Vault: This Is One Of The Most Bizarre Calls We've Ever Received

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Bert Show
Host: Pionaire Podcasting
Episode: Vault: This Is One Of The Most Bizarre Calls We've Ever Received
Date: January 13, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Bert Show delves into a remarkably bizarre and controversial listener call involving tangled relationships, cheating, and differing attitudes toward exclusivity while dating. Through calls from both the original involved parties and several listeners, the hosts and their audience debate questions of loyalty, honesty, and modern dating ethics—with a heavy dose of humor and candid reflection.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Recap of the Bizarre Nicole/Karen/Aaron Situation

• Background: Nicole and Karen discover that they've both been dating the same man, Aaron, for different lengths of time—Karen for nine months, Nicole for three weeks.
• Plan for Confrontation: The women had arranged to confront Aaron together in Piedmont Park and humiliate him publicly.
• Nicole’s Revelation: On air, Nicole admits she knew all along about Karen, revealing she wasn’t the “unknowing victim” but a willing participant.
• Quote [02:36]: Nicole: “I knew we were busted. I knew he had a girlfriend that he wanted out of the relationship… I said, well, let's make it happen. All right.”

Hosts' Reaction

• Disappointment and questioning of Nicole’s motives, especially since she “bailed” on the planned confrontation and effectively “stole” Aaron from Karen.
• Quote [03:25]: Host: "You stole this guy out from right underneath you."
• Quote [04:39]: Host: “There is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things. And the way that they handled this was absolutely incorrect.”

---

Listener Ethics: Is Cheating Wrong if You’re “Just Dating”?

Listener Calls — Competing Morals

• Some listeners defend Nicole, arguing if you aren’t married or engaged, everything is fair game.
  • Quote [04:20]: Nicole: "Can't be a mistress unless you're stealing someone else's husband."
  • Quote [04:28]: Nicole: "If you're not engaged or married…take what you can."
• Hosts push back, discussing commitment and respect, especially in long-term, exclusive relationships.
  • Quote [06:05]: Host: “That's a serious relationship. If you give somebody keys to your place and keys to your car, that's a commitment level enough that you owe that woman respect.”

Marriage as a Moral Divider

• Some guests and hosts note a “naive” belief that marriage will suddenly instill discipline and fidelity.
  • Quote [06:48]: Host: “…that naive view of wedding day changes everything… that's just a ridiculous idea.”

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Tara’s Call: "The Serial Cheater"

• Tara, 25, admits she’s cheated on every boyfriend but believes she will not cheat once married, as she sees marriage as sacred.
  • Quote [07:54]: Tara: “I know when I get married... I'm not gonna cheat on my husband.”
• Hosts question whether her past behavior truly changes at the altar, expressing concern about her assumption.
  • Quote [10:55]: Host: “…that ideal view that all of a sudden one person’s gonna change everything and it doesn’t work that way. You really have to discipline yourself to be a better person before you get to that point.”

The Ethics of Honesty in Dating

• Tara admits her partners believe their relationships are exclusive, but she hides her other involvements.
  • Quote [08:58]: Tara: “Some of them. Most of them do [think they're the only guy], yes."
• Hosts pressure her on why she avoids transparency, pointing out the cruelty of deception.
  • Quote [12:16]: Host: “It’s just selfish and rude and mean to the other person.”
  • Tara maintains it’s more about fun and maturity, but ultimately admits it’s not the norm even among her friends.

Constructive Criticism

• Listener Shelly calls Tara out directly.
  • Quote [14:14]: Shelly: “You’re horrible. I mean, it’s all about what you want back in life... that’s what you’re gonna get back.”
• Tara defends herself, claiming she’s honest in “the rest” of the relationship, but the hosts note, if it starts with a lie, it’s all a lie.
  • Quote [14:53]: Tara: “A lie is a lie. The whole relationship is a lie. It's based on a lie.”
  • Host: “Yeah, I don’t know how you could say, and I'm a great girlfriend in every other way except I'm screwing around on my boyfriends.” [14:59]

The Gender Double Standard in Cheating

• The conversation also reflects on how men’s and women’s behavior are differently judged:
  • Quote [05:07]: Host: "Now, if the girl did it, she’d be labeled as a slut... he’s just a man, so kudos to him."

