Breaking Sound Barriers: The Future of Sound Technology

Summary

Living Your Legacy with Rudy Mawer

Episode: Breaking Sound Barriers: The Future of Sound Technology

Guest: Michael Young, CEO of The Flow Group
Date: October 13, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Rudy Mawer sits down with Michael Young, an innovator transforming the hearing aid industry. The conversation dives deep into Michael’s journey as a purpose-driven entrepreneur, his personal motivations rooted in overcoming eyesight loss, and the creation of a revolutionary hearing solution that combines cutting-edge bone conduction technology with accessibility and style. The episode offers insights on product development, resiliency amidst adversity, mentorship, and building a legacy that uplifts others.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael’s Purpose and the Genesis of Flow Group

• Michael recounted his journey of developing a hearing device inspired by his own experience with vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa.
• He emphasizes designing for inclusivity, targeting seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone facing hearing challenges.

  “I found that rebranding my own product really caters to people like me, people that have struggles... So it really resonates with me.” – Michael Young [00:00]

2. Reinventing Hearing: The Product Innovation

• The Flow Group’s device offers an alternative to traditional hearing aids:
  • Bone conduction technology
    • Sits outside the ear, preventing obstruction, canal damage, wax buildup, and stigma.
    • Appears as trendy headphones, removing the “deaf” stereotype.
    • Suitable for social interaction and everyday use, even for those with healthy hearing.
  • Affordable: Priced at $189.99 compared to $8,000+ for standard hearing aids.
  • Hybrid function: Amplifies sound and plays music.

  “Mine opens up the doors for a new option. Something that's healthy, you wear on the outside, not the inside... So mine is just a new cool, trendy way of hearing where you don't get stereotyped as deaf.” – Michael Young [02:51] “Mine’s the only one that has the amplification put into it that aids hearing.” – Michael Young [06:43]
  “You can listen to music, but mine is the only one that can use it socially engaged.” – Michael Young [07:16]

3. Broader Impact & Market Vision

• Device benefits a wide variety of users:
  • Children (especially autistic kids improving in school)
  • Labor workers exposed to loud environments
  • Seniors and those with mild to severe hearing loss
  • Everyday users seeking hearing health maintenance
• Michael’s mission is to make the product a household staple globally.

  “I really want to go national, global, where everyone can just pick it off of Walmart, Best Buy and just wear it.” – Michael Young [04:40]

4. Road to Entrepreneurship: From Struggle to Success

• Michael’s journey is shaped by resilience:
  • Vision loss prompted empathy-driven innovation.
  • Overcame personal lows: loss of mother at 11, battles with alcoholism, negative peer influences.
  • Found purpose after personal transformation, crediting a supportive relationship for helping him refocus on self-driven creativity.

  “I became straight A student to becoming, fighting at school, stealing, joining like a little gang... and then became alcoholic, drank my life, partied every day until my ex-girlfriend... she changed my life.” – Michael Young [10:01] “Just don't focus on other people. Don’t rely on other people’s ideas. Where I really just lost a lot of money through other people’s ideas and investments until I finally focused on myself, my creativity. That’s when I finally flourished.” – Michael Young [10:37]

5. Product Journey: Partnership, Luck, and Perseverance

• Family-owned factories in Asia facilitated manufacturing and supplier connections.
• Product development took around 1.5 years; highlights value of mentorship and networking.
• Credits serendipity and meaningful connections in the senior living space for rapid growth.

  “They guided me to different manufacturers... We thought of something that’s not selling anywhere else.” – Michael Young [06:43] “It just happened. It just really resonated with a lot of people... I felt like it was just lucky.” – Michael Young [08:15]

6. Advice for Entrepreneurs

• Take risks and embrace innovation, even if it’s daunting.
• Leverage mentorship and not shy away from seeking support—it’s more available than people expect.

  “I would advise them to just try something new... Seniors are more scared of technology. I encourage them to adapt and evolve with new technology because supply’s changing.” – Michael Young [08:45] “You gotta take the risk and just, you know, whatever your heart feels, just, just do it, you know?” – Michael Young [09:10]

7. Legacy, Mindset, and Helping Others

• Michael sees his work as a vehicle for global accessibility and legacy-making.

