Vault: Will This Couple Make It Through Their World Travel?

Summary

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The Bert Show: Vault - Will This Couple Make It Through Their World Travel?

Date: February 3, 2026
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and more)
Guests: Mandy & Brian

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show checks in with Mandy and Brian, a couple preparing to embark on a year-plus-long trip around the world. The cast discusses the unique pressures world travel can put on a romantic relationship, explores the couple’s plans and preparations, and humorously speculates about the adventures and drama that might unfold. The episode is filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and lots of laughs as the cast and callers contribute thoughts and tips.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Test of Traveling as a Couple

• Relationship Testing Grounds:
  • The hosts agree that travel is a true test for couples.
  • "You have to have a trip together to really know. Like, I always say, in a new relationship, you have to have your first... just to see how you fight, and you have to have a first trip." – Cassie (00:26)
  • Extended travel removes the honeymoon facade: fatigue, stress, and decision-making surface true personalities.
• Give and Take:
  • "It's all about give and take, too. One person generally wants to do one thing, the other person doesn't want to do it. And you have to give and take all the time." – Bert (00:52)

Mandy & Brian’s Story So Far

• Relationship Background:
  • Together for about a year and a half. The original impetus for traveling was Brian’s idea, “I thought it was a great idea, so I just kind of tagged along.” – Mandy (01:22)
  • They planned to leave in September, but Mandy got cold feet, leading to a brief breakup before reconciling and recommitting to the journey (01:22-02:13).
  • Preparations are now in full swing, aiming for a May departure.

The Complex Logistics of a World Trip

• Preparations & Planning:
  • The couple discusses steps beyond the obvious: "I'm trying to track down yellow fever vaccine, and we need to get insurance and all this other random stuff." – Brian (02:40)
  • They are setting up a joint checking account to pool travel funds and prevent petty financial squabbles (05:50).
  • The route begins in Singapore and Southeast Asia, with plans intentionally flexible after that (03:12).
  • Establishing a house renter is the final big preparatory milestone (04:49-05:09).

Financial and Practical Arrangements

• Pooling Money:
  • "We're just setting up a checking account, and it's gonna be a joint account. We just put in equal amounts of money, and everything we buy on the trip comes out of that." – Brian (05:50)
  • They acknowledge the potential for drama: who decides what gets spent on accommodation, meals, or souvenirs? Hosts anticipate comedic and logistical challenges ahead (06:04-07:45).

Prior Travel as a Couple

• While they've gone on a few trips (Miami, Boston, a cruise), they haven't faced major challenges together on the road.
• They have, however, survived camping together—although Mandy admits she misjudged the site and it was "basically like we're just kind of in the middle of the woods. So we just had a lot of time to sit around and hang out, like at our campsite." – Mandy (06:31)

Listeners’ Advice & Parental Worries

• Travel Insurance Tips:
  • Caller Monica recommends companies like “airmed” which can fly travelers home if they experience serious health issues (08:30-09:19).
  • Hosts and Mandy & Brian discuss the real risks of basic medical care in some countries and the peace of mind insurance can provide (09:19-09:35).
• Family Concerns:
  • Mandy’s family is "not big fans" of her extended travel, worried about safety and missing her. Mandy notes, “In that selfish kind of thing of…we want you here with us sort of thing.” – Mandy (09:50)
  • Both families love Brian, and his presence reassures Mandy’s parents.

Open-Ended Journey & Sacrifices

• Trip Length:
  • They imagine traveling for "like a year and a half" but are keeping it flexible: “We’ll do it until we get tired of it or our money runs out.” – Mandy (11:23)
• Missing Life Events:
  • Mandy worries about missing a friend’s pregnancy and baby, Brian is more relaxed about missing milestones (11:32-12:04).

Show Involvement & Ongoing Updates

• Interactive Plans:
  • The Bert Show wants to follow Mandy & Brian on their journey, similar to their previous project with global traveler Suzy (03:32).
  • The show may arrange for tech support (like international phones), encourage the couple to blog for listeners, and promises to link to their site (mandyandbrian.com) (12:06-12:54).

