Maryland STEM Festival w/ Phil Rogofsky

Phil Rogofsky, Founder and Executive Director of the Maryland STEM Festival
Join him for the festival this Fall,  October 13th through November 11th. Learn more at https://marylandstemfestival.org/

Phil created the Maryland STEM Festival in 2015 and was recently featured in an article in Voyage Baltimore, https://voyagebaltimore.com/interview/check-out-phil-rogofskys-story/

He believes the STEM World/Community should be all inclusive and has taken action to ensure it is for our future. Thanks for being a valued ecosystem partner, Phil. 

Transcript

Joseph,

00:02.40
wearabletakeover
Welcome to another episode in season 2 of wearable takeover the podcast show I am your host Lakeishia Greenwade also known as coachel and let me just remind you that you can access our podcast on your favorite podcast app. And there you can subscribe as well as leave a review and we were noted as one of the podcasts to watch for 2023 because of the caliber and that and of our guests and the dynamic ne of the subjects that we're going to be covering in the world of innovation. Typically wearable technology and our ecosystem partners I am super excited to share the bio of our featured guests for today but before I do that let me also remind you that you can also watch. Our episodes of workful take over on Youtube so whatever platform you prefer whether it be audio or video you have both options and you're gonna want to really tune in to this particular episode and share with your community share with your community of parents share with aspiring stem. Innovators and students because this man is incredibly important. Not only to the state of Maryland he's important to the overall stem ecosystem and we hear a lot of talk about people saying hey we want to get more students engaged in stem and everybody.

01:30.34
wearabletakeover
Kind of has their approach or they tend to talk a lot. This man is actually doing the work and I'm so excited that he made some time for us today to share a little bit more about what he's doing in particular and the impact he has made so without further ado where it will take over with you in the virtual setting. Please give some applause for Phil Roowsky yes Phil we're so excited to have you here on whereable takeover. Thank you so much for joining us and but let me read your bio because I think people aren't going to be interested in your background. As well as how you've transitioned to this amazing stem leader in Maryland so Phil just so you know Bill was born in New York City one of my favorite cities in the us. He lived most most of his life in Maryland and he grew up in Buy Maryland and he attended the prince George's County public school system. So I don't know if any of you have ever heard of Maryland back in the day and a lot of times Pg County was always on that map as one of those targeted counties. So Phil is is coming to us. Originally. From Prince Pg or Prince George's county and there he also attended Prince George's community college the University Of Maryland College Park so he's a turp and that's where he received his bachelor's degree. Believe it or not in accounting yes and then he also attended Buie State University where he received a master.

02:55.10
wearabletakeover
<unk>s degree in management of information and so what Phil did was he worked for over thirty years with the federal government as an auditor this is going to get really interesting but he lives in Columbia Maryland with his amazing wife Jennifer who's a physical therapist. His 2 children noah and shana his 3 cats and a turtle. Oh. It's a busy household over there in his spare time. He likes to exercise bowl play tennis and chess I think bill once we all get everybody together. We're going to have to challenge one another to a chess match. But he says.

03:28.68
Phil
So yeah.

03:31.71
wearabletakeover
He does these things poorly. But I've always been looking for a chess partner. You can also see an article about Phil in Voyage Baltimore so we'll make sure that we link that in the description notes again that you can find on your favorite podcast app. So Phil. I'm so excited to talk to you today. How are you doing.

03:53.74
Phil
I'm doing very well Lakeisha Thank you for having me and it's always great to talk to you and be around you.

03:58.87
wearabletakeover
Oh you're You're such an inspiration to me. Oh my gosh. But first before we get into everything else I got to go back to the chess. Ah, what's your favorite piece on the chessboard.

04:10.20
Phil
Um, probably I like the rook um to me after the King It seems the most power of the queen. It seems the most powerful. Okay.

04:10.49
wearabletakeover
Okay, and why.

04:17.94
wearabletakeover
I love it. Okay, so we'll have to challenge that actually when I was younger my youngest uncle actually taught me to play chess and so on my book rejection to reward I actually have a depiction of some chess pieces because I truly believe that. If you can understand it doesn't mean you have to be the best. But if you can understand the game of chess I think it can definitely help with a strategic mindset and help maneuver through life and I think that's important for everyone that we're talking to today to understand that there's gonna you're gonna. Need to make some strategic moves in order to get to the ultimate goal and perhaps you may start off thinking that you want to maybe want to be 1 thing in life and transition to another but it's all about the myset and how you make those moves so I need to know Phil how did you go from studying accounting to being a stem. Megaliter in Maryland what what caused that transition.

05:19.67
Phil
Well a lot of it is because I'm a bit of a late bloomer and a lot of it evolves from family um growing up I had a passion for the space program and environment conservation which I got from my father and I always had that. But. Um, there wasn't as much stem opportunities back then and and as I was growing up and so I was never sure exactly the exact path and even though I liked those topics I didn't see them as something I was good enough to make a career at. And I I did start briefly as an engineer and in college and I had a really bad first semester and unfortunately gave up too early so I followed the accounting path which had a lot of math which I always love and fell into or worked into accounting. And as my life progressed I was very fortunate to have 2 wonderful children and one of those children my son Noah developed that passion for um stem and we more and more were involved in stem activities.

06:22.84
Phil
And 1 of the big events that happened was we attended the Usa Science and engineering festival in Washington Dc and my son who was going to be 10 the day that it first happened um said this is one of the things I actually want to do on my birthday and so we went down to Dc for the first one.

