We spoke with David Newell, better known as Mr. McFeely, the friendly "Speedy Delivery" man on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The mp3 podcast conversation can be downloaded here and can be enjoyed on your personal computer or loaded onto your personal mp3 player for on-the-go listening. You can also subscribe to our monthly podcasts via iTunes by clicking here.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood has been a hallmark of educational public television for 40 years. The program still airs on WPT at 12:30 p.m. weekdays. Throughout the show's ongoing run, Newell has been along for the ride. In addition to playing Mr. McFeely -- a role he continues to occupy during numerous public appearances each year -- he is also the public relations director for the show's production company, Family Communications Inc. The company has kept working toward the program's child development mission since Rogers' death in 2003.
In our interview, Newell talks about his experiences on the long-running show, the legacy of Fred Rogers and some special outreach work that is planned in celebration of what would have been Rogers' 80th birthday on March 20. On that day, Newell is inviting everyone to wear a sweater in memory of Rogers and the good work that he accomplished. To find out more about "Good Neighbor Days," visit the Family Communications Web site.
