1: One Bert's Big Adventure Mom Shares What To Expect This Year!

Summary

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The Bert Show

Episode Title: One Bert's Big Adventure Mom Shares What To Expect This Year!
Date: February 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

This special episode of The Bert Show focuses on the 24th year of "Bert's Big Adventure"—a long-standing tradition taking children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families on a magical trip to Disney World. The hosts bring back Caitlyn, Roy, and Emma—the family of Liam, a past participant—to share heartfelt stories, lessons learned, and advice for new families gearing up for the adventure. The conversation dives deeply into what makes Bert's Big Adventure more than just a one-time trip, highlighting the lasting sense of community, connection, and mutual support.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Legacy and Evolution of Bert's Big Adventure

Timestamps: 01:59–04:18

• VIP Experience: The trip starts with a private flight and a sense of exclusivity ("The VIP right there, man." – [C] 01:59).

• Reflection on Growth: Bert and the team reflect on the accidental longevity of the initiative and how the Atlanta community embraced it.

  "When I got hired on Q997, I thought we would last one year...No, I did not think that Burt's Big Adventure would be around this long."
  — Bert ([C], 02:44)

• Focus for Bert: Now that Bert isn’t juggling the daily radio show, he can immerse himself in the experience and the pride of the community’s collective effort.

• Community Support: The show emphasizes the vital role of listeners' donations and involvement, and encourages everyone to follow the journey on social media and the event website.

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2. Reuniting with a Previous Family: The Importance of Community

Timestamps: 05:13–08:23

• Tradition of Wisdom: Each year, a family from the previous trip is invited back to share what to expect with new families. This year, it’s Liam’s family.
• Memorable Experience – Andy Grammer Surprise:
  • Caitlyn recounts a powerful moment when Andy Grammer performed "Don't Give Up on Me" for Liam, a song that comforted him during his battle with epilepsy.

    "Disney was awesome. But, hey, that Andy Grammer..."
    — Caitlyn ([E], 07:17)

  • The personal touch and emotional support from the show’s team created meaningful, unforgettable memories.

    "Not a dry eye in the house."
    — [D], recalling Andy Grammer serenading Liam ([07:47])

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3. Passing the Torch: Advice and Insights for New Families

Timestamps: 08:23–10:51

• Being ‘Just a Mom’: Caitlyn shares how the trip allowed her to step out of the “medical parent” role and simply enjoy being present with her children.

  "Disney gave me a chance to be a mom, just a mom. And that's something that I've never really gotten to be."
  — Caitlyn ([E], 08:36)

• The Ongoing Community: After the trip, reunions and friendships continue, providing support through shared experiences—birthday parties, milestones, and even tough medical appointments.

  "The way that you guys continue to pour into us...if I have like a hard appointment for him coming up, I'm putting on a Bert shirt. Like, that's my cape now."
  — Caitlyn ([E], 09:42)

• Unexpected Consequences: The adventure extends well beyond Disney, giving families confidence, connections, and a lasting sense of belonging.

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4. Building Lasting Bonds: A Real Family

Timestamps: 10:51–13:56

• Hosts’ Reflections: Bert and Kristen discuss how what started as a simple trip has grown into an essential support community for families of children with serious illnesses.

  "The trip down to Disney World is always going to be at the center of what we do...But the sense of community and the family...we never saw that happening. And that might be the most important part of Bert's Big Adventure."
  — Bert ([C], 12:18)

• Validation and Empathy: The need for people who genuinely understand each other's struggles comes up repeatedly.

  "It's a whole different story when you have somebody else that has a child that has to deal with seizures...to have that person that you can, like, truly, truly lean on...it's invaluable."
  — Kristen ([D], 13:16)

• Welcoming New Families: The message to this year’s group—prepare for genuine relationships: support, occasional annoyances, and a whole new family.

