STEM Southwest Podcast

Designed to create STEM connections, cohesion, and elevation within the Southwest region of the United States. You have discovered a place where STEM enthusiasts gather to learn about the amazing STEM rockstars of the region as well as STEM activities that are impacting the world! Whether you are looking to learn more about STEM innovations in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and California you are in the right place! If you have longed to be united with other STEM nerds, then you have found your people here at STEM Southwest! Check out our family-friendly show and events calendar designed to build problem solvers, thinkers, and innovators for the future. New episodes are released every other week.

078 Discovering Fintech at FinCon21, with Ryan Ruff and Jake Tamarkin 11/26/2021

077 Deloitte is Building the STEM Workforce Pipeline, with Celina Bussey 10/31/2021

076 Bridging the Digital Divide for Tribes, with Catherine Nicolaou 10/08/2021

076 Bridging the Digital Divide for Tribes, with Catherine Nicolaou Today's guest is working to ensure that the gap in the digital divide for Indian tribes is closing! Catherine Nicolaou and Sacred Wind Communications are leveraging all of the resources that they can reach and then some as they try to solve this daunting issue. Hear from her today about how organizations are partnering to make a difference and bridge the gap and what we can all do to make a difference! Nicolaou is an expert in state regulatory and marketing, a member of the New Mexico Technology Council, and a registered lobbyist. Show Notes Catherine Nicolaou is the External Affairs and Marketing Manager for Sacred Wind Communications, the state’s newest rural telecom carrier, which provides voice and internet service to rural and tribal areas in Northwest New Mexico on Navajo land. As such, she interfaces with state regulatory officials and government officials to promote the company's public image and business agenda. She also manages the coordination, review, compilation, assembly, filing and tracking of reports, tariffs, audits, applications, and petitions to state, tribal, local, and federal authorities, including state PRC, FCC, RUS, or any other governmental authority, while promoting brand recognition through the company’s marketing initiatives. Catherine is a member of the New Mexico Technology Council and the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce policy committees. She is a registered lobbyist for Sacred Wind and sits on the board of the Cibola Arts Council. ; send resumes to Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse) Contact: Catherine Nicolaou Sacred Wind Communications External Affairs and Marketing Manager 7801 Academy Rd NE Building 2, Suite 103 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 908-2668 Sacred Wind Communications /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/20735069

075 STEM Education Disrupted, with Dr. Rebecca Woodbury (Keller) 10/06/2021

074 Mastering Space Logistics, with Jonathan Firth 09/16/2021

073 Sparks Fly with Utility Merger and Zozobra, with Ray Sandoval 08/31/2021

072 Virgin, Space, and Elon Musk, with Jill Meyers 08/02/2021

071 Fictional Futurists, with Andrew Proctor 07/07/2021

070 Growing Our Commitment to STEM, with Bob and Shelly 06/08/2021

069 The World of Drone Racing, with Shaun and Teng Ma Taylor 05/12/2021

069 The World of Drone Racing, with Shaun and Teng Ma Taylor Shaun Taylor, aka Nytfury FPV, and his wife, Teng Ma, aka JuneBug FPV, are professional drone pilots that have accepted awards on both world and national podiums. Shaun is a world champion, 2xnational champion and 2xXDC champion along with numerous other awards. Teng has earned the title as fastest female and is a member of the USA women's FPV team. Recently, Shaun used his drone to help rescue a dog that was wedged in a crevice in the Sandia Mountain Foothills. Their love of drone racing is only second to their love for one another and their son, Max. This married duo will share their knowledge of drones and show off their superpowers during our episode. Show Notes In early 2015, Shaun Taylor was a firefighter when he started to fly drones on his off-days. The drone racing industry was on fire and, in June 2016, after winning five of the biggest drone races between 2015-2016, Shaun asked his wife if he could quit his job in order to prepare for the 2016 MultiGP national championship and the subsequent world championship in Hawaii. His wife, Teng, unequivocally agreed and Shaun quit his job that same month. Three months later, Shaun won the aforementioned national championship (defending his title from 2015). A month later, he won the world championship in Hawaii. Subsequently, Shaun signed with DR1, a premier drone racing league that aired on Eurosport. The league lasted two seasons and Shaun’s team won both seasons. By the end of 2017, Shaun has solidified his reputation as the most decorated drone pilot in the world, a title for which even the fastest drone pilots today have a hard time competing due to the lack of events. Shaun became a dad in December 2018 and spent the majority of the last year at home (due to COVID-19). Today, Shaun still enjoys flying drones with his wife at the park on a weekly basis, and plans to go back to the fire department for which he has been asked to integrated drones in future fire and rescue efforts. Teng Taylor started to fly drones to spend more time with Shaun, and she started to progress quickly. Teng also started to travel with Shaun and compete as well. In 2019, Teng won the fastest female spot on team USA to compete in China and took third place at that competition. This year, races are starting to come back, and Teng is excited to be competing again. Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse) Contact: /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/19056800

