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:

1. How Ethan's own struggles with reading in school inspired Adaptive Reader’s mission
2. Why 130 user research interviews convinced him that print was a non-negotiable equity need
3. 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'

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1. Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
4. Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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:

1. How the Great Wealth Transfer is driving the feminization of wealth
2. Why women invest differently and what that means for society
3. 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?

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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

---

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1. Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
4. Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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:

1. Why the gender investing gap exists and how it contributes to the wealth gap
2. What Ellevest discovered about women’s attitudes towards risk
3. Sylvia's surprising route to becoming chief investment officer and then CEO
4. 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

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2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
4. Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

Listen to the trailer and subscribe to get notified of new episodes.

---

Connect with Made for Us

1. Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
4. Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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

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

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

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.

---

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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram

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:

• Haptic technology's potential to guide people living with sight loss
• Marcus’s four-part definition of compassion and how it’s different to empathy 
• Which products Marcus considers to be ‘compassionate'

Enjoyed the episode? Text it to a friend. Loved the episode? Tell the world with a 5-star review.

You might also like:

Navigation you can feel: the startup making the world accessible through touch

How to design a fairer healthcare system

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About Marcus Engel

Marcus Engel is an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame teaching compassion science to pre-meds. He's also a survivor of massive trauma, a keynote speaker, author and hospital/system consultant. He's written two books that have been adopted by scores of nursing and health profession programs across the country. 

Learn more about Marcus Engel: www.MarcusEngel.com

Compassion & Courage podcast

Compassion is Action training video

Books by Marcus Engel

Follow Marcus on LinkedIn

---

Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

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

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About Kevin Yoo

Kevin is the CEO and Founder of Haptic, a technology company creating a universal language of touch. Haptic is developing products and experiences that communicate information through vibrations. 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

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

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:

• How racial health inequities harm not just marginalised communities, but all of us
• The alarming disparities in maternal health in the UK and US that can’t be explained by income alone
• The lack of diversity in medical textbooks and efforts to diversify the medical curriculum

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

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• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

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:

• Her motivation for creating the headscarf emoji
• What it takes to design a brand new emoji and get it approved
• The praise and backlash she received during her campaign
• How Gen Z is pushing inclusive design to the forefront

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

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Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi: https://www.rayouf.com/

Follow Rayouf on Instagram

---

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• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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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:

• Why women face higher injury risks in car crashes
• What’s involved in designing a female crash test dummy
• How the shift to driverless cars presents a chance to correct past biases

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Resources

Astrid Linder’s research

University of Virginia study

U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations

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About Professor Astrid Linder

Astrid Linder is Professor of Traffic Safety at Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, and an Adjunct Professor of Injury Prevention at Chalmers University. She received her PhD in traffic safety from Chalmers from where she also has a MSc in Engineering Physics. Prof Linder initiated and led the research resulting in the 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/

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• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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:

• Challenges women face in the health industry
• The role of investment in advancing women’s health
• The evolution of FemTech and the untapped potential for investment and entrepreneurship in the sector 

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/

---

This week's episode:

What does it take to thrive as a Black ballerina in an art form that prizes uniformity?  

In this episode, renowned Brazilian ballerina Ingrid Silva reflects on the professional breakthroughs and battles behind her rise in the ballet world - from spending 11 years dyeing her pointe shoes by hand to match her skin tone, to persuading the industry to prioritize inclusivity. She shares her journey from Rio de Janeiro to Dance Theatre of Harlem and how becoming a mother has impacted her career.

The episode also dives into:

• Ingrid's childhood in Brazil and how a kind neighbour changed the course of her life
• The unspoken emotional and financial costs for dancers of colour in ballet
• How her personal experience drove her to create the Blacks in Ballet movement
• What ballet still gets wrong about representation, motherhood, and belonging 

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

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About Ingrid Silva

Ingird Silva is a celebrated Brazilian ballerina and changemaker with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she began dancing at age 8 through a social project in the Mangueira favela and later earned a full scholarship to study in New York. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and others, and collaborated with renowned choreographers worldwide. A dedicated advocate for equity in the arts, she is the founder of podHER and co-founder of Blacks in Ballet. Her accomplishments have been recognized globally –  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

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Social media: LinkedIn and Instagram
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

---

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:  

• NaviLens’ origins in Spain and how the technology has gained traction in over 100 countries, from the US to Australia 
• Why major transport systems from London to Tokyo and brands like Kellogg’s and P&G are signing on
• How NaviLens makes grocery shopping more accessible for everyone, from tourists to people with autism

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

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About Oran McAllister

Oran McAllister is the Client Engagement Officer at NaviLens. Oran is tasked with developing new relationships and sustaining established partnerships with organisations, associations and users of NaviLens around the world. His passion in the pursuit of accessibility not only comes from his professional background but also stems from his personal experience.

