Hooked: How Burrs Inspired Velcro — and Why Curiosity Is The Real Innovation.

Ever spent an hour on your kitchen floor pulling burrs out of your dog’s fur while questioning your life choices? Those annoying little hitchhikers accidentally sparked one of the most successful biomimicry stories in history — the invention of Velcro.

In this episode, Pia unpicks the legend — a Swiss engineer, a hunting trip, and a microscope moment that turned frustration into a global, nature-inspired design revolution. Two tiny words did it all: hook and loop.

But we’re not stopping at the origin story. From space suits to school shoes, Velcro solved one problem brilliantly but left another wide open — and that’s the part worth re-designing.

It’s funny, sticky, and surprisingly deep. Because sometimes the best ideas start with the stuff that drives you mad — you just have to look close enough to see the genius underneath.

If this quick trip to the moon and back was worth it, please share this episode with someone who’s curious and would enjoy the ride.

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Created and hosted by Pia Williams
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