# @richroll on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGa-FL3sU4-
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26870050-richroll-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/056dfa3d97.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-23T16:05:50.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** rich roll (@richroll) — https://gondola.cc/richroll

## Caption

"Would you be interested in having a conversation with Elmo?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.

At the time, I had been meditating on the future of the show I have been hosting for over 12 years. I’m proud of what we have accomplished. The impact has been both real and meaningful. But nothing is static. With the space growing ever more crowded, evolution beckoned. The moment had arrived to be more intentional about everything I was doing. This meant exploring the road less well travelled. This meant asking myself an important question:

Who are the hidden gems? Where are the rare but important voices that urgently need to be heard, yet living well off podcast circuit path?

Elmo is definitely one such voice—and a character universally beloved.

Everything about this experience was magic, a pinch-me-is-this-really-even happening event I will never forget.

Behind the scenes, the shoot was an On-led team effort in which I was supported by a talented crew of about 60 who worked tirelessly to re-create my podcast set. There was a director who called out ‘Action!” and “Cut!” while a team of producers and creative executives shared notes from their video village huddle. Hair and makeup. Walkie-talkies. A giant camera mounted on a professional dolly. The whole deal.

Then there was Elmo (elmo). What is it about Elmo we so adore? It’s his childlike nature of course, curious to a fault. It’s his ability to always see the best in people. It’s his warmth. His infectious sense of wonder. And it’s his preternatural wisdom, delivered with such earnest innocence, we are reminded that the best of who we are can be found by heeding the child still within.

Being too hard on myself is a reflex hard to overcome—one that lets competition too often obscure what is most important about life. So Elmo’s message about #SoftWins was exactly what I needed to hear, at exactly the right time. And for that, I am grateful.

Thank you to everyone at on for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help spread Elmo’s powerful message!

I loved everything about this experience. I sincerely hope the joy comes across.

✌🏼🌱 -Rich

- With On

#SoftWins

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## Tags

softwins

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