What if science didn't have to feel like science class?

Maynard Okereke — better known as Hip Hop Science — has built an audience of more than 100,000 followers by blending science with entertainment, pop culture and curiosity.

But before Hip Hop Science, Maynard was a civil engineer who also happened to be a hip-hop artist and performer — two sides of himself he once felt he had to keep separate. Eventually, he stopped trying to fit into one box and built a career that brought them together.

In this episode of Atmosphere, Maynard talks with meteorologist Emily Gracey about making the leap from engineering to entertainment, how Hip Hop Science grew from a sketch comedy idea into a platform for science communication, and the work that goes into making complicated science accurate, accessible and fun.

They also dig into a bigger question: kids are naturally curious about science, so why does that curiosity so often fade as they get older? Maynard shares why representation and confidence matter, why science and creativity aren't opposites, and why we might want to stop asking kids what they want to be when they grow up — and start asking what problems they want to solve.

Plus, wildlife, quantum computing, the Amazon rainforest, wrestling, Shark Tank — and how to turn doom scrolling into learn scrolling.

Links:

HipHopScienceShow.com

Hip Hop Science on Instagram

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