Vault: Would you leave your partner if your parents hated them?

Summary

The Bert Show Podcast Summary
Episode Title: Vault: Would you leave your partner if your parents hated them?
Date: June 3, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show explores a provocative relationship dilemma: Would you leave your partner if your parents strongly disapproved of them? The show features personal stories from listeners, reflections from hosts, and a surprising range of outcomes when family opinions enter the dating equation. The cast discusses generational shifts, rebellion versus family trust, and how much weight parental intuition should carry in adult romantic decisions.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Story: Navigating Holiday Family Visits

• Joanna's Experience [00:01–02:59]:
  • Joanna shares her experience spending Christmas with her boyfriend Jason's family and how differences in family traditions made her feel “uncomfortable, maybe” [00:07].
  • The discussion pivots to the question: If Jason’s parents disliked Joanna, would it end the relationship?
  • Joanna: “If it was like an ongoing and like a year later, dad’s still like, I just really don’t like her, I think it would probably end the relationship.” [02:43]
  • She notes Jason is especially close to his dad, whose disapproval would carry significant weight.

2. Generational Perspective and Parental Influence

• Host and Co-host Reflection [03:05–03:29]:
  • The cast discusses how parental opinions can be more objective and valuable as people mature.
  • Co-host: “As you get older and as you mature, you go, okay, mom and dad are looking out for my best interests. And if they were that emphatic about it, you’d have to listen to it.” [03:14]
  • Younger people might rebel, while older people may weigh family opinions more heavily.

3. Celebrity Example: Katy Perry and Russell Brand

• The team references how Katy Perry’s parents publicly disapproved of Russell Brand, suggesting even celebrities aren’t immune to parental scrutiny [03:34–04:09].
  • Her parents wanted Brand to step up his “spiritual side” to be accepted.

4. Callers Share Real-Life Stories

Caller 1: Proving the Family Wrong [04:32–05:13]

• Fell in love as teenagers; his wife’s family “hated” him, advised her to leave him.
• Stayed together, married for nine years, family loves him now.
• Host: “In some ways it probably fuels the relationship…you guys are coming together over the hatred.” [05:13]

Caller 2 (Lauren): Parental Radar Is Always Spot-On [05:49–07:08]

• Used to dismiss her parents’ intuition, but after multiple incidents where they accurately identified “losers” and “scrubs,” she now trusts their judgment.
• Lauren: “Now, I’m in my 30s…every guy I’ve ever dated, I’ve almost based those decisions on what my parents think.” [05:57]
• Lauren: “[My parents] said, you know what? He doesn’t have much potential. He’s kind of a scrub. So you may want to reconsider.” [06:53]
• Broke up with her boyfriend after her parents voiced concerns; they were proven right again.

Caller 4 (Mark): Unexplained Family Rejection [07:16–09:28]

• Mark’s girlfriend’s family met him, immediately disapproved to the point they moved their daughter to another college and blocked all contact.
• Host: “You were bad news, dude.” [07:42]
• Mark details that he had no tattoos or “bad boy” markers, but was nonetheless strongly rejected.
• Hosts are left curious and want to follow up with his ex for closure:
  • Host: “I gotta know.” [09:31]

Caller 3 (Alison): Parental Ultimatum [09:42–10:42]

• At 18, Alison’s relationship was ended when her parents refused to let her come home until she broke up with a boyfriend they found suspicious.
• Reflects, “being 18 years old and not being allowed to come back to my house, I did break up with him…and realized it was for the best.” [10:20]
• Discomfort at parents being proven right:
  • Host: “Doesn’t that suck when they’re right also?” [10:29]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joanna (on the power of a parent):
  “His dad’s his world…if dad doesn’t, then it’s over.” [02:59]
• Host (on rebellion):
  “If your parents say, don’t be with this guy when you’re young…that’s gonna be the first reason that girl sticks with that guy.” [05:20]
• Lauren (on learning from experience):
  “Now, I’m in my 30s…every guy I’ve ever dated, I’ve almost based those decisions on what my parents think.” [05:57]
• Mark (on unexplained rejection):
  “I would think that I’m every dad’s opinion…oh, man, he’s a great guy. And no.” [08:09]
• Host: “I gotta know [why they hated Mark].” [09:31]

