The Bert Show – Vault: What Gender Can Tolerate More Pain?

Release Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Bert, Jeff, Jessica, Jen (plus callers and listeners)
Theme:
A lively, comedic, and candid exploration of the age-old debate: Do men or women have a higher pain tolerance? The hosts mix personal stories, pop-culture references, a look at scientific studies, and even a live in-studio experiment to test their own pain endurance.

Episode Overview

The Bert Show crew launches into the mid-morning with playful but impassioned arguments about which gender can "take it" when it comes to pain. The conversation ranges from colds and childbirth to dramatic in-studio ice bucket challenges meant to physically test pain thresholds, all peppered with good-natured jabs, banter, and listener phone-ins. Besides laughs, the episode offers intriguing personal anecdotes and commentary on gender stereotypes in resilience and coping strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stereotypes vs. Reality: Who Handles Pain Better?

• Cultural Premise: The episode opens with Bert and Jeff referencing the common stereotype that women have greater pain tolerance due to childbirth and monthly PMS, with men being labeled as "wimps" during illness.
• Jessica’s Insight: She pushes back, distinguishing between a need for attention when ill and genuine pain tolerance.
  • “There’s a huge difference between the need for attention that comes with an illness and an actual tolerance.” (01:24, Jessica)

2. Emotional vs. Rational Coping

• Scientific Study: The hosts reference a Bath University study, noting women may feel more pain and have a lower threshold but also tend to have "emotional" ways of dealing, compared to the "rational" approaches of men.
  • “Women also have poor coping strategies that make the problem worse.” (03:16, Host)
  • “Just because we’re connected to our feelings…doesn’t mean we don’t have coping strategies.” (07:19, Jeff)

3. Anecdotes: From Stubborn Husbands to Childbirth

• Entertaining stories abound, including:
  • Men refusing medical help to “work through it” (Jessica’s story of a husband not getting a dangling foot checked).
  • A friend going through dental work totally un-numbed (Bert).
  • Meditating through drug-free childbirth (Jeff’s friend Eve).
  • “You go ahead and pass a coconut through your little pee pee, and then we’ll talk.” (03:09, Jeff, underscoring the intensity of childbirth)

4. Listener Calls: Real-Life Comparisons

• Nipple Piercings:
  • “I said ‘ow’ one time for each boob, and he almost cried like a baby.” (05:48, Allison, Caller)
  • Followed by banter: “Men have more nerve endings in their nipples.” (06:18, Host; with joking references to being a 'nippologist')
• Home Birth:
  • Caller describes his wife delivering their baby alone at home, cementing admiration for women’s pain tolerance. (11:22, David, Caller)
• Broken Ankle While Pregnant:
  • Caller recounts going through surgery without painkillers: “So, I know women have a much higher tolerance for pain than men.” (14:31, Sassu, Caller)

In-Studio Ice Bucket Pain Challenge

[07:31–17:01] Key Segment

Setup

• Inspired by the referenced university study, the hosts decide to test themselves: each submerges an arm into a bucket of ice water to see who lasts longest.
  • “All four of us will put our arms in the water at the same time... and we’re gonna prove who has the higher pain tolerance level.” (08:23, Host)

The Challenge

• Competition is fierce and playful. Jen and Bert are favored; Jessica admits she'd bail early to watch the showdown.
• The hosts exchange jokes about sissying out, “manly things,” and double standards — “You're representing the men now, okay?” (09:21, Jessica)
• Fun commentary on who’s “insulated” enough to withstand the pain.
• Countdown and comedic panic as arms go in.
  • “Three, two, one. Put it in. Oh, good God. That’s not cold.” (11:01, Host)

The Experience

• Everyone’s in visible distress, with hands going numb and participants voicing concerns over potential damage:
  • “Is it possible we’re doing damage? Yeah, I’m pulling out.” (13:45–13:54, Jessica)
  • “It hurts like an SOB.” (13:05, Jeff)
• Jessica pulls out first, physically concerned, and encourages the remaining hosts to "pull out at the same time, not kidding."
  • “You’re doing damage. I’m not kidding. We need a medical expert. Seriously.” (14:14, Jessica)

The Aftermath

• Jen and Bert endure over 11 minutes, before finally capitulating. The pain lingers for minutes afterwards:
  • "It was numb for a while, then it got to another level and then it got to like this third level of horrifying and it just won’t stop. Like, I can’t move my hand right now.” (17:16, Jeff)
  • “Her hand is bright red as compared to the other one... she's in the third level of hell.” (17:35, Jen)

Wrap-Up Banter

• The group laughs about how absurdly competitive they became and jokingly suggests that, based on the outcome, men “won”—though Bert is quick to quip about how empty that victory feels.
• “I would point in the air and say we’re number one, but I have no feeling in my fingers.” (17:57, Host)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gendered Pain:

  • “You guys act like big wimps every time you get a cold… it’s like you’ve just had cardiac arrest.” (01:08–01:10, Jeff)
  • “What is wrong with wanting to be mothered?” (01:43, Jessica)

• On Childbirth vs. Male Pain:

  • “You go ahead and pass a coconut through your little pee pee, and then we’ll talk.” (03:09, Jeff)
  • “Men can never do that.” (02:59, Host)

• On the Experiment:

  • “All four of us will put our arms in the water at the same time... and we’re gonna prove who has the higher pain tolerance level.” (08:23, Host)

• On the Suffering:

  • “It hurts like an SOB.” (13:05, Jeff)
  • “I think you should pull out at the same time. Not kidding. Call it a draw. You’re doing damage.” (14:14, Jessica)

• Post-Challenge Reflection:

  • “Her hand is bright red as compared to the other one... she's in the third level of hell.” (17:35, Jen)
  • “I would point in the air and say we’re number one, but I have no feeling in my fingers.” (17:57, Host)

Key Timestamps

• 01:04: Argument begins on which gender has more pain tolerance.
• 03:16: Introduction of scientific study results.
• 05:48: Memorable caller story about nipple piercings.
• 07:19–07:31: Emotional vs. rational responses to pain.
• 08:23: Hosts begin prepping for the ice bucket challenge.
• 11:01: Challenge starts: “Three, two, one. Put it in...”
• 13:45–13:54: Jessica bails out due to concern for hand safety.
• 14:31: Caller details surgery and pain during pregnancy.
• 17:16: Painful aftermath described by Jen and Jeff.
• 17:57: Wry victory claim: “We’re number one, but I have no feeling in my fingers.”

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is exuberant, irreverent, and honest, with hosts poking fun not just at each other but at gendered expectations about pain and coping. Through stories, jokes, and physical feats, “The Bert Show” blends comedy with genuine curiosity about how we experience and react to pain—and how much of our endurance comes from biology, stubbornness, or the desire to win arguments.
Listeners are left with laughs, maybe a little wincing, and lots to think about the next time they stub a toe or fall ill.