Explore every episode of the podcast Made For Us
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No wrong notes: Pete Letanka on the search for musical alchemy | 08 Oct 2026 | 00:39:31 | |
Despite training as a classical pianist, Pete Letanka always knew he was a jazz musician. In this episode, he talks about that early tension and his struggles with what he describes as “musical dyslexia.” He reflects on what years of leading music workshops with schoolchildren have taught him, and his ongoing work uncovering the composers left out of the history books. This is the final episode in our mini-series with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Pete’s workshop here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ Catch up on the other episodes: Rebeca Omordia: https://pod.fo/e/6115c2 Victoria Oruwari: https://pod.fo/e/64e57b Berginald Rash: https://pod.fo/e/67c1f6 --- About Pete Letanka Pete Letanka is a critically acclaimed jazz pianist, educator, composer and presenter. After graduating from Leeds Conservatoire, he formed the Pete Letanka Trio and was signed to the award-winning label Zephyr Records, who released his debut album, "Afrostocracy", to critical acclaim. He has performed at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the Barbican Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and works extensively in music education, leading creative music projects across the UK and in South Africa, India, Lebanon, Spain and Portugal. Learn more: https://www.peteletanka.com/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Purchase tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Why classical music needs an image refresh, with Berginald Rash | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:30:15 | |
Berginald Rash's original ambition was to be a cardiologist, but then he discovered the clarinet. In this episode, he shares his path from pre-med to the concert stage, the inspiration behind his new album, Black Boy, and argues that classical music needs to get better at telling its own story. This is the third in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Berginald’s panel here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ --- About Berginald Rash Hailed for his "especially stylish" playing (The Guardian), acclaimed American-Irish clarinetist and period clarinet practitioner Berginald Rash was awarded the Recital Artist Diploma from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he was an 1848 Scholar and Teaching Fellow. He has been heard with orchestras including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Orchestra of the Swan, the Virginia Symphony and the Ulster Orchestra, and has made debuts at the BBC Proms, Lucerne Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Southbank Centre, Elbphilharmonie and the Concertgebouw. A TEDx speaker and broadcaster, he has presented on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4. He sits on the Board of Directors for Chamber Music Scotland. Berginald's website: https://linktr.ee/berginald --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Purchase tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Connect with Made for Us
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| Voice notes: Victoria Oruwari on disability and opportunity in classical music | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:38:48 | |
For soprano Victoria Oruwari, music and color are inseparable. In this episode, Victoria shares what it's like to experience music through synesthesia, how she discovered singing after losing her sight at seven, and the reality of building a career as a musician with a disability - from performing at the Royal Opera House to the barriers still facing disabled artists. This is the second in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Victoria’s panel here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/classically-black-full-day-pass/ The excerpts included in this episode, courtesy of Victoria Oruwari, are: Romance de Mignon by Henri Duparc, Song to the Seals by Granville Bantock and Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal by Roger Quilter. Performed by Victoria Oruwari, accompanied by Rianka Bouwmeister. --- About Victoria Oruwari Acclaimed soprano Victoria Oruwari is a British-Nigerian singer whose versatile repertoire covers art songs, operatic arias, musical theatre and folk songs. She acquired her Bachelor of Music degree and postgraduate in Voice at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She has since pursued a career as a classical singer and has performed at various prominent venues in and out of the United Kingdom, including The Royal Opera House, the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Bristol Beacon. She is a member of the British Paraorchestra and the Inner Vision Orchestra. In addition to singing, Victoria is also a humanistic psychotherapist and works in private practice. Victoria’s website: www.victoriaoruwari.com Follow Victoria on Instagram: www.instagram.com/victoriaoruwarisoprano/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic Get tickets for Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Bringing African classical music to the world stage, with Rebeca Omordia | 14 Sep 2026 | 00:41:10 | |
Rebecca Omordia knew she wanted to be a concert pianist from the age of seven. As a music student, she mastered the demanding repertoire of Western composers and at home, she listened to Igbo songs sung by her Nigerian father. So when she discovered piano music by African composers, she wondered, “ why shouldn't this be in the canon?” In this episode, Rebeca reflects on her journey bringing African classical music to the concert stage, how she won over the doubters, and the moment she realised there was an audience for this undiscovered genre. This is the first in a series of episodes we’re bringing you in collaboration with Classically Black, a festival taking place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. Learn more about Rebeca’s performance here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/keyboard-warriors/ The following excerpts included in this episode are from African Pianism, Vol. 2 by Rebeca Omordia (Somm Recordings): Elilta - Cry of Joy (Girma Yifrashewa), Two Preludes on Yoruba Sacred Folk Melodies, No. 1, “K’A Mura” (Fela Sowande), Study in African Pianism No. 1 (Akin Euba), Crépuscule sur la baie d’Alger (Salim Dada), and Senzeni Na (arranged by Grant McLachlan). --- About Rebeca Omordia Rebeca Omordia is an award-winning British-Nigerian concert pianist and curator, internationally recognised as a pioneer of African Pianism. Hailed as a “classical music game changer” (Classical Music Magazine), she founded the first African Concert Series, resident at London's Wigmore Hall. Visit Rebeca’s website: https://www.rebecaomordia.com/ Follow Rebeca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeca_omordia/ Purchase African Pianism vol 2: https://somm-recordings.com/recording/african-pianism-volume-two/ --- About Classically Black Now in its third year, Classically Black is a festival redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. The programme celebrates and elevates Black and global majority musicians and composers in classical music, past and present. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black 2026 returns to Kings Place, London on Saturday 10 October 2026. Learn more about Classically Black: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Learn more about Black Lives in Music: https://blim.org.uk/ Follow Black Lives in Music on Instagram: https://instagram.com/BlackLivesinMusic --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Mini-series: Made For Us & Classically Black | 13 Sep 2026 | 00:01:50 | |
