Returning the Favor - Episode Guide

Mike Rowe visits a garage in Indiana to surprise Jason, a former Army engineer who runs a therapeutic bike building program for veterans.

Mike swings by Albuquerque, New Mexico to see Donovan, a young man who used to be homeless, but now makes soaps for the homeless.

Mike and the team pop into Portland Oregon to surprise Katie Hughes, a female carpenter who created and runs an incredible skills trade camp for young girls.

Mike and the crew visit Long Island to honor Bryan Blomquist, a sled hockey coach who goes above and beyond for his adaptive athletes.

Mike stops by a Chula Vista salon to visit Snooky, a hairdresser who restores beauty and confidence to female cancer patients.

Mike and the RTF team head out to Rome, Maine to reward US Army Veteran Travis Mills, who has founded a retreat for wounded combat veterans and their families.

Mike and his crew head west to Black Diamond, Washington to reward Mamma Ginger and the Soup Ladies; a volunteer organization feeding home cooked meals to first responders on the front lines.

Mike and the crew are in Richmond, CA to learn more about music teacher Tim Wilson and the inspiring band program he created.

This week on a very special Bring-Your-Parents-To-Work-Day episode of Returning the Favor...Mike picks up his parents; John and Peggy in his hometown of Baltimore, Md to surprise former teacher Melissa Badeker, founder of the Baltimore Teachers Supply Swap.

Mike and the crew are in Glen Burnie, Maryland to meet an amazing seamstress, Denise Simmons, who came to the rescue of 80+ brides when a national bridal retail store suddenly closed its doors.

On a very special holiday episode of Returning the Favor: Mike and his jolly crew of producers bring the North Pole to sunny Panama City, Florida in hopes of surprising the Salvage Santa (Mike Jones). A local hero, who spends all year refurbishing old bikes out of his tiny Santa workshop and distributes them to children during the holidays.

While hard at work on the road shooting season 2 of Returning the Favor, Mike takes a moment to check back in on Katie Hughes, an honoree from season one who is introducing young girls to the trades in hopes of narrowing the skills gap.

While on the road shooting season 2 of Returning the Favor, Mike takes a break to surprise John Middleswarth, a former truck driver from Zebulon, North Carolina who is doing his part to make sure that the streets and parks in his town stay clean.

While back on the road shooting season 2 of Returning the Favor Mike sends a team to Albuquerque, New Mexico to help an overwhelmed Donovan Smith (Season 1) finish his final 200 soap orders that poured in after Mike rallied the RTF community to support him several months back.

This week the RTF team heads over to Pleasant Grove, Utah to Return the Favor to a woman named Jazmine Edwards who runs a boutique called U.G.L.Y's closet: an incredible resource for single mothers.

The RTF team heads South to Jackson, Tennessee to learn more about Amy Crenshaw and the ComeUnity Cafe; a local staple that feeds patrons regardless of if they can afford it or not.

The Returning the Favor team heads down to Davidson, NC to thank Dan Berei, a U.S Army veteran who started Combat Flags, an operation inspired by America's combat soldiers and the struggle they continue to endure.

This week the RTF team are in Lawrenceville Georgia to meet Kendall Robinson a young woman who has taken it upon herself to make sure that her community has access to toilet paper.

Mike and the team are back honoring amazing Americans with full episodes of "Returning the Favor!" This week the team stops into Twin Falls, Idaho to meet Luke Mickelson who started Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization whose mission is to ensure that no child in their town ever has to sleep on the floor.

Mike and the crew head to the Big Apple to learn more about Goldin Martinez and his program Get Focused; a movement designed to empower young people to read through exercise.

Mike and the crew head over to Oak Harbor, Washington to learn more about Kristina Miller and the Garage of Blessings; a local donation based garage that was started to help "serve those who have a need" in her Washington community.

Mike and the team are in West Jordan Utah to return the favor to Alton Thacker a 82 year old man who started Tiny Tim's Foundation; a workshop that has produced over 800,000 toy cars for children all over the world.

Mike and the crew are in Lancaster County PA to learn more about Carol Stark AKA the Crazy Lady, a woman who goes above and beyond to help local children who have fallen through the cracks.