06:37.84
wearabletakeover
Um.

06:41.70
Phil
Um, we had a great time from there. We decided to try us. Do something similar but obviously much smaller at his school that involved evolved into a countywide event and that eventually evolved into statewide and I was able to really bring my passion for stem which was kind of. Little bit more latent. Um out to the forefront and I found a lot of people who had the same interest and and saw all the same value and importance of stem that I did and I've just worked with these people and my family. And try to grow this and to bring everybody into stem that I possibly can.

07:18.88
wearabletakeover
I love it 1 1 thing I always say Phil is that nothing on this journey has been wasted and number one kudos to you I know you don't need my kudos but I really do admire you for number 1 not putting yourself in a box. Um, and for finding something that that you were good at and then still honing in on your passion and so let me tell you folks if you didn't listen to the last episode I'll tell you accounting is not my thing so I admire anyone that can go through an accounting program because it's not easy. There was even an article I think today. Um on Cnbc or Either Bloomberg and there was a discussion about should they change the requirements because there is a huge demand but added that supply with talent right. So for all of be startups if you need some additional help you might want to tap Phil on the shoulder I'm just going to put it out your forum. But but but moving forward into you know, getting into your passion. The reason I want to make sure we honed in on that bill is because at weble tech ventures. We started off here with providing youth programming. And then ultimately expanded to the start of space and providing some opportunities for other adults to engage in our programming and I think that your story is incredibly inspirational because you had an interest. The opportunities weren't necessarily there but you didn't give up on that and you.

08:44.11
wearabletakeover
Found some ways that you can hone in on that passion and then you help to develop something else. This is why it's so important we leave no one behind this is why we don't put ourselves in boxes. Especially now that there are so many other opportunities to learn something new and to engage bill is your. Virtual mentor I'm just gonna put him out there. He's gonna be your virtual mentor as to how to do that transition but then also to make it impact in the stem world. So first of all from that standpoint. Bravo Phil for doing that I mean how'd you feel during that. Um I mean so you mentioned that that. In in the past there weren't a lot of opportunities. But as an adult transitioning what was that feeling like because here in the dmb and when I say dmb folks if you're not familiar with the Dc Maryland Virginia that's what that means? um, working in the federal government and working in these safe careers is a norm so to transition. To the stem leader. What was that process like what was what were you feeling? What was your family saying as you transitioned into the leader yard today.

09:50.26
Phil
Well, it was very enjoyable. It was much more enjoyable than my career with the government. Um I've got to admit I like to describe myself or I do describe myself as kind of my job was a boring bureaucrat. Um, it wasn't the most insane job but it did looking back on it.

09:52.90
wearabletakeover
I.

10:02.71
wearabletakeover
Um, okay.

10:06.87
Phil
Help instill some of the skills that I'm using to create and grow the stem festival So in that respect it was positive but it wasn't the most exciting job and so I was happy to do something that's much more exciting and well I'd like to think that it was beneficial.

10:10.39
wearabletakeover
Why.

10:22.81
Phil
I saw this as being much more productive and much more having a positive impact on the world. Um, there's a jewish phrase ta Kun Olum and that means repair the world or make the world better and I saw this as the best way I could do to make the world better. There are other ways other people do it. Through different avenues but I thought by creating this stem ecosystem a stem environment to stem event and trying to bring everybody into it is the best way that I could use my skills to make the world better so going through. It's just been very enjoyable. I mean there's always a few bumps. Not everything is is perfect. Ah, but I work with a lot of great people I learn about a lot of great things and most importantly I get to see the the reaction of the students at the events and their excitement and what they're learning and what they're getting out of and hopefully I'm helping to point them in a positive direction.

11:14.21
wearabletakeover
You know I you you hit the nail right on the headfield when you talked about the students reactions I can tell you that the event I was invited to to speak with local students in Baltimore the panel of stem professionals that you had was out of this world.

11:31.95
Phil
The.

11:34.60
wearabletakeover
And all of us panelists were like how can we connect and how can we make sure we come back because geek fest to the tenth degree but we at geek face in the geekest in the coolest way. Let me make sure I'm prefacing that correctly, but we were like we want to make sure we are in this room. Whatever Phil curates. We want to be in this room. So kudos to you for that. So going back I want to make sure that I don't overlook that jewish sprays that you gave us. So can you say it again slower so that so that but me as well as our guests that are listening so that we can practice that and and apply it to our lives.

12:04.53
Phil
Okay, the phrase is to Kun Olum and again and it means repair the world make the world better and that's something my parents and especially my father always instilled upon me that you should. You're fortunate for whatever you have.

12:09.62
wearabletakeover
The coonam.

12:24.90
Phil
And you should try to share that and do what you can to help others.

12:27.87
wearabletakeover
The koon olum I Love it I Love it! Absolutely love it. Okay, so let me let me take it back a little bit more so when you were growing up. You didn't necessarily have a lot of the opportunities that we see today. So and I echo that right? um.

12:32.49
Phil
The.

12:43.36
wearabletakeover
My version of being in stem growing up was watching the Ka be showing I'm like I'm gonna be Obstetrician and I'm gonna use something to make some money right? Um, that's what I thought I would do from that that stem perspective these days. It's nothing for kids to be going through robotics competitions traveling and all of that.

12:47.66
Phil
Right.

12:59.88
Phil
Um, yeah.

