Episode notes
What if communication isn’t about sound at all—but about connection, perception, and leadership? This episode will completely reframe how you think about language, inclusion, and human interaction. In this powerful episode of INsights & Straight Talk with Rodd Duff & Producer Barbie, Rodd Duff sits down with elite sign language interpreter Cole (Carla Braunstein), whose work has placed him alongside global leaders, presidents, and cultural icons. Yet, like the very nature of his role, his influence operates quietly—bridging worlds that rarely understand one another. This conversation goes far beyond deafness—it dives into communication as infrastructure, exploring how language shapes leadership, trust, and society itself. From the cognitive mechanics of real-time interpretation to the deeper meaning of Deaf culture as a complete and thriving identity, this episode uncovers a hidden layer of human connection that most people never see—but rely on every day.