Welcome to STEM to Stern, the podcast where curiosity meets critical thinking! In each 5-7 minute episode, we explore fascinating topics that tie into the world of STEM, offering fresh perspectives and stimulating discussions for STEMgineers of all ages.
Our goal is to encourage healthy debate, creative exploration, and thoughtful consideration of diverse viewpoints. Because learning isn’t just about knowing the right answer, but about understanding how to think.
Perfect for kicking off your class with brainteasers or bell ringers, STEM to Stern is designed to get lovers of STEM thinking an
Mind Wipe: Is forgetting the future of brain science?
Imagine choosing which memories to keep and which to forget. This week, Chauntée and Jake dive deep into the science (and sci-fi) of memory erasure. Inspired by Artemis Fowl’s fairies and classics like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Memento, they explore a fascinating question: Could we really delete memories?
From trauma treatment to ethical dilemmas, mind-wiping is more than just a plot twist. Jake’s curiosity leads to optogenetics: real tech that uses light to disrupt or ease the impact of fear-based memories in mice. But it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. The brain’s memory network is like a path of glowing neurons. Can we remove a section without triggering a chain reaction?
Chauntée worries about unintended consequences: if we erase painful experiences, do we also lose the lessons that shape who we are? The conversation gets hilariously personal when Chauntée confesses a deep fear of frogs (Jake immediately starts plotting prank ideas).
Would you erase memories on demand if you could? Jake says no. He’d overthink every choice. For both hosts, the idea of curating your mind like a photo album raises serious questions about identity, control, and what it means to grow.
What memory would you erase if given the chance? Or would you leave your mind untouched, warts and all?
Tune in now and let us know: Is forgetting the next frontier or a step too far?
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Visit our website to discover more STEM resources for your classroom!
STEM to Stern Reflection Template (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Downloadable-Podcast-Worksheet-1.pdf)
STEM to Stern Classroom Discussion Questions (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Classroom-Discussion-Questions-1.pdf)
The STEMgineer’s Guide to Problem-Solving
Grades K-5 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-1-1.pdf)
Grades 6-8 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-2-1.pdf)
Grade 9-12 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-3-1.pdf)
Grants and Classroom Funding (https://stemeducationworks.com/grants/)
Free Lessons and Worksheets (https://stemeducationworks.com/free-lessons-worksheets/)
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Stay up-to-date with all things STEM Education Works by connecting with us on social media!
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/stem-education-works/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stemeducationworks/)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@stem_education_works)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/STEMEducationWorks)
Twitter/X (https://x.com/STEMeduWorks)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@stemeducationworks)
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11 Sept 2025
Do you think Aliens have visited Earth?
In this episode of STEM to Stern, Chauntée and Jake dive into one of science’s biggest mysteries: the possibility of alien life … and whether it’s ever reached us here on Earth.
Jake, who holds a PhD in astrophysics, loves exploring big questions like this, even if they don’t have neat answers. He explains why the sheer size of the universe makes it likely that intelligent alien life does exist somewhere. But as for them visiting Earth? That’s a whole different challenge.
The distances between stars are unimaginably vast. For an alien species to reach us, they’d have to emerge not only close to our solar system in space, but also close to us in time.
Our planet’s billions of years old, and intelligent life has only existed here for a tiny sliver of that.
Jake shares why abduction stories and UFO sightings don’t convince him, but he’s still fascinated by the idea of connecting with another civilization. Chauntée offers a healthy reminder that science always leaves room for discovery. Just because we can’t do something now doesn’t mean we’ll never be able to. After all, time travel and warp drive sound wild … until an innovator invents one.
What do you think? Have aliens visited before? Will they visit in the future?
Listen in for a conversation about science, space, and the limits (or not!) of what’s possible.
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If you enjoyed this episode, sign up here to receive updates when a new episode releases: https://resources.stemeducationworks.com/podcast-sign-up (https://resources.stemeducationworks.com/podcast-sign-up)
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Check out these past blogs, webinars, and free resources!
