Explore every episode of the podcast Made For Us
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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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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| Bridging the gap, part 2: How data is shaping the future of eyewear, with Reframd's Shariff Vreugd | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:34:12 | |
When pitching their inclusive eyewear brand to investors, Reframd ’s co-founders Shariff Vreugd and Ackeem Ngwenya often faced doubts about whether a market existed for their product. But if you look beyond the West, says Shariff, the opportunity is massive. In the second of a two-part series on inclusive brands disrupting the eyewear industry, we talk about how Reframd is reimagining eyewear frame design to cater to communities that have traditionally been overlooked. In this episode we discuss:
In case you missed part 1 of the series, check out Episode 11 with Athina Wang and Florence Shin of Covry. If you’d like to hear more stories like this, please support the podcast by leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify and sharing it with others via this link: https://pod.link/1711282282 --- About Shariff Vreugd Shariff is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Reframd, a company that crafts and manufactures eyewear products based on the unique facial measurements of each customer. Reframd's mission is to make the eyewear industry more inclusive. Learn more about Reframd: https://www.reframd.com/ Follow Reframd on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reframd/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Bridging the gap, part 1: crafting eyewear for diverse facial features, with Covry's Athina Wang and Florence Shin | 21 Dec 2023 | 00:30:59 | |
After struggling for years to find glasses that fit comfortably, Athina Wang and Florence Shin realised that it was the eyewear industry that needed to change and not them. That was the inspiration for launching Covry, an inclusive eyewear brand that came to life through an oversubscribed Kickstarter campaign. In the interview, we discuss:
This is the first of two episodes on inclusive eyewear. Tune in tomorrow for part 2 with Shariff Vreugd, the co-founder of Reframd. If you like this episode, please rate the podcast on your preferred app and share it with someone who would enjoy it via this link: https://pod.link/1711282282 --- About Athina Wang and Florence Shin Athina Wang and Florence Shin met in high school and have been close friends throughout their journey in the fashion industry. Frustrated by the lack of comfortable options for diverse face shapes, they teamed up to create an innovative approach to fit and design. Together, they built Covry to embrace diversity and celebrate faces of all different shapes and sizes. Learn more about Covry: https://shopcovry.com/ Follow Covry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopcovry/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Making it as a plus size male model, with Raul Samuel - Episode 10 | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:26:06 | |
“Where are the plus size male models?” It’s a question the Internet seemed to be asking just a few years ago. Now, a six-pack is no longer a prerequisite to grace the pages of the top fashion magazines. It’s proof, says my guest, Raul Samuel, that there's demand for more realistic-looking models. Still, as we discuss in the interview, not everyone in the fashion industry is convinced. Some of the topics we cover in this conversation:
If you liked this episode, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. You can also check out my conversation with Charlotte Griffiths, founder of BRIDGE Agency, in Episode 7: https://pod.link/1711282282 --- About Raul Samuel Raul started modelling in 2016 and has featured twice in both Vogue and Men’s Health. He has also fronted campaigns for brands like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, ASOS and Boohoo Man. Raul is represented by BRIDGE Agency, which launched the UK’s first men’s division for bigger, broader male models in 2016. Follow Raul Samuel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raulsamuel_official — Connect with Made For Us
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| ‘No going back’: lessons from P&G’s product inclusion journey, with Sam Latif - Episode 9 | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:45:35 | |
Want to be the first to hear when Season 2 lands? Subscribe to the Made For Us newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content. This week's episode: Sam Latif, P&G's first Company Accessibility Leader, joins me this week to share how she is driving innovation to make the company’s 65+ brands inclusive and accessible for the 15% of people around the globe who experience some form of disability. Sam’s passion for her work stems from her personal experiences as a mother of three who is blind. In her current role, Sam is focused on embedding accessibility into P&G brands such as Pantene, Gillette, Ariel and Pampers. In our conversation, we discuss:
If you like this episode, please leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and spread the word by sharing this link: https://pod.link/1711282282. --- About Sam Latif: Sam joined P&G in 2000 and went on to have a successful IT career. In 2015, she switched her focus to helping make P&G's products, packaging and advertising more accessible. In 2019, she was promoted to Senior Director, taking on the formal title of Company Accessibility Leader. Sam is married with three children. She is a first-generation Scottish Pakistani and currently lives in Surrey. Follow Sam Latif on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/samlatif --- Learn more about P&G: Website: https://www.pg.co.uk/people-with-disabilities/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/procter-and-gamble/ --- Connect with Made for Us
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| A perfect match: how Band-Aids became inclusive, with Intisar Bashir & Dom Apollon - Episode 8 | 30 Nov 2023 | 00:30:58 | |
For many people of colour, wearing a plaster, or Band-Aid, that blends with their skin tone is a novel experience. While inclusive bandages are now widely available in countries like the UK and US, that's only happened in the last few years. My two guests share their unique perspectives on this. Intisar Bashir is the co-founder and CEO of Browndages, one of the first companies to offer bandages in a range of skin tones, before giants like Johnson & Johnson seized on the opportunity. My other guest is Dom Apollon, whose 2019 tweet about the emotions he felt wearing a skin tone bandage for the first time went viral and inspired the UK supermarket chain Tesco to launch its own line of inclusive bandages. In this episode we discuss:
If you like this episode, please leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also spread the word by sharing this link: https://pod.link/1711282282. Bios Intisar Bashir and her husband Rashid Mahdi launched Browndages in 2018 after noticing that none of the bandages they purchased in stores matched the skin of anyone in their family. The couple live in Columbus, Ohio with their four children. Intisar comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has always aspired to follow in their footsteps. Dominique (“Dom”) Apollon is a US-based racial and social equity professional and the founder of Apollon Research and Consulting. From 2008 to 2022, Dom led the Research Department at Race Forward, one of the largest racial justice organisations in the US. Dom lives in California, where he completed his PhD in Political Science at Stanford University. — Learn more about Browndages Website: www.browndages.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Browndages/ X: https://www.twitter.com/Browndages — Learn more about Dom Apollon Website: https://apollonresearchandconsulting.com/ X: https://twitter.com/ApollonTweets — Connect with Made for Us
