Vault: What makes you happy?

Summary

The Bert Show: Vault – What Makes You Happy?

Episode Date: July 21, 2026
Theme: In this engaging and heartfelt episode, The Bert Show team and their listeners dig deep into the question, “What makes you happy?” Through real stories, candid insights, and a lot of laughs, the cast explores the different ways people find happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in everyday life.

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Episode Overview

The episode centers around a simple but profound question: "Who has life figured out, and what makes you happy?" The team takes listener calls, shares personal anecdotes, and unpacks perspectives on happiness—ranging from meaningful relationships to fulfilling careers and the joys of everyday moments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who’s “Got it Figured Out”?

• [01:30–02:20] The Search for Satisfaction:
  The hosts question what it means to “have it figured out,” referencing people who carve unconventional but contented paths, like a bartender who travels half the year.
  • Quote (C): “What are you doing in your life that you got it figured out?” ([02:08])
  • They highlight how common unhappiness is—joking that only about 20% of people are truly happy.

2. Listener Stories: Paths to Happiness

• Ben’s Story – Freedom and Faith ([02:28–03:36])
  Ben shares how he works with his dad for several months, then travels, leveraging connections abroad to reduce costs. His faith is a central pillar in his happiness.

  • Quote (F): “I am a Christian. So it’s kind of like that plays into the whole traveling and wanting to see the world which God created.” ([03:23])
  • Hosts playfully call out the advantage of working in a family business.

• Heather’s Story – Love and Partnership ([04:01–04:21])
  Heather credits happiness to marrying her best friend.

  • Quote (G): “I married my best friend.” ([04:12])
  • Hosts note this theme echoes in their interview experiences with musician Rob Thomas.

• Dee’s Story – Helping Others ([04:32–05:03])
  For Dee, giving back and helping others—giving rides, helping with homework, feeding the homeless—provides pure joy.

  • Quote (G): “Helping other people gives me like this pure, simple joy. Like nothing else can compare with it.” ([04:35])

• Terry’s Story – Work You Love ([05:05–05:39])
  Terry, a proud nurse, believes loving your work means never working a day.

  • Quote (G): “If you enjoy what you do, it’s not a job every day.” ([05:11])

3. The Power (or Pain) of Work

• [05:41–06:49] The Cost of a Miserable Job:
  The cast reflects on how work can impact life well beyond office hours.

  • Quote (C): “If you’re miserable at work, that’s at least eight hours out of your day. That’s one third of your life.” ([05:48])
  • Kristin (E) shares a personal story of crying after work, highlighting how toxic workplaces degrade well-being.

• [06:49–07:13] Unacceptable Work Environments:
  The hosts urge listeners not to accept jobs that make them cry, even as they acknowledge the economic challenges.

4. Human Connection

• Victor’s Story – Meet New People ([07:15–08:20])
  Victor’s happiness hack? Make a connection with a new person every day, even briefly.
  • Quote (B): “Meeting new people that you’ve never met before and learning something new or just having a good laugh with a total stranger.” ([07:25])
  • He laments how technology erodes real human interaction.
  • Quote (B): “With Twitter and Facebook… people are really not connecting like they used to. The art of communication is a lost art form now.” ([08:01])

5. Redefining Success and Fulfillment

• Crystal’s Story – Courage to Change ([08:32–09:08])
  Crystal calls in to share her sister’s journey: leaving a high-paying but stressful job to start a fulfilling dog-walking business.
  • Hosts note that the recession pushed many to pursue dreams they previously shelved due to “golden handcuffs.”
  • Quote (C): “They’re making way less money but… their quality of life is so different that the recession has actually been a godsend.” ([08:44])

6. Everyday Moments, Family, and Perspective

• Kathleen’s Story – Children Growing Up ([09:19–10:43])
  Kathleen recounts a bittersweet moment realizing her kids now call her “mom” instead of “mommy,” reflecting on parenting’s fulfillment despite its challenges.

  • Quote (G): “They’re growing up and for me, I mean I get emotional just thinking about it… I thank God for them in my life.” ([09:24])
  • She notes, “Until you have a child, you have no idea the fulfillment that they can give you… But for me, that was a wonderful moment.” ([10:23])

• Facing Mortality – The Cancer Perspective ([11:03–11:41])
  The host shares stories about friends with cancer—one diagnosed (then cleared), one battling—which drastically changed how they value life.