068 The Future of Women in STEM, a New Mexico Technology Council panel discussion 04/05/2021

067 Robots Taking Over the World, with Chris Ziomek 03/22/2021

066 STEM in Flight, with Jill Meyers 02/24/2021

065 Law-st in Space, with Day Hochman-Vigil 02/11/2021

064 Money and Risk, with Ann Shubert 01/24/2021

064 Money and Risk, with Ann Shubert Today’s interview is a follow-up with Financial expert, Ann Shubert. It is our first podcast built to help with the money questions that you have. Join us as we get beginner tips for those just starting out on their financial journey, as well as those for professionals with retirement nearing. Great tips for STEM entrepreneurs and advice that you don’t have to be a math major to understand! Ann Shubert started her professional career planning to be an astrophysicist, receiving a BA in Physics from Princeton University and an MS in Astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology. After realizing that she was not cut out to be a pure research scientist, Ann shifted gears into a 30-year career in the defense industry, first designing and building software systems and later managing multi-million-dollar aerospace programs. In 2014, while enrolled in the University of New Mexico’s Executive MBA program, Ann made another major career transition, becoming a licensed Financial Advisor. Three years later, she co-founded Intentional Finance LLC, an independent, woman-owned, Registered Investment Adviser firm. Ann enjoys working with women in STEM, combining science-based approaches to financial planning, risk management and investing with her interest in behavioral finance and how people make decisions about money. Because she knows what it is like to be a woman in a male dominated workplace, Ann feels a special kinship with women in the STEM fields, and loves helping them to reach a place of confidence about their finances so they can keep their energies focused on their STEM passion, whether in research, education or business. Show Notes Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Contact: Ann Shubert Intentional Finance LLC 7770 Jefferson Street NE, Suite 430 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 563-4500 /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/17663321

063 Kicking Off 2021, with Bob and Shelly 01/13/2021

062 The Dirty Little Secret, with Dr. Gary Selwyn 12/17/2020

061 Connecting the Stars in NewSpace, with Casey Anglada DeRaad 11/29/2020

061 Connecting the Stars in NewSpace, with Casey Anglada DeRaad Working to make New Mexico the first choice for the space industry today’s guest is investing her retirement years in this mission. Breaking down walls and silos helps to create a rich ecosystem that will benefit the entire Southwest region and lead to a greater economic impact. Space is more than a $350 billion industry. It has increased tenfold over the last decade. and is anticipated to grow as much in the next decade, with more than 80% of the monies being private investment. This is an opportunity that everyone needs to know about and what we will discuss on today’s episode. Show Notes Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Casey Anglada DeRaad is Founder and Director of NewSpace New Mexico, a non-profit established to grow the commercial Space industry in NM and to create a bigger voice to New Mexico’s Space industry stakeholders from industry, academia, Air Force, the national labs, and local, state and federal organizations. NewSpace NM is developing an expansion and communication strategy for the first time to leverage the significant federal investment and R&D Space assets, and to take advantage of the exponential growth in the commercial Space industry for our state and nation. Casey was a 30-year executive of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), leading the Technology Engagement Office for academic, industry, and community partnerships for AFRL and other Air Force partners on Kirtland Air Force Base. Casey developed strategies to support the local academic and industrial community to help it leverage the $3.8B/annual economic impact of Kirtland to New Mexico. Casey has previously led spacecraft electronics, space systems, and joint technology investment efforts for the Air Force and NASA. She helped establish the University of New Mexico’s (UNM’s) successful COSMIAC aerospace center with AFRL, UNM, industry, Sandia and Los Alamos laboratories. She established, gained resources, and led AFRL’s $4M/year, fifth through university level programs inspiring over 4000 students per year into STEM programs including the lauded AFRL Scholars and University NanoSat programs with excellent female and minority participation. Contact: Connect with Join the /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/16989158

