Vault: Weight-loss Wake Up Call

Summary

The Bert Show: "Vault: Weight-loss Wake Up Call" (June 24, 2026) — Episode Summary

Episode Overview

This episode centers around personal stories of "weight-loss wake up calls," those embarrassing or startling moments that prompt individuals to take action on weight and health. Hosts Bert and the team discuss high-profile examples like filmmaker Kevin Smith’s airline incident and invite listeners to call in and share their own experiences. The segment is equal parts humorous, empathetic, and real, reflecting The Bert Show’s candid morning radio energy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Theme: Embarrassing Weight-loss Wake Up Calls

• [00:41] Bert opens the discussion by asking listeners about moments that made them realize they had to change—often embarrassing public incidents, like breaking a chair or a stranger’s child making a comment about one's size.
• “That’s a special person right there who can rip denim with their ass.”—Host A, jokingly, [01:15]

2. Kevin Smith’s Airline Incident

• [02:15] Context given on filmmaker Kevin Smith, removed from a Southwest Airlines flight due to not passing the airline’s “armrest test.” The armrest must be able to go down to avoid encroaching on other passenger space.
• The hosts detail how Smith has been outspoken online (especially Twitter) about the incident, turning it into a public issue and calling for larger airline seats.
• “He’s even said that in the past couple of weeks he bought two seats for the flight so that he was more comfortable. He wasn’t able to do that on that flight. So he was… removed from it.” —Host C, [02:27]
• Debate among hosts about whether Smith is helping or hurting his cause and what it means for public perception.

3. Personal "Wake Up Call" Stories from Hosts and Listeners

• Ride Safety & Size Limitations: Host shares witnessing someone unable to buckle a Six Flags ride harness, having to exit in front of a crowd ([03:45]).
• Listener Call-ins:
  • Kelly’s Story ([04:15]):
    • Gained weight at her husband’s request; the night before her wedding, couldn’t fit the ride bar—whole wedding party supported her by leaving with her.
    • “At that point, I was just like, wow... this is just ridiculous, right?” —Kelly, [04:53]
  • Stephen’s Story ([05:15]):
    • Broke several pieces of furniture (toilet seat, couch, office chair) in one week at his girlfriend’s home after high school.
    • “On the third time, I was like, okay, what the—what’s going on? This is way too much.” —Stephen, [06:08]
    • Now down from 320 to 280 lbs.
  • Chrissy’s Story ([06:29]):
    • Couldn’t fit into a dress bought after last year’s weight loss; couldn’t even pull it on when prompted by her husband on Valentine’s Day.
    • “I was so humiliated.” —Chrissy, [06:57]
  • Elizabeth’s Story ([07:10]):
    • Asked by a stranger “how far along” she was when she wasn’t pregnant, leading her to change her style and lose 40 lbs.
    • “I went home and threw every one of them away and I have never looked back.”—Elizabeth, [07:31]
  • Joe’s Story ([08:10]):
    • Couldn’t go up on a Six Flags parachute ride due to weight (at 360 lbs at the time), prompting major weight loss.
    • “This place was packed. And I’m still afraid this summer to get back on.” —Joe, [08:32]
• Hosts are supportive and empathetic: “You can turn that negative into a positive.”—Host B, [08:27]

4. The Psychology of Public Embarrassment & Weight

• The hosts reflect on coping mechanisms—some, like Kevin Smith, go loud and public after an embarrassing event, which may or may not help self-esteem or public opinion.
• “He’s either doing that thing where he’s so embarrassed by it that he’s going to make more noise about the whole thing to try to cover up the uncomfortableness, like getting more defiant about it.” —Host B, [09:01]
• The group jokes about the cycle of promising not to address an incident again—and then not being able to stop.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:15] A (joking): “That’s a special person right there who can rip denim with their ass.”
• [02:27] C: “He wasn't able to do that on that flight. So he was… removed from it. Now the airline has apologized for the way that it was handled…”
• [04:26] Kelly: “The whole wedding party is on, and I’m the last one to get on with my bride sash and everything. And they couldn’t pull the bar down and buckle it, so I had to get off. And then my husband felt so bad, he got off. Then the whole wedding party got off, and it was just really, really embarrassing.”
• [06:08] Stephen: “On the third time, I was like, okay, what the—what’s going on? This is way too much. This is a nice office chair…”
• [07:31] Elizabeth: “She came up to me and asked me how far along I was… I went home and threw every one of them away and I have never looked back. And now I’m 40 pounds later.”
• [08:32] Joe: “This place was packed. And I’m still afraid this summer to get back on,” reflecting lasting impact of embarrassment.
• [09:01] B: “He’s either doing that thing where he’s so embarrassed by it that he’s going to make more noise about the whole thing to try to cover up the uncomfortableness, like getting more defiant about it.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:41] – Introduction of the weight-loss wake up call topic
• [02:15] – Kevin Smith’s airplane incident discussed
• [03:45] – Story of witnessing someone unable to fit on a theme park ride
• [04:15] – Listener Kelly shares her wedding party fairground story
• [05:15] – Stephen recalls breaking three pieces of furniture in a week
• [06:29] – Chrissy on the humiliating dress moment
• [07:10] – Elizabeth’s post-pregnancy, in-store embarrassment
• [08:10] – Joe can’t ride at Six Flags
• [09:01] – Reflection on coping via loud public response

