The medtech company Ottobock is launching its new (video) podcast Taste of Bionics on 22 October. In an inspiring series of interviews, Ranga Yogeshwar will be talking to experts with unique insights into bionics and the connection between humans and technology. As a science journalist and physicist, Ranga Yogeshwar is known for communicating complex scientific topics in an understandable, approachable, and passionate manner.

“Taste of Bionics provides an initial, curious take on the world of bionics, exploring what a future in which humans and technology will work ever closer together might look like,” he says. “This podcast is not just about technological innovation. It’s about the stories of the people behind it: how they use technology to improve lives, and what ideas they have for our shared future. We will be discussing the medical, technological and social opportunities that this brings.”

A taste of the future.

In each of the eight episodes, released biweekly on popular podcast platforms and YouTube, 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.

Oliver Jakobi, CEO of Ottobock, says: “With Taste of Bionics, we have created a format that showcases extraordinary people and ideas. It is not your typical corporate podcast. Our goal is to make niche knowledge accessible while actively shaping the conversation around human-technology interaction. Each episode is designed to inform, inspire, and spark curiosity about the future. We’re delighted that Ranga Yogeshwar is giving the podcast a powerful voice.”

Guests that are pushing the boundaries.

The guest for the opening episode is John McFall, a British specialist in traumatology and orthopaedics, a former Paralympic sprinter and the first member of ESA’s astronaut reserve with a physical disability. In conversation with Ranga Yogeshwar, McFall shares the challenges and turning points in his life, starting with the amputation of his right leg after a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 in Thailand. He describes how endurance, resilience and innovative medical technology have enabled him to succeed time and time again in overcoming boundaries and blazing new trails.

His latest milestone marks a historic step in space exploration: John McFall is the first person with a physical disability to receive ESA’s medical mission-ready status to potentially go on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station. This achievement is part of ESA’s “Fly!” project, an initiative that explores how astronauts with physical disabilities could take part in future missions, with the broader goal of making space travel more inclusive. Together with ESA and Ottobock, McFall is working on further developing his prostheses for a possible mission to the ISS. In the podcast, he explains the special functions prostheses must perform at zero gravity, including during daily training and when undertaking practical tasks on board the Space Station.

Other guests for this season include:

Minerva Pillai, Co-Founder and Head of Development at SUITX by Ottobock, discussing the potential of exoskeletons to improve employee health, boost industrial productivity, and increasingly support everyday tasks (such as lifting heavy loads).

Hugh Herr, MIT Professor and bilateral amputee, offering insights into his life as a scientist and visionary. He talks about the development of bionic limbs and his vision for a future in which technology and biology will come together to create a new era of mobility.

Jennifer Ernst, specialist in innovative amputation medicine at Hannover Medical School, explaining the latest surgical procedures including targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and osseointegration. She shows how these techniques not only improve control of prostheses but also enhance quality of life in the long term.

Taste of Bionics: An overview.

• Format: podcast interviews, inspiring conversations with experts from all over the world

• Topics: prosthetics, exoskeletons, neural interfaces, human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence, innovations in medical technology

• Moderator: Ranga Yogeshwar, science journalist and physicist

• Guests: John McFall, Minerva Pillai, Hugh Herr, Jennifer Ernst (among others)

• Language: English

• Platforms: popular podcast services and YouTube

• Availability: eight episodes every two weeks starting 22 October 2025

• Production: Podstars by OMR