--:-- Mick Hunt: Welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. I'm your host, Mick Hunt, and I'm so excited to have the CEO of Starkey, the number one wearable hearing technology device in the world, joining me today. But more importantly, we're going to talk about his journey from intern to CEO. There's leadership lessons, there's life lessons, there's even love lessons. And stay through the end, because we're going to talk about what happens when we sit down with our favorite publicist and Damon John for dinner. Who's going to pick up the check first? Ladies and gentlemen, please sit down and welcome my good friend, my guy, Mr. Brandon Swalich.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Thank you, Mick.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today we're talking to the man, the myth and the legend. He's the leader who turned hearing aids into health tech statements. The executive who spent 30 years in every corner of his industry pushing innovation with heart and AI. He's focused on customers, caring and scientific excellence. He's bold. He's caring. He's relentless. He is my friend. He is Mr. Brandon. Solowitz. Brandon, how are you doing today, brother?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: I'm doing good, Bick. And yourself?
--:-- Mick Hunt: Dude, I am doing amazing. I'm honored that we can spend some time together. Glad that we can have this conversation, man. I was telling you, Zach, our mutual publicist, our good friend, Damon John, speaks so highly of you. So when I got the call that you were going to be on, I froze for a moment because I was like, I get the man, the myth, the legend. So I'm honored to be here with you, brother.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, thank you. And yeah, those two great friends and business guys. And, you know, they always level me up. I get something out of them. I think that's the point of relationships like this is we get to learn and talk to each other.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So, Brandon, man, I love starting the conversation with your because. That thing that's deeper than your why, your true purpose. And with all of the amazing things that you're doing in healthcare and tech and hearing aids, what's your because? Why do you continue to do and move the needle the way that you do?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, for myself, I like to push myself. I'm from ever since as far back as I can remember. You know, my mother tells a story of I was five or six and we're at Disneyland and it's a big deal. And, you know, doing all the rides. And I'm asking, well, what are we doing tomorrow? What are we doing tomorrow? And to the point of, you know, my whole life, I've kind of always been looking up and out. And, you know, whether it's ideas or whatever it might have been in school, a sport, work, you know, I've always been challenged or thought, oh, you know, no, you can't do that. You can't do that. Or, you know, I want to put you in the box. And I'm always looking up and out. And I don't like to be confined to a box because I like to look for the opportunities of what could be. So I guess by becauses, I'm always challenging the status quo because I've been told I can't do something or it won't work. So I like to try it.
--:-- Mick Hunt: That's amazing, man. And speaking of challenging the status quo, here's what I love about what you do. And here's what I've learned about you through so many people. I think there's a big miss. There's a myth. There's a stigma on hearing loss and most people seek help when they feel it's too late, right? Like with your eyes, you can tell when your eyes are getting a little worse, but with hearing, you just turn the volume up a little bit, right? But people aren't checking their hearing as much as they should or could. So I'd love for you to talk to everyone about the importance of just getting those tests and how they can get those tests.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Yeah, I think with hearing loss, us and hearing aids, it comes the age old, decades old stigma, right? It's what's the first thing you think of? Well, I'm old. You know, no, it's, it's, you know, that has been a stereotype for decades, but today's technology is cool. I mean, we're doing things in, in, with hearing aids, you know, I have mine on right now and, you know, you probably couldn't tell here and you could barely tell if you're in person, but we have to make complex simple to help people with their everyday life. We change people's lives. So with a hearing loss, people don't really, it doesn't resonate that they're missing out until, you know, they have their hearing checked. And then yes, you know, I do have a hearing loss, whether it's noise induced, because today's generation, I think one in six teenagers have a noise induced hearing loss from music, headsets, gaming. And, you know, you have to have hearing to stay connected to your job and your family. Right. So getting a test, you know, nobody likes the word test. I know I didn't in school either, but it's really an evaluation, just kind of quick where you're at. And then there's, you know, what we're doing with technology is bringing your world and life into this product where it connects. Yes, it helps you hear noisy situations, but it also connects with your phone, your TV. We have language translation. You know, we're doing a lot of cool things. With this technology. So it's not the hearing aids or hearing technology of 20 years ago. It's the hearing aid of what's next.