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Tone & Style Notes

• The conversation is candid and sometimes irreverent, but the show’s signature mix of humor and empathy shines through.
• Hosts and callers share honestly, often using humor to process embarrassment, and always end with a supportive message about turning negatives into positives.
• The hosts maintain a conversational, supportive tone, making the discussion relatable for anyone who’s faced similar moments.

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Conclusion

The episode creates a sense of communal vulnerability and humor, inviting listeners into a judgement-free space to share their own “wake up calls.” By discussing Kevin Smith’s public ordeal and amplifying listener stories, The Bert Show normalizes these experiences and encourages positive steps forward—reminding everyone to find strength (and even laughter) in life’s most uncomfortable moments.

Transcript

[A]

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[A]

That's a special person right there who can rip denim with their ass.

[B]

You're sitting down. It can happen. You do it in front of your kids. They'll never let you forget that, right?

[C]

And sometimes a stranger's kid, not necessarily your own kids, but a stranger's kid could say something to you, you in public or say something about you in public that you hear.

[B]

Like I had somebody email me a couple of weeks ago about she knew that she had to get on healthy trim because her baby, who was like 4 or 5 years old, was making fun of her back fat in front of other people. And she's like, that's it. Today is the day. I'm going on my diet. And that's really what we're talking about right now with Kevin Smith because he had an embarrassing weight loss wake up call.

[A]

He is not embarrassed at all because guess what, there are two ways he could have handled this. He could have shut the hell up and it would have been what it was and nobody would have known.

[B]

I think in some cases you don't know how big you're getting though, until something like this happens.

[C]

And I also think Twitter I think this is a case where Twitter's responsible for this going on and on and on.

[B]

It could. Cause it's on a couple of days now, probably too long. 404-741-Q100 because the story just keeps going on.

[C]

This is a Hollywood director. His name is Kevin Smith. You know him as Silent Bob in the Jay and Silent Bob movies. And then also he did Clerks and Chasing Amy. So he's the director behind it. But he was on a Southwest Airlines flight and the flight attendant told him that he was going to have to get off the plane. He was removed from the flight because what the airline is claiming is that he didn't pass that armrest test. You have to be able to comfortably put down both armrests in an airline seat so that you're not bothering the other passengers that are seated next to you. You're not sort of spilling over into their seat in order to stay on the flight. And he's even said that in the past couple of weeks he bought two seats for the flight so that he was more comfortable. He wasn't able to do that on that flight. So he was. Was removed from it. Now the airline has apologized for the way that it was handled. Um, I guess maybe they thought they could have used different words or different language or treated him a little better in the process of removing him from the flight. But that still is their policy, that they have the armrest test. And now Kevin Smith has been doing podcasts and yelling and screaming and going on Twitter about it and this and that and the other thing, making a really big stink about how some Southwest Airlines should have bigger seats because America is fatter these days. And how, you know, how he didn't kill anybody. He just eats a lot. Like he's a comfort eater. And so, I mean, he's going on and on and on, but all the headlines have been either like, too fat to fly or Fat gate or whatever it is, but he's sort of perpetuating what's going on.

[A]

And I wonder if the passengers were

[C]

more uncomfortable with that, because I witnessed

[A]

one where I thought she was probably

[C]

like, at the realization.

[A]

I was at Six Flags standing in line for the. One of the rides and one woman

[C]

was just overweight and she tried to

[A]

get on the ride.

[C]

Literally could not buckle the seat belt between her legs.

[A]

And the, the thing that comes over

[C]

your head to clip in for the ride. And she had to be removed from the Mariah.

[B]

So she had to walk past everybody. That's a wake up call.

[C]

They had to stop the. They had to stop everybody from getting

[A]

on the ride, and she had to

[C]

take the walk, and I felt so bad for her.

[B]

Now, I can use the voice disguiser on these if you want. Kelly does. Hey, Kelly.

