Where Technology Meets Humanity explores how meaningful tech supports families with disabilities, caregivers, and adults with special needs. Created by The Gear Foundation, makers of Stella, this podcast shares real stories, expert insights, and tools that empower rather than overwhelm. When technology listens first, it becomes a partner—helping people find clarity, hope, and connection.
Where Technology Meets Humanity
Claim This Podcastby The Gear Foundation
39 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Where Technology Meets Humanity explores how meaningful tech supports families with disabilities, caregivers, and adults with special needs. Created by The Gear Foundation, makers of Stella, this podcast shares real stories, expert insights, and tools that empower rather than overwhelm. When technology listens first, it becomes a partner—helping people find clarity, hope, and connection.
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Publishing Since
11/18/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Where Technology Meets Humanity
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Recent Episodes
July 12, 2026
The Trillion Dollar Caregiving Blindspot
<p><strong>The Trillion Dollar Caregiving Blindspot</strong></p><p>What if one of the biggest financial risks facing your organization isn't on your balance sheet—because you're not measuring it?</p><p>In this episode of <strong>Where Technology Meets Humanity</strong>, Dave Krikac uncovers the hidden economic impact of caregiving in the workplace. Drawing on Harvard Business School research, he reveals why more than half of employers don't know how many caregivers they employ, why the majority of caregiving employees say their responsibilities affect their work while leadership often doesn't recognize it, and how this disconnect quietly fuels turnover, burnout, and lost productivity.</p><p>You'll discover:</p><ul><li>Why caregiving has become a trillion-dollar workforce issue.</li><li>The surprising return on investment companies are seeing when they support caregivers.</li><li>Five simple metrics every HR department should begin tracking today.</li><li>How organizational culture—not just good managers—protects working parents during leadership changes and reorganizations.</li><li>Why measuring caregiving isn't just good business...it's an act of leadership.</li></ul><p>Dave also shares how <strong>Stella</strong>, the AI Special Needs Concierge created by The G.E.A.R. Foundation, gives organizations an honest view into the real challenges caregivers face—often revealing needs employees are reluctant to discuss with their supervisors.</p><p>Whether you're an executive, HR professional, benefits leader, manager, or a parent balancing work and caregiving, this episode offers practical strategies that can improve employee retention, strengthen workplace culture, and create measurable business results.</p><p>If your organization can't answer one simple question—"What percentage of our workforce has caregiving responsibilities?"—this conversation is for you.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> caregiving, employee retention, HR strategy, workplace culture, employee benefits, caregiver support, Harvard Business School, productivity, absenteeism, turnover, leadership, special needs families, AI concierge, Stella, human resources, workforce engagement, organizational culture, business strategy, family caregivers.</p><p></p>
June 14, 2026
The Employee You Cannot Afford to Lose
<p><strong>Why Special-Needs Parents Are Your Hidden Retention Risk</strong></p><p>What if the employees carrying the greatest burden in your organization are also some of your most valuable performers?</p><p>In this episode of <strong>Strategic Humanity</strong>, Dave Krikac—founder of The G.E.A.R. Foundation, creator of Stella, and father of an adult daughter with autism—explores the overlooked workforce crisis affecting millions of employees and the companies that depend on them. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and firsthand caregiving, Dave reveals why parents of children with disabilities and special needs face challenges unlike any other employee group, and why employers who fail to recognize this reality are quietly losing top talent. </p><p>You'll discover:</p><ul><li>Why special-needs caregiving is fundamentally different from eldercare</li><li>The hidden financial, emotional, and cognitive costs these families carry</li><li>How caregiving impacts employee retention, productivity, engagement, and retirement readiness</li><li>The surprising connection between caregiver support and organizational performance</li><li>Why flexible work, caregiver benefits, financial wellness programs, and resource navigation deliver measurable ROI</li><li>How employers can reduce turnover costs while strengthening employee loyalty</li><li>The role of AI-powered support tools like Stella in helping families navigate autism, IEPs, Medicaid waivers, therapies, disability benefits, and long-term planning</li></ul><p>Whether you're an HR leader, benefits manager, executive, business owner, DEI professional, caregiver advocate, or parent raising a child with disabilities, this episode offers data-driven insights and practical strategies for building a workplace that works for caregiving families. </p><p>Autism • Special Needs Parenting • Employee Retention • Caregiver Burnout • Disability Inclusion • HR Strategy • Employee Benefits • Workforce Productivity • Family Caregiving • Caregiver Support • Special Needs Planning • Autism Advocacy • Neurodiversity • Workplace Culture • Financial Wellness • ABLE Accounts • Special Needs Trusts • Leadership • Human Resources • Caregiver Resources • Disability Workforce Inclusion</p><p>Strategic Humanity is a leadership podcast exploring the intersection of business performance, employee well-being, caregiving, disability inclusion, and organizational culture. Each episode challenges leaders to see people not as expenses to manage, but as strategic assets worth investing in. </p><p><strong>Learn more about Stella, the free 24/7 Special Needs Concierge:</strong><br><a href="https://askstellanow.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ask Stella Now</a></p><p>#SpecialNeeds #Autism #DisabilityInclusion #HRLeadership #EmployeeBenefits #CaregiverSupport #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #HumanResources #Neurodiversity #EmployeeRetention #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismParenting #CaregiverBurnout #FinancialWellness #DEI #FutureOfWork #PeopleStrategy #CorporateCulture #StrategicHumanity</p><p></p>
June 1, 2026
The Front Door Problem: Redesigning Interviews for Neurodiverse Talent
<p> Are your traditional interview processes filtering out the high-performing talent your organization desperately needs? In this episode, we tackle the "front door problem" in corporate recruiting, examining how standard interviews engineered for neurotypical social performance—such as making eye contact and quick improvisation—actively screen out highly qualified neurodivergent candidates.Drawing on recent business commentary, we reveal the massive financial return on investment associated with inclusive hiring. Corporate data shows that JPMorgan Chase's Autism at Work hires were 48% more productive than their non-spectrum peers within the first six months, and up to 90% to 140% more productive in certain roles. Additionally, SAP reports retention rates above 90% for its neurodivergent employees, and EY notes its neurodivergent teams have generated nearly one billion dollars in business value. Despite these metrics, researchers at Cornell and Vanderbilt emphasize that the traditional employment interview remains the primary barrier for autistic applicants, contributing to a post-secondary employment rate of just 37% for this demographic compared to 66% for peers with other disabilities.We provide actionable, scalable solutions for HR directors and talent acquisition leaders to rebuild this broken architecture. Learn how to transition from high-pressure verbal interviews to paid work-sample demonstrations, mirroring successful models deployed by Dell and Microsoft. We detail five structural changes you can implement this quarter—including publishing the interview process in advance, separating capability from social fit, and making accommodations the default—to ensure you measure actual job capability rather than interview performance. Finally, we discuss how tools like Stella (askstellanow.org), a free 24/7 concierge, help families navigate complex Medicaid and state support systems, ensuring that candidates and caregiving employees can remain engaged in the workforce.</p>
39 total episodes available
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- What is Where Technology Meets Humanity?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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