In this episode, eight years later David welcomes back game designer and publisher Jamey Stegmaier for a lively conversation about scaling a creative venture, building a mission-driven culture, and fostering community in a niche that’s far bigger than most people realize. Discover how Jamey’s focus on crafting delight, coupled with a transparent approach to both fans and collaborators, has fueled Stonemaier Games’ growth and influence. Whether you’re a dedicated board gamer or just interested in entrepreneurial insights, you’ll walk away with fresh perspectives on innovation, purposeful leadership, and the power of “fun” as a serious business edge.
Host: David Gardner
Guest Star: Jamey Stegmaier
Producer: Desirée Jones
In this 20th installment of one of our longest-running series, David shares five fresh quotes from the likes of Sir Philip Sidney, Danny Meyer, Raj Sisodia, Confucius, and Jeff Bezos. Across these stirring lines, we explore themes of authentic self-expression, continuous reinvention, the power of seeing people as wellsprings of creativity, and the urgency that comes from recognizing we only have one life. If you’re ready to think deeper, act bolder, and craft a richer story for yourself, this episode offers both inspiration and challenge—Rule Breaker style.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies Mentioned: AMZN, SHAK
David kicks off 2025 by revisiting five timeless lessons drawn from classic episodes spanning nearly a decade of weekly podcasts—now approaching 500 consecutive weeks of fresh content. Reaching back to 2016 and beyond, he rediscovers core investing principles: the surprising advantage of never selling, the folly of waiting for dips, the power of choosing stocks of stellar employers, and how great leaders transform intuition into intentional culture. Revisiting stories of Warren Buffett, Danny Meyer, and exceptional stock picks like Amazon and Nvidia, this episode delivers valuable, enduring truths for investors both new and seasoned.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Dez Jones
Companies Mentioned: AAPL, AMZN, ARM, BIIB, CRM, GOOG, META, NFLX, NVDA, TSLA
From a preschool teacher newly inspired to invest at 73 to a lifelong Fool whose Microsoft shares became a 500-bagger, this year-end Mailbag brims with transformational stories. Listeners wrestle with rebalancing versus “never sell,” explore “layering in and out” of big winners like Tesla, and reflect on optimism as both delicate and powerful. David highlights multigenerational lessons—like gifting You Have More Than You Think to a nephew-turned-advisor—and celebrates that it’s never too late to start making smarter, happier, and richer choices. This holiday season, embrace the joy of learning from each other, fueling a Foolish momentum into 2025.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies mentioned: AMZN, CSCO, MELI, META, MIDD, MRK, MSFT, NFLX, NVDA, RCL, SBUX, SHOP, SQ, TMDX, TSLA, WM, WMT
The Market Cap Game Show returns! David welcomes Motley Fool favorites Emily Flippen and Mac Greer to the stage as they test their knowledge—and yours—on the true price tags of 10 public companies. From semiconductor giants to convenience store champions, from cutting-edge cybersecurity firms to energy drink dynamos, the competitors tackle stocks both familiar and surprising.
Will you outscore Emily, Mac, or both? Play along, challenge your market cap intuition, and discover the surprising values of companies you know and love (and maybe a few you’ve never heard of).
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Emily Flippen, Mac Greer
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies Mentioned: ABNB, CASY, CELH, DAVA, LRCX, MANH, MTN, PANW, SFIX, TMUS
What were the 10 “Bestie” Rule Breaker Investing podcasts of 2024?
From timely and timeless optimism, to risk-rating frameworks, to cutting-edge AI-driven Q&A, plus a first-ever Market Cap Game Show World Championship, this week’s Besties extravaganza highlights 10 remarkable episodes that defined Rule Breaker Investing in 2024.
And all the stars are back! Cameos a-plenty in this fifth annual year-end blockbuster, capped by a redux of the community-centric 100th Mailbag, featuring longtime listeners showcasing the power of shared learning.
Here’s to another year of smarter, happier, and richer!
