The Bert Show – “Vault: T.I. Joins The Show” (March 20, 2026)

Episode Overview

This special "Vault" episode features rapper and entrepreneur T.I. (Clifford Harris) joining The Bert Show for an honest and wide-ranging conversation. The hosts connect with T.I. while he’s en route to Atlanta, discussing his favorite hometown spots, the realities of fame, his legal troubles and prison preparation, his mentorship of at-risk youth on his series “Road to Redemption,” and his insights into personal growth, trust, and redemption. Throughout, T.I. is candid, reflective, and often philosophical about the lessons he’s drawn from hardship and celebrity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. T.I.'s Atlanta: Favorite Spots for Every Age (01:23–03:09)

• For Friends:
  T.I. recommends iconic Atlanta nightlife—Magic City, Club Crucial, Velvet Room, Candy Shop—to give friends a quintessential adult experience.

• For Friends of His Mom:
  “I would take them to New Birth to meet Bishop Eddie Long … to Chantrell’s for a nice lunch or dinner … Atlanta Fish Market if they weren't full… the High Museum of Art.” (T.I., 01:58–02:47)

• For His Kids’ Friends:
  Sidetrack (an entertainment hub) and Six Flags White Water get the nod.

2. Navigating Fame and Its Perks (03:09–03:34)

• When Did Being ‘Mobbed’ Happen?
  T.I. notes that fame reached a point where he could have places like Six Flags shut down for private family fun.

• Best Perk of Celebrity:
  “The influence to help others and the ability to create a new standard of living for my family.” (T.I., 03:34)

3. Reflecting on Public Mistakes & Offering Advice (03:44–04:23)

• What Would He Tell Chris Brown?
  “You never know why God take you through certain things, man, but through all adversity, man, come strength.” (T.I., 04:01)

4. ‘Road to Redemption’ & Mentoring At-Risk Youth (04:23–04:52, 07:05–07:27)

• Show’s Purpose:
  “It’s about me intervening in the lives of young teenagers who … have found themselves on the wrong side of the law ... to share with them the mistakes I’ve made to keep them from making the same ones.” (T.I., 04:31–04:52)

• Types of Kids He’s Helping:
  “Some of them are young hustlers … home invaders who used to break [into] houses to get money to feed their families. Some are gang bangers from L.A. … each individual have a different set of circumstances.” (T.I., 07:05–07:27)

5. Facing Prison: Fears and Choices (04:52–06:44)

• Nerves About Prison:
  “I'm somewhat unsettled, but ... I'm alright though.” (T.I., 05:02)

• Choosing General Population Over Special Protection:
  “All those protections … would make my time a lot more miserable ... That would cause for me to be locked in a cell 23 hours out of a day, and I'm not gonna do that. So it'll be general population for me.” (T.I., 05:27–05:49)

• How He’ll Be Treated Inside:
  “They gonna treat me the way I present myself … as a man of respect.” (T.I., 06:00–06:07)

• Will He Write Music Inside?
  “You can't make plans when you enter a situation that you have no control over … you kinda gotta observe and play it by ear.” (T.I., 06:28–06:44)

• Hope for Reduced Sentence?
  “God works in mysterious ways. … All I know right now is [I have] a year and a day, and I'll be blessed to get that.” (T.I., 06:49–06:59)

6. Why He Made the Choices That Led to His Arrest (07:27–08:15)

• Paranoia, Grief, & Bad Decisions:
  “I was extremely paranoid, and I had altered judgment because of that paranoia … ever since my partner had died in my arms in Cincinnati… I went about dealing with those things the wrong way.” (T.I., 07:44–08:15)

7. Trust, Fear, and Personal Growth (08:17–08:36)

• Trust in God, Not Guns:
  “I gotta put my trust in God, not guns.” (T.I., 08:22)

• Message to Youth:
  “You get the courage after you do the things that scare the hell out of you, not before.” (T.I., 08:33–08:36)

8. Celebrating Success: Taking Home a Grammy (08:41–09:06)

• On Winning:
  “I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was an honor and a pleasure to be … among such great guys and such elite performers.” (T.I., 08:53–09:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On helping youth:
  “All things are possible, man. You get the courage after you do the things that scare the hell out of you, not before.” (T.I., 08:33–08:36)

• On fame’s best perk:
  “The influence to help others and the ability to create a new standard of living for my family.” (T.I., 03:34)

• On facing prison:
  “Treat me like everybody else, man. I'm doing my time and going home.” (T.I., 05:53)

• On dealing with threats:
  “I gotta put my trust in God, not guns, you know?” (T.I., 08:22)

Key Timestamps

• 01:23: Atlanta recommendations for friends, family, and kids
• 03:09: T.I. talks about fame and special treatment
• 03:44: Thoughts on helping Chris Brown and facing public scrutiny
• 04:23: Explanation of “Road to Redemption”
• 04:52: Fears about entering prison and general population choice
• 07:05: Stories of the youth mentored by T.I.
• 07:44: Honest reflection on paranoia and the decisions behind his arrest
• 08:22: Transition from trusting guns to trusting God
• 08:41: Grammy win commentary

Tone & Takeaway

T.I.’s tone is honest, thoughtful, and occasionally humorous, marked by candor about his regrets, his hopes for redemption, and his passion for helping others avoid his mistakes. The conversation offers a window into the complexity of fame, personal fallibility, responsibility, and the drive to transform pain into positive influence.

Summary prepared for listeners who want a rich and insightful overview of T.I.'s candid interview on The Bert Show.