About Me

Hi, I’m Joe Petrus writer, editor, and the person behind The Pittsburgher. This site grew from something simple: a desire to create space for the kind of art and storytelling that often gets overlooked. I didn’t start this as a media project or a business plan. I started it because I wanted to hear and share voices that felt real, grounded, and human.

Pittsburgh has always had a spirit that’s hard to define. It’s a city built on grit and creativity, resilience and reinvention. That’s what The Pittsburgher tries to capture. Here, you’ll find poetry that’s personal, art that speaks to lived experience, and reflections that carry a sense of place whether that place is physical, emotional, or cultural.

I welcome work from all backgrounds, especially those who’ve been told their stories don’t fit. This isn’t about perfection or polish it’s about truth, feeling, and connection. If something you read here makes you pause or feel seen, then I know we’re doing something right.

Joe Petrus
Joe Petrus

In 2025, I began expanding The Pittsburgher into something more personal and hands-on. Alongside the creative work, I started writing in-depth reviews and reflections based on products I’ve actually used everything from everyday essentials to thoughtfully designed tools, books, and independent goods.

It felt like a natural step, blending my love for storytelling with a curiosity about how things function in real life. These posts aren’t sponsored or polished they’re grounded in personal experience, written to help others make honest, informed choices about what they bring into their lives.

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Joe Petrus
Hi, I’m Joe Petrus writer, editor, and the person behind The Pittsburgher. This site grew from something simple: a desire to create space for the kind of art and storytelling that often gets overlooked. I didn’t start this as a media project or a business plan. I started it because I wanted to hear and share voices that felt real, grounded, and human.

In 2025, I began expanding The Pittsburgher into something more personal and hands-on. Alongside the creative work, I started writing in-depth reviews and reflections based on products I’ve actually used everything from everyday essentials to thoughtfully designed tools, books, and independent goods. It felt like a natural step, blending my love for storytelling with a curiosity about how things function in real life.
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