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.

092 What's New in Fintech - FINCON 2023, with Russell Faigen and Lily Vittayarukskul 02/13/2024

092 What's New in Fintech - FINCON 2023, with Russell Faigen and Lily Vittayarukskul This episode is for you if you have ever wondered how to make financial decisions, or you will one day to have to make decisions regarding elder care for a loved one or yourself! Join Bob and Shelly for another year of celebrating tech and finances at FinCon23. Listen in as they talk about AI and making it your collaborator and not your competitor. First up is Bob who speaks with Russell Faigen from moomoo, a one-stop destination for financial investing and resources. However, don’t worry as there will never be any high-pressure investors from moomoo giving advice. Then, listen in as Shelly learns more about the compelling personal story of Lily Vittayarukskul and how the burden of long-term care for an elderly family member strongly influenced her life and how her idea, Waterlily, is helping to understand financial planning for the elderly. Waterlily utilizes AI in a way to help predict and build a custom plan for each family having or will be having an elderly family member for whom they will need to provide support now and into the future. Ultimately, Waterlily was awarded the top prize at this year's Fintech competition and we couldn't be happier to cheer them on and tell you more! Show Notes Russell Faigen is the Strategic Influence Business Development Manager for moomoo, an innovative online trading platform and commission-free app providing power tools, real-time market data, and educational resources. Russell graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Finance and Business Analytics, and has been a financial educator and content creator since September 2020, using his social media platform, investwithruss, as the primary means to do so. Lily Vittayarukskul is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waterlily Planning. She previously worked from 2019 to 2021 at a computer vision telemedicine startup involved in product development, AI prototype building, successful product launches, and scaling of an IoT AI telemedicine platform; Lily led commercialization efforts which included launching the company's first product, developing market positioning, strategy, and sales training. Prior to that, Lily worked as a Data Scientist Consultant at STELLARES from 2018 to 2019; held roles as Head of Technology and Head of Growth and Development at Research to the People in 2018; worked as a Scientist Intern (Software Developer) at DNAnexus in 2017; served as an intern with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2013. Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Contact: Russell Faigen, Strategic Influencer Business Development Manager moomoo (650) 999-6872 Lily Vittayarukskul, Founder and CEO Waterlily Planning (510) 239-7411 /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/29938423

091 Reaching for the Stars, with Dr. Misty Carty 10/12/2023

091 Reaching for the Stars, with Dr. Misty Carty In this episode, Bob and Shelly take a look at the sky just days before the next solar eclipse. Join us as Dr. Misty enthusiastically shares her wealth of knowledge about the sun, moon, and stars - and why we seem to be having more solar events! Finally, join us as we speak about the upcoming Balloon Fiesta and the excitement surrounding this event. Let's blast off with this next out of this world STEM Southwest podcast! Show Notes Dr. Misty Carty has over two decades of experience as an informal science educator, inspiring young students to develop a love for science. Her journey in science began with a spark of curiosity when she learned that Pluto had moved inside the orbit of Neptune and was not currently the last planet in the solar system - at a time when scientists still defined it as a planet. This ignited her passion for learning and sharing knowledge. Misty holds a Bachelor's in Physics from McDaniel College, located just outside Baltimore, MD. She further pursued her academic goals by earning her Master's and Doctorate in Astronomy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Misty has donned various hats as a science educator and communicator throughout her career, including professor, author, and museum science educator. Through her involvement with the Balloon Museum Foundation and R4 Creating, she actively supports and raises funds for STEAM education. In addition, she is dedicated to empowering young women and girls in science and technology. She takes pride in advocating for girls in STEAM and inspiring them to pursue careers in these fields through the Girls into Tech program of Be Greater than Average. Solar viewing glasses and filters must be ISO 12312-2 certified! , by Dr. Misty Carty Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Contact: Dr. Misty Carty /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/28294598

090 Safety in Numbers, with Ann Shubert 10/03/2023

090 Safety in Numbers, with Ann Shubert Join us in this episode to learn why we took an extended break. Then, dive in with one of our favorite repeat guests speaking about a favorite subject.... money. Whether you are stressed about money, trying to understand how to make more money, or simply want a plan to invest, this episode is for you! Ann Shubert has launched a new blog that stands at the intersection of STEM and Money! Her message today gives us all hope - it's never too late, or too early to be making financial plans! Show Notes 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. Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Be Greater Than Average Contact: Ann Shubert (505) 563-4500 /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/28206098

089 Out of this World: Hyperdrive Space Summit with Merridith Ingram, Meredith Schweitzer, Jihoon Kim, Jason Lee, Steven Wood, Brad Berkson, and Jeromy Grimmett 05/03/2023

088 Building a Successful STEM Business, with Ivy Slater 11/23/2022

087 Growing Fintech at FinCon22, with Ryan Ruff and Jason Parker 10/16/2022

086 STEM Squared, with H. Puentes 08/01/2022

085 Regulating Cancer for the Cure, with Dr. Steve Worland 05/15/2022

084 The Economic Impact of STEM, with Alex Greenberg 04/25/2022

083 Illuminating STEM, with Paul Pickard 04/10/2022

082 New Mexico Innovation Triangle, with John Rizzo 03/13/2022

081 Getting Girls Into Tech, with Dr. Shelly Gruenig 02/24/2022

081 Getting Girls Into Tech, with Dr. Shelly Gruenig How do we get Girls Into Tech and keep Girls Into Tech? In today’s episode, Shelly shares her emotional STEM story and how her 6th grade science fair project boosted her desire to learn more science and tech. Shelly shares about her first Radio Shack computer that was purchased with money that she earned delivering newspapers. She grew up in what we now call an underserved rural community with no mentors that could help to guide her pathway to tech, which impacted her access and her future career. She hopes to open doors of opportunity to girls in a way that no program has ever offered before. Show Notes We often hear Shelly share that we owe it to every daughter to open the doors of opportunity and fill them with hope while equipping them with skills and confidence that they can be successful in STEM. Growing up as a shy country girl, Shelly was an innovator and problem solver who would eventually become a community leader inducted into the STEM Hall of Fame. With a PhD in Workforce Education and Career Development, she believes that young people need two things to make their best career decisions: -Broad Range of Experiences -Great Role Models Shelly is committed to using her philosophy and experiences in working with young women in order to ensure that they have the opportunity to become a Girl Into Tech. She shares that “Girls Into Tech is my answer on how we encourage and support more Girls Into Tech - we need women’s viewpoints in the marketplace and the only way for that to happen is by knocking down the barriers that our daughters face.” Mimi Vandermolen, Ford Motor Company: What makes Girls Into Tech special: -ongoing support and mentoring community, not simply one and done -by girls for girls, growing them into peer leadership -monthly programming -workshops and training -access to scholarships and opportunities Special thanks to: Meta/Facebook for sponsoring the first cohort of girls in Valencia County, New Mexico R4Creating as Girls Into Tech sponsor: Founding sponsor, Market Ascent: How to support Girls Into Tech: Learn more about Girls Into Tech: Contact: Become a sponsor of Girls Into Tech: Sign up a Girl: Share your genius – send us an email on how you want to get involved: /episode/index/show/stemsw/id/22237808

080 Entrepreneurial Excellence through Perseverance, with Dr. Srinivas Mukkamala 01/30/2022

079 Bootcamp Ingenuity, with Andrea Sisneros Wichman 01/17/2022

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

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