Welcome to the Hear Here Podcast!

We are based out of the Archie’s Cochlear Implant Lab at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. The goal of this podcast is to explore, discuss and learn about new ideas that may help people use devices like cochlear implants to hear.

Season #1 Trailer

Trailer Transcript

#1 Binaural Hearing: The Where and Why with Dr. Ruth Litovsky

Dr. Ruth Litovsky, Chair and Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, is our guest for the first ever episode of the Hear Here Podcast. She shares her thoughts on binaural hearing, bilateral cochlear implantation, and the importance of mentorship and sharing ideas. 

Links:

Dr. Ruth Litovsky’s Profile

Dr. Ruth Litovsky – Binaural Hearing and Speech Lab 

S1E1 Transcript

#2 Hearing Lessons from an Engineer with Dr. Deniz Başkent

Dr. Deniz Başkent, Professor at Groningen University tells us why she has the perfect name for hearing research, why communication is intriguing to study, and how robots became part of her team. 

Links:

Dr. Deniz Baskent – dB SPL Lab 

S1E2 Transcript

#3: Electro-acoustic Hearing: An Odd Combination that Works with Dr. René Gifford

Dr. René Gifford, Audiologist and Professor at Vanderbilt University speaks about how she was drawn into becoming an audiologist and scientist and the benefits of using acoustic hearing with electrical input from a cochlear implant. 

Links:

Dr. René Gifford’s Profile 

S1E3 Transcript

#4: Cochlear Implants: An Expert-insider’s View with Dr. Lina Reiss

Dr. Lina Reiss, Associate Professor at the Oregon Health and Science University, explains that pitch judgments can change with cochlear implant use and gives her first-hand account of learning to listen through a cochlear implant.  

Links:

Dr. Lina Reiss’s Profile 

S1E4 Transcript

#5: Hearing in all Corners of the Globe with Dr. Viji Easwar

Dr. Viji Easwar, a hearing scientist and pediatric audiologist at the National Acoustics Laboratories, outlines her global search to understand and monitor hearing in infants who receive hearing aids and cochlear implants.  

Dr. Viji Easwar’s Profile

S1E5 Transcript

Season #2 Trailer

Season 2 Trailer Transcript

#1: Cochlear Implants from the start with Dr. Monita Chatterjee

Dr. Monita Chatterjee, Senior Scientist and Director of the Auditory Prostheses and Perception Lab, Boys Town National Research Hospital, talks about her journey from electrical engineering to neuroscience;, how cochlear implants work; why it’s important to hear emotion in speech; and leadership through the hearing community for Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) network. 

Dr. Monita Chatterjee’s Profile 

Auditory Prostheses and Perception Laboratory 

S2E1 Transcript

#2: Behind the Scenes of the Hear Here Podcast with Sofia Olaizola and Maria Khan

Sofia Olaizola and Maria Khan, the students behind Hear Here talk about how they got involved in cochlear implant research, why audiology is important to them and what it’s like to run the Hear Here Podcast.

S2E2 Transcript

#3: Insights from Early Career Hearing Researchers with Dr. Hannah Stewart and Dr. Carly Anderson

Dr. Hannah Stewart is a pediatric, cognitive auditory neuroscientist at Lancaster University and Dr. Carly Anderson is a Sir Henry Welcome Postdoctoral Research fellow at the University College London. The pair talk about life as early career researchers; research communication and their own podcast, Unscientific;  as well as the importance of  peer support in academia.  

Dr. Hannah Stewart’s Profile 

Dr. Carly Anderson’s Profile  

S2E3 Transcript

Season 3 Description

We are focusing on the lives and experiences of women who have professional roles related to the care of people with hearing loss. What’s a typical day in their lives? What motivates their work? What impacts are they making?

#1: A Unique Perspective to the Field of Medicine with Audiologist-Otolaryngologist Dr. Renee Michelle Banakis-Hartl

In the first episode of season 3, May Wang joins Dr. Renee Michelle Banakis Hartl, an otolaryngologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Banakis Hartl sheds light on the pivotal moments that influenced her unique career journey, starting with her earlier experiences that inspired her to study speech-language pathology in university and become an audiologist, followed by her decision to pursue a career in medicine as an otolaryngologist. Dr. Banakis Hartl shares some of the highlights and challenges she encountered during the career transition, and also provides insightful advice to aspiring audiology and medical students.

S3E1 Transcript

#2: Exploring the Student World of Audiology with Masters-PhD Student Danielle DiFabio

In the second episode, we are exploring the what is it like to study Audiology. Maria Khan is joined by Danielle DiFabio, a Combined MClSc-PhD student in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorder at Western University. Danielle discusses her PhD thesis, developing a clinical framework to enhance caregiver participation in family-centered virtual care, looking at the methodology, results so far, and future goals. She also shares how she finds the clinical portion of the program so far and what she does to balance a Masters and PhD.

S3E2 Transcript

#3: From Patient to Audiologist: A Thoughtful Discussion with Dana Song

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of a paediatric audiologist who was once a patient herself. Sofia Olaizola sits down with Dana Song, audiologist, who offers a unique perspective on how her personal experiences shaped her career, discusses common concerns about wearing hearing devices, and reflects on how her shared experiences with families foster deep connections and trust. She shares what a day in the life of an audiologist looks like in a paediatric hospital and how each day varies with the diverse range of cases seen in children with hearing loss.

