Middle of Everywhere

If you go to Pittsburgh expecting Rust Belt malaise, you haven’t been paying attention. The city is on the rise, tech companies have set up shop, and native sons like renowned designer Joe Zeff are moving back after years away. In Zeff's absence, Pittsburgh has become a hub of innovation and a place where economic transformation is possible. He’s deliriously happy to be back. And he’s also proud—and willing—to be the city’s newest cheerleader, celebrating a place that is busy creating, as he says, “new heroes.”

Why did 33,000 people apply to move to northwest Arkansas in the last year? Spoiler alert: It wasn’t just the free mountain bikes.

As cities, regions, and countries around the world vie to attract Soloists, they’re coming up with all sorts of incentives: free burgers, free bikes, and lots and lots of cash.

Sure Soloists are on the move, but not everyone is moving halfway across the country. Some of them aren’t moving far away at all. But even these small moves will bring big changes to our cities. And our suburbs. (Oh, and the world.)

Middle of Everywhere is a new podcast from The Solo Project that explores the importance of place — and how, like never before, you can chose how you want to work, where you want to live.