Best Mike Wenzel Podcasts (2026)

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Sophie Wenzel 28:24

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3h ago28:24

28:24

Dr. Sophie Wenzel is associate professor of practice and the associate director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at Virginia Tech. She’s spent more than two decades working in public health, from serving in the Peace Corps and working with the CDC to leading community-focused public health efforts here in Southwest Virginia. O…

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Karen Rodden 15:14

10d ago15:14

15:14

Let’s take a quick trip back in time. Our destination? Monday, December 15, 1975. Gerald Ford is President of the United States. The #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart is "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band and the CBS evening lineup that night will feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” followed by Perry Como’s “Christmas in…

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Chris McKlarney 34:18

1M ago34:18

34:18

Chris McKlarney is the epitome of what a public servant should be. As the long-time administrator for Giles County - a small rural community in southwest Virginia - Chris has proven time and time again that he is more than willing to roll up his sleeves and lead by example. Whether he’s coordinating response to historic natural disasters, or lendin…

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Meredith Lane 38:48

1M ago38:48

38:48

Meredith Lane is a student at Virginia Tech, an intern with the NRV Regional Commission, and a person in recovery. Meredith shares about her many endeavors as an advocate and champion for both restorative justice, as well as harm reduction, and she gives her views on the challenges many young people are facing today. And don't miss the advice Mered…

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Chris Taylor 36:12

2M ago36:12

36:12

Chris Taylor is the Executive Director of New River Valley Community Services (NRVCS). Chris sits down to chat with Mike and Ross about his background and current role as ED, the field of behavioral healthcare and some of its biggest challenges today, and what he does to maintain his own wellness.By New River Valley Community Services

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Hope Grows When We Share It 4:36

3M ago4:36

4:36

In the inaugural Voices of Hope episode, Mike and Ross provide an overview of the podcast - who they are, why they're starting a podcast, and the types of topics they'll explore with guests.By New River Valley Community Services

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How the*gameHERS gave 1.4 billion women an online home - with Rebecca Dixon 45:02

2+ y ago45:02

45:02

Fresh off the sale of Mommybites, an online resource for expectant parents, Rebecca Dixon invested her background in media sales and community building in the*gameHERS, a long-overdue social-networking platform for female gamers. A lifelong fan of math, Rebecca breaks down the essential formula that inspires their crowdfund: in terms of the overall…

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Nixplay's digital frames share photos securely - with Mark Palfreeman and Joel Durbridge 41:55

3y ago41:55

41:55

"When you're with Nixplay, you're not the product," says CEO Mark Palfreeman, whose subscribers retain secure ownership of every photo they share using smart digital picture frames and a mobile app intuitive enough for every family member to use. Nixplay is also a personal passion for Mark, who spends most of his time seven time zones away from his…

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Wine barrels need a tech-savvy bung - with Mike Slone 44:49

3y ago44:49

44:49

Simple Labs CEO Mike Slone grew up in Louisville, where bourbon distillers accept losing the "angel's share" as the cost of doing business. When he saw California vintners facing the same problem, he created the Cogni — a wireless, barrel-aging monitor that finally gives centuries-old winemaking techniques a high-tech upgrade — which saves enough p…

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When treating a collapsed lung, "the gush is a lie" - with Johnathon Aho 42:00

3y ago42:00

42:00

Pneumeric CEO and Chief Medical Officer Johnathon Aho grew up in the shadow of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, but it wasn't until he began studying engineering at Michigan Tech that he decided he wanted more in his life than writing code. So he pivoted to medicine, returned to Mayo, and in 2017 developed Capnospot, a visual detection devi…

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"What's wrong with your pants?" - with Kristian Hansen and Marshall Conley 49:05

3y ago49:05

49:05

Kristian Hansen and Marshall Conley are building the slø jeans empire almost entirely on a massive TikTok platform, which provides constant crowdsourcing, propels their marketing, and accounts for over $10 million in estimated revenue potential. And their non-gendered, made-to-order denim is just the start. We talk about applying their "fash-tech" …

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Protecting against the persistent perils of porch piracy. - with Dan O'Toole 44:30

