Blogs / Articles

  • 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...
  • An Old Friend February 1, 2013 For Flashback Friday, I offer you this photo of me at the Marine Corps Ball with a highly decorated Gunnery Sergeant and an old friend. read more...
  • Winning! January 28, 2013 OMG! read more...
  • Celebrities in Competition with Veteran Voice Actors? January 24, 2013 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 ... read more...
  • Charm Is Overrated January 10, 2013 Here we have an interesting study in collaboration in the field, involving an openly skeptical producer, an exhausted director and … me, doing my best to persuade. read more...
  • The Winding Road that Lead to Dirty Jobs January 8, 2013 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 ... read more...
  • Seen AND Heard January 8, 2013 Normally, when I do voiceovers, I sit for a few hours and read under the cloak of invisibility — sipping my beverage, picking my nose, and scratching what itches. Those days are over. read more...
  • Tom Hanks Called Me…Maybe? January 7, 2013 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, ... read more...
  • Call It a Resolution January 3, 2013 I, Mike Rowe, do hereby publicly pledge to avoid the gym for the entire month of January, and husband my strength for a healthy and vigorous February. read more...
  • Who Am I? December 31, 2012 If we accept the premise that observation changes human behavior and alters a person’s identity, I think we can agree that — based on this photo — I have absolutely no idea who I am anymore. read more...
  • Observing Observation December 27, 2012 It was Werner Heisenberg who first suggested read more...
  • A Turkey Without a Pardon November 21, 2012 A few weeks ago, I was officially informed that Dirty Jobs had entered into a new phase. One I like to call, “permanent hiatus.” Or in the more popular industry vernacular, canceled. read more...