Mike and the crew head south to San Antonio, Texas to meet up with Alice "Ma" Harper at Ma Harper's Creole Kitchen. For the last 25 years, Ma has been serving up award winning gumbo to the locals as well as second chances to the formerly incarcerated, who otherwise would have nowhere else to turn for employment and guidance.

Mike and the crew are in Yuma Arizona to meet Carlos Flores, a remarkable man who started BRAG, a bully rehab awareness gym that is doing its part time to combat the bullying epidemic.

Mike and the team head to Woodbridge, Virginia to meet Chris and Amanda Baity who run Semper K9, an organization that is rescuing dogs and Veterans.

Mike and the team head south to Louisiana to learn more about Dwayne "Prince" Holmes and his organization Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, a youth-based non-profit that is rebuilding their community by purchasing and repairing blighted homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

This week the RTF team is in Prescott, Arizona to honor Deborah Pfingston & Roxanne Warneke and The Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute. A group of women who are doing everything in their power to improve wild land firefighting practices, in hopes of avoiding tragedy.

Mike and the team drop into South Carolina in hopes of Returning the Favor to Adahlia Nix, a remarkable young woman who organizes a weekly laundry service for those in her Greenville community that are struggling to make ends meet.

Mike and the crew are in Forest City, North Carolina to learn more about the Women Roofers, a collective of tenacious women of a certain age, who are making an impact by fixing roofs for local residents in need.

Mike and the team are back on the road! This week traveling to Mount Olive, North Carolina to surprise thirteen-year-old Mackenzie "Kenzie" Hinson who established the Make A Difference Food Pantry in an effort to fight hunger in her home town.

Mike and the crew head west to North Bend, Washington to surprise Kristin Zuray and her organization, the Trail Youth, a local non profit using coffee, donuts & love to positively impact the lives of local teens in Washington State.

Mike and the gang swing into Springfield, Ohio to return the favor to Debbie McCullough and Cathy Tofstad; two best friends who run the On the Rise Farm, a local non profit organization serving at-risk youth in Clark County through hard work, compassion and work ethic.

Mike and the Crew are in sunny Miami, Florida this week to meet Asha Loring, a remarkable young woman who's organization Health in the Hood is not only improving the lives of food dessert residents but also improving the physical landscape of the hometown.

Mike and the team speed into Indianapolis, Indiana to meet up with Mary Stumpp and The Can Lady Project: a recycling initiative that donates field trips and supplies to teachers in local Indianapolis schools... all funded by, you guessed it, cans! Since its inception the project has generated over $60K in donations.

Mike and the team swing into to Canton Ohio, home of the football hall of fame, to get to know Officer LaMar Sharpe and the "Be a Better Me Foundation" a movement that encourages and empowers inner city youth by providing access to positive role models.

This week the RTF crew heads to Conesus, New York to meet up with Justin Cogswell; the founder of Operation Build Up: a Veteran run non-profit that assists local Veterans in need of transportation by giving them refurbished vehicles.

This week the Returning the Favor team heads into the Granite State, to meet Isidro Rodriguez, an incredible young man who is raising funds to clear student lunch debt in his Haverhill, New Hampshire, community.

Mike and the team head to Encinitas, California to meet John & Alison Barry who after the tragic passing of their son Ian, decided to start Rollin' From The Heart: A foundation that uses skateboarding as a vehicle to help empower and invigorate at risk youth in the community.

This week we're back in Mike's hometown of Baltimore, Maryland to shine the spotlight on Project Jumpstart: A pre-apprenticeship training program that provides a fresh start to low-income city residents who want to enter the construction trade.

We're pulling out all the stops for the season finale! Returning the Favor alumni Kenzie Hinson and the Women Roofers meet up with Mike and the crew in the heart of coal country - Welch, West Virginia to surprise Linda McKinney of Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank: an organization that helps feed thousands of struggling residents each year.

Mike and the team kick off season three with a trip to Wyandotte, Michigan, to meet Ann Rudisill, a spitfire Vietnam War era Veteran who started Downriver for Veterans, an organization that provides a wide range of assistance to local Veterans in the Wyandotte community.

Batter up! This week Mike recruits the St. Louis Cardinals to help return the favor to a Missouri coach who provides free sporting equipment to kids.

Mike and the team race to the Motor City to honor Eric Miller, a man who runs a youth leadership training program that provides free lawn care services to veterans.

Mike tees off with an 89-year-old golfer who's found a way to share his love of the sport by building a course where the community can play for free.