This September on Made For Us, we’re bringing you a series of conversations with some of classical music’s innovators - performers and composers who are expanding the boundaries of the genre. We’ve teamed up with Classically Black, a festival in the UK that is redefining what classical music looks and sounds like today. Curated by Black Lives in Music, Classically Black takes place on October 10, 2026 at King’s Place in London. The programme features live performance, discussion, a new talent showcase and a workshop for young musicians. Learn more here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/black-lives-in-music-presents-classically-black/ Subscribe to Made For Us and be the first to hear when new episodes drop. --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Redesigning venture capital: Eric Collins on the overlooked founders beating the odds | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:41:09 | |
Eric Collins co-founded Impact X Capital to back the founders traditional venture capital overlooks. Inspired by the "original investors" in his own life, Eric’s work is driven by his belief that while talent is distributed equally, opportunity is not. In this episode - our season finale - Eric discusses his move from technology executive to investor and why he sees the racial wealth gap as a problem that can be solved through intentional capital. He reflects on the journey of Impact X portfolio company Marshmallow to unicorn status and shares the logic behind investing in the animated series Iyanu. You’ll learn: - Why Impact X invests where other VC firms don't - and the data that backs its strategy - Why good ideas are distributed equally across populations, but venture capital remains stubbornly concentrated - How Marshmallow helped bridge the insurance gap for immigrants, reaching a $1.2B valuation in 18 months. --- *** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- About Eric Collins Eric Collins is a serial entrepreneur, investor, technology executive, host of award-winning Channel 4 business show, The Money Maker. In 2018 he co-founded Impact X Capital Partners, a UK domiciled VC fund that has closed 2 funds with 49 investments including Europe’s 2nd Black unicorn, insurtech innovator, Marshmallow. In his award-winning book, We Don’t Need Permission: How Black Business Can Change Our World (Penguin), Eric argues investing in Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs is the surest, fastest socio-economic game changer there is. Follow Eric Collins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdcollinsba/ Learn more about Impact X: www.impactxcapital.com Read We Don’t Need Permission: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/446046/we-dont-need-permission-by-collins-eric/9780552178648 Learn more about the Black Literary Club: https://www.theblackliteraryclub.com/ --- Connect with Made for Us
Season 3 credits: Creator, producer & host: Tosin Sulaiman Audio engineering: Justin Orive | Graphic design: Judith Raynault Social media: Shilton Freeman | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux | |||
| Signal in the noise: building bias-free medical devices, with Valencia Koomson | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:26:49 | |
Growing up, Valencia Koomson wasn't supposed to be the one playing with the electronic set - that was her brother's Christmas present. She played with it anyway, and now she runs a lab at Tufts University focused on designing precision biosensors. She's turned that expertise toward addressing a long-overlooked problem in medical technology: pulse oximeters that work less reliably for patients with darker skin. In this episode, she explains what it actually takes to engineer a more inclusive pulse oximeter and she shares how she's navigating the complexities of commercialising a new medical device. You'll learn: - Why pulse oximeters tend to be less accurate on patients with darker skin tones - The engineering principles Koomson is using to redesign the device from the ground up - How she thinks about bridging the gap between lab innovation and real-world impact --- *** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- About Valencia Koomson Valencia Koomson holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University with a secondary appointment at the Department of Computer Science and Tisch College of Civic Life. She is the founding director of the Advanced Integrated Circuits & Systems Lab at Tufts with a research focus on medical device innovation, global health technology, and health equity advocacy. Dr. Koomson completed B.S. and M.Eng. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. She was awarded the George C. Marshall scholarship to pursue post-graduate studies at the University of Cambridge where she received the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering. Dr. Koomson has authored over 60 publications, book chapters, and patents. She was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professorship at MIT in 2021. Follow Valencia Koomson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/profkoomson/ Learn more about the Advanced Integrated Circuits and Systems Lab at Tufts: https://engineering.tufts.edu/ece/koomson --- Other episodes you might like: The pulse oximeter problem: a trusted medical device comes under the spotlight How to design a fairer healthcare system --- Connect with Made for Us - 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/ | |||
| Hugh Herr's bionic revolution: when technology becomes part of us | 16 Apr 2026 | 00:32:53 | |
*** Help shape the future of Made For Us! Take our quick listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- At age 17, Hugh Herr was an elite rock climber whose life was defined by the vertical world, until a mountain climbing accident fundamentally changed his trajectory. Today, as Professor at the MIT Media Lab and co-director of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, his work focuses on creating bionic limbs that move and feel like natural limbs. His innovations include computer controlled artificial knees, powered ankle-foot prostheses and exoskeletons, earning him the title "Leader of the Bionic Age." In this conversation, he shares the personal story behind his mission to design transformative and human-centred technology, and the global challenge of making prosthetics accessible to all. You'll learn: - What the next frontier of human augmentation looks like - Major innovations from Hugh Herr's lab at MIT, including a groundbreaking new surgical technique - The roadmap for creating a future with equitable, global access to advanced prosthetic technology --- *** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- About Hugh Herr Hugh Herr is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab, and co-leads the Yang Center for Bionics at MIT. He is creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs. TIME Magazine coined him the "Leader of the Bionic Age" because of his revolutionary work in the emerging field of Biomechatronics - technology that marries human physiology with electromechanics. Follow Hugh Herrr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-herr-023697b/ Follow Hugh Herr on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hugh.herr/ Learn more about the Biomechatronics Group at MIT: https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/biomechatronics/overview/ Learn more about the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics: https://yangtan.mit.edu/k-lisa-yang-center-for-bionics/ --- Connect with Made for Us - 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/ | |||
| Closing the disability wealth gap: an investor's case for inclusive design | Regina Kline | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:36:03 | |
