AI takes on marine wildlife traffickers
Wildlife trafficking doesn't just involve rhino horn and elephant ivory. Marine species such as shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers are also smuggled around the world, threatening vulnerable ecosystems. Researchers in Australia have developed an AI system that can identify these species in CT scans of luggage and parcels. We speak to Dr Vanessa Pirotta about how the technology works and how it could help customs officers detect illegal shipments. 

Can AI become every small business owner's accounting assistant? Many small businesses struggle to afford professional accounting support, while new tax reporting requirements are increasing administrative workloads. At the same time, the accounting sector is facing a shortage of experienced professionals. We hear from WiseMind AI, a startup using artificial intelligence and official tax guidance to help business owners get quick answers to bookkeeping, VAT and compliance questions.

The programme is presenter by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

AI takes on marine wildlife traffickers
Wildlife trafficking doesn't just involve rhino horn and elephant ivory. Marine species such as shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers are also smuggled around the world, threatening vulnerable ecosystems. Researchers in Australia have developed an AI system that can identify these species in CT scans of luggage and parcels. We speak to Dr Vanessa Pirotta about how the technology works and how it could help customs officers detect illegal shipments. 

Can AI become every small business owner's accounting assistant? Many small businesses struggle to afford professional accounting support, while new tax reporting requirements are increasing administrative workloads. At the same time, the accounting sector is facing a shortage of experienced professionals. We hear from WiseMind AI, a startup using artificial intelligence and official tax guidance to help business owners get quick answers to bookkeeping, VAT and compliance questions.

The programme is presenter by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

The Tiny Liquid-Metal Pump That Could Transform Robotics

Soft robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, drawing inspiration from nature to create machines that are flexible, adaptable and safer for human interaction. In this episode, we explore a breakthrough liquid-metal micro-pump that could help eliminate the bulky compressors traditionally needed to power soft robotic systems. The technology could pave the way for advanced wearable devices, responsive prosthetics, immersive virtual reality experiences and even future medical applications, bringing us closer to a world where robots are softer, smarter and more integrated into everyday life.

Can Technology Solve the Neurodiversity Support Crisis? As awareness of neurodiversity continues to grow, demand for assessments and support is outpacing available services. With waiting lists stretching into years for many people seeking diagnoses such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, technology is emerging as a potential solution. We examine how digital platforms, virtual assessments and personalised support tools could help people access guidance faster, secure workplace accommodations and better understand how their brains work. The conversation highlights both the opportunities and challenges of using technology to improve accessibility and inclusion in education, employment and daily life.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

The Tiny Liquid-Metal Pump That Could Transform Robotics

Soft robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, drawing inspiration from nature to create machines that are flexible, adaptable and safer for human interaction. In this episode, we explore a breakthrough liquid-metal micro-pump that could help eliminate the bulky compressors traditionally needed to power soft robotic systems. The technology could pave the way for advanced wearable devices, responsive prosthetics, immersive virtual reality experiences and even future medical applications, bringing us closer to a world where robots are softer, smarter and more integrated into everyday life.

Can Technology Solve the Neurodiversity Support Crisis? As awareness of neurodiversity continues to grow, demand for assessments and support is outpacing available services. With waiting lists stretching into years for many people seeking diagnoses such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, technology is emerging as a potential solution. We examine how digital platforms, virtual assessments and personalised support tools could help people access guidance faster, secure workplace accommodations and better understand how their brains work. The conversation highlights both the opportunities and challenges of using technology to improve accessibility and inclusion in education, employment and daily life.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Recorded during rehearsals for the very first East Midlands Tech Week, this special edition of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast celebrates 10 years of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Midlands’ extraordinary history of innovation.

From Derby, birthplace of the modern factory, to Leicester’s DNA fingerprinting breakthroughs, Nottingham’s MRI and ibuprofen innovations, and Lutterworth’s jet engine legacy, the East Midlands has long shaped the technologies that changed the world. Now, a new generation of innovators is building the future of clean energy, hydrogen, sustainable transport and net zero industry.

