The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

What do you get when you cross the most beautiful girl in the world with the funniest man on the planet? Something smart and something stupid.

It's a Mother's Day surprise, complete with tapeworms, smoke bombs, large chunks of earwax, a wall of dead mice, a fly infestation, and of course, Mike's favorite mother, with a guest appearance by Mike's favorite dad. Yeah, it's a weird one.

A problem at the border, a fat man in a shiny suit, and all the thirty-five cent draft you can drink. It's a fine place to begin, even if you don't know where you're headed.

Mike tells the true story of two friends united by their love of music, divided by their love of a girl, and the fistfight that changed rock and roll. Then, he recalls the audition that changed the course of his own career, before chatting with the old friend who made it happen, and bursting briefly into song.

Sig Hansen from Deadliest Catch joins Mike to discuss the manliest surfer of all time, the manliest fisherman of all time, and the problems that can sometimes arise when you punch a pesky fan in the nose. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

Mike tells the true story of a famous poet who wrote her best stuff while working as a waitress in a diner, many years ago. After that, another true story about the time Joan Rivers saved his career, followed by a rather remarkable catch-up with Paul Kelley, a true renaissance man who worked the overnights with Mike, back in the glory days of home shopping. Yeah, it gets a little weird… and there is some adult language.

Ever wonder what The Daily Show would have looked like if Mike Rowe had been hired to host it? Well, guess what – he was! And then he wasn't. And then, he was! And then…he wasn't. The question is, does Jon Stewart really owe Mike Rowe $20?

Who ya gonna call when a lifesaver turns deadly? Who ya gonna call when the ghost in your house can't be busted? If you're Mike Rowe, you call your producer, and have a very normal chat, about all things paranormal. Boo!

A simple story of a simple homemaker turns in to a not-so-simple tale of the haunted home where Mike lived in 1992, followed by the spontaneous re-telling of the most terrifying night of Mike's life. A ghost story that's not really a ghost story, but nevertheless scared Chuck as bad as it did Mike…

While you will doubtless find this particular episode, chapter, or installment to be interesting, fascinating, or provocative, you will also learn something about the importance of choosing just the right word, term, or expression when attempting to write a memorable tale, story or yarn. After that, Mike picks the enormous brain of Alex Abramovich, a ghost writer you've never heard of, who writes best-selling books for people you have.

After sharing the story of a famous father and son who could never find the right words, Mike and his Dad prove that words are the least of their problems. Strap in for a completely unpredictable rumination on memory foam. broken windshields, intractable stumps, double-sided axes, ancient wood-stoves, big-ash trees, and transgender dogs. Peggy Rowe is there to supervise, but only makes things weirder, as usual.

In what appears to be an ongoing quest to get himself cancelled, Mike weighs in on the statue controversy much to the alarm of his producer, Chuck. Their conversation then pivots to the situation in San Francisco, where the school board has recently voted to remove the names of Washington and Lincoln from the facades of public schools – a truly bizarre decision that left Mike to wonder how in the world so many powerful people have managed to get their heads so far up their own asses.

Mike tells the amazing story of a mostly forgotten explorer, whose epic journey helped pave the path to Mars. Then, he's joined by everyone's favorite astronomer, Dr. Michelle Thaller, to better understand what the hell is happening on the Red Planet, and why it's so frickin' expensive to get there.

Mike ruminates on the splendid virtues of a certain "Full Figured Gal," and tells the true story of the day his lawyer – The Irish Hammer – changed the trajectory of his career by challenging him to put a pig on a pedestal. He then invites The Irish Hammer herself – Mary Sullivan – to explain why she left a successful law firm to oversee the career of a man who crawled through sewers to make a living.

Mike begins with chapter 8 of his bestselling book which contains quite possibly the greatest audition story ever told about one of the most ubiquitous names in television. This is followed by a personal recollection of Mike's thespian dad and concludes with a moderately inappropriate conversation between Mike and Chuck wherein they swap audition stories from the '90s. It's totally rad!

