The Bert Show: Vault – Update On Suzi The World Traveler

Air Date: January 19, 2026
Podcast Host: Pionaire Podcasting
Cast: Bert, Jen Hobby, Susie (the traveler), and others

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, the cast of The Bert Show reconnects with Suzi, their celebrated “world traveler” friend, for an update on her solo adventure across the globe. The segment highlights Suzi’s current Mediterranean escapades, Italian wedding culture, unexpected connections, and what’s coming up next on her whirlwind trip. The conversation combines humor, lively cultural storytelling, and one truly astonishing “small world” reunion moment.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Who is Suzi and Why Do They Check In?

• Background: Suzi is a friend of the show who decided to invest her savings, originally earmarked for marriage or a home, into traveling the world alone following a relationship that didn’t pan out.
• Purpose: The Bert Show frequently checks in to hear about her travels, cultural discoveries, and adventures, keeping listeners vicariously globe-trotting through her stories.
  (00:05)

2. Suzi’s Current Whereabouts: Sicily and the Mediterranean

• On a Boat: Suzi calls in from a boat in the Mediterranean, prepping for her best friend's wedding in Sicily. She depicts a scene right out of a movie, lounging in a bikini, surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters.
  “I’m just lying on the back here in my bikini like, you know, a diva.” – Suzi (01:38)
• Wedding Details: She’s in Sicily for her childhood friend’s wedding to a Sicilian man. There was also a previous ceremony in New York, but the Sicilian celebration offers uniquely local traditions.
  (01:10–02:27)

3. Sicilian vs. American Weddings and Family Culture

• Key Differences: Suzi observes the close-knit, extended Italian family dynamics, with relatives gathering days in advance, heated debates (that seem aggressive but are all in good fun), and plenty of food and wine. “I saw two uncles, these Sicilian guys, these hot tempered guys get into an argument about wine…for four hours, screaming and yelling at each other. Nobody’s upset, but everybody’s screaming and yelling.” – Suzi (02:36)
• Food and Setting: She’s blown away by the scenery, local agriculture (olives, figs, grapes), and culinary experiences. “The tomatoes taste different. The pasta is perfect. The olive oil, it's like…They don't play. They just do not play here with the food.” – Suzi (03:24)

4. Italian Men: Swagger and Stereotypes

• Host Curiosity: Bert and Jen ask Suzi if she’s experienced the famed Italian male “swagger”, especially as a non-local woman.
• Suzi’s Response: Suzi hasn’t felt any “lecherous” energy, theorizing it may depend on hair color or appearance. Other American friends, particularly blondes, had very different experiences. (04:24–05:08)

5. “You Won’t Believe What Happened in Rome!” – The Ultimate Small World Story

• Unexpected Encounter: Suzi recounts her jaw-dropping encounter with Jeff (a Bert Show colleague) at the Colosseum in Rome. She’d had a persistent feeling she’d bump into someone she knew, despite months on the road. “I jump in front of that person’s path and I say, I know you. And this person looks at me – his eyes are telling me, I don’t think I know you…All of a sudden, both of us, it clicked at the same time. It was Jeff from the Bert Show!” – Suzi (06:10)
• Reactions: The cast and Suzi are stunned by the improbability of the chance meeting: same city, same monument, same corner, same moment. “We could have been on opposite ends of the Colosseum…It was a random time of day. I mean, come on.” – Suzi (08:04) “If there’s a statistician listening out there, I’m like, if two people in the same city at the same time, what are the odds?” – Suzi (08:31)

6. Reflections on Serendipity and Connection

• Spiritual “Energy”: Suzi and the cast muse that maybe carrying positive thoughts (and a bit of the Bert Show with her) contributed to such a serendipitous moment. “The Bird Show is with me every day. So of course I bump into somebody from the Bird Show.” – Suzi (07:55) “There’s more out there than we realize…The fact that she had that energy of the Burt show in her mind all the time, I just really believe that.” – Cast (08:42)

7. Susie’s Journal and Photography

• Podcast Community: The hosts urge listeners to follow Suzi’s online travel journal and see her travel photos, describing them as “moving” and addictive.
• “I get a ton of emails from people going, oh my God, it’s like a soap opera that I can’t stop reading.” – Bert (09:17)
• “You’re becoming a great photographer, too. Your pictures from Southeast Asia…those were moving.” – Jen (09:44)

8. What’s Next for Suzi?

• Onward to Africa: Suzi shares her spontaneous decision to take a ferry from Sicily to Tunisia in North Africa after the wedding, admitting even she’s amazed by the trip’s scope and unpredictability. “After the wedding, I’m gonna travel in Sicily for about a week, and then I’m gonna hop on a boat. I’m gonna be in northern Africa, you guys. I can’t believe it. I’m in Tunisia.” – Suzi (10:01)

NOTABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS WITH TIMESTAMPS

• “I’m just lying on the back here in my bikini like, you know, a diva.” – Suzi (01:38)
• “I saw two uncles, these Sicilian guys, these hot tempered guys get into an argument about wine…for four hours, screaming and yelling at each other. Nobody’s upset, but everybody’s screaming and yelling.” – Suzi (02:36)
• “The tomatoes taste different. The pasta is perfect. The olive oil, it's like…They don't play. They just do not play here with the food.” – Suzi (03:24)
• “I jump in front of that person’s path and I say, I know you…It was Jeff from the Bert Show!” – Suzi (06:10)
• “The Bird Show is with me every day. So of course I bump into somebody from the Bird Show.” – Suzi (07:55)
• “We could have been on opposite ends of the Colosseum…It was a random time of day. I mean, come on.” – Suzi (08:04)
• “You’re becoming a great photographer, too. Your pictures from Southeast Asia…those were moving.” – Jen (09:44)
• “After the wedding, I’m gonna travel in Sicily for about a week, and then I’m gonna hop on a boat. I’m gonna be in northern Africa, you guys. I can’t believe it. I’m in Tunisia.” – Suzi (10:01)

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00–01:21 – Introduction: Suzi’s world travels and present location
• 01:22–03:18 – Sicily, the wedding, and Italian cultural details
• 03:19–05:08 – Food, lifestyle, and Italian men
• 05:09–08:15 – The Colosseum coincidence: Meeting Jeff from the show in Rome
• 08:16–09:54 – Reflections on fate and staying connected through the Bert Show
• 09:55–10:22 – Next steps: Ferry to Tunisia, plans for Africa

CONCLUSION

Episode Mood: Warm, funny, spontaneous, packed with wanderlust and a sense of fate. What Makes It Special: This check-in with Suzi perfectly blends dazzling travel storytelling, authenticity, and a truly remarkable “small world” moment that underscores how deeply connections and community travel, no matter how far the journey. If you’ve ever dreamed of dropping everything to see the world—or just need a reminder that wonderful surprises are out there—Suzi’s adventure, as told on The Bert Show, is both comforting and inspiring.