Mike Rowe from ‘Dirty Jobs’ talks victimhood and the value of hard work



After testing shark suits, cleaning out sewers, and wrangling venomous snakes, Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs” knows firsthand what a hard day’s work looks like.

And he’s grateful for it.

“‘Dirty Jobs,’ in so many ways, reconnected me to some things that I kind of lost sight of in my life — things I'd become disconnected from ... like where my food comes from and where my energy comes from,” he tells Stu Burguiere.

However, the show also taught him about “job satisfaction” and “the dignity of work.”

After a few seasons of the show, Mike began asking himself questions like, “What do [dirty jobs workers] know that I don't? And how come they're having so much fun covered in other people's crap? And why is my idea of success being turned inside out?”

The answer he found was that these “dirty jobbers” just “didn’t [have] a lot of self pity.” Rather, they had “an awareness” of the reality of their jobs, which were “often out of sight ... out of mind and seen by many as nonglamorous.”

“But rather than accept all of those stigmas and stereotypes as victims,” there was a camaraderie among them and a sense of pride in their respective vocations.

They knew what would “happen if [they] all [called] in sick for a week,” says Mike.

This mentality of finding dignity in your work, however, seems to be dying in modern society, as victimhood has become the new "it" label.

“It's not only that people claim victimization all the time,” says Stu. “It's like the pinnacle of our society if you can paint yourself into a victim.”

To hear more of Mike’s take on the value of hard work, the victim mentality, and what he calls “infatuation with innovation vs. imitation,” watch the clip below.


Want more from Stu?

To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Watch: Shamed for working at Trader Joe's? 'Cosby Show' actor quit job, but he has the best response

On "Good Morning America" Tuesday morning, actor Geoffrey Owens responded to all of the attention he received over Labor Day weekend for published photos showing him working at a Trader Joe's in New Jersey. Owens praised the dignity of work, saying "every job is worthwhile."

The former "Cosby Show" actor said that at first he was "really devastated" at the articles, which many perceived as attempts to job-shame him. But after an outpouring of support from fans and fellow actors, he says he's "doing fine."

"I really want to thank everybody out there … for the incredible support, the amazing support and positivity that they’ve shown for me," Owens said.

Owens told Good Morning America that he took the job at Trader Joe's for "flexibility" as he continues to work in the entertainment industry. He worked there for 15 months, but has now quit because of the attention over this incident.

Owens hopes that the attention he received for working will help people rethink “what it means to work, the honor of the working person, and the dignity of work.”

“I hope that this period that we’re in now, where we have a heightened sensitivity about that, and a re-evaluation of what it means to work and a re-evaluation of the idea that some jobs are better than others — because that’s actually not true,” he continued. “There is no job that’s better than another job. It might pay better, it might have better benefits, it might look better on a resume and on paper. But actually, it’s not better. Every job is worthwhile and valuable.”

Keep reading...Show less