The Wisdom of Young People

With another year coming to a close, we’ve been thinking about the privilege we continue to have – that of meeting so many of you, in so many places, to celebrate the countless ways you carry forth our favorite neighbor’s legacy.

When You Wonder will be five years old next spring, but the journey feels as fresh and timeless as ever. Wherever we go, there’s a palpable optimism that all of us can find inspiration and guidance in Fred Rogers’ work.

We’re grateful for all of it: the keynotes and podcasts, the bookstore discussions and classroom conversations.

But our favorite moments have been those when we’ve simply listened: to educators, parents, healthcare workers, columnists, and young people themselves.

Not long ago, we sat down with five (astonishingly, dazzlingly, brilliantly) thoughtful teens at SLB Radio in Pittsburgh – a studio familiar to anyone who’s read When You Wonder.

What they gave us was a gift, and today, we’re glad to share that gift with you.

At a moment when so much attention is justifiably focused on what’s wrong, these teens speak with passion about what’s right. As you’ll hear one of them say, “You can make a difference. Just the phrase you can – that’s hope to me. Being able to look yourself in the mirror and say, I’m going to change something today.”

What might we change based on the wisdom of young people? What might we do to set them up to flourish?

That’s what we’ll be wondering about in 2026.

In the meantime: wishing you peace, joy, and many more moments to listen and be heard.

Happy holidays,

Gregg and Ryan