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

It’s Rule Breaker Investing’s first-ever outtake — what stock could we NOT feature on last week’s Market Cap Game Show, and why? Bill Barker joins in for a few laughs. David closes out “5 Stocks Pursued by a Bear,” explores with Jim Mueller if The Motley Fool gives options advice, and welcomes a visit from Sean Milliken, head of the Fool’s latest fund. Mailbag!

Companies Discussed: AAPL, AXON, DAVA, NFLX, PTON, SNBR, TTD, U, Z

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Bill Barker, Sean Milliken, Jim Mueller
Producer: Desiree Jones

We're all gonna die! Today's collection of cautionary tales will show you just how shocking and scary the world can be if you don't plan for the inevitable.

(7:17) The Ghost of Paisley Park
(14:31) A Tale of Tractor Terror
(18:15) The Headless Slugger
(22:44) The Alien Who Loved Me
(30:53) Night of the Living Document
(35:41) No Mere Mortal Can Escape the Estate of the Thriller
(43:53) A Nightmare on Wall Street

Host: David Gardner
Guest: Robert Brokamp
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Professional athletes have it made, right? Surely they're all millionaires and don't need any financial advice. Or maybe it's not that simple? Sem Verbeek is an up and coming tennis professional who has his eye on winning championships and promoting financial freedom for his fellow athletes. Foolishly.

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Sem Verbeek, George Khalaf
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Did Abe Lincoln really say that? Sometimes the quotes are worth repeating, even if the attribution is suspect. Somebody said it after all, and the wisdom of words rings true regardless.

• (4:15) Things That Matter
• (10:17) Your Best Vision
• (14:23) Sharpen The Axe
• (19:08) Understand More; Fear Less
• (30:11) A Mile In Their Shoes

Host: David Gardner
Producer: Rick Engdahl

How do you get started with a career in finance? What about a career in financial freedom? These questions, plus a look at stocks in the penalty box, on today's mailbag episode.

Stocks Mentioned: NFLX, SNOW, BLUE

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Tim Beyers, Rick Munarriz, Megan Brinsfield, Jennifer Gennaro Oxley
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Disclosure: 
“Motley Fool Wealth Management, or Fool Wealth, is an investment adviser registered with the SEC. Fool Wealth is an affiliate of and a separate entity from The Motley Fool. While similar in name, we operate independently of each other, meaning Fool Wealth uses its own team, entirely separate from The Motley Fool, in its investment decision making and daily operations. The Motley Fool also conducts its investment decision making and daily operations independent of Fool Wealth. This discussion with Fool Wealth is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice.”

Last time we played the game, returning champions Yasser El-Shimy and Brian Stoffel had to be content with a tie at 5 points apiece. Of course we couldn't let that stand, so they're back to battle once more, and this time we have the listener-submitted "Stevens Sudden Death Rule" to prevent another draw. Will we need to invoke the new rule?

Stocks Mentioned: SNBR, MRK, CELH, MAA, MDB, AMZN, MELI, AXON, TTD, CFLT, COHR, SQ, ZG, CPRT, ETSY, NET

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Yasser El-Shimy, Brian Stoffel
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Some companies beat the market; some companies get in trouble with the law. So it's important for us to come back every year and check the score for our 5-stock samplers — warts and all.

(3:06) Pet peeves revisited
(5:45) Why we review our stock picks
(11:03) Review: 5 Stocks Indistinguishable from Magic
(29:14) Review: 5 Stocks with a Tailwind Blow
(56:54) Overall scorecard for all 30 5-stock samplers

Stocks Mentioned: PEGA, APPN, RGEN, SEDG, ASML, NVDA, ROKU, TTD, NEE, TDOC, WM

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Sanmeet Deo, Rick Munarriz
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Don't you hate it when people keep long lists of pet peeves? That's why we're here to get those peeves off the list and out into the airwaves. And you can do the same -- hit us up @RBIPodcast and let us know what bugs ya!

Host: David Gardner
Producer: Rick Engdahl

The hottest days of August are behind us as we gather to reflect on a tough market and look forward to better days. Whether you were with us at FoolFest earlier in the week or just gather here every Wednesday to tune-in to the Rule Breaker Investing community, we're all in this together. Because if you want to be better with money, the best thing you can do is hang out with people who are good at money. That's you, Fools!

Host: David Gardner
Guest: Tyler Reber
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Candice Millard, the author of four New York Times bestselling books, is here this week to discuss her newest book River of the Gods. The story of the search for the elusive source of the Nile by 19th-century explorers, it gives rise to a wide-ranging discussion across many dynamics, modern & historic.

(1:54) Introduction to Candice Millard

(3:20) The Source of the Story

(5:20) Importance of the source of the Nile 

(7:12) The Royal Geographic Society past and present

(9:55) A picture of Richard Francis Burton 

(13:25) Sidi Mubarak Bombay: the great unknown explorer

(17:45) Checking emotions and biases in historical writing 

(21:31) John Hanning Speke: Partner and Rival

(25:57) The hardships of exploration

(28:32) Bygone themes of the 19th century

(35:15) Candice Millard’s writing style and methods

(38:04) What is Candice reading now

(40:26) Candice’s tips for new writers

(47:21) Why these books and these stories? 

(48:40) What is the big takeaway from all four of these books

(50:05) Candice's next adventure…  

Host: David Gardner
Guest: Candice Millard
Producer: Heather Horton

President & CEO of Predictable Success Les McKeown is here to talk about his powerful definition of leadership and how it can lead to predictable success. 

(6:45) Do Lead & Do Series introduction 

(13:02) Definitions of leadership

(22:45) Heroic leadership in the media

(27:38) Les’ definition of leadership

(28:43) The four leadership styles

(38:24) Leadership Myths: (1) "You can only lead from the front," and (2) "Leadership is only revealed at times of crisis"

(48:50) Everyone CAN be a leader

(45:05) Effective goal-oriented leadership

(49:21) Enterprise commitment & organizational success

(54:10) Les’ two-minute description of successful leadership

(56:25) Importance of self-aware leadership

(1:04:10) Start small, start big

(1:14:03) Les’ book recommendations  

Host: David Gardner
Guest: Les McKeown
Producer: Heather Horton

The first of the new season, this week’s Market Cap Game Show features an epic showdown between two Bills full of humor, precision(!), wild guesses, and a miss by the thinnest of margins. (Ever!) Can you outscore one… or both… Bills?

Companies Discussed: QCOM, CHWY, SNBR, CAVA, MANH, IT, VZ, TGTX, QRVO, TMDX

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Bill Barker, Bill Mann
Producer: Desiree Jones 

Entrepreneur, author, and game designer Jesse Schell is here to talk about the art of design, the creation of experience, and the future of games.

(4:58) "What you pretend to be, you will become"
(10:21) Creating the experience
(12:35) Immersive play and iterating on the fly
(16:56) "A problem-solving activity approached with a playful attitude"
(22:44) Elements of game design: mechanics, story, aesthetics, and technology
(33:31) Naming and reinforcing a theme
(43:45) "People can steal your moves, but they can never steal your inspiration"
(51:15) The rule of the loop - iterate quickly to accelerate the power of evolution
(57:18) What the future holds: VR, meta, and games within games

Host: David Gardner
Guest: Jesse Schell
Producer: Rick Engdahl

It's August, which for this podcast means authors! There's a great lineup of interviews coming for the month, but we're kicking it off with a list of 5 recommendations and a few runners-up that will get you out on the beach.

(2:43) Runners-up: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly, and Let's Talk About Death (Over Dinner) by Michael Hebb. 

(7:51) It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For by Roy Spence. Are you looking to find the purpose of your organization? There's no better place to start.

(14:26) Selling The Invisible by Harry Beckwith. We are a service economy, and this precient work will guide you in the ways of modern marketing.

(21:30) Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman. A book of poetic prose that conjectures visions of the afterlife that make you think better of this life.

(27:30) Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome. Heading back to the 19th Century, and off on a comic adventure, this book is escapist in all the best ways.

(37:14) The Why of Work by David & Wendy Ulrich. Finding purpose and passion in the workplace will lead to a culture of abundance. Wins all around! 

Host: David Gardner
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Investing. Business. Life. These things are full of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But through it all, the graph goes up and to the right.

