Ask Adam Savage: “Did You Have Work/Life Balance During MythBusters?”

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In this livestream excerpt, Tested member Silver Defender asks Adam if it was hard to have a personal/family life while MythBusters was in production. Thank you for your question and support, Silver Defender!
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[@tested]

How do you maintain your work life balance, and how successful do you feel you are in that endeavor? Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks like asking Adam questions: kzbin.info/door/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin Thank you for your question and support, Silver Defender!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I work a normal job. I spend the time when I get off work with the family until the little one goes to bed and if I have a project to get done, then I will spend the evening time to work on it. It's important to be able to make time for the family.

[@joesguiltyguitar]

Sir Adam , can you Make a at-at walker for mining the sea floor 💡🤔?

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I will never forget how my mom emailed Jamie asking if he was single. 🤦‍♂️ And he responded. 😱 He gracefully appreciated the comment and said he was happily married.

[@clonetrooperfan3401]

Mythbusters is still one of my favorite shows of all time, loved that Adam and Jamie duo

[@bluemalamute]

Thanks for being so open and real. The answers may not be simple or easy, but it's interesting how simple questions can quickly get us thinking how to be better humans and better as a society.

[@jonn_mace_80_95_]

"... it's interesting how simple questions can quickly get us thinking how to be better humans and better as a society." Yeah except for the majority of Americans. Lol!

[@mikemoore5263]

I'm 36 and a life long chef, have a lovely wife whom also works a ton of hours and we didcided to own our careers and not have kids but do own 2 dogs that are our love and joy, and between them and just having time together for us it's a constant struggle I cannot imagine adding a child or two to that mix. Cudos to anyone who can do both and be successful at both, especially in today's climate.

[@malyn9797]

As a parent who has struggled with the balance of career, family and the exorbitant cost of childcare in the USA I appreciate and applaud your openness on this topic. I never knew you were a single dad in the early episodes. I am thankful you have the courage to say that you had the privilege to prioritize your children in the production process of Mythbusters. So many of us don’t speak up when our family time is of utmost importance and instead take the schedules we are given instead of making ones that work for us and our families while still getting the job done.

[@danielland3767]

agreed, I've actively been against it but used rideshare to offset the income, especially in a gig services like Instacart or food delivery. you spend time with kids AND earn extra cash.

[@kithu1231]

I recently resigned from a company, where work life balance is nil..I am taking a break now to be with my family..technically exploiting the employees..and expecting them to work for ten plus hours six days a week..not to mention we are extremely underpaid...In a corrupted country like mine i.e India 🇮🇳 they always have this tagline...the rich is getting richer..the poor is getting poorer..I wish you the best of health and mental well-being.

[@thedelbanator4146]

Mythbusters was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. Honestly, if it wasn't for Adam and Jamie I probably wouldn't know as much about physics and just basic science as I do. The show taught me way better than any teacher ever has while keeping me entertained and I'm thankful for that. Glad to see Adam's still out there kicking it as always in his own quirky but very admirable way.

[@DannyFoxGaming]

I remember watching Mythbusters when I. Was a kid, and loved the experiment, the myths and everything you and the team were an amazing part of my childhood ❤️ I love the facts this channel exist.

[@chrish9516]

I want a TV series where Adam goes to NASA and goes over the planning, building, engineering, etc of the new Mars Rover VIPER project. It'd be cool to make a series out of, and Adam would be the perfect host.

[@griffinwolf5704]

This is an excellent question and video. I suspect it will get a little less attention than many because it isn't what people come to the channel for as much, but I'm glad to hear life reflection and such things from Adam more generally than strictly maker type stuff

[@goatscrot2117]

People spend incredible amounts of money to have a meal with "celebs" like W Buffett, B Gates, even the vapid Kardashians. Adam is who I'd spend on; his sincere wisdom is amazing. Thanks, Adam, for being you all these years.

[@adilsongoliveira]

As basically a single father myself (the mother only stays with him every other weekend), I know exactly how it feels. Sometimes I doubt myself if I'm doing a good job, trying to keep my 12yo kid happy and doing my work. Fortunately, the company I work for agreed to let me work from home 100% of the time which makes things a bit easier but I feel guilty for not being able to give him all the attention he wants.

