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Vermont Edition is launching a new series, featuring intimate conversations with noteworthy Vermonters right in their own living rooms. It's called Vermont Edition At Home. For the first installment, Mikaela Lefrak went to the Middlebury home of François Clemmons.. Clemmons is best known for playing Officer Clemmons on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.Clemmons discusses how he came to embrace his Blackness, his homosexuality, and his desire to be a performer.Broadcast live on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Join hosts Adam Flaherty and Marc Checket in this special compilation episode as they highlight the most eye-opening moments of 2024, sharing insightful and unexpected clips from a year of remarkable guest interviews. Clips include:↳ Actor George Basil (HBO's Crashing, Barbie) on how single parenthood awards him a unique relationship with his teenage daughter.↳ Timothy Gant, Jr. AKA Teddy The Doula on what it means to be a “full spectrum” doula, and the benefits of being a male in a predominately female-led field.↳ Margaret Ables of the podcast What Fresh Hell – Laughing in the Face of Motherhood, on how society can better support and promote equitable parenting.↳ Comedian Pete Holmes on his young daughter discovering his body of work as she grows up.↳ And Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, on the epidemic of stress and loneliness in parents, and his 2024 advisory “Parents Under Pressure.”THANK YOU, dads and moms, for
For those of us who grew up watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers taught us many lessons via his cast of characters in the Land of Make Believe; the most prominent of which is that there are many ways to express your love and appreciation for someone. One member of that cast in particular, Dr. Francois Clemmons ("Officer Clemmons" on the show), carries forth that message even today. Dr. Clemmons joins us to discuss his "cosmic father, cosmic son" relationship with Fred Rogers, spreading love and kindness through music, and how paternal love can flourish even in the absence of a biological relationship.The guys kick off Episode 101 of Modern Dadhood with a short therapy session where Marc vents about the illnesses that have run rampant in his home and the unfortunate passing of the Checket family dog. The guys quickly celebrate crossing the 100 episode threshold, give major thanks and props to audio engineer + mixer Pete Morse, and let the audience know about the passing of Aram Delgado, the son of the late Modern Dadhood guest and Sesame Street star Emilio Delgado.The guys transition to their recent conversation with teacher, actor, singer, and "cosmic father" to many, Dr. Francois Clemmons. For decades, Dr. Clemmons played the beloved character Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and in the early days, he quickly developed a professional relationship and close personal friendship with Fred and Joanne Rogers. Dr. Clemmons joins us to talk about his lifelong desire to be a father, and how he has achieved that despite not having biological kids of his own. He also shares about experiences working with Mister Rogers, including the famous scene where the two men bathe their feet in a kiddie pool on a hot day. Other conversation topics include:• Fred & Francois' mutual love of studying and discussing the Bible• Francois' sexuality and how it was handled on and off the show• Life lessons that Francois learned from his time on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood• Francois' passion for mentoring students in a fatherly manner• The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble• The historical significance of the most famous "Officer Clemmons" scene• Francois' ability to identify cosmic parents around the world• And more!LINKSDr. Francois Clemmons (homepage)Most Famous Officer Clemmons Scene (with commentary)Won't You Be My Neighbor documentary (Netflix)Francois Clemmons' GoFundMeAram Delgado GoFundMeRed Vault AudioCaspar BabypantsSpencer AlbeeModern Dadhood (website)AdamFlaherty.tvStuffed Animal (Marc's kids' music)MD (Instagram)MD (Facebook)MD (YouTube)MD (TikTok)
Join DJ Bob as he sits down with the legendary Dr. Francois Clemmons, best known as Officer Clemmons on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood". In this inspiring episode, Dr. Clemmons shares stories from his childhood, talks about his faith, and shares his deep connection to the South. He also discusses his legacy project "400 years,” and his impact on diversity in children's television. Listeners will also have the pleasure of hearing Dr. Clemmons' beautiful voice as he shares his love of music. Through it all, Dr. Clemmons' message of joy and perseverance shines through. PLUS, don't miss the fascinating story of how Dr. Clemmons and Fred Rogers first met!
