25 Episodes!!! Time to Celebrate

Exactly 1 Year ago today the empowEAr audiology podcast was released.  Today is not only a celebration of 1 year, but also a celebration of the 25th episode.  25 is a great # to celebrate whether it is a birthday, anniversary, or the 25th empowEAR audiology podcast.  What are you waiting to celebrate?  I encourage you to believe in yourself and make the most of what gifts and talents you were made for.

IN celebration of 1 year and 25 episodes, I wanted to dedicate this episode to reflecting, refreshing and restarting.  Today I will reflect on my own personal gain, refresh on how 3C digital media made empowEAR audiology come alive as well as the multiple guests and listeners, and restart with goals for year 2.  

The first episode of empowEAR audiology is titled “What is My Purpose”.   In reflecting on this question over the past year, I have been reminded that we truly do not know another person’s journey- we all have our own experiences that make us who we are.  I am truly grateful that I tood this leap of faith with the empowerEAR audiolgy podcast to develop a unique platform for storytelling as it relates to personal and professional hearing journeys.  In episode #20, I interviewed Karin Weiser, international career transition coach, connector, and storytelling.  She also has a journey with a cochlear implant.  In this episode Karin goes deeper into why sharing your story.  We learn by stories, we open up emotions by telling stories, and we make lessons stick by telling stories.  What Story do you have to tell?  

Reflecting on my own story as it relates to being hard of hearing as well as an audiologist; I hope empowEAR audiology is helping to break down the stigmas that continue to surround hearing loss and others gain a deeper understanding of the unique spectrum of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.  

I started thinking about stigma again because it has been a topic of conversation at a recent conference that I attended.  My reflection actually took me back to my childhood years.  I thought to myself….this little girl ME, was born with hearing loss and not identified and fit with amplification until the age of 4, had a significant articulation difficulties,  wore analog hearing aids that really did not have the capacity to give access to the full speech spectrum, spend 12 years in speech, language, and auditory therapy, attended my public neighborhood school and was on an IEP receiving special ed services, went onto college and was told that because of my hearing loss, that pursing the field of audiology may not be a good choice, persisted through and achieved a doctorate in audiology, began a successful and rewarding career path in educational audiology, went on the cochlear implant journey late in life, and NOW I am hosting a podcast!!  Who would have ever thought that the little girl who was so difficult to understand with a significant bilateral severe to profound hearing loss would be celebrating the joy of 25 podcast episodes!!  Life has a way of making your own challenges your greatest purpose and if you dare to think differently you will emerge stronger.  In my own spiritual personal journey, I am absolutely grateful to have this lifelong hearing challenge.  Yes there are times that I am frustrated, mad, and feel isolated in this vibrant hearing world; but I have learned how to be resilient and determined.  From this hearing journey, emerged many positive relations and a purposeful career.  If you have not already heard my story, take a listen to episode one.  I hope you feel empowEARed after this little reflection to overcome your own obstacles with resilience and determination.

In today’s 25th episode I also wanted to hit the refresh button and talk about 3C Digital network, empowEAR’s guests, and YOU as listeners.  

I wanted to share a quick story about how I got connected to 3C Digital Media Network.  A good friend an colleague, Dr. Todd Houston interviewed me about 1 ½ years ago for his own podcast titled “The Listening Brain”.  You can visit his podcast and look for episode #10 to hear this conversation or go to the shownotes and you can find it here too.  After that episode, Todd asked if I have ever considered hosting my own podcast.  I had actually thought about it but with a full time job and family, I did not have an abundance of extra time to figure out all of the behind the scenes actions that go into launching and sustaining a podcast.  He went on to share about how he and 2 other colleagues that I know and admire, Scott Palasik and Tammy Bradham, teamed up and had created 3Cdigitalmedia network.  They were looking for content creators.  It was the exact platform, support, and expertise that I needed to be involved with to make empowEAR audiology come alive.  Thank you Todd for asking me and to the whole 3CDigital team for your ongoing guidance and support.  If any of you have considered a podcast, webinar, blog, or any other content creations…reach out and see if 3Cdigitatl media network would be a fit for you.  Thank YOU 3C!

Let’s hit the refresh button again and talk about the amazing guests!!  This podcast would not be possible without each of you being willing to give up some time and share your talents.  I truly get so excited each and every time that I have an interview set up!  You can visit the website to listen, Apple, Spotify, and Google play to catch all of the episodes.  I am going to give a brief rundown of each of the guests.  

Dr. Cheryl DeConde Johnson, my first interview and you can hear about her personal story as a parent and professional as well as returning to school during the pandemic

Dr. Tina Childress shares her personal story and we discuss “shoes” aka masks and accommodations during the pandemic

Camille Warren is a mom and she shares her story and advice for parents and professionals for reentry back to school during the pandemic

Dr Carol Flexer and a conversation about lifelong learning, mentoring, the brain, and passion for audiology

Dr Gail Whitelaw and Counselors about teens, teen mentorship, and cultivating advocacy through the campUS experience

Dr. Oliver Adunka, my CI surgeon and the cochlear implant process

Dr. Elizabeth Walker and the significance of mild hearing loss in children

Janet DesGeorges discusses her parent journey as well as her new book “Not a Leader, Now a Leader”

Dr. Erin Schafer and wearing the mic

Deanna Magna and the role of the TOD/HH

Dr. Karen MacIver Lux  personal story and my HEAR-O

Dr Ryan McCreary and the importance of research in audiology

Dr Michelle Hu and happiness with peer to peer connections for deaf/hard of hearing

4 Moms (Nancy, Maggie, Stephanie, Tina) share Get It moments about raising a child who is d/hh

Dr. Marc Brennan and his personal story, research and framing the hearing loss advantage

Dr. Angela Alexander and her personal passion and dedicated work in the area of  APD

Karin Weiser, career coach, cochlear implant user, and the importance of sharing your story

Dr. Sam Atcherson and his personal journey and finding the right solutions and support

Julianna and Andrew Hebert from HearSTrong Foundation and being a HS Champion

Dr. Rene Gifford shares about bimodal hearing

Jaime Vernon shares her mom journey and her 501c3 Songs for Sounds.  

I want to say that I don’t have a favorite episode because I love them all.  I am grateful for your storytelling, whether it is a personal or professional journey.  I loved learning from each of you and digging deeper into topics to empowEAR others.  I cannot wait to meet more guests as we kick off year 2.  

Refresh one more time….Listeners!!  Thanks to all of you for tuning in twice a month to catch the latest episodes.  I have heard from many of year and continue to receive positive feedback.  It brings me great joy to hear when a college professor shares this podcast with students to listen.  It warms my heart to find out that a parent was inspired by another parent sharing their story.  I am encouraged when an adult who is deaf/hard of hearing realizes that there are others who are in their shoes.  Listeners keep on listening.  Share with others.  Engage with me on the empowEAR Audiology FB page.  Please give a 5 star review.  Consider writing a favorable comment.  All of these actions helps empowerEAR Audiology grow so others can benefit.  Listeners, if there is someone that you want to hear from, please reach out!!  

Restart!!  I am looking forward to year 2 and 25 more episodes.  I strive to bring more empowEARing personal stories, cutting edge researchers and professionals, and additional practical knowledge and tips to all of you.  I will be trying out some new ways to engage in this upcoming year including some FB live events and learning opportunities.  

A huge thanks again to everyone and for believing in me.  Cheers to Year 2 and 25 more.