ArtsDesignBusinessEntrepreneurshipTechnology

Made For Us

Tosin Sulaiman

Made For Us is a Signal Award-winning podcast for anyone who’s curious about how to design for inclusivity. An Apple Podcasts Editors' Choice, Made For Us entered Apple's top 10 Design chart, reaching #2 in Canada and #3 in the U.S.

Join us each week for conversations with founders, designers, product inclusion leaders and other creative minds who are challenging the status quo of how everyday products are designed. Each episode will bring you insights from people who've spent years thinking, perhaps even obsessing, about how to develop products or build companies that are inclusive from the start.

AWARDS

2025 International Women's Podcast Awards:

Runner-up: Moment of Absolute Honesty
Finalist: Moment of Behind-the-Scenes Briliance

2024 Signal Awards:

Bronze winner: Most Inspirational Podcast

2024 International Women's Podcast Awards:

Finalist: Moment of Insight from a Role Model & Moment of Visionary Leadership

Play

Open in

26 episodes
weekly
Avg 29 min
English

Episodes 26

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Thursday · 25 min
Where are they now? 3 years of Made For Us
It’s been three years since Made For Us first launched, and to mark the occasion we’re catching up with some of our past guests to hear what they’ve been up to since they were on the show - from new launches to big pivots and milestones. If you’re new to the podcast, you’ll find links to their original episodes below. --- Featured guests: Lucy Edwards, founder of Etia: Original episode: 'I don't need fixing - the world does': Lucy Edwards on redefining disability Website: https://etialondon.com/ Dujon Smith, founder of My Block Skin Original episode: Sunscreen for every shade: the next big beauty trend? Website: https://www.myblockskin.com/ Dan Scarfe, founder of XRAI Original episode: What if real life had subtitles? These smart glasses make it happen Website: https://xrai.glass/ Hans Jørgen Wiberg, founder of Be My Eyes Original episode: Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility Website: https://www.bemyeyes.com/ --- 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/ Email: madeforuspod@gmail.com
- Transcript
October 8 · 39 min
No wrong notes: Pete Letanka on the search for musical alchemy
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 Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
- Transcript
October 2 · 30 min
Why classical music needs an image refresh, with Berginald Rash
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 Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
- Transcript
September 24 · 38 min
Voice notes: Victoria Oruwari on disability and opportunity in classical music
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 Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
- Transcript
September 14 · 41 min
Bringing African classical music to the world stage, with Rebeca Omordia
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 Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
- Transcript
September 13 · 1 min
Mini-series: Made For Us & Classically Black
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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E9
April 30 · 41 min
Redesigning venture capital: Eric Collins on the overlooked founders beating the odds
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 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/ Season 3 credits: Creator, producer & host: Tosin Sulaiman Audio engineering: Justin Orive | Graphic design: Judith Raynault Social media: Shilton Freeman | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux
- Transcript
S3 · E8
April 23 · 26 min
Signal in the noise: building bias-free medical devices, with Valencia Koomson
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/
- Transcript
S3 · E7
April 16 · 32 min
Hugh Herr's bionic revolution: when technology becomes part of us
*** 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E6
April 9 · 36 min
Closing the disability wealth gap: an investor's case for inclusive design | Regina Kline
*** 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: How Enable Ventures invests in disability-led innovation The “original sin” behind the disability wealth gap How the "ADA generation" is building the technology they need to compete --- 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 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/
- Transcript
April 2 · 44 min
Crossover episode with Beyond 6 Seconds: Nonspeaking autism representation with Tiffany Hammond
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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E5
March 26 · 37 min
The pulse oximeter problem: a trusted medical device comes under the spotlight | Michael Sjoding
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: Why pulse oximeters can produce less accurate readings in patients with darker skin - and what that means for clinical decision-making What the pulse oximeter problem reveals about inclusive design in medicine Why Dr. Sjoding believes his study gained traction where earlier research did not 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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E4
March 19 · 37 min
Why AI struggles with African languages - and the startup closing the gap | Pelonomi Moiloa
*** 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: Why mainstream AI struggles with African languages The creative approaches Lelapa AI is pioneering since scraping the internet or the archives isn't an option What Pelonomi really thinks about being called one of the most influential people in AI 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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E3
March 12 · 34 min
Rewriting the story: the AI startup reimagining how the world learns to read | Ethan Pierce
*** 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: How Ethan's own struggles with reading in school inspired Adaptive Reader’s mission Why 130 user research interviews convinced him that print was a non-negotiable equity need How Adaptive Reader designs for learners across neurological differences, physical disabilities, and languages 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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E2
March 5 · 18 min
The "feminization of wealth" is coming. Are you ready? | Sylvia Kwan
*** 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: How the Great Wealth Transfer is driving the feminization of wealth Why women invest differently and what that means for society How Ellevest is preparing for a “seismic shift” in spending and investment 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 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/
- Transcript
S3 · E1
February 26 · 28 min
The women finance forgot: Ellevest CEO Sylvia Kwan on closing the gender wealth gap
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: Why the gender investing gap exists and how it contributes to the wealth gap What Ellevest discovered about women’s attitudes towards risk Sylvia's surprising route to becoming chief investment officer and then CEO How Ellevest is breaking down the barriers that keep women from investing --- 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? AI vs the feedback gap --- 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/
- Transcript
February 7 · 1 min
Made For Us Season 3
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 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/
- Transcript
Dec 23, 2025 · 29 min
What's in a name? Part 3: Who decides what's 'normal'?
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
- Transcript
Dec 20, 2025 · 16 min
What's in a name? Part 2: Did Big Tech actually change?
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/ Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
- Transcript
Dec 19, 2025 · 26 min
What's in a name? Part 1: When your device thinks you're a typo
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. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 -- 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
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes