Chris Rodell

Chris Rodell

Keynote Speaker: Author of "Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness;" and "Growing up In The REAL Mr. Rogers Neighborhood"

Chris Rodell Biography

Author Chris Rodell is America’s most swashbuckling feature writer. His forte isn’t politics, sports or law. It’s folks. Governor Tom Ridge says: “Rodell writes about people the way Sinatra sings about New York, unflinching about the gritty realities, but with abiding affection and relentless positivity about the future.”

All for the sake of a story, Rodell wrestled alligators, raced Ferraris, leapt out of high-altitude airplanes, flirted with death atop a bed of nails, and gained 20 pounds in one week eating like Elvis. His best-selling books include, ”Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories Of The King,” about his oddball friendship with one of the planet’s most popular and beloved men, and, “Use All The Crayons!"

His next book will be "The Art of Living Suddenly: How to Deal with a Parkinson’s Diagnosis (and Other Things that Suck)". His keynote will energize your every gathering with the uproarious, true and inspiring stories of everyday humans being human every day.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Chris Rodell and other top speakers and celebrities.

Chris Rodell Speaking Topics

How to Enhance Creative Thinking. Boosting Employee Moral. Make Work Fun! Living Your Best Life -- While You're at Work

"Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness"

Charcoal and lampblack: these were the only two colors the company that would grow to become Crayola Crayons produced when it was founded in 1864. And it took good lighting and a discerning eye to differentiate between the two. Today, the children who use Crayola-brand products can choose from more than 96 different colors, including Azure, Laser Lemon, and Razzmatazz.

What child isn’t glad to be alive in such a vibrant age? The company, which now earns more than $100 million each year, says the average child will wear down more than 730 crayons before he or she turns 10 years old.

Like a box of crayons, we are all born with an astounding range of color options, from Marvelous to Tickle Me Pink. We can paint our lives as brightly or dimly as we choose. But through life, some of us lose or wear down some of our more dazzling colors, living each and every day as if it were either charcoal or lampblack.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Nor should it. “Use All the Crayons!” is your uplifting, humorous and spiritual guidebook about how to make every day as vivacious as Atomic Tangerine to illuminate even our most lampblack days.

Attendee results:

  • Everyone is going to have a great time
  • Employees will learn the benefits of controlled goofiness.
  • All will become more creative problem solvers
  • Empathy, compassion and helping one another will flourish right along with teamwork.

Colorful Living Tip No. 991: "Open an art gallery with nothing on the walls. Then invite people to enter and be greeted by 40 guys who say nothing but, "Hi! I’m Art!"

Life Lessons from America's Greatest Storyteller

Flesh 'n' blood Leadership Role Models. Inspirational Stories. Human Beings Being Human. Hilarious Survivor Stories

Author Chris Rodell is America’s most swashbuckling feature writer. His forte isn’t politics, sports or law. It’s folks. Governor Tom Ridge says: "Rodell writes about people the way Sinatra sings about New York, unflinching about the gritty realities, but with abiding affection and relentless positivity about the future".

All for the sake of a story, Rodell wrestled alligators, raced Ferraris, leapt out of high-altitude airplanes, flirted with death atop a bed of nails, and gained twenty pounds in one week eating like Elvis. His friendships include more than a dozen Guinness Book of World record holders. His best-selling books include, "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories Of The King", about his oddball friendship with one of the planet’s most popular and beloved men, and, "Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness"

The author of 6 delightful books, Rodell’s talks sparkle with uproarious humor, indelible characters, and poignant appreciation for what it means to be a thoughtful Earthling in the year 2023.

  • Everyone is going to have one heckuva great time.
  • All will be more motivated to appreciate what they have.
  • The human spirit to overcome hardship will be illuminated,
  • Attendees will be given a lesson on how to tell a compelling story.

Interpersonal relations. Being a better person. Learning to be accepting. of one another. Leadership

"Fred Rogers & the Soulful Benefits of Being Defiantly Kind".

Fred Rogers said there were three keys to becoming an ultimate success. One is to be kind. Two is to be kind. Care to take a wild guess what the third is? Rodell grew up and raised his children in Mr. Rogers REAL neighborhood. He knows about what made his neighbor such an enduring icon.

