Tech Can't Save Us

Literal Humans
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Every week, hosts Paul David and Maya Dharampal-Hornby sit down with founders, CEOs, and innovators at mission-driven tech companies to discuss how tech can help solve the most pressing issues of our time— and how to avoid losing sight of the humans it affects.

  1. How Lori is Building the AI Operating System for Patient Stories with Asmaa Bencherif, Founder of Lori

    54M AGO

    How Lori is Building the AI Operating System for Patient Stories with Asmaa Bencherif, Founder of Lori

    This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Asmaa Bencherif, founder of Lori. Lori is an AI operating system designed to make real-world patient stories and outcomes usable at scale, helping individuals find health products that genuinely work in a crowded and often untrustworthy market. Asmaa shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and the difficulty of navigating vague online reviews and unverified forums while trying to manage her health outside the doctor's office. They discuss how Lori addresses these challenges by asking the right questions at the right time to generate structured, contextualized feedback from verified buyers. The conversation covers: The Power of Storytelling: How Lori turns personal health narratives into searchable data assets and short-form content for brands. Trust as Currency: Partnering with science-backed companies in sectors like Neurotech, SleepTech, and FemTech to ensure a high standard of proof. Ethical AI & Compliance: Navigating strict regulations to ensure patient testimonials are safe and do not make unsubstantiated medical claims. Intentional Growth: Asmaa’s philosophy on "growing slow" to maintain data integrity and protect the customer relationship during her current £600,000 pre-seed fundraising round. Asmaa also highlights the shift toward direct-to-consumer medical devices and why a trusted filter is necessary to reduce the "trial and error" often experienced by those living with chronic conditions. Find out more about Lori here: https://lori.healthFollow Asmaa Bencherif here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asmaa-bencherif

    34 min
  2. Rethinking the Future of the Internet with Galen Wolfe-Pauly, Co-Founder of Tlon

    MAR 5

    Rethinking the Future of the Internet with Galen Wolfe-Pauly, Co-Founder of Tlon

    This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Galen Wolfe-Pauly, co-founder of Tlon. Tlon is a company radically reimagining the internet's foundation to create a simpler, more personal computing experience. They discuss the structural flaws of the modern internet, where users rely on centralized identifiers and servers they do not own, leading to issues with privacy, data mining, and a lack of digital permanence. Galen explains how Tlon addresses these failures through a peer-to-peer network of nodes, where every individual owns their own cryptographic identity and "virtual machine". The conversation covers: Digital Sovereignty: Why owning your entire computing stack is essential for building products that truly serve people. Architecture & Longevity: How Galen’s background in architecture influences his vision for digital tools that can last for decades or even centuries. The Tlon Messenger: A look at their current product—a highly customizable, extensible "super app" that allows communities to run their own servers. Craftsmanship in Software: Why the next "battle" on the internet is shifting from mediocre, ad-driven platforms to high-quality, carefully crafted digital environments. Galen also shares the immense technical challenges of building a new programming language and operating environment from scratch and why Tlon’s mission to create software that outlives its creators provides a deeper sense of purpose. Find more about Tlon here:https://tlon.io/ Follow Galen Wolfe-Pauly here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenwolfepauly/

    28 min
  3. Reinventing Urban Delivery Through AI Route Optimization with Richard Savoie, CEO of Adiona

    FEB 26

    Reinventing Urban Delivery Through AI Route Optimization with Richard Savoie, CEO of Adiona

    This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Richard Savoie, Founding CEO of Adiona, an award-winning AI-powered delivery optimization platform that is reinventing how cities move goods. As urban populations grow and delivery volumes explode, the "last mile" has become the most expensive, complex, and emissions-intensive part of the supply chain. They discuss the "cracks" in modern logistics, where the loss of batching efficiency makes individual home deliveries incredibly costly for retailers. Rich explains how Adiona’s AI engine helps fleets deliver up to 87% faster and 50% cheaper by automating complex dispatch decisions that were traditionally handled manually with paper maps and spreadsheets. The conversation covers: The Sustainability Challenge: Why transport is predicted to be the highest single emitting industry by 2030 and the specific difficulties of electrifying commercial fleets at scale. Digital Twins and Simulations: How Adiona uses historical data to help retailers predict driver needs for peak seasons like Black Friday. The "Knowledge" of AI: Moving beyond human limitations to dynamically prioritize deliveries based on revenue and profit margin during disruptions like snowstorms. Growth and Financing: Rich’s journey from failing to raise VC funds for a commuting app to finding success with a mission-driven, debt-financed model for logistics. Rich also shares insights on the psychological barriers to automation in large enterprises and why he believes the convergence of AI, robotics, and quantum computing offers a path toward a better world for the most vulnerable. Find more about Adiona here:https://www.adionatech.com/ Follow Rich Savoie here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richsavoie/