---

Important Timestamps

• [00:01–02:59] — Joanna’s Christmas story and exploration of parental influence
• [03:05–03:29] — Cast debate: Parental objectivity vs. youthful rebellion
• [03:34–04:09] — Katy Perry/Russell Brand as celebrity case study
• [04:32–05:13] — Caller 1: Turning family disapproval into lasting marriage
• [05:49–07:08] — Caller 2 (Lauren): Parental judgment never fails
• [07:16–09:28] — Caller 4 (Mark): Entire relationship ended by girlfriend’s parents
• [09:42–10:42] — Caller 3 (Alison): Forced breakup and parental ultimatum

---

Episode Tone and Takeaways

This episode is light, candid, and peppered with both humor and real emotional stakes. The hosts and listeners swap stories blending self-deprecation, commiseration, and curiosity about what drives families to intervene—and how it shapes relationships. The standout theme is the unpredictable power of parents’ opinions, and the crucial balance between romantic independence and family wisdom.

---

Summary:
If your parents can’t stand your partner, will you—should you—call it quits? For this cast and their callers, the answer changes with age, who’s objecting, and just how much you trust your family’s intuition. Some couples prove the haters wrong, others regret not listening sooner. Either way, when folks dish on love and family, The Bert Show brings it, raw and real.

Transcript

[Caller 1]

The Bird Show.

[Host (Barry)]

Joanna went down to Florida and it was the first time that she was away from her family.

[Joanna]

It was at Christmas time. It was my first Christmas away from my parents, and I didn't really think it would bother me that much. But once it started getting closer to Christmas, I just started getting really sad, you know, because I'm not with my family and his family's so different from my family. So, like, their traditions are different. Like, we celebrate. We, we actually do a big Christmas Eve thing and not Christmas and they don't, they go to church on Christmas Eve and I don't and things like that. So it was just different and just weird. Not weird, but just uncomfortable maybe.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Why did you guys decide to do it this year? Because usually that doesn't happen until after a couple's married.

[Joanna]

Well, last year, you know, we spent Christmas apart and we didn't want to be apart again. And he really wanted me to be down and, and meet the rest of the family because they have like, grandparents and stuff that come over. And he really wanted me to meet his grandparents, his aunts, his uncles, cousins, and everybody.

[Host (Barry)]

Let me ask you a question here because it's one that I had this morning when we were talking about Russell Brand and Katy Perry. Also, let's say you go down to Florida, right, and you're hanging out with Jason's parents and this isn't the first time you've met them, but let's just go ahead and assume for the sake of debate here that it is. And his mom doesn't like you at all, okay? And she says that to Jason, look, this is never gonna work out between the two of you guys. You need it. I can tell you right now, do what you want, but it's never gonna work out. Would Jason end the relationship right there with you based on what his mom thought? Because that's the question I have for listeners this morning also is have you broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend just based on, on your parents initial interaction with that person? They didn't like them. So. And you have, they have so much credibility with you that you broke up with that person. 404-741-Q100 I guess it depends on how

[Joanna]

long we'd been dating at that point. If, like, we just started dating and he, his mom said that maybe, maybe it would influence the progression of the relationship. However, we've been dating for quite a while and if she did come out and say that, I don't think it would influence him because he's a lot closer to his dad. And now if his dad told him that, I think it would be a different story.

[Host (Barry)]

Now, it could be either parent we're talking about here. So let's say it's his dad. Then his dad comes up and says, you know what, really, she just is not gonna work.

[Joanna]

He's very close to his dad. So I think it would just be an issue. You know, his dad's his world. His dad is everything to him. And I do think that it would probably put a big damper on the relationship.

[Host (Barry)]

Really. But he doesn't have so much credibility that Jason would immediately break up with you.

[Joanna]

No, I think he would just try. Okay, we'll try again. Let's see. Maybe next time you meet her. But if it was like an ongoing and like a year later, dad's still like, I just really don't like her. I think it would probably end the relationship.

[Host (Barry)]

Really? Even though things are going great with you and Jason, if dad doesn't, then it's over.

[Joanna]

Yeah. Cause his dad just is everything to him. He means so much to him. He talks about his dad every day. So. Yeah.