• Strong advocacy for pushing through adversity and focusing on personal growth, sobriety, and building positive social circles.

  “You don’t have to resort to the negative stuff around you. You can always prosper... just fish yourself out of that hole and really, like, become a better person is really what makes life worth living for right now.” – Michael Young [12:10]

• Vision for the next 10–20 years:

  • Widespread adoption and recognition of his brand (“like Shokz, but better”).
  • Product available in diverse styles and used worldwide.

  “If I see a banner up, I see people running around with it... that’s my dream.” – Michael Young [13:00]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming Adversity:

  “It always seems like the easy way out. To drink and just isolate yourself and to be depressed, but just fish yourself out of that hole and really, like, become a better person is really what makes life worth living for right now. Right. And helping other people.” – Michael Young [12:10]

• On Taking Action:

  “Everything’s a building step to the next level.” – Michael Young [13:55]
  “If they’re procrastinating... you’re just losing time, missing out on the moment, the big picture.” – Michael Young [14:00]

• On the Future:

  “This is really going to help everyone know the story and know the company and the products.” – Michael Young [12:37]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] – Introduction to Michael and his “why”
• [02:31] – Michael’s background and founding of Flow Group
• [02:51] – Explaining the core problem and the product's unique solution
• [03:40] – User demographics and use cases
• [04:40] – Vision for national/global reach and Forbes contest participation
• [06:43] – Product development journey and differentiation
• [07:28] – Pricing and technical comparisons
• [08:45] – Advice for new product creators and dealing with fear
• [10:01] – Michael’s personal struggles and transformation story
• [12:10] – Mindset and advice for people stuck in negative patterns
• [12:37] – Michael’s definition of legacy and vision for global impact
• [13:34] – Advice for legacy seekers and future entrepreneurs
• [14:38] – Where to find Michael and Flow Group online

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Where to Learn More

• Website: www.theinnerflow.com (Flow without the "W")
• Instagram: @theflowgroup

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The episode offers inspiration for anyone navigating adversity, building disruptive products, or striving to leave a positive mark on the world—reminding listeners that legacies are earned not just through achievement, but also through resilience, compassion, and empowering others.

Transcript

[Michael Young]

10 years ago I had retinitis pigmosis. So I had partially blind. So I've lost my vision. I can only see tunnel vision from one side. So I found that rebranding my own product really caters to people like me, people that have struggles. So seniors, people with disabilities. So it really resonates with me. So I'm really passionate about it. Right. So for me it's something new in the market. I feel like people that have keep doing the same thing over again, it's just, you know, it's not very attractive. So I have something that's completely different. Michael Leung is the CEO of the Flow Group and a purpose driven innovator. Redefining hearing solutions with resilience and compassion. Michael is leading the way to make communication accessible for all.

[Podcast Host]

And I always admire, you know, people that are like, I'm not going to do that. I'm going to like fix a big problem and create a whole brand new product. Because there's years that and lots of money that go into that product development that you don't have. If you just take a product that's.

[Michael Young]

Already selling, try something new. Because a lot of people are just, they don't like trying new things. Seniors are more scared of technology. I encourage them to adapt and evolve with new technology because supply changing. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Launching a new product, so daunting. I'm just going to go white label.

[Michael Young]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

What would you say to them if they're scared by that challenge?

[Michael Young]

I would advise them to just.

[Podcast Host]

It spans the globe like a super high cold Internet.

[Michael Young]

Elvis Presley for free.

[Podcast Host]

Today, Apple is going to reinvent dance.

[Michael Young]

It's not over until I win. The living your legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary.

[Podcast Host]

The impossible has been.

[Michael Young]

Oh, that is sensational.

[Podcast Host]

Jordan Open Chicago with the lead Usain Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream. Hello and welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers here with Michael. Today he's revolutionizing the hearing industry. He's a product innovator and entrepreneur. Like all of us. He's had his ups and downs. He's got an epic story and he's got a big mission going on right now. Welcome to the show, buddy.

[Michael Young]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host]

So let's talk about it. You're onto the latest product, trying to revolutionize the pretty big and well known industry. Right. And you're taking a different model, a different shift to it. But you've had your, you know, your fair share of challenges as an entrepreneur which we're going to Talk about as well, but for everyone if they don't know you, do you mind just giving a minute intro?

[Michael Young]

Yeah. My name is Michael Young and I'm the founder and CEO of the Flow Group. We, we promote a new, healthy and affordable way of hearing.

[Podcast Host]

So, and why, let's start there because a lot of people, maybe they don't have a hearing device or know much about it or what. What is the big problem or unique thing that your product solves versus everyone else?

[Michael Young]

Yeah. So a lot of people think that, you know, you only need hearing aids, you know, traditional way hearing. But mine opens up the doors for a new option. Something that's healthy, you wear on the outside, not the inside. So sits perfectly in front of the ears, not inside this. So there's no obstruction to your canal, there's no damage in your canal, no ear wax build up. Right. So mine is just a new cool, trendy way of hearing where you don't get stereotyped as death. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And it just looks like headphones. Yeah, I have running headphones that look very similar.

[Michael Young]

Yeah, it looks like headphone added amplification to it. Now the aids hearing. So you use it for social interactions.

[Podcast Host]

So can every day like, you know, someone like me say my hearing's decent, but I'm always like, you know, maybe struggling. Is it for everyday people like me or is it for elderly that lose hearing over time? Who's it designed for?

[Michael Young]

It's, it's technically meant for even people with good hearing because it maintains healthy hearing. Right. It uses bone conduction.

[Podcast Host]

So it's kind of like I've seen, you know, a lot of people are doing the nose stuff or the mouth tape as like long term maintenance. Is that kind of how you see this product is long term maintenance as well?

[Michael Young]

I see like people like even children is actually helping autistic children learn better in school. It's helping labor workers. Anyone that has damage to the ears from noises blew out their eardrums. Now they can use it to hear senior citizens. Pretty much anyone with mild, moderate T, even severe hearing loss can use this.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And I'm fascinated. Like I said, I haven't tried this, but I got some running headphones that are on the outside. But. And it's fascinating how good they are. So, you know, I can. And they're more recent. I haven't seen them, you know, in the last five years. They're getting really popular now. So I can see this as like the new wave, you know. And is that your mission to get everyone wearing a Pair, you know, get it, get worldwide and make it a daily sort of household product.

[Michael Young]

Definitely. Yeah, definitely. I think with this platform and like everything else I'm doing with the Forbes contest really builds up to this global brand because I really want to go national global, where everyone can just pick it off of Walmart, Best Buy and just wear it, you know, and just.

[Podcast Host]

And let's talk about that. So you're in another big contest right now. You're trying to get this brand out here. You want to share that?

[Michael Young]

Yeah. I was in the Forbes Entrepreneur of Impact contest. The winner gets $25,000. Damon John Mentorship. Right. But I came in second in quarterfinals, so 1% I didn't win it, but I took the positive out of it. Right. So I think with everything I'm doing, it really is elevating me to the next level to, to get global recognition. Right.

[Podcast Host]

So yeah, great. Well, and we'll come back to the product, but let's talk about your journey to get to the product, you know, why did you make it? And tell us your entrepreneurial story.

[Michael Young]

Right. So I didn't really start thinking of this product till actually over the years. So 10 years ago I had retinitis pigmosis. So I had a partially blind. So I've lost my vision. I can only see tunnel vision from one side. So I found that developing my own or rebranding my own product really caters to people like me, people that have struggles. So seniors, few disabilities. So it really resonates with me. So I'm really passionate about it. Right. So for me it's something new in the market. I feel like people that have keep doing the same thing over again. It's just, you know, it's not very attractive. So I have something that's completely different. So I'm running with it.

[Podcast Host]

You know, I mean it's much harder to come from scratch. You know, it's much easier to go, hey, this product selling, I'm going to go find the warehouse in China and make my own version, my own logo. Right. It's much easier way to start a brand.

[Michael Young]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And I always admire, you know, people that are like, and I'm not going to do that, I'm going to like fix a big problem and create a whole brand new product. Because there's years, that and lots of money that go into that product development that you don't have if you just take a product that's already selling. Right, right. So tell me that journey, how long did it take? How hard was it? What struggles did you have. And what did you learn along the way?

