“Friends & Neighbors” began as a podcast in 2020, inspired by the wisdom of Fred Rogers, seeking to cultivate depth and simplicity in complex lives. Initial episodes explored guests’ personal insights and approaches to building community, managing possessions, and finding reflection. As COVID-19 raged and host Benjamin Wagner grappled with post-traumatic stress, conversations shifted towards mental health. Dialogues with authors, lawmakers, and advocates about trauma, authenticity, and healing illuminated the power of making the “mentionable manageable.” By creating a space for sharing stories and journeys, the podcast provides roadmaps for healing and strategies for healthier lives, embodying Rogers’ belief that “when we look for the helpers, we know there’s hope.”
Kelli Rae Powell
Kelli Rae Powell
As a counselor, music therapist, singer and songwriter, Kelli Rae Powell parlayed her education, and personal and professional experience to heal herself, and bring healing to others – including and especially me.
Jeff Domanski
Jeff Domanski
As Executive Director of the Center for Environmental and Economic Partnership and Director of Hudson Valley Energy, my longtime hiking and existential conversation partner, Jeff Domanski, leverages environmental and behavioral science, public policy, art and communications to help communities make the right choices for a sustainable future.
Matthew Tousignant
Matthew Tousignant
A dear friend since tenth grade, Matthew is a certified Breema Practitioner and Instructor who combines hands-on bodywork with practical psychology. In this episode, we trace his journey from strait-laced, All-American, Ivy League Scholar, to Berkeley somatic psychologist, and learn about the unification of body, mind, and feelings.
Kathy Kim
Kathy Kim
From a one-bedroom apartment in Woodside, Queens, to jamming with Elmo, puppeteer Kathy Kim shares the remarkable story of how she got to Sesame Street. In this special episode, Kathy takes us inside her audition, her first meeting with meeting Big Bird, and the development of Ji-Young, Sesame‘s first Asian-American Muppet.
Mister Rogers & Us, Part II
Mister Rogers & Us, Part II
This week, the second of our two-part conversation with Neighborhood Archivist, Tim Lybarger, “Simple Faith of Mister Rogers” Author, Amy Hollingsworth and “I’m Proud of You” Author Tim Madigan, in which Amy, The Tims, and I discuss how reflection is critical, hope is participatory and “deep and simple” is an ever-evolving concept.
Mister Rogers & Us, Part I
Mister Rogers & Us, Part I
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Mister Rogers & Me on PBS, we asked Neighborhood Archivist Tim Lybarger to reminisce with authors Amy Hollingsworth, Tim Madigan and me about the enduring and evolving legacy of America’s Favorite Neighbor, Fred Rogers.
Christofer Wagner
Christofer Wagner
Christofer Wagner graduated with a major in broadcast journalism, a minor in political science, and an eye on Tom Brokaw’s chair. He ended up in the edit suite, cutting everything from The Year in Rock to Monday Night Football. This week, Chris talks about growing up in the Midwest, his early days in digital media, and making “Mister Rogers & Me.”
Amy Letourneau
Amy Letourneau
Of all the people who helped “Mister Rogers & Me” get made, find its audience, and make its impact, few did so much so quickly and with such potency as PBS Distribution’s Amy Letourneau.
Alison Bonaguro
Alison Bonaguro
Backstaged author Alison Bonaguro discusses her journey from Motown to Music City, the power of the small gesture and the magic of the middle eight.
Jamie Leonhart
Jamie Leonhart
On stage and in-studio, Jamie Leonhart has been one of my most frequent collaborators for nearly two decades. As singer-songwriter, playwright (“Estuary”) and backup singer (Steely Dan, St. Vincent), she has always been game to wade into the gray areas of life, love and art, self, spouse and family. On the eve of the release of her new album, “The Illusion of Blue,” Jamie shares her journey from a New Jersey summer camp singer to New York City artist, performer and mother.
Sarah McBride
Sarah McBride
Sarah McBride, the United State’s first openly transgender state senator, author of the deeply moving memoir, “Tomorrow Will Be Different,” and my Wilmington, Delaware, neighbor, shares how our deepest insecurities can be our most potent inspiration.
Michael Tyler
Michael Tyler
Michael Tyler, author of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award-winning children’s book, “The Skin You Live In,” discusses about the difference between change and transformation, and the human imperative to create as a means of adaptation.
