Dude, I'm so freaking glad you are on Substack. I'm an independent filmmaker and photographer from East Texas. I am pulling myself out of poverty by building my town's movie industry back up. I'm in Palestine, Texas. We are a film-friendly city and part of the Texas Film Commission as well. We are an old railroad town. The cool part about this industry here is we have everything we need, just a place to work out of.
I plan to connect with the local high schools, art groups, and the carpenters, metalworkers, and electrical workers to help build movie sets. East Texas is growing in the film industry. We have 1.5 billion in film industry incentives here. I am living my dream at the age of 48. I am a former medic but a true artist at my core. My family has lived here since the 1840s, and I want to grow us into a great filming spot. Blessings to you, my good sir. Stay the Course.
The plan is to build a film studio here. Life finds a way.
Me too. I'm not affiliated, just a big financial-centric girl-fan with a Devil Dog Carpenter/Concrete Guru mate, a Grunt nephew (Who is a welder, as is his son, my great- nephew!) and grandson, who is a welder, and engineer daughter and son in law with Eagle Scout kids, Bees, Dogs, Cat, Garden and structural Re- engineering in their hearts and souls. We absolutely love you and your show and Mission. Oorah!
Mike, you are my fellow Balmorian (Baltimorian?) & 1962 graduate of mom (John Hopkins, by any chance?) You are a frequent traveler in my truck & my ear buds in my Woodshop. Your interviews give me hope for the future of our fractured country. I've listened to every episode of "The Way I Heard It" & I require anyone who desires to remain my friend listen to you weekly! Keep it up! Don't ever quit. The Evidence Demands a Verdict.
I hate to have to challenge you, but we do not really know this is Mike Rowe on this Substack. Too many dishonest people will steal another person’s valor for their own ill-gotten gain.
Prove you are you, by showing us an obviously non Ai generated photo, with you holding up seven fingers. 😊
I agree, it does. And the page has 1.7 k subscribers. Yet, the internet is full of pages, where some enterprising thief steals someone’s fame for clicks. The fact that this page has only one article is suspect.
Hey there Mike Rowe❣️I love your show “The Way I Heard It “ every Saturday night I watch it on TBN- my favorite channel ever❣️🙏Take care of yourself always and love ya❣️🙏❤️🙌😻
Its so good to read your experiences and thoughts here!
What can we do as fellow Americans, to get back to " Just giving a Hand up”, to get to the next part, where we are surviving and thriving? Too many gov. org " fingers" in the proverbial American Dream, has taken it away..I have an idea, and, then just reach out my hand to others, it means so much to each one!
For example, our churches can help. They can help their congregations learn how to give, without having a car wash, or candy sale, Just reach out your own hand with a kind heart to give what God Blessed each one with! Share! Its a step to get away from a " corp." effort everytime there is a need...we are all capable to stop at our local "shoe shine" guy on the corner, and give him a hand up!
Car detailing shop. Started there in HS. If i or his mother bring up something about a job he “I Don’t Want To Talk About It . He li es in my basement. No drugs Ac no smoking. Very in involved with his church. He stays in the basement in his free time. I know he has never had a date. He hS liked girls since grade school. He has liked a few girls but he won’t ask them for a date. He says i don’t think they like me. I know he has been hurt because he is not happy about himself. I have talked to him about STrades. Same answers Could you please help me to help him. I’m want to buy your book but i don’t know if that will help. HELP
So pleased to read you here, Mike. Been a fan since you abandoned the bathtub and said, "let's get dirty!" Excited about your American Dream project. Recommended a 25 y/o to your website as she is dreaming her future. Thanks, man.
Right. If you click on The Believe Journal at the top, you can see it's someone else. Specifically on the "About" tab, it's a guy named Doug DeVos. The story was actually written by Mike but was published on his website in January 2024.
Mike, you find the American Dream at an airport shoeshine stand: Tony Alberto is hardworking, generous, grateful, and works two jobs. Good for Tony. I hope he prospers.
But Tony’s character is not evidence that the economic system works.
You turn one admirable immigrant’s resilience into proof of broad opportunity. If Tony works two jobs, that shows his work ethic. If business is slow, it shows his perseverance. Every hardship becomes a reason to admire the worker rather than question the conditions.
The data are less sentimental. OECD research shows that parental background strongly affects educational and economic outcomes. Federal Reserve data show that the richest 10% hold roughly $118 trillion in wealth, while the bottom half holds about $4.3 trillion.
Tony’s success is an argument for Tony—not automatic absolution for the system.
The American Dream was supposed to mean that birth did not determine destiny. That is measurable. So measure it; don’t replace evidence with a heartwarming anecdote.
You have mistaken the resilience of the worker for the virtue of the system. A person can be courageous climbing uphill. That doesn’t prove the hill isn’t getting steeper.
Love this. The dream is not a utopian end-state, but the discovery of purpose through real contribution.
Hi Mike, loved your show “ Dirty Jobs”
Great message, Mike. Enjoyed this.
Dude, I'm so freaking glad you are on Substack. I'm an independent filmmaker and photographer from East Texas. I am pulling myself out of poverty by building my town's movie industry back up. I'm in Palestine, Texas. We are a film-friendly city and part of the Texas Film Commission as well. We are an old railroad town. The cool part about this industry here is we have everything we need, just a place to work out of.