(6:48) Bestie #1: Optimism, w/ Bill Burke
(13:43) Bestie #2: Calculating Risk Foolishly, Vol. 3: KNSL v. CHWY
(17:05) Bestie #3: Rand Stagen on Long-Term Leadership, Business, and Life
(28:48) Bestie #4: Investing in Art with Tonya Turner Carroll and Michael Carroll
(40:25) Bestie #5: Reviewapalooza Ultima: 30 Five-Stock Samplers in 10 1/2 Chapters
(46:56) Bestie #6: Dividend Fools, Vol. 2 w/ Matt Argersinger & Buck Hartzell
(58:19) Bestie #7: Innovating the Future with XPRIZE’s Elaine Hungenberg
(1:03:49) Bestie #8: ChatGPT Asks & David Answers, Vol. 1
(1:06:56) Bestie #9: Market Cap Game Show FINALS (Andy Cross v. Bill Mann)
(1:15:46) Bestie #10: February 2024 Mailbag (#100!): Very Good Company
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Matt Argersinger, Bill Burke, Tonya Carroll, Michael Carroll, ChatGPT (AI), Andy Cross, Dave Geck, Buck Hartzell, Elaine Hungenberg, Jumm, Mike McMahon, Bill Mann, Jason Moore, Adam Nelson, Jason Newman, Rand Stagen, Jason Trice
Music: Erick Devore
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies Mentioned: BIP, BRK, CHWY, EGHSF, KNSL, MTYFF, NVDA, PTON, RPM, SBUX, SYNA, TSLA, UBER
From family-friendly fun to complex strategies for seasoned gamers, David shares his annual tabletop gift guide in Games, Games, Games, Vol. 6! Starting with light, accessible games like That’s Not a Hat and Medium, and moving into deeper, richer titles like Ticket to Ride Legacy and Civolution, this year’s list features 13 curated picks for every type of gamer. Whether you’re shopping for a casual game night or looking to challenge your game-loving friends, these recommendations are strategically timed to help you make this holiday season unforgettable. Sixth in its annual series.Happy gaming, and Fool on!
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Dez Jones
Companies Mentioned:
AMZN
How do you thank someone for saving your life? In this year’s Gratitude episode, Boyd Dunleavey shares his extraordinary journey from beating cancer to running marathons—and how investing in companies like Nvidia and Shopify changed his family’s future. Listener stories span the globe, from a school founder in Japan to a Fool in Bangalore with a portfolio full of 10-baggers. Along the way, David reflects on the power of community, the lessons of loss, and why gratitude is the ultimate fuel for a richer life. This is Thanksgiving, Rule Breaker-style.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies mentioned: AMZN, AXON, COST, MELI, META, NFLX, NVDA, SHOP, TSLA, TTD
As another year winds down, it’s time to pause and reflect on the year of 2024 and the gratitude we feel. From groundbreaking achievements in business (artificial intelligence) to investing home runs (Nvidia, and the S&P 500 overall) to the meaningful connections that enrich our lives, this week’s podcast is an expression of thankfulness for what inspires us, supports us, and keeps us moving forward… and reminds us why we invest. Let’s feel grateful together — let’s call it out! And find sparks of inspiration for the year ahead.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies mentioned: AMZN, ISRG, MELI, META, NVDA
This June, ChatGPT took its first swing with five big questions about Rule Breaker Investing, and a new episodic series was born. Now, we’re back for Volume 2—with a baseball twist! ChatGPT pitches David five questions, each a unique pitch type:
1. Hardball: What separates Rule Breakers built to last from those destined to fizzle out?
2. Softball: Can David sum up Rule Breaker Investing in one sentence?
3. Curveball: What would make him rethink a long-term winner?
4. Screwball: Is there a traditional investing rule David (begrudgingly) respects?
5. Knuckleball: If he could pass on just one Rule Breaker principle, what would it be?
Come for the hardball, stay for the knuckleball!
