Outside of the Box

Talkin' Nerdy w/ Gene Magee from FOX TV's The Floor

In this new recurring interview series which I am now calling "Floor Fridays", I chatted with Gene Magee who was dubbed "King of the Floor" and went on one of the greatest runs seen on the show. We talked about how being acquaintances with a fellow Floor contestant led him to being on the show, how being a natural entertainer impacted his performance on the show, a big debate about the level of specificity required in the answers during some of the duels, plus a very cool story about a chat Gene had with Host Rob Lowe on how he came up with his character on Parks and Recreation. Very insightful and fun discussion!

STEM Spotlight | National STEM Challenge Champion Tushar Mehta

I've got another episode with one of the amazing National STEM Challenge Champions - Tushar Mehta. Tushar has been able to channel his passion for the environment into creating an app that can help identify whether items are recyclable. He talked about his passion for wanting to help make recycling accessible to more people and wanting to pursue a STEM career in the future. Check out this great discussion with another amazing Champion!

STEM Spotlight | National STEM Challenge Champion Siddarth Nandyala

It is once again time for another STEM Spotlight and this one features a young CEO named Siddarth Nandyala. Siddarth's project involves the use of 3D printing technology to help provide a more affordable alternative to traditional prosthetic limbs. We talked about his path to becoming a Champion in the National STEM Challenge as well as his aspirations moving forward in STEM-based work and innovation. Siddarth is a truly remarkable young person and this is a great discussion to check out.

STEM Spotlight | G-Force Robotics FRC 9008

It is time to catch up with the girls of G-Force Robotics out of Clayton, NC, but this time with a new bunch of young engineers who were eager to talk about what they have been up to and future plans for their season. They spoke about their amazing and inspiring trip to the Pentagon where they got to meet with world leaders about what they have been doing with the team. They also spoke about their upcoming competitions and big plans for 2025.
You can learn more at https://gforcerobotics.com/

March NHRL Preview on Outside of the Box | Featuring the 30lb and 3lb Weight Classes

It is nearly time for the next NHRL qualifying event on March 2nd! There are two segments in this episode - one highlighting an anticipated rematch with Matt Bores of Emulsifier and Corey Nason of Catalyst who are two of the heaviest hitters in the field as well as a segment featuring Julian of Mako and Alex of Zane to speak about the beetleweights and the challenges that come with putting together a more unique design. This is a fun one so be sure to check it out!

STEM Spotlight | National STEM Challenge Champion Lino Marrero

It is time for another interview with one of the National STEM Challenge Champions and this time it is with Lino Marrero who refers to himself as a "serial inventor". His latest invention, the Kinetic Kickz 2.0 is what made him a Champion. It is a shoe insert that can collect wasted energy from walking or running and use it to power devices. Lino spoke about iterating on this invention as well as the history of some other things he has invented over time. We also talked about how he felt to become a Champion and about attending the National STEM Festival in April.
Be sure to check out the National STEM Festival where our brightest young minds will get to showcase these projects April 11-13 in Washington D.C. You can visit https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/ for more details.

STEM Spotlight | National STEM Challenge Champion Clarisse Coelho

Some time ago I spoke with Kari Byron about the National STEM Challenge where young people could submit entries in which they have come up with innovative solutions to everyday issues. In this interview, I spoke with one of those amazing young people - Clarisse Coelho. Her project involved the study of beta-glucan in mushrooms and how we can use that to help boost our immune systems. I talked to Clarisse about the development of her project and how she feels about being selected as a Champion.
Be sure to check out the National STEM Festival where our brightest young minds will get to showcase these projects April 11-13 in Washington D.C. You can visit https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/ for more details.

2024 Western Allied Robotics Season Preview on Outside of the Box

As part of my season preview series, it is time to take a trip out west as I spoke to Rob Farrow of Western Allied Robotics about their plans for this year. We talked about some of the events they have planned in their home base area in the Northwest, plus the joint effort with RoboGames to bring even MORE robot combat action in April. Hear all about this league that has been around since close to the very beginning of combat robotics!

Outside of the Box Valentine's Special!!

If you are like me and love LOVE, you will adore this short video featuring your favorite builder couples in combat robotics. The couples answer some fun questions including who their favorite robots are aside from their own, what their favorite weapon type is and which one of them would win in robot combat if they fought each other. Hear what they all have to say and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

2024 Bristol Bot Builders Combat Robotics Season Preview on Outside of the Box

Those who know me well know that I have a TARDIS-shaped spot in my heart for my robot friends in the UK so of course I had to do a Season Preview with Joe and Craig from Bristol Bot Builders. We talked about everything from fighting robots in a pub, being able to bring in more competitors from other parts of Europe, and the balance of trying to accommodate more competitors while also putting on a quality event. It is always a great chat with our friends across the pond. Hear what they had to say on this fun episode!