The DesignSpark Podcast

S1 E1: Wireless Communication: "It's addictive, dangerous and I don't trust it" Aug 30, 2018

Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode one, the trio discusses whether wireless communication is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy explains how Wi-Fi works, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring some makers to life and Bec tells us why we should have never moved on from plastic cups and a piece of string.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Makers: Guglielmo Marconi, Heinrich Hertz, Hedy Lamarr

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S1 E2 - Artificial Intelligence: "What would Mary Shelley make of Westworld?" Sep 10, 2018

Former Robot Wars judge Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by award-winning comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode two, the trio discusses whether artificial intelligence is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy explains how AI has developed, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring Mary Shelley to life and Bec keeps her eye on the kill switch in case it all goes wrong.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Maker: Mary Shelley

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S1 E3 - Computer Programming: "The first computer bug was a moth" Sep 16, 2018

Former Robot Wars judge and DesignSpark blogger Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode three, the trio discusses whether computer programming is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy explains the origins of programming, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring a maker from history to life and Bec works out whether C++ really is Fortran's evil cousin or just her best ever maths score.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Maker: Grace Hopper

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S1 E4 - Navigation: “GPS would make the Wizard of Oz boring” Sep 23, 2018

Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode four, the trio discusses whether navigation technology is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy guides us through the subject of navigation, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring a maker from history to life and Bec locates the nearest exit in case of emergency.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Maker: John Harrison

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S1 E5 - 3D Manufacturing: “How to get the Kinder surprise toy without opening the egg" Sep 30, 2018

Former Robot Wars judge and DesignSpark blogger Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by award winning comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode five, the trio discusses whether 3D manufacturing and printing is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy explains the weird world of 3D manufacturing, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring a maker from history to life and Bec desperately clings on to the concept of hope in a world increasingly obsessed by materialistic wealth.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Maker: Josiah Wedgwood

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S1 E6 - Cyber: “I have been using my free anti-virus trial for 10 years” Oct 07, 2018

Former Robot Wars judge and DesignSpark blogger Dr Lucy Rogers is joined by award winning comedians Bec Hill and Harriet Braine for the History Makers podcast, where they explore modern technology and the people throughout history who have made it all possible.

In episode six, the trio discusses whether cyber is our salvation or damnation. Dr Lucy demystifies all things cyber, “robot” Harriet uses her databanks to bring a maker from history to life and Bec desperately changes all of her passwords to something more complicated than 1234.

So set your ears to receive and your mind to blown for History Makers!

Featured Maker: Ada Lovelace

History Makers is brought to you by DesignSpark, the engineering community of RS Components. DesignSpark provides free software, tools and resources to help turn your ideas into reality. Join free today at www.designspark.com.

S2 E1: Did Facebook Try To Sell Me A Bubble House? May 20, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 1 they're entering the world of Big Data. Listen to Bec's best Brummy accent as the trio discuss spying companies, weird online ads and much more...

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S2 E2: Can I Hack Your Heart? May 27, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 2 they're exploring the world of medical technology! Kick back while the trio discuss defribrillators, fitbits and non-bots.

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S2 E3: Can I Get An Upgrade? Jun 03, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 3 they're exploring the world of augmented humans! Find out why Bec can't brush her teeth without hearing music from the Black Eyed Peas.

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S2 E4: How Do I Know You're Not A Robot Jun 10, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 4 they're exploring the world of robotics.

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S2 E5: Dude, Where's My Hoverboard? Jun 17, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 5 they're exploring the future of transport! Where are the hoverboards that we were promised as children?

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S2 E6: Should We All Live In Space? Jun 24, 2019

Dr Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back! The hosts of our 5-star-rated History Makers series return for The DesignSpark Podcast, exploring some of the hottest topics in tech through a mix of fun facts, exuberant stand-up, outlandish sketches and foot-tapping songs.

In episode 6 they're exploring space! Let's hope they make it back to earth in one piece.

It's time for TechLOLogy.

S3 E1: Mastering the Mysteries of Space Tourism Jun 01, 2020

It's time for some Tech with a Comedy Twist!

Dr Lucy Rogers, Bec Hill and Harriet Braine are back for Series 3 of The DesignSpark Podcast, the show that uses facts, songs and well-engineered puns to master the mysteries of modern technology.

In this episode, the trio are exploring the world of Space Tourism. It is the area of technology that comprises two of the world's most difficult things; rocket science and customer service.

Join them on their journey, which includes Lucy's Quick Start Guide, Harriet's History of Space Tourism, Bec's Big Idea, a song sung by the Voyager 2 space probe (who is a Geordie apparently) and much more...

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/s3-e1-mastering-the-mysteries-of-space-tourism

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S3 E1 Expansion Pack: Space Tourism with Mark Thompson Jun 08, 2020

Mark Thompson is a British astronomer, television presenter and writer best known for being one of the presenting team on the BBC show Stargazing Live and is a regular face on Good Morning Britain.

