Sun, Steel, and Speed: University of Michigan Solar Car Team

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.

In this episode of Steel Stories, we shine a spotlight on Reading Champions, a powerful partnership between U. S. Steel, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, and local school districts that is built around a simple idea: that reading just 20 minutes a day (the length of a hockey period) can change a child’s future. Reading Champions motivates third graders to develop a lifelong love of reading and with levels like Rookie, First Line, and MVP, the program combines classroom teamwork, personalized incentives, and hometown hockey pride to fuel literacy gains.

This summer episode of Steel Stories brings you a series of fast-paced, thought-provoking conversations recorded live at the 2025 U. S. Steel Tubular Seminar in Fairfield, Alabama. From industry veterans to emerging leaders, we hear how technology, partnerships, and precision manufacturing are shaping the future of the tubular steel industry.

In this episode of Steel Stories by U. S. Steel, automotive industry expert Rebecca Lindland joins host David Kirkpatrick for a high-energy conversation about the future of mobility. From the rise of electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies to the evolving expectations of car buyers, Lindland shares expert insights on how innovation is reshaping the auto industry — and why steel remains essential to safety, sustainability, and performance. Discover what’s next for mobility trends worldwide.

Steel is the backbone of modern civilization, but it comes at a cost—accounting for nearly 9% of global CO2 emissions. In Part 1, host David Kirkpatrick sits down with Jeff Becker, sustainability engineer at U. S. Steel, to break down how steel is made, why traditional steelmaking is such a major contributor to emissions, and the current innovations reshaping the industry. From electric arc furnaces to increased recycling, this episode explores the first steps toward a greener future.