[Michael Young]

So my family owns factories in Asia. They just, they. They guided me to different. There is different, you know, manufacturer, different suppliers. So come collaboratively together. We thought of something that. That's not selling anywhere else. Yeah. So then I rebranded it, created my own image and because I took the time to actually work with people individually, that really brought my. My brand more. More important. Right. There's lots of people selling bone conduction headphones, but mine's the only one that has the amplification put into it that aids hearing.

[Podcast Host]

And can you still play music?

[Michael Young]

Oh, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So you can play music.

[Michael Young]

So normal ones can play music. You can listen to music, but mine the only one that can use it. Socially engaged. So that becomes a hearing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, Hybrid. Right. And what's the cost on it?

[Michael Young]

It's $189.99. So hearing aids are $8,000. Right. So fraction.

[Podcast Host]

Well, even my music ones are 200. You know, the shocks, I'm sure.

[Michael Young]

Shocks. Yeah, yeah. So shocks are. Yeah, I've tried the shocks and obviously, yeah, they only can use it for music and running, jogging. But mine. Mine is the next.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, it's great.

[Michael Young]

It's great.

[Podcast Host]

And. And I mean, a lot of people are switching some too, because people always ask me why I run in them. I say, well, a, they're more comfortable, but also SAFER because the AirPods, you know, you can't hear bikes, cars be where you're surrounding. Yeah, yeah. So I think people are kind of switching over to it. So. So what about the product side? Just to touch on that before we move off it. You know, you had support from family and intros and stuff. But how long did that development period take? Were there any challenges with that? What did you learn?

[Michael Young]

For some reason, like, luckily this is my first, like, project. My first. And it just happens. It just really resonated with a lot of people. Yeah. I got my foot in the door from one of my mentors into the senior industry and it just branched off.

[Podcast Host]

Wow, great.

[Michael Young]

Yeah. So I felt like it was just lucky. It was very lucky that I just found the perfect product and it took.

[Podcast Host]

What, a year or two to bring to life?

[Michael Young]

It's only been a year and a half. Year and a half. Do events I just, like, do all across cdse your homes. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Nice. So going through that, what would you advise someone that wants to launch their own product?

[Michael Young]

I would advise them to just try something new because a lot of people are just. They don't like trying new things. Seniors are more scared of technology. I encourage them to adapt and evolve with new technology because supply's changing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. And what would you say if someone's listening and they're a bit scared to like, go launching a new product? So daunting. I'm just going to go white label.

[Michael Young]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

What would you say to them if they're scared by that challenge?

[Michael Young]

I'd say, you know, you got to take, take the risk and just, you know, whatever your heart feels, just, just do it, you know?

[Podcast Host]

And I think from your story, it sounds also like if you have a good mentor and support group, it's not as scary as it may seem.

[Michael Young]

Yeah, yeah, no, everyone has that mentor. Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

But you can go find people, right? Like, you know, it's. I think people, when they start out there that they're surprised, like how many successful people are willing to support them. You know, they might not sit with you all day, every day, but they might make an right on an email and sometimes that's all you need. Hey, this is a great manufacturer or something like that.

[Michael Young]

Even this platform, you, you know, you're, you're building us. Right? So. Yeah. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Good. Well, couple of questions now. You know, this is your product, your business, the, the manufacturing side. Let's talk for the next five minutes about your personal life. Right. So tell us about you and how you got here today.

[Michael Young]

I got here through many, many struggles, like from losing my mom at 11, cancer, losing my faith in God. Like she died of cancer, horrible death. I became straight A student to becoming, fighting at school, stealing, joining like a little gang pretty much, and just destroying my life, you know, and then, you know, became alcoholic, drank my life, partied every day until my ex girlfriend or my girlfriend of 12 years. Now we're not together anymore, but we're still best friends. But she changed my life, changed my image. Just don't focus on other people. Don't rely on other people's ideas. Where I really just lost a lot of money through other people's ideas and investments until I finally focused on myself, my creativity. That's when I finally flourished. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So you were in a position where you were starting to invest in other concepts, friends, people you knew.

[Michael Young]

Yeah, it's like false, no promises, lies, and just, you know, shady stuff. Right. So.

[Podcast Host]

Well, it's interesting. I mean, just, it shows the power of the, the people you're with. Right. Like you went from maybe this bad environment and, you know, partying and all these things to meeting one person that started putting you back in a good environment in the right mindset.