*** Help shape the next season of Made For Us! Please share your feedback in our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- In this episode: While working as a civil rights lawyer in the Obama administration, Regina “Gina” Kline kept seeing the same pattern: talented individuals with disabilities being denied access to the tools they needed to compete in the global economy. In this episode, she shares how that realisation led her to found Enable Ventures, the first venture capital firm dedicated to closing the disability wealth gap by investing in companies at the nexus of technology and disability. We discuss:
--- About Regina Kline Regina “Gina” Kline is the Founder and Managing Partner of Enable Ventures, the first impact venture fund dedicated to closing the disability wealth gap by investing in early-stage companies working at the nexus of technology and disability. Investor, entrepreneur, civil rights lawyer, and thought leader, Gina has dedicated 15 years of her career to building the future of work by advancing the rights and interests of people with disabilities as innovators, entrepreneurs, workers, and consumers. Gina previously served in the Obama Administration and litigated landmark ADA cases and is nationally recognized for her legal and policy work in advancing the rights of people with disabilities. Gina is also the founder of SmartJob, an impact consultant and early-stage scout for the disability tech sector. Follow Regina Kline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-gina-kline-b042054 Learn more about Enable Ventures: www.enableventures.vc --- If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it with someone who'd appreciate it. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.com Other episodes you might like: Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Crossover episode with Beyond 6 Seconds: Nonspeaking autism representation with Tiffany Hammond | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:44:33 | |
This week, we’re bringing you a crossover episode from Beyond 6 Seconds podcast, which features conversations with neurodivergent people from around the world. Award-winning host Carolyn Kiel speaks with neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, and advocates about their lives, identities, and issues that are important to them. In this episode, Carolyn's guest is Tiffany Hammond, author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book, A Day with No Words. The book tells the story of a Black mother and her nonspeaking autistic son who use a tablet to communicate with each other and the world around them. We’ll be back with a new episode of Made For Us next week. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy discovering Beyond 6 Seconds and be sure to give them a follow wherever you get your podcasts. --- Learn more about Beyond 6 Seconds Podlink: https://pod.link/1336740192 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35483102/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond6seconds/ Learn more about Tiffany and her work: ADayWithNoWords.com Learn more about World Autism Awareness Day: https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day --- Connect with Made for Us
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| The pulse oximeter problem: a trusted medical device comes under the spotlight | Michael Sjoding | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:37:41 | |
A flaw in one of medicine's most trusted devices - the pulse oximeter - was first documented in the 1990s, then largely forgotten. It took the COVID-19 pandemic to bring it back to the forefront. Michael Sjoding, a pulmonologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, was treating critically ill patients during the pandemic when he noticed something that didn't add up: pulse oximeter readings were overestimating blood oxygen levels compared with arterial blood gas tests. The discrepancy wasn't random. Black patients were significantly more likely to receive inaccurate readings than White patients. In this episode, we talk about the impact of the study Dr. Sjoding and his colleagues published in the New England Journal of Medicine, what it reveals about the design of medical devices - and why he believes this is a problem that can be solved. We discuss:
About Michael Sjoding Dr. Michael Sjoding is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on developing new computational tools to support diagnosis and identify optimal treatment for patients with lung disease. He also studies how to effectively deploy these tools to support clinical decisions at the bedside. Read the NEJM study on racial bias in pulse oximetry measurement: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2029240 --- Other episodes you might like: Signal in the noise: building bias-free medical devices How to design a fairer healthcare system --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Why AI struggles with African languages - and the startup closing the gap | Pelonomi Moiloa | 19 Mar 2026 | 00:37:53 | |
*** Help shape the next season of Made For Us! Please share your feedback in our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- In this episode: What happens when AI doesn’t understand you? For millions of people across Africa, speaking a language that AI doesn’t recognise can be a barrier to accessing services like healthcare and participating in the digital economy. Pelonomi Moiloa is CEO of Lelapa AI, a research and product lab building language AI for a continent with 2,000+ languages. Named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2023, Pelonomi unpacks the technical and linguistic challenges she and her team are up against - from the data collection hurdles unique to oral cultures, to the compute constraints on the African continent. In this episode, we discuss:
About Pelonomi Moiloa Pelonomi Moiloa is CEO of Lelapa AI, a socially-grounded research and product lab driving AI for Africans by Africans. A biomedical and electrical engineer by training, Pelonomi has spent almost a decade deriving insights from data to address complex problems. Learn more about Lelapa AI: https://lelapa.ai Follow Lelapa AI on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lelapa-ai/ Follow Pelonomi Moiloa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pelonomi-moiloa --- Love what you heard? Leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It makes our day (and helps others find the show). Other episodes you might like: What's in a name? When your device thinks you're a typo --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Rewriting the story: the AI startup reimagining how the world learns to read | Ethan Pierce | 12 Mar 2026 | 00:34:03 | |