[@shalegac]

Really appreciate the honesty here. Not just with your personal/professional life but also speaking out for those who may struggle. Bravo.

[@robertlevine2152]

Its far too easy to marry your job. I worked as a draftsman after school and summers starting at age 15. I worked every hour permitted by law. I was driven not by the pay, although it helped, but by the learning process. Again, when I started working full time after college I worked a demanding schedule. I started at 40 hour weeks. Then travel began and I found the life exciting, but the hours demanding and time zone changes disruptive. Out of college I was a salaried employee. 40 hour weeks, 10 paid holidays, 10 paid vacation days, no compensation for extra time worked, or time away from home. At one point we went to 4 day weeks with 10 hour days. It became 5 day weeks 10 hours a day. The company stopped the four day week because it disrupted it's schedule. At one point during a company crisis I worked a seven day week with 10 hours of sleep. I worked a stretch of 105 of 110 days of at least 10 hours a day. Monetary compensation was never an issue. Pay was always great. But, time lost was at my expense. I did not marry until age 40. By then I was conditioned to put the company first and family second. As I aged the company changed and not for the better. Instead of having a family atmosphere it became company driven. At one point we were actually told we were commodities to be bought and sold as determined by the company. Although over 55 years old, and having nearly 33 years with the company I was severed 9 months before fully vesting my retirement. No medical or life insurance. I had become a commodity. The moral too the story is make sure to live your life and not the company's. Make sure your family comes first. Travel and pay can blind you. Before you know it you're at the end of your career and out in the cold and you've become bitter. Make sure the things that matter most to you come first. Invest wisely in your life.

[@nubreed13]

Reminds me of a job I worked at once. We worked 10-11 hours a day 5 days a week and I was still working at my previous job on the weekends. I was so miserable by the time I quit that job. From what I've heard their working conditions haven't improved and the employees basically have no social life at all because they are always being over worked.

[@thomashounsome7737]

"Family is nothing but triage and contingency planning." I hear that, running a family is always an adventure!

[@weavelcow9596]

As a child with two separate parents I must say that even if the kids don't say anything about it, Adam being there as much as he was would have really mattered. Might just have been my experience but I would like to say that with confidence.

[@tomorrowkiddo]

As a working single parent, my fav video and I never thought I’d say that because I love so much of the content you’ve been part of. Honest and appreciated your answer.

[@dillonhounshell9786]

I did 5 12 hour days and a 10 on the sixth for 9 months at a previous job. It's murder. You're angry, you're tired, and all you do is work and sleep.

[@jsloanhpi]

Thanks for sharing this, it was strangely relevant for my life and a peek into Adam coping with life in a way utter unlike anything I’ve seen.

[@benburoker5192]

‘23 weeks in a row, 6 days a week, 10 hour days’ that’s insane. And I would go crazy if I had to do that. But I couldn’t help hearing every medical resident respond to that with ‘hold my beer!’ 😆

[@destroyerofnations1828]

First time I’ve seen Adam speechless. That mother of his children situation seems like a raw spot

[@peterw8835]

How many “happy” divorces do you know of? Also Adam is very guarded about aspects of his personal life.

[@barryspurlock3048]

I have a 13 year old autistic son and I make decent money as an Operations Supervisor working a split 2nd/3rd shift and still can not afford to pay someone to keep him. Child care and work life balance is the biggest issue facing the work force right now.

[@eh4372]

Such a brilliant answer from a brilliant guy. It’s nice to know that Adam is so aware of the lower classes struggles and that he is aware enough to be happy that however hard he had it, he knows others have so much worse of a time.

[@peterw8835]

Adam is in the weird position of being in show business but a lower tier (ie less money). Listen to The West Wing cast (particularly the younger cast members) talk about filming next to the Friends set, they worked longer, harder, on a vastly better show and earned way less money. They earned way more than me (teacher) but they are still not the top earners on show business even though they are or were (JohnSpencer) some of the best.

