Podcast Summary: The Bert Show

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

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

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