(3:24) Hot takes from Twitter: David looks back on this month's episodes with input from the socials.
(7:48) Preview: What's in store for Authors in August.
(9:56) We're joined by Lead Analyst Tim Beyers to answer some questions about the latest changes to the premium Rule Breakers service.
(25:54) The Motley Fools's head of User Experience Research is here to talk about accessibility on Fool.dom.
(41:10) Should we be buying stocks while the market is down or putting away cash for emergencies? Robert Brokamp helps us prioritize, and then responds to a tragic story of what can happen if you don't have an estate plan.
(59:57) A long-time Fool makes beautiful music, and shines a light on the importance of the Foolish community beyond just investing advice.
(1:05) A final story about why we invest, and why financial freedom is a lifetime endeavor.

Stocks Mentioned: TTD, LULU, STNR, BAND

Host: David Gardner
Guests: Tim Beyers, Holly Fake, Robert Brokamp

Producer: Rick Engdahl

When the facts change, what do you do? Today we begin a new series on changing our minds. When it happens, why it happens, and how we are rewarded — in business, in investing, and in life.

Shorting (9:10)
- Is it wrong to short stocks? Is it worth the effort?
Go Tar Heels (15:03)
- What happens when the rival of your favorite team becomes your team?
Loving Choices (19:36)
- Have you confronted your own prejudices? Do you have a ______ friend?
Moneyball (28:20)
- Are you looking at the right data? Are you defying conventional wisdom? Are you winning?
Netflix (34:57)
- Are you able to recognize when Goliath has met his David?

Stocks Mentioned: NFLX
Host: David Gardner
Producer: Rick Engdahl

For over 17 years, Motley Fool Rule Breakers—the subscription service—has been recommending stocks and keeping score. It's been about a year since David stepped away from the service, so today we're checking back in on our namesake. Tim Beyers is here to talk about what has changed and what has stayed the same.

Rule Breakers Service Link: rbioffer.fool.com

Stocks Mentioned: XBI, SNOW, MDB, GOOG, HUBS, VEEV, ANET, BMBL
Host: David Gardner
Guests: Tim Beyers, Rick Engdahl
Producer: Rick Engdahl

With all the horrible headlines these days, it's easy to forget the things that make America special. But for Amjad Masad, a Palestinian immigrant and successful entrepreneur who came here with little to his name, America's virtues are clear to see.

Also in this episode, we review 5 Stocks Celebrating the 2018 World Cup. In keeping with sports fandom, be prepared for the agony of defeat!

Stocks mentioned: YNDX, MELI, EA, BOOK, DASTY

Host: David Gardner
Producer: Rick Engdahl

Today we learned that "Vorfreude" is the German word for pleasant anticipation. Fitting, as we always look forward to hearing from you! And of course, we've been looking forward to having Lee and Kara back to revisit some company culture tips. Finally, we'll leave you with a little more Rule Breaking Vorfreude at the end of the show!

Yasser El-Shimy made a great first impression with his win in the last match, but now he's back to face our previous champ, Brian Stoffel. Guessing market caps great and small, of companies ubiquitous  and obscure. Who will win? You will, Fool!

Remember when Reviewapaloozas were fun? Well, at some point they will be fun again, but in the meantime we have lessons to learn and some lumps to take. One day we will look back and reminisce about these times we lived through.

For the second week in a row, David launches Volume 1 of a new episodic series. This time it’s “Pet Perks,” a celebration of the small joys that enhance our investing, business, and life. What little things make a big difference? Tune in for practical tips and a touch of humor as we explore the finer points of living a Foolish life. 

Not everyone has been listening to this podcast from the very beginning. And even if you have, can you possibly remember it all? This week we revisit some of our favorite moments, lessons, and stories from Foolishness past.

In our democracy, we are responsible. We are complicit. We share in the blame. And we are currently enabling one "Sorry Lunatic" after another to deprive our fellow citizens of their life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

What makes a quote great? Is it timeless wisdom? Is it eloquence? Sure! But for a quote to be both great and Foolish, add an air of contrariety, a wink of irreverence, and a spotlight on things that matter.

The best gifts are the ones that keep on giving, and that's what this episode is all about! The things you've learned here, given back and amplified to help us all navigate this difficult year. Thanks!

Our track record with 5-Stock Samplers has been simply astounding. So many times we've crushed the market! But remember when we said it wouldn't always be that way? That to win we sometimes have to lose? This is that time, Fools. This is that time.

