Vault: This Love Lost And Found Goes Back 10 Years

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: This Love Lost And Found Goes Back 10 Years
Date: December 16, 2025
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and The Bert Show Team

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show opens the vault on a classic “Love Lost and Found” story—one that spans a decade. The hosts recount the journey of Amanda, who reaches out with hopes of reconnecting with her high school boyfriend, Sean Gibson, after ten years of silence. Through conversation, investigation, and heartfelt storytelling, the team and their listeners help unravel Amanda’s story of love, loss, and longing for closure.

---

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. What is “Love Lost and Found”?

• [01:12] The hosts explain the premise: listeners call in when they want to reconnect with someone they shared a fleeting but powerful connection with, often after losing contact due to missed opportunities.
  • "You got a spark… but you don't get the phone number. You get no email address… and you wake up the next morning totally kicking yourself…" – Host D (01:14)
  • The show leverages its network and listeners to track down the lost connection, often with remarkable success rates.
  • "We've got about 11 listeners on this show, but they've got really good connections. And somehow... we’re able to pull both parties together…” – Host C (01:56)

2. Amanda’s Story: A Decade-Old Heartache

• [02:38] Amanda joins to share her story:
  • She and Sean were high school sweethearts, graduating together in 1994 from Spraberry High School, Marietta, Georgia.
  • Their final memory was spending graduation night together before Sean’s mother sent him away for college due to the seriousness of their relationship.
  • "We exchanged addresses, you know, cried, swore we talked to each other again and never did." – Amanda E (02:59)
• Amanda reveals she never got closure after Sean left and, following a difficult marriage, finds a heartfelt letter from Sean she never saw before.

3. Rediscovery and the Power of a Lost Letter

• [04:34] Amanda details her life after Sean:
  • Married someone her parents didn’t approve of; cut off from family; ended up divorced.
  • On returning home, she discovers Sean’s letter stashed away with her childhood belongings.
• She emotionally reads excerpts:
  • "Amanda. Well, what's up? I know you are shocked to hear from me... Why did you lose contact with me after all that you said? Or was it just talk?... I still think about you. Too bad you can't say the same..." – Sean Gibson’s letter, read by Amanda E (06:17)
• Host reactions emphasize the bittersweet tone and lack of closure for both.

4. Launching the Search for Sean Gibson

• [07:41] The team jumps into action, using clues from Amanda (graduation year, school, college) to organize an “APB” for Sean.
  • “If you're listening and you have some kind of connection back to Sean Gibson... help us out.” – Host C (07:41)
• They caution Amanda that they may not have Sean on the phone right away, but promise to keep trying.

5. Leads, Near-Misses, and Dead Ends

• [09:04] Producer Jeff describes the logistical effort:
  • Two phone numbers: one perpetual ringing, the other possibly a wrong Sean.
  • Multiple listener tips pointing toward West Palm Beach, Florida, where he may have worked on high-rises.
  • After a string of calls, an answering machine and mistaken identity lead to a temporary letdown.
  • "And the girl said, this is Sean." (But it wasn’t the right Sean!) – Producer G (09:40)

6. Major Revelations & Final Updates

• [11:49] The hosts reveal Sean’s life developments:

  • Sean did live and work in West Palm Beach.
  • He married, had two children, then divorced—parallel to Amanda’s own journey.
  • "He did get married. I can tell you that he has two kids. I can tell you that he did get divorced as well." – Host H (11:53)
  • But there’s a hitch: Sean is currently serving in Iraq with the Army, making immediate contact impossible.
  • "He's in Iraq." – Host H (12:11)

• The team hopes to connect Amanda and Sean via email when possible, promising to keep lines of communication open and try for an on-air reunion in the future.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the emotional toll of lost connections:
  • “I mean, and there was a phone number and an address, and I've called the number. It's disconnected. And, you know, I just. What do you do?” – Amanda E (07:33)
• On the parallel lives Amanda and Sean led:
  • “Both got married, both got divorced.” – Host D (12:25)
• Summing up what many listeners feel:
  • “Maybe we’ll just have to keep looking for the next 24 hours.” – Host C (10:59)
• Amanda’s gratitude:
  • "All right, well, thank you guys very much. I appreciate all the efforts." – Amanda E (13:07)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• What is Love Lost and Found? – [01:12]
• Amanda Tells Her Story – [02:38]
• Reading Sean's Letter – [06:05]
• Beginning the Search – [07:41]
• Producer Jeff’s Investigative Process – [09:04]
• West Palm Beach Clues – [10:59]
• Revelation: Sean is in Iraq – [12:11]
• Plans for Possible Reunion – [13:02]
• Amanda Gives Thanks – [13:07]

---

Tone & Style

The episode balances heartfelt vulnerability with the signature wit and warmth of The Bert Show. The hosts are empathetic and playful, sharing moments of levity while respecting Amanda's emotional journey—demonstrating the show's knack for building real connections, on-air and off.