Dr. Francois Clemmons is an actor, writer and opera singer. He also happened to play the part of Officer Clemmons for over twenty years on the hit children series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Francois Clemmons talks about his relationship with Fred Rogers, the first time they met and had lunch together which soon led to Francois joining the show. Hear about why Francois didn't want to be a police officer and that amazing scene where Mister Rogers invites Officer Clemmons to soak his feet in the pool with him. There's talk about Francois becoming an opera singer, his family background, his thoughts on Elvis and more. Enjoy and FROWN LESS. thehodgepodgeproductions@gmail.com instagram.com/iammrdylanhodge Get Dan-O's Seasoning here: danosseasoning.com Promo Code: HodgePodge Get Raze Energy here: reppsports.com Promo Code: HPP1000
"It's a Beautiful day in this Neighbor..." to speak with Dr. François Clemmons about his 25 year career playing Officer Clemmons on the legendary "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" children's program starring the amazing Fred Rogers. We speak to Dr. Clemmons about his illustrious career as a singer, his touching lifelong friendship with Mr. Rogers', and the landmark 1969 pool scene in the show that help curb racial prejudice. We also talk about the movies recently made about Fred Rogers including the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" that he was a part of and the feature film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" starring Tom Hanks that he was not. You are in for a powerful behind the scenes look into the world of make believe! Enjoy!_____________________________________Francois Clemmons' Website: https://francoisclemmons.net/—————————————————————Link to all things Not in a Huff Podcast: https://linktr.ee/notinahuffpodcastPlease follow/subscribe to the podcast to get the new episodes when they come out each week and rate us on Apple Podcast and Spotify! :)Have a comment? Email me at NotInAHuffPodcast@gmail.com
In this episode, I speak with Rick Lee James. Rick Lee James is a worship leader, singer and songwriter, speaker, author, and podcast host with over two decades of experience in ministry. In 2021 he enrolled as a graduate student at Loyola University and in 2022 began his clinical pastoral education working for Kettering Health, as an intern hospital chaplain, and as of August 2022, accepted a residency. Over the years Rick has used music to share the gospel in numerous venues from the National Worship Leader Conference to the world famous Ryman Auditorium. As host of the podcast “Voices In My Head” Rick has worked with Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, Paul Baloche, All Sons and Daughters, Michael Card, Brian Zahnd, Tripp York, Brothers McClurg, Brett McCracken, Ian Morgan Cron, Steven Tobolowsky, Walter Brueggemann and many more. Rick also created and curates the popular Twitter account @MisterRogersSay where he daily posts quotes from Fred Rogers. As an outgrowth of the popularity of the Twitter account, Rick also created and hosts the podcast Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast where he has welcomed guests such as Tom Junod, François (Officer) Clemmons, David Newell (Mr. McFeely), Joe (Handyman) Negri, Jon Secada, Jaci Velasquez, Tom Bergeron, Lee Greenwood, and more. In this episode we explore: Why Mister Rogers is important for us today Mister Rogers and the humanistic psychology of Carl Rogers The importance of authentic presence and listening Matthew 25 and its application to chaplaincy Death Emotionally healthy masculinity And more! Website: https://www.rickleejames.com
Dr. Francois Clemmons is an actor, writer and opera singer. He also happened to play the part of Officer Clemmons for over twenty years on the hit children series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Francois Clemmons talks about his relationship with Fred Rogers, the first time they met and had lunch together which soon led to Francois joining the show. Hear about why Francois didn't want to be a police officer and that amazing scene where Mister Rogers invites Officer Clemmons to soak his feet in the pool with him. There's talk about Francois becoming an opera singer, his family background, his thoughts on Elvis and more. Enjoy and FROWN LESS. thehodgepodgeproductions@gmail.com instagram.com/iammrdylanhodge Get Dan-O's Seasoning here: danosseasoning.com Promo Code: HodgePodge Get Raze Energy here: reppsports.com Promo Code: HPP1000 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dylan-hodge/support
In the fifty-third episode, Jake, Chris, Wyatt and Matt chat with actor, singer and playwright François Clemmons, where they talk about his time appearing on the beloved Children's series "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" as Officer Clemmons, his autobiography "Officer Clemmons: A Memoir", his work as a singer such as performing with "The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble" and so much more!
On this episode of Buddycast, it's our two year anniversary and who better to help us celebrate than Dr. Francois Clemmons aka Officer Clemmons from Mister Rogers Neighborhood! Hear all about his stories and more right here on Buddycast! #gobesomeonesbuddy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nick-sorensen/support
8 Years and 500 (+) Episodes! In celebration we have a big announcement! We have a new theme song. Retiring "Television Addict" by the Hoodoo Gurus/The Victims, and replacing it with a song written and recorded JUST for the show by the great Josh Caterer (Smoking Popes), TV Guidance Counselor! Josh also has a new single out for the a Holidays, a great version of White Christmas. Also! Ken did his first face to face interviews since March 2020, and his first convention since November 2019. Here are two of the interviews from that con, NorthEast Comic Con. First up is Francois Clemmons who played Officer Clemmons on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Ken and Francois discuss how he became Officer Clemmons on the show, his trepidation about wearing a police uniform in 1969, being a helper, being a TV pioneer, the life philosophy of Fred Rogers, the importance of listening, not being Hollywood, how slow Fred was (in a good way), Won't You Be My Neighbor, why Tom Hanks was wrong in Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Spirituals, the benefit of recording in Pittsburgh, singing Opera, finding your light, integrated pools, being a teacher, and the Land of Make Believe Puppets. Next Ken talks to writer, actor, comedian Robert Wuhl. Ken and Robert discuss writing for Police Squad, auditioning for airplane, how quickly Police Squad was canceled, writing for Rodney Dangerfield, Leslie Neilson's fart machine, wanting to work with good people, The Hollywood Knights, why Tonight Show jokes from the 80s wouldn't fly today, Mary Lambert casing him in Madonna's Material Girl video, having one line in Flashdance, wanting your work to be seen, writing for the Oscars, auditioning for Barry Levinson, Casablanca Pictures, Bull Durham, Batman '89, table reads with Sean Young, how Michele Pfeifer was cast and fired from Batman '89, how Kim Basinger became "The Creature" and had the most leverage in Batman, how the worst audition ever still got Robert a job, Good Morning Vietnam, how John Glover was the original joker in Batman '89, how Warner Bros wanted to go full Batman '66 camp and cast Chevy Chase or Bill Murray as Batman, shooting in London at Pinewood Studios, how a trip to see Phantom of the Opera lead to Jack Nicholson having the entire ending of Batman changed, Robert's cameo on Supergirl, how hard it is to keep spoilers under wraps these days, rating all the Batman films, the band The New Bomb Turks, loving movies that are fun, the best Baseball movie ever, Robert's problems with Field of Dreams and the Natural, and the future of "Assume the Position".