  • Quote (C): “When you face death every single day, it totally changes the way you live… She said to me, essentially, we’re all doing that. I mean, we’re all gonna die.” ([11:03])
  • The lesson: Appreciate the little things, notice everyday beauty.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Art of Connection

• [07:31] Victor: “When you’re standing next to a total stranger and you just start conversation, you never know if you’re going to meet your next best friend.”
• [08:29] Victor: “Some people talk to God. I talk to the Bert Show.”

Fulfillment Beyond Money

• [05:11] Terry: “If you enjoy what you do, it’s not a job every day.”

Perspective from Adversity

• [11:03] Host: “When you face death every single day, it totally changes the way you live… makes her see the greens a little bit greener.”

On Parenthood

• [10:23] Kathleen: “Until you have a child, you have no idea the fulfillment that they can give you. And it’s not for everybody… But for me, that was a wonderful moment.”

Technology & Distraction

• [11:57] Host: “With the iPhone that’s in her face all the time… Put it down. There’s things going on around you that you’re totally missing.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – Introduction to the “Who’s got it figured out?” question
• 02:28 – Ben’s story: Mixing work, travel, faith
• 04:01 – Heather: Marrying your best friend
• 04:32 – Dee: The joy of helping others
• 05:05 – Terry: Doing work you love
• 06:31 – The pain of bad workplaces
• 07:15 – Victor: The happiness of human connection
• 08:32 – Crystal: Finding fulfillment in a career change
• 09:19 – Kathleen: Parenting and growth
• 11:03 – Cancer and appreciating life’s small things

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Episode Tone & Style

Throughout the episode, The Bert Show’s tone is warm, candid, and often humorous. Hosts and callers share deeply personal moments, while the team doesn’t shy away from playful teasing or poking fun at themselves and each other. The approach is always authentic, creating a space where both vulnerability and laughter are welcome.

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Summary

This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the many paths to happiness, emphasizing relationships, meaningful work, self-acceptance, and the importance of genuine human connection. Through listener stories and the hosts’ own experiences, The Bert Show reminds us that happiness is less about following any single formula and more about valuing what resonates deeply—whether it’s travel, helping others, the love of family, or seizing each day with gratitude.

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For more, visit thebertshow.com

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I c dot com what's up everybody? It's Bretzky. And America is turning 250. And I can't think of a better way to celebrate that than playing on an American owned social casino. Spinquest.com with all of your favorite games. Live crabs, bubble craps, live blackjack, there's no better place to play for free and win real cash prizes. Spinquest.com Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[C]

The Bird Show It's a little vague to say exactly what we're looking for here, but I think Melissa nailed it. You know, like, this might be your dude here.

[D]

Okay. Yeah. People who just kind of have it figured out. I was at dinner with some friends the other night and they were talking. The guy was talking about a bar he frequents and there was a bartender there that works part time during the year and saves all his money up to travel the rest of the year. So we were like, this dude's got it figured out. Because every time he comes back and needs more money, he's got a job at the bar. I mean, it's not like he has to give two weeks notice and he never gets to come back to the company. I mean, it's a system that everybody knows about. And so we're like, this dude's got it figured out.

[C]

So who's got it figured out? Like, what are you doing in your life that you got it figured out. I mean, I think if you ask 80% of the population, I mean, 100% of the population, 80% would say that they're not happy. I mean, look at the self help industry.

[E]

Yes.

[C]

I'm kidding. God.

[D]

Right?

[C]

So most people aren't happy. So what makes you happy that you figured out that others haven't? Hey, Ben. Good morning.

[F]

Good morning.

[C]

Hey, Ben, are you the traveling dude we're talking about?

[F]

I am the guy.

[C]

Okay, tell us about this.

[E]

How old are you?

[F]

Well, I. I don't actually work at a bartender.

[D]

Okay.

[F]

Actually a bartender, but my dad has his own business.

[D]

Okay.

[F]

So I work with him for like six months and then I just leave. Cuz he's cuz my dad. So he's like, oh, I see. You gonna take off?

[C]

I'm like, yeah, Melissa saying that you're not.

[D]

Yeah. The guy we were talking about is an actual bartender in midtown. So. But I. But so you, you travel six months of the year and then work for your dad for six months?

[F]

Well, I sometimes travel for about two, three months. I work, come back. And the funny thing is that I grew up in the Middle east, so I spent a lot of time over there and I stay with friends and stuff for free, so I don't spend very much money at all, but I still save and. Cool.

[C]

And you're happy?

