The Bert’s Big Adventure Rookies Share Highlights From This Year's Trip!

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

Episode: The Bert’s Big Adventure Rookies Share Highlights From This Year's Trip!
Date: February 23, 2026

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Overview

This episode dives into the heartwarming and transformative experiences from this year’s Bert’s Big Adventure trip. Hosts Cassie and Amber, along with newcomers Lala and Stacy, share personal reflections and standout moments from the annual event that brings together children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families for a magical Disney adventure. The episode’s theme centers around connection—between the kids, families, and the dedicated staff—and the unique, joyous energy that defined this year’s trip.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Exhaustion as a Badge of Honor

• Cassie and Amber open by expressing sincere gratitude to listeners for supporting Burt’s Big Adventure. Their voices are tired, a reflection of the trip’s action-packed schedule—and proof of a job well done.
  • "We're all exhausted from this trip." (Cassie, 01:25)
  • "This is the most tired I've heard your voice...because we had so many boys on this trip." (Amber, 01:51)

2. The Power of Putting Down the Phone

• Cassie shares that she intentionally put her phone away for the first time in 24 years during the trip, allowing her to be fully present and engage in deeper connections.
  • "This year I put my phone away for the first time in 24 years...I was really able to connect and it just felt like a very different trip for me this year." (Cassie, 02:55-03:23)
  • On the dance floor: "I specifically grab a wheelchair because then I can hide some of my really bad moves. And Aiden and I had a blast." (Cassie, 04:01)

3. Connection Among Families and Kids

• There was a special sense of unity among the kids and families this year, described as, “We’re all in this together.” (Amber, 04:43)
• Kids created their own social circles, forming an exclusive "kids table" at meals, a first in the event's history.
  • "The kids were like, we don't want to sit with parents or staff. We just want to sit with each other." (Amber, 05:28)
  • "From the first night, everybody was like, 'You're my best friend.' No, 'You're my best friend.'" (Amber, 05:38)

4. Openness About Disabilities and Breaking Stigmas

• This year, for the first time, the kids openly discussed their disabilities with each other, deepening their connections and fostering acceptance.
  • "This is the very first year that kids were very inquisitive about each other's disab...the bonding between the kids is what really was contagious for the entire staff." (Cassie, 06:17)
  • "It's not a less than. It's not a bad thing. You don't have to be ashamed...the stigma got further broken down." (Amber, 06:30)

5. Memorable Kids—Especially Forest

• Forest, one of the BBA kids, is singled out as energetic, charismatic, and a natural connector among the group, even organizing impromptu moments of sharing and play.
  • "Forest rolls up...and Cairo just hands it over...that's just kind of how the whole weekend was." (Amber, 07:35)

6. The “Kids Table” Phenomenon and Independence

• Recounting the moment when staff and parents were bounced from the kids’ table:
  • "Sorry. You have to be 12 and under to sit at this table." (Amber, 08:10)
  • Humorous realization: "We literally could have just put the kids on the plane and been like, bye, have a good time." (Amber, 09:00)
  • It allowed adults to relax and let the kids bond and entertain each other.

7. Rookie Perspectives: Lala and Stacy

• Both first-timers describe immense gratitude and a lightning-fast transition from strangers to family.
  • "We were all these points of light coming in, separated, having our little glow, and now we're this massive spotlight." (Lala, 09:32)
  • "Each of the families just embraced us into their family in the parks...and allow us to also have part of that experience and be on rides with the kids was amazing." (Stacy, 10:47)

8. Milestones, Happy Tears & Perspective

• Staff members discuss the physical demands (thousands of steps a day!) and the emotional journey of witnessing parents watching their kids discover magic—leading to plenty of “happy tears.”
  • "Watching them watch their kids is also another really beautiful perspective to take in because we had a lot of happy tears." (Amber, 11:23)

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Memorable Quotes

• Cassie: "I think I was maybe hiding behind my phone and my camera over the years to not totally and completely connect." (03:00)
• Amber: "It's not a less than. It's not a bad thing. You don't have to be ashamed." (06:30)
• Lala: "Visually, to me...it's like we were all these points of light coming in, separated, having our little glow, and now we're this massive spotlight." (09:32)
• Amber: (on the independence of the kids) "We literally could have just put the kids on the plane and been like, bye, have a good time." (09:00)
• Stacy: "As a mother, I love to just enjoy a new experience with my kids next to them. So for these parents to embrace us and kind of step back...was amazing." (10:47)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:25] – Expressing thanks and discussing the trip’s exhaustion as proof of its impact
• [02:02] – Cassie’s goal to be present and the impact of putting her phone away
• [04:43] – The special level of connection among this year’s group, especially among the kids
• [06:16] – Kids opening up about their disabilities and breaking down stigmas
• [07:27] – Forest’s role as a connector and stories of kids’ camaraderie
• [08:10] – The emergence of the "kids table" and new social dynamics
• [09:24] – Rookie reflections: Lala and Stacy’s experiences
• [10:31] – Discussion on the physical demands and gratitude for being accepted by families
• [11:23] – Emotional highlights and the joy of witnessing parents’ reactions

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Conclusion

This episode is a joyful, emotional behind-the-scenes glimpse at what makes Bert’s Big Adventure so special—not just the magic of Disney, but the magic of human connection, childlike openness, and shared experience. For rookies and veterans alike, the trip created a sense of family and left everyone, especially the staff, with a profound sense of gratitude and togetherness.

