STEAM Box visits ARISE to learn more about the organization, and the legacy of a king.

The STEAM Box youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket preview our healthy relationship series, Mangu Con Salami with our partners from the Katie Brown Educational Program. While discussing building healthy connections and preventing toxicity. The conversation revolves around identifying red, yellow, green (and BLUE?!) flags in relationships, navigating communication challenges and social pressure regarding dating and alcohol, and the importance of establishing boundaries and having a safety plan when exiting an unhealthy relationship. The participants share personal struggles with trust, emotional availability, and self-love, highlighting the difficulties young people face in the contemporary dating landscape.

#HealthyRelationships #TeenVoices #YouthPodcast #KatieBrownEducationalProgram #STEAMBox #BoysAndGirlsClub #ManguConSalami #RelationshipGoals #RealTalk #YouthEmpowerment

The STEAM punks meet new Highlander Charter School Principal, Dr. J, on her 12th day. Hear about her 200+ vinyl collection (Frank Sinatra & Marvin Gaye are top two), and her mission to make Highlander a second home and foster student leadership. Dr. J shares her vision for the future, including community outreach, addressing the cold building, and unveiling the "caught being good" passes. The students discuss the need for more sports and the challenges of long commutes (some wake up at 4 a.m.!). It's all about building relationships and family.

#STEAMBox #HighlanderCharter #DrJ #Education #Principal #VinylCollection #StudentVoice #SchoolCulture #Steampunks

STEAM Box vs the Panthers from the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket. They tackle "rage baiting", and fishing questions to make people fight online and generate impressions. The youth examine why controversial hot takes are popular and question if they should “walk into that trap". They discuss tribalism by exploring what they are passionate about defending, including The Weeknd, the Cowboys, and anime. They compare sports fandom (like the Cowboys or AEW vs. WWE) to arguments over brands like Coke vs. Pepsi and Xbox vs. PlayStation, debating if it's possible to accept differences and look at both sides.

#RageBaiting #Tribalism #SteamboxVersus #HotTakes #TheWeeknd #PawtucketPanthers #STEAMBoxYouth

Welcome back to *Steam Box Vs! This week, we are thrilled to host the Panthers from the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket, and the energy is wild as we welcome back one of our favorite regulars: Princess M.

Join the Steam Box crew and the Panthers as they learn ALL THE THINGS with Princess M, a local Puerto Rican cosplaying social media influencer and founder of Ever After Storybook. The conversation immediately heats up, proving why *Steam Box Vs* consistently ranks in the top three educational podcasts worldwide.

This episode goes beyond just costumes. Princess M, who is a leader in advocacy, offers incredible insights into the professional world of performance. Listen in as we unpack complex topics like **representation and colorism in casting**, the fierce competition for roles, and the challenges of portraying characters like Moana and Mirabel. You'll be amazed to learn about the "United Nations" or council within the party princess community that governs these decisions.

We also explore the darker side of internet fame and convention life, covering the rise of rage baiting and the uncomfortable line between being admired and being harassed, including dealing with racism and "bleeding," where fans get overly attached to characters. Plus, Princess M shares some incredible celebrity stories, revealing that Tyra Banks once yelled at her during an influencer party about taking credit for Black creators' work, and recounting a close encounter with Doja Cat.

Finally, Princess M shares how she manages mental wellness and burnout by prioritizing hobbies like storytelling and reading, and she offers essential advice for young entrepreneurs dreaming big: believe in yourself even if the industry doesn't.

Listen in for an episode packed with deep discussions, hilarious stories, and sharp clarity on what it takes to thrive in the cosplay and performance world!

#SteamBoxVersus #PrincessM #CosplayCommunity #Anime #RepresentationMatters #PartyPrincess #BoysAndGirlsClub #PawtucketPanthers #MyHeroAcademia #AttackOnTitan #DemonSlayer #EverAfterStorybook #RageBaiting #CosplayLife #EntrepreneurAdvice

In this episode, the students sit down with local Rhode Island journalist and videographer David Lawlor, also known as Filmmaker Dave. Dave emphasizes a gritty, fast-paced style that often involves getting "in the mud" or shooting in abandoned places to capture authentic stories. He details how modern filmmaking and storytelling are revolutionary, leaning into the fast, engaging "Tik Tok format".