[F]

I'm so happy. But I also, I think my ultimate happiness comes from I am a Christian. So it's kind of like that plays into the whole traveling and wanting to see the world which God created and stuff. So. Yeah.

[C]

All right. Thanks. Traveling Christians got it figured out.

[E]

Well, his dad's got it.

[C]

Yeah. I didn't want to say. It does feel different.

[E]

Like it was different than Daddy's from the bill.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

That's a little trustafarian for me because. Trustafarian. You know, the kids that go to Colorado and they have dreads and they play hacky sack and smoke weed and they're figuring out the world, but it's really mommy and daddy that are paying the bills.

[B]

They got 4 million coming to them when they hit 21.

[C]

Right here is Heather. Heather, I want to be a truck. You are happy and you are at peace.

[G]

Yes.

[C]

All right. What is the key to your life?

[G]

I married my best friend.

[C]

Married your best friend. That's a great answer right there and nice. Okay. I don't think you need to talk anymore about that. That makes sense.

[D]

You got it figured out.

[F]

Marry the best friend.

[E]

Who else is like that is Rob Thomas. When we talk to Him. I always feel like that with him, that he's like, happy and at peace because he married his best friend, you know?

[C]

Here's Dee. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[G]

Good morning.

[D]

Hey.

[B]

All right.

[C]

The meaning to life, happiness for you is what?

[G]

For me, it's like helping other people and, like, doing whatever I can. Like, if my friends, like, need a ride, I give it to them. If they need me to, like, help them with homework, I do it. If, like, I don't know, I feed homeless people every Tuesday. Just like helping other people gives me like this pure, simple joy. Like nothing else can compare with it. It's awesome.

[C]

Jen, you can speak to that based on your weekend?

[E]

Yeah, over the weekend, doing that do justice event. It definitely, I think everybody in the room felt really good about giving. Giving away their time and their energy.

[C]

404-741-Q100. Hey, Terry.

[G]

Hey. How are you?

[C]

Good. How are you?

[G]

Fine.

[C]

All right. What do you know that the rest of the world doesn't?

[G]

Well, I know something that you find out what you would enjoy doing for a living. And it's not about the money, but what you like doing for a living. And it will never be a job. And there's something to that. If you enjoy what you do, it's not a job every day.

[E]

What do you do?

[G]

I'm a nurse at Christian City.

[C]

She said proudly. You're like a cheerleader for it.

[G]

I'm very proud of the company and I enjoy what I do and loving people and taking care of them. And I get a lot back in return also.

[D]

Oh, that's good for you.

[E]

I want you to be my nurse.

[C]

I know, I know, right? If you think about it like, if you're miserable at work, that's at least eight hours out of your day.

[E]

At least.

[C]

That's simple math here. That's one third of your life.

[E]

And for a lot of people with commutes, it's an hour getting there and

[B]

getting home, you have to drive to your misery.

[D]

And people who dread like the morning of before they ever get in the car. So it's pretty much a 24 hour misery if you're in a job that you hate.

[C]

You know, I mean, think about it. How could it not affect the other 2/3 of your life? Your sleep.

[D]

Right.

[C]

And your work and your life outside of work.

[D]

Yeah. If you're crying over coffee before you go in, that might be an indication you hate your job.

[E]

I was that way before I came to Q100. The last job I had. I know I had a boss who hated me, and I hated him. And I would come home and cry every night because I hated him so much. He made my whole life miserable.

[C]

That is just totally rescue.

[E]

Yeah, you guys saved me.

[C]

To me, that is totally and completely unacceptable. Crying at work because of work. Because of work, or somebody is yelling at you so much that you are crying or you are fearing going into work because that is miserable is totally and completely unacceptable.

[E]

I wonder if anybody just heard you say that, and they're like, I'm gonna quit right now. I'm gonna go in and quit my job.

[H]

I wonder.

[C]

I mean, no boss.

[B]

Intern.

[E]

Brandon, you're not allowed.

[C]

No boss. Should make the work atmosphere so bad for you that you're crying at work. Are you kidding me? I know it's tough out there to find another job right now. So people are like, I know.

[D]

I'd like to find another job spicing until that, you know, the recession is over.

[C]

Miserable, man.

[D]

That's ridiculous.

[B]

It's gonna be fun, right?

[G]

At 10.

[C]

Hey, Victor. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[B]

Good morning, guys. How are you?

[C]

Good. How are you, man?

[B]

Good, thanks. Listen, I. I have the answer, and it's so easy. Anyone can do it.

[C]

All right, what are you figured out?

