In this episode of Angles with John Richmond, John sits down with Rebecca Witter, licensed audiologist and founder of Acoustic Designs by Rebecca, a Buffalo-based acoustic consulting firm helping businesses, restaurants, offices, and residential spaces finally address the sound problem everyone notices but no one talks about. What began as a career rooted in patient care and a lifelong friendship with a deaf childhood friend evolved into a business born from Covid, motherhood, and a light bulb moment: if she could not fix the places her patients were struggling in, why not fix the places themselves? Rebecca pulls back the curtain on hearing loss as a hidden health epidemic, explaining why the stigma around hearing aids keeps people suffering longer than they should, how untreated hearing loss is directly linked to cognitive decline, social isolation, and depression, and why the modern obsession with open, minimalist design is quietly making Buffalo a louder, more exhausting city. She breaks down the science of how sound damages the inner ear, what auditory fatigue actually is, and why the habits you form in your 20s and 30s will determine what your hearing looks like at 60. John and Rebecca also talk entrepreneurship, the courage it takes to go live on Instagram with a half-baked business plan and three young daughters at home, and what it looks like to build something in Buffalo that meets the standard this city deserves. They cover acoustic ecosystems in the workplace, why developers and designers are leaving sound as an afterthought, and how getting acoustics right during a build-out is dramatically easier and cheaper than going back to fix it later. Whether you are a business owner, a developer, a restaurateur, or someone who has ever left a loud dinner exhausted and wondered why, this episode will change how you think about every space you walk into. Enjoying the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share Angles with John Richmond with a friend. 🎧 New episodes every week. Visit www.richmondvona.com/angles-podcast/ for more 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @anglesjohnrichmond @johnrichmondlaw @richmondvona 🎥 Follow us on TikTok: @richmondvona @johnrichmondesq 📺 Watch on YouTube: @angleswithjohnrichmond Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576886611238 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the guest and host are their own and do not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Angles Podcast does not endorse any specific health claims, products, services, or treatments mentioned in this episode. Listeners should consult qualified professionals for advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
