The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

The Washington Examiner columnist and reporter discusses why Lincoln’s Gettysburg address holds up 160 years later, why she’s building a room to hold miniature trains, the “dust up” in the Middle East, our current age of disruption, and why people are searching for something bigger than themselves. Then, by request, Mike serenade’s Salena.  

Tongue twisters, laundry mishaps, Betty the book-club-lady, the Klausmeyer I-told-you-so protocol, steel drums, bad videography, hot cross buns, cannibal hamsters, camping in July, rogue waves, and just a touch of Thanksgiving—It’s coffee with mom.  

The six-time New York Times best-selling author and prolific FNC host drops by to discuss what made President Theodore Roosevelt and civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington so great and the role Mike played in Brian writing his newest book Teddy and Booker T.   Discussed in this episode:  Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Arthur Lih of LifeVac.net The River of Doubt by Candice Millard  

60 years after that horrible day in November when our 35th president was gunned down in Dallas, one of only two secret service agents from that detail still alive today gives his reflections and first-hand account and explains the difference between facts and theories.   Clint Hill is joined by his wife and co-author Lisa McCubbin Hill to discuss the day America lost its innocence, a secret service reunion 60 years in the making, and the 60th anniversary commemorative edition of their book Five Days in November.  

It was late at night and she was pregnant, but Merry still had to go to work. And we're all glad she did.  

The Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, podcaster, and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University talks about why we believe weird things, how our brains seek patterns to stay safe, the state of science and journalism, intellectual humility vs. certainty, the surprising rise of antisemitism, and his book Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational.   

Peggy chides her eldest for spending too much time in the sun, then they discuss book clubs and pool sharks, Peggy’s latest borderline inappropriate post, Mike eating dates, geoducks and horses, Picasso vs Cezanne, a briss gone wrong, used condoms in an elevator shaft, a little paregoric on the gums, how Peggy discovered Mike was circumcised, and a tease about her espionage court case. In other words, another Coffee with Mom!

The Olympic gold medalist and four-time national and world ice skating champion is the most upbeat and cheerful human ever, and he shares his amazing journey from a sickly, smaller-than-average kid to an Olympic champion, what it’s like to survive two forms of cancer, and why he claims the brain tumor he was born with was the greatest thing that ever happened to him.  

While answering listener questions, Mike and Chuck sip Knobel and discuss the future of TWIHI, Mike’s trip to Italy, the Rowe family reunion, an inappropriate rendezvous high above the opera house, piano-playing kitties, embarrassing teenage moments, and the day Chuck almost died on a photoshoot.  

For the baby’s sake, it’s a good thing Bobby was there. For Bobby, it changed everything.  

The writer and executive producer of Cheers discusses how American culture is being held hostage to squeaky wheels, how quickly-acquired generational wealth is changing American business, and how every great showbusiness success wouldn’t be without a great blunder.  

349: How to Get Cal Ripken Jr. with Teresa Strasser The Emmy-winning writer, TV host, and author swaps stories of near-miss television gigs with Mike, shares tales of growing up blue-collar with her auto mechanic dad, and reveals how she got the Iron Man of baseball to read and blurb her book, Making It Home: Life Lessons From a Season of Little League.  

Three-time bestselling author Peggy Rowe reveals her favorite show that Mike’s ever made, talks about her favorite British murder mysteries, tells the story of how her friend once arrested Mickey Mantle in Baltimore the day before a ballgame, and recounts time spent with a seeing-eye dog named Larry. Oh, and Mike talks about a secret upcoming project he has no business talking about.    

The former Department of Homeland Security special agent talks about the hit film based on his career fighting pedophiles, Sound of Freedom, the ubiquity of modern-day slavery, and how our leaky border is aiding human traffickers.  

The businessman and football coach talks about his experience growing up fatherless, how it felt to star in the Academy Award-winning documentary Undefeated, in which he used his tough-love style of coaching to help an underprivileged Memphis high school’s football team make it to the playoffs, and his mission to recruit an Army of Normal Folks to make this world a better place.  

Former U.S. Army Green Beret, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann Ret., is a NYT bestselling author, warrior, and storyteller. Scott discusses his efforts to help save the lives of Afghan special forces and nationals left behind in the wake of the United States’ botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, his book Operation Pineapple Express that he wrote about those efforts, and the play he wrote to honor those who fought and died. The man: https://scottmann.com The book: https://operationpineappleexpress.com The play: https://lastoutplay.com The film: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Out-Scott-Mann/dp/B09X94Q5CS  

343: A Beer, Some Nachos, and a Barstool with Dr. John Delony The bestselling author, mental health expert, and host of the Dr. John Delony Show chats about the crisis of confidence that comes from living in a post-expert world, the dangers of certainty, the choices we can make to live a non-anxious life, and how sharing nachos and beer with good friends can help. John’s book is Building a Non-Anxious Life  

This Old House’s Kevin O’Connor talks about the serendipitous non-audition audition that landed him a job on the longest-running how-to show on TV, what it was like to embed with Team Rubicon to film his new Roku show, what masculinity really looks like, and how to treat a razor wound.  