---

Takeaway

Even after a decade, the impact of young love lingers—and while not every story gets a fairytale conclusion, closure (or the pursuit of it) is often a journey best traveled with support. The Bert Show’s earnest effort—and its bighearted, resourceful listener base—remind us of the importance of community, compassion, and not being afraid to search for answers, even years later.

Transcript

[A]

I'm done with subscriptions, streaming, fitness razors, vitamins. I've got subscriptions for everything in my life. They lock you in and half the time I can't figure out how to unsubscribe. That's why I'm so excited about the new Blue Apron. Now you can get delicious meals delivered with no subscription needed, including new pre made options. Keep the flavor, ditch the subscription. Get 20% off your first two orders with code APRON20. Terms and conditions apply. Visit blueapron.com terms for more.

[B]

Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first. There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.

[C]

The bird show in 30 seconds or less. Jen Hobby for the new listener, explain what Love Lost and Found is.

[D]

Usually what happens with Love Lost and Found. Even though Amanda's story's a little bit different, what usually happens is two people go out at some point and meet, whether that's at Eatsy's. We've had one from Eatsy's before. We've had one from the grocery store. We've had one at a Braves game. We where you meet somebody and you got a spark and there's something there and you have great conversation, something happens. But you don't get the phone number. You get no email address, you get no phone number. You don't make it happen. And you wake up the next morning totally kicking yourself and you're going, you know what, I need help. I gotta find this person. I really screwed up by not getting their info from last night or the day before, whatever. So you call up the Birch show and we put out the all points bulletin. Everybody help out. And we usually can pull these couples together. I think 8 out of 10 of them have worked.

[C]

It's really worked pretty well. You know, We've got about 11 listeners on this show, but they've got really good connections. And somehow, some way we're able to pull both parties together generally by the end of the show.

[D]

It's the south, you know, we're all kind of related. So they call their mamas and their baby mama mamas.

[C]

So this one was going to be a real challenge because this is a Love Lost and found that goes back 10 years. And what we've done is we've edited basically two shows into 10 minutes. So if you didn't hear any of this, it will make sense to you. And if you only heard half of it, you'll hear the conclusion of this also. This is Love Lost and Found With Amanda on the Burt show on all the hits. Q100. Hi, Amanda.

[E]

Yeah, hi.

[C]

How are you?

[E]

I'm fine. Good morning.

[C]

Good morning. I'm gonna tell you right now, this is gonna be a real challenge for us because we're talking 10 years ago, right?

[E]

Yep. Absolutely.

[C]

Give us just a bit of background.

[E]

I guess. He was the boyfriend I had my senior year of high school.

[C]

And what school is this?

[E]

Spraberry High School.

[D]

And where is that?

[E]

In Marietta. Marietta, Georgia. And we. I mean, the last memory I have is we. We spent graduation night together. And then about a week later, his mom decided that we were too serious and that he needed to go away to school, and he left. We exchanged addresses, you know, cried, swore. We talked to each other again and never did.

[F]

Now, Amanda, when you say he went off to school, were you all the same age?

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Okay.

[E]

We graduated together.

[F]

All right. And he went off to college somewhere else and.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Okay. What year did you graduate high school?

[E]

1994.

[C]

Okay.

[F]

Do you know where he went to school?

[E]

He went to Norfolk State University in Virginia.

[C]

All right, we're gonna need some more information about this guy. And why is it so important for you to get in touch with him? I mean, we have all had, like, crushes when we were in high school. And I know, looking back at anybody that I ever hooked up with in high school and I thought I was in love with, I realize now that it was just me being in high.

[E]

School, but it was someone that I had a very strong connection with, and I'd just like to know what happened. You know, does he have kids? Is he married? Is he happy? You know, did he graduate from college? You know, where did life take him?

[F]

Now we need his name.

[E]

His name is Sean Gibson.

[C]

Shawn Gibson.

[D]

How do you spell Shawn?

[C]

S, H, A, W, N. Sean Gibson graduated 94.

[E]

Yep.

[C]

Spraberry High School in Marietta.

[E]

Yep.

[D]

Okay, and what kind of re sparked your interest in him after 10 years?