*** Help shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- In this episode: Ethan Pierce couldn't read when he finished third grade, but years later went on to win a full scholarship to Harvard. Recognising that not all students have the support he had, he founded Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered platform that adapts classic literature and other books to different reading levels and languages. In this episode, Ethan talks about building a product around the learners the education system leaves behind, why your first startup idea is probably wrong (and why that's a good thing), and how listening to teachers changed everything he thought he knew about edtech design. We discuss:
About Ethan Pierce Ethan Pierce is the Founder and CEO of Adaptive Reader, an AI-powered accessibility platform that makes any text accessible to any reader—across languages, reading levels, and formats. A former struggling reader who went on to earn a full scholarship to Harvard, Ethan is passionate about using technology to break down barriers to literacy and learning. Adaptive Reader has been recognized globally for advancing accessibility and inclusive learning, winning the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge and the MIT Solve E Ink Prize. Learn more about Adaptive Reader: https://adaptivereader.com/ Follow Ethan Pierce on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanpierce13/ Follow Adaptive Reader on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adaptive-reader/ --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.com Other episodes you might like: Speechify CEO Cliff Weitzman on building the 'voice of the internet' --- Connect with Made for Us
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| The "feminization of wealth" is coming. Are you ready? | Sylvia Kwan | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:18:01 | |
*** Help shape the future of Made For Us! Take our quick listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- In this episode: What does the world look like when women control more wealth than ever before? In part two of our conversation with Sylvia Kwan, CEO and chief investment officer of Ellevest, we discuss the “feminization of wealth” and why many companies are unprepared for this shift. Kwan makes the case that financial power isn't just for the wealthy: every woman with capital, no matter how small the sum, has the power to create change. Catch up on part 1 here: The women finance forgot: Ellevest CEO Sylvia Kwan on closing the gender wealth gap In this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.com You might also like: Where is the female crash test dummy? --- About Sylvia Kwan Sylvia Kwan is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ellevest, a women-founded and women-led financial services firm dedicated to closing the gender wealth gap. Prior to Ellevest, she founded SimplySmart Asset Management and held senior portfolio management positions at Financial Engines and Charles Schwab. A Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 30 years of industry experience, Sylvia serves on the Board of Exit 182, the investment committee that oversees the endowment of Grinnell College. Learn more about Ellevest: https://www.ellevest.com/ Sylvia’s Monthly Market Insight (Sept. 2025): https://www.ellevest.com/magazine/2025-september-market-insights Follow Ellevest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellevest/ Follow Ellevest on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevest --- Connect with Made for Us
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| The women finance forgot: Ellevest CEO Sylvia Kwan on closing the gender wealth gap | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:28:45 | |
Ellevest CEO Sylvia Kwan has a striking statistic she uses to explain why the company was founded: in a survey of asset managers by BNY Mellon Investment Management, 86% said their default customer is a man. In this episode, the first of a two-part conversation, Sylvia Kwan shares why Ellevest is on a mission to close the gender investing gap and why it may be just as important as the gender pay gap. We discuss:
--- About Sylvia Kwan Sylvia Kwan is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ellevest, a women-founded and women-led financial services firm dedicated to closing the gender wealth gap. Prior to Ellevest, she founded SimplySmart Asset Management and held senior portfolio management positions at Financial Engines and Charles Schwab. A Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 30 years of industry experience, Sylvia serves on the Board of Exit 182, the investment committee that oversees the endowment of Grinnell College. Learn more about Ellevest: https://www.ellevest.com/ Follow Ellevest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellevest/ Follow Ellevest on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevest --- If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Send questions for our guests or any feedback to: madeforuspod@gmail.com Other episodes you might like: Where is the female crash test dummy? --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Made For Us Season 3 | 07 Feb 2026 | 00:01:53 | |
Made For Us is back for Season 3 - and we’re talking about ambition. Hear from founders building AI for underserved languages and designing inclusive medical devices, and investors closing wealth gaps. Listen to the trailer and subscribe to get notified of new episodes. --- Connect with Made for Us
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| What's in a name? Part 3: Who decides what's 'normal'? | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:29:14 | |
So your name’s been mistreated by autocorrect. What harm does that cause? And what would it take to fix it? In this episode, Northeastern University law professor Rashmi Dyal-Chand discusses her research into autocorrect's bias and shares her blueprint for change - from what consumers can do to where the law might need to step in. Plus: journalist Dhruti Shah on her viral 2018 BBC article that first brought the issue to light. This is Part 3 of "What's in a Name?", our mini-series about autocorrect and inclusive technology. -- New to the series? Start with Part 1 and Part 2 Listen to the trailer Enjoying the show? Leave a rating to help others discover it, or share your autocorrect story at madeforuspod@gmail.com -- About Rashmi Dyal-Chand Rashmi Dyal-Chand is a law professor at Northeastern University. Her research and teaching focus on property law, poverty, economic development and consumer law. She is the author of the article, “Autocorrecting for Whiteness”, published in the Boston University Law Review in 2021. Learn more about Rashmi Dyal-Chand: https://law.northeastern.edu/faculty/dyal-chand/ Read the “Autocorrecting for Whiteness” article: https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2021/03/DYAL-CHAND.pdf About Dhruti Shah Dhruti Shah is a creative practitioner, storyteller and journalist who focuses extensively on belonging. She is a collaborator with I Am Not A Typo. Read Dhruti’s article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46362259 Follow Dhruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhrutishahstoryteller/ Follow Dhruti on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dhruti_journo/ -- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram Enjoyed this episode and want to support the show? Please share your feedback in our quick listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book recommended by our guests: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 | |||
| What's in a name? Part 2: Did Big Tech actually change? | 20 Dec 2025 | 00:16:26 | |
