1: This Letter From Bert's Big Adventure Kid Rowan's Parents Will Bring You Joy

Summary

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The Bert Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: This Letter From Bert's Big Adventure Kid Rowan's Parents Will Bring You Joy
Date: February 23, 2026

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Main Theme

This heartfelt episode highlights the magical impact of "Bert’s Big Adventure," the show’s annual charity trip for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. The focus is on Rowan, a 12-year-old participant, and his family as they share memorable moments, reflections, and a moving letter from Rowan’s parents. The episode overflows with joy, gratitude, and touching stories of resilience, compassion, and living in the now.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bert’s Big Adventure Flight Experience

Timestamps: 01:30 – 03:42

• The hosts recount the lively journey to Disney World, emphasizing the warmth and humor of Endeavor Air crew.
  • Notable detail: Crew volunteers submit essays to be chosen for this special flight, reflecting how coveted a spot it is among employees.
  • Quote (Kristen, 03:03):
    “Everybody volunteers their time... and they get hand-selected by Endeavor Air, and... they put their heart into it.”
• Fun anecdotes are shared about the flight, including a pilot in a goofy hat and a flight attendant humorously warning kids about the pressure changes on flights ("you're gonna fart!”) [01:54].

2. Introducing Rowan and Family

Timestamps: 04:00 – 06:00

• The show welcomes Rowan, his parents Sherrilyn and Bob, and brother Jacob.
• Hosts roast Rowan for his unique Disney ride choice—The Tiki Room—suggesting he may have “inspired” by Seth, a fellow Disney aficionado [05:03].

3. Disney Adventures and Special Moments

Timestamps: 06:00 – 09:13

• Bob reflects on the unique joy of being able to go on the trip, even if it comes from difficult circumstances.
  • Quote (Bob, 06:03):
    "It's a terrible way to have to get to go to Disney, but we're thrilled that we got to go…and we're honored that we got to spend this time…"
• Rowan and Jacob opt out of going on the Tron ride with Burt’s fancy meta glasses, leading to a humorous exchange about why Jacob bailed on the assignment [06:43].
• Kristen shares a touching story: Rowan helps younger participant Asher, who was scared of costumed characters because they seemed so large in real life, to be brave enough to take a photo with Chip and Dale.
  • Quote (Kristen, 08:56):
    “Sweet little Asher turned to Rowan. He goes, ‘Well, I'll go if Rowan goes.’ And Rowan looked at him, he's like, ‘Come on, buddy.’ So…because Rowan was brave enough…he got Asher to find his brave…”

4. The Letter from Rowan’s Parents

Timestamps: 10:24 – 12:43

• Sherrilyn and Bob take turns reading a moving letter to Rowan, recognizing his infectious enthusiasm, perseverance, and kindness.
  • Notable quotes:
    • (Sherrilyn, 10:24):
      “Dear Rowan, we watched you experience joy and share your precious heart with others over the course of this magical week… Your enthusiasm is infectious, your love for others is inspiring…”
    • (Bob, 11:48):
      “One of your greatest strengths is perseverance… despite being one week into your fourth round of daily proton radiation treatment, you kept up with the BBA group from before dawn to fireworks at Epcot late at night.”
    • (Sherrilyn, 12:27):
      “We are so proud of you… We are so blessed to have been given the incredible gift of this special time together.”

5. Living Life in the Now

Timestamps: 12:46 – 14:42

• Burt asks Sherrilyn about how Rowan has taught the family to live in the present.
  • Quote (Sherrilyn, 13:03):
    “Hospital time is like on a different temporal plane from anything else. And Rowan is an avid game player, which means we get to spend quality time when we’re waiting...”
• Sherrilyn and Bob recount how playing games helps them seize and savor hospital moments—a poignant anchor in their family’s journey.
  • Fun moment: Rowan beat his dad at chess at six years old (“kind of embarrassing”—Bob, 13:35).
  • Quote (Sherrilyn, 14:39):
    “I’m thinking about a lot of different things… And Rowan’s like, ‘No, we’re playing, Mom. Like, it’s your move.’ And that was the first time you beat me at chess—Harry Potter chess.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Volunteer Spirit:
  “Everybody volunteers their time... they put their heart into it.” – Kristen (03:03)
• On Unique Disney Experiences:
  “I have never, ever, ever in 24 years... had a kid say, I want to go to this enchanted tiki room.” – Burt (04:10)
• On Compassion and Friendship:
  “Because Rowan was brave enough to go see Chip and Dale, he got Asher to find his brave.” – Kristen (08:59)
• On Perseverance:
  "Despite being one week into your fourth round of daily proton radiation treatment, you kept up with the BBA group from before dawn to fireworks at Epcot." – Bob (11:49)
• On Living in the Now:
  “Hospital time is, like, on a different temporal plane from anything else.” – Sherrilyn (13:03)
• On Family and Belonging:
  “You guys are definitely part of our family now, so welcome to our family.” – Burt (14:44) “It’s a beautiful family to be part of.” – Sherrilyn (14:53)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 01:30 – Ads and show kickoff (skipped)
• 01:30 – 03:30 – Flight stories, Endeavor Air’s role
• 04:00 – 06:00 – Meet Rowan’s family; Tiki Room story
• 06:00 – 09:13 – Disney magic and Rowan’s compassion
• 10:24 – 12:43 – The letter from Rowan’s parents (main emotional core)
• 12:46 – 14:44 – Reflections on living in the present; family games and gratitude

