The Bert Show: Full Show PT 1 – Monday, February 23, 2026 (BBA Edition)

Date: February 23, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode is a heartfelt, laughter-filled recap of Burt’s Big Adventure 2026—a magical trip to Disney for children with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families. The Bert Show cast (Burt, Amber, Stacy, and others) share touching stories, family interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments from the trip, celebrating genuine connections, friendships, and life-changing experiences for all involved.

1. Opening Reflections: Exhaustion, Gratitude, and Presence

[01:00–04:47]

• The hosts express exhaustion after returning from Burt’s Big Adventure, attributing it to the high energy and emotional depth of the trip.
• Burt shares how, for the first time, he put his phone away and was truly present with the kids.

  "This year I was like, you know what? I don’t have an excuse. There is no excuse. I can really focus, like right here. And I did that." (Burt, [02:22])

• He realizes that hiding behind the phone/camera had prevented deeper connection in past years.
• Amber underscores the power of being present and observes Burt’s noticeable growth:

  "Over 15 years of watching you dance. This has been your best dance year." (Amber, [03:57])

• Team marvels at the exceptional connection among this year’s participant families and children.

2. A Trip Like No Other: Deep Bonds & The Magical “Kids’ Table”

[04:47–09:00]

• Amber defines the trip’s mantra: “We’re all in this together,” citing the unprecedented bonding among families and kids.
• Notable Moment: For the first time, kids actively sought out one another at meals, forming a loyal “kids’ table” that excluded parents and staff.

  "Kids were like, we don’t want to sit with our parents... we just want to sit with each other" (Amber, [05:23])

• This newfound autonomy allowed deeper connections and relieved adults from entertaining duties.
• The cast discusses how the children opened up about their disabilities with one another—a first on any BBA trip.

  "This is the very first year that kids were very inquisitive about each other's disabilities. And I think the bonding between the kids is what really was contagious for the entire staff." (Burt, [06:21])

3. Forest & The “Wheelie Gang”: Breaking Stigma, Sharing Stories

[06:35–09:00]

• Forest, a standout participant, is celebrated for his inquisitiveness, charisma (“he’s got the riz!”) and leadership among the “Wheelie Gang” (children using wheelchairs).

  "[Forest] rolled up and I was pushing Cairo... 'Hey, man, can I see that?' and Cairo just hands it over … That’s just kind of how the whole weekend was." (Amber, [07:31])

• The “Wheelie Gang” organically formed and inspired joy, independence, and a sense of “kids taking care of each other.”
• The show sets up that listeners will meet Forest and more families later in the episode.

4. Staff First-Timers: Rookie Reflections & Overwhelming Gratitude

[09:00–11:53]

• New staff (notably Stacy and Lala) share their awe at the family-like atmosphere:

  “It sounds corny to say family when you’ve known somebody five days, but my word, does it feel like family.” (Lala, [09:37])

• They describe the “points of light” analogy: families and staff arriving as strangers, leaving as a unified, glowing “spotlight.”
• Observations of parents letting go and trusting staff with their children underscore the deep mutual trust established over the trip.

5. Highlight: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Family Moments & Letters

[16:45–27:01]

Becca’s Princess Transformation

• Becca (Josiah’s sibling) visits Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. The emotional highpoint is described by her mother, Tony:

  “She gets to see herself… and she was stunned—her jaw dropped... It was so sweet to see her just... enjoy that moment and be a girl for a little bit.” (Tony, [18:20])

Josiah and Family: Living with Leukemia

• Mom Tony shares their “before and after” journey: diagnosis, treatment, and slow return to joyful living.
• They describe how Forrest asked Josiah about his disability, leading to an honest, stigma-breaking exchange:

  "When he asked Saya, Saya said, what's a disability?" (Amber, [21:46])
  “If you watch these kids, you wouldn’t know there’s disability there… it turns out it's riding roller coasters.” (Burt, [22:10])

Parent Letter – Tony to Josiah (excerpt, [23:57])

“Leukemia is part of your story, but it is not your identity. Your identity is brave. Your identity is joyful. Your identity is resilience... You reminded everyone that joy can exist even in the hardest of places.”

