.

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Episode Overview

• Main Purpose:
  The episode centers around Sally, a listener who, after a failed joint raise request with her coworker, is now forced to publicly campaign for a raise — effectively putting her job on the line and leaving the decision up to The Bert Show's Atlanta audience. The episode dives headfirst into office drama, personal values about work, and the pitfalls of comparing coworkers’ personal lives in the workplace.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin of the Drama (01:02–02:22)

• Host Bert recaps the saga: Sally and a coworker marched into their boss’s office, threatening to quit unless both received a raise.
  • The boss countered: Only one person gets the raise — so they must compete.
  • Sally and her coworker are each to plead their cases live; listeners vote for who gets the raise.

Quote:
"Their thought was, look, if we go in there and we tell him, look, you get—give us both a raise or we're both leaving, he'll freak out. ...Except...I'll tell you what, one of you gets the raise. I don't have money for both." (Bert, 01:15–01:35)

2. Sally’s Initial Attitude, Strategy, and Early Missteps (02:23–04:12)

• Sally is put on the spot by the show's cast and is ready with her pitch, expressing calm confidence.
  • Admits the process made her reflect on what kind of employee she is.
  • Hosts jokingly warn her that the audience already knows her, so judgment may not be kind.
• Sally lightly insults her coworker and listeners fueling the tension.

Quote:
"If the people that are listening are smart and know a good strong work ethic...it will work out just fine. If it's people like that girl, that crazy lunatic, then yeah, then I'll definitely have a problem." (Sally, 03:42–04:01)

3. Sally’s Pitch for Why She Deserves the Raise (04:31–10:03)

• Sally focuses on her punctuality, attendance, and strong work ethic:

  • Never been late in two years, never had a raise or asked for one.
  • Rarely calls in sick, has testimonials from colleagues, and claims to generate money for the company in ways outside of her role.

• Sally repeatedly contrasts herself with her coworker, especially:

  • Not being a parent — implying parents are more distracted and less dedicated.
  • Her coworker’s frequent phone calls to check on her children.
  • Critiques coworkers who take smoke breaks.

• Hosts push Sally, sometimes mockingly, to clarify her stance and provide concrete examples.

Quotes:

• "I don't have kids, unlike my other coworker who has kids, which I think makes me a better employee because I don't have to be making personal phone calls once an hour..." (Sally, 05:11–05:27)
• "My focus when I'm at my job is my job, it's not a million other things like ballet recitals or soccer games or missed lunches..." (Sally, 08:23–08:42)

4. The Audience Rebukes Sally (10:12–14:31)

• Several angry listeners call in, many of them mothers, expressing outrage at Sally's comments.
  • Feel Sally is attacking working parents and smokers.
  • Suggest she’s unprofessional for making her coworker’s parenting the focal point.
  • Several say not only does Sally not deserve a raise, she should be fired.

Notable Quotes:

• "She totally lost my vote. And I hope she's lost every mother out there." (Caller Tabitha, 10:38–10:47)
• "Not only should that heifer not get the raise, she should get fired... you are absolutely awful. I cannot believe you had the audacity to insult mothers." (Listener Lisa, 14:01–14:31)

5. Reflection, Wrap-up & Closing Jabs (14:31–16:34)

• Sally, feeling attacked, still maintains she’s the better employee because she's more available.
• Hosts note that Sally never truly pitched her value as an employee, focusing instead on others’ shortcomings.
• With the audience so turned against her, the hosts joke the other coworker hardly needs to try the next day — a simple "hello" should suffice.

Quotes:

• "You've spent more time talking about other employees than you have about yourself. I still have no idea if you deserve a raise or not." (Bert, 11:24–11:32)
• "I think you're gonna be plenty available after Monday." (Bert, 16:15–16:24)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |:----------:|-------------------------------------------| | 01:02 | Recap of Sally's raise ultimatum | | 02:22 | Sally joins live for her pitch | | 04:38 | Sally begins listing her qualifications | | 05:00–08:42| Sally details her work habits, attacks coworker as less focused due to parenting responsibilities | | 10:12–14:31| Angry audience calls in, rebuking Sally | | 14:31–16:34| Hosts and Sally reflect, plan next steps |

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sally on parents at work:
  "I think that makes her...a little less of an employee because she's always having...one foot out the door because she has kids." (05:23–05:36)
• Host Bert's critique:
  "You've spent more time talking about other employees than you have about yourself. I still have no idea if you deserve a raise or not." (11:24–11:32)
• Caller Lisa's takedown:
  "You are absolutely awful. I cannot believe you had the audacity to insult mothers..." (14:01–14:31)
• Bert’s parting shot:
  "I think you're gonna be plenty available after Monday." (16:15–16:24)

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Real, funny, biting, and tense — typical of The Bert Show’s authentic, sometimes irreverent style.
• Key Themes:
  • Navigating workplace competition.
  • The dangers of comparing coworkers’ personal situations.
  • The power (and peril) of public opinion in the digital age.
  • Cautionary lesson: Focus your pitch on your own merits, not on others’ faults.