Host: David Gardner
Guest: ChatGPT
Producer: Desirée Jones
Companies Mentioned: AAPL, AOL, ARM, AXON, BB, DDD, FIT, GPRO, IOM, K, META, NOK, P, TSLA, YHOO
Ever felt the chill of a silent room after asking for questions, only to be met with zero raised hands? Or maybe you’ve found yourself buried in commercials, losing valuable family moments during the big game. This week, David shares his latest volume of Mental Tips, Tricks, and Lifehacks with seven unique strategies to make life smoother, smarter, and a bit more joyful. From the Hemingway Bridge to transforming “FAILURE” into an unexpected love message, get ready for a dose of elegance, insight, and a little Rule Breaker flair — this week, only on Rule Breaker Investing!
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Mailbag! This week, David welcomes back an expert as we open up focusing on risk... in its prominent forms of tolerance and also capacity. Then, a non-partisan look at the upcoming election: “What truly drives America forward—regardless of political tides?” Some chicken soup for American souls..... At close, a special missive from a Foolish investor who shares his Magnificent Seven score along with a story that cannot fail to inspire.
Producer: Desirée Jones
Host: David Gardner
Guest: Amanda Kish
Do you want to hear something really scary? The kind of scary that could drain your accounts and seize your assets? Do not adjust your podcatcher, Fool! Robert Brokamp is back to shock, scare, and surprise you with stories from the dark side of finance. But fret not! He will also give you the keys to your survival.
Host: David Gardner
Guest: Robert Brokamp
Producer: Rick Engdahl
You're already pretty smart, but let's go for even smarter! Our all-Fool cast is here to help you understand some common and not-so-common investing terms, so that you can be more fun at cocktail parties — and more importantly, be a better investor! Are we heroes? Are we zeros? Keep score and let us know.
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Amanda Kish, Andy Cross, Sanmeet Deo
Producer: Rick Engdahl
This week on Rule Breaker Investing, David welcomes Elaine Hungenberg, Senior VP of Partnerships & Impact at XPRIZE. Elaine explains how XPRIZE’s unique competition model sparks world-changing innovations, from space exploration to clean water solutions. In this lively conversation, discover how prize-driven innovation accelerates breakthroughs, hear about some of the most exciting XPRIZE projects, and learn valuable lessons from Elaine’s journey as a thoughtful disrupter. Tune in for a deep dive into creating impact, followed by our always fun, signature round of Buy, Sell, Hold!
Host: David Gardner
Guest: Elaine Hungenberg
Producer: Desirée Jones
Every stock tells a story. This week on Rule Breaker Investing, we gather around the campfire for the ninth time to share our best stock stories. From Meta Platforms’s long arc of growth to Warner Bros. Discovery’s debt-ridden saga, these stories aren’t just tales of companies; they are lessons for life and investing. David and his Motley Fool friends—Dave Meier, Mary Long, Nathan Alderman, and Tracy Dahl—recount their most memorable stock experiences. Join us at the campfire!
Companies Mentioned:
BMBL, BRK, META, WBD, YHOO
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Dave Meier, Mary Long, Nathan Alderman, Tracy Dahl
Producer: Desirée Jones
On the road and looking at a light mailbag, David writes his own beautiful question this month, using it as an opportunity to highlight five favorite moments from the Rule Breaker Investing podcast in 2024.
Companies Discussed: AAPL, AMZN, GOOG, META, MSFT, NVDA, TSLA
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Welcome back to our quarterly Market Cap Game Show! This week, two past champions, Matt Argersinger and Yasser El-Shimy, face off in a battle of wits and estimates, each vying for the coveted seat in our 2025 “March Market Cap Madness” World Championships. With 10 stocks on the line and two throwdown rounds, who will come out on top? And how will you fare against our contestants? Whether it’s semiconductors, space exploration, or the future of sound systems, we’ve got an exciting lineup of companies for you to test your market cap knowledge. Can you outscore both guests?!