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| 'Plus size' men's clothing: fashion's best kept secret, with Charlotte Griffiths of BRIDGE Agency - Episode 7 | 23 Nov 2023 | 00:32:07 | |
When Charlotte Griffiths’ agency BRIDGE launched the UK’s first men’s division for bigger, broader male models in 2016, it was based on a hunch that the fashion industry was ready to embrace men of different shapes and sizes. In this week’s interview, Charlotte tells me how her gamble paid off and why brands need to let go of outdated stereotypes around men and fashion. Charlotte is the owner and Managing Director of BRIDGE, a talent management agency established in 2014 that represents models and influencers internationally. The agency‘s ethos is to "bridge-the-gap" between standard and plus size models. After seeing a rise in mental health struggles for men, Charlotte recognised that to be a truly diverse agency they needed to bring men into the conversation around body positivity as well. In this episode we discuss:
If you enjoyed this interview, please subscribe to Made For Us to be notified of future episodes and rate the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover it. --- Learn more about BRIDGE Website: www.bridgeagency.com Application form: https://bridgeagency.com/apply Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgemodels --- Connect with Made for Us
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| Unlocking innovation through disability inclusion, with Microsoft’s Hector Minto - Episode 6 | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:48:17 | |
When Hector Minto joined Microsoft seven years ago, he knew it was time to bring disability inclusion into the mainstream. In this episode, Microsoft’s Lead Technology Evangelist on accessibility tells me why “this is not a niche topic anymore” and why companies need to get ahead of regulation and build accessible products. Hector drives and measures the education and adoption of Microsoft accessibility features and assistive technologies across the company’s customers and partners. Before joining Microsoft, he spent over two decades in the field of assistive technology and accessibility. Some of the topics we cover in the conversation:
If you're enjoying the podcast, be sure to hit the ‘Follow’ button to be notified of future episodes and please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show. If you liked this episode, check out my conversation with Maura Horton, founder of accessible clothing brand MagnaReady: https://link.chtbl.com/madeforuspodcast --- Learn more about Microsoft Disability Answer Desk: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/disability-answer-desk X: https://twitter.com/MSFTEnable Follow Hector Minto on X: https://twitter.com/hminto --- Connect with Made For Us
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| BONUS: Reflections on creating the headscarf emoji, with Rayouf Alhumedhi | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:29:00 | |
Do you have what it takes to create your own emoji? My guest, Rayouf Alhumedhi, did just that when she 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 recently graduated from Stanford University where she studied product design. In this episode, Rayouf talks about:
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 subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content. --- Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi --- Connect with Made for Us
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| The emoji puzzle: how to fit everyone in, with Emojipedia’s Keith Broni - Episode 4 | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:26:57 | |
As emoji usage has gone global over the past decade, demand for more inclusive emoji has soared. But how effectively can emoji capture human diversity? And what challenges does this pose from a design perspective? I’ll be exploring these questions and more in a two-part special on emoji. First up is Keith Broni, the editor-in-chief of Emojipedia, the world's #1 emoji resource. Keith oversees changes to emoji sets from major vendors like Apple and Google, as well as interpreting emoji usage and trends. He received an MSc in Business Psychology from University College London, where he did his dissertation on emoji use in social media communication. In this episode we discuss:
If you liked this episode, check out my conversation with Rayouf Alhumedhi, the founder of the Hijab Emoji Project. --- Learn more about Emojipedia --- Connect with Made for Us | |||
| Changing the narrative around accessible fashion, with Maura Horton - Episode 3 | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:29:40 | |
This week's guest is Maura Horton, the CEO and Founder of MagnaReady, a company that provides accessible apparel for those with limited dexterity. Maura developed the concept for MagnaReady after her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and struggled to dress himself independently. She invented and eventually patented a magnetic closure system that replaces buttons and has since licensed the technology to Fortune 500 Companies including PVH Corp, owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. Maura also partnered with and advised Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive, the first mainstream brand to launch a children’s adaptive apparel line. In this episode we talk about:
--- Learn more about MagnaReady Follow Maura Horton on LinkedIn Maura’s recommendations for people to follow: --- Connect with Made For Us If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe to Made For Us and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts to help others discover it. | |||
| 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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| Ade Hassan on moving beyond 'one-nude-fits-all' - Episode 2 | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:27:58 | |
Couldn’t wait for the next installment of Made For Us? Well, here’s an additional episode just for launch week. My guest is Ade Hassan, founder and CEO of the lingerie brand Nubian Skin. Founded in 2014, the company brought a simple yet innovative product to the fashion industry - nude lingerie and hosiery for women with darker skin tones. In 2017, Ade was awarded an MBE for services to fashion in recognition of Nubian Skin’s inclusive and innovative mission to “redefine nude.” In this episode Ade discusses:
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 subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content. --- Learn more about Nubian Skin Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube Follow Ade Hassan on Instagram --- Connect with Made For Us | |||
| Cliff Weitzman on building the ‘voice of the internet’ - Episode 1 | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:34:19 | |