Let's not dwell on a lousy market when we can talk some more about death, right? You've sent us some beautiful, life-affirming stories after all. Also, Jennifer Gennaro Oxley is back to answer your questions about the Fool Foundation. See? April wasn't all bad.

Last week we talked to author Michael Hebb about the importance of having conversations about death. Today, we're actually having the conversation. A gathering of friends, a bottle of wine, and a heartfelt, guided discussion about the end that awaits us all.

No joke, this year on April 1st we launched The Motley Fool Foundation. Today we take a closer look at the Foundation, its goals and strategies, and meet some of the visionary people leading the charge.

Financial freedom for all. Imagine the possibilities!

Learn more at foolfoundation.org

This week, ChatGPT asks David its five “most thought-provoking questions” about Rule Breaker Investing, and he takes his best shot answering every one! Cutting-edge technology meets timeless investing wisdom in our newest episodic series.

Stocks Mentioned: 
META, ABNB, UBER, CAVA, SG, TOST, OLO, NFLX, TSLA, NVDA, AXON, CMG, MELI, WRBY, AMZN

Hold for the long term or sell some losers to back the winners? Index funds or a basket of stocks? Concentrate the portfolio or diversify? On this month's mailbag, Bill Mann and David Kretzmann help us find the sweet spots of Foolish investing.

This week Yasser El-Shimy makes his impressive Market Cap Game Show debut against Tim Beyers. We discuss not one but two sleep apnea companies, worldwide sports franchises, and a Swiss company you may never have heard of! How will Yasser do on his first appearance? Tune in to find out!

If you're following the market or keeping up with the news, it sure seems bleak out there. We are living in the midst of real world events with real world consequences, and it can be hard to see a bright future under these conditions. But once again, as investors and as humans on this planet, time is our friend.

Bill Mann has been with The Motley Fool for a couple of decades. Auri Hughes has been here a couple of years. And while their journeys are quite different, they both approach investing – and life – as humble students of the game. Here are their stories....

Today we have an old format, a new show, borrowed wisdom, and the blue that evokes great emotion this month paired with gold. Are we experiencing a correction? Can you make money betting on sports? Is your dog a trick dog? Can sadness lead to pride? This show is heavy on the Motley, Fool!

What a rollercoaster this market has been! But wait, aren't rollercoasters supposed to be fun? Well, we've been to the future, haven't we? We've seen where investing will lead us in the long run. And we've learned how to avoid some regrets along the way. With that in mind, maybe we can throw our hands up and enjoy the ride a little.

It’s been a few decades since we’ve recorded an old fashioned podcast (remember those?) but here we are in 2052. David is joined by Chris Hill and an A-list of special guests to bring you a look back, a look forward, and a look at the timeless lessons learned over a lifetime of Foolishness.

Let’s review and see how those samplers are doing. 5 Stocks Shrouded in Mystery: off to Foolhalla in the win column! 5 Stocks that Spark Joy: still sparking joy! And 5 Stocks Rolled Up At Random... well as the late, great Meatloaf crooned, two out of three ain’t bad.

Do you regret giving up on piano? Do you regret a career that passed you by? Do you regret losing touch with old friends? Don't despair, gentle Fool! By studying our regrets, we learn what is most important in life. And that clears the way to make the future even better.

The market has been unkind to a lot of Rule Breaker stocks this month. So what are we doing about it? We're hitting the mailbag, of course! Answering questions, listening to stories, and keeping our sites on the distant future.

The fifth Wednesday of May brings us a mailbag to close out a remarkable month reflecting back on dividend stocks, David’s birthday learnings, and most of all a provocative and deep mailbag entry, a reflection on three new additional laws to consider….

Stocks mentioned: NVDA, CMG, MELI 

Would you hire somebody to work at your company sight unseen? No résumé, no background check, not even an interview? That would be crazy, right? Then again, fellow Rule Breakers, it might just be Foolish!

Bored Apes? Beeples? CryptoSkulls? Has the world gone mad or are these actually investment opportunities? Sit back, relax, and tune in — we've got Aaron Bush here to walk you through the burgeoning world of NFTs.

Well it's 2022, and while everyone is looking to the New Year, we can't help but be a little contrarian. So hop into your Tardis, your DeLorean, your phone booth — whatever your preferred method of time travel — we're heading to Yesteryear for today's education, amusement, and enrichment.