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Next up: Sally’s coworker makes her case. The outcome? Likely a lesson in humility, empathy, and perhaps the cost of oversharing.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

All right, so if you haven't been listening to this whole storyline, it started a couple of days ago. We'll do this quickly. Sally called us up and she told us that she was going to walk into the boss's office, you know, shoulder to shoulder with a co worker and they were gonna demand a raise together. And their thought was, look, if we go in there and we tell him, look, you get give us both a raise or we're both leaving, he'll freak out. I mean, it's a big part of the office and he's gonna give us both the raise, do anything to keep us. So she does that and the boss says, well, that's a pretty interesting offer right there. Except I'll tell you what, one of you gets the the raise. I just don't have money for both of you guys, so you're in competition for it. So she comes on the air to tell us that, and the boss calls in and he makes this suggestion.

[C]

She seemed like she was having so much fun with this. I thought I would try to appeal to Atlanta. My idea was that both of the girls would appeal to your listeners on the radio and then have your listeners decide who gets the raise.

[B]

Okay. We're totally game for that.

[D]

Sure.

[B]

So today we will talk to Sally, who will make the pitch for her job. And then tomorrow we will get the co worker that Sally now dislikes so much because she feels like she sold Sally out. And then on Monday, we'll have a decision made on who gets the raise. So we're putting it in your hands. Here's Sally. Good morning, Sally.

[D]

Hi. Good morning.

[B]

Good morning. How are you?

[D]

I'm good, I'm good. I'm all ready.

[B]

You're ready to go with this?

[D]

Yes.

[B]

The stakes are high here now. I mean, before when you called us up, you were just sort of telling us about your plan, but now your job's on the line.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, my job's on the line. And I think it's been an interesting process because it makes me more aware of what kind of an employee I am.

[E]

And now you not only need to impress your boss, but you've got to impress all of our listeners too. So you have a big job ahead of you.

[F]

It's an easy audience.

[D]

Yeah, but I don't think it's going to be that hard.

[B]

Really.

[D]

No, I mean, it's pretty simple and I laid it out and I know I can't do my, my PowerPoint presentation in front of, you know, you right there, so. But I've laid it out really nice and I've outlined it.

[B]

I think, I think what puts you at a disadvantage here, and I said this the other day too, is that people know you already, so they've already formed an opinion if they like you or not. And the other girl is sort of at an advantage because we're not going to know anything about her except her pitch. So you know what I'm saying?

[D]

Right.

[B]

So when they make their decision, yours has. It's just a little bit more at stake.

[D]

Hopefully it'll be your. The smarter audience that is judging.

[E]

Well, see, then you just had our audience judge you, just there warming everybody up to you. Really?

[D]

No. But if the people that are listening are smart and know a good strong work ethic when they hear it, then. And it will work out just fine and I have nothing to worry about. If it's people like that girl, that crazy lunatic, then yeah, then I'll definitely have a problem.

[F]

Oh, you mean Val, the girl who's called in to comment?

[E]

Sweet pea.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

If I was your agent, I would say less commentary and just get right to your pitch.

[F]

You know what? She doesn't need Val on her side because she's confident in her abilities. And that's when it all comes down to it. That's what matters. So I say, talk all the crap you want.

[D]

I mean, wasn't Jeff confident in his ability?

[F]

Yes.

[D]

Right, right.

[F]

I remember I spent a whole day going, screw Val. Sweet pea.

[B]

Well, let's hear what you have. I mean, the floor is yours now, so make your pitch. And this is the only chance you get at it, so go for it.

[D]

Okay. In the two years that I've worked there, I've never been late. I have never had a raise in two years, nor have I asked for a raise in two years. Let's see. And I'm never sick more than two days in a row in two years.

[F]

Okay.

[D]

So I've only needed to call in, like, you know, if I'm really under the weather or just once. And then I have testimonials from three people that I work with directly who will write or go and talk to my boss, how I've helped make their life easier, and I've helped them make money for the company. Directly make money for the company, because that's not part of my job. And I don't want to give too much away. And I don't have kids, unlike my other co worker who has kids, which I think makes me a better employee because I don't have to be making personal phone calls once an hour to go check up on my kids. She's always doing that. She's always just, like, having to make a quick call. And I think that makes her, I don't know, a little less of an employee because she's always having. She basically has one foot out the door because she has kids. Her focus isn't really on work, clearly.

