Ep 2: STEM-gagement with Rae Johnston

A LOT TO SAY PODCAST

Rae Johnston is a multi-award-winning STEM journalist, Wiradjuri woman, mother, broadcaster, voice actor and MC.

Rae is the first ever Science and Technology Editor for NITV across online, TV and radio. A host on TV’s That Startup Show and The Point, Rae is also the co-host of Take It Blak, NITV’s podcast exploring the stories behind the news. Rae is currently voicing “Janali Banks” in ABC & Nine’s animated children’s series, Space Nova.

With almost a decade of experience appearing on every national television and radio news program in Australia, Rae is a leading commentator on all things science, technology, video games and geek culture.

Rae is a founding mentor with The Working Lunch program, supporting underrepresented entry-level people in games. At the recent Australian Game Developer Awards, Rae was the recipient of the first “Lighting The Way” award for advocacy and support of the local games industry. She is also an External Assessor with Film Victoria, helping to fund independent games.

Rae is a part of the prestigious “brains trust” Leonardos group for The Science Gallery Melbourne, a mentor for Science Media Centre Australia‘s Indigenous Science program, and a Federal Council Delegate for the MEAA.

A few points in the chit-chat:

1. Diving into the less glamorous side of creative work- operations and admin
2. Indigenous focussed STEM engagement via the platform NITV
3. Generalisation vs specialisation in roles
4. A passionate approach to career paths
5. An overview of the video game industry within Australia
6. Increasing diversity ratio’s and an emphasis on mentorship for under-represented developers
7. The influence of pop-culture and video game storytelling
8. Indigenous representation and advocacy
9. The noise that surrounds us

Notes and Links:

• ‘Tell me the best things that’s happened in your life because of video games’ tweet
• AFTRS
• Australian Game Developer Awards
• Crossy Road
• Dragon Bear Studios: Chaos Tavern
• Film Victoria (Video Game advisory)
• Fruit Ninja
• Girl Geek Academy
• Gizmodo
• IMDB
• Junkee
• Kumobius
• Lighting the Way award
• Lisy Kane
• Melbourne International Games Week
• Morrissey Management
• NITV
• NITV - Living Blak
• NITV - News wrap up program 'Nula'
• NITV - Take it Blak Podcast
• NITV - The Point
• SBS
• Science Gallery Melbourne Leonardo’s
• Space Nova
• Summerfall Studios: Chorus: An Adventure Musical
• That Startup Show
• The Gardens Between
• The Outsider
• The Voxel Agents
• The Working Lunch
• Tim Shiel

Follow @raejohnston on Instagram and Twitter

Music by Gareth Leach Music by way of Bateman

Twitter: @ALTSProjects

Instagram: @altsprojects_

Hosted by Gaz Williams @gwilliamsALTS