Episode 569 – Sensaphonics Founder Dr. Michael Santucci

In this week’s podcast episode, my guest is someone who’s spent the last 35 years on a mission to protect the hearing of musicians, audio pros, and music lovers alike.

Dr. Michael Santucci is an audiologist and the founder of Sensaphonics, a custom in-ear monitor company that’s become a go-to for top performers around the world.

What sets Michael apart is that he’s not just running a company—he’s an audiologist first. That means everything Sensaphonics does is grounded in science, with a focus on long-term hearing health.

From musicians and engineers to venue staff and even astronauts, Dr. Santucci has been a tireless advocate for protecting ears in the most demanding environments.

In fact, since 1999, Sensaphonics has provided custom hearing protection and communication solutions for every mission to the International Space Station, working closely with both NASA and SpaceX.

During the interview we talked about the major causes of hearing loss and tinnitus, the evolution of hearing protection, the importance of monitoring sound level, innovations in in-ear monitors, and much more.

I spoke with Michael from his office in Chicago.

You can find a video of this episode here.