Best SmartPlanet Podcasts (2025)

1
Solar suitcase supplies electricity to developing-world hospitals 3:02

13y ago3:02

3:02

After witnessing women in desperate conditions delivering babies in African hospitals, Dr. Laura Stachel knew she needed to help. She and Hal Aronson have designed a solar kit that is portable and permanent and can provide electricity during labor and biBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Bioelectric bandages speed up healing, reduce pain 1:38

13y ago1:38

1:38

We use bandages to protect our wounds, but what if they could accelerate our recovery? Or better yet, make our injuries hurt less. Procellera bandages accomplish that by creating a tiny electric current. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das explains.By SmartPlanet.com

1
How texting can solve unreliable water issues 4:17

13y ago4:17

4:17

In the hundreds of millions of Asian, Latin American, and African households where water is only available once every week or two weeks, families lose both time and potential income waiting to fill their buckets. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das talks to a fBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Self-folding stroller will please both moms and Transformers fans 2:27

13y ago2:27

2:27

Moms of wee ones are always wishing they had a pair of free hands. The Origami stroller from 4Moms doesn't offer extra limbs, but it does make the dreaded chore of collapsing and unfolding a stroller painless. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das takes itBy SmartPlanet.com

1
iPad software makes patient intake fun 6:03

13y ago6:03

6:03

Silicon Valley-based Tonic Health is developing software to make medical data collection more patient-friendly. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das sits down with CEO Sterling Lanier for a demo of some of the gamification features inside.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Unboxing a Kiwi craft crate with company CEO 5:17

13y ago5:17

5:17

Looking for ways to keep your kids with short-attention spans, more engaged? You might want to try, Kiwi Crate, a subscription service designed for busy parents. Here's how it works. Sign up for a monthly subscription, and get a box full of crafts dBy SmartPlanet.com

1
How SRI aims to improve middle school math skills 3:00

13y ago3:00

3:00

SRI researcher Phil Vahey is studying why many students flounder in math when they enter middle school. SmartPlanet visits the research organization and gets a tutorial on a more visual approach to learning math.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Azumio turns your phone into a biofeedback device 5:12

13y ago5:12

5:12

Whether it is analyzing your heart rate, controlling stress, or tracking your sleep patterns, Silicon Valley-based Azumio is using smartphone technology to give users a better and more accurate picture of your health. SmartPlanet gets a demo from AzumioBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Sticky fingers for robots 1:11

13y ago1:11

1:11

Grabit, a spin-off from research institute SRI International has developed a way for robots to pick up objects using electroadhesion. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das finds out how the technology works.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Robots help sea and space exploration 3:17

13y ago3:17

3:17

By SmartPlanet.com

1
Lizard motion influencing design of search and rescue robots 3:09

13y ago3:09

3:09

Robert Full, a professor at University of California at Berkeley, believes that by studying the motion of animals, we can better design robots for search and rescue missions. SmartPlanet visits his lab to look at its robot, Tailbot, and the Agama lizardBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Matterport develops tech to scan the physical world in 3D 2:50

13y ago2:50

2:50

At the Silicon Valley-based company, CEO Matt Bell and co-founders Dave Gausebeck and Mike Beebe are developing a consumer-friendly system to capture physical environments into three-dimensional images with the use of a handheld scanner and software.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Techie DIY projects creating a movement 5:38

13y ago5:38

5:38

Laser cutting, machine sewing, wood-working -- they're some of the skills used to build today's latest tech product. And more and more entrepreneurs are getting hands-on training to make their ideas a reality. Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop, talksBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Charging devices eliminate vampire power 1:45

13y ago1:45

1:45

We all know that leaving a device plugged in wastes significant amounts of electricity over time. But is anyone motivated enough to unplug all their gadgets and appliances while they're not in use? SmartPlanet's Sumi Das takes a look at a newBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Booking a ride in someone else's car 3:06

13y ago3:06

3:06

Taking a trip but don't want to drive by yourself? Ride-sharing startup Zimride enables drivers to sell empty seats in their cars. Passengers can buy rides with people already driving to where they want to go. SmartPlanet looks at how the company usBy SmartPlanet.com

1
About.me launches mobile app 2:33

13y ago2:33

2:33

Tony Conrad and Ryan Freitas started About.me as a way to aggregate social media content like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter into a single hub. Since launching the site, they've grown to more than 1 million users. Now, they are making their site avBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Amory Lovins: Carbon fiber cars would cut oil dependency 4:48

