Maxwell King brings us The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, the first full-length biography of American's unique and enduring icon. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Rogers' program that changed the face of children's television and influenced tens of millions of children, reaches its 5oth anniversary. Now, beginning with Rogers' childhood, King captures his life of kindness, compassion, and authenticity by drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents. Fred Rogers, whose life and work continue to be loved by multiple generations, is captured in The Good Neighbor as, above all, a champion of children.

00:15   Intro to Maxwell King’s book, The Good Neighbor

00:25   Background of Fred Rogers, children’s television personality

01:00   King given permission to write first full-length biography of Mr. Rogers

01:30   2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood

02:00   Intro to Maxwell King: author, journalist, former President of Heinz Endowments, former Executive Director of the Fred Rogers Center, CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation

03:00   King designs the book to have two lives: biography and academic source

03:30   How King gets involved in writing the book after meeting Rogers only twice

05:30   Rogers’ early life and background profoundly affect his life and work

06:45   King aims to explain how Fred becomes “Mr. Rogers”

08:00   His understanding mother listens to Fred, not as an adult but as an equal

08:45   Family’s wealth makes Rogers more of a target for mean kids

09:10   Bullies chase and call him “Fat Freddy”; runs to safety at neighbor’s house

09:40   Adults wrongly advise him, “Just pretend you don’t care.”

10:00   Transformative moment: refuses to adopt a strategy of not caring

10:30   Teenage Rogers turns sensitivities into strengths; becomes leader and scholar

11:30   Great reader and student of French and philosophy

12:40   At 10 years old, selects an ebonized Steinway concert grand piano

14:25   Wealthy grandmother keeps her promise to buy him piano, transforming his life

15:55   Rogers’ piano now sits in the Fred Rogers Center at St. Vincent’s College

16:45   Fills lonely early years with music and puppets

17:20   Channels his personas in iconic puppets (Lady Elaine Fairchilde, King Friday, Daniel Tiger)

18:30   Packs away puppets for years until he needs them in an emergency

20:00   Josie Carey, live character on The Children’s Corner, forms relationship with puppets

20:50   Carey and puppets model adult/child relationship

21:35   Unlikely friend: John Pastore of Senate Subcommittee of Communications

21:45   Their televised encounter becomes most studied clip of all time

22:30   Fred testifies to help save funding for public television

23:00   First and foremost, Rogers considers himself a friend and neighbor

23:20   Most important thing in Fred Rogers’ life

25:30   Rogers’ key tactic for presenting on television

26:10   Dr. Margaret McFarland, child psychologist, becomes Rogers’ lifelong mentor and friend

26:50   Works with Univ. of Pittsburg scholars: Benjamin Spock, T. Berry Brazelton, Erik Erickson, McFarland

27:30   Group dramatically reshapes child development philosophies and practices

29:00   They depart from Victorian notions; determine ages 0-3 most critical for development

29:30   Rogers longs to do more than entertain

29:50   Weaves child development learnings into Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood

30:00   Rogers’ program goes national in 1968

30:30   Helps promote what really matters in child development

31:40   Cares much more about content than presentation (in contrast to Sesame Street)

32:15   Opposes fast pacing in children’s television

32:45  Designs “theme weeks" to discuss difficult topics (divorce, war, loss) for 5 consecutive days

34:30   Leans into tough topics and keeps an intentionally slow pace, including silence

35:30   Story of Rogers’ courage: “Feeding the Fish”

37:15   Children never tire of lyrics from Rogers’ signature opening song and closing remarks

38:45   Recognizes universal values of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and kindness

39:15   Rogers' core philosophy: “Slow down. Be kind.”

41:00   Teaches human values, letting Christianity shine through

42:00   Rogers character, style, and personality congruent (on and off screen)

42:45   King surprised by Rogers’ simple exterior and deeply complicated interior

43:15   After his death in 2003, Mr. Rogers’ ideas and influence live on

45:35   Recommendation: YouTube video of Fred Rogers testifying before the Senate committee

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Special thanks!

• Music Credit
• Sound Editing Credit