060 Making Money and Delighting Audiences Using Technology, with Erika Hecht 11/08/2020

059 Blasting Off with the U.S. Space Force, with Gabe Mounce and Captain Roger Anderson 10/20/2020

059 Blasting Off with the U.S. Space Force, with Gabe Mounce and Captain Roger Anderson In this special episode, we hear from two members of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Gabe Mounce and Captain Roger Anderson, as we discuss the innovative programs that AFRL is using to connect business and government through technology and innovation. Show Notes Fall STEM Learning offered by - online and in-person for learners. Also, check out the Be Greater Than Average webpage to get your copy of . Help us grow our STEM programs through the Facebook page. Gabe Mounce directs the Space Force Accelerator program for the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in New Mexico. In this capacity, he oversees the Hyperspace Challenge in Albuquerque and the Catalyst Space Accelerator in Colorado Springs, both focused on connecting the entrepreneurial start-up community to the US Space Force. He is also the Technology Commercialization Lead for AFRL where he oversees all aspects of technology transfer, community engagement, and marketing & publicity for Directed Energy and Space Vehicle technology. Mr. Mounce recently founded the New Mexico COVID-19 Emergency Supply Collaborative, bringing together government, non-profit, and private sector organizations from across the state to provide Personal Protective Equipment to Healthcare Providers in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Captain Roger S. Anderson oversees operations of Space Force Accelerators at the Air Force Research Lab for Space Vehicles at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He aligns start-up company innovation with Space Force needs and vectors start-up technology for success through the Hyperspace Challenge and Catalyst Accelerator programs. He also oversees the Space Vehicles’ professional development program that immerses young acquisition professionals inside of innovation units and teaches agile acquisition concepts. Important links to other STEM Southwest Interviews that touch on factors that are involved in building the Second Golden Age of Space. Brian Barnett, Solstar Space; Rachel Gupton, Sandia National Laboratories, Shelly Gruenig, Be Greater Than Average, George Gorospe, NASA, Matt Fetrow, AFRL, Contact: /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/16468802

058 STEM Professionals Returning Home, with Maggie Werner-Washburne and Monica Sandoval-Johnson 09/25/2020

057 Powering up for the 21st Century, with Alaric Babej and Jon Hawkins 09/08/2020

057 Powering up for the 21st Century, with Alaric Babej and Jon Hawkins We often take electricity technology for granted, until it isn't there anymore. With one flip of a light switch, we become part of the largest machine in the country! During this week's episode, we will explore the importance of and developments in renewable energy, what careers are available, and how local and regional power companies are partnering with consumers to change what used to be a one-way road into a two-way street by using technology to build the smart grid. Join us as we discuss this and much, much more with our guests from PNM, Alaric Babej and Jon Hawkins. Show Notes Fall STEM Learning offered by - online and in-person for learners. Also, check out the Be Greater Than Average webpage to get your copy of Help us grow our STEM programs through the Facebook page. Alaric J. Babej is the Product Development Manager at PNM and works to design and implement customer programs for electrification and voluntary renewables. Major initiatives include transportation electrification to aid in the adoption of electric vehicles, and programs to assist customers meet their sustainability goals. Alaric has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island where he focused on automotive technology, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington with a focus in renewable energy systems. He enjoys learning languages and playing hockey in his free time. Jon Hawkins is the Associate Director for Innovation and Communications at PNM Resources. Jon’s team is responsible providing research and development of new technologies used in the generation, distribution, and use of energy as well as design, implementation, and maintenance of telecommunications and network systems across PNMR. Jon has his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico, is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and has been author or co-author on multiple publications primarily focused on integration and optimization of PV with energy storage. Contact: /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/15919169

056 From Math to Money, with Ann Shubert 08/23/2020

056 From Math to Money, with Ann Shubert As a girl, Ann dreamed of being an astrophysicist. Her journey into a STEM career led her into the defense industry. After years of success, she enrolled in an MBA program and there, during a math class, she had the opportunity to help other women understand. That moment, when she taught until “the light came on,” and her classmates’ new confidence with math, changed them and her. That experience would change her and shift her career from math to money. Her dream is to support women in STEM to be comfortable building their financial success and designing their financial future. What small financial change could you make that would end in financial freedom? Show Notes Fall STEM Learning offered by - online and in-person for learners; the schedule will be released in late August. Also, check out the Be Greater Than Average page to get your copy of Help us grow our STEM programs through the Facebook page. Please check out , whose mission is to provide support for those organizations making valuable contributions to increase the number of STEM opportunities for students. Ann Shubert started her professional career planning to be an astrophysicist, receiving a BA in Physics from Princeton University and an MS in Astrophysics from the California Institute of Technology. After realizing that she was not cut out to be a pure research scientist, Ann shifted gears into a 30-year career in the defense industry, first designing and building software systems and later managing multi-million-dollar aerospace programs. In 2014, while enrolled in the University of New Mexico’s Executive MBA program, Ann made another major career transition, becoming a licensed Financial Advisor. Three years later, she co-founded Intentional Finance LLC, an independent, woman-owned, Registered Investment Adviser firm. Ann enjoys working with women in STEM, combining science-based approaches to financial planning, risk management and investing with her interest in behavioral finance and how people make decisions about money. Because she knows what it is like to be a woman in a male dominated workplace, Ann feels a special kinship with women in the STEM fields, and loves helping them to reach a place of confidence about their finances so they can keep their energies focused on their STEM passion, whether in research, education or business. Contact: Ann Shubert Intentional Finance LLC 7770 Jefferson Street NE, Suite 430 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 563-4500 /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/15706871