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Week 4 of Classic Upward Bound tackled the theme of defining community. We had the following contributors: Robyn, Juan, Caleb, Ms Yates, Sherlyn, Ashlynn, Isaac, Wilvenska, Salma, Cleyber, and Kamira making a very significant point. What happens when you are FORCED into a community and aspects of that community are not welcoming? All good points we discuss and synthesize with two articles on a very specific Mr. Roger's episode: Officer Clemmons https://misterrogers.org/videos/sharing-a-swimming-pool/ and https://www.npr.org/2016/03/11/469846519/walking-the-beat-in-mr-rogers-neighborhood-where-a-new-day-began-together
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
The Creative Process · Seasons 1 2 3 · Arts, Culture & Society
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
The Creative Process · Seasons 1 2 3 · Arts, Culture & Society
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
The Creative Process in 10 minutes or less · Arts, Culture & Society
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Best known as Officer Clemmons in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, François Clemmons talks about making the choice to stay in the closet for Fred Rogers, visiting Stonewall in 1969, and his Grammy Award-winning music career. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters and produced by The Advocate magazine, in partnership with GLAAD. Come find us on Twitter @lgbtqpod. (This interview was originally recorded in May 2020, just FYI!)
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
For the 100th episode of Your Last Meal, host Rachel Belle welcomes three, 100-year-old women to the show to share their extraordinary lives, their last meals and the secret to a long, happy life: red wine and “keeping your own teeth.” It is our pleasure to introduce you to Antoinette Underwood, a World War II nurse with a love of dry, Italian wines, Ruth Samuelson, who walked a half marathon at 96, and Eleanor Owen, whose career spans from Broadway actor to co-founder of NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness. IKEA’s US culinary director joins the show to tell us how an umlaut-happy furniture store became synonymous with Swedish meatballs and lingonberry jam. And if you're single, living alone and loathe eating solo during the pandemic, Sutanya Dacers, host of the podcast Dinner For One, shares the story of how learning to cook for herself, post-divorce, made her feel whole again. Here are some highlights from the past 99 episodes, in case you missed them: Ice cream icons, Ben & Jerry, reveal the reason their ice creams are so famously packed with sweet blobs, chunks and ribbons: Ben has no sense of smell or taste and insists on loads of texture in every bite. Fashion designer Betsey Johnson had us thinking about the intersection of fashion & food, so we called up Franc Fernandez, designer of Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress, which is very appropriately made from...yes, skirt steak. Filmmaker John Waters wants to know how long it takes for a slice of coconut cream pie to show up as fat on his body. So Rachel interviews a dietician who explains the science of weight gain, busting just about every Internet myth in the process. François Clemmons, who played Officer Clemmons on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, loves okra, even its notorious slime. As does Adrian Miller, the Soul Food Scholar, who shares the history of many African American dishes that came over from west Africa during the slave trade. Actor and activist Rose McGowan loves Taco Bell and maintains the exact same order since she was 13, which she can rattle off at record speed. Rachel chats with Taco Bell's unofficial historian about how a white guy started a Mexican fast food empire. Actor Danny Trejo, notorious for his villainous roles, has died on-screen more than any other actor. But in real life, he’s focused on living; he only serves healthy versions of Mexican dishes at Trejo’s Tacos in Los Angeles. Rachel chats with Denise Vallejo, vegan chef/owner of LA's Alchemy Organica, who says the original, pre-colonial Mexican food was practically vegan and completely void of the cheese, tortillas, pork and sugar you see today. Follow Rachel Belle and Your Last Meal on Instagram! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One of the unexpected surprises from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the documentary film on Mr. Rogers, was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.Francois joined the pioneering children’s TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemmons. As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children’s television, Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned to take in the love that Fred had to give.Today we’re delighted to talk to Officer Clemmons, Francois Diva Man Scarborough Clemmons from his home in Vermont about coming out as gay to Mr. Rogers, his love of turquoise jewelry and is there any truth to the recently revealed rumor that Mr. Rogers was bisexual?[Originally posted as FOF #2726 – Being Mr. Rogers’ Gay Black Neighbor, Apr 3, 2019
We talk about his childhood in the South, and one of the great loves of his life--Mr. Rogers.
Remember the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated? You probably learned it in kindergarten. Chances are you haven’t really upped your kindness game since. Most of us haven’t. The older we get, the more responsibilities, anxieties, and personal pursuits take over. And kindness simply doesn’t make the to-do list. It’s not that we think kindness is any less important than in kindergarten. No, it’s the opposite. Most people agree that practicing kindness is more important than ever. But there’s a gap, between what we say we value as a society, and what we do. In this episode, we’re getting to the source on how to close that “kindness gap.” Houston Kraft, a kindness advocate and educator, explains how we can overcome what gets in the way of deep kindness and start incorporating it into our daily lives. François Clemmons, also known as Officer Clemmons on the acclaimed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, shares stories about Fred Rogers, and how he showed him the true meaning of kindness on and off camera. For more on how to live a more kind life, check out Houston’s brand new book Deep Kindness here: https://deepkindness.com This episode is sponsored by: PayPal - PayPal is making it easy to pay safely, quickly, and easily. Download the PayPal app today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hanna Scott previewing today's WA primary // Chris Sullivan on the efforts to get the Boeing 737MAX back in the air // Dose of Kindness -- making up for a stolen bicycle // Gee Scott on the Seahawks' conceptual bubble // David Fahrenthold live on the Biden veepstakes/ the president's Axios interview // Chris Sullivan's Chokepoint -- please stop using the highway shoulder for parking // Rachel Belle with Officer Clemmons, from Mr Rogers' Neighborhood See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.