[Co-host or Producer]

Well, I think your parents have a new perspective because they're not in the relationship. So they're looking at the relationship and at the person in a completely objective way. So their opinion kind of matters.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

And I think when you're younger, you would want to rebel against your parents and be like, I don't care. Love is the only thing that matters anyway, you know. But as you get older and as you mature, you go, okay, mom and dad are looking out for my best interests. And if they were that emphatic about it, you'd have to listen to it.

[Co-host or Producer]

Right.

[Host (Barry)]

Can you go help Rushmore or whoever's on the phone?

[Joanna]

Sure.

[Host (Barry)]

I was thinking about it this morning because we were talking about Katy Perry and we were talking about Russell Brand, and Russell Brand apparently goes over to Katy Perry's parents house and they're very religious and they did not dig him at all from the start. And they told her that. They even went public with it and said, we don't like the guy, just don't like him. But she obviously, he said something like,

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

there's room for improvement there or something like they, they said something like, unless he started studying the Bible or, or something like that. Like unless he, he stepped up his, you know, spiritual side. They weren't really a big fan.

[Host (Barry)]

I'm looking for the person that broke up with somebody just based on their parents intuition about the person that they were going out with. That's all you needed to hear. And you either broke up or you got broken up with. Because in Katy Perry's case, it certainly didn't happen. But I was wondering, I wonder if it does in some cases and this didn't.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Sure it does.

[Host (Barry)]

Hey, Barry. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 1]

How you doing, man?

[Host (Barry)]

Okay. How are you?

[Caller 1]

I'm doing well. I'm doing well.

[Host (Barry)]

What's up?

[Caller 1]

Mine is kind of a different situation. You know, my, my, my in laws. My wife's whole family hated me. Hated me. We got together when we were 14, you know, straight out of high school, while still in high school. Couldn't, I mean, just couldn't stand the ground I walked on. So they all told her, get away from this guy, get away from him. You know, he's never gonna work out. Now. That has been 15 years ago almost. We just celebrated our nine year anniversary on Monday.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

So you've proven them all wrong.

[Host (Barry)]

So you proved them wrong.

[Caller 1]

Oh, it's been great. We have two young daughters and now they love me. They all love me.

[Host (Barry)]

Yeah. I think in some ways it probably fuels the relationship. Like you guys are coming together over the hatred.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Especially if you're that young. Yeah. If your parents say, don't be with this guy when you're young, like he said they met when they were teenagers, that kind of thing, that's gonna be the first reason that girl sticks with that guy. It's because she's rebelling against her parents and trying to be independent and whatever. But I would think most stories don't quite work out like theirs.

[Host (Barry)]

But I have seen relationships where the parents have so much credibility with the kids that you would follow your parents instinct before you even follow your own instinct. Hey, Lauren, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

Good morning, guys. Excuse my voice, I have a cold.

[Host (Barry)]

You got a case of the Carters right there.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Yeah, sounds like Melissa.

[Host (Barry)]

What's going on?

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

Every guy I've ever dated, I've almost base those decisions now I'm in my 30s on what my parents think, because when I was in my 20s, I used to pick losers and my parents would see him right off the bat. I brought a guy home once after the fourth date because I was living there at the time. When I got home from the date, my parents were like, he's a jerk, we think he's married. And I gave them no information. And come to find out, when I called them later, they were absolutely right.

[Host (Barry)]

Really?

[Co-host or Producer]

Wow. So your parents called him out that he was married. He didn't even tell you?

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

He didn't even tell me. And the way they figured it out is just how fidgety he was acting when he met them. And I think my dad asked him a question like, why are you coming to pick her up so late? So they just put everything together that quick? And I was just like, no, no, y' all are wrong. And they were absolutely right.

[Host (Barry)]

So every guy that you brought home after that, did they have more credibility with you at that point?

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

Yeah, I pretty much listened to my parents. My last boyfriend, I broke up with him.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

They.

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

They liked him, but they said, you know what? He doesn't have much potential. He's kind of a scrub. So you may want to reconsider how far you want to go.

[Host (Barry)]

And how long was it after that that you broke up with him?

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

That was probably April. We broke up in August.

[Host (Barry)]

So they were right again, though.

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

Yep.

[Host (Barry)]

Okay. We need to.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

He's kind of a scrub.

[Host (Barry)]

We need to hire out her parents.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

I know.

[Host (Barry)]

Hey, Mark. Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

Hey, good morning. I just want to say that I. First off, I love the show. Sorry.