The Cat Conundrum

• Finding a Home for Dewey:
  • A running joke develops about Bert adopting their foster cat Dewey, with much banter around finding the cat a good home (13:13-13:55).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "On a trip, you’re worn down. You can’t do it. And when you finally argue, then you kind of get some realness going on." – Cassie (00:26)
• "If you can travel well together, you can do okay." – Bert (00:24)
• "I really hate to jinx it, but it does seem that we have a renter for the house." – Mandy (04:50)
• "We're just setting up a checking account, and it's gonna be a joint account." – Brian (05:50)
• "If you have this beer, you can buy that cheap souvenir." – Brian, re: negotiating purchases from their pooled money (07:45)
• "We'll do it until we get tired of it or our money runs out." – Mandy (11:23)
• "We have a cat to get rid of." – Mandy (13:13)
• "The first thing I’ll do is I’ll rename him Windsor Parkway, because that’s where he’s going to be living." – Bert, joking about adopting Dewey the cat (13:45)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-01:22 – Setting up the couple’s background and the idea of travel as a relationship test
• 01:22-02:13 – Mandy recounts the couple’s original plans, the moment she got cold feet, and their breakup/reconciliation
• 02:40-03:12 – Brian details all of the unexpected logistical tasks required for world travel preparations
• 03:32-03:56 – Show plans to follow Mandy & Brian’s trip, referencing a former solo travel segment
• 04:49-05:09 – Status update: finding a renter for their home as the last big step
• 05:17-06:31 – Discussion of their past joint travel and the camping story
• 07:45-08:26 – How they’ll handle the joint budget and day-to-day spending negotiations
• 08:30-09:47 – Monica calls in with insurance tips, leading to a discussion about medevac policies
• 09:47-10:41 – Mandy on dealing with family concerns
• 11:07-11:32 – The proposed timeline of the trip and possibility of longer/shorter duration
• 12:06-12:54 – Show plans to support and follow their adventure, with talk of blogging and phone sponsors
• 13:13-13:55 – The group jokes about adopting Dewey the cat

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Final Takeaways

This episode blends humor, relationship wisdom, and real-world travel advice, offering listeners a chance to root for Mandy & Brian as they take a leap into the unknown together. Above all, it captures the anxiety, excitement, and comedic potential that comes when a couple trades comfort for adventure.

Listeners are left looking forward to following the couple’s journey—and perhaps to finding out who, if anyone, takes in Dewey the cat.

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Transcript

[A]

The Burt Show, Q100 and the Burt Show. It is 9:12. In a couple of seconds here, we'll talk to Mandy and Brian. They've had a dream to travel the world together. They're not married, and they're gonna travel. Like, even if you take a weekend with somebody you're just going out with, I think getting through that Weekend speaks Volume 0 about your relationship.

[B]

If you can travel well together, if.

[A]

You can travel well together, you can do okay.

[C]

You have to. Yeah, you have to have a trip together to really know. Like I always say, in a new relationship, you have to have your first. Just to see how you fight, and you have to have a first trip. So you kind of get. Instead of. That's where the politeness kind of comes down. Like, when you first date, you're showing your giving your best foot forward or whatever, and so you're trying to be polite and sweet and say the right thing or whatever, but on a trip, you're worn down. You can't do it. And when you finally argue, then you kind of get some realness going on.

[A]

And it's all about give and take, too. One person generally wants to do one thing, the other person doesn't want to do it. And you have to give and take all the time. If you can travel well together, you'll be all right. So they have a dream to travel around the world together, and we just may be following along with them. All right, Mandy, Brian, you guys there?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Hey, how you guys doing?

[D]

Good. How are you?

[A]

Good. Mandy, it's been a while since we talked to you, so just refresh us a little bit on exactly why you guys haven't taken this trip yet and how long y' all been going out.

[D]

Brian and I have been together probably about a year and a half now. And when we started dating, he had this idea of he wanted to travel, and I thought it was a great idea, so I just kind of tagged along. And as our relationship progressed, we got kind of serious about, okay, we're, you know, we're together when we're really going to do this. And so we had planned to leave back in September, and a few months before then I kind of chickened out and thought, oh, my God, I have so much I'm leaving behind. This is big. And I completely chickened out. And so we got, you know, he thought he was going to go when we broke up for a little bit, and then he decided to stay, and we got back together. And then a little bit later, I thought, you know, I still Want to do this, I'm going to regret it it if we don't. Let's just. Let's just do it. So we're now working towards getting rid of our stuff and getting out of here, hopefully in May.

[A]

All right, Brian. Wow. So it's coming up quick. Brian, is there anything you want to add to the history of the relationship?

[E]

No, I think that pretty much covers it.

[B]

How long were you all broken up?

[D]

Right?

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

For what reason?

[E]

Because I was still going to go, and she decided to stay here.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And you just said, you know, you're getting things ready to go. What. What do you do? What's the process in getting ready for a trip around the world?

[E]

Like, there's so many things that you don't even think about. Like, the first thing you think about is, well, I gotta get rid of all my stuff and I gotta save up money. Like, that's what everybody thinks about. But then now we're dealing with, you know, I'm trying to track down yellow fever vaccine, and we need to get insurance and all this other random stuff. You know, we gotta, like, set up an account to pool our money for the trip and that sort of thing.

[B]

Do you guys have it mapped out where you're gonna start and where you're gonna end?

[E]

We have it mapped out where we're gonna start, but I think kind of the appeal of the trip is that it's sort of not set in stone. Right now we're sort of planning a few days around May 10, somewhere in there, catching a flight to Singapore and starting in Southeast Asia and then seeing where that takes us.

[A]

We gotta get you guys in touch with Susie. I mean, we did the same thing a couple of years ago with around the world. Susie, who was traveling the world as a single woman all by herself, and we followed her. Each week she would call in from a different corner of the earth and we would talk to her about what's going on, traveling as a woman. And what we want to do with these guys is do the same thing. Because it's a little different angle here. Because, like we said before, traveling together, man, that brings up issues quick.

[F]

Really quick.

[D]

Yeah, well, and it's. What we're doing is kind of different from just taking a vacation. Like, a vacation is just nice and relaxing and everything's kind of our plan. But we have to haggle every day for where are we going to stay and where are we going to go tomorrow? So, yeah, we definitely had to have a lot of talk about, well, what if I want to do this, or is it okay if I buy stuff and, you know, and had to. How are we going to compromise on this?

[C]

I definitely want to follow you guys.

[A]

Why do I have a feeling, like, a couple of months into this, Ryan is staying and, man, he's hosting the show with us.

[D]

Someone's going to be living in my house, and someone else will have my job, so I don't really have anywhere to come back to. Once I get rid of everything, I'm kind of gone.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

The last time we talked to you, I think we were waiting for you to sell the house, and that was the last piece of the puzzle. And when you did that, then you guys could start taking this thing a little bit more seriously. So it appears as though that's happening now.

[E]

Well, we don't.

[D]

I really hate to jinx it, but it does seem that we have a renter for the house. They've applied, and I've accepted the application, and hopefully this week, we're going to be signing a lease, and they're going to move in either April 15th or May 1st or sometime within that time span. So hopefully that will fall into place completely with the contract in the next few days.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

The obvious question here also is, have you guys traveled a lot together already?

[D]

Not really.

[B]

Where have you gone together?

[A]

Miami.

[E]

I mean, you know, we've spent, you know, a few days here and there in, like, Boston, and we did the cruise thing.

[B]

That's been on a couple trips together.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Nothing really where they've had to struggle together, though.

[B]

Sure. But at least they have traveled together. This won't be their first trip away.

[A]

Right.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

And how are those flight or trips, like, is it where you guys were each paying your own way, or were you truly traveling as a unit where the money was pooled and all that?

[E]

Well, what we're doing, actually, like, I'm going to do it today, is we're just setting up a checking account, and it's gonna be a joint account, and we just put in equal amounts of money, and everything we buy on the trip comes out of that.

[F]

Okay.

[E]

The easiest way to do it, rather than, well, you know, I paid for this. You need to pay for that now, and then you're $10 ahead. Whatever.

[A]

Beautiful. Yeah, that's good for us. That's really good for us. That's gonna be good stuff right there.

[B]

Pessimistic.

[A]

No, I'm just saying it makes good drama.

[F]

We're gonna have fun with that.

[C]

The one thing that I think a trip that couples can take that can really test their patience with each other is like, have you ever camped together?

[D]

Yes, we have camped together.

[C]

Okay, and how did that go?

