Hearing Matters Podcast: Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

We dig into how Bluemoth reimagines the path to better hearing by pairing prescription hearing aids with a modern, direct-to-consumer experience that respects privacy, reduces stigma, and preserves clinical outcomes. Born from years of brick-and-mortar practice and leadership in statewide audiology, the model answers a pivotal question: how do we lower the barrier to entry without lowering the standard of care?We trace the spark back to 2017 as OTC legislation moved through Washington State and revealed a split within the profession. Rather than frame OTC as a threat, we explore how access can be an on-ramp, especially when so few people with hearing loss seek help. The inspiration also comes from the eyewear world—think Gentle Monster and Warby Parker—where devices double as identity and the buying journey feels inviting. The goal: bring that sense of agency to hearing technology while keeping expert fitting, counseling, and verification at the core.Step by step, we map the Bluemoth customer journey: a private virtual consultation that reduces intimidation, clear education that demystifies choices, a guided home trial for real-life testing, and a purchase pathway anchored in prescription devices and professional support. Along the way we tackle the real barrier—stigma—not just price, and show how hybrid delivery can duplicate clinical excellence at scale. If you’ve wondered how to combine boutique-level care with e-commerce convenience, or how to meet patients where they are without compromising outcomes, this conversation offers a pragmatic blueprint.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a colleague or friend who’s been curious about hearing health, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your feedback helps more people take the first step toward better hearing.Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Stigma keeps more people from hearing help than price does, and we’re tackling that head on with a model that puts privacy, speed, and clinical integrity at the center. Blaise sits down with Dr. Melanie Hecker, founder of BLUEMOTH and owner of five brick‑and‑mortar clinics, to unpack a digital prescription approach that feels modern without sacrificing professional care. Think premium devices you can test at home, real clinicians guiding each step, and service that moves at the speed of life.We dig into the full customer journey: a private online consult, candidacy confirmed through a recent audiogram or a shipped test kit that includes air, bone, speech, and speech‑in‑noise, plus clear referrals when red flags pop up. The standout moment is the Experience Box—three sets of top‑tier hearing aids, first‑fit to about 85–90 percent, so users can compare sound quality, comfort, and features in the real world. An audiology assistant handles unboxing and setup, and follow‑ups in the first weeks keep progress on track. When issues require deeper adjustments, BLUEMOTH ships a laptop and Noahlink Wireless to unlock full software‑level tuning and feedback testing from home.We also confront the big question: validation. Dr. Hecker explains why she won’t “check the box” on remote real-ear measurements (REMs) until it can be done with accuracy and integrity, and she lays out a realistic path forward—referrals for REM today, and future 3D ear scans to model real‑ear targets without probes. Add rapid response times, overnight loaners for device failures, strong connectivity, and pricing that sits between OTC and boutique clinics, and you get a hybrid that serves GenX, younger boomers, busy professionals, and families supporting older adults with mobility challenges.If you care about access, outcomes, and the future of hearing healthcare, this conversation is a blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s been putting off a hearing check, and leave a review telling us which part of the hybrid model you’d adopt first. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Stuck in a month where nothing clicks and every push feels like quicksand? We unpack a better way with Dr. Brad Stewart, who built a mobile audiology practice, scaled a high-volume vestibular clinic, and then made the hardest call of all: shut it down to protect his health, marriage, and mission. The story isn’t about chasing hustle—it’s about aligning vision, building systems, and choosing patient-first care even when the market shifts under your feet.We dig into practical pivots that actually work. Brad shares how leadership mindsets from John Maxwell and frameworks like The E-Myth helped him create processes that scale, hire with clarity, and reduce owner dependency. When OTC hearing aids and market turbulence hit, he expanded services thoughtfully, then recognized when the physical therapy model didn’t fit. The result was a lean, “autopilot” hearing practice with strong systems and a team trained to deliver consistent outcomes without burning the owner out.You’ll hear a step-by-step approach to reclaiming control: the dream practice exercise to define income, role, team, and service mix; reverse-engineering the metrics that matter; and the courage to trade optics for sustainability. We also spotlight mobile audiology for senior living communities—an underserved path that builds grassroots demand, strengthens referrals, and differentiates against big-box retail. If you’re a private practice owner feeling the squeeze, this conversation offers clarity, tactics, and a reminder that flow beats force when vision leads.Want support building a mobile vertical or tightening your systems? Join the free Mobile Audiology Collective on Facebook for training, tools, and peer insight. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review—what pivot do you need to make next?Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Imagine programming hearing aids while the TV is actually on, or fine-tuning a patient’s settings in the middle of a lively social hour—with high ceilings, echo, and live music. That’s the power of mobile audiology, and it’s where our conversation with Dr. Brad Stewart shines: practical, human, and built for better outcomes.We unpack how Brad launched a lean, house-call model out of necessity, then turned it into a concierge service that seniors actually use and love. From free onsite screenings and clean-and-checks to education sessions and yes, calling bingo, Brad shows how authentic presence inside retirement communities creates trust, accelerates referrals, and lets clinicians solve real problems in real environments. Portable audiometers and connected programming tools make accurate in-home testing not only possible but often more effective, because you can optimize in the exact acoustic challenges patients face every day.The story isn’t just growth; it’s wisdom. Brad scaled to serve nearly a hundred communities, experimented with a vestibular clinic, and made the hard decision to close it when the model strained his health and marriage. We talk candidly about stress, vision, and the humility to pivot—even when it looks like failure from the outside. You’ll hear how to set a clear practice vision, build systems that empower teams, navigate slow months without panic, and choose services that match your values and energy. If you’re considering a mobile vertical or rethinking your practice model, you’ll leave with tactics you can deploy tomorrow and a mindset that puts patient experience first.Want more? Join Brad’s free Facebook community, the Mobile Audiology Collective, to learn from providers doing this work today. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more clinicians can discover smarter, more accessible hearing care. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

What if your patients could watch quality take shape right in front of them? We sat down with a tech-forward dentist, Dr. Michael Walker, to map the playbook hearing clinics can use to boost trust, reduce returns, and deliver faster, more personal care.   We unpack why visible technology changes everything. When patients see a crown modeled on-screen or their own eardrum on a large display, the process stops feeling mysterious and starts feeling valuable. That visibility pairs with efficiency: scanners, CAD/CAM, and in-office 3D printing turn two dental visits into one; ear impression scanning and instant file transfers can do the same for custom hearing protection and earmolds. Layer on best practices—like intraoral photos in dentistry and real-ear verification plus speech-in-noise testing in hearing care—and you replace guesswork with proof. Case acceptance hinges on words, structure, and financing. Hear how “good, better, best” framing leads with the clinical ideal, how to avoid minimizing terms that create urgency, and how to normalize monthly payments without pressure. We dig into presenting benefits that matter—function, aesthetics, communication ease—and why you should never prejudge a patient’s budget. You’ll also learn practical rapport habits that scale: simple questions that build trust, small moments that make big decisions easier, and a smooth approach to practice transitions that keeps culture intact while elevating standards. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Ever wonder why some hearing aids feel too loud yet somehow still muddy? We dig into the exact method that fixes that mismatch: real ear measurement. By placing a tiny microphone in the ear canal, we verify whether amplification reaches prescription targets where it matters most—right at the eardrum. No more guessing, no generic presets. Just a precise, research-backed way to make speech clearer, reduce listening effort, and help you forget you’re even wearing devices.We walk through the full journey from diagnostic hearing tests to fitting algorithms and targets, then show how verification turns theory into results. Think of it as graphic EQ with purpose: mapping your unique ear canal resonance and dialing in gain for soft, average, and loud speech without blasting everything. Along the way, we share patient-friendly visuals and explain why “louder” isn’t the goal—clarity is.Then we shift to hearing conservation, because preventable noise damage is still far too common. Using the sun exposure analogy—intensity plus time—we offer practical, no-judgment tips for daily life: keychain earplugs you’ll actually carry, high-fidelity filters for concerts and rehearsals, smart positioning away from speakers, and strategic listening breaks. Musicians and audio pros will hear candid talk about fading stigmas, the reality of noise-induced injury, and how small habits protect the career you love.If you care about hearing speech clearly, enjoying music safely, or getting the most from modern hearing technology, this conversation gives you the playbook. Listen, learn, and try one change today—like adding earplugs to your keys—then share this episode with someone who turns it up to 11. If this helped, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us the one hearing habit you’re committing to this week.Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

What happens when a seasoned audio engineer becomes a doctor of audiology? You get a refreshingly clear path from “that sounds tinny” to real, measurable improvements in speech clarity. We sit down with Dr. Steven Taddei to unpack how studio skills—mic placement, EQ, compression, and a careful ear for detail—translate directly into smarter hearing aid programming and better outcomes in the real world.We start with the basics of how sound is shaped, then peel back the curtain on real ear measurement, the gold standard verification that ensures hearing aids meet your prescription inside your own ear canal. Think of it like graphic EQ you can see: targets, curves, and live adjustments that make speech audible without turning the world up to eleven. Steven also takes on a common misconception: hearing aids don’t double as hearing protection. He lays out practical hearing conservation strategies, from filtered earplugs to context-specific protection, so you can enjoy concerts and still wake up without ringing.Choosing technology gets easier when you understand what matters. We compare entry, advanced, and premium hearing aids, explaining channels, noise reduction, and directionality in plain language. Not everyone needs the top tier; speech-in-noise testing helps match real needs to the right level, and sometimes the best upgrade is a wireless microphone that lifts the talker’s voice above the chaos. Throughout, we keep the focus on real life—watching TV without arguments, navigating restaurants with confidence, and keeping music fun for musicians and fans alike.If you care about audio fidelity, clear speech, and protecting the hearing you have, this conversation delivers practical tools you can use today. Listen, learn, and share with someone who wants to hear more and strain less.  Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Start with a person, not a feature list. That’s the thread that runs through our conversation with Brandon Sawalich and Dr. Dave Fabry about how hearing technology actually improves lives: by putting the patient first, then letting smart tools do the heavy lifting in the background. We dig into how AI moved from a buzzword to a real advantage in tough listening environments, why sound quality remains the non-negotiable foundation, and how “the ear is the new wrist” reframes what a hearing aid can be.We share the inside story of building Starkey's Omega AI and the eighth generation of sound processing, including DNN 360 and a neuroprocessor designed to make great hearing the default. Think of it as an easy button for clinicians: set a strong baseline fast, then spend time on what only humans can do—listening, coaching, and fitting for comfort. The Da Vinci surgical system offers a useful metaphor: technology doesn’t replace expertise; it amplifies it. That’s how we see the partnership between AI and hearing care professionals, and why robots won’t be fitting ears anytime soon.Beyond better hearing in noise, Brandon and Dave talk about the bigger health picture. Untreated hearing loss intersects with cardiovascular health, cognition, and social engagement. So Starkey built tools that track activity, encourage connection, and enable voice control without adding another gadget to your routine. They're honest about the pushback that comes with change, the “Swiss Army knife” moment, and what they learned about leading with clarity: it’s a hearing aid first, with multipurpose superpowers second.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s curious about hearing tech, and leave a review so more people can find conversations like this. Your feedback shapes what we build next.Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Want to know what “better hearing in noise” actually sounds like when AI, sensors, and human care work in sync? We bring together Starkey’s president and CEO, Brandon Sawalich, and Chief Hearing Health Officer, Dr. Dave Fabry, for a candid look at Starkey Omega AI—why it exists, what changed from Edge AI, and how it turns hearing aids into confident, 360-degree listening tools without sidelining professionals.We dig into DNN 360 and how deep neural networks now blend noise management with directionality and low-latency binaural processing to deliver measurable gains in speech understanding. Dave explains the role of IMU sensors in tracking movement and intent—think following a walking companion at your side—while Brandon shares how being privately held enables a patient-first pace of innovation. TeleHear AI adds timely support: when a clinic visit isn’t possible, users can describe the problem, get smart on-device adjustments, compare results, and keep what works, with changes reported back to their clinician. It’s an example of “friendly AI” that saves time, lifts outcomes, and preserves the provider-patient bond.We also talk access and ethics. From fall detection offered across tiers to StarkeyCares and Hear Now, the team argues that safety and dignity shouldn’t be premium features. Data logging grows from hours-worn into environment-aware insights that inform personalization, reduce returns, and drive satisfaction. And for clinicians worried about being replaced, the takeaway is clear: the irreplaceable value is knowing the person behind the audiogram, translating powerful tech into the two or three features that matter most to that life.If you care about hearing technology, clinical excellence, health equity, and where AI is truly useful, this conversation maps the road ahead—fast, human, and focused on outcomes. Subscribe, share with a colleague who still thinks “adaptive directionality” is enough, and leave a quick review telling us which Omega AI feature you want to try first. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast

Dementia is rising, and the toll is personal, social, and economic. From there, we move into a conversation that blends hard data with real life—how hearing loss can quietly erode connection, increase cognitive load, and, according to leading research, contribute to higher dementia risk. Karla Hult joins us with her father’s story—an athlete, a community helper, a devoted dad whose final years were shaped by Alzheimer’s—and shows how love, grief, and action can coexist without false hope.We break down what the science actually says. The Lancet Commission identifies hearing loss as a leading midlife, modifiable risk factor for dementia. The ACHIEVE study adds nuance: while not all participants saw cognitive gains, a high‑risk subgroup (older adults with cardiovascular risk) experienced significant preservation across cognitive measures when using hearing aids. Everyone, though, benefited socially—less loneliness and richer networks—reminding us that better hearing is not just about volume, it’s about vitality. We also demystify genetics and testing: APOE-e4 indicates risk, not destiny, and newer blood tests detect disease only after it starts. That context helps listeners choose action over anxiety.This conversation is practical. We talk about cognitive load at noisy restaurants, the “cocktail party” effect, and how chronic listening strain pushes people to opt out of the moments that keep brains active. We tackle stigma head-on: today’s hearing aids are discreet, smart, and designed for real life. For clinicians, we offer a compassionate playbook—lead with connection, avoid cure claims, suggest appropriate cognitive screening, and never leave families without resources. For anyone with family history or early signs of hearing trouble, the message is clear: protect your connections. Get a hearing check, consider amplification when needed, and double down on heart‑brain health habits that keep you engaged with the people and places you love.If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find these insights. Have a topic or guest in mind? Email us at soundbites@starky.com. Connect with the Hearing Matters Podcast TeamEmail: hearingmatterspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @hearing_matters_podcast Facebook: Hearing Matters Podcast