PODCAST

Hosted by technology and business journalist, David Kirkpatrick, Steel Stories by U. S. Steel, a thought-provoking look at the ever-changing world of steel, featuring interviews with industry experts and leaders with unique insights on events and developments shaping the future of steel and the shifting landscape of American manufacturing. 

  

 The Future of Steel: From Carbon to Clean Energy - Parts 1 and 2 
April 2nd, 2025 


Part 1 - 29 MIN
Steel is the backbone of modern civilization, but it comes at a cost—accounting for nearly 9% of global CO2 emissions. 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. 


  

Part 2 - 27 MIN
Host David Kirkpatrick and Jeff Becker dive into the cutting-edge technologies that could transform the industry. Hydrogen-based steelmaking, large-scale carbon capture, and direct reduced iron (DRI) are just a few of the innovations If you’re curious about the future of steel and its impact on the world, this episode is a must-listen.

      
 

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 Steel Stories with Joe Mazza: Inside America's Homes and Maintenance Must-knows
Jan 25th, 2025 • 39 MIN


Every home has a story...especially a steel story. In this episode. we kick off season 3 with Joe Mazza, licensed home inspector and HGTV host. From his wildest discoveries to essential home maintenance tips, Joe shares his expertise and passion for helping homeowners. Dive into the role steel plays in modern homes, from roofs to appliances, and learn how sustainability and smart home trends are shaping the future. 


      
 

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 Voices from the Valley: Local Mayors on the U. S. Steel Deal
Nov. 8th, 2024 • 21 MIN
In this episode of Steel Stories – Voices from the Valley, we hear from Mayor Chris Kelly of West Mifflin and Mayor Rich Lattanzi of Clairton, two Mon Valley communities that are home to U. S. Steel facilities. Hosted by David Kirkpatrick, the conversation delves into the mayors' perspectives on the proposed Nippon-U. S. Steel acquisition and what it means for their communities. The mayors discuss their firsthand experiences visiting Nippon Steel’s steel facility in Follansbee, West Virginia, their hopes for investments in their regions, and their faith in Nippon’s commitments to jobs, modernization, and community partnerships. 


      
 

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 Voices from the Valley: Jason Zugai, Vice President, USW Local 2227 on U. S. Steel and the Nippon Steel Deal
Oct. 17th, 2024 • 20 MIN

In this episode of Steel Stories, we kick off the Voices from the Valley series with guest Jason Zugai, Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 2227 at Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant, near Pittsburgh. Jason, a third-generation U. S. Steel employee, shares insights into his 27-year career, the strong relationship between the union and U. S. Steel, and his take on the monumental offer from Nippon Steel. 




      
 

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 Steel and Strategy, and Security: Willy Shih on geopolitics, trade, and the future of steel
Sept 11th, 2024 • 38 MIN


Join host David Kirkpatrick and Harvard Business School's Willy Shih as they explore the evolving role of the steel industry amid global trade shifts and geopolitical tensions. They discuss U.S.-China trade relations, the role of steel in the energy transition, and how innovation is key to maintaining competitiveness in the U.S. steel industry.



      

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 The Safety First: Now and Forever
July 24th, 2024 • 21 MIN

Join U. S. Steel President and CEO Dave Burritt as he sits down with Lorraine Martin, President and CEO of the National Safety Council to discuss the evolution of safety practices within the steel industry and throughout American society. Starting from historical tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to today's advanced safety technologies, Lorraine highlights the significance of safety in various industries, even sharing her own experience in the aerospace sector.



      

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The Best Deal: U. S. Steel and Nippon Steel Unite
June 26th, 2024 • 29 MIN

In this special edition of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick explores the groundbreaking partnership between U. S. Steel and Nippon Steel with two leaders in the steel industry: Takahiro Mori, Representative Director and Vice Chairman of Nippon Steel, and Dave Burritt, President and CEO of U. S. Steel. Discover the motivations behind this historic deal and its benefits, from enhancing job security and advancing decarbonization efforts to strengthening national security and boosting local communities. 



      

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Baking a Greener Future for Steel with CarbonFree’s SkyCycle™ Technology
May 29th, 2024 • 41 MIN

In this episode of Steel Stories, host David Kirkpatrick sits down with Martin Keighley, CEO of Carbon-Free, to discuss their groundbreaking collaboration happening at U. S. Steel’s Gary Works plant. CarbonFree’s SkyCycle™ technology will not only capture carbon emissions, but it will transform them into essential ingredients — baking soda and high-purity calcium carbonate — that can be used in food additives, paints, and plastics. Join us for an engaging discussion on the intersection of sustainability and innovation in the steel industry, and how U. S. Steel is ‘baking’ up a cleaner, greener future.

      

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Eco-Locomotion: Battery-Powered Locomotives are on a Track to the Future
March 20th, 2024 • 35 MIN

Take a ‘Track to the Future’ in this electrifying episode of Steel Stories where we journey to the cutting edge of sustainability to learn about the groundbreaking transition to electric locomotives at U. S. Steel's Mon Valley facilities. Host David Kirkpatrick, alongside U. S. Steel's Neil Pergar and Innovative Rail Technologies’ Mike Nicoletti, explore how this innovative shift not only champions environmental stewardship, but also propels the industry towards a greener future. Through engaging discussions, we uncover the technical, operational, and community impacts of replacing diesel engines with electric alternatives.

      

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From Crisis to Recovery: A Federal Reserve Insider's Perspective with Dave Burritt and Jim Bullard – CEO Edition
Feb 9th, 2024 • 29 MIN

In this CEO Edition of Steel Stories, U. S. Steel President and CEO Dave Burritt welcomes Jim Bullard, former President of the St. Louis Federal Reserve and current Dean of the Mitchell Daniels School of Business, for an insightful discussion on current economic challenges and the direction of the U.S. economy. Jim shares his firsthand experience of navigating key financial events such as the Great Recession and the recent pandemic as well as his transition from a central banking career to an academic role.

      

Steel Trade Remedies with Benjamin Caryl
Feb. 7th, 2024 • 48 MIN

In this episode of "Steel Stories," host David Kirkpatrick welcomes back Ben Caryl, Associate General Counsel for International Trade and Public Policy at U. S. Steel for an insightful discussion on how antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD), the Section 232 national security action are supporting the steel industry. Caryl brings a unique perspective, enriched by his experiences with the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission, and offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges in steel trade remedies.

      

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 From Foundries to Frontiers: Revitalizing American Industry with David Burritt and Willy Shih - CEO Edition
Dec. 27th, 2023 • 26 MIN

In this episode of Steel Stories' CEO Edition, U. S. Steel President and CEO David Burritt welcomes Harvard Business School Professor Willy Shih for a conversation about the critical role of manufacturing in America's prosperity. They delve into the intricacies of the manufacturing renaissance, exploring themes such as the synergy between engineering and production, the impact of offshoring, and the intersection of manufacturing and innovation. Professor Shih also shares insights and perspectives from his book "Producing Prosperity."

      

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Unpacking American Steel Trade, National Security, and Overcapacity with Ben Caryl
Nov. 29th, 2023 • 38 MIN

Why is steel so important? What is steel “overcapacity” and why does it matter? Which country produces more steel than the rest of the world combined? What is trade “Whac-A-Mole”? We unravel the intricacies of the steel industry with our guest, Ben Caryl, Associate General Counsel of International Trade & Public Policy at U. S Steel. Ben discusses steel’s history and delves into why foreign government support for steel production and exports has fueled massive global steel overcapacity and imports into the U.S. that impact American steel mills, workers, and national security.

      

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 From Hard Hats to Smart Hats: The Future of Steelworker Safety with Doug Matthews of Guardhat. 
Oct. 25th, 2023 • 30 MIN

Steel manufacturing is important, but even more important is the safety of the workers in steel plants. In this episode, we embark on a riveting voyage through the digital age of worker safety in the steel industry…or even, every industry. Doug Matthews, Chief Growth Officer at Guardhat and former senior executive at U. S. Steel, joins host David Kirkpatrick to explore the distinctive challenges faced by not just steelworkers, but anyone working in high-risk environments, from extreme temperatures to toxic gases, and the dedicated efforts to ensure their safety.