[D]

I think that was fine. I mean, really, the only problem is, and I will take the blame for this, I picked a really cool park, But I didn't realize that the camping part is nowhere near as cool as, like, the day trails. So we hiked in, thinking we were going to have all this time to play and explore these really cool canyons. And where the campsites are, it's kind of far away from that. So we're just. It was basically like we're just kind of in the middle of the woods. And so we just had a lot of time to sit around and hang out, like at our campsite. So let's play Yahtzee again, which is.

[A]

A great story to tell. And that's a great story to tell and one that you can deal with when you know that you're going to be home on Monday morning.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

But if you're seven months into a year long, you know, traveling campaign and that happens, the attitude may be a little bit different.

[C]

What I think is going to be fine.

[F]

What I think is going to be fun to listen to, although I'm sure it will not be an issue, though, is with that, with the joint checking account of the joint, you know, dollar amounts. So you guys are chairing everything. You're going to go to a hotel, that one of you is going to think it's too expensive, or you're going to have a meal, or like, if one of you goes out separate from the other and comes home with a really great souvenir from that joint account that you each put money in. So you're each going to have a say. Like, are you negotiating the terms of who spends what before you leave?

[E]

Well, yeah, we kind of talked about that a bit. I mean, that is going to be an issue. Sure. But we figured out, you know, all right, you know, if I have this beer, you can buy that cheap souvenir. And, you know, twice a week we need to stay in a nicer place so we can shower, that sort of thing.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Do you have a daily budget?

[D]

Not really where we are, really. I mean, like in Southeast Asia, the budget's gonna be a lot lower than if we end up in, like, Eastern Europe or something. So it may just kind of change depending on, like, what the going rate is. We just agreed to try to just be as cheap as possible, Right?

[E]

Yeah. And it's hard to figure out, like, how much you're gonna spend just reading the Lonely Planet guide. You know, you get there and it's different.

[A]

Monica has some advice for you. Hey, Monica, you're on Q100.

[G]

Good morning, y'.

[A]

All.

[D]

I love your show.

[A]

Thank you.

[G]

This is very exciting for them. And I just wanted to share a tip about traveling that you may not have thought about. Now, he did mention travel insurance. There's a company that I have heard of. I don't know much about them, but.

[D]

I've heard of them. They're called. I think they're called airmed.

[G]

And if you're traveling the world and something happens to you, like, let's say you. You break your leg or you get.

[D]

Really sick or who knows what could.

[G]

Happen in any of these countries?

[D]

Like, he was saying yellow fever, all.

[G]

This stuff, they will actually fly you home to the States for your medical care, which to me is priceless, no matter what it costs. And I don't think it's very expensive. But I had just heard of it last year, and I thought, man, if I ever go on a world trip, I'm going to totally get this insurance. And I just wanted to share that with you in case you wanted to check it out.

[A]

Yeah, Suzy was telling us that she ran into that, too. I mean, there are some places in the world where they are literally performing dentistry in the streets. I think she said it was Calcutta. So to have that kind of insurance and that kind of peace of mind and safety net, and that may be something you guys want to look into.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

Oh, definitely. Yeah.

[E]

That's a big part of travel insurance. We were looking at medics, but it's the same sort of thing as airmed. You know, it's like minor local coverage, or if it's a severe event, we'll fly you home.

[B]

Mandy, how does your family feel about you traveling?

[D]

You know, honestly, they're not big fans. Well, they like me. They know that I love to travel, and so they love me going on short trips. Cause I can go and take pictures and come back and tell them about it. But this one, I think it's a little harder because I'm gonna be gone for so long. And I keep trying to tell them if this was someone else's kid, you'd probably think this was really cool. And they've kind of admitted that it's cool and it's adventurous, but in that selfish kind of thing of. And mom and dad are gonna call you selfish and that selfish kind of we want you here with us sort of thing. And also just worrying about me.

[F]

So do they have problems with you.

[D]

Hanging around to it, but not big fans.

[F]

They have issues with Brian.

[D]

No, they both love Brian. And my dad, even last night when I was talking to him, he said something about be careful or be safe. And I said, well, Brian's, you know, gonna take really good care of me. And my dad said, I know. And that's part of why, you know, I feel, I feel better about this and I feel okay with this because I know you'll be with him.

