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If some of the conversations you've heard in this season of Made For Us have felt like a glimpse into the future, then you're not alone.
Our final guest of season 2, Marcus Engel, feels like he's already living in the future, thanks to AI, apps like Be My Eyes and other assistive devices.
Marcus is a speaker, author and compassion consultant. He's also an advisor to Haptic, whose founder, Kevin Yoo, was our guest last week. Haptic is the company behind one of the world's first touch-based navigation apps and it was a meeting with Marcus that inspired Kevin to start the company.
Today, we'll hear Marcus' story, how surviving massive trauma led him to become a compassion consultant and how he thinks haptic technology could impact mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Youâll learn:
Haptic technology's potential to guide people living with sight lossMarcusâs four-part definition of compassion and how itâs different to empathy Which products Marcus considers to be âcompassionate'Enjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend. Loved the episode? Tell the world with a 5-star review.
You might also like:
Navigation you can feel: the startup making the world accessible through touch
How to design a fairer healthcare system
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About Marcus Engel
Marcus Engel is an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame teaching compassion science to pre-meds. He's also a survivor of massive trauma, a keynote speaker, author and hospital/system consultant. He's written two books that have been adopted by scores of nursing and health profession programs across the country.
Learn more about Marcus Engel: www.MarcusEngel.com
Compassion & Courage podcast
Compassion is Action training video
Follow Marcus on LinkedIn
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Connect with Made for Us
Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Help shape the next season of this podcast! Please answer a few quick questions and tell us how we can make this show better for you: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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What if navigating the world didn't rely on sight at all? In this episode, Kevin Yoo, the CEO and founder of Haptic, joins us to tell the story of one of the worldâs first haptic navigation apps.
Kevin shares how he was motivated by his friendâs experience of becoming blind, how haptic technology is shaping a more accessible future and the challenges that come with rethinking how we move through the world.
This episode dives into:
- Why the sense of touch has been underutilized in tech and how Haptic is trying to change that
- What guiding a blind runner at the New York City Marathon revealed about the potential of haptic technology for blind and visually impaired runners
- Kevinâs experience of putting himself in the shoes of a blind person for a few weeks and the lessons that came from it
âď¸Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show!
You might also like:
Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility | Hans Jørgen Wiberg
'I don't need fixing - the world does.' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability
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About Kevin Yoo
Kevin is the CEO and Founder of Haptic, a technology company creating a universal language of touch. Haptic is developing products and experiences that communicate information through vibrations. Kevinâs mission is to redefine the way we intake information through technology, especially for people with disabilities. Haptic's flagship product, HapticNav, made history by guiding the first blind runner in the NYC Marathon without sighted or audio assistance.
Learn more about Haptic: https://haptic.works/
Download HapticNav on IOS and Android
Follow Haptic on Instagram and LinkedIn
Follow Kevin Yoo on Instagram
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Connect with Made for Us
Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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When science journalist Layal Liverpool was finally diagnosed with eczema as a teenager, it came as a shock. Not because of the condition itself, but because only one doctor had recognized it on her skin tone.
Pediatrician Tessa Davis had a similar wake-up call: she noticed that a Google search for common skin conditions only returned images of white patients. So she started collecting images of conditions on diverse skin tones, and launched a movement in the process.
In this episode, Layal Liverpool, author of Systemic: How Racism is Making Us Ill, and Tessa Davis, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, shed light on how racial inequities show up in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes â and how more inclusive care can lead to better health for all.
We discuss:
How racial health inequities harm not just marginalised communities, but all of usThe alarming disparities in maternal health in the UK and US that canât be explained by income aloneThe lack of diversity in medical textbooks and efforts to diversify the medical curriculumIf you found this episode as eye-opening as we did, share it with a friend and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to spread the word!
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About Layal Liverpool:
Layal Liverpool is a science journalist and author of SYSTEMIC: How Racism is Making Us Ill,â a book exploring the health harms of racism. She was a reporter for Nature and New Scientist and worked as a biomedical researcher at University College London and the University of Oxford. She holds a PhD in virology and immunology from the University of Oxford.
Learn more about Layal Liverpool: https://layalliverpool.com/
Follow Layal Liverpool on Instagram
About Tessa Davis:
Tessa is a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant at the Royal London Hospital, and an Honorary Clinical Reader at Queen Mary University of London. She is also an interview coach helping doctors in the UK prep for their NHS Consultant Interviews.