[Host (Barry)]

Thank you.

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

But I went to a military college about three or four years ago, and I started dating one of the girls in the resident dorms, and then her parents had got wind of it, and they met me, and not only did they tell her to break up with me the following semester, she got pulled out and went to, like, Southern Georgia or Georgia Southern, like, miles and miles away and has not talked to me ever since.

[Host (Barry)]

No kidding.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Wow. You were bad news, dude.

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

I'm blocked on Facebook. Some of my friends who were friends with her still having contact with her, but they're like, yeah, man, she can't talk to you.

[Host (Barry)]

And it was nothing you said or nothing you did. It's just. The parents hated you that much?

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

They just did not like me. I have no idea to this day what is. I'm very respectful. I said, oh, you know, oh, sir, it's nice to meet you and talk to him and. Yeah.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Do you have, like, really big, like, tattoo sleeves or anything obvious like that?

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

No. Pearson. My dad was in the army. I'm in the army Reserves, like, clean shaven, no long hair. Like, I would think that I'm every dad's opinion. Oh, man, he's a great guy. And no. Can we do an I'm just a farm handshake?

[Host (Barry)]

Yeah, I would love to know that, too.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Fascinating, because I want to know what

[Co-host or Producer]

her parents told her.

[Host (Barry)]

Mark, do you know the segment that we do Called. I'm just curious. Yeah, it's when it. I mean, if, you know, if you don't know it. It's when we just get curious as to things that are really none of our business. Because you're never going to have a relationship with this girl ever again. You really have nothing to lose. Could we pursue trying to get her on just to find out why they hate you so much?

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

Definitely.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

How long did you guys date before you met her parents?

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

It was a couple of months. I mean, it was well into the semester. We started dating the very beginning of the semester, and then we met. I met her parents, I guess I want to say, right before Thanksgiving. And then by Christmas break, things are getting kind of rocky. And I did not talk to her on Christmas or anytime after that.

[Host (Barry)]

They said something so scary to her about you that years later, she faked. She blocked your face on Facebook.

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

Yes.

[Co-host or Producer]

I want to know what they said.

[Host (Barry)]

Yeah, me, too. Mark, let me put you on hold. Don't go anywhere. And we're going to try to research this a little bit, because now you got us all curious.

[Caller 4 (Mark)]

Okay?

[Host (Barry)]

All right. Hold on. I gotta know.

[Co-host or Producer]

Fascinating.

[Host (Barry)]

I gotta know.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

I wonder if they've done that. I mean, her parents could do that to every guy that they meet. But it had to be something about him to be that serious.

[Host (Barry)]

One last call. Hey, Alison, good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 2 (Lauren)]

Good morning.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

How are you guys doing?

[Host (Barry)]

Okay, thanks.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

So when I was a freshman in College, I was 18 years old. I'm now 23. I dated this guy, and he was really, really nice. My family ended up loving him. He came to the house and hung out, but there was just some things that were very shady about him. And my parents realized it. Me not realizing it because I was so naive at the time. And he. My parents, actually, my mom refused to let me come home until I broke up with him. And needless to say, I mean, being 18 years old and not being allowed to come back to my house, I did break up with him a couple months later and realized it was for the best of it.

[Host (Barry)]

They were right.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

Yeah, they were right. Yeah. I wasn't allowed to come home.

[Host (Barry)]

Doesn't that suck when they're right also? Yeah, I know.

[Co-host or Producer]

Because you don't want to admit it. You always want to be right, especially at 18.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

Yes, exactly.

[Host (Barry)]

And if you're living at their house, it is their rules, man. There's nothing you can do about it. All right, Allison, thank you.

[Caller 3 (Alison)]

Thank you. Have a great day.

[Host (Barry)]

Yeah, that one dude, Marcus got me curious. I'm gonna have Tracy try to follow up with him today and see if we can get some answers for tomorrow.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

He said he's like, clean cut, nice guy. Said yes, sir to her dad, like

[Host (Barry)]

they're never going to hook up again. So she would have zero reason not to come on with us and tell us, fill us in. Yeah, at least he'd have some closure on it, too. But it's really more about our closure.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

I want closure.

[Host (Barry)]

It's not about.

[Co-host (possibly Tracy)]

Yeah, get it.

[Caller 1]

The Birch show.