It’s time for a celebration of the episodes that educated, amused, and enriched in 2025.
In this podcast, Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner highlights 10 standout Motley Fool Rule Breakers episodes from this year, revisiting the ideas, stories, and lessons that lingered long after the microphones were off. And all of the voices behind those moments return for brief cameos, reflecting on the year that was and looking ahead to what comes next.
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This podcast was recorded on Dec. 18, 2025.
David Gardner: Every year, in the 50th week of the year, it’s time. Movies have their Oscars, television has its Emmys, Music has its Grammys, and Broadway has its Tonys. I’m not really sure what podcasts are supposed to have, but the one podcast I know best has its besties, calling out the 10 top rule Breaker investing podcasts of the year and not only that, but welcoming back the guest stars, the voices that educated, amused, and enriched all of us in this year that has been. Yes, the stars are back. It’s the 50th week of 2025, and now all tied up in a bow for you. Welcome to The Besties of 2025 only on Rule Breaker Investing.
Welcome back to what may be the most special edition of Rule Breaker Investing this year, cameos for many of my favorite guests, looking back on the year that was and ahead to the year to come. It’s our Besties of 2025. I’ve chosen 10 of my favorite podcasts from the 50 we’ve published this year. These are not ranked. There’s no order here. But looking back across a full year now of shows, I ask myself, which 10 really stood out? Let’s celebrate them. When possible, let’s bring some of those voices back to share a few reflections. A quick word of reassurance to those not selected. Hey, that means 40 podcasts are not on this list, but I thought they were terrific, too. I love all my children. But like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tony’s, at some point, you have to make some cuts, and here that number is 10. Now, if you missed any of these episodes the first time around, this is your nudge to go back and listen. You are guaranteed to be educated, amused, and enriched. I’m going to share the title and date for each as we go through this week’s besties, just in case you want to do a little appointment listening. A big reason I do the besties every year is to surface the most rule breakery conversations that you might have missed. Before we get started, one quick look ahead. Next week is the Market Cap Game Show. It’s America’s 26th favorite game show. I don’t believe I can say we’re in the top 25 yet, but for investors, anyway, I’m hoping that we’re Number 1. I’m just going to say it now, get the wood in the fireplace, invite the in laws over. Pour a warm cider, traditional or hard, and join us for the holiday edition of next week’s Market Cap Game Show. Play long as we conduct the second to last podcast of the year. Then we close the year as always with your Mailbag. If you’d like to be featured, write in with a question, a reflection or an inspiring story. Did I get it right with these besties? Did I miss a gem? Did one of this year’s guests change how you think or make your life better? Great. Do tell. Our email is [email protected].
You can also find us on Twitter, X @rbipodcast. If you want to be included, now’s the time to write in. Market Cap Game Show next week, year-end mailbag the week after, but today the red carpet is rolled out. Ladies, gentlemen, and fools everywhere, you’re invited. Check your mink coats and top hats at the stand, settle in, and welcome to the Rule Breaker Investing Besties of 2025, the podcast that ironically may itself be the best E of the year. Let’s get it on. Bestie number 1. A fool for Life with Rick Engdahl was published on June 11 of this year, June 11, 2025, and it earns Bestie because it honored someone central to this podcast’s very existence. Rick Engdahl is my now retired producer, the original producer of Rule Breaker Investing, who was there from the very first episode we published in July of 2015 through his final show in June 2025. For 10 nearly uninterrupted years, Rick shaped how this podcast sounded, flowed and felt. Quietly compounding quality episode after episode, while also removing tens of thousands of my whispered 321 go resets along the way. What made this conversation special was hearing Rick step out from behind the glass to reflect on what he learned along the way about investing, business, culture, brand, games, and life itself. He arrived at the Motley Fool without an investing background. He learned in public. He applied the principles and became a living example of rule breaker thinking, holding through volatility, losing to win, and letting time do the heavy lifting. Just as importantly, he reminded us that not all compounding shows up in stock charts, relationships, trust, wisdom, and partnership compound too. For a decade of care, creativity, and generosity behind the scenes, and for a conversation that captured the spirit of Rule Breaker Investing, as well as any episode ever has, this one earns a bestie. Rick Engdahl, thank you for a fool for life, and welcome back for one more cameo, as we celebrate our decade of doing this podcast together, welcome.
Rick Engdahl: Thank you, David. It’s great to be back. Although, once again, I find myself uncomfortably on the wrong side of the glass here in front of the microphone.
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