Tomorrow's Innovators Podcast

This episode is a fantastic example of how an experienced, award-winning robotics team delivers in the Core Values, Project, and Robot Design sessions. This contains the audio from the Gator's Grokking Gizmos 4-H robotics club judging presentations.

Paul Hill opens the 3rd season of Tomorrow's Innovators podcast and introduces the 2019-2020 season, FIRST RISE: THE FORCE IS BUILDING.

• FLL Jr. - BOOMTOWN BUILD
• FLL - CITY SHAPER
• FTC - SKYSTONE
• FRC - INFINITE RECHARGE

Chris and Sarah Ashworth, the leaders of the Wookie Cookies 4-H robotics club. Sarah is a Stanford grad who was a research scientist and junior high science teacher in the Bay Area before becoming a full-time, home-school mom. Chris earned his BS and MS in electrical engineering from BYU and is the RF Design Center Manager for Wilson Electronics in St. George Utah where they currently reside.

Rosey Rosander, a sports recreation professional who adopted a son that loves LEGOs. When he couldn't find an existing 4-H club in his neighborhood that was competing, he started his own robotics club with no prior experience.

Drawing on his coaching expertise, Rosey recruited members and their parents for his club, the 4-H GOAT Warriors, winning 3rd place at the FLL Regional Qualifier. Learn how Rosey made it happen here.

Paul discussing soft skills, what they are, and how mentors can help youth develop these skills.

"We are not using kids to build robots. We are using robots to build kids" - Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST.

Paul shares a piece written by Seth Godin titled "Let's stop calling them 'soft skills'" that informs intentional work of guiding young people down the path of innovation and leadership.

Paul interviews Rob Murray, an aeronautical engineer who went to visit Emery County, Utah and never left. He now runs a youth robotics program in a rural county of 10,000 people spread across over 4000 square miles. Rob works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of youth in rural Utah so they can have the opportunity to develop their STEM and leadership abilities.

Paul has an impromptu sit down with his good friend, colleague, mentor, and NEW Director of Utah 4-H: Dave Francis. They discuss the project for the FLL "Into Orbit" Season and how teams can organize ideas and improve ideas before presenting.

This season's project requires teams to "identify a physical or social problem faced by humans during long duration space exploration within our Sun's solar system and propose a solution."

This episode is an inside perspective into FLL judging sessions at a region or state tournaments. Provided is the audio from the 4-H Nerf Herders Robotics club core values, project, and robot design judging sessions. It's not all about robots, we don't use kids to build robots, we use robots to build kids.

Chelsey Short, Regional Director of FIRST in Utah stars in this episode. Chelsey brings a wealth of experience in many youth programs including performing arts, public safety, and University Extension.

Paul riffs about 4-H and the history of 4-H with A.B. Graham and Jessie Field Shambaugh, some of the founders of 4-H. Audio(used with permission) is Albert and Jessie talking about the first 4-H clubs from the early 1900's.