The I Am Not a Typo campaign managed to get tech companies' attention. So what happened next? We hear from one of the campaign organisers about the conversations with tech giants - and whether anything actually changed. This is Part 2 of “What’s in a name?”, a new mini-series about autocorrect and inclusive technology. -- New to the series? Start with Part 1 Listen to the trailer Enjoying the show? Leave a rating to help others discover it, or share your autocorrect story at madeforuspod@gmail.com -- About Cathal Wogan Cathal Wogan is a lead collaborator with I Am Not A Typo, a collective aiming to create social change so no one feels like an oversight. I Am Not A Typo looks at the link between identity and technology, and its flagship UK-based campaign asks tech giants to update their name dictionaries to better reflect the modern multi-cultural United Kingdom. Cathal is a Senior Consulting Director at communications consultancy Blurred, the agency that convenes I Am Not A Typo and its many cross-industry collaborators. Learn more about I Am Not A Typo: https://www.iamnotatypo.org/ Follow Cathal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-wogan/ -- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ | |||
| What's in a name? Part 1: When your device thinks you're a typo | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:26:00 | |
For years, people added their "unusual" names to their phone's dictionary, treating it as a minor inconvenience. Then some decided to fight back. In this episode, we meet the people whose names are constantly "corrected" by their devices and hear how I Am Not A Typo, a grassroots campaign to fix autocorrect, got the attention of tech giants. This is Part 1 of “What’s in a name?”, a new mini-series about autocorrect and inclusive technology. -- If someone came to mind while you were listening, send this episode their way. And if you have an autocorrect story of your own, we'd love to hear it. Email us at madeforuspod@gmail.com. -- Guests Cathal Wogan, Xaymaca Awoyungbo, Vedrana Koren, Wanyu Zhang and Angharad Planells Learn more about I Am Not A Typo Website: https://www.iamnotatypo.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnotatypo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-not-a-typo/ -- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram -- Enjoyed this episode and want to support the show? Please share your feedback in our quick listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book recommended by our guests: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 | |||
| What's in a name? A new mini-series from Made For Us | 13 Dec 2025 | 00:01:45 | |
Across the world, millions of people's names are treated as errors by our devices. In the UK alone, 41% of baby names are flagged as "incorrect." In a new mini-series, we'll meet the people pushing tech companies to do better and explore what autocorrect reveals about how - and for whom - technology gets built. Subscribe now so you don't miss new episodes. --- Connect with Made for Us Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ | |||
| The power of compassionate design, with Marcus Engel | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:38:00 | |
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 low vision. You’ll learn:
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 --- 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 Books by Marcus Engel Follow Marcus on LinkedIn --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Navigation through touch: the haptic tech startup mapping an accessible future | Kevin Yoo | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:37:31 | |
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 world’s first haptic navigation apps. Kevin shares how he was motivated by his friend’s 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 low vision runners - Kevin’s experience of putting himself in the shoes of a blind person for a few weeks and the lessons that came from it ⭐️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 --- 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. Kevin’s 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| How to design a fairer healthcare system, with Layal Liverpool and Tessa Davis | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:40:09 | |
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 — and how more inclusive care can lead to better health for all. We discuss:
If 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! --- About Layal Liverpool: Layal Liverpool is a science journalist and author of SYSTEMIC: How Racism is Making Us Ill,’ 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| REPLAY: Reflections on creating the headscarf emoji, with Rayouf Alhumedhi | 29 May 2025 | 00:28:58 | |
This week, we’re 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 Women’s Podcast Awards in the ‘Moment of Insight from a Role Model’ 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 magazine’s most influential teens and also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Rayouf has a Bachelor’s 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:
Know someone who’d 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 --- Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi: https://www.rayouf.com/ Follow Rayouf on Instagram --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Where is the female crash test dummy? | Astrid Linder and Emily Thomas | 22 May 2025 | 00:29:27 | |
*** Help shape the next season of Made For Us! Please share your feedback in our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7 --- In this episode: What happens when women aren’t 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, we’re 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 world’s first crash test dummy representing an average woman. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to design truly inclusive and safe cars. The conversation covers:
--- Resources U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations --- 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 world’s 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 Report’s 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 Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Learn more about Emily Thomas: https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/emily-thomas/ --- Connect with Made For Us
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| Crossover episode with Narratives of Purpose: On building a global ecosystem for FemTech pioneers with Marija Butkovic | 15 May 2025 | 00:37:57 | |
Welcome to our second crossover episode of season 2! This week, we’re spotlighting Narratives of Purpose podcast, hosted by Claire Murigande - but we’ll 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, it’s one to have on your radar if you’re interested in purpose-led innovation. In this conversation from their Women’s Health Series, host Claire delves into the world of FemTech and women’s 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:
Learn more about Narratives of Purpose: https://narratives-of-purpose.podcastpage.io/ — Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ | |||
| Ingrid Silva on building a legacy in ballet, one pointe shoe at a time | 08 May 2025 | 00:30:31 | |
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:
Enjoyed 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 --- 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 – 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/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Making navigation inclusive: the QR code you don't need to see | Oran McAllister | 01 May 2025 | 00:30:52 | |
