Adventures in VO: "A Talk About TED"

Given all the interest in my 2008 TED Talk, I have recorded the true story of my experience for your edification. There is absolutely no charge to watch; however, if you find yourself overwhelmed with the urge to make a modest donation to the mikeroweWORKS Scholarship Fund, that would be OK with me.
Just click here: bit.ly/16xd1kp
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WATCH MIKE'S TED TALK: • Learning from dirty jo...
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FOLLOW MIKE ON TWITTER: / mikeroweworks

[@philliphayden2727]

We had an unusual blizzard in Dutch Harbor a decade plus ago, snow is common but not two feet overnight. We were driving to get supplies in town when we stopped to get coffee. There was Mike and his film crew digging the place out. We jumped in to help, noone worked harder than Mike himself. Good man.

[@stevendorries]

Wow, I watched that TED talk a while ago, I just came across this video today. I had no idea your speech was completely off the cuff, that gives it so much more power to me.

[@dilligaf0220]

This behind the scenes, melodiously if not succinctly, correctly captured the difference between a proper TED talk and an unaffiliated TEDx talk.

[@WPT1776]

Why can't I like this more than once?

[@smiley3012]

I think this is one of the things that make Mike so popular. He does things with heart and honest down to earth relatabilaty. He sèems to see the world for what it is , not some fantasy thought up by people wanting to make a buck off their views. Reality something that is missing for many people today.

[@bazillin4138]

i wish mike rowe was my dad... i can imagine him reading me bed time stories..

[@happycat3399]

You’d never go to sleep💤 ! Just one more Dad!! His voice is as warm and soothing as that fine whiskey 🥃 he’s enjoying.

[@princepjohnson]

So glad to hear a genuine hard working voice that isn't full of the self-help guru-style bullshit. So many people need to hear this.

[@SheafferSelect]

Been amazing watching you over the years! Thank You Sheaffer Select

[@goodkill1]

Mike Rowe is my hero

[@gh0stmast3r]

"neither of which should be together in large numbers" tell it like it is mike!

[@Josyeliel]

WOW you did all that without any preparing anything for it, you have made me truly your fan, thank you

[@ShandraVdeG]

The entire TED speech was off the cuff? Wow, I'm even more impressed by you, Mr. Rowe....

[@FirehouseMike]

Mike, I agree with Bev Cummins. You are a National Treasure. I'm not only a fan of your work & was glad to meet you in Baltimore during last year's IAFC Hazmat Conference. You were polite & spent a minute listening to me on how I use your TED TALK Video in my teachings. I then watched as you work your way through the hotel for the next two days, taking time for each of your fans who recognized you. Thank you for being as real as you appear on screen. Best Wishes & Stay Safe.

[@meganrasey4377]

I genuinely laughed multiple times watching this. Thank you so much for this. I'm sitting down to record right now and needing a bit of grounding. Thanks Mike!

[@Yuuray]

Amazing, mike! Puts a whole new perspective on your talk.

[@BEVERYCUMMINS]

You are a National Treasure that has more talent in his little finger than a lot of prime time operators put together . Every word is golden , amusing , thought provoking , and laugh inducing . Mike if you could wish me a Happy Birthday on Oct 3 , 2013. A ton of laughs from you have already been your gift to me. You also gave me amazing friends from all over the world. You gave an understanding of passion being with you and in you , not something you followed . The podcast her is great . 62

[@VideoMenu]

Mike Rowe is an example of a person who wasn't too good to pay his dues. Before anyone really knew who he was in the mid-90s (I sure didn't) I used to see him on the local DC area channel co-hosting townhouse sales showcase program. And if my memory isn't too bad, I think when I lived in GA, he was a cohost of a Florida Room sales program as well (or maybe my memories are morphing together and it was someone else). But later, after seeing him on a national show, I thought, "Hey, I recognize that guy." He deserves all the success he has.

[@lauriesyme207]

Ok, I must have been under a ROCK to not know all this was going on! Loved your story from beginning to end, you're a great story teller! It is sad that what you do ( which I have a great appreciation for) is not well received by others.....oh, they try to be polite, but it's very clear our world and our values are being forced to change.....You are quick thinking (something most young people don't have), it's very admirable what you do, and what you say! Now I'll go watch the TED talk? Ok, just saying I enjoy your stories....keep them coming please?

[@davo171]

Outstanding. Great story.

[@markreed9157]

Outstanding.. I love this man!! I want one in my life!

[@bobettejennett8085]

Love the podcast and the stories.

[@michaelcrippen4298]

Thanks for this. I've always wondered about the TED Talks. Your experience helps immensely to keep them in perspective.

[@barbroericson6415]

Thankyou for being the man you are,

[@bobreavis1]

I love this guy! I was in v/o for 40 years and for the most part I enjoyed it. A hard dollar at times and a terrific payday at times. Such is the life of v/o. Really enjoyed the fun. Thanks Mike.

[@drpoopooslover]

Love you Mike! You are the best!

[@MirgeTreasureseeker]

Doesn't sound to me like Mike had great memories left from that event.

[@donandnanelmore8278]

Hmm, 5 people, thus far, have clicked "thumbs down" on this podcast. In almost any KZbin video I watch, a smattering of people click "thumbs down". I often wonder who these people are and why they are offended by the particular inoffensive (to me at least) video. Well anyway, I clicked "thumbs up" for an entertaining video. Thanks Mike!

[@Degenerecy]

Some might be when he points out how much $$ they make and pay nothing to the speakers, then next sentence in he goes to this event.

[@xxxhead1183]

Thumbs down may often be done by 2 year olds that steal dad's phone when he's not looking

[@InstantvideocoachingExclusive]

D.E: Clearly due to pure, blatant, completely and fully ignorance, on an epic unknown educated and understanding level, yet known to mankind. Makes you wonder how they even are able to log on to the internet... ;-)

[@ahmadtheaviationlover1937]

Amazing voice!!

[@jerrysantos6484]

Loved it!😎👍

[@OOZ662]

It really sounds like you were the shining moment of that "gathering," tempering the mix of pompousness and complete ridiculousness with a bit of the real world. Though it didn't sound enjoyable or really worth your while, I enjoyed your presentation and the way it made me think.

[@687805]

Haha! I love you Mike! You're awesome, keep up the good work.

[@wendybryan9857]

Wow. You do great voices sweetie. I loved them. I did see the Ted talk and it was fantastic. I can't believe you can do this so easily with no mistakes. And you can't tell in the Ted talk you had been drinking.

[@danijelapogorelec504]

Mike you're awesome! :)

[@jgederschicago]

Mike, you are one of the people I would most like to visit with over a drink. You remind me of all the things I liked most about Harry Truman, honest, straightforward, with a sense of history, hard work, and the ability to reflect upon it. (I believe Truman was also a whiskey drinker!) Thanks, Joe

[@rallaster8102]

I love your idea behind 'living legend'. :applause:

[@SandraNelson063]

I showed up and I had a drink. Sounds good to me.

[@Odyseous]

god I don't even care what hes talking about but he sounds so damn good that I just listen lol. gunna grab me a glas of stella rossa and look for another mike rowe podcast lol Nice story though!

[@happycat3399]

Sounds like an awesome idea, i think I’ll do the same! cheers mate 🥃

[@RyanJosephLong]

Mike Rowe at his best. Excellent story and your voice, on par the entire talk. Do you use whiskey every time you do a voiceover?

[@ValentineMichaelSmit]

That TED Talk was so damned good, I posted it on my blog in January of 2010. If you did that ad lib, (Latin "Ad libitum" for "at liberty" or "at one's pleasure") my respect for you just increased about tenfold. I titled the post "Anagnorisis and Peripeteia."

