In this Stoked Edition, Steve Larosiliere and Cue Pierre move from style and first impressions to the real work of building programs and systems that meet young people where they are. They touch on how appearance shapes perception (mustaches, glasses, NYFW) and why Steve ultimately left NYC for Chicago—family, school access, and the cost-of-living calculus many parents face.

Then they dive into Stoked 2.0: a practical update on school partnerships (six contracts signed and counting), how to close deals with principals (show up, bring coffee, make it easy), and an inside look at Stoked’s the new platform designed to track programs, participation, and impact in real time. The conversation introduces "algorithmic youth development," a fresh approach to mentorship that helps teens intentionally reprogram their social feeds toward positive goals, skill-building, and role models. They wrap with a quick update on Stoked's 20-year event and a reminder that the organization is no longer just talking about change.

Key Topics Covered

• Why presentation matters: mustaches, glasses, and being "seen" in youth culture (hello, NYFW).
• NYC vs. Chicago for families: lotteries, school access, and the true cost of raising kids.
• School partnerships update: six contracts signed (including HSFI), with more in the pipeline.
• How to close with principals: show up with solutions (and coffee), make Stoked a flex they can share.
• Quality vs. quantity: aim for fewer, deeper partnerships—or both if capacity allows.
• Stoked 2.0 vision: meet youth on their phones with intentional, positive content.
• "Algorithmic youth development": helping students reshape their For You pages toward goals and growth.
• Systems thinking for teens: understanding and navigating education, tech, and other systems.
• Stoked 20-Year Event: ticket sales, art auction, sponsorship outreach, and a fundraising run.
• Stoked Plus reveal: admin dashboard, youth/coach logins, enrollments, attendance, and future features (programs, events, mentor signups).
• Tracking what matters: logging hours across activities (like Fortnite tracks playtime) to close the opportunity gap.
• From idea to build: the journey from "Stoked Plus" mockups (2013–2016) to a working platform today.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Appearance

00:55 Understanding Systems Thinking

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Follow the Journey:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

@stokedorg

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

buildergrowth.io

Design with Purpose:

purposedesignbuild.com