[E]

Well, about three months after he left, I ended up meeting my ex husband and got married, had two kids. He was an absolute nightmare. I mean, he was not a good husband. So I had actually left the state, and my parents didn't approve of him. So when they found out we were dating, they cut me off. And I didn't speak to them for years and years and years. And so they pretty much, you know, took anything that reminded them of me and put it up. And, you know, my dad, you know, they were right. They were absolutely right. I couldn't see it. I was young and Stupid. And then when I came home, I went through all my stuff and found this letter that just broke my heart. I could not believe he had written.

[C]

Was this a letter that you had read previously or just one that you just threw aside or.

[E]

It was. I had never seen it. It came after I left.

[F]

So it came to your parents house? He mailed it from school?

[E]

I assume so. There's a return address on it, but it looks like a. Like a street address, like a house address.

[F]

And then they put it up in the attic with your stuff?

[E]

Yeah. From what I understand, he had actually moved to Virginia to live with his grandparents and go to school.

[C]

And that's when he went to Norfolk. I'm targeting in on this letter right now. What was said in that letter. Do you still have the letter? And can you read to us some of the lines in it that kind of pulled you in again?

[E]

Oh, absolutely. I absolutely have the letter. And I'm gonna just. Now mind you this, we just graduated from high school, so it's very choppy.

[C]

Right.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

The sentiment will be there though.

[B]

Yeah?

[E]

Oh, absolutely. All right. It says Amanda. Well, what's up? I know you are shocked to hear from me. I hope you are having a good time. What happened to you? Why don't you call a write? I'm going to Norfolk State University in Virginia. I'm doing well, staying out of trouble. Why did you lose contact with me after all that you said? Or was it just talk? I think I see what you are all about. I still think about you. Too bad you can't say the same. I'm sorry I didn't write you before. Now you know how I don't like to write. I have to go. You can still call or write or something. Love, Sean. P.S. please contact me.

[C]

And you're gonna do that 10 years later and you're gonna say, you know, I just. I got that letter. And you said, contact me, but you didn't say when. So here I am a decade later.

[F]

I can see where it's heartbreaking, especially the line, how was it? I know how you are now. Where I see.

[E]

What was that?

[F]

Where he felt you didn't feel the same and he didn't know you didn't get. And then I love how, especially in high school, when you write, okay, I gotta go. It's a letter, not a phone call. And you don't have to write that in there, but somehow you feel the need to. Okay, well, I gotta go. See you later.

[C]

And he didn't leave you with any kind of Closure whatsoever. So here you are, just, like, tortured over there.

[E]

Absolutely. I mean, and there was a phone number and an address, and I've called the number. It's disconnected. And, you know, I just. What do you do?

[C]

All right, let's do this. Let's start fact finding. Then. If you're listening and you have some kind of connection back to Sean Gibson, who graduated in 1994 from Spraberry High School in Marietta. We do know that he moved to Virginia and that he went to Norfolk State. We don't have Sean Gibson on the phone with us.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

Okay. So we're not going to reunite you right now.

[E]

Okay.

[C]

But Jeff has good news for you.

[G]

I think we have his home telephone number.

[E]

Oh, that is so wonderful.

[C]

Now more bad news.

[G]

Okay, we're not gonna give it to you.

[E]

That's okay. I know where y' all work.

[C]

Now more good news.

[E]

Okay.

[G]

We'll try to call him today and have you guys on the radio together tomorrow.

[E]

All right, I can do that.

[C]

What the last 24 hours been like, horrible.

[E]

Horrible. I woke up at 2 o' clock in the morning.

[C]

Well, we had some pieces of the puzzle to work with yesterday. That dude Nick called us up and gave us the name of a place that he might be working at in West Palm beach and a couple of other different leads. And before we left the show, Jeff told you that he had Sean Gibson's home phone number?

[E]

Yes.

[C]

All right. And at this point, he and Tracy have been working on it. Melissa, Jen and I are completely in the dark to what has happened the last 24 hours. So here's Jeff.

[G]

So we had actually two telephone numbers for him that either one could be Sean Gibson's home number. So obviously, the easiest thing to do is try those numbers. One rang and rang and rang and rang and rang and never went to an answering machine or voicemail or anything. It would just ring until you let it ring so much it stops ringing. And then the other one was like an answering machine, but it was still pro or either answering machine or voicemail, but it was still programmed on that automatic. Thank you for calling. Leave a message after the beads tracheotomy guy. Right.

[C]

Thank you for calling. Leave a message.