3y ago44:30

44:30

Moments after Dan O'Toole hatched the idea of Dronedek — a versatile, secure receptacle for autonomous delivery systems that protects against the 1.7 million packages that are stolen every day — he called his patent attorney. And three years later, when the patent came through, he learned he had beaten Amazon by four days. Buoyed by the success of …

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Kettle is the future of hybrid work. - with Nick Iovacchini 43:33

3y ago43:33

43:33

Kettle is the result of the right pivot with the right idea at the right time. Originally hatched as a workspace broker, Kettle emerged from the pandemic as a hybrid workspace management software platform whose equity crowdfund has already raised over $1.72 million. We talk with CEO Nick Iovacchini about the massive new market opportunity of redefi…

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You shouldn't have to go broke to get around. - with John deBenedette 45:44

3y ago45:44

45:44

After spending most of his life in and out of wheelchairs, GOGOTECH CEO John DeBenedette talks about why he developed ABBY in order to end 40 years of stagnant design and soaring prices. (Check out the ABBY crowdfund here.) And the accolades for ABBY's high-tech and lower-cost design keep coming, most recently from Melinda French Gates. We talk abo…

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KingsCrowd builds quant models to analyze private companies. - with Chris Lustrino 44:54

3y ago44:54

44:54

The term "accredited investor" means nothing to Chris Lustrino, who knows firsthand that analyzing private companies is literally not rocket science. He created KingsCrowd as a data company designed to map an analyst's talents and instincts for investing in public companies onto the very different playing field of private equity. We talk about the …

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How can handheld spectroscopy benefit public health? - with Bruce Berkoff 45:57

3+ y ago45:57

45:57

Bruce Berkoff is one of that rare breed of scientist marketers who enjoys the discovery almost as much as he enjoys telling people about it. And as CMO of Lightsense Technology, his job is to spread the word about the crowdfund for his company's miniature, handheld spectrometer platforms that are helping solve some major problems in public health, …

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Why can't really good wine come in a box? - with Jake Whitman and Amy Troutmiller 45:20

3+ y ago45:20

45:20

CEO Jake Whitman named his company Really Good Boxed Wine because that's what it is: top-quality wine in 100% recyclable packaging with half the environmental impact of glass bottles. And his branding experience at P&G must have paid off, because the RGBW crowdfund has raised nearly $1.3 million. In our first double-guest interview, he and COO Amy …

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Why can't podcasts go viral? - with Audea CEO Amit Kukreja 44:14

3+ y ago44:14

44:14

If your podcast just languishes on a dead RSS feed, does it really exist? YouTube and TikTok use algorithms to help consumers discover new content, but podcasters can't build audiences the same way because the platforms are too busy promoting their expensive talent. CEO Amit Kukreja has created the solution with Audea, a search engine that uses pro…

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Why not build a social club on the water? - with Sam Payrovi 52:40

3+ y ago52:40

52:40

After 14 years of investment banking, Sam Payrovi has launched ArkHAUS, a fleet of 40-foot electric boats that connect to form a network of next-generation floating social clubs. Part SoHo House and part WeWork, ArkHAUS will be scalable in waterways all over the world, and its "Party Up Top, Research Down Below" program generates free electricity f…

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What if all mail was digital? - with Vijay Chetty 50:17

3+ y ago50:17

50:17

On his wife's birthday last year, Vijay Chetty asked himself: Why can't all mail be digital? And why do businesses spend $1.6 trillion on direct-mail campaigns, most of which end up unread in landfills? His answer is Zipinmail: By assigning a cloud-based mailbox to every residential, commercial, and P.O. Box., it will cut marketers' mailing costs b…

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How can we organize for social good? - with Peter Clark 42:43

3+ y ago42:43

42:43

Peter Clark developed his work ethic as the third of 11 children of a dad who, at 68, still climbs trees as part of his arborist business. Clark and his co-founder Jerusha Greenwald created the SoAct app to harness that energy into helping like-minded activists organize for social good. We talk about the revenue plans around subscriptions, merchand…