4PM - An 'unbreakable' man: Former presidents hail civil rights icon John Lewis at funeral in Atlanta // It has always been Mount Tacoma. Now is the time to make Rainier name change official // Rachel Belle and Francois Clemmons, Officer Clemmons from Mister Rodgers Neighborhood // Nightly Cheering Is Over—but a Few Diehards Didn’t Get the Memo
François Clemmons is best known for playing Officer Clemmons on Mr Roger's Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993 and he shares the story of his life in a new book called Officer Clemmons: A Memoir. François tells James Beard Award finalist Rachel Belle about his special relationship with Fred Rogers, the first man who ever told him, "I love you." A resident of Vermont for decades, François' favorite foods are rooted in his family's southern upbringing. He got his local health food store to order him chitterlings and his favorite part of okra is its notorious slime. Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller joins the show to share the history of those African American dishes, many of which came over from West Africa during the slave trade. One of the most controversial and divisive southern dishes is cornbread. African Americans tend to put sugar in their cornbread, while white southerners scoff at sweetener, arguing that cornbread shouldn't contain a speck of sugar. North Carolina food writer Kathleen Purvis pops in to share what she learned while writing the article, "Why does sugar in cornbread divide races in the South?" 'Your Last Meal' is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Podcast & has been the #1 food podcast on Apple Podcast several times. Each episode, award winning host Rachel Belle interviews a celebrity (Greta Gerwig, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jenny Slate, Betsey Johnson, etc) about what they would choose to eat for their last meal. Then, she digs into the history/science/culture of that dish with experts from around the globe. Don't let the name fool you, 'Your Last Meal' is not morbid! We use food as a catalyst to learn about people.
Everyday Rockstar (0:00:00) Lisa and Richie talk with this week's Everyday Rockstar. You can send your nominations to thelisashow@byu.edu. Chrononutrition (0:06:45) Did you know that the timing of your meals may be more important than you think? A new health trend is on the rise called chrononutrition, a regiment that focuses on your body's natural sleep schedule and eating when your hunger and internal rhythm line up just right. So what exactly do our internal clocks have to do with our diet? Joining us on the show today is Dr. Greg Potter, a doctor who focuses on chronobiology, here with us to discuss how when we eat may be just as important as what you eat. Officer Clemons (0:19:33) Won'tyou be my neighbor? For many of us, those words bring to mind the image of Fred Rogers in a sweater and sneakers broadcasting messages of kindness, acceptance, and empathy as part of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. And those messages are just as important today. But Mister Rogers' was also involved in a larger conversation about race. He challenged ideas of segregation, injustice, and inequality like, for example, in the famous pool scene where he washed his feet with Officer Clemmons, played by Francois Clemmons... the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. Francois' book “Officer Clemmons: A Memoir” was recently released, and he joins us today to discuss his book, Mister Rogers, and his role as Officer Clemmons. Science Fiction: Dream or Prophecy (0:38:00) Science fiction books and movies are some of the most popular pieces of entertainment out there: consider Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Avengers just to name a few. They inspire us to dream about what our futuristic world might look like. Could we one day fly around the universe as part of our daily commute or use light sabers to fight off bad guys? Thinking about the technology that might someday exist is exciting! But even more exciting is seeing those gadgets from science fiction become reality like bionic hands for amputees or electric cars. But who is inspiring who? Do science fiction writers shape the future of technological advancement, or are they just good at predicting the future? To help us discuss this we've invited Charlie Jane Anders onto the show, a science fiction author, speaker, and journalist. The Power of Music (0:52:47) We all have our favorite comfort songs, songs that we like to listen to when we're down. Maybe you like to listen to sad music so you feel validated in your feelings. Maybe you need an angry, heavy metal song you can scream along to. Or maybe you enjoy happy songs that pull you out of the gutter. Whatever you choose to listen to for comfort—you can't deny that music seems to have almost a magic power to help us feel better. Why is that? Here to talk with us all about how music can heal us and improve our mood is music therapist Brian Jantz. Onyx: Celebrating Black Women in Sports (1:15:51) The amazing black female athletes among us aren't celebrated as often as they should be. These inspiring women tend to be overlooked. We've heard of Venus and Serena Williams as well as Simone Biles, but what about the many other women of color breaking records and doing great things on the court, the beam, or the field? One media company called GoodSport is working to change that. They're highlighting the stories of black athletes on their latest program that comes out mid-July called Onyx: Celebrating Black Women in Sports. The host of the show, Monica McNutt, joins us today to discuss its mission and some of the stories. She's the former captain of Georgetown University's basketball team and a sports reporter. How Dark Times can Spark New Beginnings (1:28:16) We all face moments in our lives when we have to decide how we're going to let a situation mold us. Will we let our trial by fire moments make us stronger and more refined or will we allow them to make us bitter and hopeless? Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Likewise, I think nothing and no one in this life can make us give up or feel hopeless without our permission. So how do we push through dark times or even tragedies? Today, we're speaking with author Brian P. Walsh about his experience as a young firefighter who experienced extreme trauma after getting caught in a burning building. He joins us to discuss how adversity can spark new beginnings.
Lisa and Richie talk with this week's Everyday Rockstar, Greg Potter discusses chrononutrition, Francois Clemons talks about Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Charlie Jane Anders discusses science fiction, Brian Jantz explains the power of music, Monica McNutt talks about her new series, Brian Walsh tells his inspirational story.
Tomorrow is the birthday of our nation, and it is a perfect day to talk and read about unsung American Heroes. Officer Clemmons, the recurring character of the Mister Rogers TV Show, is one unsung hero. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir gives the autobiographical account of the amazing story behind this man. Dr. Clemmons encapsulates Mister Rogers' good nature in a time where we all might need some. West Lafayette Library Director Nick Schenkel has the review.
