ListenUp!

Kathryn “Kat” Penno is a healthcare and business professional with a passion for hearing health. She is the Director of Hearing Health at Nuheara, a company that specializes in smart hearing aids driven by research. Prior to Nuheara, she was the President and Founder of the Hearing Collective. Her profession extends to Apple as an accessibility ambassador and serving as a guest lecturer at The University of Western Australia.

Complete rehabilitation seems like a fantasy for most people suffering from hearing loss. Many of the current solutions on the market are undertreating patients, catering to their wants more than their needs. There is a lot more that can be done, and fortunately, some companies are helping lead that charge. Nuheara creates research-based hearing aids which utilize smart data and create a personalized experience. A key figure at the business is Kat Penno, who brings her expertise in business and audiology to the table as their Director of Hearing Health. Her insights into complete treatment are pertinent along with her perspective on the current state of audiology. In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms interviews Kat Penno, the Director of Hearing Health at Nuheara, as they discuss what full rehabilitation looks like in hearing loss. Together, the two talk through Kat’s own experiences in audiology and how treatments aren’t doing enough to help patients. They also discuss why most hearing associations are so fragmented, the feedback loop of hearing loss, and how smart data can be used in hearing aids.

Dominic Bartola is an entrepreneur, speaker, professor, and executive who has overcome incredible challenges to find success. He is the Chief of Staff at qBotica, a leading advisory in RPA and Enterprise AI. His brand, Exceptional Growth, has led him to keynotes and speaking engagements along with a teaching position at Maricopa Community College. He currently chairs the board of Diversity Leadership Alliance’s Youth Leadership Academy.

Choosing treatment for hearing loss can be a very personal decision. Doctors can inform and guide but the choice ultimately comes down to what the patient wants to do. It’s one thing to hear it from a doctor, but another to hear the advice of a peer in the same situation. Few people have found better success treating their hearing loss than Dominic Bartola. 

Dominic is an entrepreneur and speaker who grew up with severe hearing loss. Although he was told he would have limited hearing for his whole life, he has been able to speak and listen confidently throughout his career. He has faced and overcome a variety of challenges and shares his experiences. 

Dr. Mark Syms sits down with Dominic Bartola, the Chief of Staff at qBotica, to talk about living with and overcoming hearing loss. They talk about Dominic’s childhood and how his father helped him overcome his speaking issues. They then discuss cochlear implants and the importance of the surgery to those who need it. The two also touch on daily life with hearing loss and how Dominic found his confidence. All of this and more on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Anthony Florek is a proficient executive in marketing and medical technology. He is the President of Soundwave Hearing and oversaw the launch of Sontro Hearing Aids and the otoTune app. He held various leadership positions for 12 years at Beltone and 14 years at Abbott. His expertise encompasses business development, data analytics, and accelerating company growth.

While hearing technology is primarily a medical issue, much of the innovation is driven by businesses. For Soundwave Hearing, their goal is to provide better hearing to everyone by selling directly to the consumer. They have expanded into mobile apps, advanced hearing aids, and even artificial intelligence. Guiding the company during this period of innovation is Anthony Florek.

Anthony has worked in medical technology for over 30 years and 15 in the hearing aid industry. His experience in both audiological equipment and startups has given him a keen sense for business along with the technology itself. Anthony has developed a unique approach to leading companies and now offers his knowledge to you.

Dr. Mark Syms talks with Anthony Florek, the President of Soundwave Hearing, about the latest hearing technology and the business that drives it. They go over Anthony’s career and stories from his early days in medical tech. They then move into a deeper conversation on remote hearing testing, selling DTC, and navigating OTC regulations. Stay tuned to hear it all for yourself on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Dr. Jane Madell is a certified audiologist and clinician with almost 50 years of experience helping children with hearing impairments. She is the Director of Pediatric Audiology Consultants and was the Director of Audiology at the Center for Hearing and Communication for two decades.

Dr. Madell continues to serve as a professor for New York Medical College and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. As a researcher, she has published five books and written numerous articles on pediatric audiology.

