Black Girls Do Engineer Podcast

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College readiness doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built with intention.

In this episode, BGDE founder and CEO Kara Branch sits down with Reagan, a BGDE National STEM Ambassador, longtime member, and high school senior preparing for college. Reagan shares how her journey with Black Girls Do Engineer helped her develop confidence, leadership, and real-world skills that go far beyond the classroom.

Together, they talk about what it means to be college-ready on purpose—through early exposure to STEM, hands-on learning, mentorship, and belonging to a community that believes in you. Reagan reflects on how BGDE shaped her mindset, strengthened her skills, and prepared her to walk into her next chapter with clarity and confidence.

This episode is for parents, students, and educators who want to understand what true college readiness looks like—and why preparation, not luck, makes the difference.

🎧 Press play and hear what it means to be ready for what’s next.

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Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

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Today, Kara Branch is answering the questions people ask the most—clearly, honestly, and without the confusion.

In this episode, Kara breaks down 26 of the most common questions from parents, partners, educators, and community members so there’s no misunderstanding about BGDE’s mission, values, or vision for the future.

BGDE centers Black girls because the data demands it—but the work is rooted in inclusiveness, equity, and community-wide impact. This episode explains how intentional access, real training, and early preparation are the foundation of strong STEM ecosystems.

Whether you’re new to Black Girls Do Engineer or you’ve been rocking with the community for years, this episode brings clarity, alignment, and direction as BGDE moves into 2026.

🎧 Press play and let’s get into the questions shaping Black Girls Do Engineer.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

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STEM conversations often focus on who is missing, but this episode expands the conversation to how we build a future that includes all of our children.

In this solo episode, BGDE founder and CEO Kara Branch addresses the growing gap facing Black boys in STEM and why early access, representation, and skill-building matter. Drawing from data, lived experience, and years of community work, Kara breaks down where the pipeline breaks, which skills are often missed, and how early disengagement impacts long-term opportunity.

This episode also introduces Black Boys Do Engineer, a new program designed to support Black boys through hands-on STEM training, exposure to real-world tools, and confidence-building experiences—without competing with or diluting BGDE’s mission to center girls. The program reflects a community-based approach to strengthening the full STEM ecosystem.

This conversation makes one thing clear: supporting Black boys in STEM does not take away from supporting girls, it strengthens the pipeline our girls will one day lead.

This episode is for parents, educators, and community leaders who believe in preparation, equity, and building pathways where every child can see themselves as a builder, problem-solver, and future engineer.

🎧 Tune in for an honest conversation about access, responsibility, and the future of STEM.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

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This episode is a full-circle moment.

In this alumni spotlight, BGDE Founder and CEO Kara Branch sits down with Kerrigan, a Black Girls Do Engineer alum now a college freshman studying Chemical Engineering and Law. Kerrigan shares what it’s really like transitioning from STEM programs into college-level coursework and how early exposure, mentorship, and hands-on training shaped her confidence and preparedness.

Together, they talk about balancing rigorous academics, owning multiple interests, and staying grounded while navigating new spaces. Kerrigan reflects on lessons she learned through BGDE, the importance of believing in yourself before the world does, and why preparation—not just passion—matters in STEM.

This episode is proof that when girls are equipped early, they don’t just dream about the future—they walk into it ready.

🎧 Tune in for an honest conversation about growth, preparation, and what happens when opportunity meets intention.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

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Some movements begin with a plan. Others begin with a question.

In this special episode, BGDE founder and CEO Kara Branch sits down with her daughter to reflect on the moment that sparked the creation of Black Girls Do Engineer. What started as a simple question opened the door to deeper conversations about curiosity, confidence, and what it means to grow up loving STEM as a girl.

Together, they talk about early exposure, representation, and the power of listening to our children—especially when they’re brave enough to ask, “why not me?” This episode is a reminder that when girls are seen, supported, and given space to explore, they don’t just imagine new futures—they help build them.

This conversation is for parents, daughters, and anyone who believes that small moments can lead to lasting impact.

Press play and listen to the question that changed everything.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

Send us Fan Mail

STEM education is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a requirement for economic mobility, workforce readiness, and long-term opportunity. By 2030, the U.S. is projected to have over 1 million unfilled STEM jobs, yet too many students—especially Black girls and students from under-resourced communities—are still being left out of the pipeline.

In this episode, BGDE founder and CEO Kara Branch breaks down the real data behind the STEM gaps—who has access, who doesn’t, and why early training matters more than ever. This conversation goes beyond inspiration to focus on the skills the future workforce actually needs: technical literacy, problem-solving, data fluency, and workforce-ready competencies that must be learned early—not after students have already fallen behind.

Kara also shares how Black Girls Do Engineer is already equipping the future of STEM through hands-on training, exposure to real-world tools, and intentional pathways that move girls from curiosity to confidence to career readiness.

This episode is a wake-up call for parents, educators, employers, and community leaders: the jobs are coming, the gap is real, and preparing the next generation for STEM careers is serious work—because waiting comes at a cost.

🎧 Listen in and join the movement to close the gap before it widens.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

Send us Fan Mail

The Black Girls Do Engineer Podcast is back.

In this welcome-back episode, founder and CEO Kara Branch shares what really happened during the quiet season—why the mic went silent, how the mission never stopped, and what it took to build BGDE with intention, clarity, and peace.

This conversation is about growth without burnout, leadership without apology, and staying rooted in community while building something sustainable. Kara reflects on lessons learned, how BGDE has evolved, and what this next chapter looks like for girls, families, and the future of STEM.

Whether you’ve been part of the BGDE community for years or you’re listening for the first time, this episode invites you back into the work—stronger, clearer, and ready for what’s next.

Press play and let’s talk about building in the quiet.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

Send us Fan Mail

Engineer. Mother. Founder.

In this opening episode, meet Kara Branch, the founder and CEO behind Black Girls Do Engineer—and the heart behind the movement.

What started as a simple question from her daughter became a lifelong mission: to make sure girls who are curious, brilliant, and full of potential are never overlooked or under-resourced in STEM. Kara shares her journey as an award-winning chemical engineer, a mother of three, and a leader who turned lived experience into impact—building programs that foster confidence, leadership, and real opportunity for the next generation of innovators.

This episode isn’t just about titles or achievements. It’s about purpose. It’s about community. And it’s about what happens when you decide to build what you wish existed.

If you’ve ever wondered why representation matters, how confidence is built, or what it really takes to lead with heart, this conversation sets the tone for everything to come.

Welcome to the story behind the work. 

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer: The Podcast.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent, educator, mentor, or young person who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review—it helps our stories reach more families and future innovators.

 📲 Follow us on social @BlackGirlsDoEngineer for behind-the-scenes moments, upcoming events, and community highlights.

 💖 Support the mission: Your donation helps us create access, confidence, and opportunity in STEM for girls nationwide. Donate at https://bit.ly/Donate2BGDE

Because this was never just a program—it’s a promise.

We are back! Its feels so good to be back! What better way to return then introducing our amazing Founder and CEO of Black Girls Do Engineer. Our Founder and CEO is an Award-Winning Chemical Engineer, an Author, a Keynote Speaker, an Innovator, an Changemaker, and our Fearless Leader. She has had a groundbreaking career with first of their kind innovation across many industries. She is a first-generation college graduate and comes from humble beginnings. We are just so thrilled she has been called to do this work and give back to her community.

She is very passionate about the work she does with our S.T.E.M. program. Get to know her and understand her "why". In this episode you will also learn about great hands-on S.T.E.M resources and activities she has created to expose girls all over the world to what S.T.E.M. is and provide representation.

Purchase her book What is ST.E.M? and Coloring Book on Amazon.com
Pre-Order S.T.E.M. Kits at www.stemxposed.com
Learn more about Black Girls Do Engineer at www.blackgirlsdoengineer.org
Email us at [email protected]

We are so excited to have on our podcast Rhonika Kaplan who is a Senior Technical Geoscientist. Rhonika holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science as well as a Master of Science in Geology.