“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.”
Rob Markman
Rob Markman
How does hip hop artist and media executive, Rob Markman, exceed expectation, over-perform and over-deliver in the middle of a global pandemic? With steady-handed, pragmatic optimism, grace and humility — plus a few, well-placed and timed words of encouragement. Listen up.
Giving Thanks
Giving Thanks
As we pause to count our blessings and our tears, let us remember and reach out to the frail forms fainting at the door — to those who may need our kindness, our generosity, or our help the most. They may be right down the street. They may be right next door. Or they may be right beside you.
Because, Mister Rogers reminds us, “All of us, at some time or another need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s what connects us as neighbors.”
Amy Hollingsworth
Amy Hollingsworth
“The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers” author, Amy Hollingsworth, discusses her friendship with America’s Favorite Neighbor, the upside of counting paper clips and imperative to cultivatE an eye for the glimmer.
Craig Mullaney
Craig Mullaney
Rhodes Scholar, Army Veteran and Best Selling Author, Craig Mullaney, shares his lessons on loss, courage and resilience hard earned from West Point to Oxford, Warwick to Afghanistan — and well beyond.
Jason Walsmith
Jason Walsmith
Singer, songwriter, photographer, storyteller and Nadas front man, Jason Walsmith, takes us on a half-life journey from Des Moines to Beijing and back with a guitar, a camera, and one simple word that’s gotten him through all the flat tires, flat notes, and flat beers along the way.
Whitney Matheson
Whitney Matheson
Blogging Legend, Newsletter Pioneer & Comic Book Author, Whitney Matheson, shares her story from small-town USA to the pages of USA Today.
What set Whit apart then as now, is her guileless, unbridled enthusiasm for creativity in all its forms: art, books, movies, television. Her love of things is palpable, her fandom infectious. Whitney’s optimism and ambition is inspiring.
So it was only natural that we would kick off this, our premiere season of “Friends & Neighbors” with Whitney; she’s been encouraging me to do something like this for months.
Season One Trailer
Season One Trailer
From the filmmaker brothers who brought you “Mister Rogers & Me,” “Friends & Neighbors” explores how our friends and neighbors around the world are cultivating depth and simplicity in their own complex lives.
Each 45-minute episode seeks substantive insights about our guest’s life experience, and specific, personal and actionable approaches to living a deep and simple life: building community, managing possessions and seeking reflection.
In our first season, we’ll meet Pop Culture Writer, Whitney Matheson, Veteran & Author, Craig Mullaney; Entrepreneur, Aine Kerr; Singer/Songwriter, Jason Walsmith; Rapper & Executive, Rob Markman; and more.
Starting Wednesday, October 14, watch on YouTube and Facebook, or listen on Apple or anywhere you find podcasts.
