The Good Robot

Dr Kerry McInerney and Dr Eleanor Drage
  • 4.6 (12)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join Dr Eleanor Drage and Dr Kerry McInerney as they ask the experts: what is good technology? Is ‘good’ technology even possible? And how can feminism help us work towards it? Each week, they invite scholars, industry practitioners, activists, and more to provide their unique perspective on what feminism can bring to the tech industry and the way that we think about technology. With each conversation, The Good Robot asks how feminism can provide new perspectives on technology’s biggest problems. 

  1. 1D AGO

    The Future of Data Centers and Digital Sovereignty with Friederike von Franque

    Can cloud infrastructure be owned and governed by the people, and not just Big Tech? Friederike von Franqué, policy advisor at Wikimedia Germany, reveals how feminist principles and decentralized infrastructure are transforming the internet from a corporate service into a public commons. In this episode, we explore Friederike’s work with Wikimedia Germany. From the energy-intensive data centers of Frankfurt to Stockholm’s municipally owned fibre infrastructure, we examine the struggle to build technology that prioritizes the common good over corporate profit. Friederike explains why hyperscalers are not always the solution, and why we need environmental accountability and community-driven design. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the hidden data systems powering our lives, offering a provocative roadmap for a more equitable and sustainable digital future. Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    27 min

  2. APR 21

    The Revolutionary Microscopes Powering Global Tech Equality with Richard Bowman

    Why do we often overlook the transformative power of open licensing in technology? Richard Bowman, a researcher and advocate for open source innovation, reveals how open licensing and frugal tech principles are not just ideas but powerful tools for global change. In this episode, we delve into Richard's journey from developing innovative microscopy to championing open source scientific hardware that challenges traditional tech ownership and promotes accessibility. Discover how these principles are reshaping global health and education, inspiring new ways to think about technology's role in society. Richard dismantles the myth that technology is neutral, illustrating how it can be a force for justice and empowerment. From creating locally repairable microscopes to developing community-driven scientific tools, this conversation uncovers the potential of open technology in crafting a more equitable and sustainable world. Reading list: Richard Bowman’s GitHub https://github.com/rwb27OpenFlexure Official Website https://openflexure.org/The Humanitarian Technology Trust https://httrust.org/We need to break science out of its ivory tower – here’s one way to do this by Jenny Molloy https://theconversation.com/we-need-to-break-science-out-of-its-ivory-tower-heres-one-way-to-do-this-76354The Open Source Hardware Movement by Andre Maia Chagas https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000014Making hardware open source can help us fight future pandemics by Richard Bowman and Julian Stirling https://theconversation.com/making-hardware-open-source-can-help-us-fight-future-pandemics-heres-how-we-get-there-153280Microscopy for everyone: how the OpenFlexure microscope is changing global healthcare https://www.theiet.org/membership/member-news/member-news-july-august-2025-issue/microscopy-for-everyone-how-the-openflexure-microscope-is-changing-global-healthcareOpenFlexure in MagPi Magazine (Issue 158, p. 112) https://magazine.raspberrypi.com/issues/158Sharing of hardware is a missing link in the open science puzzle via SPARC https://sparcopen.org/impact-story/often-overlooked-sharing-of-hardware-is-a-missing-link-in-open-science-puzzle/Open Science Hardware Policy by Julieta Arancio https://osh-policy.org/Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    30 min

  3. APR 8

    Designers: Let's Create Abolitionist and Black Liberatory Futures! with Terresa Hardaway

    Why do we often miss the profound impact of design in social justice? Terresa Hardaway, a graphic design professor and social justice advocate, uncovers how racialized and abolitionist design principles are not just concepts but powerful tools for societal change. In this episode, we explore Terresa's journey into the world of design that challenges systemic racism and promotes equity. Learn how these principles are reshaping community activism and inspiring new ways to think about design's role in society. Terresa dismantles the myth that design is neutral, illustrating how it can be a force for liberation and empowerment. From the creation of protest fonts to the development of community-centered spaces, this conversation reveals the transformative potential of design in crafting a more just and inclusive world. Reading List: https://terresahardaway.com/https://design.umn.edu/directory/terresa-hardaway ‘Stop Killing Black People’: How a Minneapolis designer branded a movementBlackbird RevoltBlack Garnet BooksRacism Untaught: Revealing and Unlearning Racialized Design by Lisa E. Mercer and Terresa HardawayStop Killing Black People Font Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    26 min

  4. MAR 26

    Discovering the Universe through Knitting with Elisabetta Matsumoto

    Why do we overlook the power of traditional crafts in modern innovation? Elisabetta Matsumoto, a physicist and textile expert, reveals how knitting and smocking are not just crafts but catalysts for groundbreaking advancements. In this episode, we delve into Elisabetta's exploration of textile techniques that are transforming sustainable fashion and medical technology. Discover how these crafts are revolutionizing pelvic surgeries and inspiring flexible programming languages. Elisabetta challenges the notion that high-tech must be costly, showing how ancient practices can lead to democratized tech solutions. From the intricacies of textile geometry to the broader implications for inclusivity and sustainability, this conversation uncovers the hidden potential of crafts in shaping a more equitable future. Reading list: How one physicist is unraveling the mathematics of knitting Elisabetta A. Matsumoto's work Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    31 min

  5. FEB 24

    Bonus Episode: The Internet's First Influencer, Tila Tequila, with Lisa Nakamura

    In this part 2 episode, Eleanor continues her conversation with Lisa Nakamura about her latest book, The Inattention Economy. They delve deeper into the digital labor of women of color, the rise of influencers like Tila Tequila, and the pressing issues of online toxicity, exploitation, and reparations. Discover how historical and cultural shifts have shaped modern fame and the importance of reparations in the digital age. Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    26 min

  6. FEB 10

    The Inattention Economy: Race, Gender, and Technology with Lisa Nakamura

    In this episode, we talk to Lisa Nakamura, Professor at the University of Michigan and author of The Inattention Economy: Seeing the Digital Labour of Women of Colour. Lisa reflects on how race, gender, and power shape the histories of digital technology, focusing on the often overlooked labour that has made computing possible. She discusses the work of Navajo women in semiconductor manufacturing, the role of Japanese Americans in early tech production, and why attention, care, and recognition matter for understanding digital culture today.

    33 min

  7. JAN 27

    Race and Orientalism in E-Gaming with Tara Fickle

    In this episode, Tara Fickle, an associate professor of Asian American studies, delves into the intersection of race and gaming, introducing the concept of ludo-orientalism. She explores how racial stereotypes shape perceptions of Asian gamers and discusses the role of gender in e-sport culture. Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    25 min

  8. JAN 13

    The Role of Designers in AI Ethics with Tomasz Hollanek

    In this episode, Tomasz Hollanek argues that design is central to AI ethics. We discuss what role designers should play in AI ethics, the significance of AI literacy, and the responsibility of journalists in reporting on AI technologies. Edited by: Meibel Dabodabo

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Join Dr Eleanor Drage and Dr Kerry McInerney as they ask the experts: what is good technology? Is ‘good’ technology even possible? And how can feminism help us work towards it? Each week, they invite scholars, industry practitioners, activists, and more to provide their unique perspective on what feminism can bring to the tech industry and the way that we think about technology. With each conversation, The Good Robot asks how feminism can provide new perspectives on technology’s biggest problems. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Kerry McInerney and Dr Eleanor Drage
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Good Robot
  • Show Website
    The Good Robot

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