When we think of STEM, we often picture engineers, chemists, or programmers. But what about someone who patents a piece of clothing, challenges the textile industry, and builds a company around purpose-driven innovation?

In a very unique episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Michael Drescher, Founder of Vibrant Body Company. Drescher’s career has spanned cable TV, logistics, and media before leading him to unexpected innovations in fabric science and apparel. His story shows how engineering, chemistry, and entrepreneurship intersect in surprising ways — and why educators should encourage students to look beyond conventional STEM paths.

From patents to cross-disciplinary collaboration, from science to social impact, Drescher offers a compelling case for why the next generation of innovators must combine technical skill with a sense of mission.

Listen to learn:

• Why engineering careers often appear in unexpected industries
• How chemistry and materials science drive innovation in everyday products
• What a utility patent in fashion reveals about unconventional STEM applications
• Why budding entrepreneurs should leverage subject-matter experts from a range of fields to solve complex challenges
• Why purpose-driven entrepreneurship matters for the next generation of innovators

3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:

1. Innovation often begins with a personal “why.” Drescher’s journey started after losing loved ones to breast cancer, whereafter he dove into the science of women's garments and became the "unexpected messenger" of the fashion industry's pitfalls. From polyurethane cups to restricting the lymphatic system to "if it's on you, it's in you," Drescher shares the unexpected science of textiles.

2. There's a need for STEM professionals in industries most people overlook. Vibrant Body's approach to undergarment design and manufacturing is a lesson in applied STEM - from the biomedical science of the "electrical body" to the chemistry of textiles to the engineering of clothing design. It's a lesson for educators to broaden their students' understanding of potential career fields in STEM disciplines.

3. Collaboration across disciplines drives real breakthroughs. The Vibrant team combined expertise from molecular biology, technical bra design, German manufacturing, and Italian fabric engineering to create a product that earned a rare utility patent. Drescher emphasized that innovation is “breadcrumbing” - each expert leads to the next - a lesson educators can pass on to students tackling complex problems.

Resources in this Episode:

Vibrant Body: vibrantbodycompany.com

Other:

• Michael's Tedx Talk on YouTube: "Theories on Breast Cancer"
• Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

Books:

• Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras
• The Gene: An Intimate History

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