6. The "Three Amigos": Sebastian, Forrest, & Gunner

[28:39–36:50]

The Wheelie Gang’s Adventures

• Sebastian and friends form a tight-knit trio, insisting on independence throughout the trip.
• Carlo (Sebastian’s dad) reflects on watching his son take a leadership role and form deep connections:

  "He likes to have fun as well, but he's really careful with other kids..." (Carlo, [29:55])

• Moments like Sebastian's excitement reunifying with Forrest, and bonding over building droids at the Droid Depot, highlight the joy of shared experience.

Parent Letter – Carlo to Sebastian (excerpt, [34:53])

“Real strength isn’t just about muscles. It’s about the heart you show every single day. Watching you play in your wheelchair is my favorite thing in the world… In my eyes, you are a Super Saiyan.”

7. Aiden’s First Upside-Down Roller Coaster & Sibling Moments

[39:13–50:56]

• Burt teases Aiden for being careful with spending and not allowing anyone to buy him gifts—a contrast to "souvenir queen" Kristen.
• AJ’s (Aiden's brother) Tower of Terror experience becomes a comedic highlight:

  "He was literally screaming at the top of his lungs… The funniest part was the girl next to him … looking at him with this weird, like, are you a dude yelling at the Tower of Terror?” (David, [45:00])

• David and Chris recount Aiden’s courage on challenging rides, becoming a hero to his peers.
• A touching discussion on the price/cost of adaptive wheelchairs ($14k–$40k) and insurance access brings real-world context.

Parent Letter – Brandy to Aiden (excerpt, [49:19])

"To watch you be carefree and a kid with no medical appointments or therapies… was just the best feeling in the world. To watch you open up and make new friends… cannot be more special to us."

Alumni Connection:

• Aiden, also an artist, bonds with Jennifer Ramirez (BBA alum, 2007), who paints with her mouth and has a major Instagram following. She commissions Aiden’s art for her new house, strengthening the legacy and intergenerational support of BBA:

  "Here you are on Burt's Big Adventure 2026, and you're making a bond with the birds. Big adventure kid from 2007." (Amber, [52:29])

8. Overarching Themes

• Connection over Isolation: The unique community fostered by BBA allows children and parents to feel included, valued, and cherished.
• Breaking Stigma: Open conversations among kids about disabilities redefine difference as special and bring healing.
• Family and Growth: From rookie staff to veteran families, all leave changed, inspired by the children’s courage and kindness.

9. Notable Quotes

• "Leukemia is part of your story, but it is not your identity. Your identity is brave… and is being deeply loved." – Tony to Josiah ([24:50])
• "I think I was maybe hiding behind my phone and my camera over the years to not totally and completely connect… This year I put that phone away." – Burt ([03:04])
• "[Sebastian], you are way stronger than me. Real strength isn't just about muscles, it's about the heart you show every single day." – Carlo ([35:23])
• "Watching [the kids] open up and make new friends and family… is what has made this an adventure and the best thing that our family has been blessed to be a part of." – Brandy ([49:44])
• "This is the very first year that kids were very inquisitive about each other's disabilities… and the bonding between the kids is what really was contagious for the entire staff." – Burt ([06:20])
• "She gets to see herself… and she was stunned—her jaw dropped..." – Tony, on Becca at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique ([18:20])

10. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] – Reflections on trip & being present (Burt/Amber)
• [04:47] – The “kids’ table” & kids-only bonding
• [07:04] – Forest’s role and the “Wheelie Gang”
• [09:29] – Staff rookies reflect on their first BBA experience
• [16:45] – Family interviews (Josiah, Becca) and Bibbidi Bobbidi moment
• [23:57] – Parent letters segment begins (Tony to Josiah)
• [29:01] – Sebastian and the “Wheelie Gang”; parent reflection from Carlo
• [34:53] – Carlo’s letter to Sebastian
• [39:13] – Introduction of Aiden’s family; Tower of Terror story
• [45:00] – AJ’s hilarious Tower of Terror ride
• [49:19] – Brandy’s letter to Aiden
• [51:11] – Alumni connection: Jennifer & Aiden, artist bond

Summary

This episode masterfully balances heartfelt family stories, candid staff reflections, and comedic moments from Burt’s Big Adventure 2026. The show emphasizes the power of community, the breaking of stigmas surrounding disabilities, and the magic that unfolds when children get to be kids—untethered by hospital routines, surrounded by understanding friends, and cheered by a new, ever-growing family.

The authentic tone and emotional transparency make it both a tribute to the families and an inspiring reminder of the impact of compassion and presence.