--:-- [Sound of a podcast opening]
--:-- John Bickley: Welcome to Morning Wire, I'm John Bickley, and I'm joined today by Georgia Howe.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Good morning, John.
--:-- John Bickley: Today, we have a very special guest, Mike Rowe, joining us to talk about his new series, People You Should Know.
--:-- Mike Rowe: Thanks for having me back, John.
--:-- John Bickley: Mike, let's start with your new series. What inspired you to create People You Should Know?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Well, John, I've always tried to bring the viewer along for the ride and make them a fly on the wall. In this series, we're focusing on real heroes of the country, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
--:-- John Bickley: That sounds fascinating. Can you tell us a bit more about the series and how it came about?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Sure. The project itself will be familiar to anyone who saw my last project, Returning the Favor. We elevated and rewarded the neighbors that most people wish they had, regular people doing something nice in their community. We'd show up under the auspices of making a documentary about the topic and then surprise them with an elaborate gift at the end.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That sounds like a great way to highlight these ordinary heroes. What was the response like when you first launched Returning the Favor?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Well, it was a huge success. We did 100 episodes, and I even won an Emmy for it. But then Facebook decided to cancel the show, which was a bit of a shock.
--:-- John Bickley: That's incredible. You've been working on People You Should Know for a while now. What's the main difference between this series and Returning the Favor?
--:-- Mike Rowe: The main difference is that we're focusing on people who are doing extraordinary things, but they're not necessarily celebrities or well-known figures. We're highlighting the ordinary people who are making a real difference in their communities.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That sounds like a great way to inspire people and show them that anyone can make a difference.
--:-- Mike Rowe: Exactly. And I think that's what's so powerful about this series. We're not just highlighting these individuals; we're also showing the process of how we're making the show, warts and all.
--:-- John Bickley: I love that approach. It's so refreshing to see a show that's willing to be transparent and authentic. Can you tell us more about the people you've featured in the series so far?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Sure. One of the episodes features a woman named Lindsay Phillips who was addicted to methamphetamine but was able to overcome her addiction with the help of an organization called Care Portal. We also have an episode featuring a guy named Steve Hotz who started a forge to help veterans with PTSD.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Those stories sound incredible. How did you find these individuals, and what was the process like of working with them?
--:-- Mike Rowe: We found them through a variety of sources, including organizations like Stand Together. We'd show up under the auspices of making a documentary, and then we'd surprise them with a gift at the end.
--:-- John Bickley: That's amazing. I'm sure our listeners would love to hear more about these stories. Where can they find People You Should Know?
--:-- Mike Rowe: The first episode is up now on my YouTube channel, The Real Mike Rowe. You can also search for People You Should Know Mike Rowe.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Great, we'll make sure to link to it in our show notes.
--:-- John Bickley: Mike, I want to switch gears a bit and talk about your passion for highlighting the importance of the trades. You've been advocating for this for a while now. Can you tell us a bit more about why you're so passionate about this?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Well, John, I've seen a skills gap widen with every passing year, and I think it's because we're not valuing the trades enough. We're telling kids that they need to go to college and get a four-year degree, but the truth is, there are millions of jobs out there that don't require a degree.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's so true. I've heard you talk about this before, but it's great to see you continue to advocate for it.
--:-- Mike Rowe: Yeah, I think it's essential that we start valuing the trades more and giving kids the opportunity to learn a skill that's in demand.
--:-- John Bickley: Absolutely. And it sounds like you're seeing some progress on this front. Can you tell us a bit more about your foundation, Microworks?
--:-- Mike Rowe: Sure. Microworks is a foundation that I started to help people learn a skill that's in demand. We've had over 2,200 people go through the program, and many of them are making six figures.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's incredible. How can our listeners learn more about Microworks and get involved?
--:-- Mike Rowe: They can visit microworks.org to learn more and apply for the program.
--:-- John Bickley: Great, we'll make sure to link to it in our show notes. Mike, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing your passion with our listeners.
--:-- Mike Rowe: Thanks for having me, John. It's been a pleasure.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And to our listeners, thanks for tuning in to Morning Wire. We'll be back tomorrow with more news you need to know.