      

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Google, A.I. & Steel: Looking into the Future of Steel with Matt Wilding of U. S. Steel
Sept. 20th, 2023 • 45 MIN

A.I is everywhere. It’s revolutionizing the way we approach our work and automate our lives. Get ready to dive deep into the world of Generative A.I. to discover why A.I. isn't just a buzzword, it's the catalyst for innovation that will reshape not only the steel sector, but all manufacturing industries, ushering in a more sustainable and efficient future. 

Steel Stories welcomes Matt Wilding, PhD. Senior Director of Financial Data, Analytics and Enterprise Performance Management here at U. S. Steel who shares how Google Cloud's Generative A.I. is revolutionizing the steel industry, improving operational efficiencies, and enhancing the employee experience at U. S. Steel.  With his extensive background, including a tenure at McKinsey & Company and contributions to the U. S. Department of Energy, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and unravels the unexpected ways A.I. is forging a path towards a brighter and more eco-conscious world for us all. 

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT: Matt shares a sample of how A.I. can seamlessly blend with human conversations as it writes and generates the voices of our host and guest. You won’t want to miss this Q&A! 

      

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Continuing the Legacy of Syd Mead with Roger Servick, President of Syd Mead Inc.
August 9th, 2023 • 45 MIN

Syd Mead (1933 - 2019) was one of the most influential industrial designers of his time. He was well known for neo-futuristic designs and concept art, which led to him working on hit blockbuster films such as Blade Runner, Aliens, and Tron. In this episode, we explore Syd’s extraordinary life and visionary work with U. S. Steel in the 1960s that launched an incredible career. 

Steel Stories welcomes Roger Servick, close partner and now President of SydMead.com who shares more about Syd’s life and pivotal moments that propelled his career, as well as how Syd envisioned a future that harnessed the versatility and strength of steel to revolutionize architecture, transportation, infrastructure, and more. 

Roger also discusses the details of these specific peices of art that are part of the U. S. Steel Collection.  Be sure to visit SydMead.com to see all of Syd's great work! 
 

• (16:30) Modular Steel Housing Complex
• (17:50) Semi-tractor Trailer Hauling Coils
• (21:19) Military Crawler/Tank of the Future
• (22:54) Sentinel
• (35:58) Blade Runner
• (37:40) Electric Vehicle Racing Car
• (39:45) Grand Canyon (or Another Planet?)
• (41:23) Car Dealership

           

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The Carbon Countdown: Reshaping the Steel Industry for a Greener Future
June 28, 2023 • 34 MIN

In this episode, we’ll explore the decarbonization technologies that are helping reshape the steel industry with Brenda Petrilena, Director of Global Decarbonization and Program Management at U. S. Steel.

Brenda delves into why the steel industry is hard to abate, the importance of technology scaling and commercialization, the core differences between an electric arc furnace and a blast furnace, and U. S. Steel’s own 2030 objective for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1 and 2), as well as the even more intense 2050 objective. Brenda also shares how the industrial decarbonization program has supported the advancements of transformational technologies.
 
 

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PART 1: Framing a Sustainable Future with Steel Building Construction
May 24, 2023 • 31 MIN
It’s easy to build a case for steel, so why isn’t steel used more in residential buildings…and what is a ‘barndominium’?  We are thrilled to welcome Tony Bouquot, General Manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, who dives headfirst into building a case for using steel in more residential areas and explains why it’s such an important material, especially in a time when energy is becoming not only more vital, but expensive too. 
 A Stroll through a Steel Building Gallery with the Metal Building Manufacturers Association

May 24, 2023 • 12 MIN
Steel buildings come in all shapes and sizes and more often, they look nothing like their antiquated ancestors. Take an audio stroll with Tony Bouquot, General Manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, as he shares the details of seven different steel building designs that look nothing like any steel structures you might imagine. Click the links below to follow along and hear more about each project. 

Auto

Brewery

Education

Government

Healthcare

Recreation

Worship

 

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Banking on Green Steel: Sustainable Finance in Steel
March 15, 2023 • 31 MIN

Special guest host Arne Jahn, Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer at U. S. Steel, welcomes Erik van Doezum, Director, Metals, Mining & Fertilizers EMEA / CF&A at ING, and Marilyn Ceci, Senior Advisor to the Center for Carbon Transition at J.P. Morgan to discuss the risks, challenges, and opportunities presented to companies that invest in sustainability as a strategy.