13:02.22
wearabletakeover
What were some of those examples of stem activities ah that you had access to back in the day and um, how has that changed from your viewpoint now.

13:14.81
Phil
I mean I really can't identify too much stem activities that are going on where I lived I mean it was a little more sports focused. Um, there just weren't things like robotics or classes en coding where I grew up in the ancient. In ancient times and there wasn't even quite as much when my son was very very young, but these seemed to be growing and expanding and I'm hoping I'm having an impact in bringing these out as well as just exposing people to them making people aware of these great opportunities. And particularly making them aware of how fun they are. Um I think that was more of a connotation when I was young was that stem is not fun. It was boring that it was not interesting and that it was only for very select few and that's one of the things I'm trying to overcome with the stem festival and my work is that stem is not boring. Stem is.

14:00.39
wearabletakeover
Ah.

14:10.63
Phil
Very exciting, very interesting and that it is for everyone I Frequently say that while every area of stem is not for every person for every person. There is a particular area of Stem. It might be Astronomy. It might be zoology. It might be engineering. It might be robotics. Um. But there is an area of stem that's going to interest everyone they just need to find it and with a festival. Hopefully we are helping kids find that area of Stem. They really like.

14:35.80
wearabletakeover
I love it. So be the change that you want to see ultimately and folks let me just tell you let me give you an example of what I experienced being working with Phil we're in this room and I actually had our youth ambassador and one of our other advisors with me in the room. And we took video footage at the end of our youth ambassador like he was so excited. Um, his passion just was just shining through this video based off of what he experienced working with Phil but folks like I mean I was in this room. There were folks from Nasa and there were ah neuroscientists from. Gins and there were folks from like the larger you know firms that you know we talked about I keep Martin there were folks from there. Um, and then there were folks from these other aerospace and other other careers and I'm really sitting there learning like oh my gosh I never knew this particular career.

15:15.82
Phil
Lockheed Martin and yeah

15:28.78
wearabletakeover
Even existed so Phil why don't you tell us a little bit more about Maryland stem festival right? Um, and then exactly how did that start? What was that light starting that and then we'll get into some of your your guests as well.

15:40.94
Phil
Sure excuse me. Well the maryland stem festival is an annual event that takes place each fall for full month and we work with any organization that has an ear that an interest they want to promote a specific area of stem and. Each of these organizations host or participates in an event that promotes 1 or many areas of stem so where work with everybody excuse me from libraries to schools museums colleges ah parks and recs stem enrichmond organizations professional associations. Anyone that has an interest in stem and wants to share that interest and encourage that interest. Um the events take a wide range of formats. We've done everything from parades to comedy shows, musical performances competitions again, any idea that we have or someone has promotes them. We like to put it out there. And getting back to how it evolved to where it was as I mentioned we started with one event at my son's school. It went really well and there were a couple parents there from some other schools in Howard County where we live and they said this is great. We'd like to work with you and and try and bring this to our school. So from that I met with some other people with a similar interest and we created the Howard County stem festival which we called it. The hoco stem festival and that took place at Howard Community College and Drew hundreds sometimes even thousands of kids from across the county and probably outside the county.

17:12.96
Phil
And we ran that for 5 years It was very successful and then I went back to um, a later annual one of the Maryland the Usa Science and engineeringing festival appearances I think it was in 14 they were happening every other year. And there was somebody there talking about regional science festivals about events that took place over multiple days and over multiple regions and there were some in certain states and he looked at me and he said how come there's not 1 in Maryland and I said it's a great idea but I don't think I have the bandwidth.

17:41.70
wearabletakeover
Go out.

17:48.37
Phil
But then just a month after that there was this really great event at the community college of Baltimore County they called it stem trek coming from star trek and I met a couple of really important. Wonderful people one who worked for um, senator Benjamin Cardin and they liked the idea and so we took it. We gathered other people with the same interest and we spent over a year putting together and then in 15 we had the first festival and it was everyone felt it was very successful and we've continued to try to grow it and expand it and bring more people in it was very challenging to do this during covid. But we managed to get through it last year we went back to our format of mostly person and we're looking for a really really great year this year

18:33.65
wearabletakeover
It's phenomenal. The work that Phil does and again he does this throughout the year so Phil do you know how many people you impact on a yearly basis.

18:40.39
Phil
I mean we've been estimating between 20 and 30000 um so that's a rough estimate based on input we get from something different host events range inside. Some are very very small. Some turn out to have a couple people some.

18:45.97
wearabletakeover
Ah, but.

18:57.52
Phil
Go into the hundreds nearly a thousand people. So again, they're very different events very different locations but 1 of our objectives is to eliminate as many barriers as we can so that everybody can experience and explore stem. So almost all of our events are free and as I mentioned they're all across. State of Maryland because we don't want geography to be a barrier which frequently it has been similar. Events are usually held in ah in 1 place like Baltimore Columbia and so obviously kids and families outside those areas. It's just too difficult for them to get.

19:30.20
wearabletakeover
Are.

19:32.14
Phil
But we want to have events on the eastern shore in Southern Maryland and western Maryland Northern Maryland so that the kids out there have an opportunity and they can't use excuse. Oh it's just too far. We like to say that there's an event within 30 minutes of every person in Maryland.

19:41.31
wearabletakeover
Um, yeah.

19:45.11
wearabletakeover
I love it and and folks the food is good. So Phil tends to have ah or the event I know he had a nice spread there so you can eat. You can fellowship and learn and let me tell you something that the students can even get paid internships with. Um, I know Lockheed Martin and we were telling our youth ambassador sort of go ahead and apply we want you to go ahead and get that on your resume. It's it's absolutely amazing. Okay, so now you're impacting in the tens of thousands of folks throughout the state. Where do you see the maryland stem festival going in the future.

20:07.50
Phil
Yep.

20:16.53
Phil
Well as they say the sky is a limit I mean 10 to 20000 sounds like a big number but there are many more kids that need to be impacted and to need to understand that need to be part of this. Um, we sometimes or I refer to this as the olympics of stem and we want everybody to be involved and there are many students that are not aware of this and just aren't aware of the stem opportunities and still have that old connotation that stem is boring that stem isn't for them and 1 thing we try to do with a festival is show them.

20:35.74
wearabletakeover
7

20:52.63
Phil
That everybody is already using stem. They just don't think about it. Um, one event we did a couple years ago. We called it Um, stem in Sports we called it applied stem and we use that to show kids that you're already doing stem when you're playing sports because sports use physics and geometry and technology. So You think Sports is boring. You think Stem is boring but you're already using stem without stem. You can't be playing basketball or football or roller skating or so forth and of course almost everybody now has a phone and that's very stem based so we try to show them that.

21:23.49
wearabletakeover
Um, um.

21:30.58
Phil
They are using Stem It is already an important part of their life and another thing we try to show them that really brings a lot of kids in so they can use them to improve their lives and make the world around them better and that's another big fact that tracks kids when they realize oh I can make my world better using stem. That brings a lot of kids in they say that? yeah I should be involved in stem if it's going to help me make my life better and the lives of my friends and family better.

21:53.74
wearabletakeover
See Phil we walk in tandem and that's why I love working with you. We're going to continue to work together because in order to achieve our mission and to make sure that no one feels like they're left behind but that they understand like Phil already said you are using stem every single.

21:58.60
Phil
To me.

22:11.39
wearabletakeover
So There is no reason to count yourself out from this particular Journey. Um, but even more so when we even talk about the wearable side a lot of times when we're introducing it We. We always say hey folks, you might think you know it's only a watch or it's only a van but there are so many health disparities that. Communities of color and underrepresented um excuse me underrepresented communities are faced with that We have the opportunity to influence and I love that by attending the Maryland Stem Festival not only students but parents in the community can see these living.

22:49.92
wearabletakeover
Examples and I want to call them living Superheroes I mean it is so cool. The caliber of your guests. So Why don't you tell us about you know some of your guests I know I've mentioned some of them. But I mean it is It is like really really cool. All the people that you have. And um, you know how? how do you continue these partnerships with folks that that work with you.

23:08.56
Phil
Well there's a phrase that you may or may have heard. It's called it says you can't be it if you can't see it. You can't be it if you don't see it so we try to bring people stem professionals in to show students that these people have made it. These people can do it. There's no reason you can't and i. That's why I'm working year-round is to connect with different organizations so that I can bring in it as diverse a group of stem professionals and people in the stem fields to connect with and work with the students and they range from engineers to biotech researchers. From a wide range of companies from large companies like lockheat to some people that are um, run their own companies that have become entrepreneurs people likesel and to bring these to students to show them that um you can do this too I mean Lacacia did it so there's no reason you can't do it. She's a brilliant young woman but you can be 1 can be a brilliant young person too and we see or I see um the whole stem concept or stem as a social justice issue as an economic issue that people need to have access to stem because it can be for almost any person a path to economic stability and success. And to growth and prosperity and everybody should have those opportunities and the stem is a great path for that. So everyone I'd like to see have access to that.

24:30.76
wearabletakeover
Absolutely I love it and there's so many discussions that are happening. We want to make sure that Phil is at the table for those discussions because of his influence and impact and before I go even further Phil I just want to extend our ecosystem to you for any. Um, program that you may be having especially our founders. We have founders that are within Maryland and throughout the United States but we also have international founders. So if you ever need speakers from our ecosystem even on a virtual setting. We have founder ambassadors that we would love to represent. Whatever it is that you do and so with our ecosystem we are in full support of all of your efforts. So with that being said I have to ask this because one of the things we do every year and we've been growing this particular initiative is our hackathon series where folks can gain texts. Like skills from where you sit and what you've seen and what you've heard. What are some tech skills that perhaps folks say that they want to learn or I can even ship this and say what are some of those niche or.

25:33.84
Phil
Okay.

25:41.24
wearabletakeover
Specific tech skills that are in demand based off of what you're staying at Maryland.

25:46.45
Phil
Well coding is the biggest thing I mean everything now is becoming software dependent and learning to code is critical almost every job. Even if you're not specifically a software coder involves coding. Um. So that is obviously a big skill and Maryland is very big on pushing it and making it accessible to all students and all families and allowing them to develop that skill and and use it because we have a great shortage of coders and. I mean that's really one of the biggest skills.

26:18.98
wearabletakeover
Absolutely absolutely and we were working with 1 of our students out of Alabama and so they were developing a platform to teach python and so he's going to continue but when he gets it together I'll definitely share that that with you Phil. And 1 of the reasons we thought that was so important. So for those of you there might be saying what is python python is a programming language that really helps to power everything and overseas typically youth and specifically in China right. These youth are exposed to python at 3 years old and they begin at 3 years old and I've seen this at um cs and other international festivals and this is why it's so important that we have people like bill that is here making sure that our communities can.

26:56.86
Phil
Have didn't.

27:11.79
wearabletakeover
See the possibilities and also so that we can begin that process of innovation and ultimately be competitive. So I'd like to know from your perspective Phil um has there been any international influence on the work that you're doing per se. Um, and then even outside of that have you even considered franchising the Maryland stemest the other states because one here is amazing and and I believe it definitely has that capacity to even grow beyond Maryland you might be saying Luisha you tried to me more work. But.

27:36.64
Phil
Um.

27:47.54
Phil
Um.

27:47.94
wearabletakeover
But I definitely want to understand from that from that international perspective any influences as well as growing beyond the state of Maryland.

27:56.95
Phil
Um, well there is I can talk about that a little bit I have had some people reach out to me from certain areas a Delaware Dc that would like to try to start something similar in their state or in Dc um. So far. They haven't moved too much forward, but these people have reached out to me and would like to move forward. Um I'm also involved beyond the vessel in trying to develop um stem ecosystems and there are these around the state around um or even around the world. And I'm involved with that community and so I have connections a little bit throughout the world I was at a conference talking to some people from Israel and so yes I I've had a bit of connection here naturally. Additionally, 1 of our biggest endeavors is um, a video game. We've developed called agronomics.

28:33.73
wearabletakeover
I.

28:43.69
wearabletakeover
Oh.

28:46.98
Phil
And um, we have been reaching out to and are getting input and interest from people outside of Maryland in the game and hopefully it it was developed to encourage kids to learn about agriculture and to see agriculture as a very modern field and something they might want to think about as a career it shows some of the many stem uses. In agriculture and so that is a way we are connecting outside of Maryland and bringing people into stem through that and our theme this year actually is video games and esports. So we'll be expanding upon that that even more um, there'll be many many events tying into that.

29:19.30
wearabletakeover
Um, yes, um.

29:24.90
Phil
Getting back to your game abronomics looking ways to grow it right now. It just shows um crops. But we're looking to expand upon it to include livestock and aquaculture and then also possibly looking into expanding into other video games because it's a great way to get kids involved in stem and a lot and it's a fun way to get kids involved in stem so that is. Um, probably the biggest way that I'm connecting outside of Maryland and as I mentioned some people I have discussion with people outside Maryland about how to improve stem ecosystems and what they can do and what we can do that feeding off what they're doing.

29:58.22
wearabletakeover
I love it so Phil I don't know if you know this but my family laughs 1 of my first jobs out of college was selling eggs but I was working in the food science realm and so ah like I said nothing on his journey has been wasted.

30:05.47
Phil
Um, okay, right? yeah.

30:13.82
wearabletakeover
And recently I spoke at a conference that was working with a professor that has the the focus on food and sustainability. So I'll definitely share your game there again folks I keep saying there's a lot of synergy here. So at Warbo Tech ventures with our summer camps. We actually started teaching the youth about.

30:20.82
Phil
Are.

30:32.29
wearabletakeover
Developing Worlds and developing games is that's a huge part of wearable technology few people know that again because a lot of people tend to only associate it with the hardware but a lot of times you have characters that are within a video game and wearing different clothing that's also considered wearable technology.

30:34.95
Phil
Um, is it.

30:46.66
Phil
Um, didn't.

30:51.41
wearabletakeover
And then it even gets more interesting with Blockchain and working with Nfts and whatnot because all of that is another growing category of wearable technology. So one of the things that we are focused on as we go into. We actually started last year with our advisory team. We were redefining wearable tech because. Knew that the public's view was incredibly limited and so I'm saying all this that all of that to say I'm incredibly excited that that's gonna be a focus because we'll definitely have other avenues and ways that we can help grow that platform with you um to have that representation of all of these different fields like.

31:26.38
Phil
Um.

31:30.34
wearabletakeover
Um, my gosh so Phil are you a gamer. Um.

31:33.15
Phil
I'm actually not a gamer except like it's a with chess and Solitaire. So It's a bit ironic but um I see the value of games I see that many people love games and I see it as a great Avenue to get in get kids involved with Stem. So I fully embrace it even though I may not play it like a lot of people do.

31:53.81
wearabletakeover
You know what? I think I'm gonna throw this out here Phil because my mind just tends to just tends to run like this right? So there's ah, a founder that is in Baltimore he runs like a e gaming system or whatnot and I'm thinking it might be kind of cool to get like you me.

31:59.25
Phil
Um, begin.

32:04.41
Phil
Um.

32:10.32
wearabletakeover
Maybe some of the folks who like aleas and we do a challenge amongst them ecosystem of the stem ecosystem leaders and we do a game challenge I think it would be incredibly entertaining. Um, and I think we need to outlet too because we all work so hard and I know you work super hard. So I need to ask? um Phil how do you do all this.

32:14.41
Phil
Um, short.

32:29.72
wearabletakeover
Do do you have a team How many's on your team and how do you keep going.

32:36.70
Phil
I Really don't have a large team I am the entire stem system Ah Stem Festival organization where five one C three I have a board of directors I do have some high school students. Um, which we call Stem ambassadors are helping us promote the festival. Um.

32:42.88
wearabletakeover
Um, okay.

32:49.55
wearabletakeover
And.

