Coming home from a hard day’s work and still feeling fresh? That is not just a far-out fantasy anymore. In this episode of Taste of Bionics, host Ranga Yogeshwar speaks with Minerva Pillai. She’s a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Co-founders of SUITX – a startup spun out of UC Berkeley’s Human Engineering & Robotics Lab. Today she is Head of Development in North America for SUITX BY OTTOBOCK, a market leader in industrial exoskeletons that are designed to reduce workplace strain and injuries. Minerva shares her insights as a key driver in translating innovations from academic research into market-ready applications. Together, they explore the challenges that come with researching at the intersection of biomechanics, robotics, ergonomics, and global health technology. Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future.

What does it take to reinvent yourself after a life-changing accident? In this episode of Taste of Bionics, host Ranga Yogeshwar speaks with John McFall. A paralympic medalist, trauma and orthopedic surgeon and a member of ESA's astronaut reserve taking part in ESA’s “Fly! Project”. Fly! aims to explore whether an astronaut with a physical disability could embark on a long duration mission to the International Space Station and with that to make space missions accessible for all. John shares his extraordinary journey: from losing his leg in a motorcycle accident to becoming one of the fastest sprinters in the world on running blades, to practicing medicine and now training for space exploration with ESA’s Fly! Project. Together, they explore how prosthetic innovation powered John’s remarkable comeback as an elite athlete, why inclusion in science, sports and even space will shape the future and how advanced technologies are redefining human potential. At its core, the conversation is about what life without limits on earth and far beyond can look like. Tune in to discover how technology, resilience, and curiosity can redefine what it means to be human and why Ottobock is at the forefront of enabling that future. Editorial note: In the intro, John McFall is referred to as the first astronaut with a prosthetic limb. He is, however, the first person with a physical disability to receive the medical mission ready status to potentially go on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station. Find out more about Ottobock: https://corporate.ottobock.com/en/home

Taste of Bionics is a podcast hosted by renowned science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar, diving deep into the intersection of humans and technology. In each episode, guests will discuss cutting-edge topics at the interface between people and technology. They include the very latest prosthetics, exoskeletons, neural interfaces, human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence and innovations in medical technology designed to improve lives. From the emotional reality of limb loss to the design of bionic systems that can operate in space, this podcast goes beyond buzzwords. This podcast is offering real insight into how innovation is redefining movement, identity and what it means to be human. For anyone interested in the future of mobility and the science of human enhancement. Join us every other Tuesday. Follow now and never miss an episode. Produced by Podstars by OMR.