[Michael Young]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And now I imagine that's most of your peer group, right?

[Michael Young]

Yeah. Cut off a lot of toxic people in my life.

[Podcast Host]

How. How was that transition?

[Michael Young]

It's been pretty good. Like now I'm sober. Like I, I trained my, I trained myself for this. You know, last two, three months.

[Podcast Host]

It's a whole flip.

[Michael Young]

Eating healthier, like, you know, like just everything feel great and see your looked, you know, it just. That really motivates me to see someone like, you know, to do that. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Good. And. And let's, you know, talk advice again because there's platforms to educate too. A lot of people are stuck in that, that trap. Right. That you know, something bad does happen in their life or maybe they don't have the best upbringing or whatever the reason and they get into this bad group and they start partying or ste. You know, gangs or whatever. Right. But I do think as hard as it can be, everyone has the opportunity to try and change. Right. It's hard, but they can. What would you say to someone that's maybe listening and they know someone that's stuck like you maybe were. What would you say to them?

[Michael Young]

There's always hope, you know, you don't have to resort to the negative stuff around you. You can always prosper. It always seems like the easy way out. To drink and just isolate yourself and to be depressed, but just fish yourself out of that hole and really like become a better person is really what makes life worth living for right now. Right. And helping other people. Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And, and talking of helping people, what. What's the big vision for you? The long term legacy vision? What does that mean to you?

[Michael Young]

It means the world to me. Like just everything I'm doing now is just rewarding. It's gratifying. And to get that worldwide, you know, I want to accessibility for people all over the world. So you know, I. This is really going to help everyone know the story and know the, the company and the products. Right. So.

[Podcast Host]

And 10 years from now, 20 years from now, how do you. To be seen around the world just.

[Michael Young]

Like shocks just like how you, you know, if you. I love it. If I see a banner up, I see people running around with it. You know, that's my dream. Like, you know, I'll have different colors, different styles, you know, just change it up, you know. Great, great.

[Podcast Host]

And then I always ask any legacy maker that sits here this question. Someone out there is maybe 10 years before, like 10 where you were 10 years ago and now you're obviously working on your legacy and your passion, which is an awesome feeling. Right. And it's great that you got there and many people in life never get there. So what advice would you give to people that aren't there yet that are still trying to figure out what it is for them?

[Michael Young]

I feel like they should take the risks, you know, like for me it's like I would never have taken the risk of, you know, joining a contest or TV show and stuff, but like to do it and actually come full circle and feel like it's really like it's like a dream come true, you know. And I feel like with all that it's just building steps. Yeah, everything's a building step to the next level. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And if they're procrastinating, what would you say? If they're not taking action, then you're.

[Michael Young]

Just losing time, missing out on the moment, the big, the big picture. So yeah, good.

[Podcast Host]

Last couple of questions then. Obviously this is a prequel to your main episode. What are some things they're going to learn or take away or things you haven't discussed today that they can find in the main episode?

[Michael Young]

I think they can find that their own personal struggles, everything is very real. They can resonate with me, my life story, everyone. It's not, you know, everyone likes that rocky underdog story. I think that's what they're going to find. Right. So yeah, love that, love that.

[Podcast Host]

And if they want to check out the product or learn more about you or follow along, where do they find you? On website and social media.

[Michael Young]

Yeah, so they want to go on my website. They can find all the key content, technology, online shopping on ww.the inner flow.com and it's flow without the W and social media, Instagram at the Flow Group and yeah, everything updates, events, collaborations. I'll be up there.

[Podcast Host]

Well guys, that's a wrap. An amazing product story. Really focus on that worldwide social impact, disrupting and changing an entire industry and obviously helping people. Right. Hearing, you know, senses and hearing vision etc, massive part of life. And it's awesome what you're taking on there and tackling and I think you're doing it in a more modern, trendy way. Right. Like I really can see this in 10 years. Like if you can play music and improve hearing, it's a no brainer. So super excited to watch you grow and love your story too. You know, life, you go up and down in life and not everyone comes out the other side of that bad moment. But you did. And that's so great for I think everyone to see because a lot of people need to see more of that story. So, guys, go check out the full episode and, of course, the product. And as always, work hard, make an impact, and build a legacy. I'll see you guys soon. Take care.