The Bert Show: Vault – The BEST Proposal Ever!
Podcast: The Bert Show (Pionaire Podcasting)
Air Date: January 14, 2026
Featured Guest: Matt (Grooming Service Owner / Proposer)
Summary By: Podcast Summarizer AI
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Bert Show crew welcomes Matt, a close friend of co-host Jen, who recounts in vivid and heartfelt detail what may just be the “best proposal ever.” Through storytelling that mixes laughter, suspense, and a dash of chaos (mostly thanks to Atlanta weather and well-intentioned friends), Matt describes the months-long orchestration of his engagement to Stacy—from secret parental meetings to the poetic, rain-soaked moment in the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the unforgettable celebration that followed.
Tone: Warm, funny, authentic, and occasionally self-deprecating. Listeners are brought directly into Matt’s emotional rollercoaster, with the Bert Show cast providing engaging banter and supportive reactions throughout.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Planning the Perfect Proposal
[01:24–03:32]
- Matt and Stacy had been dating for over two years and were planning to move in together. Wanting a commitment before cohabitation, Matt decided to propose.
- Matt undertook elaborate planning, involving both sets of parents and swearing various friends to secrecy.
- The hardest part? “White lie after white lie.”
“That’s been the worst part about this whole thing…Within a three-day span, my parents were flying in from Ohio…I didn’t want her best girlfriends to know because I was afraid they’d say something.” – Matt [01:18]
2. Proposal Blockers and Complications
[03:31–04:00]
- Friends’ social plans almost derailed Matt’s timeline, including an attempted surprise birthday party for Stacy that nearly overlapped with the proposal.
- Jen jokes, “You’re getting proposal blocked, man.” – Jen [03:40]
- Matt’s response: “If you could plan 17 more things within a three day span, that would be awesome.” [03:32]
3. Matt’s Unique Proposal Idea
[04:00–05:00]
- The venue: Atlanta Botanical Garden, chosen for being special yet not cliché.
- The centerpiece: Matt ordered a custom-engraved rock featuring a heartfelt poem and “Will You Marry Me?” Specifically sourced from Idaho to be extra unique.
“At the top it says, ‘Stacy.’ And it says: ‘From this day forward, you will not walk alone. My arms will be your shelter, and my heart will be your home.’” – Matt [04:29]
4. The Day of the Proposal: A Comedy of Errors and Rain
[05:00–10:01]
- Meticulous plans begin to unravel due to a sudden downpour and missing event coordinator.
- Matt’s anxiety increases, leading to some comic moments:
“I start sweating like crazy. I don’t usually sweat. ... I’m sitting there with my shirt off in front of the fan…Nothing but my boxers.” – Matt [05:23]
- The cover story: Matt invents a private chef dinner to keep Stacy unsuspecting, and improvises through everything from parking in a storm to paying for entry.
- At the Botanical Gardens, the staff phone number fails, but a chance encounter saves the secret.
5. The Magical Moment
[10:01–11:38]
- The rain clears the garden, creating an intimate, private stage.
- Matt cues Stacy to look down and discover the engraved proposal stone.
“I just looked at her and said, ‘Stace, would you just do me a favor and look down?’ … The poem was covered. All she saw at the top was ‘Stacy,’ and at the bottom all she saw was ‘Will you marry me?’” – Matt [10:04]
- Stacy’s stunned reaction:
“‘Oh my God. Is this really happening?’” – as recounted by Matt [10:25]
- With both emotional and comical touches, Matt drops to one knee, proposes, and Stacy gives a joyful, repeated “yes.”
6. The Surprise Party That Followed
[11:39–14:06]
- Blindfolded, Stacy is whisked to Kima, their favorite spot, for a party with 35 of their closest friends and family.
- The reveal:
“I pull the blindfold off, and everybody was there…Everybody turned at the same time and looked. And right when I pulled the blindfold off, they just started cheering.” – Matt [13:28]
- Stacy is deeply moved seeing her parents (flown in for the occasion) and friends.
- “Every turn she made with a new friend—‘Oh my God, you knew!’” – Bert Show co-host [13:55]
- They celebrate all night, thanks to the restaurant manager leaving them to “shut the place down.”
7. Afterglow & Reflections
[14:07–15:33]
- As a final surprise, Matt had booked a suite at the Grand Hyatt for the night.
- The next day was capped with brunch and dinner at Stacy’s parents, placing a bow on a whirlwind of surprises.
- The confession:
“The best part about this whole [thing] is that I don’t have to lie to you anymore…This has been like planning the Normandy invasion, and it was totally worth it, though.” – Matt [15:00]
- Jen on Matt’s “legacy”:
“You have set the bar too high in Atlanta. Now your friends are either gonna love you or hate you, man!” – Jen [15:10]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the necessity for secrecy:
“White lie after white lie…That’s been the worst part about this whole thing…” – Matt [01:18]
- On choosing the right moment:
“Gardens have rocks. … I found this company in Idaho, and they make rocks…They engrave whatever you want. … Poem says, ‘From this day forward, you will not walk alone. My arms will be your shelter, and my heart will be your home.’” – Matt [04:15–04:29]
- Weather chaos:
“I start sweating like crazy…Nothing but my boxers…She’s like, ‘Matt, what’s wrong?’” – Matt [05:24]
- Proposal reaction:
“‘Is this really happening?’” – Stacy (as recounted by Matt) [10:25]
- Celebration:
“Everybody turned at the same time and looked, and right when I pulled the blindfold off, they just started cheering.” – Matt [13:33]
- Relief and reward:
“The best part about this whole is that I don’t have to lie to you anymore…I know it was good lies…but this has been like planning the Normandy invasion.” – Matt [15:00]
Key Timestamps
- 01:24: Matt begins his story, setting up the proposal context
- 04:15: Matt describes the engraved proposal stone
- 05:23: Matt describes the pre-proposal jitters and weather problems
- 08:10: The event coordinator goes missing; comedic mishaps
- 10:04: The proposal moment in the garden
- 11:38: The blindfolded reveal and surprise party at Kima
- 14:07: Post-party celebration and reflections
- 15:00: Matt reflects on the experience, expresses relief
Final Thoughts
This episode is a heartwarming and hilarious deep-dive into the reality of proposal planning—how things can go sideways, the value of sentimental gestures (like custom rocks and family surprises), and the importance of resilience and improvisation. Matt’s sincerity and the Bert Show crew’s infectious energy make it a pure delight, and listeners are left with one main takeaway: sometimes, the best moments come wrapped in chaos and a little bit of rain.
“You went all out. You pulled it off, man.” – Jen [15:28]