Your feedback matters to us - shape the future of Made For Us by taking our quick survey: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- 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 don’t need to focus on the code or know its precise location. In this episode, we sit down with Oran McAllister, NaviLens’ Client Engagement Officer, to explore this new frontier in accessibility and how it can help people who are blind or low vision gain more independence. We also cover:
Loved 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 --- 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: info@navilens.com --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Sunscreen that works for every shade: the next big beauty trend? | Dujon Smith | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:38:34 | |
Help us make this podcast better for you! Our quick listener survey is your chance to shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- 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:
If this episode made you think, laugh, or go “hmm,” 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 --- 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Crossover episode with Climify Podcast: Creating cradle-to-cradle clothing with Heike Petersen | 17 Apr 2025 | 01:07:03 | |
Welcome to our first crossover episode of Season 2! This week, we’re sharing an interview from the climate design podcast Climify, hosted by Eric Benson - but we’ll 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 you’re curious about design and social impact. We hope you enjoy discovering the show through this special episode from Season 4: “Creating Cradle-to-Cradle Clothing with Heike Petersen”. 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:
Learn more about Climify: www.climatedesigners.org/edu/climify --- Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ | |||
| Fixing the disability data gap: why inclusive AI starts with better data | Ariana Aboulafia | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:31:12 | |
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 you’re 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:
Missed last week's episode? Would Stephen Hawking get hired today? The hiden bias in AI recruiting tools --- 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Would Stephen Hawking get hired today? The hidden bias in AI recruiting tools, with Susan Scott-Parker | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:28:40 | |
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:
Further listening: How to innovate responsibly, with McKinsey's Rikki Singh --- 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 world’s 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| REPLAY: Speechify CEO Cliff Weitzman on building 'the voice of the internet' | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:34:42 | |
This week, we're taking you back to the first ever episode of Made For Us (and the most downloaded in Season 1). It’s 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' --- Learn more about Speechify Follow Cliff Weitzman --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility | Hans Jørgen Wiberg | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:31:27 | |
When Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg launched Be My Eyes, an app connecting people who are blind and low vision with sighted volunteers, he had no idea it would grow into a global movement. But ten years after its launch, the app now boasts 850,000+ users and over 9 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 “spread like wildfire” and Be My Eyes’ partnerships with companies like Microsoft and OpenAI. The conversation covers:
Missed last week's episode? Inside Adobe’s mission to build more inclusive tech --- About Hans Jørgen Wiberg Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app that connects blind and low vision individuals with sighted volunteers for real-time assistance via video calls. Born in Denmark and living with sight loss himself, Hans created Be My Eyes in to address everyday challenges faced by people who are blind and low vision. Under his leadership, the app has grown into a global community with 800,000 users and over 8 million volunteers in 150+ countries. --- 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 --- 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/ | |||
| Inside Adobe’s mission to build more inclusive tech, with TB Bardlavens - listener Q&A edition | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:40:19 | |
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 Adobe’s products. TB also shares how his team shaped Firefly, Adobe’s 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 Adobe’s approach to building inclusive global products that respect cultural nuances. Other topics we explore:
Missed last week’s episode? AI vs the gender feedback gap --- 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 --- Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ | |||
| AI vs the feedback gap: making workplace feedback fairer, with Textio's Mykel Rangel | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:30:32 | |
Join the Made For Us community by signing up for our free newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ --- 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:
Enjoyed 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 --- 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Subtitles for real life: the AI glasses making conversations more accessible | Dan Scarfe | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:33:54 | |
Transcripts for this episode are available here: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ --- 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 who’s ever struggled to hear in a noisy café, missed a detail in a conversation, or needed instant translation. In this episode, we cover:
Enjoyed 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 --- 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 grandfather’s 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/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| How to innovate responsibly, with McKinsey's Rikki Singh | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:33:33 | |
Why aren’t 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:
Love 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 week’s episode? Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2ad6a1 --- About Rikki Singh Rikki Singh leads McKinsey’s software product-management work, helping the world’s 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| 'I don't need fixing - the world does': Lucy Edwards on redefining disability | 13 Feb 2025 | 00:34:45 | |
Your feedback is important to us - shape the future of Made For Us by taking our quick survey: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- We’re 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:
If you enjoyed this conversation as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you, we’d 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 --- Connect with Made for Us
--- Season 2 credits: Creator/producer/host: Tosin Sulaiman Graphic design: Judith Raynault | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux Audio engineer: Justin Orive | Marketing intern: Abigail Brierley | |||
| Made For Us Season 2 | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:01:59 | |
