Made For Us

What if navigating the world didn't rely on sight at all? In this episode, Kevin Yoo, the CEO and founder of Haptic, joins us to tell the story of one of the world’s first haptic navigation apps.

Kevin shares how he was motivated by his friend’s experience of becoming blind, how haptic technology is shaping a more accessible future and the challenges that come with rethinking how we move through the world.

This episode dives into:

- Why the sense of touch has been underutilized in tech and how Haptic is trying to change that

- What guiding a blind runner at the New York City Marathon revealed about the potential of haptic technology for blind and low vision runners

- Kevin’s experience of putting himself in the shoes of a blind person for a few weeks and the lessons that came from it

⭐️Enjoyed the episode? Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and help more listeners discover the show!

You might also like:

Be My Eyes: the app powering a global volunteer movement for accessibility | Hans Jørgen Wiberg

'I don't need fixing - the world does.' Lucy Edwards on redefining disability

---

About Kevin Yoo

Kevin is the CEO and Founder of Haptic, a technology company creating a universal language of touch. Haptic is developing products and experiences that communicate information through vibrations. Kevin’s mission is to redefine the way we intake information through technology, especially for people with disabilities. Haptic's flagship product, HapticNav, made history by guiding the first blind runner in the NYC Marathon without sighted or audio assistance.

Learn more about Haptic: https://haptic.works/

Download HapticNav on IOS and Android

Follow Haptic on Instagram and LinkedIn

Follow Kevin Yoo on Instagram

---

Connect with Made for Us

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

When science journalist Layal Liverpool was finally diagnosed with eczema as a teenager, it came as a shock. Not because of the condition itself, but because only one doctor had recognized it on her skin tone.

Pediatrician Tessa Davis had a similar wake-up call: she noticed that a Google search for common skin conditions only returned images of white patients. So she started collecting images of conditions on diverse skin tones, and launched a movement in the process.

In this episode, Layal Liverpool, author of Systemic: How Racism is Making Us Ill, and Tessa Davis, a consultant at the Royal London Hospital, shed light on how racial inequities show up in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes — and how more inclusive care can lead to better health for all.

We discuss:

• 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

---

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, we’re rewinding back to one of our most popular episodes from Season 1, with Rayouf Alhumedhi, creator of the headscarf emoji. (The episode was also shortlisted for last year's International Women’s Podcast Awards in the ‘Moment of Insight from a Role Model’ category.) 

Rayouf launched the Hijab Emoji Project at the age of 16 to push for digital representation for Muslim women around the world. She was named one of Time magazine’s most influential teens and also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. 

Rayouf has a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. She currently works as an investor at Bessemer Venture Partners. 

In this episode, Rayouf shares:

• 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

---

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

Follow Rayouf 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/

*** Help shape the next season of Made For Us! Please share your feedback in our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7

---

In this episode:

What happens when women aren’t considered in car safety design? For decades, crash test dummies have been modeled on the average male, but studies now show that women are more likely to be injured or killed in certain types of crashes. As the data mounts, so does the urgency to fix the gender gap in car safety.

This week, we’re joined by Emily Thomas, PhD, Associate Director of Automotive Safety at Consumer Reports, and Astrid Linder, Professor of Traffic Safety at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, who developed the world’s first crash test dummy representing an average woman. Together, we’ll explore what it will take to design truly inclusive and safe cars.

The conversation covers:

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

---

Resources

Astrid Linder’s research

University of Virginia study

U.S. Government Accountability Office recommendations

---

About Professor Astrid Linder

Astrid Linder is Professor of Traffic Safety at Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, and an Adjunct Professor of Injury Prevention at Chalmers University. She received her PhD in traffic safety from Chalmers from where she also has a MSc in Engineering Physics. Prof Linder initiated and led the research resulting in the world’s first physical dummy model based on the average female, the Seat Evaluation Tool (SET 50F) and was named one of the BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women in 2023.

Learn more about Astrid Linder: https://www.vti.se/en/employees/astrid-linder

Follow Astrid Linder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-linder-2a0b5a53/

About Emily Thomas, PhD

Emily Thomas leads the occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety programs at Consumer Report’s Auto Test Center. Her expertise extends to crash safety, vehicular heatstroke prevention, and child passenger safety. Emily has 15 years of automotive safety experience and holds a PhD in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Learn more about Emily Thomas: https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/emily-thomas/

---

Connect with Made For Us

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

Welcome to our second crossover episode of season 2! This week, we’re spotlighting Narratives of Purpose podcast, hosted by Claire Murigande - but we’ll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us.

Narratives of Purpose showcases stories of impact-driven founders. Covering diverse topics from youth empowerment to global health equity to sustainable food systems, it’s one to have on your radar if you’re interested in purpose-led innovation.

In this conversation from their Women’s Health Series, host Claire delves into the world of FemTech and women’s health with Marija Butkovic, Founder and CEO of Women of Wearables, a global organisation that supports female innovators in wearable tech and health tech. Claire and Marija discuss:

• 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/

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

---

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/

Your feedback matters to us - shape the future of Made For Us by taking our quick survey: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod

---

This week's episode:

It's been called 'a phenomenal example of inclusive design' and it's spreading across subway stations, museums and supermarkets around the world.

NaviLens is a new technology designed to help blind and partially sighted people navigate cities and indoor spaces by scanning a QR code with their phone. Unlike traditional QR codes, users don’t need to focus on the code or know its precise location.

In this episode, we sit down with Oran McAllister, NaviLens’ Client Engagement Officer, to explore this new frontier in accessibility and how it can help people who are blind or low vision gain more independence.

We also cover:  

• 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

---

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:  [email protected]

---

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/ 

Help us make this podcast better for you! Our quick listener survey is your chance to shape the next season: https://bit.ly/madeforuspod

---

We all need to protect our skin from the sun's rays, so why are so many sunscreens not formulated with darker skin tones in mind?

In this episode, we sit down with Dujon Smith, founder of the inclusive sun care brand My Block Skin. We unpack the myths around sunscreen, the marketing gaps and the sobering stats, including why men of color have the lowest survival rates from melanoma.

This episode also dives into:

• 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/ 

Welcome to our first crossover episode of Season 2! This week, we’re sharing an interview from the climate design podcast Climify, hosted by Eric Benson - but we’ll be back next week with a new episode of Made For Us!

Climify is one of our favourite podcast discoveries this year, and we highly recommend it if you’re curious about design and social impact. We hope you enjoy discovering the show through this special episode from Season 4: “Creating Cradle-to-Cradle Clothing with Heike Petersen”. 

In the conversation, Heike Petersen shares with Eric her multicultural global journey in creating her cradle-to-cradle sustainable, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic yoga fitness brand, Wellicious. Eric and Heike discuss: 

• 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 

---

Connect with  Made for Us on LinkedIn and Instagram

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/