It’s commonly known how important hearing is for cognitive development in children. Much of our ability to learn a language and grow socially is rooted in our earliest experiences — this is why hearing loss can be so incredibly detrimental to their well-being in the long run. It’s also why hearing-impaired kids need to be checked as soon as possible to get the care they need. 

Dr. Jane Madell has spent her life’s work on this subject, serving in pediatric audiology for nearly 50 years. Her specialization and experience advocating for proper hearing care and influencing treatments is world renowned. Now, she comes on as a guest of the podcast to share her knowledge with you.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms talks with Dr. Jane Madell, the Director of Pediatric Audiology Consultants, to discuss pediatric hearing care and why it’s so crucial. They go through the common misconceptions many parents have and what can be done for their young children. They also touch on her writings, the documentary she made, and why speech and hearing is so important in the working world.

Dr. Achin Bhowmik is a tech and business specialist serving as the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey. He leads the organization’s technology strategy and product development to advance the world of hearing aids.

Prior to his time at Starkey, Dr. Bhowmik worked as Vice President and General Manager of the Perceptual Computing Group at Intel Corporation. He has employed that experience as an adjunct professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and as the author of two books and 37 issued patents.

As hearing technology improves, it is just as important to focus on its functionality as its hardware. Listening is a fallible sense like any other based on our subjective impressions. Even the best hearing aids can fall short if they don’t account for the patient’s needs. This is why most leading companies in hearing tech are greatly concerned about the user’s daily experiences.

Dr. Achin Bhowmik is a leader in technology and business, applying his expertise to the field of hearing. In his role in product development and research, he has a holistic understanding of where the future is heading and how to improve their products. The goal is to shape the experience of each user through better tech.

Dr. Mark Syms has an insightful discussion with Dr. Achin Bhowmik, the Chief Technology Officer and EVP of Engineering at Starkey, about the hearing technology the company is working on. They explain how user experiences can be shaped and how it directly leads to better living. Then, they go in-depth on how new technology can not only fix but even enhance hearing. Hear this and more on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast.

Dr. Alejandra Ullauri is a recognized Doctor of Audiology and is the Director and Owner of Chicago Hearing Care. She opened the practice in 2016 to fill the need for private cochlear implant services in the Chicago area. Her passion for hearing care for the Latinx community led her to start Audiology En Español. She works with the Education Development Center as a subject matter expert and has previously served at Audiovital and UChicago Medicine among other prestigious positions.

Since listening is integral to language, it can be surprising that hearing treatment isn’t often available to the Spanish-speaking population in the United States. The language is the second most-spoken in the country, but many audiology offices have minimal accommodations. This can skew the treatment and lead to less accurate care.

Dr. Alejandra Ullauri is a bilingual audiologist whose passion is to bridge this divide. Her practice works with both English and Spanish patients and was the first to offer private cochlear implant services in the Chicago area. She is not only knowledgeable in her field, but also in how to reach communities that audiology often overlooks.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms interviews Dr. Alejandra Ullauri, the Director and Owner of Chicago Hearing Care, to discuss the Spanish-speaking community in audiology. They talk about her own career and the education she’s developed to meet the needs of diverse patients. They then touch on a host of topics including hearing testing for bilingual patients, teaching other audiologists on this subject, and why she started her own practice.

Andrew Bellavia is a passionate executive with experience in organizations of all sizes. He is currently working with Knowles Electronics as their Director of Market Development, working to improve their business development and help those with hearing loss. He previously led the sales and marketing for Evox Rifa up to their merger with Kemet Electronics. He serves on the advisory board at Tuned and as a member of the Business Advisory Board at ALMA International

Feeling healthy can be difficult without a reference point. We often take our health for granted until we experience sickness or injury. It gives us better insight into how amazing a healthy life can be. It’s easier to notice the difference with a drastic change, but what about when our health degrades slowly? 

Hearing loss is typically a subtle and insidious problem. With all of the ways to adjust and compensate, it can be difficult to notice just how bad your hearing has become. This is why treatment is so crucial — to both care for the issue before it gets worse and to return your hearing to a healthier state. If anyone knows how valuable that experience can be, it’s Andrew Bellavia.

