Shows
AXSChat PodcastWhat if deaf people could have truly private phone calls?Communication is everything, but what if you couldn't make a private phone call? Tomer Aharoni, CEO and co-founder of Nagish, joins AXSChat to reveal how his team is revolutionizing accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.For millions with hearing loss, the simple act of making a phone call has historically required dependence on others—interpreters, captioners, or family members. Tomer shares how Nagish disrupts this paradigm with AI-powered technology that enables truly private conversations. The service provides real-time captioning for incoming and outgoing calls while allowing non-verbal users to type responses that are converted to sp...
2025-08-0528 min
Investing In AccessibilityWawability Summit: Panel Discussion on Design, Capital, and ImpactIn this dynamic episode of Investing in Accessibility, Host Kelvin Crosby introduces a special panel session from the Wawability 2025 Summit, celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Titled “Design, Capital, and Impact: The Future of Disability Startups,” the panel is moderated by Co-Host Chris Maher and features three visionary disability tech entrepreneurs:Tomer Aharoni – Co-founder & CEO of Nagish, building accessible communication tools for the deaf and hard of hearing.Michael Bervell – Co-founder & CEO of TestParty, an AI-powered platform that automates digital accessibility.Diego...
2025-08-0436 min
"The Buzz", by NagishHow to Maintain Your Hearing and Advocate for Your Health, with Barbara Kelley, HLAA Executive DirectorJoin us for an insightful conversation with Barbara Kelley, Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), as she discusses the groundbreaking journey to make over-the-counter hearing aids a reality and HLAA's ongoing advocacy work.0:00 - The path to OTC hearing aids legislation2:27 - Understanding different pathways to hearing care4:04 - Timeline from research to implementation5:15 - Transition from PSAPs to OTC hearing aids7:41 - Current market challenges and consumer education9:40 - The long game of advocacy12:54 - Daily challenges of self-advocacy15:31 - Healthcare barriers for people with hearing loss18:24 - Looking ahead: New administration impacts22:27...
2025-02-1243 min"The Buzz", by NagishFrom Marvel to PBS, Ira Rubenstein is Advocating for Accessibility Across the IndustryMeet Ira Rubenstein, PBS's Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, who's spent his career shaping how we consume digital content.
For the past 25 years, Ira has been navigating hearing loss in the corporate world at companies like Marvel, Sony Pictures, and Fox.. He started with hearing aids, and when his right ear went completely deaf in 2010, he became one of the first people to test cochlear implants for single-sided deafness in FDA trials.
Now with bilateral implants and serving as Vice Chair of the Hearing Loss Association of America, he's using his position to push for real change - from...
2024-12-0441 min"The Buzz", by NagishFrom Haptic Devices to AI: How One Mathematician Changed Speech RecognitionDimitri Kanevsky started his career researching at top academic institutions like the Weizmann Institute and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study. Now, as an AI Research Scientist at Google, he's developing practical solutions that support everyday challenges for those experiencing hearing loss.
In this episode, Dimitri shares how his personal experience with hearing loss informs his understanding of accessibility and his approach to designing technology.
His work demonstrates how accessibility drives innovation - solutions initially developed for people with specific needs often become valuable tools for everyone. From early haptic devices to modern AI-powered captioning, he's seen how technology evolves...
2024-11-2049 min"The Buzz", by NagishHow Linda Kozma-Spytek is Rethinking Public Spaces With Accessible SolutionsLinda Kozma-Spytek has spent more than 25 years working at the intersection of technology and accessibility, focusing on solutions for individuals with hearing loss.
With a distinguished career at Gallaudet University’s Technology Access Program, she has contributed to groundbreaking work in standards development, public policy, and research that has shaped how accessible technology is developed and implemented.
Recently, she transitioned to consulting, continuing her mission with the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and Gallaudet University’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on projects that redefine accessibility in public spaces.
In this episode, Linda delves into how accessible technology is e...
2024-11-1351 min"The Buzz", by NagishHow One Storyteller Found Her Voice After a Lifetime of Hiding Hearing LossThis episode of The Buzz features Patrice Poltzer, a former TODAY Show producer and founder of her own video storytelling company who spent years hiding her hearing loss while shining light on others' stories.
Patrice shared the pivotal moment when she stopped hiding and began sharing her own story, helping her connect with others who could relate. She explores how sharing her story empowered others to do the same, the importance of community in navigating hearing loss, how she uses tools to limit its impact, and her evolving definition of what success looks like.
Patrice also goes into the...
2024-10-3047 min"The Buzz", by NagishHow Hearing Loss Shaped Laura Taylor's Mission to Advocate for ChangeOn this episode of The Buzz , Laura Taylor, our Head of Engagement and Support at Nagish joins us. Laura brings over 15 years of experience as a trusted advisor and digital media executive. Now, she’s using her expertise to advocate for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
In this conversation, Laura opens up about her personal journey with hearing loss and how it changed her life, at work and beyond. We dive into the unique challenges late-deafened adults face, the common misconceptions around hearing loss, and the resilience it takes to navigate between the hearing and deaf communities.
2024-10-1643 min"The Buzz", by NagishThe Future of Assistive Technology: An In-Depth Q&A on Nagish's VisionIn this week’s special episode of The Buzz, we're doing things a bit differently. Instead of hosting a guest, I'm getting into the questions that have been flooding my inbox about Nagish, our mission, and my own journey in the world of accessible tech.
You asked, and I'm here to answer! I'll be sharing insights into the heart behind Nagish, the challenges and triumphs of building tech that breaks barriers, and how my personal experiences have shaped our vision for a more inclusive world.
Whether you're a long-time Nagish user, are just discovering us, or...
2024-09-2517 min"The Buzz", by NagishBrian Thomas on How Your Disability Can Make You a Better Leader & EntrepreneurAs the co-founder of Clutter, Brian Thomas took a simple idea and turned it into an industry-leading storage company, securing a whopping $300M in funding along the way. Now, Brian's channeling his wisdom into supporting up-and-coming founders as a Venture Partner at Resolute and an angel investor. Oh yeah, and he’s done all of this despite facing profound hearing loss.
This week, Brian and I sat down for a heart-to-heart about the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship, the world of venture capital, and the personal hurdles we all face along the way. As a founder myself, I was moved by...
2024-09-1749 min"The Buzz", by NagishNavigating the Workplace with Hearing Loss: Strategies from Pfizer's Christine AurigemmaIntroducing Christine Aurigemma, a leader in the world of disability inclusion and a powerful advocate for workplace equity. With a career spanning roles as a lab scientist, project manager, and now Senior Manager of Global Talent Solutions at Pfizer, Christine brings a unique and invaluable perspective to creating a more equitable and accessible workplace. Her journey, marked by both challenges and triumphs, offers vital insights for professionals navigating hearing loss in their careers.
In this episode of The Buzz, Christine shares her inspiring journey of living with hearing loss since the age of three...
2024-09-1143 min"The Buzz", by NagishDriving Accessibility Forward: Insights from Meryl Evans on Innovation & InclusivityMeryl Evans is a true leader in the world of accessibility and inclusive marketing. As a speaker, consultant, and CEO of meryl.net, she's been a fierce advocate for disability inclusion, challenging the notion that this is a “nice to have” rather than a “need to have”. With her unique perspective as a Deaf individual and her wealth of experience working with companies to improve their accessibility practices, Meryl brings a powerful and authentic voice to the conversation around inclusive design and marketing.
In this episode of The Buzz podcast by Nagish, I dove deep with Meryl, explorin...
2024-09-0449 min
Beyond Chronic Burnout: The Talk Show for Women & Helping Professionals163 - Breaking Barriers: How Nagish Is Transforming Accessibility and Burnout with Tomer Aharoni (PART 3)In Episode 163 of Beyond Chronic Burnout, we're closing out our three-part August series on "Tools & Resources to Use When You're in Burnout to Manage Your Energy" with a groundbreaking conversation.
Our guest today is Tomer Aharoni, the co-founder and CEO of Nagish, an innovative app that’s revolutionizing communication for individuals with hearing challenges by providing real-time captions for phone calls and in-person conversations—all while maintaining user privacy.
Join host Carole Jean Whittington as she delves into Tomer’s journey from being a software engineer at Bloomberg and resear...
2024-08-2840 min