Scanning the Skies with the New Vera C. Rubin Observatory (https://stemeducationworks.com/blog/scanning-the-skies-with-the-new-vera-c-rubin-observatory/)
Searching for a Sign in Space (https://stemeducationworks.com/blog/searching-for-a-sign-in-space/)
Astronomy Tips for Star Gazers (https://stemeducationworks.com/blog/astronomy-tips-for-star-gazers/)
STEM, Skepticism, and Science Fiction (https://stemeducationworks.com/blog/stem-skepticism-and-science-fiction/) -------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website to discover more STEM resources for your classroom!
STEM to Stern Reflection Template (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Downloadable-Podcast-Worksheet-1.pdf)
STEM to Stern Classroom Discussion Questions (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Classroom-Discussion-Questions-1.pdf)
The STEMgineer’s Guide to Problem-Solving
Grades K-5 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-1-1.pdf)
Grades 6-8 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-2-1.pdf)
Grade 9-12 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-3-1.pdf)
Grants and Classroom Funding (https://stemeducationworks.com/grants/)
Free Lessons and Worksheets (https://stemeducationworks.com/free-lessons-worksheets/)
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Stay up-to-date with all things STEM Education Works by connecting with us on social media!
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/stem-education-works/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stemeducationworks/)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@stem_education_works)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/STEMEducationWorks)
Twitter/X (https://x.com/STEMeduWorks)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@stemeducationworks)
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4 Sept 2025
Gadget Goals: Are We Becoming Human-Plus?
Cue the robot dance because this episode dives into the fascinating (and slightly unsettling) world of cybernetics. Inspired by Inspector Gadget’s spring-loaded arms and helicopter hats, Chauntée and Jake explore how far we've come in merging human biology with advanced technology. From glasses and hearing aids to mind-controlled prosthetics that can feel, science is pushing boundaries.
But with each leap forward, like bionic eyes or prosthetic limbs with full articulation, comes a deeper question: how far are we willing to go? Would you replace a perfectly good body part just to gain an enhancement? If you swapped out everything, would you still be human.. .or a robot?
The duo weighs the promise and the perils: accessibility, cost, potential hacks, and philosophical dilemmas. Is it more Iron Man or Darth Vader? Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy or the reverse-engineered robot in Bicentennial Man?
As the line between machine and human blurs, this episode dares listeners to ask: Would you go full cyborg? And where do we draw the line between helpful tech and a loss of humanity?
Listen in for a thought-provoking conversation about our possible cybernetic future.
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If you enjoyed this episode, sign up here to receive updates when a new episode releases: https://resources.stemeducationworks.com/podcast-sign-up
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Check out these past blogs, webinars, and free resources!
Introducing Robotics to the Classroom (https://stemeducationworks.com/informational-articles/introducing-robotics-to-the-classroom/)
Robotics as a Catalyst in the Computer Science Classroom (https://stemeducationworks.com/blog/robotics-as-a-catalyst-in-the-computer-science-classroom/)
Can Tiny Robots Heal You from the Inside Out? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLfOHN5Tbmw)
Merging Biology and Technology (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyOjTBCxVrg)
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Visit our website to discover more STEM resources for your classroom!
STEM to Stern Reflection Template (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Downloadable-Podcast-Worksheet-1.pdf)
STEM to Stern Classroom Discussion Questions (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Classroom-Discussion-Questions-1.pdf)
The STEMgineer’s Guide to Problem-Solving
Grades K-5 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-1-1.pdf)
Grades 6-8 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-2-1.pdf)
Grade 9-12 (https://stemeducationworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/STEMgineers-Workbook-Vol.-3-1.pdf)
Grants and Classroom Funding (https://stemeducationworks.com/grants/)
Free Lessons and Worksheets (https://stemeducationworks.com/free-lessons-worksheets/)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stay up-to-date with all things STEM Education Works by connecting with us on social media!
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/stem-education-works/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stemeducationworks/)
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@stem_education_works)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/STEMEducationWorks)
Twitter/X (https://x.com/STEMeduWorks)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@stemeducationworks)
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Sign up for our newsletter: https://stemeducationworks.com/newsletter-archive/ (https://stemeducationworks.com/newsletter-archive/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
288,786
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
79
Social presence
0
YouTube
82
Engagement
32
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