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is filled with warmth, humor, and genuine emotion. The hosts blend playful banter with profound empathy, spotlighting courage, kindness, and the importance of family and shared experiences.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode offers an uplifting window into how small acts of compassion and the courage to live in the moment can make a profound difference. The moving letter from Rowan’s parents will bring a tear to your eye, while stories about game-playing in hospitals, playful Disney escapades, and joyful family memories will leave you inspired by Rowan’s strength and the love surrounding him.

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Transcript

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[Sherrilyn]

So good. So good. So good.

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[Kristen]

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[Burt]

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[Burt]

You're on the Birch Show. So in what, little over an hour or so, we'll get back on our very private Endeavor Air flight. Let me tell you, on the way over here, I don't know what that flight attendant's name was, but that's the funniest flight attendant we've ever had on this trip. She's like, we've got salads. I don't know anybody that eats salads, but we got them.

[Kristen]

No, my favorite, because, I mean, farts are funny. I don't care, like, who you are or what age you are.

[Sherrilyn]

So.

[Kristen]

So she was trying to help everybody with, like, how to deal with the. The pressure on your ears when you're taking off on a plane.

[Bob]

Right?

[Burt]

That's right.

[Kristen]

Because, like, I know for Brooke, for instance, it was her first time ever. Like, that was her first flight. So this is, like, an incredible experience. Like, right one right after the other. And so she's telling everybody, like, yeah, you can chew Gum. And again, this is the flight attendant over the speaker, and she goes, or you can take big gulps of air, but. But you're going to fart. She did take big gulps of air, but just know you're gonna. You're gonna fart. And we're like, who is this woman? She's amazing.

[Burt]

Look, Endeavor Air has been such a gift to us for all of these years. I mean, if we don't have somebody that says, hey, here's a plane that's me begging you guys more and more and more for so much more money. And Endeavor Air donates that plane to us, and they only. They don't just give us the plane. They do it enthusiastically. And we've told you guys in past years that they're based out of Minneapolis, and a lot of their staff members that are at the airport when we take off on Thursday, they fly down from Minneapolis to just to send us off enthusiastically. Then they get back on their own plane and they head back to Minneapolis, and it'll be the same when we get back to Atlanta today.

[Kristen]

And I think it's important to mention, too, for the pilots and the flight attendants, everybody volunteers their time, so they actually have to fill out a form and they submit an essay as to why they want to be a part of the Burt's Big Adventure flight. And they get hand selected by Endeavor Air, and it's like it's a coveted spot to be on that plane with us. And they really. They put their heart into it.

[Burt]

Didn't our captain coming over here have, like, a goofy hat on?

[Kristen]

He did.

[Burt]

You don't see that often.

[Kristen]

I don't. Not gonna lie, seeing your pilot wear a goofy hat, slightly concerning. But then at the same time, I'm like, okay, he's just. He's he's just embracing.

[Burt]

If you take the flight seriously, we're all gonna be okay. All right, so thank you to Endeavor Air for all of these years. We really, really appreciate your sponsorship and the care and love that you give to these guys. And what a great way to start the trip every year. All right, let's introduce you guys to Rowan and his family, Charlin and Bob and Jacob. How are you guys this morning?

[Sherrilyn]

We are well.

[Burt]

Yeah.

[Bob]

Great.

[Burt]

What a weekend, huh?

[Kristen]

Yeah.

[Sherrilyn]

Days are so long, and yet it feels like yesterday we were just meeting you and high fiving it does.

[Burt]

It goes by fast and slow at the same time. Before we even get into this, I need to launch a bit of an investigation here because we've done this for 24 years. That's a lot of kids on this trip. That's a lot of siblings on this trip. And we're. When you ask kids, what do you want to do when you get to Disney World? Space Mountain, meet the princesses. I have never, ever, ever in 24 years. And I think Kristen can back us up on this one also. She hasn't either. No kid has ever said, I want to go to this enchanted tiki room. And, Rowan, I, I, I am asking you for honesty now before I put Seth here on the spot, was that your idea, or did Seth push that on you? I was just getting a little tired,

[Kristen]

so I decided that I'd like to have a little break or whatever, you know? And the tiki room sounded like the perfect spot for a break, right?

