Blogs / Articles

  • mrWF Scholarship Recipients from 2013 April 3, 2013 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) ... read more...
  • A Dog Named Grunt April 1, 2013 Grunt is a bulldog memorialized on a cinder block wall of a coffee shop, just off the beach on a street with no name, and he took my breath away for two reasons. read more...
  • The Bahstards Are Steerin March 31, 2013 So I go into a convenience store in Sydney to get a bottle of water and some Tam-Tams. As the guy is ringing me up, I notice a sign on the register that says, “Cigarettes under lock and key.” It soon becomes clear why. read more...
  • G’day, Sydney March 29, 2013 Today’s Lesson in Pointless History comes from Sydney, Australia, where I flew down here to help Discovery International promote Dirty Down Under. read more...
  • All Too Human March 25, 2013 I don’t think I’ve ever lost more weight on a 5-mile run. read more...
  • USA Today: Empowering America’s Tradesmen March 22, 2013 A special supplement hit newsstands in USA Today in New Orleans, Denver, The Carolinas, Kansas City, Dallas, and Atlanta in March of 2013. In case you were not in one of those areas or missed it we have a copy of the supplement here.   read more...
  • The Light is Fantastic and Makes Me Look Pretty March 15, 2013 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 ... read more...
  • What’s Kristen Thinking? March 12, 2013 Sometimes my web-mistress takes random photos and asks me to supply a caption, a simple and welcome request. However, I admit to being puzzled by this one. read more...
  • Nope, Not Fake March 6, 2013 This bear looks kinda fake. The bees look kind of fake. I look kinda fake. Consequently, many people were surprised to learn that the bear was in fact real, and not exactly a pet. Among those people, was me. read more...
  • Essence of Professional Host March 6, 2013 Here we have a candid After the Catch photo circa 2007, capturing the essence of the Professional Host. read more...
  • Through Oscar’s Back Door March 4, 2013 There we were on the venerable Sesame Street. Of the events that would unfold, I’m not saying I’m proud. I’m just saying they happened read more...
  • Twelve Year Old Connor Asks Mike Rowe about Life Lessons He’s Learned February 22, 2013 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 ... read more...
  • Steve and Me February 20, 2013 It’s a funny thing, figuring out what to do next. And what not do to. read more...
  • Terribly Important People February 13, 2013 One poster grimly noted, “pictures of large stuffed animals lying in the street do not seem consistent with a serious attempt to close our country’s skills gap.” Perhaps this dynamic photo will help assuage concerns? read more...
  • Duck the Duck February 11, 2013 I was trudging home from the gym, when I caught a flash of color in my peripheral vision. Something large and yellowish was moving very quickly through the air. read more...