A Blast From the Radio Past, Vol. 1: Fred Rogers
In this week's Rule Breaker Investing podcast, Motley Fool co-founders David and Tom Gardner and producer Mac Greer are mining the radio vault and revisiting some clips from their old radio shows.
In this segment, they play two clips of Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Listen in as he recites "It's You I like."
A full transcript follows the video.
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This video was recorded on April 11, 2018.
David Gardner: I'm so glad you brought the Fred Rogers clip. Which one do you have? He's so quotable, Mac. Can we roll it?
Mac Greer: This is from 2002. We've got two clips we're going to share. And this is in the wake of Enron and a number of corporate scandals, and that sets up this question.
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Tom Gardner: Let's talk a little bit more about justice just briefly. Some of our listeners may not know that you're also an ordained Presbyterian minister, and as someone who's spent your life talking about values, living those values, what's your take on some of the scandals that have played out in corporate America over the last few years? Speaking about not taking care of the people that we work with in many cases?
Fred Rogers: Exactly. Well, what do you think it is that drives people to want far more than they could ever use or need? I, frankly, think it's insecurity. How do we let the world know that the trappings of this life are not the things that are ultimately important for being accepted? That's what I've tried to do all through the years with the Neighborhood.
You know, it's you I like. It's not the things you wear; it's not the way you do your hair; but it's you I like. The way you are right now; the way down deep inside you; not the things that hide you. Not your fancy toys. They're just beside you. But it's you I like. Every part of you. Your skin, your eyes, your feelings, whether old or new. I hope that you'll remember, even when you're feeling blue, that it's you I like; it's you yourself, it's you.
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T. Gardner: I remember Buffett was asked about Ken Lay or Enron and things that had gone wrong in companies and he said, "I think that they lack gratitude, because they had far more than they needed, and they weren't thankful enough for it." That seems to integrate nicely with Mr. Rogers' comments. And I don't want to make light of this, because that's such a beautiful expression, but it does convince me that we could probably lower your pay this year, Mac.
Greer: Now, why is that?
T. Gardner: Because it's you I like. It's not the things you have. It's not the clothes you wear.
Greer: Well, to your point...
T. Gardner: It's not the car you drive, Mac.
D. Gardner: It's your hair!
T. Gardner: It's you I like. It's that you have hair.
Greer: I'm not focused on monetary compensation.
T. Gardner: Is that true?
Greer: I'm just grateful. I'm grateful! I'm all about gratitude!
T. Gardner: One of the fun things in life -- and I wouldn't say in any significant way -- but Rick Engdahl behind the glass working on the Rule Breaker Investing podcast is driven a little bit more by capital. So, would you be willing to share some of your resources with Rick?
Greer: Absolutely! Absolutely!
T. Gardner: OK, good! So, that's Venmo.com. This segment of Rule Breaker Investing Podcast is brought to you by Venmo. Let's make it happen.
D. Gardner: Tom, I'm really pushing for you. Did you hear your voice as we let in?
T. Gardner: Yes, I think I weigh more, now. I'm just guessing that I put on some weight this evening.
D. Gardner: My question -- we can live this rhetorical -- but who knew Tom was slurring drunk?
T. Gardner: Was I drunk then? Really? It sounded drunk?
D. Gardner: Just the start of that clip, Rick. Just that one more time.
T. Gardner: OK, that's good. I think it's fair.
D. Gardner: I mean, inquiring minds.
T. Gardner: Drunk? OK.
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T. Gardner: Let's talk a little bit more about justice just briefly. Some of our listeners may not know that you're also an ordained Presbyterian minister.
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D. Gardner: You just caught it right there. I think we heard all we need to hear. [Laughs]
T. Gardner: Yes, I guess maybe it was a night on the town the night before.
D. Gardner: Well, it was Enron. It was a tough time for all of us.
T. Gardner: It was hard times.
Greer: Yeah.
D. Gardner: And that's why it was so great, Mac, that you brought Fred Rogers to the microphone on the Motley Fool Radio Show. That is such a classic. I mean, obviously that was one of his poems, I'm assuming. I'm pretty sure that wasn't off the cuff, but if it was he's even more of a genius than I thought.
But I'll say this. That serves as a wonderful trailer for this summer's Fred Rogers documentary.
Greer: Absolutely.
D. Gardner: If you haven't already watched that trailer online...
Greer: It's incredible.
D. Gardner: ... bring a handkerchief with you as you watch the two minutes that is up there, because it's beautiful.
T. Gardner: I can't believe I got drunk before interviewing... Fred Rogers. I mean that is...
D. Gardner: Oh, the legend grows.
T. Gardner: ... childhood. Everything.
Greer: I'm not going to judge.
D. Gardner: Now, Mac, you said there's another Fred Rogers.
Greer: There is another Fred Rogers clip. This clip is on our show. I think it's fair to say we were not afraid to ask the tough questions or let me rephrase that. To ask questions that other people weren't asking... be they tough or not. So, this is one of those questions for Mr. Rogers.
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D. Gardner: Mr. Rogers, since both Tom and I grew up watching your show, we're well aware of you as a persona. That's why I have to ask. Is Fred Rogers Fred Rogers?
Rogers: My wife says it best. People say to her, "Is he really like that?" And she said, "What you see is what you get."
D. Gardner: Mm-hmm.
Rogers: And I don't know whether you sense that from our visit here today, but I think the greatest gift that anybody can give anybody else... As a matter of fact, the only unique gift that anybody can give is his or her honest self. You know, nobody could give you, Dave, to anybody else. Nobody could give you, Tom, to anybody else. You're the only one who can give yourself to somebody else.
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D. Gardner: All right. I mean, yeah!
T. Gardner: I mean, I feel bad doing this.
D. Gardner: Where are you...
T. Gardner: Could we go back to David asking the questions, because... when he said persona, he sounded drunk to me. Sounded drunk.
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D. Gardner: Mr. Rogers, uh, since both Tom and I grew up watching your show, um, we're well aware of you as a per-son-a...
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D. Gardner: All right. I may be...
T. Gardner: You were so honest there...
D. Gardner: I may be. Maybe.
T. Gardner: A glass of wine.
D. Gardner: Now, I want to make it clear. Since Rule Breaker Investing -- we take pride in this and I mentioned this before on the podcast -- has a clean lyrics stamp...
T. Gardner: Mm-hmm...
D. Gardner: ... on iTunes...
Greer: Yes, there is no drinking.
D. Gardner: ... I want everybody to know that we did not drink in or on the shows. This is a mere joke, I thought.
T. Gardner: I thought you were saying we had to bleep out one or two things that Fred Rogers said.
Greer: Absolutely not!
D. Gardner: But he's sure not bad either.
T. Gardner: As you can see, he was going in a direction that needed...
D. Gardner: Did you notice he said, "What you see is what you get." That's what his wife said about him. And I think we all know the acronym for that is WYSIWYG. And to think that Microsoft ripped that off as badly as they did and never paid Fred Rogers a dime for WYSIWYG. Shocker!
T. Gardner: And now you're attacking Microsoft.
Greer: Good point. But it's true. He was...
T. Gardner: If Microsoft's legal department is listening, that was David Gardner.
D. Gardner: I don't recall Gates or Ballmer ever joining us on the Motley Fool Radio Show, so open season, right?
Greer: I'm just glad he was who he appeared to be.
T. Gardner: If you don't show up on the Rule Breaker Investing podcast, your company is at risk.
D. Gardner: I'll say this. I love my Xbox.
Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. David Gardner has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Mac Greer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.