Dr. Latisha Porter of Irvington on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Dr. Latisha Porter shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Latisha, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Am I Walking in My Path or Wandering?
When I think about whether I’m walking in my path or wandering, I see it reflected in my Mighty Heroes books. These stories were never just about heroes in capes — they were about discovering purpose, courage, and identity. Every character I created mirrors a moment in my own journey — moments when I questioned my direction, doubted my strength, or felt lost in life’s wilderness.

Walking in my path means creating with intention — using my words to inspire, to teach, and to heal. Mighty Heroes wasn’t born from wandering, it was born from listening — listening to the quiet voice that said, “You’re meant to build something that empowers others.” But the truth is, sometimes the wandering is part of the path. Every detour, every delay, and every doubt became material for the stories I write — stories that remind readers that even heroes have to find their way home.

So, when I ask myself this question now, I realize I’m not just walking in my path — I’m writing it with every page, every lesson, and every young heart my books reach. The Mighty Heroes are proof that purpose often hides in the wandering, and faith is what turns that wandering into a journey worth taking.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Meet Dr. Latisha Porter-Vaughn — The Voice Behind Hearwise
I’m Dr. Latisha Porter-Vaughn — a proud hard of hearing woman, overcomer, author, advocate, and educator. A 2023 PhD graduate of Organizational Development and Leadership. As someone who has navigated life with hearing loss, I’ve turned my challenges into a calling. I’m the proud recipient of the Oticon 2023 Hearing Champions Award, the Seton Hall University McQuaid Medal, and currently serve as President of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) New Jersey State Association and Co-Founder of the HLAA Essex County Chapter.

With a Ph.D. in Leadership and over 18 published books, including two peer-reviewed journal articles, I use my voice — both written and spoken — to empower, educate, and inspire. My literary work includes the Mighty Heroes children’s book series, picture books, and a coloring book which uplifts young readers with stories of courage, diversity, and resilience. Each book reflects my belief that heroes aren’t just found in comic books — they’re in classrooms, communities, and families learning to embrace their unique strengths.

Through my brand Hearwise, I’m on a mission to increase hearing loss awareness and bridge understanding between the hearing and hard of hearing worlds. Hearwise provides resources to parents, children, and employers — helping to create spaces where inclusion, accessibility, and empathy thrive.

My story is not just about hearing loss — it’s about listening differently. I’ve learned that purpose often speaks through the very things that once silenced us. And that’s why every book I write, every presentation I give, and every conversation I start through Hearwise is rooted in one mission: to ensure that every voice is heard, valued, and empowered.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I used to believe I just wasn’t smart enough. No matter how hard I tried, school always felt harder for me than it did for everyone else. I wanted so badly to excel — to make my teachers proud, to feel confident, to understand why I struggled. I didn’t know that my hearing loss was silently shaping those experiences, making it harder to catch every word, every lesson, every sound that others took for granted.

When I finally discovered that I had hearing loss, everything clicked. The problem had never been my intelligence — it was simply that I was learning in a world that wasn’t built to hear like I do. That realization didn’t break me; it built me. I learned, I adapted, and I grew stronger.

Now, I know I am smart, bright, and highly intelligent. My hearing loss is not my limitation — it’s my motivation. It has made me more empathetic, more driven, and more determined to help others find their voices through Hearwise and my advocacy in the deaf and hard of hearing community. What I once saw as a challenge became my greatest gift.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
What Did Suffering Teach You That Success Never Could?
Suffering taught me the kind of strength that success could never give. Success shows you what you can do — but suffering shows you who you are.

Living with hearing loss taught me patience, humility, and resilience. It showed me how to listen beyond words, how to communicate with compassion, and how to keep walking even when the path wasn’t clear. The struggles I faced in classrooms, conversations, and in moments of silence became my greatest teachers. They taught me to adapt, to rise, and to lead with empathy.

Suffering taught me how to see beauty in the process — not just the outcome. It gave me depth, purpose, and a mission. Without the challenges, there would be no Hearwise, no Mighty Heroes, no advocacy, and no story strong enough to help others believe in their own power.

Success celebrates what I’ve accomplished, but suffering shaped who I’ve become. It taught me that purpose often blooms from pain, and that the most powerful voices are sometimes the ones that had to fight the hardest to be heard.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m most committed to — no matter how long it takes — is my Mighty Heroes book series. Mighty Heroes began as a dream to create children’s stories that empower, uplift, and reflect the strength that comes from overcoming challenges. Each character carries a message of courage, self-discovery, and purpose — values that mirror my own journey as a hard of hearing woman who refused to give up.

Through Mighty Heroes, I want children of all abilities to see themselves as strong, capable, and extraordinary — no matter what obstacles they face. This isn’t just about writing books; it’s about building a movement of representation, inclusion, and hope.

Under that same mission, my brand Hearwise was born — to increase hearing loss awareness and provide resources for parents, children, and employers. While Mighty Heroes gives young readers heroes they can see and believe in, Hearwise creates the real-world support that helps those heroes grow.

I’m committed to both because they’re connected by one belief: that our differences make us powerful, and our voices — no matter how they sound — are meant to be heard. Whether it takes years or a lifetime, I’ll keep writing, advocating, and inspiring through Mighty Heroes until every child knows that they, too, are mighty.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people tell the story of a woman who never stopped listening — even when the world went quiet.

I want them to say that I turned my challenges into chapters of strength, that I used my voice to lift others, and that I lived a life of purpose and compassion. I hope people remember that I was an overcomer — a woman who turned hearing loss into a mission, silence into advocacy, and pain into power.

I want them to speak of Mighty Heroes — how the stories I created taught children to believe in their own courage, to celebrate their differences, and to see that true heroes come in all forms. I want them to remember Hearwise — the brand that became a bridge for understanding, awareness, and inclusion for the deaf and hard of hearing community.

But more than the titles, awards, or books, I want people to say that I listened with my heart. That I made others feel seen, heard, and valued. That I used my life to make someone else’s journey a little lighter, a little braver, and a little louder.

That’s the story I want told — not just about what I did, but about how I made people feel.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: hearing_gains
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latisha-porter-ph-d-50a03223/
• Facebook: Latisha Mia Porter
• Youtube: @latishaporter5964