Author: Shari

Fatherhood Issue of Popular Mechanics: Mike Rowe, the Things My Dad Taught Me

Shari

“People love chopping wood. In this activity one immediately sees results.” —Albert Einstein When I was 14, I woke up one Saturday morning to see my father standing at the foot of my bed, sharpening a double-sided ax. “It’s time,” he said. “Let’s go.” My father has a tendency to start conversations in the middle. He’s also suspicious of anything too modern. Like nouns. “Time for what?” I said. Knowing the futility of the question before I even asked, I rolled out of bed, pulled on my jeans and work boots, and tried again. “Is it cold out?” “Invigorating,” he Read More

MTI and Mike Rowe Putting Faces to the mikeroweWORKS Scholarship Project

Shari

So I was in Springfield (Illinois) yesterday, and took a tour of a trade school called MTI. These guys have something like an 85% job placement rate for graduates, and I wanted to see what they were all about. I’m glad I did. Halfway through the tour, a group of guys approached me to say thanks. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but said “you’re welcome” anyway, because well … it’s polite. As it turns out, these guys all received scholarship funds from mrW. I had no idea. I knew MTI was on the list of schools whose Read More

The Real Poop from Down Under

Shari

So I’m hanging out on the discount rack of this trendy boutique in Sydney, chatting with the hosiery and feeling sorry for myself. Sure, I might look like fine silk, but really, I’m just another swatch of polyester, transformed by some anonymous Chinese worker into a medium-sized pair of novelty underpants, emblazoned with the Australian flag, and shipped off to a country where many still consider undergarments to be “optional.” Lucky me. I had started out in the front window nearly six months ago, covering up the imaginary genitals of a mannequin that looked like Ricky Martin. At $39.95, no Read More

mrWF Scholarship Recipients from 2013

Shari

Here’s a video that will never go viral. It features no cats, no talking babies, and no grown-ups falling down the stairs. It’s just footage of a few regular guys making a case for welding, and personally thanking me for their mikeroweWORKS Scholarships. Posting it here feels a bit self-serving, but I’m doing it anyway because a) it’s short, b) it’s classy, c) it’s important, and d) it wouldn’t have happened without you. Like most foundations, mikeroweWORKS raises money and gives it away. If you’ve purchased a copy Profoundly Disconnected, or a Work Smart AND Hard poster, or a S.W.E.A.T. Read More

The Light is Fantastic and Makes Me Look Pretty

Shari

Here’s a picture of me sitting on a rock somewhere in the Australian Outback. I’m posting it here for several reasons. 1. The light is fantastic, and makes me looks pretty. 2. You can actually see the flies buzzing around my head. Seconds after this photo was taken, one of them flew into my mouth. It was maybe the 25th fly I consumed that day. The light does nothing to enhance their beauty. Or their taste. On the other hand, the frosty beverage was cold and refreshing, and just the thing to wash down aggressive insects. 3. This image is Read More

Twelve Year Old Connor Asks Mike Rowe about Life Lessons He’s Learned

Shari

Dear Mr. Rowe: Hello, my name is Connor Watkins, and I am twelve years old. I met you last fall with my dad at the Cleveland Airport. At school we were told to ask successful people what the most important lessons in life are. I asked my parents who told me it was important to treat others the way you want to be treated. I also asked my cousin and he explained life is ten percent of what you make and ninety percent how you take it. I am writing to you because you have been very successful, and I Read More

Celebrities in Competition with Veteran Voice Actors?

Shari

From MRW Water Cooler: Q: Mike, have you seen this? Celebs muffle the voice of experience Even though you are considered a celebrity are you concerned that you may lose out on future voice over jobs, or are you well known and respected enough to not have to worry? — Liz   Hi Liz For the past few years, the LA Times has run a version of this article. It’s a big topic in an industry town, and it’s a subject that’s kind of fascinating for me personally, mostly because I’ve been on both ends of the situation. The voice over Read More

The Winding Road that Lead to Dirty Jobs

Shari

From the MRW Water Cooler: Q: Dear Mike, In one of your episodes you launched into a rather well-sung rendition of “Vecchia zimarra” from “La Boheme.” I’m an opera singer and voice teacher, and immediately recognized your excellent diction and lovely bass/baritone voice. Where did you train, and did you ever sing opera professionally? Also, for heaven’s sake, how does one begin with Puccini and end up scraping ostrich barf out of buckets? I would love to know more. — V. Hart It’s been a crooked road for sure. Most of my career choices have been motivated by my interest Read More

Tom Hanks Called Me…Maybe?

Shari

There’s lots of press out there around a documentary called Killing Lincoln, airing next month on the National Geographic Channel. It reminded me of a phone call I got from Tom Hanks a few months ago. Conversation went like this… (Ring R…ing) Mike: Hello? Tom: Hey Mike, how’s it going? Mike: Fine. Who’s this? Tom: It’s Tom! Mike: Tom? Tom: Tom Hanks. Mike: Get out of here. Tom: No, really. It’s me.

The First Four Years Are The Hardest…

Shari

Dear Governor Romney, – My name is Mike Rowe and I own a small company in California called mikeroweWORKS. Currently, mikeroweWORKS is trying to close the country’s skills gap by changing the way Americans feel about Work.  (I know, right? Ambitious.) Anyway, this Labor Day is our 4th anniversary, and I’m commemorating the occasion with an open letter to you. If you read the whole thing, I’ll vote for you in November. First things first. mikeroweWORKS grew out of a TV show called Dirty Jobs. If by some chance you are not glued to The Discovery Channel every Wednesday at 10pm, Read More

Third Time’s the Charm…or so we believe

Shari

Soooo… an editorial appeared in the May issue of the Industrial Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) Magazine. Needless to say, Mike wanted to further help clear the confusion about “Safety Third” and try to help people understand what he’s been saying all along.  Over here at mrW, we know how busy he is and were quite surprised to get his thoughtful reply to the editorial.  I mean, he’s traveling more than ever and people write stuff about him all the time without talking to him.  Anyway, we decided to post his reply first and then the editorial that sparked it.  Read Read More

MIKE ROWE’S FIRST PERSONAL PRESS RELEASE

Shari

Mike Rowe here, Dirty Jobs™, etc. This is the first Press Release penned by yours truly. If it works, there will be more. If it doesn’t, I’ll hire an actual publicist. I would prefer not to however because I’m cheap. I’ll be brief. Walmart and Lowe’s are now carrying a new cleaning product called Dirty Jobs™ Complete. Technically, it’s a laundry booster and since it’s named after the TV show that I created, I’m rather anxious to see it succeed. Toward that end, I want to announce a new website called trydirtyjobs.com. I invite you to go there and print Read More