Learn more about NaviLens: https://www.navilens.com/en/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaviLens

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navilens/

Reach out to NaviLens:  info@navilens.com

---

Connect with Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

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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:

• Dujon’s founder journey – from ideation and testing formulations to creating a lifestyle brand
• How My Block Skin became the first black-owned sun care brand stocked at the UK pharmacy chain Boots in its 175-year history
• How companies can cater to overlooked audiences through social listening

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

• 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/ 

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: 

• Challenges of building a sustainable clothing brand
• How to make sense of sustainable certifications 
• The crucial shift we all need to make towards slow fashion 

Learn more about Climify: www.climatedesigners.org/edu/climify 

---

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Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

---

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:

• How effective AI hiring tools are at reducing human bias
• The importance of including people with disabilities at every stage of AI development
• The challenges of getting accurate disability data
• How understanding the different definitions of disability can improve data collection

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

• 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/ 

Tune in to learn more about:

• The unsettling truth about how AI hiring tools are screening out candidates with disabilities - and how to make them fairer
• How HR leaders can challenge biases in AI hiring tools and demand more from the technology they invest in
• Why Susan coined the term “disability confidence” and why it’s not just about “being nice” to disabled people

Further listening: How to innovate responsibly, with McKinsey's Rikki Singh

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About Susan Scott-Parker

Susan Scott-Parker OBE is a creative thought leader internationally recognised for her work on how to mobilise business leadership behind disability equality. She founded the 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

• 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/ 

Speechify now has 50 million users who can listen to the internet, emails and other documents with over 200 AI voices, including those of celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow.

We also have a special announcement about a big milestone that Made For Us reached this week.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! And be sure to subscribe to the free Made For Us newsletter to get bonus content.

Also from the archives: Ade Hassan on moving beyond 'one-nude-fits-all'

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Learn more about Speechify

Website / Instagram

Follow Cliff Weitzman

Instagram / Youtube / Medium

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Connect with Made for Us

1. Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/
4. Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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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:

• The diverse and innovative ways people use the Be My Eyes app
• Why microvolunteering - helping out for just a few minutes - has become such a powerful force for good
• The rapid growth of Be My AI, a new AI-powered feature providing users with quick visual assistance for everyday tasks
• The challenges Be My Eyes faces in reaching underserved communities

Missed last week's episode? Inside Adobe’s mission to build more inclusive tech

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About Hans Jørgen Wiberg

Hans Jørgen Wiberg is the founder of Be My Eyes, a groundbreaking app that connects blind and 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.

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Learn more about Be My Eyes : https://www.bemyeyes.com/ 

Follow Be My Eyes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemyeyesapp/?hl=en 

Follow Hans Jørgen Wiberg on LinkedIn: https://dk.linkedin.com/in/hans-j%C3%B8rgen-wiberg-8a16b915 

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Connect with Made for Us

Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 

Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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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:

• Why traditional product development often fails to meet human needs
• How Adobe is embedding equity and accessibility across its entire product ecosystem
• The human case and the business case for product equity
• The role of AI in creativity and Adobe’s mission to empower, not replace, creatives

Missed last week’s episode? AI vs the gender feedback gap

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About TB Bardlavens

TB Bardlavens is chaotic good in its purest form. He is a Gay, Black man from the Carolinas, a highly regarded social intrapreneur, and an advocate for equity in technology and design. He is a Product Executive, Cultural Strategist, Diversity, Equity, and Justice expert, Co-Founder, Writer, and International Speaker and Facilitator.

For more than a decade, TB has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic barriers, building and scaling teams, and launching innovative digital products for companies like Microsoft, Meta and Adobe.

Learn more about TB Bardlavens: https://www.bardlavens.com/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bardlavens 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bardlavens 

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Connect with Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/

Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/

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How does bias show up in workplace feedback, and can AI help fix it?

In this episode, we speak with Mykel Rangel, VP of Engineering at Textio, a company that has built AI-driven tools that are reshaping the way managers give feedback and how recruiters craft job ads. We explore the hidden biases in performance reviews, how feedback impacts employee retention and pay, and what leaders can do to create more equitable workplaces.

We also cover:

• Textio’s research on workplace feedback and what language can reveal about a company’s culture
• Why women tend to get more personality-based feedback than men
• How AI can help managers close the feedback gap
• Strategies for evaluating AI tools for bias mitigation

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

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About Mykel Rangel 

Mykel Rangel is the Vice President of Engineering at Textio, a company using artificial intelligence to help organisations create more inclusive, effective, and engaging written communication. Starting off as a tech writer, Mykel transitioned into software before joining Textio. 

