243 - Rally Caps: How a Baseball Movie is Shifting Perspectives on Hearing Loss

Rally Caps is not just another baseball movie—it's a powerful story about overcoming adversity, friendship, and authentic representation of hearing loss. In this episode, Shari Eberts speaks with Jodi Cutler, co-author of the book that inspired the film, and Lee Cipolla, the film’s director. Rally Caps follows Jordy, a young baseball player with cochlear implants, and Lucas, his teammate and mentor who also has hearing loss. Together, they navigate the challenges of growing up, finding confidence, and bonding over their love of baseball. With support from Phonak and Advanced Bionics, the film integrates real hearing technology naturally into the storyline, offering a true-to-life portrayal of hearing loss in mainstream media. Cutler shares how her son’s journey with hearing loss motivated her to create characters young audiences could relate to. Cipolla discusses the challenges of casting actors with real-life hearing loss, including Colton and Noelle Pride, who bring the characters to life with authenticity. Now streaming on Amazon and Apple TV, Rally Caps is breaking down stigma and sparking conversations, normalizing the experience of hearing loss on and off the screen. Learn more about the Rally Caps movie here: https://rallycapsthemovie.com/ Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest episodes each week, and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter): https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing/ https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing