Tomorrow's Innovators Podcast
by Paul Hill
Paul Hill is a Research and Extension Professor at Utah State University where he has developed national, award-winning STEM education programs. This podcast is for the community of caring adults who serve young people in their profession and as volunteers. In this show, Paul deconstructs the foremost youth programs (e.g., FIRST robotics, 4-H) and resources for guiding young people down the path of innovation and leadership with successful professionals and volunteers. This is your go-to podcast for understanding how to lead, mentor, and inspire tomorrow's innovators.
Episodes
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How Youth Robotics Positively Impacts Refugees
The Utah 4-H Underdogs are a robotics club of young engineers and innovators that are also refugees from 9 difference countries. In 2019 these incredible youth competed in their regional FIRST Robotics FRC Competition and won in the rookie category, which allowed them to advance on, to the FIRST...
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An Early Adopter of FIRST LEGO League in Utah Shares Her Story and Lessons Learned
Deb Ivie is an Extension Assistant Professor at Utah State University where she develops 4-H STEM youth programs. Deb graduated from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate and masters degree in human development but got her start in positive youth development as a mother and eventually a...
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Competing in FIRST LEGO League as a 4-H Robotics Club from Rural Utah
Alexis Worwood is the head coach of the 4-H Emoji-Coders robotics club from "coal country" in rural Emery county, Utah. She shares both the success and struggles of starting a 4-H robotics club that competes in FIRST LEGO League--from figuring out the rules and finding balance with the members of...
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A Breakdown of All the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) City Shaper Robot Game Missions with Curtis Larsen
Curtis Larsen is a professor of computer science at Dixie State University and dedicated FLL volunteer since 2011. He shares his wisdom, experience, and insights through each mission of the FIRST LEGO League City Shaper challenge, providing you with tips and guidance on how to optimize your…
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How to Organize FIRST LEGO League Teams Part 2 with Sherri and Rachel Lords
Sherri Lords is a motivated classroom teacher at Red Mountain Elementary and manages a thriving 4-H Afterschool computer science club that includes multiple FLL teams. Rachel is current Utah 4-H State Ambassador who has been involved in FLL as a student mentor for the past two years and will be a...
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The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) CITY SHAPER Challenge
2019-2020 FLL challenge - Youth are asked: What if you could build a better world? Where would you begin? In FIRST, youth are part of a community brimming with inspiration, creativity, and hope for a stronger, more sustainable future—one that's built better together. Provided in this episode is…
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How to Organize FIRST LEGO League Teams Part 1 with Heidi and Aubree Miller
Heidi is an elementary school teacher of 10 years and has lead and organized multiple FLL teams at her school. Aubree has served with Heidi for the past 4 years as an FLL mentor, and is an FTC robotics competitor. They have extensive experience in how to bring FLL into a school.
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How to Succeed in Building Youth and Robots with Gayla Peacock
Gayla Peacock became involved in robotics when her brother, Curtis Larsen, asked her to be an assistant coach for their new team. The team has won awards at every FLL regional qualifier that they've been to, and attribute much of their success to Gayla's taskmaster skills. You don't need to be a...
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Inspiring STEM Culture at School Through FIRST Youth Robotics with Matthew Lowe
Matthew Lowe, principle of Hurricane Elementary, has a love for FIRST robotics. He has coached teams at his school for the past 6 years and created a robotics program with 13 teams. He brings insight and perspective into how a veteran school administrator leads, organizes, and supports a...
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Being an Involved Parent in Youth Robotics with Jenny and Alex Chamberlain
Jenny and Alex Chamberlain are 4-H volunteers that have served as FLL coaches for multiple seasons. All the kids on their teams, from "Built to Be Wild" to "The Droids You Are Looking For" have had tremendous success applying the FIRST core values of gracious professionalism and cooperation in...
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Award Winning FLL Judging Presentations from G3
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.
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Intro to Season 3 and the FIRST RISE Season
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
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Jumping into the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Program with Chris & Sarah Ashworth
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…
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Jumping into the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Program (with No Experience) with Rosey Rosander
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...
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Youth Robotics and Soft Skills
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...
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Bringing Youth Robotics to a Rural Community with Rob Murray
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...
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Ideas for Improving your FIRST LEGO League Project with Dave Francis
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...
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How the 4-H Nerf Herders Prepare for FIRST LEGO League Judging Sessions
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...
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An Introduction to the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) with Chelsey Short
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.
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The History of 4-H
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.
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FIRST: 30 Years of STEM Inspiration: 2018-2019 Season Theme
Paul showcases the May 15, 2018 FIRST press release announcing the 2019 season themes: FLL Jr.- MISSION MOON FLL- INTO ORBIT FTC- ROVER RUCKUS FRC- DESTINATION: DEEP SPACE
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The Gators Grokking Gizmos 4-H Club FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Project Presentation
For the season two pilot Paul takes you inside the project judging room to listen to the 4-H Gator's Grokking Gizmos project presentation at the Utah South FLL State Championship during the 2017-18 Hydrodynamics season.