Learn more about Textio: https://textio.com

Follow Mykel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykel-rangel-18963322/

Read the report on bias in performance feedback: https://textio.com/feedback-bias-2024 

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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What if you could subtitle everyday life? That question sparked the creation of XRAI, a company developing augmented reality glasses that display real-time subtitles right before your eyes. 

In this episode, XRAI CEO and founder Dan Scarfe joins us to share how AI and augmented reality (AR) are making conversations more accessible - for the 1.5 billion people worldwide with hearing loss, but also for anyone 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:

• The highs and lows of building inclusive tech
• How XRAI’s earliest users (and Dan’s granddad) helped refine the product
• The different use cases for the technology - benefits for the deaf and neurodivergent communities as well as global businesses
• The future of AI-driven assistive technology and what’s next for XRAI

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

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About Dan Scarfe:

Dan Scarfe is the CEO and founder of XRAI, a company using AI and augmented reality to improve accessibility. Inspired by his 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/

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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/

Research by McKinsey & Company found that only 17% of product managers ranked inclusion among their top priorities. Yet, it can be a powerful strategic advantage.

In this episode, we speak with Rikki Singh, a partner at McKinsey and founder of the McKinsey Product Academy, about the critical role of product management in fostering responsible and inclusive innovation.

The conversation explores:

• Real-world examples of companies innovating to serve underserved markets
• How generative AI is exposing biases in tech while also unlocking the ability to create a more level playing field
• Actionable tips for enterprises and startups to prioritise inclusion in product development

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

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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

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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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:

• Lucy’s viral wedding, where she and her husband gave guests a glimpse into her world
• Her book, Blind, Not Broken, a memoir and guide to overcoming loss and embracing self-acceptance
• The challenges of living in a world that often overlooks accessibility
• Lucy’s work with global brands like Pantene and Barbie-maker Mattel, and her plans to launch a makeup line with inclusivity at its core

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

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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Season 2 credits:

Creator/producer/host: Tosin Sulaiman

Graphic design: Judith Raynault | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux

Audio engineer: Justin Orive | Marketing intern: Abigail Brierley

Subscribe now so you don't miss new episodes.

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Connect with Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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.

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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

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast

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: 

• Business and cultural reasons behind design choices
• Key questions to ask early on in the design process
• Why we should think twice before using words like ‘intuitive’ and ‘user-friendly’
• The ROI of inclusivity 

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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/

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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

In today’s episode, we discuss: 

• Adaptation and accommodation vs. authentic inclusion 
• What Terri learned from launching a beauty brand in the middle of the pandemic
• Why she decided to team up with the actress Selma Blair, Guide’s Chief Creative Officer
• How Guide Beauty is changing the narrative around accessible beauty tools

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.

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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

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Connect with Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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: 

• How barbershop dialogues helped the founders uncover a real need in the men’s grooming space 
• The journey of turning a gap in the market into an opportunity for inclusive innovation 
• Aaron Wallace’s global aspirations and how the brand broke into the US market

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.

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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

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

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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:  

• The question that sparked the idea for Ballet Black 
• Ballet Black’s role in changing what ballet repertoire looks like
• Cassa’s feedback on early prototypes of the brown pointe shoes
• The reaction to the launch of the shoes

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. 

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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

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Connect with  Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
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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:  

• What prompted the development of the voice payment card and the technology behind it
• The challenges banks may face in offering it more widely
• Other potential use cases for the voice payment card
• Biometric cards: another exciting inclusive financial solution

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.

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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

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Connect with Made for Us

• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

What we discuss in this episode:

• Challenges of designing helmets for different head shapes and specific needs
• The tension between inclusivity and affordability in helmet design
• The pros and cons of solutions such as 3D printing and airbag helmets

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. 

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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 

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Connect with Made for Us

• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/

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:

• The tough choices faced by Sikh parents who want their kids to participate in helmet-mandated sports
• How Tina started with zero knowledge of helmet design and what she would do differently
• Why she ended up pivoting the brand name
• How she coped with media attention when Bold Helmets launched

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. 

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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

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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/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/madeforuspod 

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:

• Cira’s experience with Dance Theatre of Harlem under the legendary Arthur Mitchell
• Her move to London to join Ballet Black
• The role pointe shoes play in a dancer’s life and the need for customisation
• How she worked with Freed and Ballet Black to create inclusive pointe shoes and the impact they've had

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

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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

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Connect with Made for Us

• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
• Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

Other topics we cover in this episode:

• How Vivek has adapted his gaming setup
• How accessibility in gaming has evolved and areas for improvement
• The impact of the Xbox Adaptive Controller
• The representation of disability in games

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

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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 

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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/

In this episode we discuss:

• The power of play and gaming’s impact on mental health
• The most challenging cases SpecialEffect has worked on
• What’s behind the drive towards inclusion in the gaming industry
• SpecialEffect’s impact on the industry

This is the first of two episodes on accessible gaming. Look out for part two next week!