[F]

Do you think she has missed days when she's been perfectly healthy, but she's had a child under the weather?

[D]

Oh, yeah, of course.

[F]

That's ridiculous.

[E]

Keep going.

[D]

So, I mean, I think I'm a more tightly focused employee, and I think I deserve the race.

[F]

Let's go back to this. This parent who's in your workplace. So do you think there's times where she's, like, been late to work because her kids had to go to the dentist or something?

[D]

Oh, I mean, clearly. And she's always. She's running in late and, you know, her kids might have forgotten lunch, so she'll run by the school or something like that. Or sometimes she has to leave early because they'll have a recital. And I don't think it's. I don't think it's fair. Right. And where I'm always, I'm there on time. I've never been late and I stay until I have to. And like I said, I'm not just chit chatting on the phone and my kids, you know, every hour, so.

[B]

Good. Good mom.

[D]

I'm doing my job.

[B]

Good mom actually works against her in this situation, is what you think.

[D]

No, I'm not looking. I'm just telling you how I'm a good employee and I'm not spending time on the, on the phone call. I'm not going to make, you know, a huge comment about a mom.

[B]

I think it's too late for that.

[E]

You said that you stay at the office until you have to. Do you ever go above and beyond and stay late?

[D]

I mean, if I'm asked, I guess, you know, I can't recall anything like that at the moment, but I would.

[F]

Have you ever gotten like a personal call at work or made a personal call at work?

[D]

Sure, yeah. Well, you know, I'll shoot off a quick personal text, but I don't, you know, I won't spend, you know, 10 minutes on the phone each time my kid calls. She's got, I think she has two kids.

[B]

That's the thing that really. You think it feels like that sets you apart from her, is that you are. I think your words were tightly focused and she can't be because she has two kids. That's, that's really working in your favor.

[D]

You think I'm. Of course. Because my, the focus when I'm at my job is my job. It's not a million other things like ballet recitals or soccer games or missed lunches or, you know, you know, she. It's not as important to her, I guess.

[E]

Sally, are you, are you ever on any of the social networking sites during work? Are you ever on Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or anything like that?

[D]

Yeah, once in a while. I'll pop on, but I won't, I won't spend a lot of time.

[E]

How much time a day would you average that you spend on those sites? Social networking?

[D]

20 minutes maybe. Over the course of the day. Just kind of changing my update, Updating your status.

[E]

Okay.

[F]

This bitch trying to take my raise.

[E]

And you think that that's probably a lot less time than your co worker spends maybe taking a phone call from her kid.

[D]

Yeah. Or people that go outside and have to smoke.

[E]

Does she do that?

[D]

She doesn't, but some of the other employees do that.

[B]

Yeah. She smokes with her kids outside.

[D]

Perfect.

[F]

You know, What? I'm with her on the smoking thing.

[D]

To be honest, all these people, they think it's okay for them to leave whatever they're doing at that moment and walk outside. And they keep taking these five, ten minute smoke breaks all throughout the day. And I don't do that. I don't get up from my desk and make a load of personal phone calls. I'm there. I'm way more. You're tightly focused and Tightly focused. Hey, I think I'm a more fully realized employee.

[B]

A more fully. Real. Fully what?

[D]

Realized employee.

[E]

Realized. What does that mean? Exactly.

[B]

Go ahead. Hold on. I had her on hold. She was yelling so loud you could hear through hold. Go ahead, Sally.

[D]

Yeah, just like I said, I'm just. I'm 110% present when I'm there. I'm. I'm available.

[F]

Like, the boss realizes she's there.

[B]

Tabitha, good morning. You're on Q100.

[C]

Good morning.

[D]

Good morning. I just want to say that her comment on having kids, that. That is such a strong.

[C]

She totally lost my vote.

[D]

And I hope she's lost every mother out there.

[C]

I hope she's lost their vote, too. Right.

[B]

Thank you.

[E]

I got a feeling she might be right on that.

[B]

I got a feeling.

[D]

I think it's ridiculous.

[F]

I think you're.

[B]

Let's let it go with that. What's ridiculous?

[D]

I mean, like I said, I'm at my desk, I'm doing my job, and I'm not. I'm not on the phone all the time just seeing how my kids are. I think, you know, I'm not wasting. I'm not wasting all this, you know, the company's time.

[E]

You are.

[D]

And so just because you know, and other. When other people are. I don't think that's fair.

[B]

You've spent more time talking about other employees than you have about yourself. I still have no idea if you deserve a raise or not. Hey, Rhonda. Good morning. You're on qr.

[C]

Good morning, Bird.

[D]

How are you?

[C]

How are the rest of y'? All?