Learn more about Skin Deep: www.DFTBSkinDeep.com
Follow Tessa on Instagram
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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This week, weâre rewinding back to one of our most popular episodes from Season 1, with Rayouf Alhumedhi, creator of the headscarf emoji. (The episode was also shortlisted for last year's International Womenâs Podcast Awards in the âMoment of Insight from a Role Modelâ category.)
Rayouf launched the Hijab Emoji Project at the age of 16 to push for digital representation for Muslim women around the world. She was named one of Time magazineâs most influential teens and also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Rayouf has a Bachelorâs degree in Product Design and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. She currently works as an investor at Bessemer Venture Partners.
In this episode, Rayouf shares:
Her motivation for creating the headscarf emojiWhat it takes to design a brand new emoji and get it approvedThe praise and backlash she received during her campaignHow Gen Z is pushing inclusive design to the forefrontKnow someone whoâd be inspired by this? Why not share it with them - and help even more people discover this show by leaving a 5-star rating or review wherever you listen!
You might also like:
The emoji puzzle: how to fit everyone in
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Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi: https://www.rayouf.com/
Follow Rayouf on Instagram
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Help us make this podcast better for you! Our quick listener survey is your chance to shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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What happens when women arenât considered in car safety design? For decades, crash test dummies have been modeled on the average male, but studies now show that women are more likely to be injured or killed in certain types of crashes. As the data mounts, so does the urgency to fix the gender gap in car safety.
This week, weâre joined by Emily Thomas, PhD, Associate Director of Automotive Safety at Consumer Reports, and Astrid Linder, Professor of Traffic Safety at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, who developed the worldâs first crash test dummy representing an average woman. Together, weâll explore what it will take to design truly inclusive and safe cars.
The conversation covers:
Why women face higher injury risks in car crashesWhatâs involved in designing a female crash test dummyHow the shift to driverless cars presents a chance to correct past biases---
Resources
Astrid Linderâs research
University of Virginia study
U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations
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About Professor Astrid Linder
Astrid Linder is Professor of Traffic Safety at Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, and an Adjunct Professor of Injury Prevention at Chalmers University. She received her PhD in traffic safety from Chalmers from where she also has a MSc in Engineering Physics. Prof Linder initiated and led the research resulting in the worldâs first physical dummy model based on the average female, the Seat Evaluation Tool (SET 50F) and was named one of the BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women in 2023.
Learn more about Astrid Linder: https://www.vti.se/en/employees/astrid-linder
Follow Astrid Linder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-linder-2a0b5a53/
About Emily Thomas, PhD
Emily Thomas leads the occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety programs at Consumer Reportâs Auto Test Center. Her expertise extends to crash safety, vehicular heatstroke prevention, and child passenger safety. Emily has 15 years of automotive safety experience and holds a PhD in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and The Childrenâs Hospital of Philadelphia.
Learn more about Emily Thomas: https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/emily-thomas/
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Welcome to our second crossover episode of season 2! This week, weâre spotlighting Narratives of Purpose podcast, hosted by Claire Murigande - but weâll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us.
Narratives of Purpose showcases stories of impact-driven founders. Covering diverse topics from youth empowerment to global health equity to sustainable food systems, itâs one to have on your radar if youâre interested in purpose-led innovation.
In this conversation from their Womenâs Health Series, host Claire delves into the world of FemTech and womenâs health with Marija Butkovic, Founder and CEO of Women of Wearables, a global organisation that supports female innovators in wearable tech and health tech. Claire and Marija discuss:
Challenges women face in the health industryThe role of investment in advancing womenâs healthThe evolution of FemTech and the untapped potential for investment and entrepreneurship in the sectorLearn more about Narratives of Purpose: https://narratives-of-purpose.podcastpage.io/
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
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Season 2 is wrapping up and we want to hear your feedback. Loved something? Have a question you want answered? Tell us in this quick survey: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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This week's episode:
What does it take to thrive as a Black ballerina in an art form that prizes uniformity?