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5. Lighthearted Moments and Laughter

Timestamps: 13:58–14:24

• A Joke from Emma: In a delightful closing gesture, young Emma shares a playful joke with Bert:

  "Bert, what's this? [Points to nose] What am I holding? Nothing. Bert knows nothing."
  — Emma ([E], 14:17–14:24)

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Notable Quotes

• On Legacy and Community:
  "From the very first start, I mean, we said we don't know what we're doing with Burt's Big Adventure. And Atlanta really embraced it..."
  — Bert ([C], 03:42)

• On Support and Coping:
  "I always say, like, if I have, like, a hard appointment for him coming up, I'm putting on a Bert shirt. Like, that's my cape now."
  — Caitlyn ([E], 09:42)

• On Connection:
  "Because people feel so alone, like, nobody gets what I'm going through. Nobody understands the daily struggles, and you really honestly can't, can't. Until you walk that walk."
  — Kristen ([D], 12:55)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:59 — Episode begins with Bert's Big Adventure trip logistics
• 02:44 — Bert reflects on the origins and longevity of the adventure
• 05:13 — Introduction of returning family (Liam’s family)
• 07:17 — The Andy Grammer story and its impact
• 08:36 — Caitlyn describes receiving the “gift” of just being a mom
• 09:42 — On the continuing community and newfound strength
• 12:18 — Bert encapsulates the journey from a singular trip to a family movement
• 14:17 — Emma delivers her joke to Bert

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Tone and Takeaways

The tone throughout is affectionate, earnest, and dotted with humor—a hallmark of The Bert Show. The hosts and guests remain candid about the challenges families face, while also celebrating the laughter, support, and profound connections fostered through Bert’s Big Adventure. Whether you’re a new family joining the trip or a longtime listener, the episode conveys the message: “Welcome to the family—tears, jokes, and all.”

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

The Birch show spurts Big Adventure 2026 just a couple of hours, we take our own private Endeavor aircraft down to Disney World. That's where it starts. The VIP right there, man.

[D]

Well, yeah, I mean that's. This whole trip is nothing but magical moments in vip. So we are here at the Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel in our. In our. In our ballroom. Everything's ours in the Birds Big Adventure Ballroom. And we are gearing up for our big Trip down to Disney.

[C]

We're.

[D]

We do this every single year except for one year, which has thrown me and I hate it so much.

[C]

It's not congruent.

[D]

It's not congruent. I need the numbers to align. So this is the 24th year of Burt's Big Adventure. Did you ever think when you and Stacy started this 24 years ago that here we would be sitting in this ballroom?

[C]

When I got hired on Q997, I thought we would last one year. So, I mean, I thought the radio show would last one year. So, no, I did not think that Burt's Big Adventure would be around this long.

[D]

So here you are 24 years later. There's been 23 trips because the pandemic had to screw it up for us one year. But, yeah, it's just been. It's been an incredible legacy. And I'm so glad you started this.

[C]

Yeah. As I thank you. And you're a huge part of it. Huge part of it. It was really cool being in the hotel last night. And from like the check in desk to where we are right now, there's sort of a whole bunch of different banners up of Burt's Big Adventure, us with the kids, the COVID from the magazine, over and over and over again. So as I was walking down from check in here, it was kind of like going through memory lane. Yeah. And I think I told you this before. I know I did, Kristen, is that this year is a little bit different for me because this is the only thing I have to focus on now that I'm not doing the Birch show anymore. You know, you always sort of have a whole bunch of, like, I don't know, plates spinning in the air feels like. And you're juggling so much. But this year is a little bit different for me, so I really get to slow down and take it in. So while I was walking in that hall and I was taking a look at all of those magazine covers for Burke's Big Adventure, all the memories from all of the years kept flooding back and just this sense of pride that what we have all done and this was just. I mean, Stacy and I started this, but it took an entire community to put this trip together for this many years. From the very first start, I mean, we said we don't know what we're doing with Burt's Big Adventure. And Atlanta really embraced it and helped us from the start and is doing it even to this day.

[D]

Yet. None of this, absolutely none of this would be possible without you, our listeners, and the Donations over the years. You guys are the ones that make this trip possible. And I want to encourage you, if you've ever donated a penny to Burt's Big Adventure, please follow along. We have an incredible team of photographers and videographers. Our girl Cassie is going to crush it on social. Social media like she always does. So, Bert, Burt's Big Adv, short for adventure, you can do. You follow that on social media and then also check the website, Burt's Big Adventure.org because these photographers are, like, in the park all day taking photos, and then that night they come back, edit select photos and put them up on the website so you guys can follow along with us. And we want you to see the smiles on the family's faces because it's because of you that you've created them.