[Burt]

Yeah, that is a great place for a break, because there's really. It's really not fun, and there's just not a lot to there. All you're sitting in is a room with robotics from, like, the 1960s. But Seth, this is, like, right down his alley. Well, thank you for noticing. You're very subtle about it. No, I appreciate the Disney classics. You know, if we're in Tomorrowland, I'd like to stop into the Carousel of Progress or over in Frontierland. You got the hall of the Presidents, one of the magical moments of the Disney trip. I mean, he has his own tiki, sort of fantasy land in his own backyard also. Yes. This is his theme. So when you said you wanted to go to Tiki Room, I heard the words coming out of your mouth, but I thought they were planted by Seth.

[Sherrilyn]

You may have been inspired, honey.

[Kristen]

Inspired.

[Sherrilyn]

Inspired.

[Burt]

Subtly inspired.

[Kristen]

Not. Not coerced, just inspired.

[Burt]

Subliminal Bob, what'd you think of the trip this weekend?

[Bob]

We had a great time.

[Burt]

I.

[Bob]

It's terrible way to have to get to go to Disney, but we're thrilled that we got to go, and. And we're honored that we got to spend this time this weekend with Rowan having a great time, smiling and enjoying himself and being with other people.

[Burt]

Yeah, you got a great family, Jacob. I gave you one assignment, and you bailed on me, man. I gave you one thing to do.

[Sherrilyn]

Conscientious reasons. He didn't want to lose the glasses.

[Bob]

His face is a little small. He was afraid they would fall off.

[Sherrilyn]

He was afraid they would fall off.

[Burt]

So we get over to the Tron ride, and I see all four of them, right? And the one thing I'm not doing this year is getting back on Tron, considering I almost puked on it last year, so. No, no, no.

[Kristen]

You really are getting soft after, you know, ever since you retired.

[Burt]

I have retired from two things. The Bircho and rides roller coasters. Right. And there is nobody that can sway me off of that this year. Right. So I get to the Tron ride and there these guys are. And Rowan's like, you know what? I'm going to take this one off also. And I'm like, you are the smartest kid on this trip, Rowan. I'm going to hang with you. And I have these meta glasses, which are sunglasses, but they have a camera in them also. So they take video and they take pictures also. So I said, jacob, because I'm not going to go on this ride. Will you do me a favor and put the metaglasses on and record the ride for me? And he's like, oh, yeah, no problem. So they go on the ride and they're screaming and having a blast. And I get back up and I'm like, jacob, where are my glasses? He's like, I don't have them, Mom. You want to take them from here? That's really what he said. He's like, mom, at the very last minute, he's like, I'm not doing this. I'm afraid they're going to fall off my face. Here, you take them.

[Sherrilyn]

Game on. Mission accepted.

[Burt]

Game on. It was great and you did a great job.

[Kristen]

I felt like I went on the ride just watching the video.

[Burt]

Yeah, right.

[Kristen]

I got a dote on Rowan really quick because your heart is so big and you are so kind. So again, Rowan is 12 and I was with Asher, who was five. So we have the oldest of the group and the youngest of the group. And Asher was very scared of the characters. Of course, we have characters at every single breakfast and dinner and. And Asher told me, like with that five year old thought process, they're just so big. They're supposed to be small because he sees them on his little TV and he sees them on his screen. They're just so big. So he was really, really scared of the characters. But when Asher was in the hospital, when he had his hospital stay for all of his treatments and chemo and radiation, he watched Chip and Dale, Rescue Rangers, like the old 90s. Like 90s.

[Sherrilyn]

We're.

[Burt]

We're.

[Kristen]

We're Rescue Rangers, Chip and Dale. That was really bad. Sorry.

[Burt]

What a gift you have.

[Kristen]

I know. And so Chip and Dale came to our pajama party. They were dressed in pajamas. It was so stinking cute. And you could tell, you could tell Asher Wanted to go up to him, but he was still so, like, nervous and scared because they are so big. And Charlyn was sitting there and Rowan was sitting there, and sweet little Asher turned to Rowan. He goes, well, I'll go if Rowan goes. And Rowan looked at him, he's like, come on, buddy. So the two of them went over there, and because Rowan was brave enough to go see Chip and Dale, he got Asher to find his brave, and they got to get their Chip and Dale picture. So I wanted to say thank you very much for doing that. That was very sweet.

