The Sound Pod Review Google Doesn't Want You to See

Plus, what else I've been reviewing this week

Alison

Apr 06, 2025

Let’s talk about clickbait.

That headline certainly is. But it’s also true.

If you search for “Sava Sound Pod review” on Google, you’ll see the following results:

But visit another search engine and…

Now the headline makes sense, right?

But why is Google shadowbanning the review of the Sava Sound Pod I wrote for Forbes?

Site. Reputation. Abuse.

I’m not interested in going into the nitty-gritty of that topic right now, but here’s how it relates to Forbes, according to The Verge (emphasis mine):

Many news outlets (including The Verge) hire freelancers to write and report stories. But Forbes has an especially wide pool of outside contributors publishing to its site. Many of these writers are legitimate journalists who do fair, in-depth reporting. But there’s also the Forbes contributor network, a group of thousands of marketers, CEOs, and other outside experts who get to publish questionable content under the trusted Forbes name.

In short, Forbes was penalized by Google for gaming search results by posting irrelevant content that still ranked high because of its long-standing reputation.

As a result, Google stopped featuring Forbes articles in its search results when those pieces were attributed to contributors. This move particularly affected Forbes Vetted, the site’s shopping vertical where I served as a contributor.

In response, Forbes Vetted cut ties with its freelancers in December 2024. And that pissed me off.

But what pisses me off more is that the biggest search engine in the world has cockblocked an article I’m proud of.

“A Cocoon-Like Pod that You’ll Need to See to Believe”

That was the subject of the email I received from Jack Taylor announcing the Sava Sound Pod from Tersa. I was invited to try what was described as “a cozy, cocoon-like pod that envelops you in calming vibroacoustic soundscapes, leading to profound moments of healing and serenity.”

And this is what it looks like. (Source: Tersa)

I was confused. Was this some sort of futuristic space bed you could sleep in? Whatever it was, I wanted to pursue it. I pitched the story to my editor at Forbes Vetted and, to my pleasant surprise, it was approved.

After the initial hype, I realized this wasn’t a bed for sleep but a sound bed that pumps out solfeggio frequencies and binaural beats to help the body relax, possibly to the point of sleep. (As long as the product was in some way relevant to sleep, I was in the clear to write about it for Vetted.)

Highlights from my visit to the Tersa showroom

The Entrance

I was dropped off in front of a nondescript adult daycare on the Lower East Side.

After a few frantic texts and phone calls, I finally made contact and learned I was, indeed, at the right address. Tersa’s founder and CEO Ray Kelly came outside and warmly greeted me, donning tidy white high-top sneakers and a sharp black blazer.

The building on Chrystie Street where Tersa’s showroom is located once housed the Beastie Boys. They even wrote a song about it.

The Meeting

Ray Kelly has led an interesting life. He had aspirations of becoming a professional football player in Australia, but a chain of injuries forced him to retire at 18 years old. That led him to become an injury, rehab, and pain management practitioner who travels the world to work with high-profile (and highly-stressed) individuals.

In 2022, Kelly founded Tersa, which he calls his “lifelong passion,” with the “ultimate goal of disrupting the health, wellness, and medical industry” by blending holistic methods with cutting-edge technology.

Kelly and I chatted over a cup of herbal tea in a space that felt more like a yoga studio than a tech showroom. We discussed his love of science fiction (particularly Blade Runner and Tron, which is evident in the design of the Sava), his opinions on the stressful state of modern healthcare, and his belief in the healing power of music.

The Experience

I was wrapped in a weighted blanket and had a weighted mask over my eyes. I was grateful for the open top; otherwise, I would have had unpleasant flashbacks of the few times I had used a tanning bed in college.

Kelly queued up a Sound Journey composed by Nick Littlemore (PNAU, Empire of the Sun). It was reminiscent of a climactic battle hymn from a sci-fi movie, yet it was quite calming. The surface pulsed in sync with each beat, which was jarring at first, but I eventually surrendered to the rhythm and found the vibrations relaxing.

I left the showroom feeling calm and light — and I slept well that evening as visions of the Sava Sound Pod floated through my head.

What’s up with the Sava Sound Pod now?

It’s been almost a year since my Sava Sound Pod experience. At the time I filed my story, it was available to purchase online from Tersa for $10,000. Today, you’ll have to contact the company for a quote.

I’m still waiting for Ray Kelly to host a Sava Sound Pod pop-up in New York City so I can give it another try. However, if you’re in London, you can visit the Four Seasons Tower Bridge for a 45-minute Sava Meditation Session worth £75.

If you want to give my original review some traffic, read it at Forbes Vetted: Sava Sound Pod Review: The $10,000 “Sound Cocoon” To Help You Sleep

By the way…

At least my article made Tersa’s press page.

In other reviews…

Last month, I mentioned that I was in the process of reviewing the new Coop Sleep Goods Latex Pillow. Well, that review is now live at Tom’s Guide! Give it a read to find out why I needed to spend a little more time with this one before making my verdict.

A few weeks ago, Helix invited me to try its revamped mattresses, which launched on April 1. My first impressions of the updated Helix Midnight, Midnight Luxe, and Midnight Elite mattresses are available for you to peruse at Tom’s Guide.

Question of the Week:

Well, would you? Vote in the poll, then elaborate in the comments.