[C]

So each and every year, we bring back a Burt's Big Adventure family from the previous year to sort of tell this year's families exactly what to expect. And we brought back Liam's family this year, Caitlyn and Roy and Emma. I love this family so much. How were the couches last night? Did you guys end up crashing in the lobby last night? Yeah, no, we ended up in the room. We were walking. Kristen and I and Amanda were walking up to our rooms, and these guys came in last night, and we're going to spend the night there. But they were on the couches in the lobby, and I thought, man, did we forget to book them a room. So go ahead, crash on the couches tonight, guys.

[D]

They were waiting on that pizza delivery man.

[C]

How you guys doing this morning?

[E]

Good. It's kind of weird to be here, but not be here. Yeah, in a way, it's kind of. It's cool, though, to kind of like, pass the torch to the families this year.

[C]

You could have held some leverage here and said, look, if you really want us on the show, take us on the trip again.

[E]

I mean, I have a new premise that, like, you just recycle the old families now. Ah, you could start with us.

[C]

Okay. And we don't. And we don't bring any new families.

[E]

No, just. Just the old ones.

[C]

Okay, we'll run that by the board and we'll see if they go for that.

[D]

Like, we're capped out on new families.

[E]

Sorry.

[D]

We just have to start taking all our former families.

[E]

Just pick one.

[C]

Yeah. Right. So for those that don't remember you guys from last year, tell us about Liam and that really special experience we had with you guys at Buckhead.

[E]

Okay. Buckhead.

[C]

Yeah.

[E]

So we got to See Andy Grammer, because that was our, like, fight song. When Liam was diagnosed with epilepsy, he was having hundreds of seizures a day. And through that, I would sing Andy Grammar to him. Don't give up on me. That's how I timed his seizures. And on the trip coming home, you guys decided to put the Kleenex next to me, let me know that we would be seeing him, and we'd get to meet him. And that was, like, the coolest thing. I'm always like, disney was awesome. But, hey, that Andy Grammer.

[C]

Yeah, he comes in there, it was just you guys. It was just you guys and us. And he basically did a show for you guys backstage.

[D]

We were at the Buckhead Theater and got to go through the artist entrance in the back. And then we walk in and out walks Andy. And then all of a sudden, it was just, like, just Liam and Andy in the room. And he gets down on Liam's level, and they have a conversation. You tell him the meaning behind that song, and then he looks at, you know, one of his roadies, and he's like, go grab my guitar.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

And then they grab the guitar. And he did, like, just. He serenaded Liam and, like, the entire family with the song that has so much meaning for you. And it was just. There was not a dry eye in the house.

[E]

I was just proud that I wasn't, like, sobbing during it. I was like, tears. Not sobbing, though. Hold it together. He's too close to see this happen, so we'll keep it contained.

[D]

We can't ugly cry in front of Andy Grammer.

[C]

He would have written a song about it. No, it was really, really great. All right, so we brought you guys here for a purpose, and that is sort of tell these guys exactly what they should expect from a family's perspective.

[E]

So I wrote everything down because unlike Roy, who, when he freezes, he says nothing.

[C]

I see that. I mean, he's so talkative. Like, I can't get this guy to shut up. And now he's behind a mic, and he's like, nope, nothing. Nothing.

[E]

For me today, when I get nervous, I don't stop. So I wanted to say to the families this year, you know, Disney gave me a chance to be a mom, Just a mom. And that's something that I've never really gotten to be. And the way that BBA pours into our families is amazing. So for our new families, when the trip is over, it's really hard to come down from that high, but we have the reunions to look forward to. It gives us a chance to catch up with everybody, meet other families. And there are some unexpected consequences of being a Burt's family. You get a sense of community through Birtz. We've now gotten to hang out with families from our year and other years, actually. Birthday parties together, going to the park, and they're always there to cheer us on. Like, Haley was there the first time Liam rode his bike by himself. And getting to share that with her was awesome because she gets it. Like, if I would have been doing that with anybody else, they wouldn't have understood how big of a deal it was. Confidence. Not just from him. I see him. Every time we see you guys, we see more of him, and it's amazing. But it's like, a family thing, too. Because of this trip, I have felt confident in, like, going out and doing things that we wouldn't have done previously. Emma made friends with Bailey's family, and every day she is on messenger with Bailey and Bella. And seeing Liam on the blue carpet with Kristen, these are things that we would have never done if not for you guys and for being part of this family. And before we got to experience it, like, I had no idea. I'm like, it's a trip. There's a couple reunions. Cool. But the way that you guys continue to pour into us. And like, I always say, like, if I have, like, a hard appointment for him coming up, I'm putting on a birch shirt. Like, that's my cape now. Like, that's not just. That's. I know that it feels like I have people behind me when I'm wearing that. So, you know, it's unintended consequences of being a Burt's family. And, you know, I wasn't prepared to cry this early.

