Season 1, Episode 5
Ever notice everyone you know has owned the IKEA LACK coffee table when they were students? Let’s face it - mass manufacturing is filling our landfills and the more stuff we buy the worse this cycle becomes. Inventor Ben Redford helps us unpack existing tensions in the manufacturing industry and how this influencing how we value what we own.
Ben Redford is a contemporary inventor, who firmly believes in the value of every day experimentation and that every idea deserves to be brought to life. Ben is the co-founder of Mayku, a UK-based organisation bringing accessible and user-friendly 3-D printing technology into the homes of every day creators.
With a background in product and digital design, Ben’s passion is to bridge the gap between the digital products and physical experiences. Ben is the mastermind behind many quirky starts ups, such as Meet Olly & Polly, two online bots delivering physical treats and scents based on your social media activity and Projecteo, a mini portable Instagram projector.
We've got you!
In Ben Redford’s eyes everyone is a creator.
In this episode, we dive in to understand what drives mass production and global consumerism, and how it evidently has influenced what we choose to spend our money on and what we value most. Do we really value convenience over quality and artisanship? Have we lost touch with our own imagination and agency to realise our own ideas? Join us as we unpack what needs to change in order for us to all become creators again and reconnect with what we truly value.
Links mentioned in this show:
Statista: China is the world’s manufacturing superpower
Britannica: Industrial Revolution
BBC, Smart Planet, "The high cost of our throw-away culture"
Opensource.com: Open Source: Agriculture
Just when she thought her radio days were behind her, Cat’s found herself back behind the mic as the host of The Reinvention Podcast. Cat is energised about the creative and innovative potential of people who are changing the world. Bonus, you’ll probably see her cat, Toast, drop in on the show.
Podcast recommendation:
Fierce Girls! An awesome micro-cast created by two kick-ass 14 year olds sharing stories of fearless women, narrated by more fearless women. Take a listen for an inspiration kick!
Ever-curious Angie is TRIP’s co-host and researcher. She follows conversational clues and discovers interesting new angles to join the dots. She’s a charming conversationalist and makes a killer margarita.
Podcast recommendation:
The Moth podcast shares true stories that have been shared live and without notes, to a standing-room-only crowds worldwide. One of my favourites is a collection of stories about fear - facing it, outgrowing it and learning from it. What’s your biggest fear?
