Office Hours: How They Got the Coolest Jobs in STEM

From Magic to Mechanics: How Karin Became a Disney Imagineer (and Got One of the Coolest Jobs in STEM)

What is an Imagineer? Today’s guest, Karin Hanson, breaks it all down — and reveals what it’s like to bring Disney magic to life through science, technology, engineering, and math. Karin talks about her role at Disney Imagineering, the collaborative process behind park attractions, and why no one path leads to a job like hers. From creative problem-solving to complex engineering challenges, Karin shows how imagination and STEM go hand in hand. Guest: Karin Hanson – Disney Imagineer, designing immersive experiences at the intersection of creativity, engineering, and innovation Host: Kari Byron - Founder EXPLR, Co-Director National STEM Festival, former Mythbuster Brought to you by the National STEM Festival , powered by EXPLR.

She Builds Space Habitats: How Rowan Palmer Got One of the Coolest Jobs in STEM

From prototyping future homes in orbit to solving complex engineering puzzles with her team, Rowan shows us what it really takes to build for space — and why systems engineers are the glue holding it all together. If you've ever dreamed of working in space, designing missions, or being the person who figures out where astronauts eat, sleep, and live. Guest: Rowan Palmer – Systems engineer at Lockheed Martin, specializing in inflatable habitats for human space exploration Host: Kari Byron - Founder EXPLR, Co-Director National STEM Festival, former Mythbuster Brought to you by the National STEM Festival , powered by EXPLR.

From 56 Rejections to Emmy Wins: How Jacob Wycoff Got One of the Coolest Jobs in STEM

From waking up at 3 a.m. to track storms to breaking down climate change on air, Emmy-winning meteorologist Jacob Wycoff doesn’t just report the weather — he lives it. In this episode, he talks AI in forecasting, climate reporting, and the surprising roles meteorologists play in food, energy, and air travel — all while sharing how he went from 56 job rejections to one of the coolest careers in STEM. Guest: Jacob Wycoff – Multi-Emmy Award-winning meteorologist, climate reporter, and STEM communicator based in Boston Host: Kari Byron - Founder EXPLR, Co-Director National STEM Festival, former Mythbuster Brought to you by the National STEM Festival , powered by EXPLR.

From MIT to Netflix: How Emily Calandrelli Got One of the Coolest Jobs in STEM

How do you go from engineering labs to hosting a Netflix show? Emily Calandrelli did just that—and she’s breaking it all down. In this episode of Office Hours from the National STEM Festival powered by EXPLR, Emily shares how failure shaped her path, what it’s like to work in STEM and media, and the advice she wishes someone told her back in high school. Guest: Emily Calandrelli – MIT engineer, author, Emmy-nominated TV host, and STEM advocate Host: Kari Byron - Founder EXPLR, Co-Director National STEM Festival, former Mythbuster Brought to you by the National STEM Festival [https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/], powered by EXPLR.