It's a hero's Christmas morning as Mike and the team head to Texas to honor a local volunteer fighter, Blake "PeeWee" Henson and his band of brothers, the Texas Firewalkers.

The team heads to Oregon to meet an incredible group of volunteers who are helping turn dog chains into dog shelters.

This week the team is in Texas to meet Justin "Boflex" Bohannon, an Army Veteran who is lifting up Veterans with PTSD through fitness.

This week we are in Colorado to thank shop teacher Dave Franks and honor his efforts to bring shop class back to schools.

Snow falls on the Nation's Capitol as the team attempts to reward Dana Marlow; a woman who collects and distributes bras and hygiene products to women in need.

Mike is in Pittsburgh this week to surprise Megs Yunn, a woman who is making sure that every child in the city of Pittsburgh is celebrated on their birthday.

Mike and the crew head to the Windy City to Return the Favor to LaTanya Johnson, an incredible woman who created a free after school program for children in her community in hopes of breaking the cycle of crime and violence that is currently plaguing the area.

Everything is bigger in the great state of Texas, including the do-gooders! This week, Mike and the team honor 82-year-old Barney C Jones, a man who has devoted his life to serving seniors in his small town of Royse City.

Mike and the team lace up their boots and ride into Houston to Return the Favor to Alisa Ward and her organization that provides new shoes to children who are living in poverty throughout their home state of Texas.

It's tornado season in Oklahoma as Mike and the team storm into town to meet Adam Ely, a larger than life disabled veteran who is traveling around his community repairing vehicles for folks that are experiencing hard luck.

Mike, the crew and Mike's parents are sweating it out in sunny Florida this week and meet Kelly Kowall, an inspiring Gold Star Mother who created a military retreat that provides veterans and military families a tranquil place to heal upon returning home from the battlefield or losing a loved one in the service.

In this episode of RTF, Mike and the crew head to Spokane, WA to spend time with Rick Clark: a formerly homeless do-gooder who hit the reset button and is now giving back by providing backpacks filled with resources to those in need.

Grab your beads and beignets! Mike and the team are in the Big Easy this week to meet "Chuckles", AKA T.J. Maury, a superhero firefighter with a heart of gold who laughs in the face of adversity as he battles the biggest villain of his life, stage three colon cancer.

Mike and the team are in Rochelle, Illinois to break bread with Carolyn Brown, owner of "The Kitchen Table" a pay-what-you-can restaurant that provides home-cooked meals to folks in her community that have fallen on hard times.

Things get a little swampy down in the Everglades as Mike and the crew return the favor to Tom Rahill of the Swamp Apes: An organization that not only helps veterans struggling with PTSD, but assists in the removal of invasive species from the area.

It's hammer time! Mike and the crew head to Louisiana to meet the Hammer of Hollygrove-Dixon, Miss Brenda Lomax-Brown, a 73-year-old firecracker of a woman, who is doing everything in her power to improve the conditions of her forgotten New Orleans neighborhood.

Mike and the team find themselves a stone's throw from New York City, in the suburbs of New Jersey to surprise Megan McDowell: the founder of Heartworks: an organization of female Do-Gooder's helping local families to heal in times of grief, illness or injury. This incredible initiative was born out of the kindness shown to her family after losing a loved one in the attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.

It's time to strike-a-pose! Mike and the team (bathing) suit up to meet Pin-Up for Vets founder Gina Elise, who created a non-profit organization that empowers female veterans through makeovers and photoshoots. The organization then uses those photos to create a calendar which helps Gina raise funds for VA hospitals nationwide.

The Returning the Favor Effect Page comes to life when Mike and the team find themselves in the Heart of Dixie to meet MSgt. Rob Dinsmore - a 30-year retired Air Force Veteran who was inspired to help local Alabama vets suffering from PTSD after watching the premiere episode of Returning the Favor: Operation Combat Bikesaver.

Mike Rowe straps on his helmet and pedals to Minneapolis, Minnesota to meet Officer Mike Kirchen, a bike cop who is bridging the gap between his local police department and the community they serve.

In this episode of Returning the Favor, Mike Rowe and the team head to Peoria, Illinois to meet Carl Cannon, a former Corrections Officer who is focused on keeping youth out of prison.

Mike and the team head to sunny Phoenix and drop into the Joy Bus Diner to grab a bite with Jennifer Caraway; a "rad" Chef who prepares and delivers free gourmet meals to homebound cancer patients in her community.

Mike and the crew mount up and ride into Phoenix, Arizona to spend time on the Robinson Ranch and meet John Robinson - a modern day cowboy who is changing the lives of special needs children by introducing them to horse therapy.

Mike and the crew head to Atlanta to meet Grace Hamlin and the team leading W-Underdogs: an organization that pairs rescue dogs with at-risk children in order to empower the kids while simultaneously rehabilitating the dogs.

In South Jordan, Utah, Mike and the crew return the favor to Tiani Shoemaker Clyde, a formerly single mother easing the burdens of other single parent families by surprising them with "little miracles".

Mike and the team are in Indiana to meet '''the Punk Rock Farmer'' Jonathan Lawler, a produce farmer making incredible sacrifices to ensure hungry people in downtown Indianapolis have access to food.

Mike and the crew touch down in Omaha, Nebraska to meet Drew Gerken, a firefighter who also helps families getting onto their feet by providing them with furniture and household items.

This week, Mike Rowe and the team meet Ronda Paulson - the woman changing the foster care experience for children in Tennessee by way of her organization Isaiah 117 House.

In North Carolina, a courageous group of adaptive athletes led by Zack Paben shows @MikeRowe the ropes of how they overcome their obstacles with More Heart Than Scars.

Mike Rowe and his producers attempt to return a favor remotely amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. With only a few hiccups along the way, the team rewards a NJ distillery owner who pivoted his bourbon production to create hand sanitizer for his community.

Mike Rowe and team sync up to surprise Charity Haygood, an inspiring school principal in Newark, NJ who is providing her students with the resources they need to keep up with their studies while learning at home.

It's a family affair this week on Returning the Favor: COVID Edition as Mike checks in on his Mother Peggy, before attempting to Return the Favor to an amazing 7-year old boy from Maryland who cashed in his life savings to create care packages for at-risk Seniors in his community.

Still sequestered in their homes, Mike and his Producers return the favor to Angela Brannon-Baptiste, a woman who runs a food pantry in San Diego that has stepped up to feed thousands of people needing extra help during this time.

Mike and the team keep on truckin' and surprise Brittnie Transtrum, a woman in Idaho who is providing truck drivers, like her husband, with snacks as they work overtime to deliver the goods we all need.

Mike and the team call upon the assistance of a mythological creature to help surprise Jenna Arcidiacono, a local restaurant owner in Alpine Township, Michigan who is delivering nutritious meals to workers on the front lines.

Mike Rowe and team return a special Memorial Day favor to veteran Darren Atkins who has been providing care packages to the vets in his community of Whitesburg, KY.

This week's favor brings Mike Rowe to Alaska to surprise Toshua Parker, owner of the only grocery store in the remote town of Gustavus who makes weekly 14-hour boat trips to continue feeding his community.

This week Mike Rowe and team zoom to Charlotte, NC to meet Charles Robinson, a minister dedicated to helping feed his community who has started building a community garden that brings everyone together.

Mike Rowe and the team return the favor to Bud Frazier, an ICU nurse in Utah striving to honor and empower the Navajo Nation by delivering much needed supplies to the vast region, which has been devastated by COVID-19.

Mike and the team head to Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin to surprise Jackie Goplin and Beth Stay who started Curds for Kids, a program that connects struggling dairy farmers and hungry kids in their community.

Mike and the team journey to New York City to surprise Jen Baquial and the Sirens Motorcycle Club - a conscientious group of female bikers who are working with the New York Milk Bank to deliver life-saving breast milk to premature babies all over the Tri-State area.

With the 4th of July in their rearview, Mike and the crew make a patriotic delivery to Paula Miritello, founder of My Brother Vinny: an organization that distributes furniture, housewares and clothing to formerly homeless veterans in Westchester County, New York.

Mike and the team grab their virtual sunscreen and head to the Island of Puerto Rico to surprise Isak Romero and Héctor Ibáñez, two recent college graduates who started A Comer Puerto Rico - a network of young people who deliver much needed supplies to struggling seniors and families across the island.