    35 min
  4. Tackling the Screen Time Epidemic with Connor Mason and Glenn Stephenson, Co-founders of Fluid Focus

    FEB 19

    Tackling the Screen Time Epidemic with Connor Mason and Glenn Stephenson, Co-founders of Fluid Focus

    This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Connor Mason and Glenn Stephenson, co-founders of Fluid Focus, a Belfast-based company rethinking our relationship with technology. With research showing the average adult spends nearly a third of their waking hours—and Gen Z over six hours a day—on their smartphones, Fluid Focus aims to flip the dynamic from tech consuming our lives to tech enhancing them. They discuss the alarming "attention economy" where products are designed to monetize human focus, leading to fractured productivity, increased anxiety, and a "loneliness epidemic" as physical socialization declines. Connor and Glenn share how their background in big tech and corporate consulting revealed a shared struggle: the inability to focus for more than a few minutes without compulsively reaching for a phone. The conversation covers the Fluid Focus app’s innovative approach, which combines: Deep Work Tools: One-click focus sessions that block distracting apps and utilize curated "focus music" from global leader Mindstream to keep users on task. Gamification and Incentives: A system where users earn "Fluid Coins" for focus sessions, which can be used to enter wellness raffles or provide days of education for children through the charity Mary’s Meals. Data-Driven Habits: Passive blocking rules (like "no social media until 10,000 steps") and tracking tools for mood and productivity. Glenn and Connor discuss their strategic move to partner with academic institutions and workplaces rather than competing in the crowded consumer market, aiming to create a "focus operating system" for the modern world.Find more about Fluid Focus here: https://www.fluidfocus.app/Connor Mason:https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-mason-2b347b128/ Glenn Stephenson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-stephenson-1297849a/

    39 min
  5. Reinventing How We Pay Off Mortgages with Jinesh Vohra, CEO of Sprive

    FEB 11

    Reinventing How We Pay Off Mortgages with Jinesh Vohra, CEO of Sprive

    This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Jinesh Vohra, founder and CEO of Sprive, a UK-based fintech on a mission to help homeowners pay off their mortgages years earlier and save thousands in interest. The conversation dives deep into the structural flaws of the UK mortgage system, where high property prices relative to salaries have forced many into 30 or 40-year mortgage terms. Jinesh highlights the sobering reality that millions of people are now on track to carry mortgage debt well past the age of retirement. He shares his personal journey of frustration with traditional banking—ranging from the manual slog of tracking overpayments on Excel spreadsheets to the "nightmare" nine-month process of actually moving into a home in the UK. This personal friction, combined with a 14-year career at Goldman Sachs, inspired him to build a consumer-centric solution that empowers homeowners to take back control. Jinesh explains how Sprive differentiates itself by making mortgage reduction a seamless part of daily life through its "Shop Away Your Mortgage" feature. By partnering with major brands like Amazon, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, the app allows users to earn rewards on everyday purchases that are instantly pushed toward their mortgage balance. These small, frequent contributions benefit from compound interest, often saving the homeowner triple the original reward amount over the life of the loan. The platform further optimizes financial health by using open banking to analyze spending patterns, automatically setting aside spare cash for overpayments only when the user can afford it. The episode also explores the challenges of disrupting an industry dominated by an oligopoly of lenders who lack the motivation to innovate or simplify the customer experience. Jinesh discusses the rigor required to build a trusted fintech brand, including raising £4.5 million in funding and passing strict regulatory checks to ensure zero fraud. He concludes by painting a picture of the life-changing freedom that comes with being mortgage-free, which can unlock new hobbies, career shifts, and the ability to build generational wealth. Find more about Sprive here: https://sprive.com/ Follow Jinesh Vohra here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinesh-vohra/

    34 min
  6. Solving the Data and AI Literacy Crisis with Greg Freeman, CEO of Data Literacy Academy

    FEB 4

    Solving the Data and AI Literacy Crisis with Greg Freeman, CEO of Data Literacy Academy

    This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Greg Freeman, founder and CEO of Data Literacy Academy, an organization dedicated to building data-confident cultures within the world’s top companies. They discuss the staggering reality that up to 83% of the workforce is data illiterate, leaving businesses unable to effectively monetize or act upon the billions of dollars they invest in AI platforms and data infrastructure. Greg explains why technology alone cannot solve business problems if the people using it lack the confidence and mindset to make data-led decisions. The conversation covers the critical role of leadership in driving change, the concept of "taught fear" in education, and how Data Literacy Academy uses live learning to transform anxious employees into confident data thinkers. Greg also shares insights on moving industry measurements from inputs and outputs to meaningful outcomes, treating data literacy as a multi-year cultural change rather than a one-off training session and the "champagne problem" of a data-literate workforce surfacing more business use cases than a data office can handle.Find more about Data Literacy Academy here: www.dl-academy.com Follow Greg Freeman here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdata/

    40 min
  7. Winning B2B Software Sales in the Age of AI with Matthew Whyatt, Founder & Chief Strategist at TechTorque

    JAN 28

    Winning B2B Software Sales in the Age of AI with Matthew Whyatt, Founder & Chief Strategist at TechTorque

    This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Matthew Whyatt, founder and chief strategist at TechTorque, a consultancy that helps B2B software and SaaS companies sharpen their go-to-market strategies, scale revenue, and build predictable sales systems. They discuss how AI is fundamentally reshaping B2B software sales while emphasizing that great selling isn't dying, it's evolving. With over 25 years in software sales and more than $100 million in tech sales across startups and global markets, Matthew shares why AI won't replace salespeople but will eliminate lazy approaches and amplify the performance of skilled reps. The conversation covers the critical importance of bio-led qualification over demos, why hyper-personalization is now essential even for lower-priced products, and how sales teams need to invest in empathy and structured frameworks rather than just adding more AI tools. Matthew also reveals his approach to selling diagnosis before solutions, the power of scripting in sales, and why the best salespeople will become even more valuable in the AI era. Find more about TechTorque here: https://techtorque.coFollow Matthew Whyatt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt

    41 min
  8. Weaving the Future of Sustainable Textiles with Mijke van Ballegooijen, CEO of BYBORRE

    JAN 21

    Weaving the Future of Sustainable Textiles with Mijke van Ballegooijen, CEO of BYBORRE

    This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Mijke van Ballegooijen, CEO of BYBORRE, a pioneering textile innovation company based in Amsterdam that's redefining how fabrics are designed, produced, and valued through data-driven design and radical transparency. They discuss the fundamental problems plaguing the global textile industry, which accounts for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, including fragmented supply chains, overproduction, and greenwashing. Mijke explains how BYBORRE is tackling these challenges through true on-demand production, focusing on longevity over recyclability, and providing designers with digital tools that reveal the environmental impact of their design choices in real-time. The conversation covers BYBORRE's strategic pivot from fashion to the interior design market, their innovative software platform that translates any design into knit files for mattress-ticking machines worldwide, and their recent recognition as both an innovation and sustainability startup and the "coolest Dutch brand." Mijke also shares insights on leading through aligned autonomy, building mission-driven companies at scale, and why radical transparency, including their seven-year-old textile passport system, is essential for driving real change in the industry. Find more about BYBORRE here: https://byborre.comFollow Mijke van Ballegooijen here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mijkevanballegooijen

    34 min
See All (190)

Trailer

About

Every week, hosts Paul David and Maya Dharampal-Hornby sit down with founders, CEOs, and innovators at mission-driven tech companies to discuss how tech can help solve the most pressing issues of our time— and how to avoid losing sight of the humans it affects.

Information

  • Creator
    Literal Humans
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    190
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Literal Humans
  • Show Website
    Tech Can't Save Us

You Might Also Like