055 Text Messaging to Space, with M. Brian Barnett 08/14/2020

055 Text Messaging to Space, with M. Brian Barnett Inspired by the Apollo missions to the moon, Brian Barnett has been dreaming of being an astronaut since he was a little boy. Not only does he plan to be a commercial astronaut in the near future, but he also hopes to inspire a new generation in the race to space. His innovation and ideas have led him to develop the Space Wide Web, allowing earth-to-space communications. Join this family man and hear how his children have been involved in his business, Solstar Space, from very early on. Listen in to some of his amazing stories and ideas for STEM-minded individuals. Show Notes Join Shelly and host, Betsy Jewell, on the latest episode of Fall STEM Learning offered by - online and in-person for learners; the schedule will be released in late August. Help us grow our STEM programs through the Facebook page M. Brian Barnett is a serial entrepreneur with 33 years’ experience in commercial space, the mobile satellite services industry, as an aerospace technologist at NASA, and at KPMG Consulting as a management consultant. He is Founder and CEO of Solstar Space Co. (Solstar), the first internet service provider for people, Internet of Things, and machines in space, that is developing technologies to build a Space Wide Web. On April 29, 2018, Solstar demonstrated the first commercial two-way data and wi-fi hotspot service in space and Tweet from space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard crew capsule, using Barnett’s patent-pending technology. Brian began his career at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center where he provided Space Shuttle payload integration services at the Payloads Project Office. He also provided astronaut crew training in the Mission Operations Laboratory for Spacelab missions. At Johnson Space Center, Brian worked in the Missions Operations Directorate, and later worked on JSC’s 1992 Strategic Plan. He also managed a contract to document all Space Shuttle operations processes as directed by Congress after the Challenger accident. Later, as a management consultant for KPMG’s Space and High Technology group, Brian wrote dozens of business plans and market assessments for commercial space companies. He led the Team that wrote the initial business plan and helped identify the best location for the spaceport that eventually became Spaceport America in New Mexico. Brian earned a B.S. in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma, a Masters in Administrative Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a graduate of the International Space University. He is a classically-trained rock and reggae drummer and is founder and producer of DrumsAstro®, an organization Connecting Artists and Musicians of all Genres to Space and Space Exploration. Contact: M. Brian Barnett (505) 389-2299 /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/15612239

054 STEM Excitement through Esports, with Dr. Miles Harvey 07/27/2020

053 The Science of Sleep, with Karen Crow 07/14/2020

052 The Digital Playground of Electric Playhouse, with John-Mark Collins 06/24/2020

051 Connecting through STEM Media Platforms, with the hosts of Nerd Talk 06/10/2020

050 Small Business in the COVID-19 Environment, with David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff 05/27/2020

050 Small Business in the COVID-19 Environment, with David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff Businesses both big and small are feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are shutting doors while others are facing unprecedented growth. During this time in history, what predictors can we use to determine success of our small businesses and employers? While the unemployment rolls may be growing, the truth is that we are still facing an unprecedented STEM workforce crisis. Join us in this episode where we interview two different business owners, David Hughes and Dr. Simon Woodruff, who share their journey and how they are responding to the pandemic. We will also hear about how COVID-19 is shifting the job search and how there are still plenty of STEM career opportunities in the Southwest. Show Notes – David Hughes David Hughes was born in Montreal and, at age 15, moved to England with his family. David went to an English boarding school for three years, and then to university in Scotland to study philosophy and history. After university, David moved to Iowa where he developed an interest in energy; this led to a degree in Environmental Technology with a focus on renewable energy. After working in the energy efficiency field in Michigan, David moved to New Mexico and was able to start a career in the solar industry, eventually starting Affordable Solar in 1998, using an old Airstream trailer as his first office. David is married with two adult daughters and has lived in Albuquerque since 1994. Book Recommendation: , by Yuval Noah Harari Contact: [email protected] Show Notes – Dr. Simon Woodruff After a decade of research into innovative fusion concepts at the University of Manchester (PhD), Lawrence Livermore National Lab (Postdoc), UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering (Visiting Scholar), and the University of Washington (Research Scientist), Dr. Woodruff founded Woodruff Scientific to help accelerate the development of economic fusion energy. Dr. Woodruff has performed work under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy, universities, national laboratories and to the private sector, building research devices, performing modeling and simulations primarily directed at simply-connected (hence more compact and simpler-to-engineer) fusion systems. Dr. Woodruff hosts an annual Scientific Computing Bootcamp for undergraduates, introducing many of the tools in common use for High Performance Computing. Dr. Woodruff has organized national workshops in fusion energy sciences, and is a current participant in two International Atomic Energy Agency initiatives on compact fusion neutron sources and private fusion development. Dr. Woodruff is a member of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics. Contact: [email protected] /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/14579768

049 Infectious Diseases impacted by Technology, with Dr. Jason Harper 05/18/2020

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