32:52.66
Phil
But it's mostly me and the various partners that I work with like the libraries like people like you like the different companies I Just enjoy it and again, there's always a few bumps but I'm just very fascinated by Stem and I love sharing my passion for stem and sharing all the.

32:55.42
wearabletakeover
Yes.

33:10.22
Phil
Wonderful things are happening in stem in the world with people.

33:12.30
wearabletakeover
I love it. So so Phil is that an invitation for people to come you know volunteer with you like.

33:19.51
Phil
Absolutely absolutely go to our website and you can reach out to us and we're always looking for volunteers and people to help um along with hosting organize this a big event I see my role as a connector. Um, connecting the public with stem and also connecting many within the stem community I'm always making connections trying to help people connect. For example, even just today I helped connect the ah president with the ah Maryland society of educational technology with several colleges around the state. So i.

33:35.70
wearabletakeover
More than.

33:52.42
Phil
Ah, big part of my day is connecting people.

33:53.00
wearabletakeover
I Love it and so here's another opportunity. So for some of you that might be listening you say hey coach Yeah I'm not sure that I totally want to take on a technical role. The beautiful thing about stem is that there are so many opportunities and.

34:03.37
Phil
And.

34:10.14
wearabletakeover
What I'm envisioning and Phil I'm about to create this for you right here on this episode right? So but you know program manager project manager because I know what it's like being in this role and the weight that we carry because we.

34:13.61
Phil
Um, okay, that.

34:25.73
wearabletakeover
See the need and we see the opportunities and it's so significant and to try to communicate and organize all of that It could be an ah, an incredible toll on a leader and so you have my full support bill. Whatever I can do to make sure that um we attract quality.

34:44.63
Phil
Um.

34:45.77
wearabletakeover
Volunteers to assist you as you continue in your particular work. But then also as you grow it I think that's going to be essential. So I'm your number one advocate there. But so folks if you're listening to this and you're saying how can I get involved I'm not sure or I'm kind of nervous I don't and I'm not a techie so to speak if you're.

34:56.23
Phil
Um, thank you.

35:03.92
Phil
Um, for me.

35:05.00
wearabletakeover
Saying you're not a techie. You obviously have not listened to season 1 of wearable takeover so number one I'm gonna take me go back and listen to full season 1 but number 2 reach out to Phil and lend your supply. That's what we say charge lend your supply. Nothing is too small when doing this work because it covers.

35:07.47
Phil
Um, yeah.

35:22.30
wearabletakeover
So many different areas and then also for youth or emerging adults. You might be saying hey I'm looking for opportunity or maybe I want to get involved. This is an amazing way to get involved with one of the greatest minds the merit that the state of Maryland um.

35:34.61
Phil
Um.

35:40.10
wearabletakeover
Has a nurtured infi. So okay so I'll put that I might put that on my wish list and do what I can feel to send some send some help your way and my way and let's do all this and grow together. Ah is your work Your work is so amazing. So I want I want to make sure that we all are sustainable.

35:44.61
Phil
Um, she.

35:50.50
Phil
Um I appreciate that you're just too kind.

35:59.75
wearabletakeover
Um, and then also you know you've you've got a lot of connections and a lot of leaders. You know, know who you are. But I think that in this particular type of work. Um, because there's such an emphasis on startups and startups gaining funding I think there's a platform now to make sure that.

36:14.24
Phil
Um, is.

36:18.67
wearabletakeover
We don't forget those that are curating the stem experiences and the stem exposure in the state. So with that being said and I'm just throwing this out there because now we have a new. Um we have new leadership in the state and.

36:20.43
Phil
Um.

36:33.49
Phil
Um, didn't.

36:34.93
wearabletakeover
Ah, of course you've been around. You've seen a lot of different things you've seen how the emphasis on Stem has changed. What would you like to see as it relates to support for stem support organizations and and I'm saying that from not only a state level but from a national level and and I'm saying that with caution.

36:49.91
Phil
Are.

36:53.47
wearabletakeover
From the standpoint of all of the press that we're seeing around startups without a lot of emphasis on organizations like yours.

36:58.47
Phil
Um, is is.

37:01.15
Phil
Well, the number 1 thing is public awareness making the public aware that what's out there as far as the organizations and the opportunities the people that are working into it of course funding is always you know important and helpful and we need that. Um, but I think public awareness is even more important. Um, because you know I talk to people. Um, we've been around since fifteen and people even in stem still don't know that we exist. It's like oh I'm glad I learned about it and I'm sure there are many organizations that are doing similar work. That are in the same boat that they're working very hard. They've been around a while and people just don't know about it yet. So public increasing public awareness making the public aware of all the great work that's being done by many many organizations and people is number one funding is number 2.

37:50.29
wearabletakeover
Yes, funding and so you know it Phil I'm I'm gonna you know I used to be a cheer so I'm gonna raise my megaphone for that. But again because I believe in the work that you're doing so folks can go on your website and donate or how can we donate to Marylandton festival.

37:58.65
Phil
Um, driven.

38:08.39
Phil
It's people can ah folks and go our website and it's very simple. It's wwdot maryland stemfesold.org and if they go our website. We have a link to a gofundme account but we also you can send us emails chat with us either about volunteering or just learning more about the organization. Or connecting us with other organizations. They want to be a part of so our website is our is our channel is our funnel is the best way to connect with us and of course we're on social media and obviously we're in hundreds of places in the fall. We also go well throughout the year and attend different stem events and try and help people learn about the festival and and stem opportunities.