[A]

I would eventually love my five and a half year old, when he gets older, to travel and see the world. But I know that I'll have the same kind of insecurity that your folks have. I mean you're just so out of control of the situation and I think your kids are always, your kids, you're.

[D]

Always gonna worry, you know, and this is the distance of how long we're gonna go without seeing each other. So keep telling them, you know, meet me somewhere. And so that way, you know, they get to travel and see their daughter.

[B]

That's a good idea. Something to look forward to.

[A]

Have we established that this is a year long trip or is this open ended?

[E]

Actually we're saying like a year and a half.

[F]

Okay.

[A]

That is a long time. You know, when I was just in Chile a couple of weeks ago and I met people that had been traveling for three years, I don't know how.

[F]

They could do it.

[D]

I wish we had that kind of money or you know, we might because we're kind of open ended and you know, we'll do it until we get tired of it or our money runs out. But yeah, we're saying like a year or two.

[B]

Do you already know about big events that you're going to miss, like friends weddings or babies that are set to be born, things like that?

[D]

Nothing definite, but I do have a friend that's trying to get pregnant and so I'm like, oh no, I'm going to feel really terrible if I miss, if she gets pregnant and I miss the pregnancy and the baby.

[A]

How about you Brian? Is there anything there?

[E]

Not that I know of. Oh wait, no. Actually I just found out last week one of my own buddies is having a kid.

[A]

But you don't really care for that.

[E]

Yeah, she lives in St. Louis. Anyway, so it's like eh, you guys don't really get into the whole baby thing.

[F]

You get to meet the kid when he's seven. Don't worry about it.

[A]

Whatever. All right, well let's touch base with you guys again in A couple of weeks. I think the next step here is when you get that contract signed, then we'll start to work on our end also. Like, we'll call Verizon Wireless because they were the ones that helped us out last time, and hopefully they this time also. And we'll get you guys a phone or a couple of phones and where you travel, we'll just follow along with you guys, and you can blog for us. And we'll do the same thing that we did with Suzy. If you guys are up on it.

[E]

If you're talking to Verizon, see if you can get us out of our contract, too.

[A]

Let me see if I can pull some strings for you. It's gonna take somebody more than me to do that for you.

[B]

That's funny.

[A]

We are also gonna link on over to their website right now. You guys have redone the website, haven't you?

[E]

Yeah, I'm still working on adding the slideshow, but we don't really have any travel pictures yet, so. But. Yet.

[A]

And it's mandyandbrian.com, right? Yeah, yeah, we have a link on over to it from our website. All right, let's. Why don't you guys give us a call when you've got the renter in the house and you're 100% sure you're taking off.

[E]

When we buy our tickets, we'll let you know.

[A]

Okay. Is there anything that we can do for you guys on our end? You need anything else?

[D]

We have a cat to get rid of.

[A]

A cat?

[E]

Yeah, that's true. We gotta get Dewey adopted.

[C]

Bert loves cats.

[F]

Yeah, just bring it over to Bert's house.

[B]

Oh, that's perfect for you, Bert.

[C]

That is such a sweet offer you.

[A]

Just made to them.

[B]

Oh, totally. What's your kitty cat's name?

[D]

His name is Dewey. We didn't actually name him. I'm supposed to just be his foster mom. And it kind of seems that the agency that I'm fostering him through has kind of forgotten about him. And so I'm really afraid that if we give him back, they're just gonna. I don't know what they're gonna do with it.

[B]

Yeah, well, Bert would never let that happen, so Dewey has.

[A]

The first thing I'll do is I'll rename him Windsor Parkway, because that's where he's going to be living. We can. We'll find somebody to take your cat.

[D]

Okay, great.

[A]

Okay. Just give us a call back when you guys are 100. Sure.

[C]

I know. I don't want you to give her that offer.

[A]

What? To find the cat? It's not going to be me, I promise.

[C]

We were joking, but there's an animal rights issue here.

[A]

If it was a dog, I'd entertain the idea.

[C]

Rights issue.

[A]

Tori wanted them to know that it's insuremytrip.com is the website that you can go to if you're gonna do some traveling. They'll fly you back to the States if anything happens. See you. The bird show.