In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, community activist Jonathan Ozek shares his hearing loss journey with me, beginning with his diagnosis at age three and his use of various hearing aids. Jonathan founded the Hear You Rise Foundation in 2023 to advocate for communication accessibility and resilience. He serves on the Massachusetts … Continue reading
In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I spotlight author and hearing loss community activist Mary Grace Whalen. Mary shares her journey with hearing loss, which began in childhood and worsened at age 32. She discusses her mixed hearing loss, autoimmune disorder otosclerosis, and her bilateral cochlear implants. Mary co-administers the Facebook group … Continue reading
Did you know that deafness doesn’t stop many of us from enjoying music? I am excited to welcome the newest guest on the Deafinitely Talking podcast, Jeremy Chow. Jeremy is the founder of Tactus, and he is on the cutting edge of making music accessible for all by designing wearable technology that translates music into … Continue reading
I am excited to announce that I will be signing copies of my new book, How I Hear: Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, on July 11 from 11AM-1:30PM at the Olathe Community Center, 1205 E Kansas City Road, Olathe, Kansas. I’ll be joining several other local authors who also will be signing their books. … Continue reading
In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I interview Janaki Zaremba, a meditation teacher with over 30 years of experience. Janaki talks about her journey with moderate hearing loss since childhood and how meditation helps her manage listening fatigue and stress. She regularly offers free guided meditations on her website https://janakimayazaremba.com/. In this … Continue reading
We are fortunate to live in the present time when it comes to being deaf or hard of hearing. There is growing awareness of inclusive communication strategies that are necessary in the workplace, healthcare, and educational settings. In this episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, Shanna Groves interviews Rachel Barber, founder of Moments 4 Living, … Continue reading
In the new documentary film, “Heard”, cinematographer and filmmaker Brian Ceci focuses the camera on five individuals, including himself, as they share their experience with hearing loss and deafness. Brian was inspired to create this film after finally embracing his lifelong hearing loss and after watching a similar film in the Spanish language. As a … Continue reading
I met RJ Thesman, the editor of my new book How I Hear, at a book signing event more than 15 years ago. We had much in common — attending the same church, growing up in Oklahoma, and both of us enjoying the art of writing since we were young girls. RJ defines her prolific … Continue reading
Thirteen years ago, my memoir Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom hit the bookshelves. It detailed the emotional and mental health impact of having hearing loss while raising my three children, during the first six years after diagnosis. In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I speak with Dr. Anne McIntosh, president of … Continue reading
“One person can make a difference. It takes many people to make a lasting difference.” These words are a personal and professional philosophy. By working together, we accomplish so much. I am honored to announce I have joined thousands of trailblazing professionals as part of Influential Women, an organization that amplifies women’s voices and inspires … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom 