Vic explains why they try to approach ignorance through “neutral inquiry,” beginning with questions rather than immediate confrontation. The conversation examines the experiences of transgender people navigating public spaces, the importance of listening to people when they tell us who they are and the need to create communities in which people feel welcomed rather than merely tolerated.

Vic also discusses their commitment to Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community and the fear that has caused some transgender people to leave their homes in search of safer places. That concern helped inspire Vic’s community involvement and ultimately contributed to the creation of New Rust Pittsburgh.

Jim and Vic connect these ideas to the principles of 12-step recovery, including acceptance, accountability, making amends and changing both thoughts and actions. They consider the pain of perfectionism and the healing that can begin when we acknowledge our flaws, accept responsibility and reconstruct ourselves through what we have learned.

The conversation then turns toward the overlooked side of Pittsburgh. Vic describes the artists, entrepreneurs, makers, small businesses and unusual creative communities that exist throughout the city. From strangers playing music together before the Fourth of July fireworks to the Andy Warhol Museum, neighborhood restaurants, local shops and nighttime bike rides across the Smithfield Street Bridge, Vic shares the memories that have made Pittsburgh feel like home.

The episode closes with a discussion about authenticity, privilege, personal boundaries and relationships. Vic reflects on overcoming people-pleasing, cultivating relationships with people who provide encouragement and stepping away from relationships that repeatedly cause harm.

Ultimately, New Rust Pittsburgh is more than a guide to interesting places. It is Vic’s effort to create a love letter to Pittsburgh—one that embraces the city’s people, creativity, weirdness and potential to become a more welcoming home for everyone.

Explore the New Rust Pittsburgh Podcast at NewRustPodcast.com.

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Joanna opens up about the experience of widowhood, the emotional isolation of grief, and the well-meaning things people say that often miss the mark. She discusses the importance of allowing yourself to fully feel emotions instead of hiding them, how friends and family supported her during suicidal ideation, and the ways grief reshaped her relationship with her daughter.

The conversation also explores:

How to support someone who is grieving without smothering them
Why “How are you?” can feel impossible to answer
Anger toward God, loved ones, and life itself
Trauma, emotional honesty, and parenting through grief
The balance between needing solitude and needing connection
Why every person experiences grief differently

Joanna also discusses her one-woman show Widow, which she is bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and how storytelling can help teach people how to truly love and support those who are grieving.

Joanna’s work:

The Occasional Epiphany by Joanna Lowe
Cup A Joe Productions Facebook

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Learn to Fish Without Bait: A 365-Day Mindfulness Journal and Adult Coloring Book

Joanna shares the unexpected story of how she became a spoken word artist—born from a moment of fear, vulnerability, and the decision to take control. From stepping on stage terrified to finding her voice through performance, this episode explores how courage isn’t the absence of fear—but the willingness to move through it.

The conversation dives into personal responsibility, emotional awareness, and the idea that we “allow” others to influence how we feel. Joanna also shares her journey through creative work, including her music, podcasting, and production projects.

The Occasional Epiphany (Album)
👉 https://ceeteecee.bandcamp.com/album/the-occasional-epiphany

The Grin Reapers Club Podcast
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/66bwzvlXpuOcdxbk3a2ygo

Cup a Joe Productions
👉 https://www.facebook.com/cupajoprod

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Jessie reflects on what it truly means to deserve respect, understanding, and equality in relationships, and why settling for less can cost us valuable time and energy. Through thoughtful discussion, we explore how mindfulness and self-awareness can help us build stronger self-esteem and healthier connections.

The conversation also uncovers the contrast between confidence in performance environments—like stepping into the wrestling ring—and the self-doubt that can creep into everyday life. Jessie shares how she manages anxiety, organizes her responsibilities, and approaches challenges with a problem-solving mindset.

We also discuss:
• The power of gratitude and shifting perspective
• How to engage with negativity in a constructive way
• The importance of asking for help and building knowledge
• Translating wrestling preparation into real-life organization

This episode is a powerful reminder that the way we speak to ourselves shapes the life we create.

⸻

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Jessie shares what happened after losing her dream job as a set painter for the Pittsburgh CLO and how that unexpected change forced her to pivot into a completely new career path. From working difficult interim jobs to finding fulfillment in a benefits administration role, Jessie reflects on discovering appreciation, purpose, and contribution in unexpected places.

The conversation explores the importance of taking risks versus gambling, building a stable foundation through relationships, and leaning on community during uncertain times. Jessie also discusses her continued connection to creativity through art and wrestling, including launching a small-scale art venture.

Jim and Jessie dive into deeper themes of mindfulness, including how we minimize our accomplishments, the role of support systems, and the difference between confidence and arrogance—especially in the world of professional wrestling.

This episode is a powerful reminder that life’s direction isn’t always linear, and with support, willingness, and self-awareness, we can rebuild stronger foundations.

🎯 Calls to Action
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From the uncertainty of the PICU to the first small signs of awareness, Emily walks us through the emotional highs and devastating lows of recovery. She recounts moments of hope—like McKenna responding for the first time—and moments where that hope seemed to disappear just as quickly.

As the journey unfolds, Emily shares what it was like to advocate fiercely for her daughter in life-or-death situations, including a critical moment where speaking up quite literally saved McKenna’s life. Through it all, time lost meaning, routines became survival, and resilience became essential.

This episode also explores the long road of recovery—rehabilitation, regaining movement, and the emotional milestone of bringing McKenna home. But the journey didn’t end there. Emily shares the next challenge: kidney failure, the transplant process, and her unwavering certainty that she would be the one to donate.

This is a story of courage, advocacy, and the deep connection between parent and child—where love becomes the driving force through unimaginable circumstances.

This is Part 2 of Emily’s story.

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Emily describes how she sensed something was wrong with her healthy two-year-old daughter weeks before doctors confirmed it. Despite multiple visits and reassurances that it was “just a virus,” her body told her otherwise. The anxiety built until one terrifying afternoon when her daughter collapsed in her arms.

From calling 911, to the helicopter ride to Children’s Hospital, to hearing the words “open heart surgery,” Emily walks us through the moment-by-moment unfolding of crisis. She reflects on fear, being unheard, trust in medical professionals, and the power of intuition.

This is Part 1 of a deeply moving story about resilience, advocacy, recovery, and the spiritual strength that carried her through.

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