The Bert Show: Vault – The World Traveler Couple Opens Up About Their Split

Date: March 25, 2026
Featuring: Bert Show Hosts, Co-hosts, Mandy (Guest)
Main Theme: A candid, emotional update from Mandy—one half of a world-traveling couple—from Italy, as she shares the realities of the couple’s recent breakup, its aftermath, and the hope of possible reconciliation.

Episode Overview

This episode revisits the story of Mandy and Brian, an adventurous Atlanta couple who ditched their settled lives to travel the world together. Listeners have followed not just their travel exploits but the ups and downs of their relationship. The couple recently announced their split after nearly a year on the road, with Mandy set to return home while Brian continued traveling. In this episode, Mandy, joining from Venice, opens up about the breakup, her ongoing feelings for Brian, their plans to reunite in Italy, and the uncertain future of their relationship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backstory and Emotional Setting

• The hosts recap Mandy and Brian's relationship and travel journey, noting that their communication post-breakup has mostly been via email.
• The breakup was not contentious but stemmed from diverging desires—Mandy wanted to return home, while Brian wanted to keep traveling.

"It was never, I don't like you, I don't want to be with you. It was more of a... our situation is kind of, you know, we're going separate ways."
— Mandy (05:52)

2. Mandy’s Current Situation

• Mandy is in Venice, Italy, instead of back home, awaiting a reunion with Brian and his parents.
• She admits she's "finally mostly stopped crying uncontrollably" and feels ready for an in-person conversation to clarify their future.

"We've kind of been communicating with each other by email and [...] we can talk about this in person. So I don't really know what's going to happen, but we're at least going to get together and talk about things face to face."
— Mandy (03:20)

3. Reflections on the Breakup

• Mandy enjoyed solo travel for a bit, but soon realized how much she missed Brian, sparking doubts about whether breaking up was the right decision.
• The hosts and Mandy discuss whether reuniting is driven by genuine love or simply the loneliness of being apart.

"Once that kind of wore off, I thought, oh my God, what have I done? I missed him so much. [...] It felt like it's so much more than just getting over a breakup. It was kind of a, I really messed up."
— Mandy (04:10)

4. Prospects for the Relationship

• Mandy is open to compromise: she's willing to keep traveling a bit longer if Brian will consider coming home sooner.
• She has proposed they both travel together over the summer, with the possibility to return home for grad school in the fall.

"I'm willing to stay on the road a little more if he's willing to come home, maybe a little sooner. [...] I would keep traveling, but I do want to be home by fall."
— Mandy (05:16, 07:32)

5. Brian’s Hesitance

• According to Mandy, Brian seems more guarded and wary about rekindling the relationship.

"He seems a little more hesitant and a little more hurt of or afraid of getting hurt and kind of going down this road again only to have us realize, you know, we do want separate things."
— Mandy (05:52)

6. Communication Challenges

• The dynamic of breaking up and negotiating a possible reunion over email, often from Internet cafes, adds a layer of stress and longing.

"I would imagine that you send him a message from an Internet cafe and walk four blocks and see another Internet cafe [...] and just check it again, see if he happens to be writing back."
— Host (09:01)

• Added humor as hosts compare Mandy and Brian's meet-up plans in Italy to more mundane Atlanta local hangouts.

"When I meet people, it's like, you know, at Moe’s, right?"
— Host (06:41)

7. Support Systems

• Mandy shares how her dad provided support during her travels post-breakup, and reflects on lacking a classic "breakup support group."
• The hosts joke about the universal experience of needing to process a breakup.

"We'd go to the Internet cafes and, like, I'd get an email from Brian, and whether it was good or bad, I'm sitting there, like, sobbing. My poor dad."
— Mandy (09:24)

"So, I mean, that answer is yes for every single person who asks himself, am I crazy? Yes. Everybody's crazy."
— Co-host (10:35)

8. Looking Forward

• Mandy is preparing for the big conversation with Brian in Verona ("the Romeo and Juliet city"), acknowledging both the romance and risks of their situation.
• She promises to update the show after their upcoming meeting.

"We're not only meeting Italy, but we're meeting in probably Verona. [...] It's romantic and it's sweet, but I know how they turned out. And that's not really what I'm talking about."
— Mandy (06:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of distance and perspective:
  "Now that I've had distance, I feel like the things that bugged me were really stupid. And, you know, it's like, it's not a problem at all. And I would rather be with him than not." (08:09)

• On the unique breakup context:
  "It'd be like if one of us wanted to have kids and the other didn't, you know, you can't really reconcile that." (05:52)

• Emotional vulnerability:
  "It kind of helps me, like, think about it. And sometimes, you know, to hear other people's perspective, it makes me realize, like, am I being crazy? Should I be doing this?" (10:24)

Key Timestamps

• [00:50] – Introduction to Mandy and Brian’s story
• [02:45] – Mandy joins from Venice, Italy; current emotional state
• [03:20] – Decision to meet Brian in person to discuss their future
• [04:10] – Mandy’s feelings after the breakup and desire for reconciliation
• [05:16] – Realistic views on compromise and travel/home balance
• [05:52] – The mutual (but uneven) desire to try again, Brian’s hesitations
• [06:58] – Verona meeting plans, Romeo & Juliet allusion
• [07:32] – Mandy’s proposal for traveling together before returning for school
• [09:24] – The emotional reality of relying on emails and Internet cafes
• [10:24] – Mandy reflecting on what the public processing adds to her clarity

Tone & Closure

The conversation is heartfelt and genuine, mixing emotional vulnerability with the witty, encouraging tone typical of The Bert Show. Mandy’s courage in sharing her heartbreak and hopes, while navigating life abroad and the complexities of love and compromise, comes through. The hosts oscillate between warmth, humor, empathy, and gentle skepticism, guiding Mandy through her reflections and leaving listeners rooting for a positive outcome—whatever it may turn out to be.