Following last week's episode on Space Tourism, Mark has been in touch and left a voicemail for Lucy, Bec and Harriet. He's left a question for them to discuss.

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S3 E2: Mastering the Mysteries of Smart Homes Jun 15, 2020

It's time for some Tech with a Comedy Twist!

Dr Lucy Rogers, Bec Hill and Harriet Braine return for another episode of The DesignSpark Podcast, the show that uses facts, songs and well-engineered puns to master the mysteries of modern technology.

This week, the trio are exploring Smart Homes, as they discuss everything from meter readings and smart fridges to Alexa and "Smart Scotsmen" who can save you money on your energy bills!

Join them on their journey, which includes Lucy's Quick Start Guide, Harriet's History of Smart Homes, Bec's Big Idea, a song sung from the point of view of a Smart Appliance within a Smart Home and much more...

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/s3-e1-mastering-the-mysteries-of-space-tourism

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S3 E2 Expansion Pack: Smart Homes with with Stacey Higginbotham Jun 22, 2020

This week's expansion pack is an exclusive interview with IoT and Smart Homes expert Stacey Higginbotham.

Stacey has been covering technology for major publications for 18 years. Her work has appeared in Fortune (where she was Senior Editor), PCMag, MIT Tech Review, Gigaom and Worth magazine.

She publishes a weekly newsletter called Stacey Knows Things and is the host of The Internet of Things Podcast and This Week in Google podcast.

We sent Harriet to find out more...

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S3 E3: Mastering the Mysteries of Food Technology Jun 29, 2020

This week Dr Lucy Rogers, Bec Hill and Harriet Braine are discussing Food Technology.

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S3 E3 Expansion Pack: Food Technology with Barry Lewis Jul 06, 2020

This week YouTuber and food tech expert Barry Lewis has left a voicemail for Bec, Harriet and Lucy to ask them an important question.

Listen to our hosts answers, which include an array of Elvis related egg puns and some great ideas for new inventions.

Find out more about Barry Lewis at https://barrylewis.net/ and watch his awesome videos on YouTube by Clicking Here.

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S3 E4: Mastering the Mysteries of Climate Engineering Jul 13, 2020

Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back again, as they use facts, songs and precision-engineered puns to master the mysteries of Climate Engineering.

They discuss warm snow, perfect weather conditions and saving the world!

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S3 E4 Expansion Pack: Climate Engineering with Alice Bell Jul 20, 2020

This week Bec Hill has been to interview climate charity worker and campaigner for a better future, Alice Bell, for our expansion pack.

Alice is a part-time historian of the apocalypse and part-time campaigner for a better future.

She is currently writing a book on the history of the climate crisis: OUR BIGGEST EXPERIMENT, which will be released with Bloomsbury Sigma in Autumn 2021. If you can’t wait that long, she has just written an illustrated non-fiction book on the environmental crisis for Thames and Hudson, CAN WE SAVE THE PLANET?

Her day job is co-running the climate charity, Possible. They build projects which bring people and technologies together to tackle the climate crisis; from tree planting days to connecting railways to community owned solar farms.

You can follow Alice on Twitter at: @alicebell

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S3 E5: Mastering the Mysteries of Biometrics Jul 27, 2020

Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back again, as they use facts, songs and precision-engineered puns to master the mysteries of Biometrics.

Join them on their journey, which includes Lucy's Quick Start Guide, Harriet's History of Biometrics, Bec's Big Idea, Harriet's song and much more...

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S3 E5 Expansion Pack: Biometrics with Matt Parker Aug 03, 2020

This week Matt Parker has left a voicemail on our expansion pack, testing Bec, Harriet and Lucy.

Mathematician and comedian Matt co-hosts the "A Problem Squared Podcast" with Bec Hill and has a question about Biometrics for our hosts.

Find out more about Matt on his website at: http://standupmaths.com/

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S3 E6: Mastering the Mysteries of Quantum Computing Aug 10, 2020

Lucy, Bec and Harriet are back again, as they use facts, songs and precision-engineered puns to master the mysteries of Quantum Computing.

Join them on their journey, which includes Lucy's Quick Start Guide, Harriet's History of Quantum Computing, Bec's Big Idea, Harriet's song and much more...

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S3 E6 Expansion Pack: Quantum Computing with Dr Sue Black Aug 14, 2020

This week Lucy has interviewed Dr Sue Black about Quantum Computing.

Technology Evangelist, Sue, is a Professor of Computer Science at Durham University. She set up the first online network for women in tech (BCSWomen) in 1998 and led the campaign to save Bletchley Park.

Find out more about Dr Sue Black at: https://sueblack.co.uk/

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