Dr. Mark Syms invites Andrew Bellavia, the Director of Market Development at Knowles and a hearing aid advocate, to discuss hearing loss and the power of hearing aids. They talk about Andrew’s own journey with hearing loss and the difference that hearing treatment made. They also dive into the common stigmas with hearing aids, hearing loss at different ages, and why hearing loss is similar to blood pressure.

Dr. Douglas L. Beck is a well-known figure in audiology and the Vice President of Clinical Sciences for Cognivue, a company that manufactures digitally-based cognitive screening tools. Dr. Beck is a prolific author on the subject, having 185 different publications to date through Oticon, where he worked as Vice President of Academic Sciences from 2005-2022. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at State University of New York at Buffalo and the Senior Editor of Clinical Research at Hearing Review.

When the topic of hearing loss comes up, people often think of damage to the ear. After all, with hearing aids being the primary solution, it can be easy to assume that’s all that matters. But proper hearing is far more complicated – it’s a blend of multiple senses and cognitive functions. Listening isn’t just hearing, it’s also truly understanding.

As the Vice President of Clinical Services at Cognivue, Dr. Douglas L. Beck has been diving into this concept more and more. Recently, there has been a search of research on the correlation between cognition and listening, learning what it actually means to hear the world around us. He has discovered a great deal in his role, and now shares his insights with us.

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Douglas L. Beck of Cognivue returns to talk with Dr. Mark Syms about understanding and listening. They touch on important topics such as teaching the brain to hear different signals, various types of hearing screenings, and the overlap between Alzheimer's and heart disease. Finally, they talk on current technology and limitations in the cognitive field today.

Dr. Jodi Sasaki-Miraglia is an experienced audiologist who has experience in medical devices, employee training, and general sales. She is currently serving in two roles: the Director of Professional Education Manager at Widex.

Dr. Sasaki-Miraglia previously worked as an audiologist at the Mayo Clinic and as the Senior Technical Trainer at Phonak. She received her doctorate in audiology from Salus University.

We were all taught from a young age to brush our teeth as a basic part of hygiene. There are clear benefits to preserving your teeth and consequences when they are neglected. However, this same mentality is rarely shown towards our own hearing. It’s only once we’ve experienced hearing loss that we attempt to reverse the damage and by then it’s too late. So how do you help people prevent hearing loss?

Dr. Jodi Sasaki-Miraglia has worked in audiology, hearing education, and healthcare. She sees the issue as similar to other hygiene and deserving of the same attention. This includes regular check-ups, protective measures, and increased awareness. She has joined the movement to help others preserve their hearing and explains the best ways to do so. Dr. Mark Syms invites Dr. Jodi Sasaki-Miraglia, the Director of Professional Education for Widex, on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast to talk about what hearing hygiene looks like in practice. They discuss the current issues in hearing healthcare and the campaigns that have been started to counteract them. They also touch on Dr. Sasaki-Miraglia’s career and her perspective on hearing health.

With 29 years of experience in leadership, John R. Luna has excelled as an executive in electronics and medical industries. He has worked at a host of notable hearing technology companies, including iHear Medical, ReSound, and Sonic Innovations. He recently took the role of CEO at Nuheara which offers a self-help approach to hearing aids. Along with his executive positions, he has also done extensive consulting for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other leaders.

With several companies challenging the status quo of hearing aids, one newcomer to the scene is Nuheara, a company that brings a more personalized and self-reliant approach to their products. They provide greater connectivity and smarter technology to access a previously underexplored market of tech-savvy consumers. 

They are now led by John R. Luna, an accomplished leader who has worked for several hearing technology companies. He recently stepped into the role of CEO to help them expand their product. There’s a lot to know and learn about the new technology, and if anyone can explain the ins-and-outs, it’s him.

Dr. Mark Syms speaks with John R. Luna, the CEO of Nuheara, on this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast to go over the business and what makes them unique. They go over the products and how they plan on expanding their distribution before describing their key demographic and what the future holds for the company. Tune in to hear the rest for yourself!