Ottobock launched the Taste of Bionics podcast, in which host Ranga Yogeshwar speaks with experts who have unique insights into bionics and the connection between humans and technology. Yogeshwar, a science journalist and physicist, is known for communicating complex scientific topics in an understandable, approachable, and passionate manner.
“Taste of Bionics provides an initial, curious take on the world of bionics, exploring what a future in which humans and technology will work ever closer together might look like,” Yogeshwar said. “This podcast is not just about technological innovation. It’s about the stories of the people behind it: how they use technology to improve lives, and what ideas they have for our shared future. We will be discussing the medical, technological, and social opportunities that this brings.”
In each of the eight episodes, released biweekly on podcast platforms and YouTube, guests will discuss cutting-edge topics at the interface between people and technology, including prosthetics, exoskeletons, neural interfaces, human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, and innovations in medical technology designed to improve lives.
“With Taste of Bionics, we have created a format that showcases extraordinary people and ideas,” said Oliver Jakobi, Ottobock CEO. “It is not your typical corporate podcast. Our goal is to make niche knowledge accessible while actively shaping the conversation around human-technology interaction. Each episode is designed to inform, inspire, and spark curiosity about the future. We’re delighted that Ranga Yogeshwar is giving the podcast a powerful voice.”
The guest for the opening episode was John McFall, a British specialist in traumatology and orthopedics, a former Paralympic sprinter, and the first member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) astronaut reserve with a physical disability. In conversation with Yogeshwar, McFall shared the challenges and turning points in his life, starting with the amputation of his right leg after a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 in Thailand.
With ESA and Ottobock, McFall is working on further developing his prostheses for a possible mission to the International Space Station. In the podcast, he explains the special functions prostheses must perform at zero gravity, including during daily training and when undertaking practical tasks.
Other guests for the season include:
- Minerva Pillai, PhD, cofounder and head of development at SUITX by Ottobock, discusses the potential of exoskeletons to improve employee health, boost industrial productivity, and support everyday tasks.
- Hugh Herr, PhD, offers insights into his life as a scientist and visionary. He will talk about the development of bionic limbs and his vision for a future in which technology and biology will come together to create a new era of mobility.
- Jennifer Ernst, MD, a specialist in innovative amputation medicine at Hannover Medical School, explains the latest surgical procedures including targeted muscle reinnervation and osseointegration.