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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

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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/ 

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:

• Why certain demographic groups have felt neglected by the eyewear industry
• Why Reframd had to rethink its target audience post-launch
• How the company's data and insights can benefit the eyewear industry
• The test to determine if your glasses fit correctly 

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  

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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/ 

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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/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/madeforuspod 

In the interview, we discuss:

• Why having zero eyewear industry experience proved to be an advantage for Athina and Florence
• How they ensured a successful Kickstarter campaign 
• Why customer feedback is an essential part of Covry’s design process
• The 20+ steps involved in creating a single Covry frame

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 

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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/ 

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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/ 

Some of the topics we cover in this conversation:

• Why the fashion industry has been slow to accept plus size male models
• What Raul has learned about body confidence since becoming a model
• The changes he’d like to see in the fashion industry
• Raul's favourite brands and tips for how to look good at any size

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 

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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 

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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/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/madeforuspod

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:

• How Sam’s personal experiences helped drive innovation in accessibility at P&G
• Sam’s campaign to help P&G’s leadership better understand the needs of people with disabilities 
• The initiatives she has led to make P&G's packaging and advertising more accessible 
• Why building a ‘disability-confident’ culture is essential for inclusive innovation

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.

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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 

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Learn more about P&G:

Website: https://www.pg.co.uk/people-with-disabilities/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/procter-and-gamble/ 

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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/ 

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:

• How Browndages has responded to competition from larger players in the first aid care industry
• What happened after Browndages’ appearance on 'Shark Tank'
• Dom’s reflections on why his tweet resonated with people around the world

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.

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Learn more about Browndages

Website: www.browndages.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Browndages/

X: https://www.twitter.com/Browndages

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Learn more about Dom Apollon

Website: https://apollonresearchandconsulting.com/ 

X: https://twitter.com/ApollonTweets 

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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/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/madeforuspod

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:

• Charlotte’s brief stint as a model and how it influenced her decision to launch BRIDGE
• How she got the inspiration to start the men’s division
• The models she discovered and the campaigns they’ve worked on
• Why she thinks some brands are reluctant to showcase larger men in their imagery

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.

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Learn more about BRIDGE

Website: www.bridgeagency.com

Application form: https://bridgeagency.com/apply

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgemodels

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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/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/madeforuspod 

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:

• How inclusion has driven innovation and healthy competition within Microsoft
• How Microsoft assesses the impact of disability inclusion
• Why companies should exceed expectations when creating accessible experiences 
• The challenge of building more inclusive AI

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

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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

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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/ 

In this episode, Rayouf talks about:

• Her motivation for creating the headscarf emoji
• The praise and backlash she received during her campaign
• Why she decided to major in product design at Stanford
• How Gen Z is pushing inclusive design to the forefront

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.

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Learn more about Rayouf Alhumedhi

Website / Instagram

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• Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/ 
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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/ 

In this episode we discuss:

• How emoji originated and what's behind their universal appeal
• What sparked the move towards more inclusive emoji
• How gender representation has evolved over the years
• Whether there’s a limit to the number of emoji we can have

If you liked this episode, check out my conversation with Rayouf Alhumedhi, the founder of the Hijab Emoji Project.

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Learn more about Emojipedia

Website / Instagram / X

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• Show notes and transcripts
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube

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:

• The state of the adaptive clothing market before MagnaReady
• How Maura got the inspiration to infuse magnets into her husband’s shirts
• The challenges she faced in the design and manufacturing process
• Why Maura thinks the term ‘adaptive’ is unhelpful

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Learn more about MagnaReady

Website / Instagram / X

Follow Maura Horton on LinkedIn

Maura’s recommendations for people to follow:

Keely Cat-Wells

Andraea LaVant

Wheelchair Barbie

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Transcripts and show notes

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

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.

In this episode Ade discusses:

• How she built the company despite having no fashion industry experience
• The huge demand for Nubian Skin products in the entertainment industry
• How she thinks about the size of the market for Nubian Skin
• Her advice for companies looking to develop more inclusive products

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.

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Learn more about Nubian Skin

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Follow Ade Hassan on Instagram

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Transcripts and show notes

LinkedIn

Instagram

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:

• How his dyslexia fueled his entrepreneurial drive
• Why he decided that dyslexia was what he wanted to solve
• The advances in AI that made a product like Speechify possible
• How Speechify has helped make reading more accessible 

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.

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Learn more about Speechify

Website / Instagram

Follow Cliff Weitzman

Instagram / Youtube / Medium

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Connect with Made For Us

Transcripts and show notes

LinkedIn

Instagram