[@skyeblueoceanx]

So happy I found this channel a couple weeks ago. I’ve missed Adam’s honesty, humor, talent, & overall awesomeness

[@robertarce5377]

That’s a great question to balance work and family time it’s really important thank you 🙏 Adam for sharing your experience!

[@roguecthulhu6002]

I worked that schedule (6 days - 10+ hours) for almost 5 years, in a very physically punishing labor job, in the worst conditions imaginable. It sucked.

[@Js_Son83]

I used to work 12hrs a day 6 days a week. I hated that schedule, I had no life. Now, I still put in a lot of hours (10hrs/6 days week). But this job is really chill I barely work. I only work 2-4hrs or less in a 10hrs I work. But the time I'm not working feels like I'm wasting my time. I wanna do something else but I dunno what...

[@bkebradley]

Currently working as a driver 10+ hours a day, 5 days a week, I can't even imagine doing 6 days a week like that

[@Lunnis]

Miss your podcasts Mr. Savage😁

[@FeaNordica]

Oh this is something that's partially hard to relate to for someone like me who lives in a country where childcare is basically free. Though despite that I still struggle with work/life balance. Being a parent and working is hard no matter what. There's always that feeling that you aren't doing enough either at work, home or both.

[@g0lden543]

Thanks for being so real!

[@TheYouTubeAquarium]

It's interesting to hear about a hero of yours going through the incredible journey that is child custody and care. It's rough.

[@Russellsperry]

I appreciate Adams honesty, and he’s completely correct about childcare.

[@petethebastard]

Did that question hit home a bit too hard? Child-care is a huge issue in Australia too... But we have Health Care! One doesn't go broke, when sick or injured!!

[@jasbjor6724]

Adam thank you for all you do

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@nicky9589]

You're a Good man Adam. Nuff said.

[@CHARLIE1NABLE]

Hey Adam Happy Birthday belated 🎉🎂🎉🎂🎈Hope you had a Great One👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Key_Capz_]

I feel you bro. If you ever have a yard sale let me know.

[@stephenharris9496]

When I started my last job we worked 7 days a week 12 hours a day. Did that for 4 months straight

[@EvanCops]

6 days a week 10 plus hours a day, I've had that schedule, sometimes it was 7 days. I will never do that again. Dealing with that and then dealing with a guy who thought I was constantly cheating......yeah no bueno

[@alexbotner4656]

Adam, you have inspired me to be who I am today. Thank you

[@paulvamos7319]

I feel a strange sense of dega-vue (spell checker is messing up so, sorry if misspelled words). Good answer though, thank you.

[@yodal_]

Most child care out there is not expensive because they are paying their employees well or because they need the money to spend on the care of the children, but because those in charge know they can charge that much and pocket most of it. People in child care positions are in similar positions to teachers often in that they are overworked and underpaid, but unlike many teachers it is not because the money is not there but because of greed. There are of course exceptions to all this, but I've seen it too many times to think it is an isolated thing.

[@vanuelbaker3434]

Hey Mr Adam I've been rewatching myth busters and as kid I've always wanted to do the stuff y'all were doing but every time Jamie said not to I didn't want to

[@TheshBuilds]

Lol. I work 6 days a week (sometimes 7 days a week) for 10 + hours a day. I can totally relate to the hard to stay sane thing.

[@JOSHTS]

I have a question if you had to pick another job what would it be it can’t be anything related to making like sculpting things

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

The program Mythbusters made a significant contribution to intelligent tv. However the schedules described sound punishing

[@shuttleman27c]

I know a guy who works 16 hours 5 days a week

[@scalpingsnake]

What an amazing person. More people need to have the capability of knowing they are the exception not the rule. Adam knows he was in a great position but most people aren't.

[@JohnnyPerth]

I still miss MB, hard to find intelligent shows these days

[@peterw8835]

Just go back and watch MD again. And watch Tested videos.

[@JohnnyPerth]

@@peterw8835 Seen em all, my kids watch them constantly

[@Juniordc21]

I’m 29 and I never take a day off of building. I’m curious to see how you balance

[@joesguiltyguitar]

Did you not branch out for new and better ideas after the ending of the show mythbusters , there was so much more that could have been done and still is more that can be done.

[@peterw8835]

Well he and Jamie did the tour. And he has had two shows, plus Tested.

[@Dirty_Squirrell]

Adam, you must stop aging. It's making me feel old.

[@freez1ngsapper]

Understanding privilege and abusing privilege is a huge obstacle to overcome as any adult. Being given any latitude it’s easy the first time to want to run wild. The maturity comes from knowing how to wield it properly. Something I wish I could have learned so much younger. /sigh

[@Thanos88888]

I work 60-80 hours per week and rarely get to see my kids. I have friends who are single fathers and only get their kids every 2nd weekend who get to spend more time with their kids than I do. It's a dream of mine to have a work/life balance, but it simply isn't feasible. Work is life and life is work. Hey look, I just got another notification of another one of my bills going up which I have no option but to have to pay. It looks like I have to add another 5 hours/week onto that work schedule to give that company more money for the same service. Apparently, they need my money more than I do.

[@Stettafire]

It is feasible. But it only works in certain careers and under certain circumstances. I put my foot down on not doing insane amounts of unpaid overtime. But I'm in the job where they need me, but I don't need them. Retail fast food etc, that won't work

[@stanknugget]

Adam Sausage

[@RobVespa]

Sadly, the hours you cite are what many people have to live with most of their careers... a lot of unpaid, because... people. Greedy people take advantage of others. Is there a choice? Sure. Some people, people who are fortunate (often secondary to the work of others and their lack of a moral compass), are sometimes spiteful and petty and will ruin others if they so choose. It stinks. Many in this life are rewarded for their bad behavior - and brilliant and/or good people are ground to dust. It's sad. This is absolutely not an exaggeration.

[@lucast3006]

What did you and Jamie disagree about during MB? What was the biggest single disagreement lol?

[@peterw8835]

Um, lots of things. Biggest disagreement, Star Wars versus Star Trek (but in the original Russian)

[@RobVespa]

I hope the people outside of the hosts didn't have to work "non-bankers" hours. That'd stink and reflect poorly on you and others.

[@formandcontent7772]

There’s no way they would have the same hours as cast. Crew arrive and depart hours before and after cast to get ready and then pack up after. Even with French Hours teamsters pull 16 hour days driving and then PAs closing out after that in some cases

[@catalinaislandliving6916]

For one’s sanity, even if it is a wash, child care is great. There also is value in raising your own kids instead of paying someone else to do it.

[@planespeaking]

But shouldn't we do better as a society for those with no choice?

[@catalinaislandliving6916]

@@planespeaking I genuinely don’t know the answer to “we can do better”. I try to shy away from government getting involved in anything. However, an easy solution in theory would be to have state funded education start at 3 to4 y/o vs kindergarten aged kids. In reality, that solution would just be another way for the government to spend a crap ton of money on administration and pittance going to the actual child or parent.

[@planespeaking]

@@catalinaislandliving6916 State funded healthcare in the UK costs far less per patient than US private healthcare and the quality of it is no better* *Not opinion, fact.

[@EE-fl1tw]

So you were divorced? And @misdonttrythishome is not the mother of your children? I'm sure it's a really an comfortable topic yet I feel it would be interesting to hear the story

[@peterw8835]

Adam is very mum about it. I think in all the time he has been in the public eye he mentioned it once. There is probably a story there but he is sticking to his principle of keeping certain aspects of his personal life personal. Like he never uses his kids’ or wife’s name on air. I think he explained it once (I think it was when he mentioned he was divorced, which was to explain that the mother of his kids was alive) that “I choose to be in front of the camera, they didn’t and I won’t make that choice for them”.

[@oxide9679]

I work 12-16 hours a day, sometimes 21 hours. Even worked a 28-hour shift once. I'm lucky to get two days off a month. No biggie.

[@Stettafire]

"No Biggie" wait until your old and grey with no friends. The money won't save you then

[@oxide9679]

@@Stettafire I'm 31, have the knees, hips and feet of a 65 year old and no friends or social life. Yet......life goes on, doesn't it?