38:48.24
wearabletakeover
I love it. So folks if you're listening or if you're watching or if you're rewatching this at another date I'm gonna challenge you right now to go to the marylandstemfes.org and donate at least $5 just go to his go to his website and donate at least $5 you do not know how much it means to stem organizers to have someone um contribute to the work that you're doing that is literally impacting the world from where from where they are and so Phil the the. Ah, so you have programs throughout the year and again we're preparing everyone for October is that right? you want to share those dates again.

39:29.83
Phil
Correct this year will start on October thirteenth and we run through November eleventh and we don't run too many programs throughout the year but what we do is participate in other organizations program and help them run their programs. And help them become aware of the festival and gear them up for the festival in the fall.

39:50.37
wearabletakeover
Okay, so what we want to do is we want to make a tremendous impact so weable takeover community I know you might be saying hey luishia can we donate the wearable Takeck ventures. Yes, we want to do that too. But specifically if you're listening and watching this episode I'm going to ask that you don't. Donate to wearable tech ventures and that instead you donate to the Maryland stem festival because we want to make sure that we empower Phil that we help him so that he can prepare for this amazing festival series. That's gonna happen over the course of a month it's a lot of work. It's a lot of time. A lot of attention. It's a lot of detail and I know he likes detail because he came from an accounting background. How are we want to make sure that we show him some love from the wearable takeover and the wearable tech ventures ecosystem.

40:30.20
Phil
Then.

40:36.22
Phil
A.

40:42.41
wearabletakeover
Say hey we're in tandem we support you and we want to continue to see this to thrive and Phil you have our support so from an advocacy standpoint whereas if we actually need to go to the hill if we need to go somewhere and say. Don't forget about the stem organization that's producing this talent. That's ultimately going to become these unicorn superstars. We're with you there because I don't want the work to get lost because we're.

40:58.65
Phil
Um, the.

41:09.53
Phil
Um, youth are.

41:09.72
wearabletakeover
Doing the work there needs to be an emphasis there and there needs to be greater financial support to make sure that everyone is sustainable all right? So let me ask you a couple of questions Phil this is where it's gonna get fine. So I'm gonna call this section. This. Or that and ultimately I don't have a visual here and I don't know if when our editing happens if people are going to be able to see it but I'm going to ask you do you prefer this or that and we just want to kind of get to know bill a little bit more out of the work that he's doing on a daily basis and hopefully this gives him a little bit of a reprieve because he works. So.

41:30.54
Phil
Um.

41:42.85
Phil
Um.

41:48.53
wearabletakeover
Art all right? So thelma hold up my hands and so I'm going to say do you prefer? Let's start with something kind of easy. Do you prefer cats or dogs this or that cats or dogs.

41:52.00
Phil
Um.

42:00.70
Phil
Um I have 3 cats so I guess it's pretty obvious I prefer cats though. Dogs are very nice but I do prefer cats.

42:08.18
wearabletakeover
Okay, we got that kids all right? all right? all right? So now moving on so Phil do you prefer books or board games. Ah.

42:17.96
Phil
Um, I would say board games I don't seem to have as much time to read but 1 of my fondest memories growing up is playing scrabble with my parents so playing chess is ah is obviously an an enjoyable endeavor of mine. So I would say board games.

42:34.56
wearabletakeover
Um, oh my gosh Bill I love scrabble too like we're such so okay, so excited all right? So Phil how about travel in the states or an international excursion.

42:36.45
Phil
Yeah.

42:49.16
Phil
Um, I mean I have been abroad. Um I think I I like for traveling within the states. My favorite places to go to are the national parks. So um.

42:59.80
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

43:00.61
Phil
Well I do enjoy going abroad and there are a number of places on my bucket list and I've been to some great places I think I given the choice I still like traveling within the Us.

43:10.34
wearabletakeover
You know what? sidebar let me take a pause in the game of this or that um Phil you are absolutely right? that there are so many beautiful places in the us and I think the pandemic allowed us to rediscover a lot of those hidden gems and so I won't go. Too far into that because some people might get ptsd thinking about the pandemic and what it was like be a shut up in the house. All right? So let me go a little bit deeper so moving back into are this or that so fell from this or that do you prefer video games or. Youtube.

43:46.45
Phil
I would say Youtube I spend too much time on Youtube.

43:50.73
wearabletakeover
But I did do I love it. Okay, so um, Bill if you had the day and this is this is no shade on any of the prior guests they have worked with Phil if you had the day to explore would you prefer to go to Nasa.

44:01.94
Phil
Um, me.

44:10.13
Phil
Um.

44:10.21
wearabletakeover
Or would you prefer to go to visit Elon Musk okay

44:14.66
Phil
Oh definitely Nasa I mean that was one of my first interests was the Apollo program and definitely Nasa I always love going to Nasa my mother actually worked for Nasa for many years she was.

44:29.87
wearabletakeover
Very cool. We have a um.

44:32.47
Phil
She wasn't quite a hidden figures but she was a bit of a pioneer. She started working for Nasa in 1980 and she was in a unit at Goddard of like 300 people and one of only a handful of women. So.

44:44.21
wearabletakeover
It's amazing. Oh my gosh sure I have to introduce you to 1 of our um and you might even know 1 of our wearable tech founders that also works at Nasa she's producing a suit so we'll have to share that at a future date all right? So um, for relaxation do you prefer.

44:52.36
Phil
Um, in.

