Crystal Lister empowers STEM students one explosion at a time

Crystal Lister has a reputation for “blowing up spots.”

Literally. 

But the Houston educator, STEM advocate, and self-described “NASA girlie” isn’t interested in destruction. Her explosions are strategic, joyful disruptions designed to ignite curiosity in young minds. Through fire, fizz, and high-powered reactions, Lister transforms science into spectacle, capturing students’ attention who might otherwise feel disconnected from STEM.

That mission is a family affair. Alongside her husband Kevin and their daughters—Krissy, 6, and Kinsley, 5—Lister leads “Mommy and Me: The Listers” (MAMTL), an organization dedicated to hands-on STEM education for youth ages 5 to 15. Whether online or in person, the “Dynamic Four” bring energy, accessibility, and cultural relevance to science learning, particularly for children from underserved communities, so they can feel and be “STEMazing.”

Lister, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, holds degrees from Texas A&M University and Lamar University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in leadership and innovation from New York University. She also serves as a NASA Operational Psychologist Specialist, supporting astronaut training and mission readiness. But her journey into STEM was anything but predetermined.

Path to purpose

Lister’s early ambitions were modest. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a cashier. But life—and purpose—had other plans.

Her turning point came in the classroom. Starting as a substitute teacher, Lister quickly realized her impact extended far beyond lesson plans.

“I became a substitute teacher, and I was like, ‘You know what? It is my calling to make these children better than what I aspired to be,’” she said.

That calling deepened when she encountered a young student whose goal mirrored her own childhood dream of a lifetime of cashier work.

“And I was like, ‘Nope. We’re going to change it together. And by the end, we both wanted to be astronauts,’” Lister recalled. “So, I grew alongside her growth… I wasn’t too late to reinvent myself. And therein lies my goal: to light a fire, sometimes a literal fire, into the hearts, minds, and souls of the next generation.”

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Finding opportunity during COVID

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional education, Lister saw possibility where others saw paralysis. As parents suddenly became teachers, she stepped in with digital content that made STEM engaging and accessible.

“I was like, ‘I’m already a teacher. Let me help you,’” she said.

What began as a leap of faith quickly evolved into a movement. Launching a YouTube channel, Lister taught herself video production, thumbnail design, and SEO optimization—skills far removed from her formal training. Today, Mommy and Me: The Listers reaches more than 75,000 families and has impacted over 350,000 lives through both digital and in-person programming.

Her philosophy is simple but uncompromising: “Ready is a lie.”

“Ready is a lie, because if I had to wait before I crossed the street to get my ducks in order, I would have never crossed. And personally, I would have never started a YouTube channel. When my good friend said, ‘You should start a YouTube channel,’ I’m like, ‘Absolutely not. Who’s going to listen to me?’” she said. “Do it afraid, do it scared, do it timid… do it anyway.”

And the content? It’s explosive by design. Lister describes her demonstrations as “high-quality, high-powered, sometimes really big chemical explosions” that hook students instantly.

“They say there are four love languages, but mine is the fifth: when kids go, ‘Aaaaaaaah.’ If I get them to do that, I have them hooked, and I can teach them anything,” shared Lister.

That formula has taken the Listers far beyond Houston—including international STEM outreach work in Ghana, West Africa.

From cashier to the cosmos

Today, Lister’s work is deeply embedded in the nation’s space program. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center, she supports astronaut candidates, International Space Station crews, and future Mars missions.

“We support, we train astronaut candidates… for ultimately their journey into outer space,” she said. “We’re supporting moon missions and beyond. Literally, the work that we do is out of this world.”

Her previous role in NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement further reflects her commitment to equity in education. There, she helped develop K–12 curriculum and supported Houston ISD schools in becoming aerospace-focused campuses through the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet School Assistance Program.

“We helped write lessons, integrate aerospace curriculum, and so much more,” she said, describing schools “supercharged with NASA backing.”

Lister often points to the film Hidden Figures as a reflection of her journey—one that centers marginalized brilliance and collective advancement. It’s a fitting parallel. Like the women portrayed in the film, Lister is expanding who gets to see themselves in science—and who gets to shape its future.

Products, programs, and impact

Through MAMTL and its affiliated initiatives, Lister continues to expand her reach. Her offerings include a growing YouTube channel, live STEM Carnivals, and specialized programs like The STEM Magicians, where participants “uncover the magic of science.”

She also founded The STEMPrint, a nonprofit aimed at creating a lasting blueprint for STEM engagement among youth and families.

Parents have taken notice.

“Mommy and Me: The Listers is an experience where science feels like magic and learning is full of excitement,” said Jay McGee, a parent whose children attend Lister’s events. “Through fun, hands-on experiments, MAMTL truly inspires discovery and adventure.”

At a time when Black and Brown students remain underrepresented in STEM fields, Lister’s work is both intervention and invitation. She’s not just teaching science, she’s reshaping imagination, expanding possibility, and insisting that the next generation see themselves not at the margins of innovation, but at its center.

For more information, visit www.mommyandmethelisters.com or explore Mommy and Me: The Listers on YouTube.