In this episode, we speak to leaders from ERA and industry partners including Cadent about how the region is helping commercialise breakthrough technologies, develop talent, support startups and drive the UK’s transition to a cleaner, greener economy.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Recorded during rehearsals for the very first East Midlands Tech Week, this special edition of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast celebrates 10 years of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Midlands’ extraordinary history of innovation.

From Derby, birthplace of the modern factory, to Leicester’s DNA fingerprinting breakthroughs, Nottingham’s MRI and ibuprofen innovations, and Lutterworth’s jet engine legacy, the East Midlands has long shaped the technologies that changed the world. Now, a new generation of innovators is building the future of clean energy, hydrogen, sustainable transport and net zero industry.

In this episode, we speak to leaders from ERA and industry partners including Cadent about how the region is helping commercialise breakthrough technologies, develop talent, support startups and drive the UK’s transition to a cleaner, greener economy.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It
Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is designed to dramatically reduce energy use in cooling systems, improve cold-chain access and lower costs for industries from food transport to pharmaceuticals. We also discuss why she’s been selected for the Cartier Women’s Initiative, one of the world’s leading programmes for female entrepreneurs. 
Why Is Tech Still Failing People with Disabilities?
From inaccessible apps to AI systems that overlook disabled users, inclusive design is still missing from much of today’s technology. Inclusive design expert and author Reginé Gilbert joins us to discuss why accessibility continues to be treated as an afterthought — and how emerging technologies like AI, virtual reality and spatial computing risk deepening exclusion if companies don’t build inclusivity in from the beginning. She’s co-author of a new book: “Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in all Things Tech.”

The proramme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It
Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is designed to dramatically reduce energy use in cooling systems, improve cold-chain access and lower costs for industries from food transport to pharmaceuticals. We also discuss why she’s been selected for the Cartier Women’s Initiative, one of the world’s leading programmes for female entrepreneurs. 
Why Is Tech Still Failing People with Disabilities?
From inaccessible apps to AI systems that overlook disabled users, inclusive design is still missing from much of today’s technology. Inclusive design expert and author Reginé Gilbert joins us to discuss why accessibility continues to be treated as an afterthought — and how emerging technologies like AI, virtual reality and spatial computing risk deepening exclusion if companies don’t build inclusivity in from the beginning. She’s co-author of a new book: “Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in all Things Tech.”

The proramme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

The Smart Contact Lens That Could Change Medicine Forever
Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. But what if managing chronic disease no longer required constant hospital visits, manual medication schedules or invasive monitoring? This week on Somewhere on Earth, we explore a groundbreaking AI-powered smart contact lens capable of continuously monitoring eye pressure, automatically delivering treatment and remotely sharing real-time health data with clinicians, all without batteries or electronics.

Why Silicon Valley Still Doesn’t See Women as “Founder Material”
We also dive into one of the biggest conversations shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship: why women remain underrepresented in the venture capital world despite building some of the world’s most successful companies. From AI and digital healthcare to leadership, mentorship and the changing culture of startups, this episode explores where innovation meets humanity and who gets to shape the future.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.

The Smart Contact Lens That Could Change Medicine Forever
Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. But what if managing chronic disease no longer required constant hospital visits, manual medication schedules or invasive monitoring? This week on Somewhere on Earth, we explore a groundbreaking AI-powered smart contact lens capable of continuously monitoring eye pressure, automatically delivering treatment and remotely sharing real-time health data with clinicians, all without batteries or electronics.

Why Silicon Valley Still Doesn’t See Women as “Founder Material”
We also dive into one of the biggest conversations shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship: why women remain underrepresented in the venture capital world despite building some of the world’s most successful companies. From AI and digital healthcare to leadership, mentorship and the changing culture of startups, this episode explores where innovation meets humanity and who gets to shape the future.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast--6924871/support.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz  

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do: 
➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 
📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected] 
➡️ Email: [email protected]   

📱 Follow us on socials:
➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) 
➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)
➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    

If you like our show please rate and review us.