Companies Discussed:
NBIX, RKLB, AMD, SHOP, SYNA, MSFT, LOW, SONO, HEI, KFRC
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Matt Argersinger, Yasser El-Shimy
Producer: Desirée Jones
Investing rewards those who play the long game. While short-term trading can capture gains, true wealth comes from thinking in years, even decades. This applies not just to investing, but also in business, leadership, and life. This week, David interviews Rand Stagen, Managing Director of Stagen Leadership Academy, and one of David’s favorite people in business. Rand shares his wisdom on the long-term development of leaders and organizations, why conscious leadership is crucial for businesses today, and the lessons we can all learn from playing the long game in every aspect of life. Along the way, they’ll explore the balance of business, family, and legacy, and even tackle some Buy, Sell, or Hold predictions for the future of leadership.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
In this sixth installment of Essays from Yesterday, David takes us on a journey back through time to revisit some of his earliest (and sometimes prophetic) investment writings from his days as a Motley Fool newsletter contributor. From reflections on the volatility of 2007-8, to introducing new terms like “Big Dumb Money,” and thoughts on building mental frameworks for investing, David reacts to his past essays with fresh insights for today’s markets. Join us as we explore the lessons learned from history and how they continue to guide our investing journeys today.
3:56 - #1 January is the Best Month
12:14 - #2 Big Dumb Money
21:34 - #3 Frameworks for Investors
31:46 - #4 Fool’s Eye on Investing
Companies Discussed: CHKP, CSCO, FTNT
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Light mailbag as we pre-recorded early in the month. But always a few things to talk about. Small things come in good packages! Happy Labor Day Weekend to all USA Fools.
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones
Games have always been central to the human experience, shaping the way we think, interact, and understand the world. This week, as part of our Authors in August series, David welcomes back philosopher C. Thi Nguyen to explore the deeper implications of games in our lives. From ancient pastimes to modern video games, we delve into why games matter, how they reflect our agency, and what they teach us about ourselves. With his book Games: Agency as Art, Nguyen reveals the profound ways games act as a form of artistic expression and how they can even influence the way we navigate life’s challenges. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or simply curious about the philosophical underpinnings of play, this conversation offers insights that extend far beyond the gaming table.
Also, this is a reminder that our August Mailbag episode drops this Saturday. Whether you’re on the road for Labor Day Weekend or just relaxing at home, be sure to tune in, our 106th consecutive monthly mailbag will be there for you!
(1:34) Intro C.Thi Nguen
(4:51) Why we play games
(11:58) What does it mean to play a game?
(19:13) Striving Play vs. Achievement Play
(31:21) A game that people think is not a game?
(34:43) What's not a game people think is a game?
(54:13) Buy Sell or Hold
Producer: Desirée Jones
This week on Rule Breaker Investing, David welcomes neuroscientist and bestselling author David Eagleman for a mind-expanding conversation about his book Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives. As part of the ongoing Authors in August series, David dives into Eagleman’s fascinating exploration of life, death, and the possibilities beyond. What can a neuroscientist’s perspective on creativity and storytelling teach us about how we live our lives today? Plus, a speculative look at the future of AI, the neuroscience of rule-breaking, and what it means to leave a lasting legacy. And… does this episode feature our best-ever game of Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Companies Discussed: AMZN
Producer: Desirée Jones
Continuing our 7th annual Authors in August series, David welcomes John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, for a deep dive into his 2024 book, The Whole Story. Reflecting on the journey from Safer Way to Whole Foods to Amazon.com to Love.Life, John shares how passion, purpose, and unexpected surprises shaped a company that’s transformed the way America eats. With a nod to their 2020 conversation on Conscious Leadership, this episode explores the intersection of purpose and profit, and the enduring joy of playing the game of life—and business.
Companies Discussed: AMZN, CMG, SBUX, WMT
Producer: Desirée Jones
Kicking off our 7th annual Authors in August series, David pivots from an unexpected cancellation to a special Poetry of Rule Breaker Investing episode. Herein, a selection of eight original poems from fellow Fools inspired by market movements, Rule Breaker principles, and financial freedom, plus a surprise world-premiere musical tribute! Join us for a whimsical and thought-provoking journey into the art of investing, with a nod to the enduring impact of classic literature.
Companies Discussed: AAPL, AMZN, NFLX
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Desirée Jones