Fishing Without Bait 525: Vic’s Story: Identity, Transition & Finding Community
In Episode 525 of Fishing Without Bait, Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Vic Costik, creator of the New Rust podcast, for the first part of a conversation about community, identity, authenticity, and finding connection in unexpected places.
Vic shares how moving from New York City to Pittsburgh changed his understanding of community. Despite growing up surrounded by millions of people, he says it was in Pittsburgh that he truly experienced a sense of belonging. Through the city’s LGBTQ and creative communities, Vic built a found family and became more involved in the people and spaces around him.
That connection also played an important role in Vic’s personal journey. He reflects on growing up without the language to understand what he was feeling, trying to fit into a life that never quite felt like his own, and eventually beginning his transition. Vic describes that process as the point when he finally began to “meet myself for the 1st time.”
Jim and Vic also discuss the value of curiosity over judgment. Vic shares experiences with people who had little understanding of transgender lives and explains why honest conversation can sometimes create opportunities for empathy and connection.
The discussion ties closely into Vic’s work with New Rust, a podcast focused on Pittsburgh and the people helping shape the city’s evolving culture.
This is Part 1 of the conversation with Vic Costik, with more to come in the next episode.
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