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Episode 244 - Arthur Menard de Calenge, Co-Founder and CEO of Lambs 45:09

3+ y ago45:09

45:09

As 5G technology becomes more prevalent, so too have studies linking cellphone radiation with cancer and other health problems. Lambs has emerged as a health-and-wellness and tech firm that specializes in fabrics that protect us from that radiation. We talk to CEO Arthur Menard de Calenge about Lambs's successful crowdfund, growing up in France, an…

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Episode 243 - Matt DeVico, Founder and CEO of Dteckt 43:23

3+ y ago43:23

43:23

Inspired by his long career in IT services, Matt DeVico built Dteckt (including its core product, Persona Monitoring), with a specific eye toward serving the customers who need the most help understanding cybersecurity threats. His strategy for finding market share in such a crowded space is to market personal safety, rather than resort to the over…

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Episode 242 - Shawn Wehan, Co-Founder and CEO of Givsum 46:12

3+ y ago46:12

46:12

Shawn Wehan spent 17 years as a lay minister in the Roman Catholic Church before starting Givsum, an all-in-one platform that nonprofits and service clubs can use for online donations, volunteer management, event ticketing, memberships, and more. The transition to a profit-based model was seamless, because the volume-based model has already signed …

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Episode 241 - Adam von Gootkin, Founder and CEO of Highclere Castle Spirits 43:55

3+ y ago43:55

43:55

Soon after he started his first spirits company in 2011, Adam von Gootkin (whose name anagrams to "Gonna Omit Vodka") learned his family's interest in potent potables dates back to the 1800s and includes his great-grandfather's speakeasy during Prohibition. We talk about how Highclere Castle Gin began with a cold email to Highclere Castle, how mark…

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Episode 240 - Gary Skulnik, Founder and CEO of Neighborhood Sun 44:39

3+ y ago44:39

44:39

After careers as a journalist at CNN and an environmental lobbyist, Gary Skulnik started his career as a serial entrepreneur in sustainable energy. His latest company is Neighborhood Sun, which dramatically expands access to solar power by connecting providers with local customers without the need to install rooftop panels. He shares his strategies…

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Episode 239 - Brian Harstine, Founder and CEO of Acquire Invest 47:41

3+ y ago47:41

47:41

Acquire Invest represents the sum total of the skill sets Brian Harstine has built creating companies, managing wealth, and studying Web 3 and blockchain. By tokenizing investments into smart shares, Acquire will train retail investors to use its upcoming app, due later this year, and its transparent, real-time data to get access to investments nor…

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Episode 238 - Chris Dooley, Co-Founder and CEO of Puraclenz 37:33

3+ y ago37:33

37:33

As a college student, Chris Dooley learned that a mechanical engineer's job is to solve problems every day. And after running Marvel's Toy Biz division and leading the Roomba's marketing campaign, his fifth startup venture, Puraclenz, is a three-pound filter that can clean the indoor air and exposed surfaces of mold and viruses in a 3,000-square-fo…

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Episode 237 - Dr. Trevor Castor, President and CEO of Aphios Pharma 37:42

3+ y ago37:42

37:42

As a child in Trinidad, Trevor Castor read everything -- often at night, by lantern light after the power grid failed. When he had to learn to swim, he taught himself with a book. After years of research into the healthful effects of cannabis, his third company, Aphios Pharma, has patented a nanotechnology drug-delivery platform that helps patients…

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Episode 236 - Daniel Bort, President and Founder of happiTV 33:13

3+ y ago33:13

33:13

When he graduated high school at 16 and launched his performing career in his native Venezuela, Daniel established his ability to set a goal and work relentlessly to achieve it. We discuss how his experience and influences as an actor, writer, director, and producer in New York City led to his current role as an L.A.-based entrepreneur and founder …

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Episode 235 - Sally Malanga, CEO of Ecco Bella 33:48

3+ y ago33:48

33:48

As Ecco Bella launches Boon Broth, the first vegan alternative to the $1 billion bone broth market, Sally discusses her early roots as an animal rights activist and debunks a few myths about bone broth (and describes how Boon Broth supersedes it in quality). We also outline her plans for expansion and salute her husband, on whom she tests every rec…