[C]

I saw you brought the tissues early today, man.

[E]

You did it to me last year. I did.

[D]

I did. I'm sorry. No, there is something. So, like, you know, all of our families are special. There's no doubt about it. And you guys are no exception. I mean, the Liam lights up a room when he walks into it, and you guys are like, a force to be reckoned with. And I say that in the most, like, inspiring, appreciative way. And our group is better for having you a part of it, so thank you.

[C]

Wow.

[E]

We'd try to spin that on me.

[C]

See, this is how women fight, Right here is who can draw more tears from the other guys, use their fists. Women just try to make each other cry.

[D]

Are you kidding? This kid is responsible for so many questions. Poor memory sneaking A kiss on me backstage at Avalon, noon tonight. I'm like, give me a kiss on the cheek. And he's like, no. And then I turn my face and he kisses me on the lips.

[C]

Yeah. Hard to get. They learn early. You know, you raise a really great point, too, Caitlin. That I want to say again, and I say it quite a bit, is that when this trip started for Stacy and I, we had a role model, Kid Craddock, in Dallas. And when I was on his trip for two years, I'm like, if I ever find a radio station that's stupid enough to hire me as a host, this is what I'm going to bring to my community. And Q997 came along, and we started Burt's Big Adventure. And the trip was just a couple of days. We took kids that weren't feeling great, took them down to Disney World, and then at the very end of it, the trip was over and the connection was over. So it was truly a trip of escape. Right? And then it was the families that were demanding, like, so that's it. I mean, that was a great. But when do we get to see these guys again? And Stacy and I had not anticipated that. And through the years, that's what we have built. So you talking about it is spot on. It's now a community. The trip down to Disney World is always going to be at the center of what we do, and it really brings us all together, and it allows you guys to just focus on each other. But the sense of community and the family, when you've got one family that's showing up for another family outside of events, we never saw that happening. And that might be the most important part of Burt's Big Adventure.

[D]

I could not agree with you more. And seeing the bonds, yes, it's like this was. This was needed. This was like, this was an absolute necessity for a lot of these families to have these connections. Because we have been told. And I think you guys, you. You listened. You listened to the feedback in the families, and there was this. This desire to have this connection. And because people feel so alone, like, nobody gets what I'm going through. Nobody understands the daily struggles, and you really, honestly can't, can't. Until you walk that walk. Like, you can show empathy, you can show sympathy, but it's a whole different story when you have somebody else that has a child that has to deal with seizures, and there is just this moment of like, oh, girl, you get it. And to be able to have that person that you can like, truly, truly lean on it. It's invaluable.

[C]

So let me just underscore that for the families this year when we say welcome to our family, it really is a family. Some of us are going to annoy you. Yeah. Some of us are going to text you too much. But they you guys are going to be there for each other. That's what this trip is really all about. Thanks for coming on with us.

[E]

Thank you for having me.

[C]

Appreciate you.

[D]

Wait, wait, Emma. Liam's sister has a joke for Mr. Bird.

[C]

Oh, bring it, girl.

[D]

So get right up in that microphone, sister. I asked her last night if she had any good jokes. She already had one. Her mom, Caitlyn said she got one in the chamber. Ready to go for you.

[C]

Okay, Keep it clean. All right.

[D]

Go for it, Emma. You got this, girl. What's your name?

[E]

Bert. What's this?

[C]

My nose.

[E]

What am I holding?

[C]

Nothing. Bert knows nothing. Oh, you got me again. You got me again. The bert show.