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Listener Andrew: Male Perspective

• Andrew calls to agree with Tara, expressing similar attitudes about dating multiple people and only being exclusive once with "the right one".
  • Quote [15:37]: Andrew: “I agree with her... I do the same thing and a lot of times, oh, you know, while I'm dating a girl... I'm not going to tell them…”
  • Hosts and others debate if honesty would really drive people away; one female host admits that competition made her want a man more.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nicole’s blunt confession:

  "I knew we were busted. I knew he had a girlfriend... I said, well, let's make it happen. All right."
  —Nicole [02:36]

• Host's moral stance:

  “There is a right way to do things and there is a wrong way to do things. And the way that they handled this was absolutely incorrect.”
  —Host [04:39]

• Tara on her cheating:

  “I know when I get married, I’m not gonna cheat on my husband. Marriage, I know, is totally different than being a single 25 year old in Atlanta these days...”
  —Tara [07:54]

• Host on honesty:

  “It’s just selfish and rude and mean to the other person.”
  —Host [12:16]

• Shelly on karma:

  “You’re horrible. I mean, it’s all about what you want back in life… that’s the way you’re gonna treat people, that’s what you’re gonna get back.”
  —Shelly [14:14]

• Host's reality check:

  “A lie is a lie. The whole relationship is a lie. It's based on a lie.”
  —Host [14:53]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:19] Discussion kicks off: Recap of Nicole, Karen, Aaron story
• [02:36] Nicole’s confession replayed
• [03:52] Listeners react: Love/war, forgiveness, rules
• [05:07] Commentary on gender double standards
• [06:48] Debate about marriage as a moral turning point
• [07:22] Tara, the "serial cheater", calls in
• [08:58] Tara's exclusive relationships, lack of honesty
• [10:55] Hosts challenge assumption wedding will change behavior
• [12:16] On honesty and selfishness in relationships
• [14:14] Shelly confronts Tara
• [15:37] Andrew supports Tara, shares male dating philosophy
• [16:39] Female host describes being competitively driven to date a non-exclusive man

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Conclusion: Ideals vs. Reality in Modern Dating

The episode closes without easy answers, highlighting a generational and philosophical divide in expectations around relationships. The hosts advocate for honesty and respect, while some listeners—like Tara and Andrew—admit to prioritizing their enjoyment and opportunity-seeking as single people. The show encourages listeners to reflect on their own realities versus ideals in relationships, while keeping the tone engagingly real and conversational.

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For more bizarre listener drama or to weigh in on these tough moral debates, tune in to The Bert Show weekdays!

Transcript

[A]

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[E]

Get it The Bird Show.

[F]

So yesterday, we took some really odd calls late in the show yesterday. Some depressing calls, I think late in the show. The last call.

[E]

Last calls that we take.

[F]

Yeah, take, take.

[C]

Yeah.

[F]

But yeah, with Nicole. I mean, over the last couple of days, we've pretty much followed this storyline with Nicole and Karen and. And Aaron. And without getting into the whole thing, the two of them found that they were dating the same guy. Karen was dating him for nine months. Nicole was only dating him for three weeks. And they had this plan to confront him at Piedmont park on Saturday and publicly humiliate the guy and. And basically say, look, here's. We're both here. We know what's going on. You're a moron. Right? So yesterday we get a call from Nicole, and she basically says, you know what? I knew that he was going out with Karen. I knew right from the start. You guys, if you've been listening about this time, probably heard the whole thing yesterday. But after we played that call from Nicole and let me just play 60 seconds of that call just in case you didn't hear it yesterday, because we played it for the late Bert show listeners also. And the response that we got after we played it was really, really bizarre. First, let me play the call for you. This is Nicole yesterday.

[G]

I'll be honest with you. You know, when you guys called me, I was surprised to get a call from you guys. I am a fan, but I knew, I knew we were busted. I knew he had a girlfriend that he wanted out of the relationship and he was going to break it off. And I mean, I guess this just came to a head before he had a chance. So when I told him, you know, on the way to our date, he, he, you know, really needed my help. And he's like, I don't want her to be my girlfriend. I never wanted it. I want you. So I said, well, let's make it happen. All right.

[F]

So you, when you were on with us on Friday, you were acting then you knew that he had a girlfriend and you knew that he was dating both of you guys.

[G]

Yeah, I did.

[F]

Nicole, they've been going out with each other for nine months. You stole this guy out from right underneath you.

[C]

You're the mistress.

[G]

You know what? I wasn't from the beginning, but once I found out what, you know, crackhead she is, she's crazy, I thought, you know what? Let me help.

[F]

She's absolutely nuts. Okay, so obviously Nicole doesn't show up on Saturday. She bails and she steals this guy.

[C]

Right?

[F]

So we play that same thing for the late Burt show listeners yesterday in like the 9 o' clock hour. And check out some of the calls that we got because we all left the studio yesterday a little bit bummed about it, you know?