In this episode, renowned Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva reflects on the professional breakthroughs and battles behind her rise in the ballet world - from spending 11 years dyeing her pointe shoes by hand to match her skin tone, to persuading the industry to prioritize inclusivity. She shares her journey from Rio de Janeiro to Dance Theatre of Harlem and how becoming a mother has impacted her career.
The episode also dives into:
Ingrid's childhood in Brazil and how a kind neighbour changed the course of her lifeThe unspoken emotional and financial costs for dancers of colour in balletHow her personal experience drove her to create the Blacks in Ballet movementWhat ballet still gets wrong about representation, motherhood, and belongingEnjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend and leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help more listeners discover the show!
You might also like:
Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet
'The door is opening for us': Cira Robinson on ballet's turning pointe
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About Ingrid Silva
Ingird Silva is a celebrated Brazilian ballerina and changemaker with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she began dancing at age 8 through a social project in the Mangueira favela and later earned a full scholarship to study in New York. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and others, and collaborated with renowned choreographers worldwide. A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, she is the founder of podHER and co-founder of Blacks in Ballet. Her accomplishments have been recognized globally â from having her pointe shoes exhibited at the Smithsonian, to working on global brand campaigns.
Learn more about Ingrid Silva: https://www.ingridsilvaballet.com/
Follow Ingrid Silva on Instagram: @ingridsilva
Follow Dancers and Motherhood: @dancersandmotherhood
Follow Blacks in Ballet: @blacksinballet
Follow PodHer: https://www.podher.org/
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/Social media: LinkedIn and InstagramNewsletter: -
Your feedback matters to us - shape the future of Made For Us by taking our quick survey: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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This week's episode:
It's been called 'a phenomenal example of inclusive design' and it's spreading across subway stations, museums and supermarkets around the world.
NaviLens is a new technology designed to help blind and partially sighted people navigate cities and indoor spaces by scanning a QR code with their phone. Unlike traditional QR codes, users donât need to focus on the code or know its precise location.
In this episode, we sit down with Oran McAllister, NaviLensâ Client Engagement Officer, to explore this new frontier in accessibility and how it can help visually impaired people gain more independence.
We also cover:
NaviLensâ origins in Spain and how the technology has gained traction in over 100 countries, from the US to Australia Why major transport systems from London to Tokyo and brands like Kelloggâs and P&G are signing on How NaviLens makes grocery shopping more accessible for everyone, from travellers to people with autismLoved the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show!
You might also like:
'I don't need fixing - the world does' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability
'No going back': lessons from P&G's product inclusion journey with Sam Latif
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About Oran McAllister
Oran McAllister is the Client Engagement Officer at NaviLens. Oran is tasked with developing new relationships and sustaining established partnerships with organisations, associations and users of NaviLens around the world. His passion in the pursuit of accessibility not only comes from his professional background but also stems from his personal experience.
Learn more about NaviLens: https://www.navilens.com/en/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaviLens
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navilens/
Reach out to NaviLens: â[email protected]
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Show notes and transcripts: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Help us make this podcast better for you! Our quick listener survey is your chance to shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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We all need to protect our skin from the sun's rays, so why are so many sunscreens not formulated with darker skin tones in mind?
In this episode, we sit down with Dujon Smith, founder of the inclusive sun care brand My Block Skin. We unpack the myths around sunscreen, the marketing gaps and the sobering stats, including why men of color have the lowest survival rates from melanoma.
This episode also dives into:
Dujonâs founder journey â from ideation and testing formulations to creating a lifestyle brandHow My Block Skin became the first black-owned sun care brand stocked at the UK pharmacy chain Boots in its 175-year historyHow companies can cater to overlooked audiences through social listeningIf this episode made you think, laugh, or go âhmm,â leave us a 5 star rating - and text it to a friend.
You might also like:
Rooting for you: the men's grooming brand winning over big retailers
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About Dujon Smith
Dujon Smith is the founder and CEO of My Block Skin, a sun care brand redefining the industry with high-performance, melanin-inclusive formulas. Dujon launched My Block Skin in 2023 as a testament to his mission of inclusivity and innovation.
Beyond My Block Skin, Dujon is a full-time investor at Accenture Ventures, where he leads the Founders Development Program, helping underrepresented entrepreneurs scale their technology businesses through access to capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.