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Totally agree. And I think, you know, I'll go back to when I was in school and you would see people, whether they're students, adults or whatever, with the bulky hearing aid. And I think, and my uncle, I have an uncle who has hearing loss. And And I remember him talking about just the lack of confidence that he would have in public because he'd have this big, bulky hearing aid. And so because I knew he needed it, you know, there were times when we would be out in public and he wouldn't put it on. Right. And I knew because he wanted to have a certain confidence, a certain swagger in public that he felt like he couldn't have if he wore that. And that's the stereotype because it was probably whistling, too. Right. It would be that. And that's the stereotype that, you know, they do it in the movies and shows and the media where they have these old pictures of hearing aids that they use even today. And it doesn't represent what we're doing at Starkey because we're setting, you know, the speed of innovation in our industry and using AI and other technologies. And, you know, the ear is the new wrist. You know, we have health features and all sorts of things that can help people have the edge. I'll say gain the edge of their day in their work, family, whatever it might be.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Yeah. And Brandon, you know, again, when I talk to people about you, whether it's Zach, whether it's Damon or people on their teams, one word always comes back. And that's caring. Right. And I think the culture that you've created at Starkey, while, yes, innovation and technology is at the forefront. I also think the most important thing about your culture is that you show genuine care. When and how did you develop that when did you know that that was you that like one you legitimately care about humans but then two you have this innate ability to make people feel so special when they're around you again I could tell them 10 people and all 10 are going to tell me that about Brandon. Well, I think I think you know you're you have a caring attitude or you don't. Right. And, and I, for myself, I, you know, I, I feel I've had that most of my life. I like being on teams and building teams and I like, you know, it gives me satisfaction to help somebody out to see that smile. And, you know, I've done that most of my life on little things where the help, helping the neighbor shovel their sidewalk or blow the yard, you know, and on. And, and at Starkey I really started coming into that where you know my first year was 94 I was just an intern and I got responsibility from Southern Illinois small coal mining town just a Midwest kid And it was going to go my second year of college here And I got the intern job and I really liked it. I had responsibility. I was around people. I got to be a part of a team and then just helping out. And that's my mindset even today is just helping. What can I do to help my teams and the company do better? And it's not always about the financial reward. We all understand where that comes into play, but is it worth doing? And the culture is huge in business. And it's been big for me in building high-performing teams because you have to hire caring attitudes, develop the talent. You can't develop caring attitudes as easily as you can develop the talent.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Yeah. Yeah. You know, Brandon, I liken that to, I'm a sports nut, right? And so you got to grow up in Starkey. So like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant got to grow up in the Lakers. That's the only organization that they ever knew. So part of that culture became them and then they got to enhance the culture. So for you, how has growing up in Starkey and doing all the jobs that you've done from repair to service to everything. How has that shaped your philosophy about leadership, innovation, and the products that you're designing now?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: You're only going to be as good as the people you surround yourself with. And at Starkey, it wasn't always perfect because I had certain jobs, whether it was in inside sales or in customer service or, you know, throughout my 31 years here, you know, there was, I'll say dysfunction and, and the, the culture wasn't as set because of, you know, a different, I'll say administration per se at the time, but the founding, the owner and founder of Starkey and who's still here and my mentor, he's been unwavering in what the values and why, because he grew up in the industry as well. He's an American success story, started Starkey 1967 basement of his home. And, you know, it always starts with caring. And for those in clinics today, helping people with our products and and their hearing, you have to care about the individual. You have to care that because it's it's personalized. It's unique. It's not one size fits all. So, you know, at Starkey, you know, I've seen what's what hasn't worked and I've seen what's worked. And then so I just grabbed and really just really got a hold of the caring, our dedication, fearless, and then brought the culture to the forefront because you can start to see culture or feel it, but you can't grab it. And it has to start with those attitudes and the people that you bring in and work as one team, one vision, one team, one star. That's my approach. And I'm CEO of the company. and I view this pyramid, you know, my own personal approach to leadership is I invert the pyramid. I'm not at the top. I'm here to help everybody here be successful and understand the work that they do matters. And we do change people's lives. And what can I do to help? Right. And it kind of goes back to my because of wanting to help people and see that satisfaction, whether it's helping the team be successful or seeing a patient smile because we just reconnected them to their life.