Joining me on the very first episode of Made For Us is Cliff Weitzman, the Founder and CEO of Speechify, a text-to-speech app that uses AI to turn text from documents, websites and email to audio. Speechify has been downloaded by over 20 million users and is the #1 rated AI text-to-speech app in its category on Apple’s App Store. Among its user base are people with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision and other conditions that make reading difficult. In 2017, Weitzman made the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. In this episode, Cliff discusses:
Enjoyed this episode? Rate the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover it! And be sure to subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content. --- Learn more about Speechify Follow Cliff Weitzman --- Connect with Made For Us | |||
| Trailer: Made for Us Season 1 | 10 Oct 2023 | 00:02:27 | |
Introducing Made for Us, a new podcast exploring the intersection of innovation and inclusion. The weekly show tells the stories of the founders, inventors and nonconformists who've made it their mission to create products that work better for everyone. Produced and hosted by Tosin Sulaiman, a podcaster and former business journalist with Reuters and The Times. | |||
| Cassa Pancho on designing the future of ballet | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:33:08 | |
Can't wait for the next season of Made For Us? Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content. --- This week's guest: 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 | |
Want to be the first to hear when Season 2 lands? Subscribe to the Made For Us newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content. This week's episode: 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 | |
Want to be the first to hear about the new season of Made For Us? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates and exclusive content. This week's episode: 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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| Game on: levelling the playing field for gamers with disabilities, with SpecialEffect’s Mick Donegan | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:23:33 | |
When it comes to improving the accessibility of video games, it’s often simple things that can make a big difference, says this week's guest, Mick Donegan. Since 2007, the charity he founded, SpecialEffect, has helped thousands of people with severe physical disabilities play video games by creating bespoke setups suited to their abilities. In today’s interview, Mick shares how SpecialEffect has become a catalyst for change in the gaming industry by sharing its knowledge with game developers and hardware manufacturers, including Microsoft and Sony, the makers of the Xbox Adaptive Controller and the Playstation Access Controller. In this episode we discuss:
This is the first of two episodes on accessible gaming. Look out for part two next week! --- About Mick Donegan Dr Mick Donegan, MBE, is the Founder and CEO of SpecialEffect, a charity dedicated to providing enhanced opportunities for people with severe physical disabilities to access technology for leisure, creativity and communication. He is also Adjunct Professor of Assistive Design at OCAD University, Toronto. Learn more about SpecialEffect: https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/ SpecialEffect DevKit: https://specialeffectdevkit.info/ Follow SpecialEffect on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@specialeffectcharity --- 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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| 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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| '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 | |||
| 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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| 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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| Inside Adobe’s mission to build more inclusive tech, with TB Bardlavens - listener Q&A edition | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:40:19 | |
Help us make this podcast better for you! Please answer a few quick questions to help shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- 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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| Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility | Hans Jørgen Wiberg | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:31:27 | |
Help us make this podcast better for you! Please answer a few quick questions to help shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod --- 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/ | |||
| 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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| 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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| Fixing the disability data gap: why inclusive AI starts with better data | Ariana Aboulafia | 10 Apr 2025 | 00:31:12 | |
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 --- 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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| 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/ | |||
| 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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| 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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| Ingrid Silva on building a legacy in ballet, one pointe shoe at a time | 08 May 2025 | 00:30:31 | |
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 --- 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:
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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| 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/ | |||
| 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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| 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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| How to design a fairer healthcare system, with Layal Liverpool and Tessa Davis | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:40:09 | |
*** 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://bit.ly/madeforuspodcast. --- In this episode: 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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| 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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| The power of compassionate design, with Marcus Engel | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:38:00 | |
*** Help shape the future 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: 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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| 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/ | |||
| What's in a name? Part 1: When your device thinks you're a typo | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:26:00 | |
*** 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: 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/ | |||
| What's in a name? Part 2: Did tech companies 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 3: Who decides what's 'normal'? | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:29:14 | |
*** 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: 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/ | |||
| 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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| 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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