Filmmaker Dave shares the story behind his biggest viral success: a video about marbles. He explains how the industrial history of these marbles is connected to the creation of fiberglass, which was used in NASA spaceships, and suggests there’s a one-in-four chance the flag on the moon originated in Rhode Island, all thanks to this local history.

The conversation dives deep, touching upon the realities of the media hustle, the debate surrounding AI usage in art, and the importance of networking and building your reputation. Dave offers concrete advice for aspiring young creators, encouraging them to use their cell phones (even in RAW mode), write down ideas, talk to mentors, and always find a historical hook or relevance to engage their audience.

Students also ask about the dangers inherent in "run and gun" exploration, leading Dave to share harrowing tales of going to abandoned places, including nearly getting stuck in the Ashton Mill arches and encountering serious risks for the sake of the shot.

Finally, Dave reveals his unique creative outlet: a personal superhero persona named Marble, who was born out of a disaster caused by mill owner negligence at the Owens Corning fiberglass site. This hero serves as a deeply artistic alter-ego, mirroring Dave's own path as a photographer/storyteller.

Tune in to hear how this self-described passionate journalist navigates the challenges of building a career, the power of local history, and the profound journey of confronting his own adoption story.

#FilmmakerDave #SteamboxVS #RunningGun #RhodeIslandHistory #LocalJournalism #AbandonedPlaces #PhotographyTips #TikTokFormat #Storytelling #MarbleStory #YouthPodcast #CreativeHustle

In Part Two of our powerful roundtable, Providence’s nonprofit leaders return to peel back even more layers. Elliot Rivera, Dr. Womack (ARISE), Akeem (A Leadership Journey), Peter (Young Voices), Denezia (PSU), Marcela (Latino Policy Institute), Sweet P Pilar (A Sweet Creation), Paige (RI Kids Count), Ramona (PLEE), Rush (Youth Pride Inc), Stephanie (Youth in Action), and host Roberto from STEAM Box gather again, this time diving into the unexpected, the hilarious, and the deeply personal.

We explore the alternate-universe careers these community champions might have pursued, the wildest ways they decompress (spoiler: some answers are 🔥), the real talk on what they truly need from funders, and why the work still matters more than ever.

Part 2 is a mix of joy, honesty, and community wisdom an audio space where leaders finally get to exhale.

Perfect for: nonprofit pros, youth advocates, funders, organizers, and anyone inspired by the people doing the work behind the work.

#ProvidenceLeaders #NonprofitLife #CommunityPower #YouthVoices #SocialImpact #RICommunity #GrassrootsLeadership #MovementMakers #SelfCareForLeaders #BehindTheScenesLeadership #STEAMBox #RhodeIslandNonprofits #CommunityWellness #DoTheWork #MutualAidMagic

Providence’s most impactful nonprofit leaders sit at one table — and the conversation is powerful. In this special two-part STEAM Box roundtable, host Roberto Gonzalez brings together an all-star lineup of community builders: Elliot Rivera, Dr. Womack (ARISE), Akeem (A Leadership Journey), Peter (Young Voices), Denezia (PSU), Marcela (Latino Policy Institute), Sweet P Pilar (A Sweet Creation), Ramona (PLEE), Rush (Youth Pride Inc.), and Stephanie (Youth in Action).

In Part One, these leaders get real about:

✨ How The Nap Ministry reshaped their understanding of rest and resistance

✨ What it means to be seen or misunderstood in leadership

✨ The legacy they hope to leave for their successors

✨ The exhausting balance of caring for the community and ourselves

✨ Why nonprofit work is love, struggle, creativity, and survival all at once

This episode is a celebration of honesty, vision, and the people who carry Rhode Island forward.

#STEAMBox #ProvidenceNonprofits #CommunityLeaders #YouthPower #RestIsResistance #NapMinistry #LeadershipJourney #YoungVoicesRI #LatinoPolicyInstitute #YouthPrideInc #ARISERI #PSU #PLEE #ASweetCreation #YouthInAction #RICommunity #NonprofitLife #LeadersWhoLift #CollectiveCare #RIProgress