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--:-- Mick Hunt: Man, and that's where I want to go next. All the things that you're doing for humans, for society. And I'm going to say leading the charge with innovation, technology, and AI. And I think a lot of times people like to call everything one thing, right? AI has been a buzzword. And I'm like, there's a difference between technology, robotics, and AI, but it's great that you're innovating, right? But for you, man, like, You literally are the leader in innovation for what's going on. And I saw a couple of weeks ago a post or a video on translating. So being able to have a conversation with someone who doesn't even speak the same language as you, man. I'm like, the world is coming so far so fast. Talk to us about the innovation that you're doing with Starkey. Let's go into the products a little bit.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: You know, you know, what we're doing is really starting back in 2018. I wanted to in an industry where it would be easy to have incremental change and improvements. You know, we're a privately held company, which is an advantage because we can move fast. We're agile. Our other companies are for other companies, public companies. And I want to invest in AI. We started there and then also take the hearing aid, that stereotype, from a single purpose device to a multipurpose. So the ears, the new wrist. So we look at three buckets, the sound quality, you know, the actual performance of the hearing aid for the patient. We look at health and wellness features, and then we have personal assistant. So those are three areas that we put features into the product that helps somebody, you know, it can track steps. We have fall detection because we have a patient-based demographic that prone to falls. And if they fall, the hearing aid will send a text message up to three people in the family that indicates a fall and they could be helped. And I've had many stories where we've saved people's lives. And then the personal assistant, you know, basically, as you mentioned, the language translation, you have to start somewhere. And the goal is, you know, that instant instantaneous translation where I'm talking to somebody over in Germany. I'm hearing it in English or whatever it might be. And we have 78 languages that we can translate. I can go on and on. So I get sum it up like this. Think of Iron Man and Jarvis. You know, that's that's kind of my son growing up when he's growing up, watched all the Marvel movies, of course. And it going to be your personal assistant It like that Jarvis in your ear that helping you get through out the day as you need it You know it personalized and customized to the patient needs So it not just a product that amplifying sound It's a mini computer that's thinking and helping you the best that it can each and every minute of the day.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Yeah. And I want to talk a little bit about the quality of product that you put out, because, again, I think it's second to none. Just from users that I know that use your products. I want to talk about sound quality from your hearing aids and from your tech. Because I got to use one and I was like, holy crap. I remember what my uncle sounded like from the 80s, right? And I think a lot of folks, while yes, some things have improved, they probably haven't improved, like Starkey has improved. Talk to the viewers and listeners just about the quality of sound that they can expect using your product.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, it's technology, so intelligent, it's superhuman. And, you know, it's sound quality where, you know, for me, if I'm talking to you, it's analyzing what's going on behind me or to the side. And I can, if I stop and think, I can understand what's going on, you know, really 360 degrees around me. And hearing aids haven't been able to process that clearly or with that much sound quality, because you might hear a noise that's overcoming our conversation, the hearing aid's picking it up, and I can't quite make it out. So what we're doing is analyzing the products, our products analyze the sound, where they're coming from, but also knows what type of hearing loss and how it's personally programmed for that patient. So it's specifically, I'll say, optimizing and performing the best it can be for what I need. And then I'll say a little bit more because it's a superpower. Even if you have a mild hearing loss or no hearing loss, it's going to help you. Damon uses it for streaming and other activities. And it feels that it gives him a little bit of an edge in meetings and such because you could hear more clearly. And again, it gives you a little boost.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Yeah. And I think that's vitally important because, again, I have friends that use it and they talk about the focus and clarity that they have now. Right. Being able to almost lower senses a little bit because they don't have to strain to hear. And so now they can almost have better focus, better clarity because they're relaxed. Talk to us a little bit about why that's so powerful.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, we have to exercise our brain. You know, if it doesn't matter how old we are, you know, if you have a hearing loss, your brain, you're starting to miss things. You're starting to miss sounds and you're starting to, you know, you're hearing health of the five senses. Hearing is one of the most important because it keeps you connected. I mean, it's your primary sense. It keeps you connected. If we're having this conversation, I have to be able to hear you or if I'm out driving or, you know, go down the list. And so what we're doing is, you know, people with hearing loss, they start to draw inward and then loneliness. You know, there's recent studies, early set of dementia, Alzheimer's, because you're not connected. Your brain's not functioning to the optimal performance. So what we do is we analyze and understand again with the hearing loss. We keep that brain healthy. We keep it, I'll say exercise it per se, because we want people to stay connected and not be lonely, not draw inward, not miss out on things where, you know, it's, it's, you think about loneliness and how that can be the onset of depression. So there's so many different things that we know what hearing loss causes. So how can we bring solutions to keep the brain and the, the, the person as active as possible?