Tomorrow is the birthday of our nation, and it is a perfect day to talk and read about unsung American Heroes. Officer Clemmons, the recurring character of the Mister Rogers TV Show, is one unsung hero. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir gives the autobiographical account of the amazing story behind this man. Dr. Clemmons encapsulates Mister Rogers' good nature in a time where we all might need some. West Lafayette Library Director Nick Schenkel has the review.
You may have seen a vintage photo recently resurfacing on social media of Mr. Roger’s cooling his feet with the show’s beloved Officer Clemmons. In the 1960s, segregation was still widely enforced in swimming pools, and this small act on a children’s show was a conscious stance against social inequality. Fred wanted to enlighten the next generation, and the photo’s recent appearance is a testament that this is still a much-needed lesson. Yet, even more profound than Mr. Roger’s statement on public television, is Clemmons's life story. Francois was a close friend of Mr. Rogers and played Officer Clemmons for 25 years. François not only endured life-long racism but also bigotry for being homosexual —including Fred’s own fears that the show would lose their sponsorships if they featured an openly gay character. A talented singer, Francois went on to create the world-renowned Harlem Spiritual Ensemble—dedicated to preserving, sustaining, and commissioning new and traditional arrangements of American negro spirituals. He also received a Grammy for his performance in Porgy and Bess. His recent memoir tells the story of deep self-inquiry and spiritual discovery. Join us for this intimate and powerful conversation, on the Black Lives Matter movement, confronting bigotry and racism, the incredible power of music, and just what it means to be a Soul in an unjust world.
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children's television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children’s television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children’s television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children’s television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children’s television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Officer Clemmons: A Memoir (Catapult, 2020), François Clemmons tells the story of how he became the first ever African-American recurring character on a children’s television when he took on the role of the friendly police officer in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. But this book is more than a behind-the-scenes show business memoir. It is a touching coming of age story that reveals what it felt like to be young, gifted, black, and gay during a time of intense racism and homophobia. We come to understand that Clemmons found in Mr. Rogers a mentor figure who made Clemmons feel loved and appreciated, just as Mr. Rogers made millions of children feel through his program. Officer Clemmons: A Memoir is a testament to the quiet power of love. Andy Boyd is a playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of the playwriting MFA program at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Arizona School for the Arts. His plays have been produced, developed, or presented at IRT, Pipeline Theatre Company, The Gingold Group, Dixon Place, Roundabout Theatre, Epic Theatre Company, Out Loud Theatre, Naked Theatre Company, Contemporary Theatre of Rhode Island, and The Trunk Space. He is currently working on a series of 50 plays about the 50 U.S. states. His website is AndyJBoyd.com, and he can be reached atandyjamesboyd@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. François S. Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s program with his role as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His new book Officer Clemmons details his personal journey of embracing his identity as a gay man and his deep, spiritual friendship with Fred Rogers that spanned 40 years.
What does supporting the black community mean for white people? What does it mean for black people? Learn how Mister Rogers and his friend Officer Clemmons (the Black Police Officer on the Show) give us an idea of one way to do it together. How do each of us do our part for racial injustice? How did Mister Rogers, how did François Clemmons (who plays that black office on the show)? Learn how their quiet, yet powerful actions broke barriers and helped lay groundwork for true integration after the 60s. François Clemmons ... who was he really? Learn all about his life with Mister Rogers, and outside the show, and how he overcame so much, and made a life long friend of Mister R himself. And forgiveness... how would you define it? Find out how differently each of us think about it, what it means in our life, your life, and if it has a role or not in our racially divided country today.Support the show (https://www.doingmisterrogers.com/)
“I always find it an ironic thing to think about the fact that Fred Rogers was colour-blind. He could barely tell a blue from a grey. I was young and to him I was a child and I certainly played the role of a child and he played the role of parent… He was profoundly patient.”Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
Dr. François Clemmons is perhaps best known as Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's Officer Clemmons. He made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's television program. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, a MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary degree from Middlebury College. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; in 1986, he founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble; and from 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont, where he currently resides.· https://francoisclemmons.net · www.creativeprocess.info
A perfect friendship: Francois Clemmons and Fred Rogers’ friendship helped change the course of children’s television. (From left to right: Daniel Tiger, Francois Clemmons, Fred Rogers, Lady Elaine Fairchilde. Photos courtesy of Fred Rogers Center and Francois Scarborough Clemmons.One of the unexpected surprises from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the documentary film on Mr. Rogers, was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.Francois joined the pioneering children’s TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemmons. As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children’s television, Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned to take in the love that Fred had to give.Today we’re delighted to talk to Officer Clemmons, Francois Diva Man Scarborough Clemmons from his home in Vermont about coming out as gay to Mr. Rogers, his love of turquoise jewelry and is there any truth to the recently revealed rumor that Mr. Rogers was bisexual?____________________FEAST OF FUN IS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF FABULOUS PEOPLE LIKE YOU.LISTEN TO THOUSANDS LEGENDARY SHOWS with NO ADS:★ https://feastoffun.com/plusFOLLOW FEAST OF FUN:❤️ https://youtube.com/feastoffun?sub_confirmation=1
Francois Clemmons made history as one of the first African American actors to have a recurring role on a children's television program when he was cast as "Officer Clemmons" on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Clemmons joins CBS News' Jamie Wax to discuss his new book "Officer Clemmons: A Memoir" and the lessons he learned from Fred Rogers. Plus, Clemmons shares how racism and homophobia have impacted his life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Francois Clemmons made history as one of the first African American actors to have a recurring role on a children's television program when he was cast as "Officer Clemmons" on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Clemmons joins CBS News' Jamie Wax to discuss his new book "Officer Clemmons: A Memoir" and the lessons he learned from Fred Rogers. Plus, Clemmons shares how racism and homophobia have impacted his life.
