The Bert Show: “Vault: What Do You Do When You Get Blown Off Twice?”

Date: December 31, 2025
Cast: Bert, Carol (Caller), Betty, and Show Commentators

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show focuses on the frustrations and confusion that can arise in the modern dating world—especially after being "blown off" or stood up multiple times. The main segment revolves around a listener, Carol, who shares her experience of being ghosted twice by the same man, prompting an in-depth panel discussion about dating red flags, single parenthood, emotional vulnerability, and realistic expectations in the search for companionship.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Carol’s Story: Two Strikes from the Same Guy

• Initial Encounter ([01:27-04:00]):
  • Carol meets a man at a bar, gives him her number, and he calls the very next day—seeming like a promising start.
  • After a phone conversation, they schedule a movie night at Carol’s place. However, when Carol calls to delay the time due to bedtime for her son, her call goes to voicemail; the man never arrives or calls back.
• Second Chance, Same Result:
  • Carol runs into the same man at the bar weeks later. He apologizes for standing her up, blames being "really, really busy," and charms her again.
  • They end up back at her place. After watching most of a movie and some flirtation, the man asks to "go all the way." Carol says no, he claims "I can wait," then says he’s grabbing something from his car—and never returns. ([04:00])

Memorable Moment:

“He’s like, I’m gonna go out to my car and get my car charger for my cell phone. I’ll be right back. He never came back.” – Carol ([04:00])

2. Hosts' and Callers’ Reactions:

• Immediate Red Flags:
  • Bert and other hosts are shocked at the repeated disrespect, with Bert bluntly declaring:

    “What a moron. Legally, can we give this guy’s first name and last name out?” – Bert ([04:09])

• Questioning Carol’s Choices:
  • The hosts and callers ask why Carol gave the man a second chance, emphasizing that being stood up once is often a deal breaker.
  • Carol explains her vulnerability:

    “This is the first guy that I’ve seen since I’ve been single. I just got out of a three-year relationship, so this is all new to me…It gets lonely, you know, it’s hard.” – Carol ([05:51])

3. Single Parenthood and Dating Standards ([05:12-08:07]):

• Challenges for Single Moms:
  • Another caller, also a single mother, highlights the importance of being cautious about who to bring around her child and home, even when lonely.
  • Emphasis on safety and emotional health—don’t let loneliness lower your standards dangerously.

Notable Quote:

“You don’t know who he is. God forbid he was somebody, some sort of lunatic…Sometimes you gotta think that way, especially when you have a child involved.” – Betty ([10:13])

4. The Reality of Modern Dating

• Motivations and Manipulation:
  • Hosts discuss how some men, unfortunately, see vulnerability as an opportunity:

    “He saw you as soft.” – Burt ([07:56])
    “You’re vulnerable…so he’s thinking, this is a woman I can take advantage of.” – Burt ([07:59])

  • Many men’s intentions are described as primarily sexual; women, especially single moms, can be wrongly stereotyped as “easy targets.”

5. Setting Boundaries and Managing Expectations ([08:12-09:41]):

• Know What You Want—and Why:
  • The conversation shifts to advice on knowing your intentions—whether for companionship, intimacy, or a relationship, and communicating those without apology.
  • Carol articulates her position:

    “I don’t want a relationship, but then I’m not gonna sleep with the first guy that I meet on first night, no matter what I want from him. You know, that’s just not me.” – Carol ([09:19])

6. Panel’s Final Advice and Takeaways

• Actions Speak Louder Than Words:

  • Consistently, the hosts and guests stress that people show their character early, and repeated disrespect is a loud warning to walk away.

    “Forget about the words. Forget about what he says in the bar. He showed you what he was all about. And that speaks volumes way more than the words.” – Burt ([10:59])

  • Relationships don’t magically improve with people who can’t be bothered to show respect at the outset.

    “It will never get better in a relationship than the first couple of weeks, first couple of months of you dating.” – Burt ([06:04])
    “If he’s a jerk in the first five, ten minutes, it’s not gonna get any better than that.” – Commentator ([13:53])

• Don’t Take It Personally:

  • Carol is reminded not to take rejection or rudeness as a personal failing.

    “This has nothing to do with you…she’s taking it too personally. Like, he’s a jerk.” – Commentator ([12:45])

  • Emotional resilience and learning from these patterns is key.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “He never came back.” – Carol ([04:00])
• “What a moron. Legally, can we give this guy’s first name and last name out?” – Burt ([04:09])
• “I’d say the first time… he stood you up, at that point, I don’t know why you [gave another chance]…because you stand me up, it’s over…” – Burt ([04:16])
• “We are constantly showing you, but we don’t…choose not to acknowledge it.” – Burt ([12:57])
• “If he’s a jerk in the first five, ten minutes, it’s not gonna get any better than that.” – Commentator ([13:53])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Carol’s Story Unfolds: [01:27–04:00]
• Dissecting the Red Flags: [04:09–05:51]
• Parenting & Safety Concerns: [10:09–10:59]
• Dating Reality & Emotional Resilience: [12:07–13:53]

Tone and Style

Maintaining a conversational, direct, and at times, bluntly humorous tone, the hosts balance empathy for Carol’s situation with forthright advice and a healthy dose of “tough love.” The dynamic maintains the show’s hallmark of authenticity mixed with laughter and candor.

Summary Takeaway

This episode dives into the brutal truth of dating: people often reveal their intentions early on, and it’s critical, particularly for single parents, to recognize red flags, assert boundaries, and understand the importance of self-respect in the face of loneliness or vulnerability. The Bert Show offers both comfort and reality-checks, rooting for their listeners to demand more and settle less—especially after getting blown off not once, but twice.