He knows that Fred was an ordained Presbyterian minister and he's friends with one of the just three couples he married. And he knows the alcoholic who was in rehab right there with Fred. The story will bring tears to you eyes.

  • Well, it should go without saying, but everyone is going to have a great time.
  • All will learn that former Fred employees describe him as Christ-like.
  • The message will be it's time we make being really, really nice, really, really normal.
  • We'll learn how worshipful professors are teaching Fred's message right alongside those of Gandhi and MLK Jr.

Leadership, Marketing, Values, Grace and Sportsmanship

"Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of The King"

Author Chris Rodell spent more than 100 hours over 11 years with legend Arnold Palmer. Not as his buddy but as the guy privileged with the liberty to ask him anything that popped into his head. Sure, they talked about golf, aviation, history, architecture, nature, politics, loss, failure and what happens when we die, but the undercurrent of each of those questions was much bigger than all that.

They talked about life.

It gave Rodell foundational insights because he could anytime some curious stranger asked him what’s Arnold Palmer really like, he'd say: ? "Arnold Palmer is perfectly cool, authentic and refreshing. If Arnold Palmer were a drink he’d be an Arnold Palmer", he’d say.

What’s he like? If Arnold Palmer were the only member of The Greatest Generation it would still be The Greatest Generation solely because it included Arnold Palmer. He’s often referred to as a legendary golfer. But describing Palmer as a legendary golfer is like describing Nelson Mandela as a successful parolee. The description doesn’t begin to do justice to the momentous legacy.

  • It'll be fun! Fun! Fun!
  • Will learn about one of the most beloved and significant sports figures was really like.
  • Attendees will learn how an $800 million empire was built on a handshake deal.
  • That putting people first helped make Palmer the real winner.
  • The importance of tending to your roots can spread your impact around the world.

Chris Rodell Videos

"Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of the King"

How do I book Chris Rodell to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chris Rodell for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chris Rodell, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chris Rodell or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Chris Rodell for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Chris Rodell, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chris Rodell are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Rodell, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Chris Rodell speak about?

Chris Rodell is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Author, Comedian, Happiness, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Communication, Inspirational, Motivational, Storytelling, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Psychology, Social Sciences and Health & Wellness.

Where does Chris Rodell travel from?

Chris Rodell generally travels from Pittsburgh, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Chris Rodell?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chris Rodell for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chris Rodell for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chris Rodell or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Chris Rodell is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Author, Comedian and Happiness. The estimated speaking fee range to book Chris Rodell for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Chris Rodell generally travels from Pittsburgh, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, Jones Loflin and Lisa Cypers Kamen. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chris Rodell for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 13/06/2025.

Chris Rodell Speaking Topics

  • How to Enhance Creative Thinking. Boosting Employee Moral. Make Work Fun! Living Your Best Life -- While You're at Work

    "Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness"

    Charcoal and lampblack: these were the only two colors the company that would grow to become Crayola Crayons produced when it was founded in 1864. And it took good lighting and a discerning eye to differentiate between the two. Today, the children who use Crayola-brand products can choose from more than 96 different colors, including Azure, Laser Lemon, and Razzmatazz.

    What child isn’t glad to be alive in such a vibrant age? The company, which now earns more than $100 million each year, says the average child will wear down more than 730 crayons before he or she turns 10 years old.

    Like a box of crayons, we are all born with an astounding range of color options, from Marvelous to Tickle Me Pink. We can paint our lives as brightly or dimly as we choose. But through life, some of us lose or wear down some of our more dazzling colors, living each and every day as if it were either charcoal or lampblack.

    But it doesn’t have to be that way. Nor should it. “Use All the Crayons!” is your uplifting, humorous and spiritual guidebook about how to make every day as vivacious as Atomic Tangerine to illuminate even our most lampblack days.

    Attendee results:

    • Everyone is going to have a great time
    • Employees will learn the benefits of controlled goofiness.
    • All will become more creative problem solvers
    • Empathy, compassion and helping one another will flourish right along with teamwork.

    Colorful Living Tip No. 991: "Open an art gallery with nothing on the walls. Then invite people to enter and be greeted by 40 guys who say nothing but, "Hi! I’m Art!"