[B]

We're doing okay. We're getting by this morning.

[C]

Val, you're not getting a friend. That's her name. That's not Val. Val's sweet pee chick. I forgot the child's name. Sally, you are not getting wrecked. Let's start off like the lady just said, you've offended every mother in the city of Atlanta. Second, you offended every smoker in the city of Atlanta. And clearly, if you hadn't gotten a raise in two years, unless you work for the government and Due to the recession, you're not getting anything. That's all I have to say.

[B]

My guess is Rhonda is not voting for you.

[E]

Rhonda is fully realized.

[F]

She's not gonna vote for her.

[E]

Fully realizes that the other girl is getting her vote.

[B]

That was a tightly focused call.

[F]

You know, that's how I ended up with all my contract situation. I just, you know, Bert's got kids,

[B]

and you're clearly tightly focused.

[F]

I'm seriously, like, I don't know if you guys realized this, because that's like a keyword, an action word, but Bert's got kids, and they're all the time.

[E]

But you have a Twitterverse, which takes up more time than Bert with his kids.

[F]

Right. Which is my point. Bert's a bad parent. Do you want a bad parent representing the station?

[B]

Hey, Tracy. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[C]

Not only should that heifer not get the raise, she should get fired, because like the previous owner just said, she just defended every better. And I don't smoke, but every smoker and I have news for I don't spend. Yeah, I call and check on my kids when I'm 16, but she's still my baby, will always be my baby. And yeah, I check on her, but not to the tune of 20 minutes a day. I mean, if I'm doing something to where I can call and check on the kids if I need to, I do. If they're sick, yeah, I stay home with them. I am married. You know, have the husband at home. He makes about four times what I do. So, you know, if the kids are sick, if one of us is staying with them, it's going to be me. I mean, that's. That's what a mother does. I mean, you know, she is just. She has made me absolutely furious.

[F]

Okay.

[B]

I don't think you're getting her vote either.

[E]

I'm gonna get some reason I don't

[B]

think doesn't look good.

[E]

I'm gonna guess we don't even need the other co worker on. I'm just gonna say it out loud. She can just come on and say hello. If anybody mom can call up and be like, I really like my job.

[B]

If the coworker doesn't come on tomorrow, I think the vote would probably be zero to zero come Monday. Good morning, Lisa. You're on Q100.

[C]

Oh, my God, Sally, you are so not a good employee. You've pitched nothing about the job that you perform. You're unprofessional at best. And not to mention, besides Being not a good employee, you are not a good person. You are absolutely awful. I cannot believe you had the audacity to insult mothers. And you have the audacity, audacity to sit there and you spent the whole time talking about how your other co worker is not a good employee. I mean, no boss in his right mind would ever give you a raise. And honestly, you should lose your job.

[B]

Sally, how do you feel about that?

[D]

I think it's completely ridiculous. And I would love the listeners who are business people to call in and that want good employees and not other mothers. I think it's totally ridiculous. Why can't smart people be calling in?

[E]

Well, let's. Well, let's do that.

[B]

I'm still waiting for one to call in on the line that you're on.

[E]

Yeah, let's just take calls from people who like Sally. Like, we can clear everybody else out. Let's just see who likes you.

[F]

It's been a rough morning already.

[D]

And you know what? I made my, you know, like I said, I've never been late and I would stay when I asked because I can and I've never asked for a race. And because obviously here in my company, they want people to be a little bit more proactive. And so I just had the courage to. To go and ask for it. So it doesn't mean that I haven't deserved one, but I'm just telling you, and I have made the lives of people that I work with easier and I've helped make the company money by helping them and doing a good job.

[F]

I have a technical question for Wendy. If we're waiting for people who agree with Sally to call in, can we go ahead and do, like, Entertainment buzz and the 8:30 newscast? And can Brittany do her show while we're waiting for those or do we just have to sit here quietly?

[E]

We'll wait till next year because it

[B]

may take a while. All right, Sally, if that's the best you got, then good luck to you. We have your co worker coming on tomorrow morning who basically, really, at this point, I think just has to say nothing.

[E]

Just say hello.

[C]

That's it?

[E]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, your strategy was terrible this morning. It was terrible. You offended so many people that you need to vote for you to get this raised.

[D]

I know, but I didn't mean to offend anybody. I was just pointing out how I'm more available. Okay.

[C]

All right.

[B]

I think you're gonna be plenty available after Monday. All right, we will talk to your co worker and then we'll catch back up. With you maybe on Monday or Tuesday. Okay.

[D]

All right. Thank you.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Bye.

[D]

Bye.

[F]

You know this is the talk of the whole office, right? And you know that there's other parents in the office besides Sally's coworkers.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[F]

This is the Burt Show.