[@drake7993]

@@oxide9679 that isn't life you can't call that living at all

[@oxide9679]

@@drake7993 LIFE (noun) \ ˈlīf \ Definition of life (Entry 1 of 2) 1a: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body b: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings c: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction. Check, check, and check. Yup, I'm alive, according to the definition. Y'all just weak and lazy.

[@Eunostos]

@@drake7993 It's their life and presumably there are reasons it is how it is, why belittle them?

[@zeke7515]

Adam, are you ever going to introduce your kids to the lifestyle into the public perception as Steve Irwin has. His legacy brought his children nothing but good fortune. We never hope for your demise, but if they want to follow in your footsteps you know the web would welcome them with open arms, right?! We want to see what brilliant offspring your brains have reared can do for modern science... assuming the write it down.

[@emilymartin5418]

its not Adam's choice, it's theirs.

[@Stettafire]

In this day and age one must be careful with such things. It's not ok to just shove a camera in your kids faces without them having a say, they'll resent it later in life

[@peterw8835]

Adam has talked about his kids, he has introduced them and they made their choices on what they want to do.

[@Wyattwaddill]

When's the next build

[@stinkyham9050]

We could do better with child care in this country. Well we had it 50 years ago but the feminists hated it. Men went to work and woman watched the kids. It worked for tens of thousands of years until 60s or 70s.

[@emilymartin5418]

Nice straw man you've got there. How do you reconcile it with households needing multiple incomes to support a family?

[@stinkyham9050]

@@emilymartin5418 50 years ago when we had this way of life you didn't need 2 household incomes. One income was more then enough. The reason we need 2 incomes now is because we are materialistic and obsessed with consuming goods. Bigger TV, 2 cars, giant house, multiple vacations every year, new $1500 smart phone every year. We've done this to ourselves and now we ask what happened.

[@Stettafire]

@@stinkyham9050 Actually the reason we need two incomes is because everything is more expensive and wages have not risen in line with inflation. Rents are higher, mortgages are higher, food is higher. You can't survive on a low income job and have kids, you gotta make sure everyone in the house contributes. That is not "feminism" that's basic economics.

[@stinkyham9050]

@@Stettafire Why do you think everything is more expensive? Have you ever thought about it on a large scale economic level. In the last 50 or 60 years the average person consumes more of everything, power consumption is one of the things in particular. 2 people all of a sudden were going to work at the same time that instantly meant each household was using twice as much gas. Breaker panels in homes used to be 60 amps now there 100 or even 200 because of the increases in electronics and appliances. The size of the "starter" homes today are twice the size of the average home in the 60s. Everything in the last 50 years has been geared towards consumption that far exceeded what our parents and grandparents needed. All that power and infrastructure was expensive, governments took on more debt to pay for these massive projects. Credit cards and loans were issued to millions of people that never should of had them and billions or possibly trillions in debt was accumulated that will take generations for families to pay back. In short mankind wasn't satisfied with a simpler way of life and now here we are. I'm not blaming a single group or ideal, I'm blaming all of us myself included. But yes one of the ideals that helped push us in that direction was feminism.

[@emilymartin5418]

@@stinkyham9050 anything to keep your high horse, right?

[@JAMESschwartz1]

We don't need more "child care" we need more parents that are willing to raise their own kids and not pay someone else to raise them. Can't afford to live where you are? Move! You brought children into this world, make the sacrifices necessary to raise them properly.

[@moveabledo]

So some people should pay for the childcare of other people through higher taxes? That might sound nice, but it wouldn't be fair.

[@Stettafire]

That's how it works everywhere else. Same with healthcare.

[@drake7993]

@@Stettafire Wait until this man learns we pay for other kids public education. Maybe some day we will get back on the side of helping those below us improves all of us.

[@peterw8835]

Why would it not be fair? You are paying for someone else’s health care.

[@RS-ls7mm]

Word/life balance is a pathetic topic. To even ask the question already shows you have a very sheltered life.

[@emilymartin5418]

way to defend an abusive system

[@RS-ls7mm]

@@emilymartin5418 Right, because we live in a post-scarcity society and the world exists just to make you happy. Pathetic.

[@seansirs]