[A]

Hi. How are you guys doing? I love the show.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Let me caveat this by saying I already put on a weight because my husband asked me to. He liked chunkier women, so I put on the weight.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

The day before our wedding in Miami, our wedding party, and everybody went to the fair, and just as Wendy was saying, we were getting on a ride, the whole wedding party is on, and I'm the last one to get on with my bride sash and everything. And they couldn't pull the bar down and buckle it, so I had to get off. And then my husband felt so bad, he got off. Then the whole wedding party got off, and it was just really, really embarrassing.

[B]

So everybody in support of you got off the ride, too. So everybody walked together.

[A]

Yes. But still, it was just. At that point, I was just like, wow, at some point you put on some weight, but this is just ridiculous, right? At some point you gotta say, just stay on the ride. Stay on the ride. Just get a stop. This isn't a protest. I'm not Kevin Smith.

[B]

All right? That is a weight. That's a weight gain or a weight loss wake up call right there. Hey, Stephen, good morning. You're on the voice disguiser.

[A]

Hey, how you guys doing?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

What happened to me was this is all in one week with my girlfriend shortly after high school. The first day, I actually, I cracked the toilet seat in their home. Oh, damn. Wow. Then two days later, I broke the couch. And then two days after that, office chair broke.

[B]

How much at that point did you weigh?

[A]

At that point, I only weighed 320, which, I mean, that's pretty heavy. But, I mean, I didn't think it was that bad, but I thought maybe the furniture was just bad. But. Well, at least the first time I was like. I thought it was just a cheap toilet seat. And then the couch I knew was cheap, I bought. I bought it for them for 100 bucks, and it was just cheap.

[B]

There's only so many times that you can use that excuse or like the toilet.

[A]

On the third time, I was like, okay, what the. What's going on? This is way too much. This is a nice office chair. I'm actually. I'm at 280.

[B]

Good for you.

[A]

Right now.

[C]

Yeah. The couch, you can make up a store. Like, oh, you don't want to have it on that couch, you know, kind of thing. But you can't do that with the toilet seat or the chair. No, no.

[B]

Over and over and over again. Hey, Chrissy, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[A]

Good morning, guys.

[B]

Hey, what was your embarrassing weight loss wake up call?

[A]

Well, this past weekend, you know, Valentine's Day, my husband and I ever. I had lost a lot of weight last year. My husband had bought me this dress. And so I was able to go and wear it this past weekend being Valentine's Day. And he was like, why don't you wear that dress? And I'm like, no, I can't wear it. And he's like, yeah, you can. I was like, no, I can't. So he's like, go try it on. Let's see what it looks like. And I couldn't even put it over me. I was so humiliated.

[B]

Oh, poor thing. So was that the day that you're like, okay, I gotta lose some weight now.

[A]

Yeah, I've gotta do something. So I think I'm gonna give healthy trim a try.

[B]

All right, go to the website. Okay. Here is Elizabeth. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[A]

Good morning. Love you guys, by the way.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

And my embarrassing weight loss story is that when I was about, I had had my baby and it was about six months after I had him, I was at a department store shopping in the baby clothes section and this lady came up to me and asked me how far along I was. Oh, no, that's the worst. Terrible. So I went home and threw and I had this Empire waste drink thing and I went home and threw every one of them away and I left immediately and I have never looked back. And now I'm £40 later.

[B]

Good for you.

[C]

Yeah, there's some. There's some outfits on women that, I mean, you have to be really, really skinny to pull off. And like a sundress is one of those two empire waisted one. Yes. And when she said that, it reminded me a friend years ago who. Same thing happened. Like she. I think she burned it after somebody went up and asked her.

[A]

Somebody says that you never do ever wear that outfit again.

[C]

You just don't ask unless they start talking about it.

[B]

Hey, Joe, you're the last call. You're on the voice disguiser.

[A]

I was at Six Flags on the gasp, this parachute ride and it would not go up with me on it. Oh, man. I was at my heaviest. It was earlier last summer and I weighed like 360 pounds and I'm down to 280 now.

[B]

Good for you, man.

[C]

Good job.

[B]

I mean, that's really. You can turn that negative into a positive. Was there a whole bunch of people around and they actually put you.

[A]

This place was packed. And I'm still afraid this summer to get back home,

[B]

how scarring that could be. But at least you lost the weight since then, right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. All right. That's a true wake up call. But like Jeff said, Kevin Smith's embracing it. He's like, I'm a big guy.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, he's not.

[B]

He's either doing that thing where he's

[C]

so embarrassed by it that he's going

[A]

to make more noise about the whole thing to try to cover up the

[B]

uncomfortableness, like getting more defiant about it. Yes.

[A]

Which is odd because I don't think

[B]

there's a lot of people on his

[A]

side and I think the more he talks, the fewer people.

[B]

I think that's why he keeps saying, this is the last time I'm talking. And then he keeps talking.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

He can't stop himself.

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