Everyday Safety, Reinvented: The Vision Behind She’s Birdie

Self-Preservation Season One Finale

In the season finale of Self-Preservation, host Georgi Massey reflects on the powerful stories, innovations, and insights shared throughout the season—from athletes and chefs to founders and futurists. This closing episode looks at the common thread behind it all: how safety isn’t just a feature, it’s a value—and a design challenge that connects our everyday lives. Georgi revisits key takeaways, unpacks what "wearable safety" really means across industries, and offers a preview of what’s next in the journey toward smarter, more human-centered protection. Whether you’ve been with us from the first episode or are just tuning in, this finale is a moment to pause, reflect, and ask: what does it really mean to feel safe?

Smart Kitchens, Safer Homes: A Conversation with Ome's Founder

In this episode, Akshita Iyer, the founder of Ome, shares her journey of creating a smart kitchen appliance designed to enhance safety and peace of mind while cooking. The conversation explores the personal motivations behind Ome's inception, the innovative technology that powers the smart knob, and the challenges faced in product development. Akshita discusses the importance of understanding the target audience, balancing simplicity and affordability, and the emotional impact of the product on users. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and shares her vision for the future of smart kitchens. To Learn more about Ome click here: https://www.omekitchen.com/

Reimagining Mobility: Ahmad Alghazi on Creating CAN Smart Cane for Independent Living

On this episode of Self-Preservation, Ahmad Alghazi joins us to share the story behind the CAN Go Smart Cane—an AI-powered mobility device transforming how we support aging communities. Ahmad reveals how a personal connection to caregiving sparked his mission to design smarter, simpler tools for independent living. We discuss the challenges of building a new product category, why balancing advanced technology with intuitive design is critical, and how real-world user feedback shaped the Smart Cane’s evolution. Plus, Ahmad offers a powerful vision for how innovation can improve health outcomes and redefine caregiving for future generations. To learn more about CAN Mobilities click here: Can.co

Everyday Safety, Reinvented: The Vision Behind She’s Birdie

In this episode, Ali Ferber Peters shares the compelling origin story of She’s Birdie, a personal safety brand designed to empower individuals—especially women—in vulnerable situations. Ali opens up about the inspiration behind the device, the product design process, and how community feedback helped shape the final product. We also explore the challenges of launching during the COVID-19 pandemic, the powerful user stories that continue to drive the mission, and how She’s Birdie balances advocacy with entrepreneurship. Plus, Ali offers thoughtful insight into the future of personal safety technology and advice for founders building with purpose. To learn more about She's Birdie click here: shesbirdie.com

Innovating for Impact: Landile Mabele’s Journey Revolutionizing Health & Accessibility Tech

Welcome back to Self-Preservation: Technology for the Future—the podcast where we explore the intersection of innovation, health, and technology through the voices of change-makers shaping the future of safety. In today’s episode, we’re joined by visionary entrepreneur and tech innovator Landile Mabele, founder of Formidable Technology and NavWok Technology. From building non-invasive glucose monitors inspired by personal loss, to creating assistive devices for the visually impaired driven by care and community, Landile shares how personal experience and a passion for impact guide his work in health tech. We’ll dive into the real-world challenges of building affordable and inclusive technologies, the importance of user-centered design, and how Landile is pushing the boundaries of wearable innovation—from diabetes management to smart canes. This is a story of purpose-driven problem-solving, bold innovation, and redefining what’s possible when technology truly serves humanity. To learn more about Landile's work click here: https://navwok.com/