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For more about Bert's Big Adventure or to get involved, visit thebertshow.com.

Transcript

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[Cassie]

Birch show look, right off the bat this morning, I'm going to thank you guys for donating to Burt's Big Adventure. I know you did a good job because we're all exhausted.

[Amber]

I know we did a good job. I know you. We did a good job because of the sound of your voice right now.

[Cassie]

It has been like this since since we left on Thursday, but it got worse over the weekend because this is. This is the fun voice right here. Oh yeah, this is really it. You guys donated and did so well that we are all exhausted from this trip.

[Amber]

However, Bird's Big Adventure 2026 should be very proud because this is the most tired I've heard your voice. And I think it's because we had so many boys on this trip.

[Cassie]

I think it might have been. I'm not exactly sure why, but I will tell you this that you asked me last week. Like we all try to have an intention of a trip that we take when we go on Burt's Big Adventure. Like, what's the goal? Something to keep in the back of your Mind. And I promised myself this year because of my retirement, I just don't have as much on my plate. And I can really focus on what's going on and what's right in front of me on this trip, which I've never really been good at anyway. Focusing on anything. It's always like, what's next? What's next? So 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. I was able to accomplish that. This year I put my phone away for the first time in 24 years. I don't know why I didn't realize this before, even though people were telling me, you got five or six different photographers and videographers, why are you taking all those pictures?

[Amber]

You're even about to marry one. You should know this.

[Cassie]

So I realized, I think on this trip that I think I was maybe hiding behind my phone and my camera over the years to not totally and completely connect. That's just a personal problem I have that I'm working on. And this year I put that phone away and I was really able to connect and it just felt like a very different trip for me this year.

[Amber]

You were just, yeah, it's all about being present. And that's so funny that you realize that, that putting your phone down. Actually, it's. It's not funny. It's very obvious that you're going to be more connected to what's happening in front of you because you don't have technology blocking it.

[Cassie]

I especially used to hide behind that phone during the dance party because I thought, look, if I'm taking pictures for the website, I'm taking pictures for social, then I don't have to be on the dance floor showing everybody how bad a dancer I am. And I put it down. This year I'm just like, I don't care. I'm grabbing a kid and we're going out there.

[Amber]

And do you know what's funny? I like this is, you know, over 15 years of watching you dance. This has been your best dance year.

[Radio Host]

Thank you.

[Cassie]

And I specifically grab a wheelchair because then I can hide some of my really bad moves. And Aiden and I had a blast on the dance floor.

[Amber]

Aiden and you did. And also Jameson, I think he taught you some pretty cool dance moves. And so I think. I think you're good. I think you're set for the future.

[Cassie]

I think so too, man. We are going to spend a good amount of time this morning, I think, because I know we say this every year when we come on. Oh, it was a great trip. It was a terrific trip. Every trip is so different from the other one. There was something really, really magical about this trip and really connecting on this trip. And I have been asking staff member after staff member, like, what was the difference this year? Because I haven't been able to exactly put my finger on it.

[Amber]

The level of connection we've seen this year between the families. It was very much like the mantra that kept playing in my head is, we're all in this together.

We're.

We're all in this together. And that's what all of these families, not knowing each other beforehand, coming into this, getting to know each other. And it was from the word go. It started at orientation. It really, really kicked off at our welcome party there at Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel last Wednesday. And just watching how many families were hanging out together in the park, watching. And I know Amber's going to talk to this. Something we've never seen before on the trip. The kids table. Yeah, the kids table. At breakfast and dinners, the kids were like, we don't want to sit with the.

Our.

Our parents, our grandparents. We don't want to sit with the Burt's Big Adventure staff. We just want to sit with each other. It was. That was so cool to witness. And I think that was something that just took this trip next level. Not just the parents and how they bonded, but. But the kids. I mean, from the first night, everybody was like, you're my best friend. No, you're my best friend. No, you're my best friend. And it was just so sweet to see.

[Cassie]

We were talking a little bit about this last night when we were all having d dinner together. And then, Amber, I'll throw it to you. But I think there is an ob. It's just obvious when you're on a trip like this, and it's almost unsaid that there is a connection between the families because they have something in common. Right. But it's kind of unsaid. A lot of years we kind of roll through the park and we know why we're here, but you rarely hear the kids talk about it.

[Radio Host]

Right.

[Cassie]

And this is the very first year that kids were very inquisitive about each other's disab. And I think the bonding between the kids is what really was contagious for the entire staff.

[Amber]

And I think it's such a beautiful lesson, because what makes you special, your disability, it's not a less than. It's not a bad thing. You don't have to be ashamed. You don't have to be embarrassed. It's just a part of who you are and you should be able to talk openly about it. It's like even further. The stigma needed to be broken anyway, but it even. It got further broken down just by the kids talking about, like, you know, what they go through and what they have. Because there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about.