Learn more about My Block Skin: http://www.myblockskin.com
Follow Dujon C Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dujoncsmith/
Follow Dujon C Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dujoncsmith/
Resources:
Accenture Thought Leadership on the Black Founders Venture Capital Gap: https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/a-com-migration/r3-3/pdf/pdf-172/Accenture-Bridging-Black-Founders-VC-Gap.pdf
Skin Cancer Study on Men of Color: https://www.aad.org/news/melanoma-study-men-skin-of-color-lowest-survival-rates
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: -
Welcome to our first crossover episode of Season 2! This week, weâre sharing an interview from the climate design podcast Climify, hosted by Eric Benson - but weâll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us!
Climify is one of our favourite podcast discoveries this year, and we highly recommend it if youâre curious about design and social impact. We hope you enjoy discovering the show through this special episode from Season 4: âCreating Cradle-to-Cradle Clothing with Heike Petersenâ.
In the conversation, Heike Petersen shares with Eric her multicultural global journey in creating her cradle-to-cradle sustainable, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic yoga fitness brand, Wellicious. Eric and Heike discuss:
Challenges of building a sustainable clothing brandHow to make sense of sustainable certifications The crucial shift we all need to make towards slow fashionLearn more about Climify: www.climatedesigners.org/edu/climify
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
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Help shape the next season of Made For Us! Please answer a few quick questions and tell us how we can make this show better : https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked disability data gap in AI, and why it matters for equitable hiring.
Ariana Aboulafia, who leads the Disability Rights in Technology Policy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), joins us to share insights on designing more inclusive algorithmic systems and creating datasets that are more representative of disability.
Whether youâre building AI, hiring talent, or advocating for accessibility, this episode is a great starting point for understanding how to reduce disability bias in technology.
In the conversation, we explore:
How effective AI hiring tools are at reducing human biasThe importance of including people with disabilities at every stage of AI development The challenges of getting accurate disability dataHow understanding the different definitions of disability can improve data collectionMissed last week's episode? Would Stephen Hawking get hired today? The hiden bias in AI recruiting tools
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About Ariana Aboulafia
Ariana Aboulafia leads the Disability Rights in Technology Policy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, which focuses on the ways in which certain technologies impact disabled people.
An attorney with a strong background in public interest advocacy, and with particular expertise in disability, technology, criminal law, and the First Amendment, Ariana has also worked as a public defender.
Learn more about Ariana: https://cdt.org/staff/ariana-aboulafia/
Follow Ariana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianaaboulafia/
Follow Ariana on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArianaAboulafia
Read the disability data report: https://cdt.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-23-Data-Disability-report-final.pdf
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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Could AI hiring create more barriers for people with disabilities instead of levelling the playing field? In this episode, Susan Scott-Parker, founder of business disability international, says standardised and inflexible AI hiring systems risk shutting many people with disabilities out of the workforce. She makes the case for more inclusive HR technologies that are designed for the full range of human experience.
Tune in to learn more about:
The unsettling truth about how AI hiring tools are screening out candidates with disabilities - and how to make them fairerHow HR leaders can challenge biases in AI hiring tools and demand more from the technology they invest inWhy Susan coined the term âdisability confidenceâ and why itâs not just about âbeing niceâ to disabled peopleFurther listening: How to innovate responsibly, with McKinsey's Rikki Singh
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About Susan Scott-Parker
Susan Scott-Parker OBE is a creative thought leader internationally recognised for her work on how to mobilise business leadership behind disability equality. She founded the worldâs first business disability network, now the Business Disability Forum (UK). In 2016, she established business disability international and advises a growing global community on how to work productively with businesses as valued allies.
Follow Susan Scott-Parker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanscottparker1/
Learn more about business disability international: https://www.businessdisabilityinternational.org/
Learn more about Project Nemo: https://projectnemo.co.uk/
Follow Amit Ghose: https://www.tiktok.com/@amitghosenf1
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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This week, we're taking you back to the first ever episode of Made For Us (and the most downloaded in Season 1). Itâs an interview with Cliff Weitzman, the founder and CEO of Speechify, a text to speech app that has made reading more accessible for people with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision and other conditions that make reading difficult.
Speechify now has 50 million users who can listen to the internet, emails and other documents with over 200 AI voices, including those of celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow.
We also have a special announcement about a big milestone that Made For Us reached this week.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! And be sure to subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content.