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Episode 234 - We're back! And Jeff has a new gig. 30:51

3+ y ago30:51

30:51

On Episode 234, Jeff Wenzel takes an unfamiliar position -- the guest chair -- to talk with new podcast host Doug French about his new gig as VP for Crowdfunding at KiwiTech. We discuss all that's happened over the last year, a bit of Jeff's backstory that led him to his current position, and how he counsels his rapidly expanding client base in the…

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Episode 233 - Kickbooster (Pledge Manager) 52:19

4+ y ago52:19

52:19

On Episode 233 of Successfully Funded, I got to reconnect with Shelby Olson from Kickbooster. This time we got to chat about Kickboosters latest tool to help creators, their brand new Pledge Manager. Kickbooster’s Pledge Manager aims to integrate with popular e-commerce platforms, Pledge Manager enables creators to pull products in from their e-com…

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Episode 232 - Tidbyt 1:08:03

4+ y ago1:08:03

1:08:03

On episode 232 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with the creators of the Kickstarter campaign, Tidbyt. Tidbyt is a lo-fi smart display that gives you the weather, stocks, transit, and a whole lot more. Use Tidbyt to check the weather, or when your train is arriving. Track your favorite stock tickers, or your Dogecoin holdings 🐶. Tidbyt comes i…

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Episode 231 - EWILAN'S QUEST 54:33

4+ y ago54:33

54:33

On episode 231 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Sophie Saget from the Kickstarter campaign Ewilan’s Quest. Ewilan’s Quest will be an animated series. This means that each episode’s plot will connect with the following episode’s plot over one, two, or even three seasons. Currently, they are in the first stage of the project, and that’s the…

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Episode 230 - FORT, Magnetic Pillow Fort 1:03:45

5y ago1:03:45

1:03:45

On episode 230 of the Successfully Funded Podcast, I got to talk with Conor Lewis from the successfully funded Kickstarter, FORT, Magnetic Pillow Fort. Most blocks and play furniture lack the ✨ MAGIC ✨ that we wanted in our house, so Coner designed the FORT from the ground up to have all the pieces, shapes, and functionality that the modern parent …

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Episode 229 - QuenchSea Rebroadcast 49:12

5y ago49:12

49:12

On episode 229 of Successfully Funded - a rebroadcast of episode 202, complete with new intro and musical guest - I spoke with Hannah Forbes from the Indiegogo campaign, QuenchSea: Turn Seawater into Freshwater. QuenchSea is a groundbreaking, low-cost, portable, manually powered device that instantly turns seawater into drinkable freshwater. It is …

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Episode 228 - Josh Ledgard of KickoffLabs (Rebroadcast) 57:50

5y ago57:50

57:50

Episode 228 is a rebroadcast of an episode when we talked with Josh Ledgard, founder of KickoffLabs. KickoffLabs helps you grow your audience so you can reach new customers. They believe in simple tools that create smarter campaigns to amplify your audience by delivering higher conversion rates and social engagement. Their goal is to help establish…

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Episode 227 - Sockwa X10 1:15:46

5y ago1:15:46

1:15:46

In Episode 227 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Patrick Malleret about the Kickstarter Campaign, Sockwa X10 - Feel the Ground. The Sockwa X10 is a barefoot, minimalist shoe that’s designed to let your feet do what they’re meant to do. The ultra-thin 3.5mm outsole lets your feet bend and flex, giving them the exercise they need, strengthen…

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Episode 226 - Elizabeth Erickson Rebroadcast 49:08

5y ago49:08

49:08

On this rebroadcast of a special episode of the Successfully Funded Podcast, we talk with Elizabeth Erickson, Associate Attorney at Quinn IP Law. Elizabeth is an associate at Quinn IP Law, where she specializes in litigation, trademarks, copyrights, brand management, and licensing agreements. She offers great advice on establishing and protecting i…

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Episode 225 - Olive Pro: 2-in-1 Hearing Aids & Bluetooth Earbuds 49:58

