Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast

As we again walk into this podcast neighborhood, we want you to know that no matter where you are from, you are welcome here. I’m glad to be your our neighbor. Every daughter, every son, every tribe, and every tongue, in the Spirit of Fred Rogers and the life of welcome that he lived, welcome to the neighborhood.

It’s been a little while since we had a visit to this podcast neighborhood, but I’m so glad to tell you that this week we have guests; singer-songwriter JJ Heller and her husband Dave Heller. In addition to making music together, they also hosted the podcast, INSTRUMENTAL with Dave and JJ Heller.

JJ Heller Bio

At some point in our lives, we all want someone to believe in us, to remind us there is beauty in the world, and to tell us that everything’s going to be ok.  

THERE IS A CHILD IN ALL OF US, AND THAT’S WHO JJ HELLER MAKES MUSIC FOR.  

JJ writes thoughtful intimate songs that feel like balm for the soul. Her soothing voice and inspiring melodies blend with poignant lyrics to stir the hearts of listeners of all ages.  

In 2017 JJ began regularly releasing a new song on the first Friday of each month. It’s a strategy that helped her grow from 800,000 to over 15 million streams per month. 

In addition to releasing monthly singles, Heller is busy working on her orchestral I DREAM OF YOU albums, I Dream of You: CALM, JOY, SLEEP, LOVE, and coming this November, I Dream of You: CHRISTMAS. 

Few musicians have the privilege to look back on 20 years of full-time music-making, but as far as JJ Heller is concerned, she’s just getting started.

JJ has released covers of Fred Rogers’ music before, and her new single, Neighbor, is a song that I feel Fred Rogers would have strongly resonated with. 

This week I take some time to catch up our listeners on what has been going on in my neighborhood and why I think Mister Rogers would have been an excellent hospital chaplain.

Blessings,

Rick Lee James

AS I WALK THESE HALLS

https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/halls

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was “As I Walk These Halls” by Rick Lee James Special Thanks to The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter.

Our Substack page is https://rickleejames.substack.com/s/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-a-mister.

Our Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/misterrogerssay/

I’m your host Rick Lee James. My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

David Dault is a writer, media professional, and educator.

He is the host and executive producer of Things Not Seen: Conversations About Culture and Faith, an award-winning radio show and podcast. David began the show in Memphis in 2012, and it now airs weekly on WCPT in Chicago. It is distributed nationally through the Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and has listeners around the nation and the world.

Web Site: https://www.daviddault.com/

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James Special Thanks to my guest David Dault

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter.

Our Substack page is https://rickleejames.substack.com/s/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-a-mister.

Our Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/misterrogerssay/

I’m your host Rick Lee James.   My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

Paul Day has spent over twenty years developing a highly personal approach to figurative sculpture with a particular interest in representing the figure in architectural space using high-relief, an art form that combines drawn composition and fully rounded sculpture.

In 2019, Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, commissioned Paul Day to create a commemorative sculpture of Fred Rogers for the Campus. Mister Rogers was their most famous Alumnus and very well known in the United States for having created and animated the famous “Mister Rogers’...

On October 28th, 2021 The 360-degree sculpture titled A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR was unveiled. The bronze cast piece stands over 7 feet (2 meters) tall and weighs more than 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms). It depicts Rogers surrounded by children, hand puppets from his show, lyrics from the series’ theme song and the show’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Paul Day has stopped by our podcast neighborhood for a visit to talk about his latest masterpiece. Paul Day, welcome to the Neighborhood.

Web Site: https://pauldaysculpture.com/project/a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauldaysculpture/

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James Special Thanks to my guest Paul Day

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter.

Our Substack page is https://rickleejames.substack.com/s/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-a-mister.

Our Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/misterrogerssay/

I’m your host Rick Lee James.   My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

Paul Day has spent over twenty years developing a highly personal approach to figurative sculpture with a particular interest in representing the figure in architectural space using high-relief, an art form that combines drawn composition and fully rounded sculpture.

In 2019, Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, commissioned Paul Day to create a commemorative sculpture of Fred Rogers for the Campus. Mister Rogers was their most famous Alumnus and very well known in the United States for having created and animated the famous “Mister Rogers’...