America’s grandmother shares more of her signature wit and charm while discussing her husband’s cataract surgery recovery including a grueling eye drop schedule, the difference between an astigmatism and a stigmatism, forgetting your keys, the pros and cons of high stakes poker and Mahjongg, the meaning of PIE, and Lou Carter’s song If I Had a Nose Full of Nickels.  Strap in for another coffee with mom.  

The otolaryngologist and facial reconstructive surgeon that fixed Mike’s nose talks about how prevalent deviated septums are, how he prepares for a 12-hour surgery, and the bicycle accident that nearly ended his surgical career.   Mentioned in this episode are Dr. Seth’s practice GoldenStatePlasticSurgery.com and Episode 262: Let’s Talk About Septums and Scrotums with James Nestor  

The past is what we choose to forget. History is what we choose to remember.

The founder of Living Lands and Waters talks about how his do-goodery removed over 13 million pounds of garbage from America’s waterways, how he’s turning discarded plastics into durable pallets, and why his volunteers refer to his flagship as the "Love Barge."

The Libertarian journalist and editor-at-large at Reason interviews Mike at FreedomFest 2023. The two discuss a myriad of topics, including skilled trades, workforce participation, and the state of education.  

The host of the #1 rated late night TV show and five-time NYT bestselling author joins TWIHI to discuss what he hates and loves, why he originally didn’t want Mike on his show, how our culture has flipped, and his new book, The King of Late Night. KnobelSpirits.com

For Chuck's milestone birthday, Mike questions him about the Pageant of the Masters, his frequent hobbies, and the reason he has pellets in his ass.   

The successful producer of hit shows like Hunter, Renegade, and Silk Stalkings talks about how 9/11 changed television forever and led him to turn his 20-acre studio into Strategic Operations, a training facility that has allowed hundreds of thousands of military, law enforcement, and first responder personnel to experience medical and tactical training in “Hyper-Realistic® scenario environments.”  

Astronaut and combat veteran Captain Scott Tingle, a.k.a. "Maker," explains how he turned his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut into a reality. He provides a harrowing blow-by-blow account of what it’s like to fly an 8-hour combat mission and land on an aircraft carrier at night, as well as how to poop in space.  

Socks and windsocks, support hose and ho’ ho’s, humble brags and no-so-humble brags, owl pellets and horse semen, dancing in circles, a forgotten stool sample, a chair-volleyball update, a manscaping demo, and lots of shameless pluggery.  Pour yourself a tall iced one and join coffee with mom!  

The Retired USMC Staff Sergeant who lost both legs in Afghanistan to an IED talks Hee-Haw, laying brick, cakewalks, farm living, his “Alive Day,” and his new book, Unbroken Bonds of Battle: A Book of Heroism, Patriotism, and Friendship.  

America’s most exclusive graduate school is at it again.  

The disrupter and co-founder of Love Has No Limits talks about how the organization engages communities to tackle society's problems of families in crisis, foster care, and medical debt. He also reveals what he learned from his near-death experience and the incredible power of hope. Learn more about Love Has No Limits at lovehasnolimits.com  

King James vs. NIV, Pentateuch vs. Septuagint, nonagenarian vs. ear-hair poetry, beaned vs. bean-less chili, Schmigadoon vs. Cockeysville, sponsors vs. sphincters, a centenarian luncheon, some loud nail-filing, and a gruesome story over lunch... Otherwise known as coffee with mom.

The professor, adventurer, and author of the The Comfort Crisis speaks about his 33-day trip off the grid in the arctic tundra and how he learned to embrace silence, boredom, and uncomfortableness.   The Comfort Crisis https://eastermichael.com/book/  

Nothing irritates nightingales more than a runaway ass.

This documentary filmmaker, TV producer, and treasure hunter has traveled to some of the most beautiful and dangerous locations on the planet. The discussion includes ancient Assyrian artifacts, sunken ships, the treasures of Nimrud, underwater safecracking, a billion dollars in gold, and the greatest sizzle reel no one’s ever seen.  

On this edition of coffee with mom, bestselling author and Mike’s mom Peggy Rowe says goodbye to hatchet throwing season and hello to bocce ball season.  Along the way is a play called Moses, an Amish smorgasbord, mulligatawny soup, and a gelding “expressing himself.”

Despite the bounty on his head, the former basketball star and human rights activist explains why he gave up his NBA career and tens of millions of dollars to keep a promise he made to his mom and do God’s work. Mr. Freedom knows better than most that freedom isn’t free.

Phil expected to have a ball at the game, but he didn’t expect it would change his life forever.

Our favorite modern-day cowboy breaks down what a day-in-the-life of a long-haul trucker looks like and how he manages to drive his office over 120,000 miles each year.  Oh yeah, and you’ll also hear the chorus of a yet-to-be-written song called The Ballad of Tom Odom.

President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Greg explains why we should be suspicious of certainty and invites us to join the million-strong free speech army to combat cancel-culture.

Grab a cup of Joe and join three-time bestselling author Peggy Rowe, a.k.a. Mike’s mom, as she catches us up on the shuffleboard finals ice cream social, the senior version of beer pong, getting recognized in the elevator, why you shouldn’t play board games with Mike, not-so modern banking, and how to write naughty without getting bawdy. 

