Tech & Tunes

109 - Chief Vibrational Officer interview: haptic suits bringing live music to deaf people

Our first Chief ~Vibrational~ Officer on the show! Daniel Belquer is co-founder of Music: Not Impossible [https://www.notimpossible.com/projects/music-not-impossible] based in Philadelphia. A composer of 20 years, Daniel has brought to life a Vibrotextile™ wearable technology that translates sound onto the skin through vibration. Although not health tech, innovations in assistive technology like these haptic suits allow people to engage more fully in the healing experience of music, which is incredibly cool. This episode features exclusive, unreleased music from Daniel's [https://danielbelquer.com/]upcoming album, and a sublime playlist assembled by musician, audio engineer and producer Josh Walton [https://www.instagram.com/joshwaltonaudio/] 🎸 You're in for a premium mixed bag of some local Australian and international artists. This episode's theme: b r e a k i n g  t h r o u g h Treat your ears and check out Josh in action with Field Dream [https://www.instagram.com/field__dream/] 💭💭 and check out the playlist HERE [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5wRmzndEw7rqCzl36kfdNg?si=2d9179a4e83f45fe]

108 - Commercial and digital determinants of health - interview with Edwin Kwong

What things outside of our biology contribute to our health or illness? And how do commercial products and digital technology contribute? We speak with Edwin Kwong MPH- who has worked everywhere from the World Health Organisation, Burnet Institute, University of Melbourne, and Sandro Demaio Foundation- about everything from the role of the big bad private sector versus governments, how we leave behind 'digital exhaust', selling digital organs, and meeting DJs in Tempelhof ✈️🪩 This episode's playlist has been painstakingly curated by electro duo Premium Fantasy [https://premiumfantasy.bandcamp.com/] to the theme: ~ COMMERCIAL ~ Dive into it here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4wGB5eCiq7c43nKhZuvRug?si=73786be9d75046a4]!

107 - Biggest scams and scandals in medtech and biotech

There are undoubtable benefits for humanity inherent in medical and biotechnologies, driven by the companies and passionate people leading them. BUT there have also been some pretty bad or downright nefarious practices that have come to light over the years. We explore five of the biggest scams and scandals that have emerged since the 80s, including companies like Theranos (blood pathology), Medtronic (bone grafting), Dow Corning (breast implants), Purdue Pharma (opioids), and Merck (Vioxx). To take the sting out, our host D has curated a playlist with Paz Sounds [https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fQX5vhuU0Av8WA9iJnQkG?si=-s8DFoRHRuy8MHfe1TwxGw] purely containing relaxation tunes recommended by neuroscientists- listen to Brain Bliss here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2cO5RaUFWCrw4O4kidigCu?si=097503a5fba94eab]!

106 - Music Health CEO interview - the startup using music tech for brain health

Do you know how music can be medicine? Join us as we chat to Nicc Johnson, CEO of Music Health, about crying tears of joy on the dancefloor, what a workout for your brain looks like, the role of a DJ and how to be a good one, unhealthy nightclub antics, what your music taste is based on, what makes ‘vibe’, hip replacement remixes, and the healing powers of music 💃 🕺 We are also joined by ARIA award winning artist Alexander Gow (Perfect Moment [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1AtLFGNzieaZKiu7qn9YqD?si=Bxxuy_8JTLOvg1Q7n6C7Vg], Oh Mercy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6nW8EmkqenJdq09o2jER53?si=firZrkkURPy4DIexYFViMQ]), take us through some pivotal moments in music history and anecdotes to guide us through his nostalgic interpretations… Check out the playlist here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5WWlrhoNkuN5cAhU6jZnkn?si=c74d394d34d5455f]! Check out Music Health here [https://www.musichealth.ai/] ~~~

105 - Hyphen Health group CEO interview: making sexual health sexy with tech

James Sneddon is on a mission to make sexual health sexy (again?). You've probably wondered if there's a more comfortable or convenient way to get tested for STIs than by talking to your family GP, face to face, during business hours. And you're in luck! Hyphen Health group [https://hyphen.health/] are tackling the stigma around health issues like STIs, HIV and steroid use by enabling people to test in their own time. This is the wonder of 'asynchronous medicine' (check out Stigma Health [https://www.stigmahealth.com/], PrEP Health [https://prep.health/], and Roidsafe [https://roidsafe.com.au/]). This episode's playlist is of course themed sexual healing, and curated for you by a legend of the Melbourne music scene, Kevin Karlberg. Kev heads up Stable Music [https://www.instagram.com/stablemusic/] and is behind all your favourite gigs including Piknik Electronic. Get the playlist in your earholes via Spotify here [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VlqhENxdMA3XGoWB29Pou?si=6d15136cc14e476e]. 🍑🍆👅💦