45:01.90
wearabletakeover
Ah, Bonfire or the movies.

45:05.60
Phil
Um, um I would say the movies.

45:11.60
wearabletakeover
Movies I love it if folks I wanted I wanted to share that. So now I'm going to get into a couple wearable products so on is this or that so Phil if you were to engage with a wearable product would you prefer to engage with one of the newer sunglasses. And why did I just lose my train of thought on the manufacturer but we got a couple different manufacturers that have the sunglasses that have the audio so that you can take calls but then also listen to your radio. So I'll just say that because they didn't sponsor this segment so that's okay, who do prefer to have a wearable sunglasses or would you prefer to have.

45:34.16
Phil
Are the.

45:47.22
wearabletakeover
A wearable watch from any manufacturer.

45:52.70
Phil
Um, well that for me I would say the sunglasses could like to have the music very close to my ears and not neat headphones. Ah I I would say sunglasses to keep the music close to me.

46:04.90
wearabletakeover
Okay, very cool, very cool now. Let me show you let me share this last product for this or that featuring one a bar traditional wearables. So if you were to wear a wearable ring Would you prefer for that ring to unlock your doors unlock.

46:09.86
Phil
And.

46:17.86
Phil
Um, is he.

46:23.79
wearabletakeover
Um, um, any system that you may be using or would you prefer to wear a ring that measures all of your vital signs on a daily basis.

46:36.49
Phil
Um, you said, um, unlock your door unlock a system or unlock or track your vitals. Um.

46:41.61
wearabletakeover
Within.

46:50.20
Phil
Probably track my vitals. Um, yeah I'm very concerned with my health. Unfortunately, there's been a lot of health issues with my family with my parents and so probably track my vitals.

46:51.99
wearabletakeover
Um, okay.

47:00.80
wearabletakeover
Okay I love it and there was some thought given there like let me let me see what's going on there. Okay I so appreciate you playing in this or that where we get to know you a little bit more as a person. The man behind all of the magic as well as as well as explorer. So wearable products that are coming to the market and we're so excited because we have not shared all of the works that our founders have been producing. Books have been saying when can we see it when can we see it and so ah, we are aiming to share some of those in July and Phil is working with us. He's been.

47:24.92
Phil
I think.

47:36.29
wearabletakeover
An amazing advocate to help us expand our programming throughout the state in July and Phil let me just let you know that one of our founders is actually coming in from Brazil. So while he's here we want to make sure that you are able to take advantage of any video or any sense that you need.

47:46.40
Phil
Um.

47:52.90
Phil
Um, sure.

47:53.92
wearabletakeover
Um, to expand throughout the state of Maryland so with that being said, um, but let's talk to the parents a little bit here. Let's talk to the parents in family units and family supporters. What do you want them to know or what do you want to? what's that last little note you want to share with them today. Um, as it relates to getting involved and getting engaged in stem. Overall.

48:15.35
Phil
Mother said, um, earlier the important thing to know is that stem is for everyone. It's not only for certain people doesn't matter what your background is what your interest is there is a role a space and opportunity for you in Stem. It's just a matter of. Taking a little bit of time and finding it and finding what you find what your children what your family finds as fun and interesting and exciting and once you find it grab onto it and yes, keep drilling into it and keep expanding that interest. And the learning opportunities and make it part of make it your passion.

48:57.50
wearabletakeover
I love it. Thank you so much Phil and I appreciate that call to action for parents and for the community we're gonna try to to give our folks an opportunity so that so that the children can see them having fun. So I really think i' wantnna push this so that we can have like this fun gaming challenge with all of us together. So the children can watch but again please make sure you support Phil we are listening to this episode quickly log in to Maryland andbescile dot org please make sure make a donation or donate some of your time I'm sure.

49:17.80
Phil
Um, a.

49:32.60
Phil
Um.

49:33.20
wearabletakeover
Bill could use those volunteers and again there's no competition, we work together. The only way that we're ever going to achieve our goals is to work together and Bill. You are one of the greatest partners we have in our ecosystem. So I want to just say. Thank you on behalf everyone associated with our ecosystem. Thank you for what you do? Thank you for your advocacy. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being the change that we need to see and also creating opportunities. Not only for leaders such as myself. But also for our youth. So that they can thrive and ultimately when they get on whoever talks show because Oprah you know she she's retired so they could say that they started because of being introduced to stem via the maryland stem festival. So thank you for all that you do.

50:23.25
Phil
Well thank you for having me and I will enjoy working with you I look forward to working with you even more in the future and it's been a pleasure being on this podcast look forward to hearing it when it comes out.

50:35.58
wearabletakeover
Outsandning so folks we're not done but this episode we gotta cut it right? because you'll be like are they gonna keep me here all day and we love what we do? So what I'm gonna say is I'm gonna challenge you one all right? told you go to the Maryland stembes dotorg website also make sure you register.

50:43.40
Phil
Um.

50:52.45
wearabletakeover
For the hackathon go to wearabletechventures.org and you might get an opportunity to challenge fill in myself directly. So we're gonna make it fun for all of the adults. Yes, of course we got fun stuff for the kids but I want to challenge the adults. Okay, we want we want you to register and we're gonna create opportunity for you to work and play.

51:00.64
Phil
Um.

51:11.29
wearabletakeover
Bill and myself make sure you stay tuned for our ending notes. You'll hear those coming shortly and don't forget to tell us what you think about this episode have a great day.