Vault: What Crazy Thing Did You Forgive Your Partner For?

Summary

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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

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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.

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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.

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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])

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

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[Main Host]

The bird show. So if you were watching the news yesterday, of course you saw this.

[Caller 1]

Your Honor, I'm truly sorry for my actions.

[Main Host]

I just want to thank the Gwinnett county and the city of Duluth for all of their efforts. Jennifer Wilbanks in court yesterday.

[Co-Host 2]

Yeah, yeah, she is. The first time she apologized. I mean, what we just heard was the first time she's ever come out publicly and said she was sorry. And she pleaded no contest, of course, that felony charge, making false statements to police. And so what she was sentenced with was 2 years probation, 120 hours of community service. And she also has to pay Gwinnett county about $2,500 in restitution on top of the over 13,000 she already has to pay the city of Duluth. So no jail time for Wilbanks.

[Main Host]

So I'm watching her show up at the courthouse yesterday, and I can't help but notice that she's got that big old rock still on her finger. God. So this thing has only been postponed. It has not been called off. And if you saw any of the footage yesterday, as Jennifer Wilbanks is walking out of the courthouse, there are like 40 guys with cameras, news dudes in her face screaming out questions, you know, and there's her fiance, John. I'm a fool. I forget his last name.

[Co-Host 1]

John, Dumbass. John. I think it's pronounced Dumas.

[Co-Host 2]

Dume.

[Co-Host 1]

No, it's Dumbass.

[Main Host]

It's Dume, man. It's Doumay. So there he is, and they're shouting. These. These press people are shouting out, is the wedding still on? Is the wedding still on? Now, he wouldn't confirm or deny it yesterday but weeks ago, he said he was sticking by his woman.

[Co-Host 1]

Are you still an idiot? Are you still an idiot?

[Co-Host 2]

They were holding hands, walking out of the courtroom. And it's funny even like when you hear TV news cover this today. I heard one reporter talk about. And she was twirling her engagement ring as she heard the sentence come down from the judge. I mean, everybody was taking pictures of her within that engagement ring.

[Main Host]

So I want to take the angle of his friends for just a second. I want you guys to put yourself in the position of his friends, okay? Because all of his friends at one point or another now are going, I can't believe this dude is taking her back. There is no way. I mean, what else could she do to prove to you, dude, that you shouldn't be marrying her? So what I want to ask you guys listening is I can't believe she or he took him or her back after blank. So, like, maybe you have a friend that was in this relationship with a guy or a woman and they did something so bad that you were for sure, like, this relationship can't go on. And she or he ended up taking her back. Because in this case, his friends must have said to him a million times, dude, you know what's gonna happen here? What are you doing? 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. So answer this question. I can't believe she took him back after Blank. Now, what were you gonna say?

[Co-Host 2]

No, I'm trying to think of. I'm trying to think of stories because I know that I've got. I mean, there's so many of these out there.

[Main Host]

I've been in this position. I've been that guy. Like I told you about that party I'm having. I'm living in Maryland. I'm having a party. My girlfriend is there, Chandra, crazy bitch. And I'm sitting there and I'm talking to some girl at my own party, and I'm hammered. It's 12:30, 1 o'.

[Co-Host 2]

Clock.

[Caller 2]

And.

[Main Host]

And I see out of the corner of my eye, Chandra literally sprint down a flight of stairs, runs across the room, and cold cocks me in front of all my friends. My knees buckle, but I'm not going down. I just got hit by a woman. And so, I mean, it turns into like this stupid white trash brawl where I, like, tackle her on the stairs.

[Co-Host 1]

I got my hands around her neck.

[Main Host]

It's just drama. You know, and the next day, what do I do? We've got a vacation planned to the Outer Banks. I get in the car, she gets in the car and we leave for the Outer Banks together, go on vacation. After that we go on vacation and all my friends I'm sure are like, I can't believe he took her back. After that, she just punched him in front of all his boys. What are you doing?

[Co-Host 3]

Can you imagine what this guy John Dumbass would have to say to me. Sorry. To his friends to be a groomsman in that wedding? I don't know how like, can you imagine being like, dude, you gotta go get fitted for your ticket because I'm going to marry her this weekend. And they'd be like, you're going to what? I have to what? Participate in this?

