The Bert Show — Vault: There's A Twist To The One That Got Away
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, et al.)
Main Guest: Julie
Special Guest: Ben
Episode Overview
This episode dives into a classic "the one that got away" story, as listener Julie reconnects with her childhood summer love, Ben, with help from the show. Julie’s hopes for possible romance are met with a heartfelt twist, resulting in unexpected revelations and touching moments about growth, identity, and the enduring nature of significant relationships from our past.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Julie’s Backstory: The Summer Romance
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[01:47–04:06]
- Julie recounts her long-standing summer romance with Ben, first loves spanning six summers during middle and high school.
- Their families vacationed in Maryland, where they would reunite each summer, enjoying first milestones (first kiss, first everything).
- The romance faded once they attended separate colleges (University of Maryland and Penn State), losing touch about eight years prior.
“He was my first kiss. He was my first just everything. And it never ended. Like, every summer, you know, we couldn't wait to see each other and then we would have this incredible time.” — Julie [01:58]
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Light banter among hosts paints the romance as idyllic, referencing nostalgic imagery of summer evenings and innocent relationships ([03:01–03:46]).
2. The Search for Ben
- [05:01–05:50]
- Julie admits she's lost touch completely — Ben’s family moved, and she couldn’t track him down during visits.
- Hosts consider how much people change over the years.
- Julie estimates Ben is now 26, just like her.
3. Ben Joins the Conversation
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[05:59–07:07]
- The show surprises Julie by having Ben on hold, ready to join.
- After eight years of silence, Ben and Julie greet each other warmly.
“Julie, Ben. Hey, how are you, babe?” — Ben [06:11]
“It's so good to hear your voice.” — Ben [06:17]- Ben fondly remembers their young love, calling Julie a “real sweetie” and states he often thinks of her.
“She was real sweetie, you know, she was a first of a lot of things for me. Yeah, I think about her. I think about her often.” — Ben [06:37]
4. The Twist: Ben’s Revelation
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[07:14–08:08]
- Julie asks where Ben’s calling from. He reveals he moved to Nashville, life is going well, and he’s coming to Atlanta soon.
- Ben shares some “good news and bad news”:
- Good news: He’s coming to Atlanta (for Pride).
- Bad news: He’s gay.
“Well, let's say I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I am coming to Atlanta. … The bad news is I'm a big old fag.” — Ben [07:54–08:08]
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The studio reacts with surprise, but the tone remains light and supportive. Ben is open about attending Pride in Atlanta for the first time with his partner.
“Yeah, I'm coming to Pride. Me and my partner were coming down. It's my first Pride, you know, situation and it should be, you know, it sounds exciting and I'm loving to come down.” — Ben [08:11]
5. Julie’s Reaction & Reflections
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[08:47–11:00]
- Julie expresses surprise but is gracious and happy for Ben:
“Yeah, I guess he is the one that got away. But I'm. I'm happy for you in the relationship and. Wow.” — Julie [08:55]
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Ben came out three years prior. When asked if he suspected earlier, he recounts having “inclinations” but not full understanding back then.
“Well, you know, I had my inclinations, you know, back then I was always kind of a little graceful, you might say, you know, But Julie was really the only one I ever hung out with. And so, you know, I didn't really know. No, I just had feelings at that time.” — Ben [09:18]
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The group jokes fondly about signs from their youth, such as Ben helping Julie with outfits and arranging flowers (“Julie right now is thinking about all the times that he helped her pick out outfits…” [09:39]).
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Julie reiterates her support:
“Hey, that's okay, you know, that's okay. I'm happy for you.” — Julie [10:03]
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They agree to meet while Ben is in town for Pride.
6. Connection & Closure
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[10:24–11:41]
- Arrangements are made for Julie and Ben to reconnect during Ben’s Atlanta visit. The show assists with exchanging contact info.
- The hosts commend Julie’s reaction and reinforce the positive side: her “one that got away” became a true friend with whom she shared precious memories.
“I just want to commend you for being so cool about it.” — Co-host [10:56]
"He's someone that's really special to me... as much as I'm a little bit blown away and have to process this, I'm still really happy for him." — Julie [11:00]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “He was my first kiss. He was my first just everything. And it never ended. Like, every summer… we couldn't wait to see each other and then we would have this incredible time.” — Julie [01:58]
- “They were a time in my life, you know, you're just growing… at tender ages, we call them. ...She was a real sweetie, you know, she was a first of a lot of things for me.” — Ben [06:37]
- “Well, let's say I have some good news and some bad news. ...the bad news is I'm a big old fag.” — Ben [07:54–08:08]
- “Yeah, I guess he is the one that got away. But I'm... I'm happy for you in the relationship and. Wow.” — Julie [08:55]
- “Well, you know, I had my inclinations, you know, back then I was always kind of a little graceful, you might say, you know... I didn't really know. I just had feelings at that time.” — Ben [09:18]
Important Timestamps
- 01:47 — Julie describes her summer romance history with Ben
- 04:07 — How their connection faded as they went to different colleges
- 05:28 — The show surprises Julie by revealing they've found Ben
- 06:11 — Ben and Julie’s first conversation in eight years
- 07:54 — Ben reveals he is gay and coming to Atlanta for Pride
- 08:55 — Julie reacts, expressing happiness for Ben
- 10:24 — Plans made to reunite and exchange contact info
- 11:00 — Julie reflects on her feelings and the surprise
Tone & Atmosphere
The episode is marked by authentic, light-hearted camaraderie among the hosts, with touches of nostalgia, surprise, and warmth. Both Julie and Ben display maturity and grace, and the hosts handle Ben’s coming out with humor and affection, creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
Conclusion
The episode delivers a touching twist on the familiar “one that got away” trope, illustrating how meaningful early connections can transform in unexpected ways. Julie’s journey closes with support and excitement for Ben, while listeners share in a genuine, heartfelt moment of reconnection and self-acceptance — with plenty of laughter along the way.