I plan to connect with the local high schools, art groups, and the carpenters, metalworkers, and electrical workers to help build movie sets. East Texas is growing in the film industry. We have 1.5 billion in film industry incentives here. I am living my dream at the age of 48. I am a former medic but a true artist at my core. My family has lived here since the 1840s, and I want to grow us into a great filming spot. Blessings to you, my good sir. Stay the Course.
The plan is to build a film studio here. Life finds a way.
I’m in Houston. Would love to meet you.
Me too. I'm not affiliated, just a big financial-centric girl-fan with a Devil Dog Carpenter/Concrete Guru mate, a Grunt nephew (Who is a welder, as is his son, my great- nephew!) and grandson, who is a welder, and engineer daughter and son in law with Eagle Scout kids, Bees, Dogs, Cat, Garden and structural Re- engineering in their hearts and souls. We absolutely love you and your show and Mission. Oorah!
Mike, you are my fellow Balmorian (Baltimorian?) & 1962 graduate of mom (John Hopkins, by any chance?) You are a frequent traveler in my truck & my ear buds in my Woodshop. Your interviews give me hope for the future of our fractured country. I've listened to every episode of "The Way I Heard It" & I require anyone who desires to remain my friend listen to you weekly! Keep it up! Don't ever quit. The Evidence Demands a Verdict.
Hi Mike, you have always been inspiring. I can only pray to be my best to leave my mark in the next generation as well!
Keep up the great work! 🇺🇸
I enjoyed this. Thank you.
I hate to have to challenge you, but we do not really know this is Mike Rowe on this Substack. Too many dishonest people will steal another person’s valor for their own ill-gotten gain.
Prove you are you, by showing us an obviously non Ai generated photo, with you holding up seven fingers. 😊
The way the article was written, sure sounds like Mike to me.
I agree, it does. And the page has 1.7 k subscribers. Yet, the internet is full of pages, where some enterprising thief steals someone’s fame for clicks. The fact that this page has only one article is suspect.
Hey there Mike Rowe❣️I love your show “The Way I Heard It “ every Saturday night I watch it on TBN- my favorite channel ever❣️🙏Take care of yourself always and love ya❣️🙏❤️🙌😻
Its so good to read your experiences and thoughts here!
What can we do as fellow Americans, to get back to " Just giving a Hand up”, to get to the next part, where we are surviving and thriving? Too many gov. org " fingers" in the proverbial American Dream, has taken it away..I have an idea, and, then just reach out my hand to others, it means so much to each one!
For example, our churches can help. They can help their congregations learn how to give, without having a car wash, or candy sale, Just reach out your own hand with a kind heart to give what God Blessed each one with! Share! Its a step to get away from a " corp." effort everytime there is a need...we are all capable to stop at our local "shoe shine" guy on the corner, and give him a hand up!
Get a job Mike, say hello to your Mama
I loved you in the unusual job show cleaning out the water towers and the sewer tours. Thanks for the inspiration.
I have a grandson 25. He is working at a,a
Car detailing shop. Started there in HS. If i or his mother bring up something about a job he “I Don’t Want To Talk About It . He li es in my basement. No drugs Ac no smoking. Very in involved with his church. He stays in the basement in his free time. I know he has never had a date. He hS liked girls since grade school. He has liked a few girls but he won’t ask them for a date. He says i don’t think they like me. I know he has been hurt because he is not happy about himself. I have talked to him about STrades. Same answers Could you please help me to help him. I’m want to buy your book but i don’t know if that will help. HELP
Great post. It didn't disappoint. Many thanks.
So pleased to read you here, Mike. Been a fan since you abandoned the bathtub and said, "let's get dirty!" Excited about your American Dream project. Recommended a 25 y/o to your website as she is dreaming her future. Thanks, man.
This is not Mike Rowe.
Right. If you click on The Believe Journal at the top, you can see it's someone else. Specifically on the "About" tab, it's a guy named Doug DeVos. The story was actually written by Mike but was published on his website in January 2024.
I realized this as well when I listened to the audio.
I suspected as much.
Mike, you find the American Dream at an airport shoeshine stand: Tony Alberto is hardworking, generous, grateful, and works two jobs. Good for Tony. I hope he prospers.
But Tony’s character is not evidence that the economic system works.
You turn one admirable immigrant’s resilience into proof of broad opportunity. If Tony works two jobs, that shows his work ethic. If business is slow, it shows his perseverance. Every hardship becomes a reason to admire the worker rather than question the conditions.
The data are less sentimental. OECD research shows that parental background strongly affects educational and economic outcomes. Federal Reserve data show that the richest 10% hold roughly $118 trillion in wealth, while the bottom half holds about $4.3 trillion.
Tony’s success is an argument for Tony—not automatic absolution for the system.
The American Dream was supposed to mean that birth did not determine destiny. That is measurable. So measure it; don’t replace evidence with a heartwarming anecdote.
You have mistaken the resilience of the worker for the virtue of the system. A person can be courageous climbing uphill. That doesn’t prove the hill isn’t getting steeper.
Everyone everywhere has a dream, some are just more humble than others.