[Co-Host 1]

You have to talk him like, I mean, I think, you know, who would be a better interview than John Dumas? Dumas is dumbass, his best man, Peter Freddie Dumas. And like that's Freddie Dumay. It's like that guy, cuz that guy is his job. 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. You need to tell him and his born again virgin ass that he is no business marrying fake boobs scared of flash crazy eyes girl.

[Main Host]

Hey, Bryce, you're on all the hits. Q100.

[Caller 2]

Hey, how are you?

[Main Host]

Hey, man, you can't believe he or she took her or him back after.

[Caller 2]

My friend Sam girlfriend in high school stabbed him in his throat with a pair of scissors.

[Main Host]

Oh God.

[Caller 2]

He was cheating on her and he took her back and they got married.

[Main Host]

No. Yeah, he got stabbed in the neck by her with a pair of scissors.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Yep.

[Main Host]

And he still married her.

[Caller 2]

Still murder.

[Co-Host 2]

Let me ask a question. Did, did his tux, did the collar cover the scar in his neck from her, you know, her stabbing?

[Caller 2]

A little bit.

[Co-Host 3]

Oh my gosh.

[Main Host]

404-741-1005 now, did you ever at one point or another say, dude, what is up?

[Caller 2]

Oh, we were saying that for years because she was that crazy all the time. But when the scissors accident happened, we were like, yo, come on now, when.

[Main Host]

You'Re dating, you're in your courting period. It never gets any better than that. So she's stabbing you in the neck during the courting period. What is she gonna do five years into the relationship?

[Caller 2]

Exactly. She's sitting in the kitchen with a gun the next time.

[Main Host]

Serious.

[Co-Host 3]

Are they still married?

[Caller 2]

Yep.

[Main Host]

How many years?

[Caller 2]

About 12 now.

[Main Host]

12 years. Oh, my God.

[Co-Host 3]

Does he call it like his wound of love when people ask him about it on his neck? Or what does he say?

[Co-Host 1]

Dude, do you have a tracheotomy?

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

No.

[Caller 2]

He tries not to talk about it, but when he's around us, we know. We look at him funny. He just says, leave me alone, dude.

[Main Host]

How depressing is this? If you're listening to this and you were married four years and you got divorced and you're listening to this story, and you're like, I. I can't believe the couple that got stabbed in the neck before they got engaged has lasted longer than we did. Crystal, good morning. You're on all the hits. Q100.

[Caller 1]

Yes. I have a best friend who. Her boyfriend beat her up three times and they just decided to ask her to move to Texas. So she is up and packing all her stuff, moving to Texas and maybe getting married in a month.

[Co-Host 2]

Are you kidding?

[Main Host]

He beat her up three times, she's still in the relationship and gonna get married to this guy?

[Caller 1]

Yep.

[Main Host]

Unreal. Unreal.

[Co-Host 3]

So sad.

[Main Host]

Can't have fun with that one. But we can have fun with the scissors in the neck.

[Co-Host 2]

I know. What's the difference? But, yeah, I don't know.

[Co-Host 1]

Any injury to the throat is funny.

[Main Host]

And it happened to a guy.

[Co-Host 3]

Yeah.

[Co-Host 2]

What happens to a guy, it's not as.

[Co-Host 1]

I don't know, if something happens to your larynx, your.

[Co-Host 2]

But if the guy. If the guy had stepped, girl would be as funny.

[Co-Host 1]

Is it thorax in your neck or is that the center part of an ant?

[Co-Host 2]

Isn't that a Dr. Seuss thing?

[Co-Host 1]

Oh, that's the lower Lorax.

[Co-Host 3]

Okay.

[Main Host]

Hey, Steve. Steve.

[Caller 2]

Yeah. What's going on, man?

[Main Host]

Hey, man. I can't believe he or she took her or him back after. What?

[Caller 2]

I was the one who got taken back. And back when I was Dan Mac's girlfriend, we were about two years into the relationship and we went on this big, huge, like, family camping trip. And I slept with her mom.

[Co-Host 3]

Oh, dude, no, you did not. And she took you back?

