The Bert Show: "Vault: What Crazy Thing Did You Forgive Your Partner For?"

Date: January 13, 2026
Host & Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & the Bert Show Team

Episode Overview

This episode dives into jaw-dropping stories about partners who forgave outlandish, sometimes shocking betrayals or incidents in their relationships. Sparked by the recent reappearance of the infamous "Runaway Bride," Jennifer Wilbanks, and her fiancé, the cast and callers trade wild tales about the most unbelievable things someone has overlooked for love—including physical assaults, infidelity, and beyond. Through equal parts humor and genuine disbelief, The Bert Show explores the boundaries (or lack thereof) of forgiveness in relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jennifer Wilbanks: The Runaway Bride Returns

[01:01–02:33]

• The show opens with the breaking news of Jennifer Wilbanks (the "Runaway Bride") issuing a public apology in court after her false police report scandal:
  • Sentenced to two years probation, 120 hours of community service, and restitution payments, but no jail time.
• The focus shifts to her fiancé, John, who is still standing by her side, with the media relentlessly questioning whether the wedding is still on.
• The cast speculates on how John's friends must feel, unable to believe he’s willing to forgive such a huge public incident.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “There is no way. I mean, what else could she do to prove to you, dude, that you shouldn't be marrying her?” (Main Host, [02:54])

2. Setting Up the Topic: "I Can’t Believe They Took Them Back After ______!"

[02:54–03:54]

• Bert challenges listeners to fill in the blank: “I can’t believe she/he took him/her back after ____,” inviting stories of forgiveness against all logic.
• The hosts reflect briefly on their own experiences and disbelief at how far some people will go to preserve a relationship.

3. Personal Anecdote: Forgiving a Violent Outburst

[04:00–04:36]

• Bert shares a past relationship story:
  • His ex-girlfriend Chandra physically attacked him at a party, punching him in front of all his friends.
  • Instead of ending things, they left for a vacation together the next day.
• The cast expresses disbelief at forgiving such behavior.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “After that, she just punched him in front of all his boys. What are you doing?” (Main Host, [04:36])

4. Callers Weigh In: Shocking Acts and Forgiveness

a. Stabbed in the Neck—Still Got Married

[06:07–07:16]

• Caller Bryce tells the story of his friend Sam:
  • Sam was stabbed in the throat with scissors by his girlfriend during high school (after he cheated), but still married her.
  • The relationship has lasted 12 years post-incident.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “He got stabbed in the neck by her with a pair of scissors...and he still married her.” (Main Host, [06:31])
    • “She's sitting in the kitchen with a gun the next time.” (Caller, [07:06])

b. Multiple Instances of Abuse—Still Moving In Together

[07:48–08:09]

• Crystal calls in about her best friend:
  • The friend’s boyfriend physically beat her up three times, but she’s now moving to Texas with him and planning to marry.
  • The cast is somber, acknowledging the disturbing reality behind the story.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “He beat her up three times, she's still in the relationship, and gonna get married to this guy?" (Main Host, [08:02])

c. Cheating with Her Mother—Still Forgiven

[08:38–09:59]

• Caller Steve confesses:
  • On a family camping trip, he cheated with his girlfriend's mom. She discovered it—but chose to stay with him for another year.
  • The hosts are stunned and mock the emotional aftermath.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “I slept with her mom... She took me back.” (Caller, [08:54])
    • “That was her cool joke to you right there. I'm gonna make your life freaking miserable for the next year, you son of a...” (Main Host, [09:26])

d. Having a Baby by Someone Else—Relationship Survives

[10:32–10:54]

• Caller Erica shares:
  • Her friend had a baby by another man during a nine-year relationship, but her partner stayed, and they are now getting married.

e. Infidelity, Violence, and...Forgiveness?!

[11:02–11:45]

• Caller Stacy recounts:
  • Her boyfriend’s ex-fiancé cheated on him with his best friend, who then shot him in the neck. Despite this, he took her back and stayed in the relationship for two more years.
  • The cast jokes about neck wounds becoming a pattern in these stories.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can't take her back. And he's holding steady. He's like, oh, you know what? You don't know the Jennifer Wilbanks that I know. This is a good woman.”
  — Main Host ([02:31])

• “Are you still an idiot?”
  — Co-Host 1 (Mocking the fiancé, [02:34])

• “If you are John Mason's best friend, then you should cut off your genitals with adult butter knife because you're not doing your job as a man.”
  — Co-Host 1 (On friends’ duties, [05:21])

• “I can't believe the couple that got stabbed in the neck before they got engaged has lasted longer than we did.”
  — Main Host ([07:30])

• “When you pull off something like that and she takes you back, you must feel like, I can do anything I want in this relationship and she's not going anywhere.”
  — Main Host ([09:59])

• “If you're cheating, walk in the door with a neck brace on, because if she finds out, that's exactly where she's going.”
  — Main Host ([11:45])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:01] – Jennifer Wilbanks court case update launches the topic
• [02:54] – Audience question: “I can’t believe she/he took them back after...?”
• [04:00] – Bert’s story of forgiving being hit at a party
• [06:07] – “He married the girl who stabbed him in the neck” caller
• [07:48] – Caller: Moving in with an abuser
• [08:38] – “Slept with girlfriend’s mom” confession
• [10:32] – Caller: Having a child by another man, still together
• [11:02] – Caller: Cheating and a shooting, but relationship persisted

Style, Tone, and Takeaways

The Bert Show team keeps the conversation irreverent, honest, and often darkly funny—even as the calls veer into almost unbelievable territory. The hosts oscillate between expressing genuine concern (especially in stories of abuse), ribbing each other, and open disbelief at the capacity for forgiveness (and denial) that some people display.

Main Theme:
Love might be blind—but sometimes, it’s downright absurd. This episode shines a light on the unbelievable things people forgive, and the cast’s mix of humor and shock makes for a hilarious, if sobering, conversation about human relationships.

For listeners who want a blend of wild storytelling, listener engagement, and bottomless banter, this episode provides a potent—and sometimes jaw-dropping—morning wake-up.