Experts agree that the science is settled—this is yet another NEW mystery for the curious mind with a short attention span.  Factcheck: True.  But can you really believe everything you read?  Or hear? 

The radio host, journalist, and best-selling author shares insights from her viral TEDx talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, and discusses neuroscience & FMRIs, empathy & compassion, Homo sapiens & Neanderthals, food pantries & squirrel treeing. Oh yeah, and how to tell when you might be the A-hole, which of course is a word Celeste cannot say on NPR.

When he’s not writing his National Review column or rooting-on the Jaguars, Charlie Cooke is loving the Constitution he swore an oath to and loathing the proposed student loan transfer scheme he did not.  

Scott Strode, founder & national executive director of The Phoenix, reveals why rock climbing and marathoning helped him break the cycle of his addiction and how he is transforming the way our country approaches recovery with fitness and community.

Bayard Winthrop, founder and CEO of American Giant breaks down our supply chain issues, our trade imbalance with the rest of the world, and how his company still managed to produce “the greatest hoodie ever made” 100% in the United States.

Killer coyotes, cataract surgery, cheating on eye exams, pellets in Chuck’s ass, the Florida wedding, John’s teeth lost at the rehearsal dinner, Mike channels his QVC days, Peggy plays Vanna White, John’s confusing anatomy, sapele vs oak, opening night of the Winter Follies, and the auctioning of an oversized napkin holder filled with Peggy’s books.  In other words, just another Coffee with Mom!

Award-winning chef and bloody-do-gooder, Chad Houser explains why he gave up his successful restaurant to start Café Momentum, a nonprofit, fine dining restaurant that strives to break our country’s cycle of incarceration and violence by employing justice-involved youths.

The prolific Philiminator joins TWIHI for our tricentennial episode to discuss skilled trades, The Amazing Race, Tough as Nails, his Buck It list, nearly drowning, inspiring grandfathers, tall poppy syndrome, and where to look at a nude wedding.

Back by popular demand is a brand-new story for the curious mind with a short attention span.  And here’s your only clue – When people needed to be stopped, the agency counted on Dick to stop them.  

Dan McMurtrie, a venture capitalist and lifelong entrepreneur, discusses how a fluke injury ended his promising baseball career and sent him on a mission to save mom-and-pop restaurateurs. 

It’s a fun hang with the feisty journo who shares her thoughts on fierce M&Ms, potty talk, why newsrooms are trying to scare the hell out of you, and how to execute the perfect Irish goodbye. 

Time for a cup of coffee with mom!  Peggy Rowe, a.k.a. America’s Grandmother, drops by to discuss an upcoming family wedding, the joys of ninety-year-olds with power tools, and her escapades with chair volleyball and competitive ax throwing. 

Todd Rose, CEO of Populace, recounts his journey from 0.9 GPA high school dropout to Harvard professor and provides empirical evidence that Americans suffer from collective illusions about what we believe, why we believe it, and how we came to be so divided.  Spoiler Alerts: No one is average, and we’re not as divided as we think we are.  

Will Swaim, journalist and president of the California Policy Center, educates us on CA Assembly Bill 5 (AB5,) which seeks to turn independent contractors into employees, and how it’s negatively affecting 70,000+ independent California truckers; truckers like Tom Odom, who calls in from the road to let us know why he is A.) part of a class action lawsuit and B.) moving to Texas.  Spoiler Alert: it’s because of AB5!     Will Swaim’s article about AB5 and Tom Odom   Contact Tom with your AB5 story at myab5story@gmail.com

Matt shares his thoughts on sex vs gender, objective truth, and why it’s so hard for so many people to answer the simple question, “what is a woman?”

Dirty Jobber Stacey Schumacher, co-owner of Schumacher Cattle (a ranch with a "pasture to plate program") and founder and executive director of the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection, a non-profit organization that spayed and neutered over 68,000 cats and dogs last year, has a unique perspective on animal rights and animal husbandry and why they are both so crucial.

It’s another Christmas extravaganza featuring three-time New York Times bestselling author Peggy Rowe, a.k.a. Mike’s mom.  Now with less potty mouth!  Peggy explains why she and Chuck conspired to keep a secret from Mike.  

Inventor and bloody do-gooder, Arthur Lih is on a mission to save a million people from choking with his LifeVac device.  It’s a quixotic quest that began at age 20 when he watched his best friend die in his arms.  

Shawn Pomrenke of Bering Sea Gold shares the circumstances that led him to drop out of high school, how he used his work ethic and MacGyver skills to become a multi-million-dollar gold prospector, and why he describes being 100 feet below an ice shelf in the frigid Bering Sea as... relaxing. That is, until his regulator freezes and the oxygen flow stops—then it gets sporty.

On the two-year anniversary of The Way I Heard It’s format change from short to long form, Mike and Chuck make another announcement about the future of the podcast, and there is a lot of talk about an upcoming episode of Dirty Jobs that involves… you guessed it, squeezing beavers.