Friends & Neighbors

Throughout March, we're celebrating the tenth anniversary of “Mister Rogers & Me” on PBS by reconnecting with some of the friends and neighbors who made our film possible. In the coming weeks, I'll be speaking with PBS Distribution's Amy Letourneau; Sesame Street puppeteer Kathy Kim; Neighborhood Archive Creator Tim Lybarger; authors Amy Hollingsworth and Tim Madigan; and Wagner Bros. #1,  Christofer Wagner.

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.

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 stage to New York City artist, performer and mother.

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 is the author of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award-winning children’s book, "The Skin You Live In," and Co-Founder of Ubica Advisors.

My friend, Ron Lieber, leads the league in reasoned, thoughtful conversations about hard things. This week, the New York Times Columnist and Best Seller shares who inspires him, why curiosity is so important and how he ran two marathons in 30 days.

For more than 30 years, Brian Ives has kept the music scoops coming on SiriusXM, VH1 and MTV. Brian currently runs digital content operations for Beasley Radio’s 40+ stations. This week, Brian and I discuss doing what you love, building rapport with artists and colleagues, and being present.

As Education Director at the New York International Children’s Film Festival, and Founder of Practice Wonder, Martine McDonald is “dedicated to co-creating and developing diverse children's media with mindfulness and representation of LGBTQ+ and families of color on screen.” In this episode, Martine, an early “Mister Rogers & Me" booster, goes deep into her journey as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and a human being on Earth.

In the second part of our two-part conversation, music journalist, Brian Ives, and I discuss my new collection of "greatest hits," "Essential Benjamin Wagner (2001-2021)," including stories behind set staples "Summer's Gone," "Crash Site," and "Dear Elizabeth," as well as their potential legacy.

When it came to helping me put context on two decades of music for my new release, "Essential Benjamin Wagner (2001-2021)," my friend, Brian Ives, was the only choice. Brian is a rock journalism lifer with three decades at MTV, VH1, Loudwire, Sirius XM and Radio.com. He currently runs digital content operations for Beasley Radio’s 40+ stations, and hosts the podcast, “How You Play Your Hand."