S3E3 Transcript

#4: Behind the Scenes in the World of Sales in the Hearing Loss Industry

In this episode, Annika Gasee interviews Angela Bottley, a clinical sales manager related to electroneurophysiology from Vivosonic. Angela discusses the technical aspect of the program that is used to diagnose hearing loss, which consists of an infant screening program and the recording responses from babies. Additionally, we learn about the work she does with Audiologists and customers worldwide to provide support for the products that she sells to them from Vivosonic. She shares her unique career path along with how she anticipates her career and products will change overtime with AI.

S3E4 Transcript

#5: Early Intervention and Beyond: Connecting with childhood Speech Language Pathologist from India

In this final but heartwarming episode of season 3 of the Hear Here Podvcast, Nimrat Chani connects with her former Speech Language Pathologist from India, Dr. Gurinder Kaur. She explores and explains the unique challenges and triumphs in the field of speech therapy across cultural backgrounds. Dr.Kaur shares her journey from early career inspiration about 30 years ago to creating memorable moments working with young patients, including working with Nimrat Chani. Together they discuss the differences in healthcare systems and resources between India and Canada, how it evolves on technology, community support and economic factors shapes the practice of speech therapy. This episode dives in heartfelt conversation about power of speech therapy and resilience required to innovate in low resources settings, and the impact on early childhood interventions.

S3E5 Transcript

Season 4 Description

We are turning the microphones inward to our Hear Here Podcast team to hear their very valuable insights and thoughts!

Season 4 Trailer

Welcome to the season 4 of the Hear Here Podcast! We are turning the microphones inward to our Hear Here Podcast team to hear their very valuable insights and thoughts! Here are some of the best highlights from the season and a little sneak peak to an amazing season! Produced by Hanne Bartels. Music composed and performed by ⁠Dr. Blake Papsin

Season 4 Trailer Transcript

Season 4 Introduction

In previous seasons of the Hear Here Podcast, we had conversations with ENT surgeons, audiologists and researchers to understand the science behind hearing loss. In season 4, our listeners can expect something a little bit different and very exciting! Our host, Hanne Bartels, PhD Candidate in the Archie’s Cochlear Implant Lab chats with Dr. Karen Gordon, Senior Scientist and Director of Research of Archie’s Cochlear Implant Lab at the at the Hospital for Sick Children, to learn more about the inspiration of season 4, lived experiences of our team and Hanne delves into her own PhD research! Produced by Hanne Bartels. Music composed and performed by ⁠Dr. Blake Papsin

Season 4 Introduction Transcript

#1: The Invisible Exhaustion: Let’s Talk Hearing Fatigue

In this episode, members of our team share their personal experiences living with hearing fatigue. Hearing fatigue is the mental and physical exhaustion that can come from the simple act of listening. From the constant effort to follow conversations to the toll it takes by the end of the day, we unpack what hearing fatigue feels like and why it happens. Through honest conversation, we explore how it impacts daily life, how we cope, and what we wish others understood. Produced by Sofia Olaizola & Maryam Othman. Music composed and performed by ⁠Dr. Blake Papsin

S4E1 Transcript

#2: Turn Up the Volume Please: Hearing Devices in Elementary School

In this episode, members of the Hear Here Podcast share their diverse personal experiences on the use of assistive hearing devices, such as the FM system, and other accommodations and strategies they have found effective in improving the learning experience as they navigated the classroom environment as young children. Throughout the conversation, members shed light on the benefits and limitations of various hearing technologies and recall childhood memories of their itinerant teacher as well as other forms of support that have made a lasting impact on their growth. Produced by May Wang & Maria Khan. Music composed and performed by ⁠⁠Dr. Blake Papsin⁠

S4E2 Transcript

#3 Part 1: Fitting In While Tuning Out: Hearing Loss in High School

In this episode, members of the Hear Here Podcast dive into the high school experience. The team chats about supports in the classroom and how, and why their preferences changed from their days in elementary school. The team shares their experiences of independence and how self-advocacy about their hearing loss played a role as they navigate high school. We continue this riveting conversation in part 2! Produced by Maria Khan. Music composed and performed by ⁠⁠Dr. Blake Papsin⁠

S4E3 Transcript

#3 Part 2: Fitting In While Tuning Out: Hearing Loss in High School

Picking up from part 1, members of the Hear Here Podcast continue the conversation about high school. The team chats about their experiences with technological support such as FM systems, both the easy and the challenging. They also look back to how virtual schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their social lives and academics. To end off the second half of episode 3, the team share pivotal experiences in high school that made an impact on their identities as people who live with hearing loss. Produced by Maria Khan. Music composed and performed by ⁠⁠Dr. Blake Papsin⁠

S4E3 Transcript

#4: Hearing Loss at Home and in the World: Daily Realities

In this final episode of season 4, members of the Hear Here Podcast take a heartfelt walk down memory lane, reflecting on early childhood experiences and the initial stages of recognizing or being diagnosed with hearing loss. As the members share their stories, they express the social and emotional impact of growing up with hearing loss and how their families best supported them. Finally, the members reflect on self-advocacy, navigating social interactions and relationships, and the broader impact of hearing loss on childhood development. Produced by Annika Gasee. Music composed and performed by ⁠⁠Dr. Blake Papsin⁠

S4E4 Transcript