Made In The USA: Our Favorite Founders And Inspired Inventions

On this Fourth of July, where we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the U.S., we look back at some of our favorite conversations with the awe-inspiring, the revolutionary, the weird and wonderful founders and inventors we've had the pleasure of talking to, and tales of invention that surprise and delight.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, director of the World Wide Web Consortium. He tweets @timberners_lee.

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, which tweets @spanx.

Matthew Pearl, author of numerous novels, including "The Technologists" and "The Last Bookaneer." He tweets @matthewpearl.

Mimi Graney, founder of the "What The Fluff?" festival in Somerville and author of the new book "Fluff: The Sticky Sweet Story Of An American Icon."