13y ago4:48

4:48

At the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute talks about strategies to make oil-free automobiles. He believes that cars would be simpler and cheaper to build if they were made out of ultralight materials likeBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Three green technologies set to transform energy 4:38

13y ago4:38

4:38

At the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, NRG Energy CEO David Crane discusses how smart meters, distributed-solar projects, and plug-in electric vehicles could potentially cause disruptive change in the energy industry.By SmartPlanet.com

1
SkyLight starts selling combo smartphone-microscope mount 2:36

13y ago2:36

2:36

SkyLight's eponymous adapter mounts on a microscope and lets users magnify things such as flowers, insects, and pathogens with their smartphone and a microscope. SmartPlanet visits SkyLight co-founders Andy Miller and Tess Bakke to get a hands-on wiBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Kindle cover has built-in solar panels 2:02

13y ago2:02

2:02

Let the sun's energy take care of charging your e-reader with this product. Just make sure you don't do what our SmartPlanet team did - crack the Kindle screen while trying to remove it.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Jonathan Schwartz on why we need CareZone 6:44

13y ago6:44

6:44

Former Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz has created a subscription-based health care site to help people to keep track of medical records for their loved ones, such as medications, doctor visits, and legal documents. SmartPlanet correspondent Sumi Das sits downBy SmartPlanet.com

1
At Ford, using virtual reality to tweak car design 4:00

13y ago4:00

4:00

Ford has been able to cut the car manufacturing process in half, from six years to three years, using virtual reality during the design phase. SmartPlanet correspondent Sumi Das gets outfitted with the virtual-reality gear and steps inside the machine foBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Doctors use simple texts to deliver better healthcare in developing world 4:25

13y ago4:25

4:25

Healthcare can be difficult to access for rural residents in the developing world. Medic Mobile provides cell phones to health workers loaded with special SIM card-based software to connect them with the people they serve. SmartPlanet correspondent SumiBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Video games replace physical therapy for Parkinson's patients 3:11

13y ago3:11

3:11

Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurological disease after Alzheimer's. An estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer from the condition, which causes slowness of movement, tremors, and loss of balance. Physical therapy eases symptoBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Building blocks get smarter with sensors 1:50

13y ago1:50

1:50

Sifteo offers a new game platform--requiring you to stack, sort, and shuffle. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das shows how these video game cubes communicate with each other for a novel way to play.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Apple launches latest iPad with 4G 7:13

13y ago7:13

7:13

Apple's Tim Cook and Philip Schiller unveil the company's newest iPad. The device powered by A5X chip, offers a higher-resolution Retina Display, longer battery life, plus 4G LTE. The pricing starts at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model and 4G startinBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Apple announces next-gen Apple TV 3:17

13y ago3:17

3:17

Apple's Tim Cook and Eddy Cue show off the company's new Apple TV streaming video box. The new hardware has several updated features, including 1,080-pixel resolution for movies and TV shows and a redesigned user interface. The box will be avaiBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Re-building Haiti: Simple engineering by high-tech engineers 2:50

13y ago2:50

2:50

Engineers are in high-demand in Silicon Valley, but their skills are also needed in the developing world. Engineers without Borders is a nonprofit working on projects big and small all over the world. SmartPlanet visits the organization's San FranciBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Mobile app makes language translation more seamless 3:27

13y ago3:27

3:27

International travelers now have a tool to help them communicate better. Vocre, a free translation app for the iPhone and iPad, makes it possible for users to communicate with someone in another language. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das gets a demo from MyLaBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Salad spinner-type device makes clothes-washing more efficient 2:29

13y ago2:29

2:29

Ever run your washing machine with just 1 or 2 articles of clothing and felt a bit of guilt. Running a load of laundry consumes water & electricity, but a new product can get your clothes clean with a fraction of the water and a bit of elbow grease.By SmartPlanet.com

1
The office of tomorrow: How design impacts culture 3:05

13y ago3:05

3:05

Santa Cruz based Plantronics, makers of wireless headsets, is giving its aging facilities a complete design overhaul. The company's head of human resources, Pat Wadors, shows SmartPlanet how the new working spaces, in addition to being more tech-friBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Stanford lab makes virtual reality more life-like 3:22

13y ago3:22

3:22

At Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Professor Jeremy Bailenson has created a thoroughly convincing virtual reality environment. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das tours the lab to find out what technology makes it happen and how VR isBy SmartPlanet.com

1
GPS shoes help track people suffering from Alzheimer's 2:20

13y ago2:20

2:20

It's a heart-stopping moment when a caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient realizes their charge has wandered away. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das looks at new shoes from Aetrex that could help find them.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Print 3D models out of your pictures 2:14

