# 512: What if I Didn't Stop?

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2025-10-16
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 512
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/512

## Summary

Katherine Connell, known as Smalls, discusses her product Sprite Lights, a thin, flexible LED body art sticker, and her journey from prototyping to a successful Kickstarter campaign. She details the technical challenges of using Zinergy batteries and flexible PCBs from PCBWay, and her extensive research into stretchable electronics using Galinstan and silicone. Connell explains how she overcame manufacturing hurdles, including the difficulty of adhering components to silicone and managing component sizes, to create a wearable product that balances safety, aesthetics, and functionality.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=6) Introduction: Katherine Connell and Sprite Lights
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=237) Background: Maker upbringing and early tech exposure
- [7:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=448) Sprite Lights Product Design and Zinergy Batteries
- [12:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=778) Prototyping Flexible Circuits with Silhouette and Copper Tape
- [24:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=1480) Kickstarter Fulfillment and Assembly Process
- [31:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=1884) Stretchable Electronics Research: Galinstan and Silicone
- [48:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=2909) Companion Robots and Future Applications
- [1:00:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop#t=3610) Maker Faire Experience and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sprite Lights (product)
- Zinergy (company)
- PCBWay (company)
- Silhouette (tool)
- Galinstan (material)
- Hackster.io (company)
- MakeStickers (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [429: The Fabric of Your Lungs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-02-09-429-the-fabric-of-your-lungs) (Making It)
- [An Interview with Marcus Schappi - Kit Ketch Kenophobia](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-19-an-interview-with-marcus-schappi-kit-ketch-kenophobia) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Colin Karpfinger - Blendling Bean Brio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-12-04-an-interview-with-colin-karpfinger-blendling-bean-brio) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ken Burns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-16-an-interview-with-ken-burns) (The Amp Hour)
- [Brett Walker: Advanced Manufacturing, Generative AI, Kickstarter & Austin | Hard Tech Podcast #4](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-06-07-brett-walker-advanced-manufacturing-generative-ai-kickstarter-austin-hard-tech-p) (Hard Tech Podcast)

## Citing this page

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