The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

Tom Albanese, a mining executive who led Rio Tinto and Vedanta and now chairs American Ocean Minerals, talks about polymetallic nodules three miles under the Pacific. He explains why these potato-sized rocks matter for batteries, AI, and defense. The conversation covers nodule harvesting technology, environmental science on plumes and regeneration, and the geopolitical race for critical metals.

Peggy Rowe, longtime writer and beloved senior-community storyteller, shares warm, witty tales from life at Oakcrest. She and Mike trade family memories, viral-writing surprises, and laugh-out-loud anecdotes about aging, publishing, and quirky neighbors. The conversation is affectionate, mischievous, and full of kitchen-table charm.

Xi Van Fleet, author and Cultural Revolution survivor who writes about life under Mao, shares personal history and warnings about ideological movements. She recounts enforced conformity, youth mobilization as political tools, and parallels she sees today. She also explores how U.S. choices helped shape modern China and urges caution against becoming a ‘shiny little screw’.

Jason Altmire, former three-term U.S. congressman and leader of Career Education Colleges & Universities, champions skilled trades and career education. He discusses why trades lost prestige. He explores the mismatch between degree glut and unfilled skilled jobs. He outlines training bottlenecks, tech's role, and policy ideas to scale workforce pathways.

Matt Ebert didn't set out to build a billion-dollar business—he just wanted to fix cars the right way. Today, he's the CEO of Crash Champions, one of the fastest-growing collision repair companies in the country, valued in the billions and trusted to bring wrecked vehicles back to life. Mike sits down with Matt to unpack what really happens after a crash, why the skilled trades behind collision repair matter more than ever, and how a kid with no grand plan or college degree wound up leading a national powerhouse. Along the way, Matt tells how he got his start in the business, proving that sometimes the road to success begins with a single accident (or two) … and a desire to fix it. Many thanks to our excellent sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe to post a job for FREE. GoodRanchers.com Use code MIKE to get $25 off your first order and FREE meat for life. K12.com/Rowe See what's possible for your child with K12's Career and College Prep AuraFrames.com/Mike Use code Mike to get $25 off their best-selling Carver Mat frame.

Evan Voyles, self-taught neon sign craftsman and founder of The Neon Jungle, bends glass and expectations with handmade signs. He talks craft versus art, why vintage neon still grabs attention, the shock of losing everything to fire, and how humor and irony fit into commercial work. Short, strange stories about making things that glow and make people look twice.

Nicholas Eberstadt, economist and demographer known for work on labor and population, outlines a troubling arithmetic of the nation. He discusses falling prime-age labor participation, the growing gap between producers and recipients, and a widespread fertility slowdown. Short, sharp takes on disability reform, reentry, skills training, and why these trends reshape the country’s future.

Adam Carolla, comedian and broadcaster known for stand-up and a leading podcasting presence, offers blunt takes on comedy craft and adapting performance across media. He recounts evacuating the Palisades fire and digging into rebuilding realities, permits, and costly safety rules. He also sparringly critiques California governance and discusses the need for skilled trades.

Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial-Based Policy and former Navy officer and entrepreneur, discusses rebuilding America’s defense industrial base. He covers the skilled-trades shortage, training programs and ways to make trade work appealing. Conversation also tackles automation and factory modernization, securing rare-earth supply chains, and scaling production for national resilience.

Jan Jekielek, senior editor and author of Killed to Order, investigates alleged state-sanctioned organ harvesting in China. He discusses how researchers uncovered suspicious transplant data and the methods used to conceal atrocities. The conversation explores who is targeted, why witnesses stay silent, and the moral forces that enable or resist such abuses.