Welcome to New Rust
The Steel City's unsung stories, in their own words. Hidden gems, quirky entrepreneurs, and the counterculture of Pittsburgh — a city built on three rivers, ninety neighborhoods, and a stubborn refusal to be anywhere else.
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New Rust is a podcast about the weird, wonderful, only-in-Pittsburgh stories nobody's telling.
In June 2025, I stood in front of Pittsburgh's city council. I told them that my love for Pittsburgh grew like a tree taking root. I spoke of my deep love for this city, and told them that if they passed additional protections for the LGBTQ+ community, I would stay here and do everything I could to make Pittsburgh welcoming and prosperous for all.
New Rust is me making good on that promise. And I've been overjoyed to have my good friend, Gerra Bosco, join as my musical co-host. Thanks to them, this podcast won't just tell the stories of the Pittsburgh community: every episode will include a music segment, 41Tunes, showcasing a song from a local band.
Local stories. Local sponsors. Local music.
We're creating a platform for the voices of our community. We won't wait until the world realizes Pittsburgh has had a renaissance. We'll be here, singing it from the rooftops.
If you know a Pittsburgh story worth telling — a quirky business, an unlikely scene, a person doing something nobody expected — hit reply and tell me about it. I read every email.
Love and Pierogies,
Vic Costik
