In this special episode, Kathy and her co-host Linda sit down for a heartfelt conversation about the release of Kathy’s brand-new Women in STEM Coloring Book—a three-year passion project created in collaboration with her daughter, Emily. This book showcases contemporary women in STEM, brought to life through hand-drawn illustrations and inspiring biographies.

Kathy shares the story behind the book, why representation of real, modern women in STEM matters, and how her daughter’s artwork brings these stories to life. They talk through favorite pages, the women featured, the challenges and joys of self-publishing, and the importance of normalizing women in STEM from an early age.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or someone passionate about STEM advocacy, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look into creating a resource designed to inspire the next generation.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• The origin and three-year journey of creating the Women in STEM Coloring Book
• Why showcasing contemporary women—not just historical figures—is so important
• The need to normalize women in STEM roles for both girls and boys
• How Emily created 31 hand-drawn illustrations and character pages
• Favorite featured women:
  • A bat scientist
  • A glaciologist
  • A crash test engineer
  • A satellite communications engineer
  • A code breaker
• How the biographies and real photos in the back bring authenticity to the book
• The process and unexpected challenges of self-publishing through Amazon KDP
• Kathy’s experience approaching local stores and embracing the identity of “author”
• A fun sidebar about Linda’s granddaughter writing and illustrating her own books
• What comes next as the book launches during holiday season

About the Book

STEM Super Stars: Women of Today Changing the World
A beautifully illustrated coloring book featuring 25 real women working in STEM fields today. Perfect for kids, classrooms, and anyone who wants to see more representation in science and technology.

✔ 31 single-sided coloring pages
✔ Science, Technology, Engineering, Math & “Other” categories
✔ Real photos and biographies of every woman featured
✔ Hand-drawn illustrations by Emily Nelson
✔ Created in Minnesota and inspired by women making real impact across the globe

Buy the Book

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YSJ9XW
Bulk or Educational Orders: Contact Kathy at [email protected] for information

Credits

• Hosted by: Kathy Nelson & Linda LaTourelle
• Produced by: Ordinarily Extraordinary Podcast
• Music: Custom intro/outro by Kay Paulus

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