In the season finale of Joyful Rebellion, STEAM Box and the Highlander Charter School STEAM Punks are joined by Abby Katz, a behavioral science researcher from Brown University's School of Public Health. We're ending the season sitting pretty at #1 in the world in education and technology as we go deep into the emotional, biological, and cultural connections we have to our most comforting meals, from Jollof rice and KFC to Hot Pockets and McDonald's. Abby Katz breaks down the science of why our bodies crave heavily engineered, salty, and sweet foods, and discusses the importance of moderation without labeling foods as strictly "good" or "bad".
The conversation expands into the cultural histories that shape our diets, the reality of "food swamps" in lower-income areas, and tips for finding healthier options by shopping the perimeter of the grocery store. Beyond food, the group tackles the value of higher education, how PhD programs are funded, and the evolving job market in the age of AI. Tune in for an honest, non-binary discussion about how what we eat impacts our mental wellness, focus, and everyday lives.
#SteamboxPodcast #JoyfulRebellion #FoodAndMood #ComfortFood #PublicHealth #FoodDeserts #BehavioralScience #CulturalCuisine #MentalWellness #HigherEducation

Finding Therapy Outside Therapy: Cozy Games, Toxic Friends, and Teen Mental Health
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Alvaro, a mental health professional and researcher, alongside STEAM Punks from Highlander Charter School. The group tackles the heavy realities facing today’s youth, confronting the alarming statistics that 1 in 9 teens, and over 30% of trans youth, have considered attempting suicide.
This candid conversation bridges the generational divide, exploring the unique pressures Gen Z faces, such as immense academic workloads, caring for siblings, financial stress, and neighborhood violence. Dr. Alvaro and the youth discuss practical ways to navigate these challenges, from setting emotional boundaries with "toxic" friends to using "cozy games" as a form of self-care and trauma relief. The episode also provides critical guidance on how marginalized and trans youth can seek therapy when they lack parental support or fear judgment. Ultimately, this episode is about finding community, knowing your resources (like 988, Trans Lifeline, and Call BlackLine), and making the choice to pursue joy in an oppressive world.

#YouthMentalHealth #GenZMentalHealth #TransYouthSupport #JoyfulRebellion #TeenTherapy #SettingBoundaries #CozyGames #BIPOCMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SteamboxPodcast

In this final episode of the school year with ARISE, we sit down with special guests Dr. Erin Papa and Alicia Pratt from the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island.

We discuss the profound ways language shapes our fundamental identity, connects us to our heritage, and builds community.

We share powerful personal stories about navigating the stigmas of accents, the erasure that comes with anglicized names, and the complexities of code-switching and internalized racism. 

Finally, the conversation tackles systemic issues in the education system, highlighting the push for the Support and Access to Bilingual Education Act and the importance of implementing research-backed dual-language programs in public schools to celebrate students' home languages rather than erasing them.

#Multilingualism #BilingualEducation #CulturalIdentity #LanguageAdvocacy #DualLanguagePrograms #RhodeIslandEducation #StudentVoices #HeritageLanguage #SteamboxPodcast #EducationReform

STEAM Box and Arise youth sit down with "Tacos," a passionate STEM educator and former contestant on LEGO Masters Season 3. Tacos shares her journey from studying architecture to utilizing LEGO and other hands-on materials to teach structural integrity and problem-solving to students. She opens up about the realities of being a woman in highly competitive STEM fields, offering vital advice to young women on remaining tenacious and assertive. The conversation also dives deep into navigating imposter syndrome on national television, managing the intense pressure of reality TV, and maintaining mental wellness. Tacos even reveals how a LEGO building technique known as "greebling" helps soothe her anxiety. Plus, expect plenty of fun-filled banter about favorite LEGO sets, video games, and what it’s really like to hang out with Will Arnett on set.
#STEMEducation #WomenInSTEAM #LEGOMasters #MentalWellness #SteamboxPodcast #HandsOnLearning #EngineeringCareers #ImposterSyndrome #JoyfulRebellion #GirlsInSTEAM

Taking her artist name from a CHamoru creation goddess, Fu'una discusses how she intertwines her indigenous identity and family history in Guam with her creative practice.

Throughout the conversation, she opens up about the physical demands of large scale mural painting the sacrifices required to balance a full-time job with a creative passion and her critical perspective on the environmental and exploitative impacts of generative AI.