  • Life Lessons from America's Greatest Storyteller

    Flesh 'n' blood Leadership Role Models. Inspirational Stories. Human Beings Being Human. Hilarious Survivor Stories

    Author Chris Rodell is America’s most swashbuckling feature writer. His forte isn’t politics, sports or law. It’s folks. Governor Tom Ridge says: "Rodell writes about people the way Sinatra sings about New York, unflinching about the gritty realities, but with abiding affection and relentless positivity about the future".

    All for the sake of a story, Rodell wrestled alligators, raced Ferraris, leapt out of high-altitude airplanes, flirted with death atop a bed of nails, and gained twenty pounds in one week eating like Elvis. His friendships include more than a dozen Guinness Book of World record holders. His best-selling books include, "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories Of The King", about his oddball friendship with one of the planet’s most popular and beloved men, and, "Use All The Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness"

    The author of 6 delightful books, Rodell’s talks sparkle with uproarious humor, indelible characters, and poignant appreciation for what it means to be a thoughtful Earthling in the year 2023.

    • Everyone is going to have one heckuva great time.
    • All will be more motivated to appreciate what they have.
    • The human spirit to overcome hardship will be illuminated,
    • Attendees will be given a lesson on how to tell a compelling story.

  • Interpersonal relations. Being a better person. Learning to be accepting. of one another. Leadership

    "Fred Rogers & the Soulful Benefits of Being Defiantly Kind".

    Fred Rogers said there were three keys to becoming an ultimate success. One is to be kind. Two is to be kind. Care to take a wild guess what the third is? Rodell grew up and raised his children in Mr. Rogers REAL neighborhood. He knows about what made his neighbor such an enduring icon.

    He knows that Fred was an ordained Presbyterian minister and he's friends with one of the just three couples he married. And he knows the alcoholic who was in rehab right there with Fred. The story will bring tears to you eyes.

    • Well, it should go without saying, but everyone is going to have a great time.
    • All will learn that former Fred employees describe him as Christ-like.
    • The message will be it's time we make being really, really nice, really, really normal.
    • We'll learn how worshipful professors are teaching Fred's message right alongside those of Gandhi and MLK Jr.

  • Leadership, Marketing, Values, Grace and Sportsmanship

    "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of The King"

    Author Chris Rodell spent more than 100 hours over 11 years with legend Arnold Palmer. Not as his buddy but as the guy privileged with the liberty to ask him anything that popped into his head. Sure, they talked about golf, aviation, history, architecture, nature, politics, loss, failure and what happens when we die, but the undercurrent of each of those questions was much bigger than all that.

    They talked about life.

    It gave Rodell foundational insights because he could anytime some curious stranger asked him what’s Arnold Palmer really like, he'd say: ? "Arnold Palmer is perfectly cool, authentic and refreshing. If Arnold Palmer were a drink he’d be an Arnold Palmer", he’d say.

    What’s he like? If Arnold Palmer were the only member of The Greatest Generation it would still be The Greatest Generation solely because it included Arnold Palmer. He’s often referred to as a legendary golfer. But describing Palmer as a legendary golfer is like describing Nelson Mandela as a successful parolee. The description doesn’t begin to do justice to the momentous legacy.

    • It'll be fun! Fun! Fun!
    • Will learn about one of the most beloved and significant sports figures was really like.
    • Attendees will learn how an $800 million empire was built on a handshake deal.
    • That putting people first helped make Palmer the real winner.
    • The importance of tending to your roots can spread your impact around the world.

Chris Rodell Videos

"Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of the King"
  • How do I book Chris Rodell to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chris Rodell for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chris Rodell, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chris Rodell or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Chris Rodell for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Chris Rodell, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chris Rodell are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Rodell, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chris Rodell speak about?

    Chris Rodell is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Author, Comedian, Happiness, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Communication, Inspirational, Motivational, Storytelling, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Psychology, Social Sciences and Health & Wellness.
  • Where does Chris Rodell travel from?

    Chris Rodell generally travels from Pittsburgh, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Chris Rodell?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chris Rodell for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chris Rodell for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chris Rodell or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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