[Burt]

That's a really special thing, and that probably comes, like, second nature to you. That's in you. But I also want to let you know that's a really special thing you did for that kid this weekend. And we saw that time and time again on this trip. We keep saying it. And I was really nervous going into this weekend. This is the most boys we have ever selected for Burt's Big Adventure. So I was just assuming that this was going to be a four or five day wrestling match. Like, there wasn't going to be a lot of hard in it. I was convinced that nobody would be on the dance floor when we had the dance party, because you know what? Boys don't dance. And then at the pajama party, I was sure this was just going to be like a tag team wrestling match. I was so incredibly wrong. I think the boys made this a very special trip this year in the way they helped each other out. You know, they were boys at the end of the day, but the bond and the helping of each other is something pretty unique between the kids this year. And Rowan, you are a great example of that. So thank you for doing that. Appreciate you, man. All right, Charlotte, so you have the Burt's Big Adventure letter. You want to read it?

[Sherrilyn]

Bob and I were wondering if we could tag team.

[Burt]

Of course.

[Kristen]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Sherrilyn]

Okay, then I'll lead on. Dear Rowan, we watched you experience joy and share your precious heart with others over the course of this magical week. Your enthusiasm is infectious, your love for others is inspiring, and your unearthly endurance is astounding. You're one of a kind, baby

[Bob]

Rowan. You're always up for a game, even when you don't feel so great. We love how you headed straight for the Jenga set on the floor following the heroes greeting at the Hilton. Your face lit up a galaxy's edge in Hollywood studios, especially when you were putting together your new droid and your deluxe lightsaber. Team Jedi, of course. We thought your Face might split when one of your Burt's Big Adventure friends handed you a full set of hollow chests. Remember, always have to woogie win.

[Sherrilyn]

More than one person fell in love with you when you became a Burt's Big Adventure big brother to a younger cancer fighter on this trip. You saw that he wanted to take pictures with Chip and Dale at the slumber party, and he felt too nervous to go alone, so you offered to walk with him and take pictures together. We already knew. You're an amazing big brother with the best little brother, Jacob.

[Bob]

One of your greatest strengths is perseverance, and you certainly showed it this week. Despite being one week into your fourth round of daily proton radiation treatment, you kept up with the BBA group from before dawn to fireworks at Epcot late at night. You used the wheelchair as needed, but there were several occasions in which you pushed Jacob to get in some steps and give his legs a break. You pushed yourself to get into the Guardians of the Galaxy, even though you weren't sure if it would make you throw up. Thankfully, it did not, and it seemed like that ride is a fan favorite of the whole family.

[Sherrilyn]

We are so proud of you. You work hard, and your kindness is evident to all, all who know you. We're honored to be your and Jacob's parents, and we are so blessed to have been given the incredible gift of this special time together. Love, mom and dad.

[Burt]

Yes. Did a great job.

[Sherrilyn]

Beautiful.

[Burt]

Sherrilyn, I. I'm going to try to ask you to recreate the conversation that you and I had when I was hanging with your family this weekend, and it was centered around really living in the now. How this has just. Absolutely. Your son has made you live in the now.

[Sherrilyn]

Yes. So hospital time is, like, on a different temporal plane from anything else. And Rowan is an avid game player, which means we get to spend quality time when we're waiting. If there's an infusion, if there's waking up after surgery, we get to spend that time together. And I mean, when I say he'll play pretty much anything. This kid has learned 500 rummy. He's learned chess. He's.

[Bob]

He beat me at chess at age six.

[Burt]

Is that right?

[Bob]

It's kind of embarrassing.

[Burt]

Is that because he's really good?

[Bob]

Because you're really that good?

[Sherrilyn]

Because he's so smart, because he's just so strategically oriented and. And, well, it's also because I taught him, honey.

[Bob]

True that. True that.

[Sherrilyn]

So he was a particularly proud of a moment after the last neurosurgery. He was wheeled into the room. He was still kind of a little. A little sleepy, still working on the appetite. And I pulled out a little one of those mini versions of Harry Potter chess. And I said, well, while we're waiting, let's just play a game. And I'm thinking about a lot of different things. I'm thinking about the next meds. I'm thinking about the schedule. I'm thinking about keeping everybody posted back home who loves you and cares about you and wants to know and. And I'm setting up the game at the same time. And Rowan's like, no, we're playing, mom. Like, it's your. It's your turn. It's your move. And that was the first time you beat me at chess. Harry Potter chess. So that is a magical set.

[Bob]

Okay.

[Burt]

You guys are fantastic. So fun to hang out with and can't wait to do it more and more and more at our reunions. You guys are definitely part of our family now, so welcome to our family.

[Sherrilyn]

Thank you. It's a beautiful family to be part of.

[Bob]

Indeed.

[Burt]

I agree with you. All right, coming up in a couple of seconds here, we're going to get Gunner back on here. And I found out this weekend this dude is set up. He's already got a job lined up for later on in life in the sweetest of ways by his dad. Next on Burt's Big Adventure. 2026. You're on the bird show.