The youth also join the dialogue, sharing their own candid stories about navigating parental expectations, pursuing their passions, and protecting their creative freedom.

Ultimately, Fu'una leaves the next generation with a powerful message: start early, learn to work with the right people, and stay fiercely authentic to your own unique vision.

#SteamboxPodcast #ProvidenceArt #CHamoruCulture #IndigenousArtists #CreativeProcess #YouthEmpowerment #ArtAndIdentity #MuralArt #RhodeIslandCreators #AriseYouth

In this special presentation from STEAM Box, the STEAM Box Allstars, a diverse group of high school students from across Rhode Island plan their 3rd annual Joyful Rebellion mental wellness event

The students have a remarkably candid conversation about the unique pressures facing their generation that older adults often misunderstand

They open up about the heavy realities driving their need for mental health support, including the looming fears of ICE and deportation, anxiety over global conflicts, the isolating effects of digital learning, and the difficulty of discussing mental health within immigrant families

As they look forward to community building, therapy dogs, art, and jiu-jitsu at their upcoming event, these young leaders remind us that protecting your peace and finding hope is the ultimate rebellion

#JoyfulRebellion #YouthMentalHealth #SteamboxPodcast #GenZVoices #MentalWellness #EndBurnout #StudentLeaders #ImmigrantFamilies #ProvidenceYouth #FindingHope

In the final STEAM Box podcast recorded at the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket, We sit down with the Panthers for an unfiltered, hilarious, and insightful conversation

The episode kicks off by celebrating a newly crowned Youth of the Year, diving into the rigorous interview process and the realities of sharing the spotlight with Big time siblings

The crew doesn't hold back on their hottest takes, debating the superiority of OG anime, Android phones, and who would honestly survive a zombie apocalypse

The group opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, changing their beliefs on marriage and karma, and navigating the overwhelming pressures of adulthood

From calling out the older generation for misunderstanding today's youth burnout to finding hope in sports, media design, and genuine friendships, these young leaders prove the future is bright

Real talk, laughs, and a memorable farewell from the STEAM Box BGC Panthers!

#SteamboxPodcast #BoysAndGirlsClub #YouthOfTheYear #YouthVoices #ImposterSyndrome #GenZ #FutureLeaders #TeenMentalHealth #PodcastCommunity #ZombieApocalypseSurvival

In this special live episode, high school seniors Daniel and Zon share their unfiltered perspectives on the reality of artificial intelligence. Recorded live at the CSREA AI symposium, this conversation digs into how teenagers are truly experiencing AI today. 

Our guests from Highlander Charter School and ARISE explore the "toxic" codependency of young people using AI bots as their best friends instead of forming real human connections, and how relying on AI for schoolwork is stripping away critical thinking, making students "lazy," and stifling originality. 

Join the discussion as these youth leaders debate whether AI is a powerful tool for innovation or a dangerous weapon capable of creating harmful deepfakes, and discuss how we might redesign technology to help us rebuild our social connections. Unfortunately, the crowd wasn’t mic’d up, so just imagine them going absolutely berserk at these AI Truth Bombs 😁

#STEAMBoxPodcast #AIinEducation #StudentVoices #TechEthics #ArtificialIntelligence #Deepfakes #YouthLeadership #FutureOfLearning #EdTech #TeenMentalHealth

In this episode of the #1 podcast in education STEAM Box X ARISE sit down with Janella Watson of Watson Creative Consulting. Together, we discuss the real world impacts of Artificial Intelligence on young people, exploring both the wonders and worries of our rapidly changing tech landscape. Learn about the hidden environmental costs of AI data centers, the ethical dilemmas surrounding deepfakes, and the tension between using AI as a helpful tool versus a crutch that replaces original human thought and artistry. They also tackle the double standards of AI use in the classroom between teachers and students.
Beyond technology, Janella shares inspiring insights from her career advocating for inclusive representation in children's media, highlighting her work developing diverse characters for Sesame Street and her consulting projects for Cartoon Network and Paw Patrol. Tune in for a powerful conversation on protecting authentic human creativity, finding everyday joy, and practicing hope in a digital age!
#STEAMBoxPodcast #ARISE #ArtificialIntelligence #AIEthics #FutureOfEducation #DiverseRepresentation #EdTech #CreativeConsulting #MediaRepresentation #StudentPerspectives