--:-- Mick Hunt: I love that, dude. I love that for the, the person that's listening or watching right now, that's like, yeah, I think I have some hearing loss, but I don't know if it's dramatic enough to go reach out to Starkey or anyone else for that matter, but I'm always going to recommend Starkey. But for the viewer listener that's paying attention and they're like, I might, what are some signs, some symptoms, and then what are some immediate things they can go do? Well, signs or symptoms usually maybe starts with a spouse or significant other if you're not catching everything. Also, it sounds a little hokey, but you're turning the TV up too loud or you're listening to everything a little bit louder volume than that needs to be. Because you really don't know it unless somebody else points it out. And then once you regain some of that hearing, you're hearing sounds that you would, whether it's leaves or a lawnmower, I mean, things that you took for granted every day and you're just reconnected. I think you go to Starkey.com, S-T-A-R-K-E-Y, and just check out the technology. Because the two words, hearing aids, puts a negative connotation in people's minds, but we're doing cool things. And it's really about how you can have an extra, like with people have their Apple Watches and other devices, this is wearable tech that helps them outperform even the normal performance of hearing or whatever it might be that our products can do for the person.
--:-- Mick Hunt: All right. So now I'm asking the tough question, Brandon. If you think that you're a significant other, and I'm not saying me, if you think that you have someone close to you who may be experiencing hearing loss, how do you bring that up to them? I know you're not a psychologist, right? But how do you help others where it's like, okay, maybe we should do something or have a conversation? Because I think that also could be harder is when you know someone may be experiencing hearing loss. And I don't even mean dramatic, but enough to where it's like you're starting to see it.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Count the number of and watch throughout the day and that's the number one sign right there. But no, the relationship between your significant other or spouse, that'll kind of, it'll be known. But then the debate could ensue that it's selective hearing and I've heard it all. But it's really, it's got to be a moment where it's your kids, your grandkids or work. I mean, really when it starts to end, you know, hearing loss is happening right now in a much younger age. And we're really looking at, you know, whether it's the generation Z with all the music and the loud noise and the gaming. And then you look at the, you know, Gen X where, you know, you have the largest generation of hearing loss coming into that area where it's going to affect them at their work. Or with a family, whatever it might be. And there's got to be that moment and you'll just know it. But also what we're doing is bringing other features that helps them outside of hearing to give them that, you know, as I say that, I call it that superpower throughout the day that gives you that edge in life.