[Cassie]

I think that's Forest that was behind that holding. He's just demanding info from all the kids, man. Forest is one of our burch Big adventure kids. He's just a very, very special kid that we'll introduce you to in a little bit. It's funny that he's got the riz. Oh, my God. This kid is. I think every time where anybody is around that kid, I. You're just like this kid, the way he moves through life. And then we'll tell you what he has and everything is just something really, really special. And what an incredible role model.

[Amber]

He rolled up because we had the wheelie gang. Can't wait to tell you about the wheelie gang. He rolled up and I was pushing Cairo in his stroller and he's. Cairo's three.

[Radio Host]

Okay.

[Amber]

That's Kendall's little brother. And he's playing with this glow light up thing. Do you know how hard it is to get a three year old to share anything? Forest rolls up and he's like, hey, man, can I see that? And Cairo just hands it over to him and he lets Forrest play with it. He's like, all right, man, I'll give it back to you as soon as we get to the front of Epcot. And Cairo is just like, that's okay, that's okay.

[Cassie]

And that's just kind of how the whole weekend was right there, man. It really was. Amber, who does such a great job with birds. Big adventure, explain to us this whole kids only because this is the first trip that the parents are really on the outside looking at.

[Amber]

Oh, absolutely. So it started Thursday night. We strive to offer a level of service for all of our family. So I'm going up, I'm trying to get waters, apple juices, sodas for the family. I came back to drop them off and the kids had moved tables. I was like, oh, here we are. I'm dropping it off. I go to sit down. No, absolutely not. Sorry. You have to be 12 and under to sit at this table. And I was like, oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry. I'm going to go sit with all the parents and they're like, yeah, sorry you had to learn that the tough way. We've already been told. And it continued throughout the rest of the trip. My favorite was probably Saturday. At lunch, there were six grown adults hovered around a four top while two of our bricks, Big Adventure kids had a table to themselves. They were like, you can't sing with us. I'm sorry. And obviously we're all about that. We want the kids to bond.

[Radio Host]

Yeah.

[Cassie]

It really took the pressure off the adults to have to entertain because the kids were entertaining themselves big time this year.

[Amber]

I mean, we literally could have just put the kids on the plane and been like, bye, have a good time.

[Cassie]

They did not need us. No, they did not need us at all. On Thursday's show, we brought our Burt's Big Adventure rookies up. Our staff members did that. This is their very first trip. Lala and Stacy so did. What was the trip now, looking at it and being part of it compared to what you thought it was going to be on Thursday?

[Lala]

Well, I looked at Stacy as we were walking down here and I said, how long have we been here?

[Cassie]

Did it feel like a month and a half?

[Amber]

Yeah.

[Lala]

It's because we did so much. But I was just thinking about that as we were sitting here. And the prevailing word for me is gratitude. I just feel like so lucky to have gotten to be a part of the Burt's Big Adventure family. And it sounds corny to say family when you've known somebody five days, but my word, does it feel like family. And visually, to me, when I imagine it, it's like we were all these points of light coming in, separated, having our little glow, and now we're this massive spotlight. And that's the way it feels. Warm, glowy, wonderful. And I just feel grateful.

[Cassie]

I love that, Stacy.

[Stacy]

Well, I didn't expect my feet to be this tired.

[Cassie]

We were all comparison mileage on our feet this weekend. What was your final count?

[Amber]

Oh, I don't know what my final count was. Cassie wanted to have all of our our tallies and it was 10 miles on, on Foot Friday.

[Cassie]

That's what I had. 10, 10.6. It was 24,000 steps. And when we all the staff all met yesterday, we were comparing steps and I thought for sure, 24,000, that's going to be way up there. I wouldn't even like in the top five. Somebody had 28,000. Another had 30,000.

[Stacy]

Anyway, amazing. Well, I would echo what Lala said about gratitude, especially to the families. I loved how each of the families just embraced us into their family in the parks throughout the day. As a mother, I love to just enjoy a new experience with my kids next to them. So for these parents to embrace us and kind of step back from that and allow us to also have part of that experience and be on rides with the kids was amazing. It was such a gift, and I think it really shows how they were able to relax and really trust on this trip.

[Amber]

So Stacy and I get to hang out on our first day, like, first of all, official day in the park for our magic kingdom day. And something I noticed and we actually talked about later is, you know, yeah, it's awesome to see it through the kids eyes, but we also caught ourselves looking at the parents and like, you know, looking at the moms looking at the dads. So watching them watch their kids is also another really beautiful perspective to take in because we had a lot of happy tears.

[Cassie]

We really did.

[Amber]

A lot of happy tears.

[Cassie]

We really did. All right, before we move forward, forward a little bit, let's go backwards towards Thursday's show for just a second. Because if you guys are listening to the radio this early in the morning, you might have missed all the great surprises that we had for the kids on Thursday. So here's kind of a montage of all of the surprises that we had for the kids Thursday on Thursday's Birds Big Adventure. Send off the Birch show.