[@MissVis]

How does Mike remember everything so detailed about something that happened 5 years ago?

[@tamireeves5158]

The Lord works in mysterious ways...it wasn’t by chance that you ran into him in the men’s bathroom. Such a great story, I never tire of hearing your unvacillating and admirable stand for good work ethics. ♥️

[@maryshaffer8474]

They seem to be designed to make you feel especially bad about yourself.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

Always warm, always wise, always right on. Everything is ace, except... I'm a friend of Bill W., so nix the whiskey. I'm retired from superintending now. They replaced us, Mike, with a "Maintenance Company", who (barely) do half the work we did , for probably twice what they paid us. I look around, and over the past year and a half, note 1) 18 inches of curb, by NYC law, regularly unswept, 2) boxes and cardboards not broken down and folded for recycling, 3) mixed household trash with bottles and cans, 4) our old roach infestation, which we kept vigilantly in check, for decades has now 'gone widescreen', and large bugs are everywhere (meaning it's been so long since an exterminator visit these little crawlies have grown up and started their own families), 6) packages from UPS/Amazon, etc go walking because they are left outside: there is no longer a super on premises to buzz guys in and securely place package on hall table, 7) vendors to read Con Ed meters, or chem-treat the boiler still call us in desperation, just to get into the building. I am now, as a civilian, forbidden by the Board to give them access. It is a non-union building. So I got no pension, no honorary departure check, zippo.. for close to 30 years working to keep this 1895 converted brownstone tip top, shiny like a new penny. But hey..WTH...now we are done caring for our elderly mom, who passed peacefully at home, at 95. Returning to New Orleans, where my merchant seaman hubby worked and lived for thirty five years. Can't wait..and I have a sneaky feeling blue-collar ME? Will be welcomed, and with open arms..Be well, Mike.

[@NorseButterfly]

I just watched that Ted talk...(I find them.. interesting). Have you ever considered recording for audio books?? You've got the voice for it😉💜

[@sapl1964]

Bravo! To your parents! Job, Well Done.

[@madmommy]

If you close your eyes during his reading of the EG letter, he really does sound like Frasier Crane...

[@sapl1964]

Mike, I listen to your book all the time. Love the stories, over and over. I'm going back to fox nation, just to learn!

[@sapl1964]

I trust you more than a politician.! Lol.

[@pvsantos999]

Makes so much sense, my best presentations, and with the highest grades, 30 years ago in college, were the ones I did after a couple of beers. I am talking about deep subjects like econometrics, particle physics, and AI. I'm a beer guy, I don't do whisky, seems to work for Mike though. I would never drink before a job presentation as I work for a large corporation. But at college, and maybe for the self employed, it worked great.

[@frontiersmandavis1857]

Thank you Mike. I was unaware IE was a latin acronym. All these years I thought it stood for “In Example”.

[@dotvaliant]

He already has and recorded his answers as a series of short videos. You can find them on the reddit KZbin channel. :)

[@JamesCouch777]

Mike Rowe is a bit like John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness proclaiming the saviour...and getting about the same response.

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

"Not an orgy"..... Well, good thing they cleared that up right away.

[@lyson1013]

The noise hissing came from the condensor mic he was using, look like one made for video shotgun camera. Not a normal voice over mic but maybe I am wrong.

[@VideoMenu]

Some people prefer the shotgun style of that mic. They're normally for promos, but on rare occasion, some prefer for VO. It's difficult to know where the hiss is coming from because it can be a cable or levels.

[@VideoMenu]

If you listen for around 20 to 30 seconds at the following mark, you can hear a drastic change in the hissing. I wonder if someone is fiddling with the mix and possibly even camera. 11:50

[@LitTheDragon]

Good story indeed.

[@nickpanda1872]

Hooray for Bulleit Bourbon!

[@wendekay65]

LMAO! Love it :)

[@stephenhernandez5671]

its from the camera, the audio isn't coming from the microphone in the studio.

[@BelindaMcFaddin]

If bourbon's in the house, Bulleit's my favorite. Haven't had Knobel yet, the mind could be changed. Cheers to your mom!

[@TheIrishCanuck]

Hey Mike, do you keep in touch with Barsky or any of the Dirty Jobs crew?

[@TheFreakazoid67216]

DUDE! If I had the cash, I would love to hire you to do a simple voice intro for me saying "You are now watching the Freakazoid KZbin channel. Thank you for watching"

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Mike Rowe. A man I would like to buy a beer. That is all.

[@d.y.358]

Does Mike make audio books?

[@Kagidusko]

Excellent choice in bourbon.

[@dmorrison7774]

What microphone is that?

[@fansofdianebish]

Cameron Carpenter... I thought I saw an organ console behind you when you were speaking.

[@MrFreshicet]

Mr. Rowe you should do a AmA on reddit.

[@Streamlines]

That doesn't make any sense. The device in front of him - is a microphone. The device that would be on the camera is - a microphone. So both of them would pick up the white noise. If the sound was recorded with a camera's microphone, then why does he even have a microphone in front of him. There's no reason to use the audio from the camera if you can provide better quality with the mic in front of him. Look up white noise.

[@jamesa7506]

What a horrible situation to not only find yourself in, but one you've voluntarily included yourself to. You might have hung up the phone as soon as you noticed the dodginess,if you will, of the telemarketer style demeanor of it. Yet,you went ahead fully. Birds of a feather, sir, birds of a feather.

[@5809AUJG]

Mike, do you realize that you were no doubt the single thinking, really functional human being out of that entire pack of morons? My god...you dare to think for yourself and maintain your own values and you work hard and you care and work for the things that give real people a sense of worth and accomplishment. Did they really think they could indoctrinate you? They failed miserably. You were, and are, magnificent. You did just fine! Elitist screamers don't matter. Not one bit. Love you, Mike!

[@PvtHaggard]

Why is there a hiss when you aren't talking..

[@Streamlines]

Look up white noise.

[@harrypalms88]

Mike you are my new hero!! After hearing about this on The Blaze I watched your TED speech then this one and I say hurray! Thank you for your hard work on the work smart and hard. I'm trying to flip my 4 childrens views on work and college. Debt free vs debt.

[@painterdood2484]

If I could be anybody else. . .

[@gregorymarrone3666]

You forgotten garlic!!!

[@CompGeekDE]

"not an orgy!"

[@irritablearchitect]

I'm curious to know how the comments about the over political slant to "The Gathering," went over in the studio, while recording this. Mike DID say they were in San Francisco afterall.

[@shannonconley5316]

I am Mrs. Fraziers basement.

[@LuficariusRatspeed]

Tell Matt to ease up on the Dynamics Processing! The compressor is acting waaayyy too high, and all that hissing you're getting in the back isn't good. Should be nice and clear sounding rather than building up during silent periods.

[@FayteWolf]

Good taste in bourbon, Mike.

[@Mr308Gap]

As a republican I nothing whimsical to say, so I'll keep driving my truck and delivering the food and whiskey around the country.

[@ww321]

hahahahahahahaha! !

[@Raybo-68]

Blah blah blah blah EG... Four cancelled channels and on the 5th "they" fried my motherboard and wiped my hard drive... Yeah music has power, and "They" choose who will wield it and what debauchery shall be glorified... But dare not a white boi sing Gospel... Hey Mike can I get a scholarship to purchase another PC and start working in my craft again? 33 years of electromechanical repair got me nowhere, but Glorifying God and singing of Freedom... selah that's the road to my salvation and retirement ✝️❤️🗽

[@PirateSilverCougar]

Kind of sad you think pagans shouldn't gather.

[@FaelynDexter]

As a pagan fan of Mike Row I'm a little hurt by the "Wiccans and Hippies" comment. Mike, I still love you but I Am Disappointed.