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Transitioning from FIRST LEGO League (FLL) to the FIRST TECH Challenge (FTC) with Brian Allen (Part 2 of 2)
Brian Allen has coached and mentored 4-H youth robotics clubs for the last 6 years, transitioning from an award-winning FLL team to a FTC team that finished 16th in the world. He's equal parts nerd, geek, inventor, and mad scientist and has a well-earned reputation for bad dad jokes.
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Transitioning from FIRST LEGO League (FLL) to the FIRST TECH Challenge (FTC) with Bailee Allen (Part 1 of 2)
Bailee Allen is a recent 4-H alum, Utah 4-H State Officer, cofounder of The PrestidigiTaters – FTC Team 9761, has competed in the World FTC Championships twice, and has become a role model for young girls in Southern Utah.
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How to Prepare Your Youth Robotics Team for Core Values Judging at a FIRST LEGO League Competition with Miriam Force
Miriam Force is one of Paul's favorite people on planet Earth. They have worked side-by-side for the past 8 years at Utah State University Extension where she has served on the 4-H Staff for over 20 years. Miriam has also been an FLL Core Value Judge for the past 7 years.
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Winning Strategies for the FLL Robot Game Mission and Lessons Learned from the HYDRODYNAMICS Season with Bryan Poulsen
Bryan Poulsen has served as a head referee for the past four years at regional and statewide FLL competitions. He gives back because he loves paying it forward, a principle he learned as a national officer in Future Business Leaders of America. Paul and Bryan share how FLL robotics teams can plan...
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What to expect at a FIRST LEGO League event with Dolores Heaton
Dolores Heaton has volunteered as the FLL tournament director in St. George, Utah since 2011 and has volunteered at a record 17 FLL events in the state. She even has the mini-fig earrings and LEGO tiara to prove it. Dolores and Paul talk about what first-time teams can expect at an FLL event.
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Lessons Learned from a Successful FIRST LEGO League Season with Curtis Larsen (Part 4 of 4)
This is Part 4 of 4 in a series of episodes dedicated to deconstructing how a successful FLL team functions. On this episode, Paul interviews Curtis Larsen once again, This time about his 4-H robotics club, the Gator's Grokking Gizmos.
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Lessons Learned from a Successful FIRST LEGO League Season with Lisa Henderson (Part 3 of 4)
This is Part 3 of 4 in a series of episodes dedicated to deconstructing how a successful FLL team functions. On this episode, Paul interviews Lisa Henderson, head coach of the 4-H SuperBot Bros robotics club.
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Lessons Learned from a Successful FIRST LEGO League Season with Amy Hummel (Part 2 of 4)
This is Part 2 of 4 in a series of episodes dedicated to deconstructing how a successful FLL team functions. On this episode, Paul interviews Amy Hummel, head coach of the 4-H Fantastic Four robotics club.
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Lessons Learned from a Successful FIRST LEGO League Season with Andrea Schmutz (Part 1 of 4)
This is Part 1 of 4 in a series of episodes dedicated to deconstructing how a successful FLL team functions. On this episode, Paul interviews Andrea Schmutz, head coach of the 4-H Nerf Herders robotics club.
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A Debrief on the FIRST LEGO League 2017-18 HYDRODYNAMICS Challenge with Curtis Larsen
Curtis Larsen, Computer Science Professor at Dixie State University, has been a FLL coach for 7 seasons, FTC coach for 2 seasons, 4-H volunteer club leader for robotics and computer science clubs for 5 years. Curtis and Paul debrief the 2017-18 HYDRODYNAMICS season.
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How 4-H Can Be Your FIRST Robotics Team's Competitive Advantage with Dave Francis
Dave Francis, Extension Professor at Utah State University stars in this episode. Dave's STEM projects include: water quality, 4-H Teens as Teachers, 4-H Science in Urban Communities and engaging rural youth in Afterschool STEM efforts. His most recent efforts include building capacity for the...
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4-H: Our Nation's Youth Development Organization with Craig Dart
Craig is the Assistant Director of Utah 4-H and youth programs and State Specialist over 4-H Mentoring, Leadership, and Citizenship. Craig and Paul discuss 4-H, our nation's youth development organization.
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An Introduction to FIRST Robotics
Paul Hill introduces you to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization, and this can't be done without first introducing its founder, Dean Kamen. Paul goes into mission, vision, methodology, and values of FIRST, as well as a brief explanation of the 4 FIRST...
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Coming Soon: Tomorrow's Innovators by Paul Hill
Coming in July 2018, Paul Hill, USU Extension professor, begins his project to support the community of caring adults who volunteer in youth robotics programs such as: FIRST LEGO League Jr, FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, & 4-H. This podcast about guiding young people down the path of...
About this show
Paul Hill is a Research and Extension Professor at Utah State University where he has developed national, award-winning STEM education programs. This podcast is for the community of caring adults who serve young people in their profession and as volunteers. In this show, Paul deconstructs the foremost youth programs (e.g., FIRST robotics, 4-H) and resources for guiding young people down the path of innovation and leadership with successful professionals and volunteers. This is your go-to podcast for understanding how to lead, mentor, and inspire tomorrow's innovators.
Hosted by
Paul Hill