Born a patriot, Dr. Leslie Gruis spent 30 years as a mathematician and intelligence officer at the National Security Agency, where she helped develop technology solutions that balanced national security with civil rights. She later served at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Intelligence Council. Now retired, she writes and speaks on privacy, surveillance, and democracy—making complex topics accessible for everyday Americans. Dr. Gruis is the author of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future, The Privacy Pirates, and a forthcoming third book. She also mentors K–12 STEM students, with a special focus on middle school girls.

Dr Gruis on math: "In my experience, students rarely struggle with content alone. What they often lack is confidence and context. Many bright students are afraid to try, afraid to fail, or unsure how what they’re learning fits into the real world. The most impactful thing educators can do is show them that problem-solving isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity."

Dr Gruis on privacy: "One crucial point is that privacy is not just a personal preference—it’s a civic right. When we give up privacy, even in small ways, we weaken our ability to think, speak, and dissent freely. It’s not just about protecting data; it’s about protecting civil rights. Devices like Ring doorbells, fitness trackers, and smartphones collect massive amounts of data, often without people fully realizing the long-term social impacts. This normalization of surveillance makes it even more urgent that we think critically about the trade-offs."

Connect with Dr Gruis:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leslie-gruis-b8060b141/
• Get a copy of The Privacy Pirates
• Learn more about Cyber Corps sfs.opm.gov

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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Elliot Lichtman started teaching online classes in computer science when he was a freshman in high school. Small classes quickly grew into a series of larger and longer offerings, and from those, his book The Computer Always Wins was born. Elliot is currently a sophomore at Yale University.

In The Computer Always Wins, Elliot Lichtman teaches some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games everyone already knows. This book will provide not only a deeper understanding of foundational programming techniques but also a new appreciation for the amazing feats that can be accomplished using simple, readable code.

Connect with Elliot:

• Website: thecomputeralwayswins.com
• Instagram: @thecomputeralwayswins
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elliot-lichtman-728004279/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

What can a couple of high school students do to encourage STEM interest and skills?

For Edison Law and Revaant Srivastav, that meant starting the California STEM Academy, an online option to provide tutoring help in subjects such as Math, Science, Coding, and PSAT prep. They also help students with passion projects, as well as providing summer "boot camps" to build up specific STEM skills. And what started as just two students has grown to almost 20 students helping others to experience the joy and success in STEM that they have achieved.

California STEM Academy is officially registered as a nonprofit organization under IRC section 501(c)(3) that is 100% student-run. They are passionate about helping all students learn more about STEM and discover the resources they need to be successful. As they grow, they hope to continue emphasizing the importance of STEM for every student!

Edison and Revaant will be seniors in 2025-2026 at Monte Vista High School in California. They are both extensively involved in STEM organizations at their school and hope to continue their education in the STEM fields.

Connect with the California STEM Academy:

• Website: californiastemacademy.org
• Updates on current opportunities: californiastemacademy.org/updatespast-programs

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show