13y ago2:14

2:14

Imagine turning your pictures into 3D models. Autodesk recently unveiled two pieces of software that allows users to create 3D objects from photos. We go behind the scenes to bring you the ABCs of 3D printing.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Cleverly designed bike lock takes water bottle shape 1:25

13y ago1:25

1:25

Lugging around a heavy, cumbersome bike lock can be a nuisance, but Kuat aims to solve that. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das tries out their new Bottle Lock.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Early stage startups find home at Dogpatch Labs 3:03

13y ago3:03

3:03

Ryan Spoon, a VC with Polaris Ventures, co-founded Dogpatch Labs in 2008 as a place to foster innovation for early stage startups. SmartPlanet visits Dogpatch Labs to meet Spoon and hear from Dogpatch's newest entrepreneurs.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Growing mushrooms from food waste 2:14

13y ago2:14

2:14

By SmartPlanet.com

1
Tesla reveals Model X SUV with falcon wings 1:33

13y ago1:33

1:33

At a press event in Los Angeles, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk shows off the company's new Model X sport utility vehicle. Musk says the new SUV will use the same electric power train as the Model S full-size sedan.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Pesticide-free flowers for Valentine's Day 1:52

13y ago1:52

1:52

Picking the perfect bunch of roses is no easy task. Pink or red? Organic or conventional? Sumi Das explains why many of the bouquets sent this February 14th may be coated with chemicals.By SmartPlanet.com

1
The Future Of.... Browsing 3:31

13y ago3:31

3:31

Today, we browse the web by typing or tapping, pointing and clicking. Tomorrow, we'll point our mobile devices at an object that interests us and information will appear. Sumi Das explains how augmented reality will help museum paintings turn intoBy SmartPlanet.com

1
How Waze uses crowdsourcing for better traffic data 3:03

13y ago3:03

3:03

Navigating through the maze of traffic congestion is one of life's biggest headaches. SmartPlanet visits Silicon Valley startup Waze to hear how its app enables drivers to alert one another of road conditions by sharing real-time traffic informationBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Disaster recovery: Where city and community plans are falling short 13:41

13y ago13:41

13:41

Martin Griss, director of Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley and the Disaster Management Initiative, explains how to build technologies that will make a difference for individuals and their communities. He spoke at NASA's Disaster Resiliency Panel heldBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Baseball hat shines with built-in solar panel 1:45

13y ago1:45

1:45

Solar panels are being squeezed in all sorts of places lately, even the brims of baseball hats. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das checks out this solar cap that will never leave you in the dark.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Pre-fabricated cores enable builder to churn out houses in less than 2 months 2:43

13+ y ago2:43

2:43

HybridCore Homes uses nearly all recycled construction materials to build their houses. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das takes a look at this new paradigm that combines the custom look of stick-built construction with the speed and cost-savings of factory-bBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Coffee cup lid changes color to show temperature 1:57

13+ y ago1:57

1:57

Listen up, cafés. No one wants a cold cuppa, but a piping hot latte can cause some serious damage. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das tests out the SmartLid cup topper which turns a different color depending on how hot the beverage.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Kids get educated on 'green' golf 3:08

13+ y ago3:08

3:08

Gary Ingram, the golf course superintendent at Oakland Metropolitan is teaching kids about what it means to be better environmental citizens through their program, the Oakland Turf Grass Initiative.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Modern, net-zero energy homes made more affordable with modular design 3:05

13+ y ago3:05

3:05

Prefabricated homes conjure up images of uninspired architecture, but Simpatico Homes is constructing sustainable houses out of factory-built modules that are beautifully designed. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das takes a tour of the Simpatico's prototyBy SmartPlanet.com

1
Paper and plastic are upcycled to create a designer chair 2:13

13+ y ago2:13

2:13

Modern design takes a sustainable turn with Artek's Shigeru Ban 10-unit System Chair. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das explores the possible configurations of this modular system.By SmartPlanet.com

1
Downsizing to an eco-friendly home 2:23

13+ y ago2:23

2:23

New Avenue Homes founder Kevin Casey is rethinking how we live by focusing on multi-generational living, where grandparents, parents, and kids share one piece of land with two homes on it. The parents and kids live in the main house and the grandparentsBy SmartPlanet.com

1
At Google, gathering language samples for better voice search 1:52

13+ y ago1:52

1:52

Google's Linne Ha travels the world collecting voice samples in more than 26 languages for the company's voice search engine. SmartPlanet visits the company's headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and looks at an internal application caBy SmartPlanet.com

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