[E]

You guys not agree that all stare in love and war? No, I definitely think that. I mean, what happens if Nicole and this guy end up getting married and living together for the rest of their life? Like, then in 20 years, we're not going to look back and think, oh, well, you're still a cheater. Like, yes, I definitely think with the way that they hooked up, he could still cheat on her or whatnot. But you guys are hard on her because she's just out looking for love the same way all of us are.

[G]

Can't be a mistress unless you're stealing someone else's husband.

[F]

So you say there really are no, as long as there that you're not engaged or not married. There are no rules about this. I mean, take what you can.

[G]

Absolutely.

[E]

If.

[G]

What do you think because you've dated for nine months that you're supposed to get married, that you know, you can't be interested in anyone else. That doesn't make sense.

[F]

There is a right way to do things and there is a wrong way to do things. And the way that they handled this was absolutely incorrect. You don't agree with that?

[G]

It doesn't matter if she came to him and he went to her and he told her. It doesn't matter if you leave one girlfriend for another, you're accused of cheating. If you're not married, you're free game. That's the whole idea. If they were married, it'd be a whole different ball game. You're a mistress if you're not cheating with someone else's husband.

[E]

I gotta give some credit to Eric. He's a little pimp going on. Because if you could have the girls and then actually come out with one of them, just a man. And, you know, I hang out with him because he's just gonna teach men what it's like to be a man. Because that's what's good about it. We could get away with things like that. Now, if the girl did it, she'd be labeled as a slut or whatever. And, you know, he's just a man, so kudos to him.

[F]

All right, so that was yesterday on the show, and I think we all left here just kind of shaking our heads. I was troubled, God bless him.

[H]

Yeah, you can't have a mistress unless you're married. What is that?

[F]

So I thought maybe we're being old fashioned here. I mean, is this how if you're dating now and you're single, your friends kind of like, are these the rules of engagement now, where you are fair game if you are not married? If you're just dating? Yeah, maybe you guys have made a verbal commitment to each other. But do you look at it if you're dating now like, you know, what if they're not married, I can do anything I want. 404-741-1005 to me, this situation with Karen.

[H]

Who had been dating Aaron for nine months. I mean, obviously it was ser that he had plenty of stuff at her apartment because he went and cleared it out and he had keys to her place and a key took her car in her car. I mean, we're talking about like, that's a serious relationship. If you give somebody keys to your place and keys to your car, that's a commitment level enough that you owe that woman respect. Well, remember she break up with her first crackhead?

[F]

Yeah, she's psycho. Remember, as. By definition, as we heard yesterday, though, it doesn't matter. You could be living with each other. That's fine. You could have, you could have co lease a car together, whatever. So long as you're not married, co lease a car, then you're fair game.

[C]

You know, the only thing that, the thing that bothered me about that is that naive view of wedding day changes everything that you can be, you know, your character can be compromised, but on your wedding day, all of a sudden you're going to turn around and you're going to be faithful and you're going to be perfect. And I mean, that's just a ridiculous idea.

[F]

So I think there are some times on this show that we talk about ideals, like what's going on ideally, rather than reality. So I guess what I'm asking for is if you're dating now and you're single, is the reality of the situation that, yeah, we look at it like everybody's fair game if you're not married. Hey, Tara.

[G]

Hi.

[F]

Good morning.

[G]

Good morning to you guys. I just wanted to say that I do respect the show. I like the show and I'm very impressed with everything that's being said today. But I wanted to make the point that Melissa and I respect you too. What you said earlier, I don't want to come out and, you know, be rude. What you said earlier, I just don't agree with. I am, I guess, what you would consider, like a serial cheater. I've cheated on every single one of my boyfriends. I'm 25. But the situation with me is I know, I know when I get married, I'm going to get married. I'm not going to have. I'm not going to have. I don't know what it's called for girls.

[E]

I'm not gonna have a mistress.

[A]

Whatever.

[G]

I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna cheat on my husband.

[C]

Why? Okay, let me ask a question, though. Why do you know that when your behavior this far you haven't been able to be disciplined enough to stay faithful?

[G]

Because I'm not married. That's just it. I know how sacred marriage is to me. I know how devastated I would be if I found out that my husband was cheating on me. Marriage, I know, is totally different than being a single 25 year old in Atlanta these days or anywhere for that matter. And like a lot of the other people I think that might be listening are saying if you're being protected, if you're protected, if you're not being irresponsible, and if you're handling it in a mature manner and you're not just being disgusting about it. You can have fun. You can also date more than one person at the same time. And you don't have to date to just get married.

[H]

Now, you said that you've cheated on everybody you've been with. Do these guys in the relationships with you think that they're the only guy?

[G]

Some of them. Most of them do, yes.

[C]

Because you told them.

[H]

Most of them think that we're going to be exclusive, we are just dating each other, and then you go out and screw around on them.

[G]

Yes, I admit that is poor. I admit that is wrong.

[H]

Why do you have to have that exclusive conversation if you know you're just going to keep dating other people? Why can't you tell them that?

[G]

I try to avoid that. And I don't want to put myself in a light like, oh, she's hot stuff. I really don't. But I honestly try to avoid that situation because I really don't want to have to lie. But I know if it were me and if the guy were dating other women, it just happens that way. They just want to be exclusive with me. And I don't mean that to sound like I'm again, hot stuff. I just. They want to be exclusive. You think what you want to think.

[F]

Don't you know that if guys want to be exclusive and you don't and you say no, they're not going anywhere. Chances are pretty good they're coming back anyway.

[G]

It sounds like it, doesn't it? I don't know what to say about that. I could try that, I guess. Well, I don't know.

[C]

I think that it kind of goes back to what we were saying about ideal versus real. Like, I think in your ideal mind, the ideal you is someone that would not cheat on anybody. And the ideal you, all of a sudden you're going to be a different person on your wedding day. But in your everyday practice, you have turned yourself into someone who doesn't have the character that you think you do.

[G]

Well, no, I think the ideal me is someone who, when I get married, I won't cheat, but I don't see myself right now as the ideal person.

[H]

Well, if you're an attention hound now and you like thrive on getting that attention, that won't.

[G]

I don't think it's an attention. I disagree. I mean, I don't think it's an attention thing for me. You know, you being beautiful yourself probably could go out and, you know, get that type of attention. It's not you yourself. I don't think Yeah, I don't know. Am I making that point? Is that totally bad?

[F]

I mean, I think you're saying what you really believe. Just because we don't agree with it doesn't mean it's concerned.

[C]

I'm just concerned for you, thinking that your life is going to be easy and carefree when you get married if you cheat up until that point.

[G]

Why would you think that?

[C]

Because I just. Again, I mean, it's just out of concern of that again, that ideal view that all of a sudden one person's going to change everything and it doesn't work that way. You know, you really have to discipline yourself to be a better person before you get to that point.

[G]

Take, for example. I'm sorry to mean to cut you off, but take, for example, right now, like, I am. I'm seeing two guys and they don't know each other. And one of them I was actually fairly exclusive with for about five or six months. And then the other one was exclusive, you know, like last year kind of thing together and, you know, that kind of thing. And they don't know about each other, but they know of each other. I mean, does that help at all?

[C]

So they know they're not exclusive?

[G]

No, they don't know they're not exclusive.

[F]

They don't know. They just don't know each other personally.

[G]

That's correct.

[H]

Well, you need to ask yourself, why can't you be honest with them? Like, why do you feel the need to lie to them?

[G]

I mean, I felt like I was being fairly close to honest and that they do know of each other. They just know.

[H]

Ask yourself why. Like, why are you doing that?

[F]

What are the.

[H]

What are the reasons behind you not being able to say, hey, I'm dating two people? I mean, I really like you, but I've got this other person in my life. Are you afraid one of them's gonna leave? Like, are you afraid to be alone? Like, I mean, I'm just wondering, like, you need to ask yourself, just to be fair to yourself, why.

[E]

Yeah, I think the.

[F]

I think a better question is why not? What do you mean, why not?

[H]

Well, it's just selfish and rude and mean to the other person.

[F]

No.

[H]

Why not?

[G]

No, it's not.

[C]

They don't. They both think they're exclusive.

[F]

They both? Yeah, they both think they're exclusive. No, she said they both know that each other exists.

[H]

No, they don't.

[G]

They know each other exist. And then I went out with them. Yeah, you're in the past.

[F]

But they don't.

[G]

They don't. Know of each other right now?

[F]

Yeah. They have no idea.

[E]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

Oh, jealous. That's. I just, I mean, seriously, you know, I'm not judging. I'm just saying that I really think you need. I think you need to consider the fact that, like, what Jen's trying to get at is if there's a reason you do this now, the behavior is not going to necessarily be easy to change later on, you know. So I really think that you need to start practicing being someone who is honest with the people you're with and then that will make you someone better, you know, in your marriage is all I'm saying.

[F]

Are you the exception or are you the rule?

[G]

What do you mean?

