492: Jon Erwin—Young Washington
6/30/20261 hr 41 min
Before he became the Father of His Country, George Washington was a young man with doubts, ambitions, failures, and a calling that would eventually shape a nation. Mike sits down with filmmaker and entrepreneur Jon Erwin to discuss his new film Young Washington, and to explore the remarkable true story behind America's most iconic founder.
Jon also shares how he launched The Wonder Project and his mission to tell stories that elevate faith, hope, and the human spirit. Along the way, he recounts the extraordinary legacy of his grandfather, a recipient of the Medal of Honor whose courage during World War II left an indelible mark on his family. It's a conversation about character, conviction, and the people who inspire history long before history remembers their names.
This July 4th, make Young Washington part of your Independence Day celebration. See the film, share it with your community, and help spark civic curiosity about the character, leadership, and founding principles that continue to shape our nation.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMike Rowe· Host0:00
[upbeat rock music] Boy did I enjoy the conversation you're about to hear right now. It's with a fella named Jon Erwin, who, uh, directed a film called Young Washington. And this, of course, is The Way I Heard It, and I can't think of a more appropriate topic or guest that rhymes with the title of this podcast or the whole reason it sort of evolved from the very beginning than this film and this guy.
Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:30
Yeah. First of all, he's a great director, and he's done a lot of great movies and TV shows. He did, um, House of David on Prime, which was a big hit, and, uh, this movie is coming out just in time for Independence Day.
Mike Rowe· Host0:46
Yeah, it'll be all over the country in theaters on July 3rd.
Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:49
Correct.
Mike Rowe· Host0:50
So we got him in just under the wire, and I'm so glad we did because, you know, there's not much to say about George Washington that you haven't heard because most of what there is to say about him kinda starts around the Revolution- Yeah ... and goes forward, and then the rest is rooted in mythology, and, you know, cherry trees and cannot tell a lie and all that nonsense.
Chuck Klausmeyer· Host1:10
Right.
Mike Rowe· Host1:11
Um, this is a movie about the man who came of age very quickly, thanks to his role in the French and Indian War and, uh, in the Seven Years' War and, of course, in the Revolutionary War. And