François Clemmons discusses his memoir, Officer Clemmons, which tells the story of his life and time in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Best known as Officer Clemmons in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, François Clemmons talks about making the choice to stay in the closet for Fred Rogers, his visit to Stonewall in 1969, and his illustrious singing career. And yes, he sings for us on the podcast. And yes, it's fantastic. LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters and produced by The Advocate magazine, in partnership with GLAAD. Come find us on Twitter @lgbtqpod.
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share small wins they've accomplished; François Clemmons, famously known as Officer Clemmons on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," discusses how Fred Rogers became a mentor and father figure to him during personally turbulent times; comedy writer Joey Clift explains how he painstakingly crowdsourced musicians to make an album for every state in the union... a feat which was promised (yet never finished) by singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens; and Luke and Elena try their hands at writing and performing their own regional songs.
Bonus Episode: Officer Clemmons Returns With A New MemoirThis week in the neighborhood, our guest is Dr. François S. Clemmons, aka Officer Clemmons is back with an in depth conversation. François Scarborough Clemmons (born April 23, 1945 in Birmingham) is an opera singer, playwright, and lecturer best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. François made his first appearance on Mister Rogers Neighborhood in 1968. His role as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers Neighborhood was groundbreaking, presenting a positive image of an African American at a time when racial tensions were high. He writes in his new book, Officer Clemmons, that in Fred Rogers he found a friend, a mentor, and with Fred's wife Joanne, a family. His new memoir titled, Officer Clemmons, is now available.Buy The New Book: Officer ClemmonsThank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.Theme Music featured on this podcast is "Nouvelle Noel" by Kevin MacLeod and all other Music by Benjamin Tossot at www.Bensound.com.Special Thanks to my guest neighbor Francois Clemmons and Catapult BooksAlso a special thanks to the @MisterRogersSay Community on TwitterYour host is Rick Lee James. Rick's Twitter account is @RickLeeJames and his web site is RickLeeJames.com.----more----Voices In My Head Productions does not profit from this program. This show is completely a labor of love out of the respect that the host has for the life of Fred Rogers. We do not own images or sound clips of Fred Rogers used on this show. While this is not a legally binding Mea Culpa, we would appreciate you not suing us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickleejames.substack.com/subscribe
Francois Clemmons is a singer and founder of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble in America, but he became famous as an actor when he played the role of Officer Clemmons in the hit children’s TV programme 'Mister Rogers Neighborhood'. He joined the show in 1968, and was an important role model for young African-American children, but then he had to make a difficult decision. As a gay man he was told that his sexuality was not compatible with his TV role, so he had to choose between his sexuality and his TV career. Although he chose the latter, he was able to be open about his sexuality years later. He tells Jo Fidgen how much the show meant to him over the years and how forming his spiritual ensemble was a dream come true for him. He's written a book called Officer Clemmons: A Memoir. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder Picture: Clemmons with King Friday and Queen Sara Credit: The Fred Rogers Company
Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast
Bonus Episode: Officer Clemmons Returns With A New MemoirThis week in the neighborhood, our guest is Dr. François S. Clemmons, aka Officer Clemmons is back with an in depth conversation. François Scarborough Clemmons (born April 23, 1945 in Birmingham) is an opera singer, playwright, and lecturer best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. François made his first appearance on Mister Rogers Neighborhood in 1968. His role as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers Neighborhood was groundbreaking, presenting a positive image of an African American at a time when racial tensions were high. He writes in his new book, Officer Clemmons, that in Fred Rogers he found a friend, a mentor, and with Fred’s wife Joanne, a family. His new memoir titled, Officer Clemmons, is now available.Buy The New Book: Officer ClemmonsThank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.Theme Music featured on this podcast is "Nouvelle Noel" by Kevin MacLeod and all other Music by Benjamin Tossot at www.Bensound.com.Special Thanks to my guest neighbor Francois Clemmons and Catapult BooksAlso a special thanks to the @MisterRogersSay Community on TwitterYour host is Rick Lee James. Rick's Twitter account is @RickLeeJames and his web site is RickLeeJames.com.----more----Voices In My Head Productions does not profit from this program. This show is completely a labor of love out of the respect that the host has for the life of Fred Rogers. We do not own images or sound clips of Fred Rogers used on this show. While this is not a legally binding Mea Culpa, we would appreciate you not suing us.
In this interview, I talk with Dr. François Clemmons. You know him best for playing the iconic character of Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers Neighborhood! As Dr. Clemmons prepared to release his first book, a memoir entitled Officer Clemmons, I had the opportunity to chat with him about a little bit of everything … from very openly discussing his experiences navigating his personal life and his role in Mister Rogers Neighborhood with respect to his sexual orientation and race, to sharing stories about his childhood and literary influences. We laugh, we cry, and everything in between. My cheeks have never hurt like this after an interview from smiling so broadly … so, trust me, this is one you don't want to miss! 2:09 - Dr. Clemmons discusses what he may have done differently, looking back on his life 4:17 - Dr. Clemmons talks about navigating his sexual orientation & race in both his personal life & his role as Officer Clemmons, as well as building a relationship with Fred Rogers 18:12 - The influence of family (& destiny!) on who Dr. Clemmons grew up to be 26:20 - Dr. Clemmons discusses the process of writing his memoir & his natural storytelling ability/influences 34:51 - Why Dr. Clemmons wants to share such a personal story with the world & his unique perspective on Fred Rogers 45:35 - Dr. Clemmons sings! 45:55 - What Dr. Clemmons learned from his mother, reading, & other life experiences 52:00 - How Fred Rogers taught Dr. Clemmons the power of unconditional love 53:00 - Dr. Clemmons discusses teaching at Middlebury College & other accomplishments 59:23 - Dr. Clemmons shares a few more literary influences
Purple Roads is Presented by InfusionHF70+What a wonderful day in the neighborhood!François Clemmons, who played Officer Clemmons on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, joins us to sing, laugh, and reminisce about working on one of America's most iconic children's television shows.Coming of age in a time of uncertainty and discrimination, François details what is was like making a name for himself in entertainment, its highs and lows, and eventually living his truth. To learn more about François, please visit:Upcoming Book (Releasing May 5th!): https://books.catapult.co/products/officer-clemmons-a-memoir-by-dr-francois-s-clemmonsWebsite: https://francoisclemmons.net/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francois.s.clemmonsFollow Purple Roads on social media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PurpleRoadsPodcast/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/…/UCI1MJgEBWSk2…Instagram: @purpleroadspodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/roadspurpleTo contact Purple Roads, please email: Carey@purpleroadspodcast.com
Bonus Episode: A Conversation with François ClemmonsOur guest on this special Bonus episode of Welcome To The Neighborhood is François Clemmons (Officer Clemmons) from Mister Rogers Neighborhood Dr. François Scarborough Clemmons is an Afro-American singer, actor, playwright and university lecturer. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993. For 25 years, Clemmons performed the role of Officer Clemmons, a friendly neighborhood policeman, in the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" on the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In the neighborhood itself, Clemmons ran a singing and dance studio located in the building diagonally across from Mr. Rogers' house. As "Officer Clemmons", he became one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on a kids' TV series. Buy François Clemmons New Book: Officer Clemmons: A MemoirThank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.Theme Music featured on this podcast is "Nouvelle Noel" by Kevin MacLeod and all other Music by Bejamin Tossot at www.Bensound.com.Special Thanks to my guest neighbor David Dault.Also a special thanks to the @MisterRogersSay Community on TwitterYour host is Rick Lee James. Rick's Twitter account is @RickLeeJames and his web site is RickLeeJames.com.----more----Voices In My Head Productions does not profit from this program. This show is completely a labor of love out of the respect that the host has for the life of Fred Rogers. We do not own images or sound clips of Fred Rogers used on this show. While this is not a legally binding Mea Culpa, we would appreciate you not suing us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickleejames.substack.com/subscribe
Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast
Bonus Episode: A Conversation with François ClemmonsOur guest on this special Bonus episode of Welcome To The Neighborhood is François Clemmons (Officer Clemmons) from Mister Rogers Neighborhood Dr. François Scarborough Clemmons is an Afro-American singer, actor, playwright and university lecturer. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993. For 25 years, Clemmons performed the role of Officer Clemmons, a friendly neighborhood policeman, in the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" on the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In the neighborhood itself, Clemmons ran a singing and dance studio located in the building diagonally across from Mr. Rogers' house. As "Officer Clemmons", he became one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on a kids' TV series. Buy François Clemmons New Book: Officer Clemmons: A MemoirThank you for joining us here this week in the neighborhood.Theme Music featured on this podcast is "Nouvelle Noel" by Kevin MacLeod and all other Music by Bejamin Tossot at www.Bensound.com.Special Thanks to my guest neighbor David Dault.Also a special thanks to the @MisterRogersSay Community on TwitterYour host is Rick Lee James. Rick's Twitter account is @RickLeeJames and his web site is RickLeeJames.com.----more----Voices In My Head Productions does not profit from this program. This show is completely a labor of love out of the respect that the host has for the life of Fred Rogers. We do not own images or sound clips of Fred Rogers used on this show. While this is not a legally binding Mea Culpa, we would appreciate you not suing us.
The final week in the series. John 13: 1-17. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Mr. Rogers washes Officer Clemmons’ feet. The post On Washing Feet appeared first on Faith United Methodist Church - Grain Valley, MO.
On kiddie pools and racism. On sharing a towel with Officer Clemmons. On how to say, and not to say, I love you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
On kiddie pools and racism. On sharing a towel with Officer Clemmons. On how to say, and not to say, I love you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
Steve Adubato goes on-location to The Turrell Fund Day for Children in Shelburne, Vermont to speak with Dr. Francois Clemmons, singer and actor from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, about Dr. Clemmons’ groundbreaking role as Officer Clemmons on the show, the impact of Mister Rogers Neighborhood on generations of children, and the lessons Fred Rogers taught Dr. […]
A perfect friendship: Francois Clemmons and Fred Rogers’ friendship helped change the course of children’s television. (From left to right: Daniel Tiger, Francois Clemmons, Fred Rogers, Lady Elaine Fairchilde. Photos courtesy of Fred Rogers Center and Francois Scarborough Clemmons.One of the unexpected surprises from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” the documentary film on Mr. Rogers, was just how fierce and unapologetically gay in real life is Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.Francois joined the pioneering children’s TV show as a young man and spent decades playing Officer Clemmons. As one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on children’s television, Francois was in a unique position to help Fred Rogers open his eyes to the struggles of disenfranchised people. In turn, Francois learned to take in the love that Fred had to give.Today we’re delighted to talk to Officer Clemmons, Francois Diva Man Scarborough Clemmons from his home in Vermont about coming out as gay to Mr. Rogers, his love of turquoise jewelry and is there any truth to the recently revealed rumor that Mr. Rogers was bisexual?____________________FEAST OF FUN IS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF FABULOUS PEOPLE LIKE YOU.LISTEN TO THOUSANDS LEGENDARY SHOWS with NO ADS:★ https://feastoffun.com/plusFOLLOW FEAST OF FUN:❤️ https://youtube.com/feastoffun?sub_confirmation=1
AMA heads to the Nantucket Film Festival with François Clemmons. Known for his role as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, he reflects on his life and the film Won't You Be My Neighbor? This episode originally aired on June 29, 2018.
Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, and your boys’ quips are fast as lightning in this Martial arts episode of “Are We Friends?” Listen to three soft boys talk about the hard hitting, beautiful movements of the greats: Jack Dempsey, Donnie Yen, Ip Man himself, and somehow Steven Seagal. Will your boys be friends after a rhetorical backyard scrap, or will they resort to some underhanded blows to win? There only one way to find out. Enter the ring. Baguazhang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguazhang Wingchun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_Chun Boxing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing Avatar: Creating the Legend: Ari Bending: https://youtu.be/EkIr7Wqr5FU?t=3m35s Ip Man 2, Final Fight With Twister: https://youtu.be/ZkL-t35mBOk Rocky IV Robot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cku6oPGWW7Q Myth of Sisyphus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_Sisyphus Hajime no Ippo (Boxing Anime): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajime_no_Ippo One Summer: America, 1927: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Summer:_America,_1927 Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3009336/ Mike Tyson’s Mysteries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson_Mysteries George Foreman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Foreman Mr. Rogers and Officer Clemmons pool scene: https://youtu.be/U5YXNLvQlOA?t=5m51s Real Steel Trailer: https://youtu.be/T75j9CoBVzE Real Steel video game: http://realsteelgame.com/us/ India Jones and Swordsman Scene: https://youtu.be/7YyBtMxZgQs
Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #287: Guest Francois Clemmons (Officer Clemmons) from Mister Rogers Neighborhood On this episode of Voices In My Head we welcome Dr. Francois Clemmons. Dr. François Scarborough Clemmons is an Afro-American singer, actor, playwright and university lecturer. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993.In 1968, Clemmons won the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to Cleveland, Ohio, where he won a position in the Metropolitan Opera Studio. He sang there professionally for seven seasons, performing over 70 roles with companies including The New York City Opera, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, and Washington Civic Opera.Clemmons sang with numerous orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; he performed the role of "Sportin' Life" in that musical over 100 times.For 25 years, Clemmons performed the role of Officer Clemmons, a friendly neighborhood policeman, in the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" on the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In the neighborhood itself, Clemmons ran a singing and dance studio located in the building diagonally across from Mr. Rogers' house. As "Officer Clemmons", he became one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on a kids' TV series. Clemmons actively writes across genres for a variety of age groups. Currently, he is writing his autobiography entitled DivaMan: My Life in Song, a children's story entitled ButterCup and the Majic Cane, and a volume of poetry entitled A Place Of My Own. Some of his published works include a volume of spirituals named Songs for Today and a stage musical called My Name Is Hayes based on the life of Roland Hayes. He also commissioned a choral work composed of spirituals entitled Changed My Name, arranged by Linda Twine.From 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. He “played the role of professor, choirmaster, resident vocal soloist, advisor, confidant, and community cheerleader”. He is also well known in the Middlebury community for his superb rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", which he sings at the Middlebury College men's basketball games.Clemmons lives and works in Middlebury, Vermont, where he is the Emeritus Artist in Residence of Middlebury College. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music. Blessings,Rick Lee Jameswww.RickLeeJames.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickleejames.substack.com/subscribe
Voices In My Head Podcast Episode #287: Guest Francois Clemmons (Officer Clemmons) from Mister Rogers Neighborhood On this episode of Voices In My Head we welcome Dr. Francois Clemmons. Dr. François Scarborough Clemmons is an Afro-American singer, actor, playwright and university lecturer. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as Officer Clemmons on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993. In 1968, Clemmons won the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to Cleveland, Ohio, where he won a position in the Metropolitan Opera Studio. He sang there professionally for seven seasons, performing over 70 roles with companies including The New York City Opera, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, and Washington Civic Opera. Clemmons sang with numerous orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1973, he won a Grammy Award for a recording of Porgy and Bess; he performed the role of "Sportin' Life" in that musical over 100 times. For 25 years, Clemmons performed the role of Officer Clemmons, a friendly neighborhood policeman, in the "Neighborhood of Make-Believe" on the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. In the neighborhood itself, Clemmons ran a singing and dance studio located in the building diagonally across from Mr. Rogers' house. As "Officer Clemmons", he became one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on a kids' TV series. Clemmons actively writes across genres for a variety of age groups. Currently, he is writing his autobiography entitled DivaMan: My Life in Song, a children's story entitled ButterCup and the Majic Cane, and a volume of poetry entitled A Place Of My Own. Some of his published works include a volume of spirituals named Songs for Today and a stage musical called My Name Is Hayes based on the life of Roland Hayes. He also commissioned a choral work composed of spirituals entitled Changed My Name, arranged by Linda Twine. From 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Clemmons was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. He “played the role of professor, choirmaster, resident vocal soloist, advisor, confidant, and community cheerleader”. He is also well known in the Middlebury community for his superb rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", which he sings at the Middlebury College men's basketball games. Clemmons lives and works in Middlebury, Vermont, where he is the Emeritus Artist in Residence of Middlebury College. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music. Blessings, Rick Lee James www.RickLeeJames.com
AMA heads to the Nantucket Film Festival with François Clemmons. Known for his role as Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, he reflects on his life and the film Won't You Be My Neighbor.
François Scarborough Clemmons is a singer, actor, playwright, professor, writer, university lecturer and father figure to so many people. He is perhaps best known for his appearances on the PBS television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood throughout the 1970's as "Officer Clemmons"Meet the giving and wonderful: Francois Scarborough Clemmons