The Living Your Legacy Podcast: Episode Summary

Title: Using The Legacy of "Tater Tots" to Fight Child Abuse
Host: Rudy Mawer
Guest: Leslie Grigg
Release Date: August 4, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Living Your Legacy Podcast, host Rudy Mawer sits down with Leslie Grigg, a remarkable individual deeply rooted in the legacy of the beloved snack, Tater Tots. Leslie shares his unique family history, the transformation of a cherished family invention into a force for good, and his ongoing mission to combat child abuse through innovative initiatives.

The Tater Tots Legacy

Leslie Grigg was born into a family with a rich heritage in the food industry. "I was born in 1952, the year that Orijen Foods was founded, and the founders of Orijen Foods were my grandfather's brothers and brothers-in-law," Leslie explains (00:34). His father played a pivotal role at Orijen Foods Corporation as one of the company's controllers. From a young age, Leslie was immersed in the family business, even filling vending machines at the Orijen plant as a fourth-grader (02:34).

The Tater Tots legacy began in 1954 when Leslie's family invented this iconic snack. Over the years, the brand became synonymous with deliciousness and nostalgia. However, Leslie always envisioned the legacy having a greater impact beyond just being a popular food item.

Protect Your Tots Initiative

Driven by a desire to transform the Tater Tots legacy into a powerful force for social good, Leslie co-founded the F Neefy and Golden Grigg Legacy Foundation. This foundation aims to honor his family's invention while addressing critical social issues. One of their flagship programs, "Protect Your Tots," leverages the familiar brand to raise awareness and support for child abuse prevention.

Leslie elaborates on his mission: "I just had this dream that someday, if I ever had the time, I wanted to do something spectacular with this legacy. I just saw it as an existence, but not as a force" (04:24). This vision led to collaborative efforts to rebrand Tater Tots as a symbol of protection for children, thus intertwining the legacy with a meaningful cause.

Combating Child Abuse

Child abuse prevention has been a cornerstone of Leslie's civic engagement for decades. He joined the National Exchange Club in 1985, an organization that adopted childhood abuse prevention as its national program of service in 1978. "I looked at, you know, Kiwanis and Rotary and all the service clubs. But my heart was attracted to the whole child abuse prevention movement," Leslie shares (05:03).

Leslie is actively involved as a district director for the Yellowstone District of the National Exchange Club and serves on the board of the fundraising board for the National Exchange Club Foundation. His dedication is evident in his efforts to establish a Family Justice Center in Idaho Falls, aiming to enhance the processing and prevention of childhood abuse cases in the community. "We're trying to build a Family Justice Center so we can improve on the case processing of childhood prevention" (07:34).

Transforming a Legacy into Action

Leslie emphasizes the importance of transforming a legacy from a mere existence into a force for positive change. "I saw it as an existence, but not as a force," he reiterates (04:24). By rebranding Tater Tots through the "Protect Your Tots" campaign, Leslie and his team have created a platform that not only honors the past but also paves the way for a brighter future.

The upcoming documentary on Tater Tots aims to shed light on the untold stories behind the iconic snack and its connection to the foundation's mission. Leslie explains, "That documentary is currently in its funding stage… we hope to have that release sometime in early '26" (21:30).

Insights on Trading and Markets

Beyond his philanthropic endeavors, Leslie shares his passion for the stock market, a field he entered in 1978 inspired by his entrepreneurial spirit. Initially unfamiliar with trading, he quickly developed a deep fascination. "The more I understood it, the more fascinated it became. And it became my passionate hobby to understand and to try to figure out what makes the markets work" (09:16).

Leslie offers valuable insights for aspiring traders:

• Find a Consistent Process: "The key is having a disciplined, consistent process" (12:05).
• Adapt Templates to Fit Yourself: "You can't buy a process… you adapt the template" (14:06).
• Understand Market Laws: "Understanding the law of supply and demand and applying those laws to the market increases trading efficiency" (16:02).
• Long-Term Investment: Emphasizing the importance of time in the market, Leslie states, "Time in the market always has and I believe always will produce a winning result" (16:35).

Leslie also touches on the impact of technology and AI in trading, noting that despite advancements, the fundamental principles of market behavior remain consistent across different types of markets.

Reflections on Legacy

When asked about the meaning of legacy, Leslie shares a profound perspective: "A legacy is more like an identifier of who I am" (19:06). He believes that legacies, whether visible like Tater Tots or non-visible, keep individuals grounded and connected to their higher purpose.

Leslie highlights that legacies often begin as simple ideas that, through dedication and common practices, grow into influential movements. "Every one of them have commonalities that if you do those commonalities, you're increasing the probability of creating that legacy" (20:35).

Connecting with Leslie and Supporting the Cause

Leslie encourages listeners to engage with his initiatives and support the fight against child abuse. Interested individuals can join the National Tater Tot Fan Club on Facebook, which currently boasts around 180 members. For more information and to support the Protect Your Tots campaign, visit protectyourtots.com.

Additionally, those interested in contributing to the documentary or collaborating on future projects can reach out through the foundation's primary web page.

Conclusion

This episode of The Living Your Legacy Podcast offers an inspiring narrative of how a family legacy can evolve into a powerful tool for societal good. Leslie Grigg's story underscores the importance of leveraging personal heritage to address critical issues like child abuse prevention. Through the "Protect Your Tots" initiative and other philanthropic efforts, Leslie exemplifies how enduring legacies can create meaningful and lasting impacts.

Notable Quotes:

• Leslie Grigg (04:24): "I saw it as an existence, but not as a force."
• Leslie Grigg (12:05): "The key is having a disciplined, consistent process."
• Leslie Grigg (16:02): "Understanding the law of supply and demand and applying those laws to the market increases trading efficiency."
• Leslie Grigg (19:06): "A legacy is more like an identifier of who I am."

For a deeper dive into Leslie Grigg's journey and his impactful work, listen to the full episode on Legacy Makers TV and explore more about the Protect Your Tots initiative at protectyourtots.com.