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Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

350. Dean Kamen (Replay). Inventing iBOTs, Segways and Scooters. The Wheelchair of the Future. Inside DARPA. Using Robots To Build Kids. Revenge of the Nerds.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

Veteran, Daily News, National Security, Politics, News Commentary, News

4.6907 Ratings

🗓️ 4 September 2025

⏱️ 86 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We’ve got one last look back before we plunge into the future. This week we’re taking it way, way back to Episode 26 with the amazing inventor Dean Kamen. From Episode 26 - September 26, 2019: Dean Kamen is one of the greatest inventors of our time. He invented the Segway, the first drug infusion pump, and the Slingshot–a water purification device that requires no filters, can turn almost any kind of water into drinking water and can operate using cow dung as fuel. He also invented the LUKE (Life Under Kinetic Evolution) prosthetic arm for the Department of Defense’s DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). And now, Dean has invented invented a revolutionary all-terrain electric wheelchair known as the iBOT. He rode to our interview with your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) on the newest version that he unveiled to the world this week in New York–and shares why it can change history not just for the disabled and wounded veterans–but for everyone. Like all our guests, Dean Kamen is an iconic, important and inspiring American. One who’s shaped what America has been in the past, is in the present, and more than any other guest we’ve had so far, he’s shaping the future. One of Dean’s proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology. This year FIRST® will serve more than 1 million young people, ages 6 to 18, in more than 86 countries. High-school-aged participants were eligible for more than $50 million in scholarships from over 200 leading colleges, universities, and corporations. Dean Kamen was Elon before Elon. But not all messed up. He’s a much better person, he’s a much better creator, he’s a much better visionary and most importantly he’s a helper. -WATCH video of Paul and Dean’s conversation. -Learn more about Independent Veterans of America and all of the IVA candidates.  -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0F1lzdRbTB0XYen8kyEqXe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/49a684c3-68e1-4a85-8d93-d95027a8ec64/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff Ways to watch: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@independentamericans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/indy_americans BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/indyamericans.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndependentAmericansUS/ Ways to listen:Social channels: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Power by Righteous Media.

0:16.9

Welcome to Independent Americans. Welcome to episode 350 and welcome to the final days of the summer of 2025.

0:28.8

I'm your host, Paul Reikoff. I'm coming to you from an undisclosed location, a tropical island outside of America.

0:37.2

Hopefully this time next week, I will be back in America, as long as the Trump administration

0:42.0

doesn't try to stop me.

0:43.8

But before we return to what will be a hot and heavy and intense and controversial fall,

0:50.2

full of surprises, but also full of perspective and important times to unify.

0:55.5

Now is still, even now, most definitely a time to stay vigilant.

1:08.0

I'm coming to you from this undisclosed location with the sun going down behind me on a beach,

1:13.4

the music's playing. People from all over the world are trying to enjoy this awesome weather

1:18.0

and these final days of summer. But the winds are blowing. Just like the winds are blowing across

1:24.7

America's politics, national security, and culture.

1:28.5

And those winds are going to accelerate in the days to come, especially as we barrel into

1:32.8

September and October, when Trump will surely continue his grab of power, his breaking of

1:39.3

rules, his disregard of laws, and his militarization of our entire society, something I've been flagging

1:46.2

for you for years now. But as we squeeze, at least I squeeze, these final days out of summer,

1:52.9

before my kids go back to school in New York just after Labor Day. I want to replay for you

1:57.6

a different kind of conversation. One of my favorites from the early days of this show, but the great inventor and innovator, Dean Kamen. Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and the I-Robot. We broke it down inside the classic car club years ago in our first season. It was back when the show was still called Angry Americans. And it's one of my favorites, especially if you're able to watch us on YouTube.

2:19.4

If you've never watched us on YouTube, this is a great episode to do it because you'll see inside the car club, which is pretty damn cool.

2:25.3

So thank you for continuing to support this show.

2:27.5

We'll be back next week with a brand new conversation.

2:30.5

We'll continue to keep a focus on national security, military affairs, combat, veterans issues,

...

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