[B]

Meeting new people that you've never met before and learning something new or just having a good laugh with a total stranger?

[D]

Okay.

[E]

Okay.

[B]

You know. You know, I know a lot of people like to go out and get drunk and party, and I'm all about that, too, but, you know, when you're standing next to a total stranger and you just str conversation, you never know if you're going to meet your next best friend and you go home thinking, wow, what a great laugh I had. And, like, calling this morning just getting true. I'm going to go to work, and I'm going to say, guess what happened to me this morning that makes my day. I get to talk to Jeff. You never know who you're going to meet.

[C]

It really is attitude, isn't it?

[D]

That's my key to happiness.

[B]

You know, it doesn't matter. And I get the whole Kristen thing, but it's more than that. It's about people with Twitter and Facebook and all that, people are really not connecting like they used to. And I think the art of communication is a lost art form now. And so when you get a chance to talk to someone new, just walk away and smile and say, maybe you affected somebody's life that day.

[C]

That's a great call. Now the pressure's On Great call, Victor. Thank you, Victor.

[B]

Saying some people talk to God. I talk to the Burt show.

[C]

That's cool. Here's Crystal. Good morning, Crystal.

[G]

Hey. I was just calling. My sister actually left a 70 plus paying job to start her own dog walking business and she's happier than she's ever been.

[C]

Yeah, we talked about this quite a bit. I think over the last couple of months that people that were in these high paying jobs and were miserable but you have sort of the golden handcuffs on and because of the recession it's forced them into doing something else, something that they might have always thought about doing. And they're making way less money but they're finding that they can sleep at night and their quality of life is so different that the recession has actually been a godsend.

[D]

Mm. Like your sister walking dogs.

[B]

I find the key to happiness is to just make my point and then never say anything else. Right.

[C]

Here is Kathleen. Kathleen.

[G]

Kathleen.

[C]

Hey, Kathleen.

[G]

Yes.

[D]

Hi.

[G]

Hi. I just wanted to comment that last night I was putting my kids to bed and my 8 year old daughter said good night mom. And my 4 year old son said goodnight mama. And as I heard them say mom and mom, I realized that they don't refer to me as mommy anymore. And it was a bittersweet moment because I just thought, you know, they're growing up and for me, I mean I get emotional just thinking about it. They're, they're growing up and I've, I have a hand in that and they're good children and I, you know, I'm proud of who they are and who they are becoming and it just gave me last night before I went to bed. I just, I thank God for them in my life.

[C]

So these are the moments that married people, you know, like single people or when you get married, how there's like this pressure from married people to have kids and it's really pretty annoying.

[G]

Yeah.

[C]

What Kathleen is feeling is what she, what she's feeling she's trying to pass on to people that don't want to have kids that you can't quite get until you see.

[G]

Right. Well, you know, my sister in law says there's two people in the world, there's parents and those who aren't. We know what it's like not to be a parent. We've all not been parents at one point in our life. And not to say we're better as parents but, but until you have a child, you have no idea the fulfillment that they can give you. And it's not for everybody. I get that. But for me, that was. It was a wonderful moment.

[B]

I have to tell us. Melissa's been telling us for like four weeks now.

[D]

When my frozen embryos sit there and sparkle in the sunlight because of the eyes frozen around them, I know. Well, just for a second. Just for a second so they can sparkle like Edward on Twilight. Then I know. Then I know the key to happiness.

[C]

I have two friends now. One that is fighting cancer and one that found out a couple of weeks ago, the doctor said that he had cancer, and then weeks later found out that they were wrong and doesn't have cancer. And both of those people have said to me, both those instances have completely changed their life. And the one that is fighting the cancer and it's a really tough fight, says it's the best thing that has ever happened to her. When you face death every single day, it totally changes the way you live. And she said to me, essentially, we're all doing that. I mean, we're all gonna die. I mean, she's just facing it every single day. So it makes her see the greens a little bit greener.

[D]

Well, it makes her focus a little more on the small moments because most people ignore my argument always with Katie is with the iPhone that's in her face all the time. It's like you were totally missing. Put it down. And there's things going on around you that you're totally missing. When you're distracting yourself, isn't there an

[C]

application that can tell you what you're missing?

[E]

You know what?

[D]

I bet there is.

[B]

Why don't we. Just out of curiosity, how long is this positivity uplifting crap gonna go on?

[C]

I think you just entered it.

[B]

This is the Birch Show. Get it? The Birch Show.

[H]

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[G]

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