DRIVE with Jim Farley

DRIVE welcomes celebrated actor Bryan Cranston to discuss his career, from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad, and his belief that success comes from doing the work and “getting lost” to discover who you are. He recounts a two-year-long motorcycle journey in the 1970s with his brother that helped him choose acting,and later losing his beloved Honda 550 in a fire. Cranston discusses portraying damaged characters, his research “funnel,” deadline-driven preparation, and a crash-course role as Buzz Aldrin. He stresses patience, persistence, luck, outworking others, committing fully to the craft, authenticity with fans, and valuing experiences over material things. 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Backroads And Big Loops 03:48 Two Years On Motorcycles 05:19 Carnival Jobs And Road Life 08:21 Getting Lost To Get Found 12:26 All In On Acting 13:24 Scary Roles And Damaged Men 15:48 Building Characters From Life 19:26 Crash Course Preparation 21:22 Patience Persistence Luck 23:48 Outwork Everyone Mindset 25:06 Reinvention Means Commitment 32:17 Authenticity Beyond Characters 38:03 Closing DRIVE with Jim Farley is produced by Jesse Baker and Eric Nuzum of Magnificent Noise. Our production staff includes Sabrina Farhi and Kristen Mueller with help from Lori Arpin, Angela Brewer, Max Owen-Dunow, Anne Roberts, Samantha Singhal, Darnell Macon, Brandon Kennedy, and Mark Truby.  Follow Jim:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DRIVE welcomes author Mary Roach to discuss her books and the unusual science of the human body, from a signed astronaut emesis basin she keeps in her glove box to the realities of motion sickness in space and Apollo-era bathroom logistics. The conversation also covers advances in automotive safety research, organ donation, crash-test calibration using cadavers, and the challenges of customizing horns and vehicle sounds. 00:00 Meet Mary Roach 00:35 Signed Space Sick Bag 02:22 Space Toilets and Morale 07:11 Replaceable You and Organs 20:54 Evolving Crash Dummies 24:37 Vespa to Mini Cooper 26:51 Pressure and Purpose 29:46 Two Horns Idea 36:44 Always Learning Mindset DRIVE with Jim Farley is produced by Jesse Baker and Eric Nuzum of Magnificent Noise. Our production staff includes Sabrina Farhi and Kristen Mueller with help from Lori Arpin, Angela Brewer, Max Owen-Dunow, Anne Roberts, Samantha Singhal, Darnell Macon, Brandon Kennedy, and Mark Truby.  Follow Jim:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Farley welcomes noted actor Tom Pelphrey (Ozark, Task) to DRIVE, discussing road trips, family, and how Pelphrey defines success. The conversation centers on separating identity from acting, how sobriety and self-reflection helped Tom stop measuring life by reviews and awards, and why focusing on the work itself—not outcomes—improved both his happiness and performance.  00:00 Open 01:19 Road Trip Favorites 02:09 Blue The Road Dog 04:16 Driving Endurance 07:16 Giants Family Fandom 09:47 Redefining Success 11:36 Sobriety And Perspective 12:58 Love The Work 17:05 Empathy Through Reading 21:05 Shaking Off Characters 25:03 Fatherhood Changes Choices 31:44 Closing DRIVE with Jim Farley is produced by Jesse Baker and Eric Nuzum of Magnificent Noise. Our production staff includes Sabrina Farhi and Kristen Mueller with help from Lori Arpin, Angela Brewer, Max Owen-Dunow, Anne Roberts, Samantha Singhal, Darnell Macon, Brandon Kennedy, and Mark Truby.  Follow Jim:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this bonus episode of DRIVE, Ford CEO Jim Farley continues his conversation with Mike Rowe about the “essential economy” and why America is increasingly vulnerable due to shortages of construction, industrial, emergency services, and skilled trade workers. Rowe explains how COVID re-highlighted essential workers, how his MikeRoweWORKS foundation began amid the 2009 recession despite millions of open jobs, and why shortages become real to people only when repairs and services fail. Mike and Jim discuss the need to rebuild respect for skilled work through trade schools, scholarships, apprenticeships, and company-led training.  00:00 Leadership That Pivots 00:21 Why the Essential Economy Matters 01:26 America’s Skilled-Worker Vulnerability 04:11 The Skill Gap Nobody Saw 05:39 When Shortages Hit Home 11:09 Trade Schools 12:33 Brand Beyond Features 13:17 Future Proofing and AI 15:29 Manufacturing Jobs Gap 18:48 Teaching Hands On Skills 23:53 Let Customers Speak DRIVE with Jim Farley is produced by Jesse Baker and Eric Nuzum of Magnificent Noise. Our production staff includes Sabrina Farhi and Kristen Mueller with help from Lori Arpin, Angela Brewer, Max Owen-Dunow, Anne Roberts, Samantha Singhal, Darnell Macon, Brandon Kennedy, and Mark Truby.  Follow Jim:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Farley interviews Mike Rowe about why authenticity matters as more of life becomes “artificial,” and how his career shifted from imitation in voiceover to simply sounding like himself. Rowe recalls terrifying but invigorating “dirty jobs,” growing up on a small farm doing wood-cutting and chores, how a high school teacher helped him overcome a stammer through singing and acting, and how he entered the world of voiceover narration. Mike reflects on how Dirty Jobs crystalized his perspective on the dignity of work. 00:00 Authenticity in AI Age 04:11 Bridge Job Thrill 06:04 First Job Farm Chores 08:25 Finding His Voice 13:06 Being Real on Mic 15:30 Deadliest Catch 16:30 Dirty Jobs Pitch  17:35 Discovery Crab Boats 18:48 Danger 25:13 Sewer Segment Becomes Series 26:56 Likability Trust And Brands 29:16 Closing Dignity Of Work DRIVE with Jim Farley is produced by Jesse Baker and Eric Nuzum of Magnificent Noise. Our production staff includes Sabrina Farhi and Kristen Mueller with help from Lori Arpin, Angela Brewer, Max Owen-Dunow, Anne Roberts, Samantha Singhal, Darnell Macon, Brandon Kennedy, and Mark Truby.  Follow Jim:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jim.Farley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimfarley98/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jimfarley98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-farley/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jimfarley.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jimfarley98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices