empowEar Audiology

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! After an incredible journey with the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast, I’m sharing a brief and personal update. In this episode, I reflect on the conversations, connections, and experiences that have shaped this space—from clinicians and advocates to families and individuals with lived experience. Along the way, this podcast has also been part of my o...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! When hearing loss enters a family with no history, everything shifts. In this episode of the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast, Dr. Carrie Spangler sits down with Makaela, a mom of three boys — two of whom are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. One son has bilateral cochlear implants, and the other wears bilateral hearing aids. She shares what diagnosis felt li...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! What does it really mean to live with single-sided deafness? In this episode of the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast, I sit down with a mom and her teen daughter to share their family’s journey with single-sided deafness (SSD) — from diagnosis and daily listening challenges to the decision to pursue a cochlear implant and life beyond activation. Altho...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Carrie Spangler shares about her upcoming second cochlear implant as she reflects on resilience, bouncing forward and her CI marathon mantra. From the first magical sounds she heard years ago— Jingle Bells , her dog’s collar, a car turn signal—to the lessons learned along the way, Carrie explores what it means to b...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this special episode of the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast, host Dr. Carrie Spangler honors Educational Audiology Awareness Week 2025 with notable guests in the educational audiology field: Dr. Cheryl DeConde Johnson and Dr. Kristin Samuelson. Cheryl and Kristin share their professional journeys and the collective advocacy behind the Certificate...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Joining a professional organization is more than paying dues—it’s a powerful step toward building connections, influencing change, and amplifying your voice. In this episode, host Dr. Carrie Spangler sits down with Dr. Gina Hounam (Audiology Program Manager at Nationwide Children's in Ohio) and Dr. Maggie Kettler (Senior Clinical Director a...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this episode, I sit down with Cris Edwards, founder of SoQuiet, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with misophonia through their mission of offering advocacy, support, and resources for people who suffer from misophonia so that they may lead productive and serene lives. Cris shares his personal journey living with misophonia, wha...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Welcome to a milestone moment for the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast ! I’m Dr. Carrie Spangler—deaf/hard of hearing audiologist and certified professional coach—and today marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter. After 4.5 amazing years of partnership with 3C Digital Media Network, I’m stepping into the world of independent podcasting. I reflect o...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this episode of the EmpowEAR Audiology Podcast, meet author Tiffany Yu as we discuss her newly published book, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. Tiffany is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur, disability advocate, and content creator. She is the founder and CEO of Diversability, a social enterprise dedicated to elevating disability pride an...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this insightful episode of empowEAR Audiology,  I am joined by two experts in vestibular and balance care. Dr. Julie Honaker and Dr. Violette Lavender shed light on the complexities of vestibular disorders in children and adults. Representing care across the lifespan, they discuss the impact of these conditions on daily life, advancements in...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this episode of the empowEAR Audiology Podcast, we explore the importance of Educational Audiology Awareness Week with guests Dr. Kristin Jolkowski and Dr. Tori Ashton of the Educational Audiology Association, who highlights the essential role of school hearing screenings. They discuss how early identification of hearing loss impacts students...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Dr. Matthew Barker is the Founder and Director of Acoustic Pioneer. With a Doctorate from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Barker has dedicated his career to advancing the field of audiology, particularly in the area of auditory processing. Part 2 of this podcast series focuses in on what to do once a child has been identified w...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matthew Barker, Founder and Director of Acoustic Pioneer, and a renowned Audiologist with a specialization in auditory processing. Dr. Barker completed his Doctorate at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2004, where he focused on testing auditory processing and its crucial role in language devel...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Join me for a repeat guest, Dr. Don Goldberg, CCC-SLP/A, FAAA, LSLS Cert. AVT, as we dive into the newly released Test of Auditory Functioning which is a criterion-based test for toddlers through school-age children who are deaf or hard of hearing available from Bluetree Publishing.  This episode will explore the who, what, why, and where behind...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Join me for an interview with the Deaf Queen Boss, Kellina Powell! Kellina is an entrepreneur, coach and author of the book “Everyday I am Just Deaf”. Kellina loves to help people with their personal growth and educate others about the deaf community. At the age of 4 she lost her hearing in both ears. She did not let anything stop her from what...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Today, we're joined by Gil Kaminski, co-founder of Humelan, a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to guiding individuals through hearing health and wellness.  Humelan offers a person-centered approach, community support, and an AI companion app for hearing health. Inspired to address the challenges faced by those with hearing loss, Humelan...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Extraordinary Dr. Jasmine Simmons is inspiring all of empowEAR’s listeners on today’s podcast.  Dr. Jasmine is a deafblind audiologist and author who just published the first book in her Usher Syndrome Series called Extraordinary Jordyn and her Bionic Ears.  On this podcast you will hear how Dr. Jasmine’s personal and professional experiences ca...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Join me with Dr. Andrea Warner-Czyz for a conversation about the role of social skills and emotional regulation as it relates to children and adolescents who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Dr. Warner-Czyz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Have you ever wanted to take your career to a new level?  Do you feel stuck in your personal and professional life?  Take a listen to the latest episode of empowEAR Audiology with guest Dr. Kari Morgenstein.  Kari is the co-founder of dB Coaching group which focuses on championing and supporting healthcare professionals so they can thrive in the...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! The 3 A’s of Health Literacy - Accurate, Accessible, and Actionable.  Today’s episode with Sydney Bassard (The ListeningSLP) takes a deeper dive into the importance of health literacy from a family and professional perspective. Sydney is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist.  She received her B.S. in Public Health and her Masters in Spe...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Join me as I talk with Valli Gideons who is an author, speaker, and mother of two teens who were born with hearing loss.  Valli is a repeat guest (go back to episode 29 and hear more of her story).  In this episode, we chat about her book “Through the Fog: Navigating Life’s Challenges While Raising Kids with Hearing Loss.  Valli shares the parts...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Google Podcasts Click here for a transcript of the episode Get excited about the first annual Educational Audiology Awareness Week!  empowEAR Audiology and EAA have teamed up to kick off the week with an overview podcast!!  On today’s episode Dr. Tori Ashton and Dr. Kathi Riley, leadership fro...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Did you know that one of the most significant predictors of receptive and expressive language for children who use cochlear implants was the age at which they achieved full-time use of their devices?  Achieving full-time use can be a challenge.  Join Dr. Erika Gagnon, Au. D., and Erin Thompson, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVT as we take a deeper di...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Google Podcasts Click here for a transcript of the episode Take a listen to the latest empowEAR Audiology episode with Dr. Jace Wolfe, Ph. D. who is the Senior Vice President of Innovation at the Oberkotter Foundation and Hearing First.  This conversation will highlight the exciting audiology-...

Let's continue the conversation- send me a text! Join me for a conversation with Dr. Sarah Sydlowski as we dig deeper into why cochlear implants are NOT the last resort for patients with the expanding criteria. In this conversation, we discuss the current referral guideline and walk through a case study to help dispel some of the common misconceptions about referrals.  Dr. Sarah Sydlowski, AuD...