5y ago49:58

49:58

On episode 225 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Teo Son about the Indiegogo campaign, Olive Pro: 2-in-1 Hearing Aids & Bluetooth Earbuds. These wireless earbuds combine brilliant speech understanding and automated background noise cancellation to bring true, ultra-crisp sound quality for better music listening, clearer conversations, and …

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Episode 224 - Rock Sugar 1:21:18

5y ago1:21:18

1:21:18

On episode 224 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Kyle Sellers about the Kickstarter Campaign, EPIC New ROCK SUGAR Album! Beyond MASHUPS, Beyond COVERS... Rock Sugar takes the best and biggest pop hits of the 80's (and with the new album, pop hits all the way up to today!) and mashes them up with hard rock and heavy metal classics! Throw in…

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Episode 223 - Zumy 1:01:02

5y ago1:01:02

1:01:02

On episode 223 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Mike Drez from Brightside Innovations about their Indiegogo Campaign, Zumy: Pro Studio Quality Light For Video Meetings. Zumy is the portable, clip-on light to help you look brilliant in Zoom meetings, videos, and pics. Zumy attaches directly to your laptop for more confident and clear video…

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Episode 222 - Light Speaker 1:05:04

5y ago1:05:04

1:05:04

On episode 222 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Martin Willers from Transparent about their Kickstarter Campaign, Light Speaker — A portable sound and light experience. The Light Speaker is a portable bluetooth speaker inspired by a traditional lantern. It has a simple and functional form. The light feels like a real flame, glowing togeth…

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Episode 221 - Biktrix Juggernaut HD Duo 1:22:00

5y ago1:22:00

1:22:00

On episode 221 of Successfully Funded, Shawn got to talk with Roshan Thomas from the Indiegogo Campaign, Biktrix Juggernaut HD Duo: Ultimate Range E-Bike. This is an extreme performance eBike with 1500W mid-drive motor & 2002Wh battery. Up to 35 mph & 200-mile range. With the Biktrix Juggernaut, you can go as far as you desire—and never worry about…

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Episode 220 - MÄNNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon 1:02:10

5y ago1:02:10

1:02:10

On episode 220 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Cleve Oines from the Kickstarter Campaign MÄNNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon: The Pepper Mill for Pepper Lovers. With the Pepper Cannon, you can pepper your steak in 7 cranks instead of 70. At up to 10x the output of top-rated pepper mills, the Pepper cannon produces extravagant quantities of fresh g…

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Episode 219 - Stur Skillet 1:00:34

5y ago1:00:34

1:00:34

On episode 219 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Filip Mierzwa & Simon Köstler from the Kickstarter Campaign STUR Skillet: The German Cast-Iron Skillet - Made to Last. The STUR Skillet is your new everyday pan: replace your non-stick skillets with smoother & lighter cast iron that lasts forever. 100% made in Germany, it’s amazingly durable…

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Episode 218 - Traveler 1:00:24

5y ago1:00:24

1:00:24

On episode 218 of Successfully Funded, Shawn got to talk with Adam Leeb from the Indiegogo Campaign Traveler: Ultimate Distraction-Free Writing Tool. Say goodbye to writer's block! Traveler is the only device designed to help you focus on writing. Whether it's your novel, screenplay, or blog, write wherever you go. Traveler removes the ability to g…

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Episode 217 - The Classic Crime 1:11:22

5y ago1:11:22

1:11:22

On episode 217 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Matt MacDonald from The Classic Crime about their Kickstarter Campaign, The Classic Crime's 7th Full-Length Studio Album. The campaign for LP7 is like LP6 (Patterns in the Static) in that it begins without any songs written. The goal is the same, to invite the audience into the songwriting p…

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Episode 216 - FARO 1:06:40

5y ago1:06:40

1:06:40

On episode 216 of Successfully Funded, I got to talk with Juan Garcia Mansilla from the company Unit 1 Gear about their Kickstarter campaign, FARO by UNIT 1: A Sleek, Visibility-First Smart Helmet. FARO is a smart helmet that delivers style, safety and comfort with a state-of-the-art light system, ventilation, MIPS and fall detection. Helmets aren’…