In this live episode of the STEAM Box vs Podcast, Highlander Charter School Superintendent Simona Simpson-Thomas is joined by student moderators Leanne (12th grade), Ariel (10th grade), and Favor (11th grade). Centered around the visual theme "Who Are We Right Now?" and the core value "Students First, ALWAYS," the panel addresses real questions submitted directly by the student body.

The unfiltered conversation addresses key transitions across the school: the upcoming facility move from Warren back to Providence , the new state cell phone lock box policy, and elevated academic expectations driven by charter renewal pressures. Superintendent Simpson-Thomas speaks openly about expanding faculty diversity through Highlander's Educator Pathway program, strengthening mental health supports through Beyond the Bell and student-led initiatives like Joyful Rebellion, and empowering student voice and advocacy.

#HighlanderCharterSchool #StudentVoice #StudentsFirst #SteamboxPodcast #SimonaSimpsonThomas #EducatorPathway#YouthLeadership #RhodeIslandEducation #SchoolTransition #JoyfulRebellion

In this special episode of the STEAM Box Podcast, recorded live with our summer ACN (Advanced Course Network) youth, we sit down with Ed Brady, Hollywood producer, restaurateur, and Cranston mayoral candidate. Known as the ultimate “master connector,” Ed shares his incredible journey from carrying golf bags as a 13-year-old at Alpine Country Club to rubbing shoulders with celebrities at an SNL after-party and successfully pitching Kenan Thompson at 4:00 AM to film Good Burger 2 in Rhode Island.

Guided by insightful questions from our Steampunks, Ed opens up about his core pillars as a social entrepreneur, the psychological battle of saving Cranston's historic Park Theater from being turned into apartments, and his independent vision for city leadership. Whether discussing the grueling realities of the film industry, the importance of diversifying local police forces, or how to block out negative internet comments through "the hater album,"

Ed’s message is clear: lead with kindness, embrace a curious mind, and never let the world put your dreams in a box. Tune in to hear how Rhode Island is preparing for a massive creative renaissance, and get inspired to turn your own big ideas into reality.

#CreativeRhodeIsland #EdBrady #SteamboxPodcast #CranstonRI #YouthMedia #GoodBurger2 #SocialEntrepreneur #ParkTheater #LeadWithKindness #ACNProgram

STEAM Box and the youth of the summer ACN program sit down with author and artist Dr. Nettrice Gaskins. Recognized as a leading pioneer of "Afrofuturism 3.0," Gaskins discusses how generative AI acts as a digital continuum of her background in computer graphics, education, and traditional fine arts.

The conversation dives straight into the high-stakes debates surrounding AI in the arts today. Dr. Gaskins addresses the systemic racial biases baked into mainstream image generators, sharing how she bypasses stereotypical prompts to create art that truly represents Black women. The group also tackles the environmental and social costs of data centers built in underprivileged communities, contextualizing these technological challenges within a broader critique of capitalism.

From navigating online "pitchforks" over her public airport art exhibits to unpacking the ongoing culture wars involving major musical figures like Lupe Fiasco, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Gaskins offers a masterclass in staying resilient. She also shares fascinating behind-the-scenes details of her recent visual design collaboration with Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter on the film Sinners, as well as her innovative STEAM lab project that utilizes micro:bits to turn the traditional, enslaved Juba/Hambone dance into personalized, bias-free AI models. Ultimately, she challenges the next generation of creators to look past simple "virtue signaling" and build non-hierarchical systems that reshape our collective future.

#Afrofuturism #AIArt #NettriceGaskins #STEAMEducation #AIBias #STEAMBoxPodcast #CreativeCoding #CultureWars #JubaDance

The ACN STEAM Punks join special guests Kristina (professor at Lesley University College of Art and Design) and Amy Duffy (ceramics teacher at Central Falls High School). Kristina, a leading point person for the Reciprocity Rhode Island project, shares her vision of educational school design that has been growing through community organizing since 2020. Together, the group explores a revolutionary question: "Do schools even need to have walls?"

They discuss how alternative models like STEAM Box, which has popped up everywhere from Tokyo to Las Vegas, provide a blueprint for highly engaging, student-led environments.

The youth step up to present their "list of demands" for what modern education must look like. The conversation dives deep into the necessity of individualized learning plans for neurodiversity and learning needs like dyslexia, the crucial role of mental health and behavioral resources in schools, and the power of student-centered, deeper learning curricula over rigid district pacing guides. From universally designed spaces to calling for metaphorical systemic change, this episode is a passionate, youth-driven blueprint for reimagining how and where we learn.

#SchoolsWithoutWalls #ReciprocityRI #SteamboxPodcast #StudentCenteredLearning #NeurodiversityInEducation #MentalHealthInSchools #AlternativeEducation #YouthVoices #InclusiveDesign #EducationalReform

In this episode the STEAM Punks sit down with Carlos Vargas, VP of Community and Government Relations at Navigant Credit Union, to demystify personal finance and plan for the future. Carlos shares his journey growing up on the south side of Providence and explains how his personal mission is simply to "help the 5-year-old me" and support families like his own.

Together, the youth dive into high-impact financial and life topics, including:

Banks vs. Credit Unions: Why being a "member-owner" rather than a client changes how your money is protected and grown.

Budgeting for the Unexpected: How to set up realistic savings buckets, including an emergency fund for unexpected expenses (like vet bills for your "sea cabbage"!).

The Modern Career Landscape: A raw look at the pros and cons of choosing college versus skilled trades, and how to pick a path that is resilient to AI.

Generational Reality Checks: Addressing "price shock" inflation, why the older generation's advice on buying houses doesn't always fit today's economic landscape, and the beauty of collective, multigenerational living.

Addicted to Saving: Shifting mindsets away from consumerism to find excitement in watching your credit score and savings grow.

Carlos also shares details about Navigant's fee-free "Embarked" account, designed specifically to give youth a head start with their finances. Tune in for an engaging, laugh-out-loud discussion that proves financial planning doesn't have to be boring, it's all about building strong community relationships first.

#FinancialWellness #STEAMBoxPodcast #YouthEmpowerment #CreditUnionDifference #RhodeIsland #FinancialLiteracy #BudgetingTips #GenZFinance #CollegeVsTrades #CommunityConnections

In this special, chaotic episode of STEAM Box vs! The summer program Steampunks sit down with none other than the Digital Dark Lord himself, Lord Voldemort. Our youth hosts don't hold back, grilling him on everything from his half-muggle heritage to why he famously underestimated Harry Potter. Voldemort opens up about his miserable, sweaty days living as a parasite on the back of Professor Quirrell's head, his absolute disdain for Hogwarts "reality shifters", his bizarre feelings about muggles "shipping" him with Beatatrix, and his intense hatred of pop music. Tune in to hear the Digital Dark Lord lose his patience and place a dramatic curse on our microphones and batteries, before they run out of power entirely!

#SteamboxPodcast #HarrysQuest #LordVoldemort #Steampunks #TomRiddle #ProfessorQuirrell #Hogwarts #Beatatrix #MuggleWorld #PodcastCurse

What does it take to make a living as a recording artist while staying entirely true to yourself?

In this episode of the student-led Steam Box podcast, the STEAM Punks host a masterclass in creative resilience with Rhode Island's own Lainey Dionne.

Lainey pulls back the curtain on the business of music publishing, detailing how she writes and licenses her songs for hit reality shows like The Kardashians, Netflix’s Love Is Blind, and MTV’s Teen Mom.

But the heart of this episode lies in its incredibly raw, student-driven discussion on mental wellness and coping strategies. Lainey opens up about writing personal tracks like "Skin" and "Wired" to process her battles with depression and social anxiety. Together, Lainey and the youth exchange their go-to creative sanctuaries, from art classes and songwriting to gaming and pet therapy, providing an honest roadmap for any young person still looking for their own healthy coping mechanisms. This is a must-listen episode for aspiring podcasters, designers, musicians, and anyone learning to navigate life's challenges through creative outlets.

*There is no truth to the rumor that if you listen carefully, you can hear everyone drawing while we record.

#SteamBox #LaineyDionne #MentalWellness #MusicLicensing #YouthVoices #CreativeSanctuary #SocialAnxietySupport #CreativeIndustries #StudentPodcasting #AuthenticArt

Join the "STEAM Punks" from the ACN summer program for an exciting, behind-the-scenes conversation with animator, storyboard artist, and Lesley University professor Brandon Strathmann. In this episode, Brandon pulls back the curtain on what it is really like to work in professional animation studios, sharing stories from his time doing fast-paced "floater" storyboard retakes for Family Guy, character acting for DreamWorks’ CG comedy Father of the Pride, and concept design for the medieval world of Neopets.

Brandon explains the mechanics of storyboarding, describing it as a visual comic strip where you act as both a director of photography and a camera inside the environment, and shares the techniques he used to visually time comedic beats. He also discusses co-creating a Japan travel-study class, teaching students about classical Japanese aesthetics like Wabi-sabi and Notan, and exploring the legendary Ghibli Museum and Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum.

For young creators staring at a blank page, Brandon delivers crucial industry advice on overcoming perfectionism, remaining adaptable to rapid technological changes, and why "failure is the first step to success".

#SteamboxPodcast #Storyboarding #AnimationCareers #FamilyGuy #AnimeAesthetics #StudioGhibli #LesleyArtAndDesign #YouthInMedia #CharacterDesign #KeepDrawing