Made For Us is back for another season! Subscribe now so you don't miss new episodes. --- Connect with Made for Us
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| UPDATE: Made For Us is a Signal Award nominee! | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:01:31 | |
**ANNOUNCEMENT** Made For Us won the Bronze at the 2024 Signal Awards in the 'Most Inspirational Podcast' category!! Thanks to the judges for recognising our indie podcast as one of 2024's most impactful shows. If you voted for us in the Listener's Choice Awards, we're incredibly grateful for your support. --- We have great news to share with you: Made For Us has been named a finalist in the 2024 Signal Awards in the 'Most Inspirational Podcast' category! The Signal Awards recognise the best creators around the world who are making ‘podcasts that define culture.’ Voting is open to the public and we'd appreciate a vote for Made For Us in the Listener's Choice Award. Please head to vote.signalaward.com and search for ‘Made For Us’ or click here (after voting, be sure to click the link you receive by email, otherwise the vote won’t count). Voting is open until Oct 17. Thanks for being one of the earliest supporters of this podcast! Be the first to know when Season 2 drops by subscribing to the Made For Us newsletter and following us on social media. Connect with Made For Us
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| Why isn’t all design inclusive? Season 1 wrap-up, with Scott Berkun | 07 Mar 2024 | 00:32:21 | |
Over the past few months, guests on this podcast have shared some great examples of inclusive design and innovation, but these kinds of products aren’t the norm (yet). Joining me to explore some of the reasons why is Scott Berkun, author of How Design Makes the World, a book that aims to demystify design for everyone. We discuss why it’s so hard to design well and what organisations can do to accelerate good ideas. Enjoying the show? Subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter for exclusive content. If you haven’t yet left a 5-star rating or review, this would be the perfect time to do so (it will help others discover this podcast while Season 2 is in the works). In today’s episode, Scott and I discuss:
--- About Scott Berkun: Scott Berkun is a bestselling author and popular speaker on UX design, innovation, leading teams, public speaking and other subjects. He’s published eight books, including How Design Makes The World and The Myths of Innovation. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and other media. Learn more about Scott Berkun: http://www.scottberkun.com Learn more about How Design Makes the World: https://designmtw.com/ --- Connect with Made for Us
Made For Us was produced and hosted by Tosin Sulaiman. Special thanks to the following people who helped to keep this podcast running: Design & social media management: Valentin Grimoux Audio engineering: Justin Orive at Reliable Sounds, Alex Van Rose & Rishi Das Post-production & marketing intern: Soumaya El Filali | |||
| Widening the beauty net: how Guide Beauty reimagined the makeup kit, with Terri Bryant | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:27:47 | |
On the day makeup artist Terri Bryant learned she had Parkinson's, she returned home and raided her makeup kit and her husband's toolbox. She quickly pinpointed what was lacking in the tools she’d been using for years: grip and stability. This sparked the creation of Guide Beauty, a brand dedicated to reimagining makeup artistry and proving it can be accessible to all, regardless of skill, ability, or disability. In today’s episode, we discuss:
Loved this episode? Share it with a friend and drop us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to spread the word! And be sure to check out our free newsletter where you'll find exclusive content. --- About Terri Bryant: Guide Beauty's founder Terri Bryant is a veteran in makeup artistry and education with over 25 years in the cosmetics industry. She’s worked behind the scenes as a celebrity makeup artist, in front of the camera as a presenter on QVC, QVC UK and HSN, and as an education executive, teaching makeup artistry for brands like Dior and Stila, and leading education departments for companies such as Smashbox and Josie Maran. Learn more about Guide Beauty: https://www.guidebeauty.com Follow Guide Beauty on IG: @guidebeautycosmetics Follow Guide Beauty on TIKTOK: @guidebeauty --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Rooting for you: the male grooming brand winning over big retailers, with Aaron Wallace and Lina Barker | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:21:53 | |
Want to be the first to hear when Season 2 lands? Sign up for the Made For Us newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content. This week's episode: In the heart of South London, a bustling barbershop served as the birthplace for Aaron Wallace, the pioneering grooming brand dedicated to black men. Co-founders Aaron Wallace and Lina Barker share how everyday barbershop conversations about hair woes and aspirations inspired the creation of their acclaimed brand, now gracing the shelves of major retailers like Sainsbury's and Superdrug in the UK and Saks Fifth Avenue in the US. In the conversation, we discuss:
If you enjoyed this episode, please pass it on to someone who'd appreciate it, and kindly leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others find us. --- About Aaron Wallace and Lina Barker: Aaron Wallace is a South London entrepreneur who opened his barbershop, Shear and Shine, in 2014. Following the success of the shop, he went on to launch his eponymous grooming brand, earning accolades from Forbes, AskMen and more as an industry innovator. Entrepreneur Lina Barker transitioned from organising events at the Houses of Parliament to co-founding the Aaron Wallace male grooming brand. Passionate about marketing and brand building, her work with Aaron Wallace has earned recognition from Forbes and Business Insider. Learn more about the brand Aaron Wallace: www.byaaronwallace.com Follow the brand Aaron Wallace on Instagram: @byaaronwallace.com Follow Aaron Wallace on Instagram: @aaronmwallace Follow Lina Barker on Instagram: @linasbarker --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:33:08 | |
In 2018, brown and bronze pointe shoes, tailored for dancers of colour, made their commercial debut in the UK — nearly two centuries after the introduction of pink ones. The delay begs the questions: Why? Who paved the way? What were dancers of colour doing before then? And how has the landscape changed since? Join us as we dive into these questions with Cassa Pancho, the trailblazing founder of Ballet Black, a company committed to carving out space for dancers of colour in classical ballet. In today’s episode, we discuss:
If you liked this episode, don't keep it to yourself. Please share with a fellow podcast lover and don't forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. --- About Cassa Pancho: Born to Trinidadian and British parents, Cassa Pancho launched Ballet Black in 2001 after graduating from professional dance training. Her initial goal was to provide role models to young, aspiring Black and Asian dancers. Ballet Black won the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Company in 2009 and Best Mid-Scale Company in 2022. Cassa was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Years’ Honours List for Services to classical ballet. To date, she has commissioned over 40 choreographers to create over 60 new ballets for Ballet Black. Learn more about Ballet Black Website: https://balletblack.co.uk Follow Ballet Black on Instagram: @originalballetblack --- Connect with Made for Us