In episode #185, which Mike incorrectly identifies as episode #184, Mike welcomes noted astronomer Dr. Michelle Thaller, to discuss the obvious differences between sounding certain and being correct. Dr. Thaller, a noted astronomer with an enormous brain, tries to help Mike understand the enormity of the cosmos, and explain why the universe contained 200 billion galaxies just four years ago, and then 2 trillion galaxies just a few weeks later, and then back down to a few hundred billion as of last week. It's enough to make your head spin, but between Mike's gigantic cranium and Dr. Thaller's enormous brain, we finally unlock the secrets of How the Universe Works…

"When it comes to erections, if it's not one thing, it's your mother." Yes, Mike actually wrote that in chapter 7 of his bestselling book, and as you might imagine, his mother didn't take it lying down…

Why do people go to such extraordinary lengths to change the way they look? What's the best piece of music ever written? And why is Mike worried about getting cancelled and sued for the conversation you're about to hear? There's only one way to find out…

After reading chapter 5 of his bestselling book, Mike surprises his two-time bestselling mother with a phone call, on which they discuss the perils of prevarication, the joys of growing up Rowe, (on a budget,) and Peggy Rowe's unsolicited review of Mike's new show, Six Degrees with Mike Rowe, which she may or may not have actually watched.

After reading chapter four of his book, Mike and Chuck discuss the real reason that so many Americans no longer believe people who sound certain - including journalists, politicians, scientists, doctors, professors, and yes… even narrators.

After Mike shares chapter three of his book he gives a spirited defense of the critical art of salesmanship, during which Chuck accuses him of being a sellout, and the two navigate the precarious world of commercial television vs commercials.

After listening to chapter two of the best-selling book, The Way I Heard It, Mike and Chuck discuss three catastrophes and the role booze played in each of them, the joys of sharing shots with famous people, why Mike is NOT hosting one of the longest running TV shows in America, and the perils of primetime pixelated vomit.

After reading the first chapter of his best-selling book, Mike has a candid, conversation with his producer, Chuck, about the origins of this podcast, the impact of singing old songs with old veterans, and his personal aversion to all things "earnest."

Mike sits down with his producer Chuck for a candid conversation about the future of The Way I Heard it. Whiskey is sipped, decisions are made, life goes on.

Mike takes a deep dive into episode 159 and the controversy surrounding a quote that was challenged by Billy Martin Jr., son of the late great baseball manager, Billy Martin. SPOILER ALERT: If you have not yet heard episode 159 this episode will spoil it for you.

A spooky tale of an ordained minister and a demonic possession.

Bill waited until the crowd had gathered on his property... and then he shot them all.

When you have a family this big, you're guaranteed an occasional visit…

With the war in full bloom all eyes were on the president — would he or wouldn't he launch?

And that was good news for the naked burglar.

Especially those with a pre-existing condition…

That was particularly hard to find.

Call her what you will--the lady had vision.

And Jerry knew that he desperately needed to get to a meeting.

Seriously, her cakes were downright repulsive!

A real toe-tapper that no one could escape.

Sometimes, you simply have to draw one.

But did he really have to eat bull testicles to prove it?

In honor of Independence Day, Mike chews up the scenery with a recitation of what may be the most important speech ever delivered, by the man historians call "The Forgotten Founder."

A helicopter filled with evacuees tries to get off the ground as the shooting intensifies. What could possibly go wrong?

This architect enjoyed a good challenge. But this one nearly broke him...

So too, was the man who got in his way.

The kid had a head for numbers.

What he did was unspeakably brave. So why then, did no one speak of it?

They built a lot of bridges. Perhaps, one too many...

He only had the one hit...but boy, was it a wonder!

Mike was the keynote speaker at the last large gathering in the United States before the country officially closed for business. His job? Shaking hands--with over a hundred thousand people. Now, after three weeks of self-isolation, he'd like to tell you about it. And then, read a very funny story from his mom's new book.

The player loved to play... but on this particular occasion--he chose the wrong playmate.

Or did they...

It was the gig of a lifetime... it just wasn't Gig's.