Also from the archives: Ade Hassan on moving beyond 'one-nude-fits-all'
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Learn more about Speechify
Website / Instagram
Follow Cliff Weitzman
Instagram / Youtube / Medium
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Help us make this podcast better for you! Please answer a few quick questions to help shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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When Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg launched Be My Eyes, an app connecting blind and low-vision users with sighted volunteers, he had no idea it would grow into a global movement. But ten years after its launch, the app now boasts 800,000 blind users and over 8.5 million volunteers, more than the population of his country.
In this episode, Hans, who is blind himself, tells the origin story of the app, how it âspread like wildfireâ and Be My Eyesâ partnerships with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI.
The conversation covers:
The diverse and innovative ways people use the Be My Eyes appWhy microvolunteering - helping out for just a few minutes - has become such a powerful force for goodThe rapid growth of Be My AI, a new AI-powered feature providing users with quick visual assistance for everyday tasksThe challenges Be My Eyes faces in reaching underserved communitiesMissed last week's episode? Inside Adobeâs mission to build more inclusive tech
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About Hans Jørgen Wiberg
Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app that connects blind and visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers for real-time assistance via video calls. Born in Denmark and visually impaired himself, Hans created Be My Eyes in to address everyday challenges faced by blind and low-vision people. Under his leadership, the app has grown into a global community with 800,000 users and over 8 million volunteers in 150+ countries.
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Learn more about Be My Eyes : https://www.bemyeyes.com/
Follow Be My Eyes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemyeyesapp/?hl=en
Follow Hans Jørgen Wiberg on LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/hans-j%C3%B8rgen-wiberg-8a16b915
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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Help us make this podcast better for you! Please answer a few quick questions to help shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod
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TB Bardlavens, Director of Product Equity at Adobe, joins us for this special edition featuring questions from Made For Us listeners.
We discuss what it really means to build technology that works for everyone and how the Product Equity team tackles this challenge across all 137 of Adobeâs products. TB also shares how his team shaped Firefly, Adobeâs suite of generative AI tools, ensuring that its outputs truly reflect human diversity.
Along the way, TB answers listeners' questions on the impact of DEI rollbacks in the US and Adobeâs approach to building inclusive global products that respect cultural nuances.
Other topics we explore:
Why traditional product development often fails to meet human needsHow Adobe is embedding equity and accessibility across its entire product ecosystemThe human case and the business case for product equityThe role of AI in creativity and Adobeâs mission to empower, not replace, creativesMissed last weekâs episode? AI vs the gender feedback gap
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About TB Bardlavens
TB Bardlavens is chaotic good in its purest form. He is a Gay, Black man from the Carolinas, a highly regarded social intrapreneur, and an advocate for equity in technology and design. He is a Product Executive, Cultural Strategist, Diversity, Equity, and Justice expert, Co-Founder, Writer, and International Speaker and Facilitator.
For more than a decade, TB has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic barriers, building and scaling teams, and launching innovative digital products for companies like Microsoft, Meta and Adobe.
Learn more about TB Bardlavens: https://www.bardlavens.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bardlavens
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bardlavens
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
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How does bias show up in workplace feedback, and can AI help fix it?
In this episode, we speak with Mykel Rangel, VP of Engineering at Textio, a company that has built AI-driven tools that are reshaping the way managers give feedback and how recruiters craft job ads. We explore the hidden biases in performance reviews, how feedback impacts employee retention and pay, and what leaders can do to create more equitable workplaces.
We also cover:
Textioâs research on workplace feedback and what language can reveal about a companyâs cultureWhy women tend to get more personality-based feedback than menHow AI can help managers close the feedback gapStrategies for evaluating AI tools for bias mitigationEnjoyed what you heard? Pass it on to a friend - or tell the world with a 5-star review.
Missed last week's episode? Subtitles for real life? There's a pair of glasses for that
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About Mykel Rangel
Mykel Rangel is the Vice President of Engineering at Textio, a company using artificial intelligence to help organisations create more inclusive, effective, and engaging written communication. Starting off as a tech writer, Mykel transitioned into software before joining Textio.