On October 28th, 2021 The 360-degree sculpture titled A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR was unveiled. The bronze cast piece stands over 7 feet (2 meters) tall and weighs more than 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms). It depicts Rogers surrounded by children, hand puppets from his show, lyrics from the series’ theme song and the show’s Neighborhood Trolley.

Paul Day has stopped by our podcast neighborhood for a visit to talk about his latest masterpiece. Paul Day, welcome to the Neighborhood.

Web Site: https://pauldaysculpture.com/project/a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauldaysculpture/

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James Special Thanks to my guest Paul Day

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter.

Our Substack page is https://rickleejames.substack.com/s/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-a-mister.

Our Instagram page is https://www.instagram.com/misterrogerssay/

I’m your host Rick Lee James.   My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

Join Wisdom

Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast

Hosted by Rick Lee James of Voices In My Head Productions. Rick run the Mister Rogers Quotes account found on Twitter @MisterRogersSay.

As we again walk into this podcast neighborhood, I want you to know that no matter where you are from, you are welcome here. I’m glad to be your neighbor. Every daughter, every son, every tribe, and every tongue, in the Spirit of Fred Rogers and the life of welcome that he lived, welcome to the neighborhood.

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James

Special Thanks to my guest Joe Negri

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter

I’m your host Rick Lee James. My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast

Hosted by Rick Lee James of Voices In My Head Productions. Rick run the Mister Rogers Quotes account found on Twitter @MisterRogersSay.

As we again walk into this podcast neighborhood, I want you to know that no matter where you are from, you are welcome here. I’m glad to be your neighbor. Every daughter, every son, every tribe, and every tongue, in the Spirit of Fred Rogers and the life of welcome that he lived, welcome to the neighborhood.

This week in the neighborhood, our special guest is Mister Rogers Neighborhood’s Very Own Joe Negri

Joe Negri, is a Pittsburgh icon and a guitar legend. He has distinguished himself as a nationally acclaimed performer, recognized composer, renowned actor, and respected educator. He may be most familiar to national audiences for his 30-year tenure as the affable Handyman Negri on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on PBS. However, he has appeared with a roster of Platinum artist including Michael Feinstein, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Buddy Defranco, and YoYo Ma. Negri's discography includes the Pittsburgh Symphony's Cinema Serenade with Itzhak Pearlman and John Williams. Compositions by Joe Negri include scores for TV documentaries and major works for jazz instrumental and choral ensembles.

Joe Negri served as adjunct professor of guitar at Duquesne University where he is an Honorary Doctor of Music. In 1998, he was named Man of the Year by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and in 2004, he received the coveted Elsie Award. In 2008, Joe was chosen Man of the Year by Audia Caring Heritage Foundation.

As if that wasn’t enough, Joe Negri also served as WTAE-TV's musical director for more than 20 years.

He has stopped by our podcast neighborhood for a visit today and I’m so glad he has. Joe Negri, Welcome To The Neighborhood.

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James

Special Thanks to my guest Joe Negri

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter

I’m your host Rick Lee James. My Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.

This week in the neighborhood, our special guest is Mister Roger’s Neighborhood’s Very Own Mr. McFeely, David Newell.

Serving Mister Rogers Neighborhood since 1967, David Newell played Mr. McFeely, the Neighborhood’s cheerful “Speedy Delivery” man. He was Mister Rogers’ most frequent visitor. When there was a knock at the door, there was a good chance it was Mr. McFeely in his mustache, cap and vintage blue uniform, bringing a package, a film, or a visitor.

Links For David:

Speedy Delivery DVD: https://www.speedydeliverymovie.com/

David Newell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrmcfeely143

Thank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.

Music featured on podcast was Stay by Rick Lee James

Special Thanks to my guest David Newell

And The @MisterRogersSay Community on Twitter

I’m your host Rick Lee James.

My personal Twitter account is @RickLeeJames, my web site is RickLeeJames.com, My other Podcast is Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast), and I look forward being with you again next time.

Until Then: You make each day a special day. You know how, by just your being you. There's only one person in this whole world like you. And people can like you exactly as you are.