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--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, we continue to improve the sound and make, you know, we're on our eighth generation of AI development. Like I said, for our industry, we're setting the pace of innovation like no other. And if you look ahead, it's going to be connectivity. I mean, continue doing and strengthening, enhancing what we're doing now. But as technology becomes available, you know, examples. Yes, the phone, you're being connected to the phone, TV. There's going to be features. Features, think about we're talking or you have a, you know, one of your family members is wearing a product because they have a hearing loss, but the product can also detect their voice fluctuation throughout the day. You know, are you battling depression or, you know, I mean, be able to pick up on all types of, I'll say, human emotions from our sensors, heart rate, blood oxygen. Also then getting more enhancement on the personal assistant side of, you know, using the product, you know, what's the temperature outside, you know, just instantaneously knowing what's going on or asking it to be, you know, as you said, your personal assistant from a dictionary, glossary, your Google, you name it. So, you know, for me, the technology and what we're doing, you know, continues to advance. We're staying at the forefront, but again, it's getting people to open up and which we are on wearing hearing aids and understanding that it's not even, you know, a hearing aid of 10 years ago. I mean, this is high, high tech, wearable tech technology that does much more than what you think. And from a sound clarity standpoint, even if you have a mild hearing loss or no hearing loss, it's going to give you that boost in hearing.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Yeah, you know, I'm becoming a fan and and again I I would be on the side of the fence that says more people have hearing loss than they realize again even if it's minimal those those boosts man when you talk about for me just you hit on the brain waves and the brain activity I think for me when I when I test them and put them on it's just like okay I'm relaxed right like I don't have to strain, even though I don't think I'm straining. But as a podcaster and other things I'm doing in business, I have headphones. I travel all the time. Right. So I'm on planes and it's like, man, I need to shut the world off for a little bit. What do I do? I put on headphones and the volumes up so I don't hear anything else but me. Right. And I just applaud you for what you're doing and knowing that all the big things that you have coming up. And I know that there's some some potential. I don't know if they're integrations or conversations with some of the big names out there that you're continuing to have as it relates to AI and what we're doing. I just thank you for all the cool things you're doing.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Well, it goes back to what I why I love what I do, and that's helping people. And it's getting those smiles as you see the work that we do connects people and helps them throughout the day in their work and life. And, you know, I appreciate you having me on so I could talk about, you know, the cool technology and really what hearing aids are, but where they're going. And really knowing that, you know, it's never, you don't never want to wait till it's too late on your hearing loss because you can't get it back. You know, at least stabilize or help get back to someone as much normal as possible. Because it's, there's a lot of cool things that come with it besides, you know, you know, the stereotype of old. Absolutely.
--:-- Mick Hunt: All right, Brandon, I'm going to get you out of here with my quick five. You ready? Rapid fire. We're just rolling.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Oh, I am.
--:-- Mick Hunt: All right. We're at dinner. You're at dinner. I'm not even I'm not. I can't sit at this table. You're at dinner. It's you. It's Zach Rosenfeld. It's Damon John. Who's picking up the tab? Oh, I am.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: No comment.
--:-- Mick Hunt: No comment. All right. What is your favorite sound in the world?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Oh, oh, oh. A baseball game at Wrigley Field.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Okay, okay. I'm getting that. I had because I'm going probably this weekend. But yeah, that's that and of course I can go down the voices but you know, if I think it relaxes something fun, that's just what popped in my head.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: No, I love that, man. I love that. Summer's past time. The best place you've ever traveled for inspiration?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Back home. My hometown. Because sometimes, you know, I travel a lot and there's a lot of great things I've done, but sometimes you got to get grounded. And I don't like to get too full of myself or get off path.
--:-- Mick Hunt: I love it. What's a tech gadget that's not Starkey that you use or love almost every day?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: Oh, I just almost blurted out my, well, my electric toothbrush, but it was just in my mind before we got on. But of course, an iPhone, who doesn't love that?
--:-- Mick Hunt: I love it. I love it. And again, you've been at Starkey since you were a growing adult, right? What's one lesson that you've always held dear through your journey at Starkey?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Amazing. Amazing. I love that, brother. I love that.
--:-- Mick Hunt: Well, Brandon, man, how can people find and follow you? And I know we've got Starkey.com. I'm going to make sure I'm putting that everywhere. But where do you want people to find and follow you?
--:-- Brandon Swalich: I'm, whether it's Instagram, Facebook, my website, Brandon Swalich, S-A-W-A-L-I-C-H.com or that handle at any of those social platforms.
--:-- Mick Hunt: I love it. I'll make sure I have everything there. Brandon, again, appreciate you so much for your time. I know how busy you are. Can't wait to see you in person really soon. And for everybody that's listening, please check out Starkey.com. Have these conversations with the people that you care about. If you are someone who has experienced hearing loss or you think you're experiencing hearing loss, definitely go look at some of the evaluations. And I can promise you personally, the products are amazing. The tech is so wearable and where they're going with the future, you're going to want to be a part of that. So, again, Brandon, thank you and thank all that you're doing at Starkey and your team and staff. Thank you, Megan.
--:-- Brandon Swalich: You got it.
--:-- Mick Hunt: And for the viewers and listeners, remember, your because is your superpower. Go Unleash It. You've been plugged into Mick Unplugged. Don't just listen. Take action. Rate and subscribe follow me on social and get the full experience at mithuntofficial.com. Keep building, keep leading, and most importantly, keep dominating.