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| A payment card that talks: the new, inclusive tool in banking | 08 Feb 2024 | 00:31:03 | |
Paying with a card has become incredibly easy and safe, but for the 43 million people worldwide who are blind, that's not the case. Not only are blind and visually impaired people unable to see the payment terminal when making a transaction, they also have no way of confirming whether the amount they're paying is accurate. Blind notches, braille and contrasting colors are all tools integrated in financial services to make them more inclusive. But our guest today, Frederic Martinez, believes banks can do more. His team developed a talking payment card, in collaboration with partners, and he joins us to explain how it works and the reception it's had so far. In the episode, we discuss:
If you liked this episode, please share with someone who you think would enjoy it and don't forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also share feedback here. --- About Frederic Martinez: Frederic Martinez is driving the offer strategy for biometric cards and innovative payment solutions at Thales. With a passion for new technologies, Frederic is committed to helping banks bring better payment experiences to consumers and introduce new disruptive services. Learn more about Thales Banking & Payments Website: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/banking-payment Follow Frederic Martinez on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fmartinez2 --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Ahead of the curve, part 2: helmet innovation and inclusivity, with Randy Swart of Helmets.org | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:20:27 | |
The struggle to find a bicycle helmet that fits is more common than you might think. People with long hair, big hair, dreadlocks, cochlear implants, turbans…the list goes on. How are helmet manufacturers addressing the needs of diverse communities and what could the latest innovations in helmet technology mean for inclusivity? Randy Swart, executive director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, has answers to these questions and more. What we discuss in this episode:
This is the second of two episodes on inclusive helmets. Be sure to check out part one, an interview with Tina Singh, founder of Bold Helmets, here: https://pod.link/1711282282 If you liked this episode, please share with someone who you think would enjoy it and please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. --- About Randy Swart Randy Swart is the executive director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), a bicycle helmet advocacy program explaining helmet technology to consumers and working to improve helmet standards. BHSI is funded entirely by consumer donations and does not accept funds from the industry. Learn more about BHSI: helmets.org --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Ahead of the curve, part 1: the helmet designer bringing diversity to sports, with Tina Singh of Bold Helmets | 25 Jan 2024 | 00:25:58 | |
What do you do when traditional bike helmets just don’t work for you? Forgo a helmet altogether or choose a different sport? Tina Singh chose a third option - designing a helmet for Sikh kids who, like her three sons, keep their hair uncut. Although her company, Bold Helmets, was created with her community in mind, Tina hopes other overlooked groups could one day benefit from her re-imagining of the helmet. What we discuss in this episode:
If you liked this episode, please share with someone who you think would enjoy it and please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. --- About Tina Singh Tina Singh is the founder of Bold Helmets, an Occupational Therapist, Digital Content Creator and mom of 3. In December 2022, Tina launched the Bold Helmets brand which has created the first safety certified multi-sport helmet for Sikh kids who keep their hair. As an Occupational Therapist who worked in the area of head and brain injuries, Tina knew that a helmet was essential for her kids. When she couldn't find one to fit her kids, she made her own. Learn more about Bold Helmets: www.boldhelmets.com Follow Bold Helmets on Instagram: @boldhelmets --- Connect with Made for Us
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| ‘The door is opening for us’: Cira Robinson on ballet’s turning pointe | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:29:48 | |
For decades, dancers of colour at classical ballet companies have used makeup to dye their pink pointe shoes a darker shade to match their skin tone. My guest this week, award-winning ballerina Cira Robinson, tells me about the day she got tired of ‘pancaking’ and asked the renowned shoemaker Freed of London to make a pair of brown pointe shoes for her. The episode covers:
If you liked this episode, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. You might also like: Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet --- About Cira Robinson Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cira began her ballet career as an apprentice with the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. After a few months, she became a full member and danced many works from the DTH repertoire under the guidance of Arthur Mitchell. She joined Ballet Black in London in 2008 and in 2013 was nominated for Outstanding Classical Female at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards. While at Ballet Black, Cira worked with the company and with Freed of London to create the first Brown and Bronze pointe shoe for dancers of colour. After retiring in 2022, she took up a new role as Director of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars. Follow Cira on Instagram: @ciraoslynn --- Connect with Made for Us
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| A new level of gaming: designing video games for all abilities, with Vivek Gohil | 11 Jan 2024 | 00:23:15 | |
As a gamer living with a disability, Vivek Gohil has strong opinions about the accessibility of video games. Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of nine, his muscles have become weaker over the years but that hasn’t deterred him from gaming. He now uses his experience to advise game developers and console makers on improving gaming for people like himself with severe motor disabilities. In this interview, he talks about the solutions he’s found, including coding accessibility features into games that lack them, and why he’d like to see more developers tapping into the expertise of gamers with disabilities. Other topics we cover in this episode:
This is the second of two episodes on accessible gaming. Check out part one, an interview with Mick Donegan, founder of the gaming charity SpecialEffect, here: https://pod.link/1711282282 --- About Vivek Gohil Vivek is an accessibility consultant who lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He uses his lived experiences to advocate and elevate the voices of disabled gamers with similar conditions. Vivek regularly writes for the gaming website Eurogamer focusing on accessibility. Vivek’s website: https://uncannyvivek.com/ Follow Vivek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncannyvivek --- Connect with Made for Us
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