[Caller 2]

She took me back.

[Co-Host 3]

For how long?

[Caller 2]

We ended up dating for, like, another year.

[Main Host]

Are you kidding me?

[Caller 2]

No.

[Co-Host 3]

Did she take you to any more family functions after that?

[Caller 2]

No. Well, I mean, you know, this is the usual, like, birthdays and stuff like that.

[Co-Host 2]

But how did you talk her into coming back?

[Caller 2]

You know, I mean, when she found out, it was one of the situations where I was just kind of realistic about it, and I said, hey, if it ends, it ends. And that's my own stupid fault for doing it. But she was like, no, we're going to stick this out. And I'm like, all right.

[Main Host]

See, 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.

[Co-Host 1]

So when you go get around her mom and stuff like that, like, do you hug hello? Are you French kiss?

[Co-Host 3]

Do you feel her up every time you.

[Caller 2]

It was awkward for a good long time, I'll tell you that.

[Main Host]

Yeah, no doubt, dude.

[Co-Host 1]

And when it's happening, like when you're actually with her mom in your mind, are you like, I'm going up my girlfriend's mom's shirt. I'm going up my girlfriend's mom's shirt. I'm up my girlfriend's mom's shirt.

[Caller 2]

Her mom's really attractive, so I didn't feel too bad about it when it was happening.

[Main Host]

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.

[Co-Host 1]

Yeah.

[Caller 2]

I mean, you get that mindset. So, I mean, I actually.

[Co-Host 2]

I felt bad.

[Caller 2]

I felt like. I mean, I felt really bad for a long time.

[Co-Host 1]

But you know what?

[Co-Host 3]

You know who's going to famous and gonna do this? Kevin Federline. He is gonna sleep with Brittany's mom.

[Main Host]

Yeah. And she'll take him back.

[Co-Host 2]

Our little sister.

[Co-Host 1]

Ew.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

You're right.

[Co-Host 1]

What's her name?

[Co-Host 2]

Jamie Lynn.

[Co-Host 1]

Ew.

[Main Host]

Anyone named Jamie Lynn? Jamie Lynn is gonna get in on some drama.

[Co-Host 1]

Why do you have to say it with an accent?

[Co-Host 3]

Because that's how they say it. They're from Louisiana.

[Main Host]

Good morning, Erica. Hello.

[Caller 1]

Hi.

[Main Host]

Hey.

[Caller 1]

I had a good friend of mine who's been with the guy for nine years, and actually she had a baby by another guy who's gonna get married.

[Main Host]

She had a baby by another guy.

[Caller 1]

Another. Another guy. And they've been together for nine years. And he stayed with her and they're getting married this year and he'.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

Yep.

[Main Host]

Just a constant reminder. That boy's name is gonna be middle finger. Hey, Stacy. Stacey.

[Co-Host 2]

Hi.

[Caller 1]

Good morning, Burchell. I love the show.

[Co-Host 2]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Caller 1]

Hi. I just have to make a comment. The guy that I'm actually dating right now, his ex fiance cheated on him with his best friend. He got shot in the neck from his best friend. And he still took his ex fiance back.

[Main Host]

Good God.

[Co-Host 2]

Oh, my God. Another neck injury.

[Co-Host 1]

Shot in the neck.

[Caller 1]

Another neck inj.

[Co-Host 3]

What is that?

[Caller 1]

And he still took her back they were together for at least two years after it happened, and then they finally broke up after he cheated on her. So then she finally decided to leave him at that point.

[Co-Host 3]

And you hate her, don't you?

[Caller 1]

I have to suffer for it now. That's the bad part.

[Co-Host 3]

Oh yeah, you hate her. Oh, you hate her.

[Main Host]

What is it with the neck, though? I mean, 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.

[Co-Host 2]

Obviously.

[Main Host]

Jugular, scissors or a gun, something. This dude's still taking Jennifer Wilbanks back. He hasn't said that the wedding's not gonna happen.

[Co-Host 1]

He just better watch his neck.

[Co-Host 3]

He's like scissors to the hair are a lot better than the scissors to the neck.

[Main Host]

The Vert show.

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