Learn more about Textio: https://textio.com
Follow Mykel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykel-rangel-18963322/
Read the report on bias in performance feedback: https://textio.com/feedback-bias-2024
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Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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Transcripts for this episode are available here: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
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What if you could subtitle everyday life? That question sparked the creation of XRAI, a company developing augmented reality glasses that display real-time subtitles right before your eyes.
In this episode, XRAI CEO and founder Dan Scarfe joins us to share how AI and augmented reality (AR) are making conversations more accessible - for the 1.5 billion people worldwide with hearing loss, but also for anyone whoâs ever struggled to hear in a noisy cafĂŠ, missed a detail in a conversation, or needed instant translation.
In this episode, we cover:
The highs and lows of building inclusive techHow XRAIâs earliest users (and Danâs granddad) helped refine the productThe different use cases for the technology - benefits for the deaf and neurodivergent communities as well as global businessesThe future of AI-driven assistive technology and whatâs next for XRAIEnjoyed the conversation? Tell a friend - or tell the world with a 5-star review.
Missed last week's episode? Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2af77d
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About Dan Scarfe:
Dan Scarfe is the CEO and founder of XRAI, a company using AI and augmented reality to improve accessibility. Inspired by his grandfatherâs hearing loss, he developed XRAI Glass, smart glasses that provide real-time subtitles. Under his leadership, XRAI is expanding into live translation and workplace integration, aiming to make communication more inclusive worldwide.
Learn more about XRAI: https://xrai.glass/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xraiglass/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xraiglass/
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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/
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Why arenât more tech companies prioritising inclusion in product development?
Research by McKinsey & Company found that only 17% of product managers ranked inclusion among their top priorities. Yet, it can be a powerful strategic advantage.
In this episode, we speak with Rikki Singh, a partner at McKinsey and founder of the McKinsey Product Academy, about the critical role of product management in fostering responsible and inclusive innovation.
The conversation explores:
Real-world examples of companies innovating to serve underserved marketsHow generative AI is exposing biases in tech while also unlocking the ability to create a more level playing fieldActionable tips for enterprises and startups to prioritise inclusion in product developmentLove what you heard? Leave us a 5 star review - it helps more people find us, and helps us bring you more great guests.
Missed last weekâs episode? Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2ad6a1
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About Rikki Singh
Rikki Singh leads McKinseyâs software product-management work, helping the worldâs largest software and fast-growing SaaS companies with product development and business building. She also founded the McKinsey Product Academy.
Learn more: https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/rikki-singh
Follow Rikki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritikasingh24/
Read the report on responsible product management: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/responsible-product-management-the-critical-tech-challenge
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Connect with Made for Us
Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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Weâre kicking off Season 2 of Made for Us with Lucy Edwards, a trailblazing broadcaster, author and content creator who is redefining perceptions of disability.
Lucy shares her journey of navigating life as a blind woman, from losing her vision at 17 to becoming a disability advocate and consultant to major brands to creating content that's been seen by millions. The conversation covers:
Lucyâs viral wedding, where she and her husband gave guests a glimpse into her worldHer book, Blind, Not Broken, a memoir and guide to overcoming loss and embracing self-acceptanceThe challenges of living in a world that often overlooks accessibilityLucyâs work with global brands like Pantene and Barbie-maker Mattel, and her plans to launch a makeup line with inclusivity at its coreIf you enjoyed this conversation as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you, weâd be thrilled if you could leave us a 5-star rating! Your support means more listeners will be able to discover the show. Thank you!
About Lucy Edwards
Lucy Edwards is a blind broadcaster, journalist, author, and digital content creator who has become a leading advocate for accessibility and inclusivity.
Lucy uses platforms like TikTok and YouTube to educate her audience about living with blindness while championing equality. Lucy is the author of Blind, Not Broken and the children's book Ella Jones vs The Sun Stealer.
Learn more about Lucy Edwards: https://www.lucyedwards.com
Follow Lucy Edwards on Instagram: @LucyEdwardsOfficial
Follow Lucy Edwards on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyedwards
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Connect with Made for Us
Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/---
Season 2 credits:
Creator/producer/host: Tosin Sulaiman
Graphic design: Judith Raynault | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux
Audio engineer: Justin Orive | Marketing intern: Abigail Brierley
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Made For Us is back for another season!
Subscribe now so you don't miss new episodes.
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Connect with Made for Us
Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
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