The 10-episode show co-produced by iHeartMedia and Fatherly explores the legacy and teachings of Mister Rogers
NEW YORK – October 22, 2019 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally, and Fatherly today debuted a new iHeartRadio Original podcast, “Finding Fred.” The show digs into the deep and simple language of Mister Rogers to uncover his very adult lessons about how to build a meaningful life. The 10-episode podcast is hosted by New York Times bestselling author, memoirist and award-winning podcaster Carvell Wallace, and launches today. The show is co-produced by iHeartMedia and Fatherly, in partnership with Transmitter Media, and will be distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network.
“Finding Fred” reintroduces an adult audience to Fred Rogers, who is best known as the presenter on a beloved childhood show but was also an important American thinker with a profound and radical worldview. Episodes feature interviews with people whose lives were changed by Fred Rogers, and people who got close enough to understand precisely what motivated this remarkably determined man. Biographical details sprinkled throughout help listeners understand how Rogers arrived at fascinating insights into topics as varied as power, faith, responsibility, and citizenship.
Featured throughout the series are the voices of prominent writers and thinkers like Ashley C. Ford, Eve Ewing and W. Kamau Bell, investigative journalist Cristof Putzel, TV critic David Bianculli, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood cast member Francois Clemmons, Fred’s biographer Maxwell King, and producers who worked with Fred for 30+ years – as well as archival material courtesy of Fred Rogers Productions.
“Mister Rogers has had a huge impact on an entire generation of children. As this generation becomes parents, raising children of their own, it’s important to discuss how his words and ideas are still relevant today,” said host Carvell Wallace.
“‘Finding Fred’ dives into the core of how we can all be better neighbors to one another. Working with iHeartRadio on this project allows us to create a podcast that will spread widely across a generation looking to reconnect with a true American legend,” said Fatherly Chief Content Officer Andrew Burmon. “There’s no such thing as outgrowing Mister Rogers.”
“Podcasting is an intimate medium that allows listeners to directly connect with a show’s content,” said Conaly Byrne, Head of Podcasting at iHeartRadio. “Working with Fatherly on this project has resulted in a truly authentic and meaningful final product that brings listeners back into the world of Fred Rogers.”
Listeners can listen to “Finding Fred” now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are found.
About Carvell Wallace
Carvell Wallaceis a New York Times Bestselling author, memoirist, and award-winning podcaster who covers race, arts, culture, film and music for a wide variety of news outlets. He is a regular longform contributor to the New York Times Magazine. In 2019 Wallace published The Sixth Man, co-written with Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala. He is currently co-writing book with the rapper Meek Mill on the topic of criminal justice, and his own memoir on childhood trauma and recovery is due out in 2021. Wallace co-hosted the Slate Parenting Advice podcast Mom and Dad are Fighting, and his 2017 narrative biographical podcast for Al Jazeera, Closer Than They Appear, explored race in America through a combination of interview and memoir.
About Fatherly
Fatherlyis the leading digital media brand for dads. Founded in 2015, Fatherly’s mission is to empower men to raise great kids and to lead more fulfilling adult lives. To accomplish this goal, Fatherlyworks with talented journalists and leading researchers to uncover stories for and provide expert advice to eight million monthly readers.
About Transmitter Media
Transmitter Media is an award-winning creative podcasting company specializing in highly edited and beautifully sound-designed work that has reached tens of millions of listeners worldwide. Their work includes the Webby-winning “Six Who Sat” episode of 30 for 30, WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Argument, The Barneys Podcast with Noor Tagouri, Tabloid and Finding Fred.