[G]

So that's, you know, so that's where we stood. Obviously, we couldn't leave it a message at the one who never picked up, but I didn't leave a message at the other one just because I would rather, you know, talk to him in person. And finally I decide last night at like, 5 o', clock, I'm just gonna, you know, or 6 o', clock, I'm just Gonna leave a message with my cell phone number. And sure enough, I, you know, left the message. And I get a message on my cell phone about 7:45, 8:00 clock last night. I call it back and there's a message, and it says, hi, I'm returning the call. Somebody called for Sean Gibson from Atlanta. I'm returning that phone call. Please call me back when you have a chance. And it was a woman's voice. So I gave the number to Tracy first thing this morning. And at like 6:30 she called and it rang and a woman answered. And Tracy said, hi, I'm looking for Sean Gibson from Atlanta. I'm calling with the guy who called last night. And the girl said, this is Sean.

[C]

Wrong. Sean Gibson. Maybe we'll just have to keep looking for the next 24 hours. Okay, what happened the last couple of days? It appeared that we were getting phone call after phone call and email after email from a lot of listeners that were pointing us to West Palm Beach. Like a guy that worked with him in West Palm, guy that knew that he was in West Palm working on high rises, yada, yada, yada. So this morning when we got in, we were all excited because we have a really good friend in radio that does a morning show in West Palm. And we were all set to go on the air with him in West Palm beach and put this APB out on Sean Gibson. So we're getting ready to do it when producer Tracy pulls me out of the office and says there's no need for us to even go on with Kevin in West Palm Beach. And at this point, Jeff and Tracy know what's going on, but Melissa, Jen and I and Amanda, most importantly, do not.

[H]

We do know that he was in West Palm Beach.

[F]

Okay.

[H]

I can tell you that he did get married. I can tell you that he has two kids.

[E]

Yeah.

[H]

I can tell you that he did get divorced as well.

[I]

Yeah.

[H]

But there's absolutely no way we can talk to him.

[G]

I wouldn't go that far.

[C]

Why not?

[G]

We might be able to talk to him. It's just going to be a week or two.

[C]

Why would it be a week?

[H]

He's in Iraq.

[C]

Oh, really?

[E]

Really?

[H]

He did move to West Palm Beach. Then he joined the Army.

[F]

Now, Amanda, I one going back a little bit. How many kids do you have?

[I]

Two.

[A]

Huh.

[C]

And he has two kids.

[D]

Both got married, both got divorced.

[G]

Hey, you want to go to Biloi Parallel lines?

[E]

Oh, my goodness.

[D]

Is there any way we can get an email address for him and maybe get them at least emailing each other.

[H]

I hope so, but we just found this out 10 minutes ago, so I can't work that fast.

[C]

Did the source that told you that he's in Iraq, was it a really good source?

[H]

I had several sources and they were all very good.

[C]

Oh, really? Yes, really. Is he living in Atlanta now?

[H]

I don't know where he is now. I just know that he's got cousins that all live here, so they've kind of relayed the message.

[C]

Okay, and through those cousins, do you think that the next time he's back that we can get him on the air together then? You think that's a possibility?

[H]

I hope so. I have a lady that's going to be calling me back with some phone numbers.

[F]

Awesome.

[C]

Okay, Amanda.

[E]

All right, well, thank you guys very much. I appreciate all the efforts.

[C]

Okay, you've got all of our phone numbers and we have yours. So we'll be in touch.

[B]

Okay?

[E]

Okay, thank you.

[C]

Bye bye.

[I]

The Bird show the longer you stay alive, the longer you can enjoy Boost Mobile's unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. So here are some tips. Do not parallel park on a cliff if you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. Do not mistake a wasp nest for a pinata if you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with a price that never goes up. Do not microwave a hard boiled egg if you want to enjoy an unlimited plan with the price that never goes up. Stay alive and enjoy Unlimited Wireless for $25 a month forever. With Boost Mobile after 30 gigs, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Mobile unlimited plan.

[B]

Let's be real. When it comes to your health, authenticity matters. For nearly 30 years, Iherb has quietly built one of the world's leading online wellness destinations trusted by millions of customers in 180 countries. At iHerb, every product comes from verified top rated brands, stored, handled and shipped directly from our own climate controlled state of the art facilities. No third party sellers, no shortcuts, just the highest standards of quality and transparency from cart to doorstep. That's why more and more people are turning to iHerb where wellness and integrity meet. Visit iHerb.com, trusted wellness delivered worldwide.

[C]

Dreaming of getting the all new iPhone 17 Pro designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever. Then stay in bed and let a.

[I]

Boost Mobile expert deliver and set it up for you.

[C]

Oh actually they will have to get up and open the door.

[B]

Oh, right.

[C]

Delivery available for select devices [e-mail] terms apply.