Bert Weiss is retiring ‘The Bert Show’ after 25 years: ‘I am at peace’
Bert Weiss announced on air Tuesday that he will be retiring Oct. 24 after 25 years on “The Bert Show.”
“I am at peace in leaving radio,” he said. “For me personally, this is exactly what I need with my life now. I have grown in a way that this doesn’t really serve me as much anymore.”
Weiss, who was recently inducted into the Friends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, got engaged earlier this month and wants to travel and live his life in a way he hasn’t been able to because of the responsibility of the show. He had been thinking about retirement for a long time.
“It’s been a run that I could never have anticipated,” Weiss said. “When I started 25 years ago, we were in a small promotional closet. We didn’t even have an office. I never imagined I’d be here 25 years later.”
Weiss, 58, began the show in 2000 on a brand new station Q100 with a modest signal. He had never hosted a show before, having previously worked under the legendary Kidd Kraddick in Dallas.
He focused his show on relationships and gossip, targeting women ages 25 to 54, and the show became a phenomenon. His philosophy was to be authentic and vulnerable on air, which drew big audiences but could also be a burden, he said.
Weiss had to talk about his divorce a decade ago on air, as well as his engagement break off in 2023. But he also got to share the happy parts of his life like his kids and his engagement to Amanda Coker earlier this month.
“My whole life has been performative,” he said. “I was that little kid always looking for accolades and applause. It seemed natural that I’d get into an industry that is based on ratings and likes and accolades.”
But, “I am finally at a part of my life now where I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to perform anymore,” he added.
Weiss said he wants to enjoy some time off before he decides what his next big move will be.
“I can still climb a mountain with Amanda if I want to,” he said. “I don’t know if I can do that in 15 years. I have enough health and a nice enough nest egg to do those things. If I want to pursue joy the way I define it, I can do that.”
He is leaving “The Bert Show” from a point of strength. His show, which is syndicated in 20 markets, remains popular in Atlanta, a consistent top performer for much of its run. In July’s Nielsen ratings, his show ranked seventh overall in Atlanta and No. 1 among women 25 to 45.
“What a loss for the Atlanta market to not have ‘The Bert Show’ on,” said Melissa Carter, who started the show with Weiss back in 2000 and spent 10 years on it. “It has raised a generation of people. Kudos for him to get a full night’s sleep. He deserves an immense amount of credit to be able to maintain that level of content and consistency. I know people who are my age who have listened since the beginning.”
What Q99.7 (which previously was called Q100) plans to replace “The Bert Show” with has not been announced. Justin Schaflander, market manager for Cumulus Atlanta which includes Q99.7, did not respond to a text or call for comment.
Weiss said he will keep running Pioneer, his podcast network. And his charity Bert’s Big Adventure, which brings sick and terminally ill kids to Disney World each year, will continue.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
