Big River 2: The Mill that Learns

When did Pittsburgh stop being just a city with a football team and become THE football town? That’s the question at the heart of this episode of Steel Stories, hosted by Ethan Epstein, Director of CEO and Executive Communications. Featuring Neil Zender, writer and director of Football Town from NFL Films; Wayne Wade Jr., head coach at Clairton High School; and Curt Miner, Ph.D., Chief of Interpretation in the Curatorial Division at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Together, they explore how Pittsburgh’s identity wasn’t built overnight, it was forged over generations in steel mills, on practice fields, and in communities where grit, discipline, and pride are a way of life. In Western Pennsylvania, football is more than a game. It’s a reflection of who we are and where we come from.

What if a steel mill could learn? At Big River Steel Works in Osceola, AR, that future is already unfolding. In this episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick talks with Chris Crowley, CIO of Big River Steel, about how artificial intelligence, thousands of sensors, and autonomous systems are transforming steelmaking. Big River 2 was designed as a “learning mill”, a facility that continuously analyzes its own data to improve quality, efficiency, and safety in real time. From autonomous coil yards and AI-powered safety monitoring, steel production is entering a new era. The result? A steel mill that doesn’t just produce, it learns. Listen to the Director's Cut on YouTube to hear Chris share a vision for the future, one where customers can track their steel orders like a pizza delivery and engineers can design entirely new grades of steel using digital simulations: https://youtu.be/cl9e-25hwHI

What happens when modern van life retraces one of the boldest journeys in American history? In this special episode of Steel Stories, host Bernie Swanson takes us beyond the mill and onto the open road, where past and present collide. Inspired by the 1903 cross-country expedition of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson and mechanic Sewall K. Crocker, Vanlifer's Court and Nate, follow the same coast-to-coast route, from California to New York, proving that adventure still runs deep in the American spirit. But this isn’t just about road trips. It’s about grit. Risk. Innovation. Safety. And, steel, quiet, strong, and ever-present that makes movement possible. From historic highways to modern highways, from early automotive breakthroughs to today’s engineered materials, this conversation explores how far we’ve come… and what still drives us forward. If you’ve ever wondered what connects van life, American history, and the backbone of our infrastructure, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Steel Stories, host Rebecca Lindland sits down with Scotty Reiss, founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, to explore how women think about buying cars, what automakers often get wrong, and how steel plays a critical role in safety, sustainability, and long-term value. Through real-life crash stories and industry insights, the conversation reframes steel as a smart, modern material that quietly protects drivers and enables the future of vehicle design.

This episode of Steel Stories takes you behind the scenes of one of the world’s toughest engineering competitions: the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Host David Kirkpatrick sits down with University of Michigan Solar Car Team members Luis Anton Mendez and Ian Baker to explore how 176 students designed, engineered, and raced a solar-powered vehicle across 3,000 kilometers of the Australian outback, powered only by the sun and their own ingenuity.

In this inspiring episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick sits down with Lindsay Brown, Product Applications Engineer at U. S. Steel, and Sara Tedesco, Metallurgist at General Motors. Together, they share how a love of science, curiosity, and collaboration forged a friendship and fueled breakthroughs in automotive steel innovation. From crash safety and design to the creative side of metallurgy, Lindsay and Sara reveal how women are transforming a field once dominated by men. Their stories show that science can be imaginative and that the next generation of engineers has never had a more exciting time to join the industry.

In this episode of Steel Stories, Hot Rod Magazine’s Senior Editor K.J. Jones joins guest host Rebecca Lindland for a high-octane conversation about the evolution of steel in performance cars. From classic ’60s muscle to today’s EVs and Hellcats, K.J. shares decades of insight into why steel remains the heart of automotive culture. Hear how lightweighting, high-strength alloys, and American-made steel are driving restoration, customization, and racing safety forward — all while keeping steel’s legacy alive for the next generation of gearheads. Whether you’re a builder, a dreamer, or just love a good burnout, this one’s for you.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Paul Snyder, Chair of Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies, we look ahead at the forces shaping the future of mobility. Snyder reflects on the influence of visionary designer Syd Mead, whose collaboration with U. S. Steel in the 1960s continues to inspire automotive designers today.

What will cars of the future look like and what role will steel play in shaping them? In this 2-part episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick sits down with Paul Snyder, Transportation Design Chair at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and a veteran designer with Ford and Honda. In this Part 1 episode, Paul shares how autonomy, user experience, and new ownership models are redefining what vehicles mean in our daily lives. See how students are reimagining mobility through storytelling and why steel remains the material at the center of innovation and continues to enable bold creativity while supporting a sustainable future.

Steel Stories podcast guest host U. S. Steel's Ben Trotter chats with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports writing legend and Steelers Radio Network's Gerry Dulac for a deep dive into Steelers lore, Steel Curtain glory, and family ties to U. S. Steel's Mon Valley mills. From the heyday of McKeesport to Aaron Rodgers’ open-door dorm room policy, Gerry shares stories that are equal parts nostalgic and newsworthy.