485: Josh Smith—Made FOR America

489: Michael Easter—The Hard Way

Why do so many of the things that make us stronger, healthier, and happier require doing things the hard way? Mike sits down with bestselling author, journalist, and researcher Michael Easter [https://eastermichael.com/] to explore the surprising benefits of discomfort, challenge, and voluntary hardship in a world engineered for convenience. Easter, whose work has appeared in Men's Health, Outside, Esquire, and Scientific American, discusses the ideas behind his bestselling books The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain, along with his newest release, Walk with Weight: The Definitive Guide to Rucking [https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Weight-Definitive-Guide-Rucking/dp/0063452537/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CA9813DV5WN7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._174n57hrTBXLiiL_qu6QkMe0xRO4Fxy2GujVFkE-3Kh_VtsLSvmaYEN0l_t3KzhV7KnNG3a6bhCnCmAV3s_7zzUvdXeo2VP78KZbtq8GVtdOBv07seSm9ilIVOgOQjvgUPfgJSqLFCmsKqOb64wnTUh_CYZA6Cbqw26OdmNZulk8CCWj23E51PzsM0TktOxa3wlwRDPW7dP-yt7-oscNv0jdUiliimHBpBkuRkGtsc.DxTkRwbmy0WoWuvExMiyhKU4pCPu__0sjgge_EosA0E&dib_tag=se&keywords=walk+with+weight+michael+easter&qid=1781561401&sprefix=Walk+with+weight%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1]. From carrying heavy loads to carrying life's burdens, Michael explains why the easiest path is rarely the most rewarding—and why embracing difficulty might be the key to a better life. Tip o' the hat to our excellent sponsors GoodRanchers.com [https://www.goodranchers.com/] Purchase any Father's Day Gift Box and get FREE Wagyu Burgers. Pestie.com/Mike [https://pestie.com/mike] to get an extra 10% off your order. K12.com/Rowe [https://go.k12.com/mps/national/career-and-college-prep/?product=public_schools_generic&leadsource=paid_audio&lead_source_detail=aware_prospecting&tactic=offline&vendor=podsearch&vanity_url=k12.com-rowe&utm_campaign=podcasts&utm_content=rowe&utm_medium=paid_audio&utm_source=k12.com-rowe&adobe_mc=MCMID%3Dnull] See what's possible for your child with K12's Career and College Prep NetSuite.AI/Mike [https://www.netsuite.ai/mike] to try NetSuite Next for FREE!

488: Connor Boyack—Spontaneous Order

Spontaneous Order might sound like a contradiction, but according to author, entrepreneur, and educator Connor Boyack, some of society's most important innovations emerge without a master plan. Mike sits down with Connor, the bestselling co-creator and co-author of The Tuttle Twins book series that inspired the hit animated show, founder and president of the Libertas Institute, and a leading advocate for teaching the principles of liberty, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, and free markets to the next generation. Connor shares the mission that drives his work: helping families understand how free people, voluntary cooperation, and decentralized problem-solving can create remarkable outcomes. Along the way, he and Mike explore the power of ideas, the importance of questioning assumptions, why history still matters, and how a children's book series grew into a cultural phenomenon reaching millions of families. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the relationship between freedom, education, and the unexpected order that can arise when people are left free to innovate. Big thanks to our terrific sponsors PureTalk.com/Rowe [https://www.puretalk.com/rowe] Get UNLIMITED hi-speed data for just $34.99 per month! ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe [http://www.ziprecruiter.com/rowe] to post a job for FREE. K12.com/Rowe [https://go.k12.com/mps/national/career-and-college-prep/?product=public_schools_generic&leadsource=paid_audio&lead_source_detail=aware_prospecting&tactic=offline&vendor=podsearch&vanity_url=k12.com-rowe&utm_campaign=podcasts&utm_content=rowe&utm_medium=paid_audio&utm_source=k12.com-rowe&adobe_mc=MCMID%3Dnull] See what's possible for your child with K12's Career and College Prep AuraFrames.com/Mike [http://auraframes.com/mike] Use code MIKE to get $35 off their best-selling Carver Mat

487: Blake Scholl—Making Supersonic Travel Real

Mike Rowe sits down with Blake Scholl, the former Amazon software engineer turned aerospace entrepreneur who walked away from Silicon Valley to revive supersonic passenger travel. As the founder of Boom Supersonic [https://boomsupersonic.com/], Blake explains the century-long pursuit of faster flight. From the Cold War race to break the sound barrier to the rise—and fall—of the Concorde, Blake explains why supersonic travel disappeared just as it seemed destined to change aviation forever. He also shares how Boom Supersonic is working to make high-speed passenger flight practical again, and what it will take to shrink a 12-hour flight into just a few hours. Along the way, Mike and Blake discuss innovation, risk, engineering breakthroughs, and why some people refuse to accept that getting somewhere faster is a problem already solved. Shout out to our great sponsors GoodRanchers.com [https://www.goodranchers.com/] Purchase any Father's Day Gift Box and get FREE Wagyu Burgers. American-Giant.com/MIKE [https://www.american-giant.com/collections/mike] Use code MIKE to get 20% off your order. Digs.com [https://digs.com/] Less rework. Less confusion. And a much smoother build experience for homeowners.

486: Jason Ladayne—Nothing Up His Sleeve

Mike sits down with master card mechanic and sleight-of-hand expert Jason Ladanye [https://www.cardmagicbyjason.com/], whose impossible demonstrations of gambling moves and psychological deception have earned him a reputation as one of the best card handlers working today. Jason explains how a childhood obsession with cards—and an influential mentorship with legendary magician Darwin Ortiz—shaped his career performing around the world. Along the way, Jason shows Mike how magicians secretly track cards through a shuffled deck, demonstrates the art of bottom dealing, and reveals why the real secret behind great magic isn't fast hands—it's storytelling, conviction, and understanding exactly how people think. And of course, there are several mind-blowing demonstrations of his ability. Follow Jason on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cardmagicbyjason/] and see him LIVE at an upcoming show [https://www.cardmagicbyjason.com/see-jason-live/]. Big thanks to our awesome sponsors PureTalk.com/Rowe [https://www.puretalk.com/rowe] Choose any plan for $15 per month for the first three months.   NetSuite.com/Mike [http://www.netsuite.com/mike] Download their FREE business guide, Demystifying AI SkillsUSA.org/mike [https://www.skillsusa.org/mike/] Join the skilled trade movement!

485: Josh Smith—Made FOR America

Founder and president of Montana Knife Company [https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/] Josh Smith sits down with Mike to discuss his unlikely path from working as a lineman to becoming one of America's premier master bladesmiths. The conversation dives into the grit, craftsmanship, and obsession with quality that helped turn a small operation into one of the fastest-growing knife manufacturers in the country. The two also talk about the grand opening of MKC's brand-new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Missoula, where Josh explains why controlling his supply chain matters now more than ever—and what "Made in America" actually requires behind the scenes. Along the way, Josh gives Mike an exclusive look at a brand-new blade that hasn't been released to the public yet. It's a conversation about work ethic, American manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and the sharp edge between tradition and innovation. Tip o' the hat to our excellent sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe [http://www.ziprecruiter.com/rowe] to post a job for FREE. GoodRanchers.com [https://www.goodranchers.com/] Use code MIKE to get $40 off your first order and free meat for life. SkillsUSA.org/mike [https://www.skillsusa.org/mike/] Join the skilled trade movement!