Drumroll please as @Mike Rowe and the @Returning the Favor crew surprise Letitia Hanke and the Next Gen Trades Academy in Santa Rosa, CA. Letitia deferred her musical dreams and started a program to educate and train young women and men find gainful employment in the trades fields while also providing a workforce for local contractors.

@Mike Rowe and the crew head to Pahrump, NV to witness the hottest ticket in town! 95 year-old BJ Irwin and her dance troop the Nevada Silver Tappers: a sisterhood of women in their golden years who put on dance performances to raise money for military groups and local charities.

@MikeRowe and the crew zoom over to Colorado to meet Danny Combs, a third generation tradesman who became inspired by his autistic son to start TACT - Teaching the Autism Community Trades: the first and only trade program in the entire country developed exclusively for individuals with autism.

This week, things get a little rowe-botic as the team returns a slam dunk of a favor in Springfield, OH and meet Karlos and Moses of The Conscious Connect. Karlos and Moses reimagine and redevelop underutilized outdoor spaces in their community for the purpose of education, culture, health, and peace — so that zip codes do not define the success of children, youth, and families.

Mike and the crew head to Knoxville, TN to deliver an extra special favor to Ashley Lynch. Ashley has always had a soft spot in her heart for the senior community, and when COVID-19 hit, she created Sending Senior Citizens Love, a public mailbox setup to collect greeting cards and well wishes to help those most at-risk and isolated feel loved and remembered.

Mike and the crew learn a thing or two this week when they touch down in Virginia Beach, VA to meet Trish O'Brien and George Melynk Jr. With the shift to remote learning, Trish realized that there was a desperate need for children to have their own space at home to do school work that wasn't on the floor, a bed, or crammed at a kitchen table. So she jumped into action and teamed up with local mill owner, George Melynk Jr. to help fabricate and gift over 600 desks to the students in their community.

This week Mike Rowe and the RTF team go for a virtual bike ride in Austin, TX to meet Juan Soto of 100 Bikes For Kids - an organization founded by Juan and his family which provides bikes to kids free of cost while promoting values of recycling, sustainability and community.

This week Mike and the team head to Sarah's hometown of Boston, MA to meet Rocky Morrison. Rocky grew up on the Merrimack River. One day he realized how it had become filled with trash and waste floating around, and his beautiful river had become a wasteland. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Rocky jumped into action and started the Clean River Project, an environmental community patrol helping restore the ecosystem of the river banks and beautiful beaches to what they once were.

This Veteran's Day @MikeRowe and the gang head to Turner, Maine to honor Dan Waite, a veteran who realized that the outdoors helped him find a sense of purpose and balance. Thus Operation ReBoot Outdoors was born as a way to help others who may be battling PTSD by taking them on hunting and fishing trips to help find relief, focus and camaraderie.

Things are heating up as the team heads to Tucson, AZ to meet Desiree Cook, Founder of I Am You 360. Desiree is on a mission to ensure that the most vulnerable youth and families have their personal hygiene needs met by providing them care kits. These kits help develop self-esteem, confidence, and over all well-being.

Grab the stuffing! It's a socially distant Thanksgiving Parade in honor of Barney Corrigan, a New Jersey man who converted his garage into a free food pantry to feed his neighbors who have been hit hard during the pandemic.

This Giving Tuesday, the crew heads to Mike's hometown of Baltimore, MD to give back to Dawod Thomas. Honoring the legacy of his dad, Dawod created My Fathers Plan, a youth-focused community cleanup program dedicated to cultivating change in the inner-city through community activism, tutoring and mentoring.

This week Mike and the team head to The Big Easy to meet up with Max Steitz and Franziska Trautmann, who after a bottle of wine one night, found themselves frustrated by New Orleans' lack of glass recycling. One thing led to another, and Glass Half Full was born; A grassroots glass recycling program that turns glass bottles into sand and cullet for disaster relief and prevention.

It's a Returning the Favor Special! @MikeRowe and team celebrate the first 100 do-gooders featured on Returning the Favor and Mike shares his personal journey and lessons he's learned as host of the series.

This Christmas, Mike and the team return a milestone favor to Ashlee Smith, a young woman from Reno, Nevada who has been providing toys and hope to children affected by disasters since she was 8 years old.

Mike and the @Returning the Favor crew surprise Shelina Moreda, a motorcycle racing/model/dairy farmer's daughter who is saving animals from the wildfires and other situations in Northern California.