2021

S3.E1 ∙ Cargo

Sun, Oct 16, 2022

We are introduced to the daily adventures and unfortunately some misadventures of Watco, a company that moves cargo from the docks by rail. Not much cargo, only an average 1,400,000,000 tons a year. From automobiles and fuel to windows and wind turbine blades, and everything in between, especially cargo containers.

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S3.E2 ∙ Firefighting

Sun, Oct 23, 2022

We start off with training with a firefighting training company named Grayback. We see how lines are cut through forested areas to create fire lines and breakpoints, how drones are used and everything else in between that firefighters will encounter.

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S3.E3 ∙ Concrete

Sun, Oct 30, 2022

In this episode we are introduced to the ins and outs of how cement and then concrete is made. Most of this episode is showing the viewer what happens when the very heavy duty equipment and facilities cause issues that stop or slow down production. Every step of the way from gathering the materials to combining them to shipping them out on rail is shown in one of 2000 plants in the United States that sends out 5500 tons of cement a day.

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S3.E4 ∙ Army

Sun, Nov 06, 2022

This episode about the U.S. Army starts off with some statistics: 1.1 million soldiers, 200 installations worldwide, 6,000 tanks, 1,200 helicopters, 500 howitzers and all of the other equipment needed to take decisive action when and where needed. Mike Rowe ends up at Fort Carson at Colorado Springs. Here he sees an exercise that includes ground teams, air, space and cyberspace support. The episode shows various equipment failures from communication, to a howitzer, to the kitchen, to a helicopter. It makes it look like everything the Army has is junk, but it emphasizes the ability of the men and women that have been trained to overcome adversity, resolve the situation and carry on with the mission. End result, mission accomplished.

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S3.E5 ∙ Pipelines

Sun, Nov 13, 2022

We are with companies Kinder Morgan and contractors LouTex that are putting in natural gas pipelines in western Alabama. The process is for bulldozers to come in and clear the area for the pipe. Then truckloads of pipes are brought in, three at a time, and positioned where they will be placed in the ground. Next, bending crews will bend the pipes to conform to the ground. Lastly, welders will join the pipes before the are lowered into the ditch and buried. To do all of these tasks, a multitude of equipment, general and specialized, will be used.

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S3.E6 ∙ Copper

Sun, Nov 20, 2022

Mike visits Rio Tinto's Kennecott mine, highlighting colossal challenges in extracting, refining and shipping over 1.5M pounds of copper daily. Massive operations like changing 12-foot, 20,000-pound tires costing $40,000 are covered.

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S3.E7 ∙ National Parks

Sun, Nov 27, 2022

Mike talks about America's National Parks that if combined occupy the space equal to the size of Colorado. We get to see the activities at Joshua Tree National Park before the busy tourist season despite stifling triple digit heat and staff shortages. We are introduced to the day to day tasks of the staff from road maintenance to trash collection to rescuing climbers to animal, plant and even insect conservation.

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S3.E8 ∙ Wheat

Sun, Dec 04, 2022

America's wheat fields equal the size of the state of Georgia. And in partial consumption of all of this wheat, the average American eats 180 pounds of wheat per year. We see how the people at one mill receives, sorts and processes 1,000,000+ pounds of wheat in a day. And since Mike Rowe is narrating the program operations at the facility do not always run like well oiled machines, and we get an inside view of some of the maintenance required to meet the daily production requirements. But, at day's end the people at this mill accomplish their daily tasks and make sure everything is ready for tomorrow.

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