[F]

Do you find most people that you know that are single and dating right now have the same attitude about it that you do, or do you find that, you know what, if I'm dating somebody, even though we're not married, I'm gonna keep it exclusive?

[G]

I think I'll be honest. None of my girlfriends, I have a very, you know, close knit group of, you know, several girlfriends. None of my girlfriends do what I do, but they don't. And they would be honest with me if they thought I was being bad or if I was being wrong. And they would say, you know what, you're just being a, you know what, Jeff's son. Yeah, but I think that for the most part, no. I mean, it's not a practice per se, that everybody's doing, but it's definitely something that people are more accepting of in their mindset. Because if my girlfriend thought I was being horrible, they would tell me, you know, I've done horrible things. They told me you're horrible and they mean it, you know, and I respect them. Just like I respect, you know, the constructive criticisms say so.

[F]

Oh, good, because you're gonna get some of that.

[E]

Constructive criticism is being polite, by the way.

[F]

Hey, Shelly. Shelly, go ahead. You're on with Tara.

[G]

Guess what. You're horrible. I mean, it's all about what you want back in life. Do you want the same respect that you give out to someone else? And if that's the way you're gonna treat people, that's what you're gonna get back. I understand where everybody's coming from on that and I understand that you do think it's horrible. But here's the thing. Yes, there's that big lie. And I can admit that since it's cheating and they don't know about each other in any of the situations I've ever been in, that it's a lie. But I am honest in the relationship for the rest of it. I know that doesn't make up for it.

[F]

No. Are you making a million excuses for yourself?

[G]

A lie is a lie. The whole relationship is a lie. It's based on a lie.

[F]

Yeah, I don't know how you could say, and I'm a great girlfriend in every other way except I'm screwing around on my boyfriends.

[H]

And. And here's my question further. I know it's kind of personal. Are you sleeping with both of them?

[G]

Yes.

[H]

And they don't know that?

[G]

No.

[H]

Are you protected with both of them?

[G]

Yes.

[F]

And Andrew agrees every single time.

[G]

Every. Every single time.

[C]

Okay, good.

[G]

That. That is something that was a part of the responsibility thing, I guess I was trying to get at earlier.

[H]

Gotcha.

[F]

Andrew agrees with your theory. Hey, Andrew, how you doing? What's up, man?

[E]

I mean, I agree with her. I mean, I know. I know one thing. I'm feeling like if she met the right person, then she's not going to cheat and then eventually will get married. But right now both of them might not be right for her. I mean, because, I mean, I do the same thing and a lot of times, oh, you know, while I'm dating a girl, you know, and they, you know, I'm not going to tell them, you know, that I'm dating somebody else because then they'll just kind of cut you off right away.

[H]

No, they won't. That's the difference. I think Bert said that about guys, like, for. For the girl that works for me.

[G]

They. I don't. And I again, don't mean to come off like I'm hot stuff, but they probably wouldn't. I think he's right.

[H]

Yeah.

[E]

Yeah. The girls will cut you off right away and they don't give you a chance to get to know them.

[F]

No, they won't.

[H]

That's the weird part.

[E]

It's about trying to get to know people and trying to find out if you want to be with them. And so, you know, you say, you know, okay, I'm just dating you just so you can get to know them. But then if it doesn't work out, then you break up, you know? You know, if, you know you're not going to be with that person, because I feel if I deal with that person that I'm going to be with, I'm going to be with them and it's going to be the right person for me, and then I'm going to stop doing that kind of stuff.

[H]

I understand why you would think that way. But honestly, I have dated a guy in the past that was dating other women, and I didn't stop dating him because he was dating other people. I wanted to win him over.

[E]

Like, it made me.

[H]

Like it was a challenge. It made me want to date him more.

[F]

So maybe she's onto something.

[E]

Maybe, maybe she. That you should let the other guy.

[F]

Know that there's somebody else there and let her.

[E]

Let them fight it out.

[F]

He's not going anywhere. I'm telling you. I'm telling you.

[H]

Especially if you're hot.

[F]

Yeah. All right, Tara, thanks a lot. Appreciate you calling.

[C]

Thank you.

[H]

Thanks for your honesty.

[E]

Get it the Bird Show.

[D]

In a world where January is supposed to be boring, one staple of the holidays refuses to end the great deals at Verizon. The joy just keeps on coming. Right now you can save on four new phones and four lines. Critics agree it's the deal that keeps on giving. Come into Verizon and save on four new phones and four lines on unlimited. Welcome additional terms applied. Seeverizon.com for details.

[A]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[B]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[A]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[B]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right. So the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

[A]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[B]

And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[G]

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