Guest: Sarah Breshears, MA, CCC-SLP & Savanah Reaser - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Sarah Breshears, MA, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, founder of Short and Sweet Speech, CEO of Social Moguls, author of “Short and Sweet Stories,” and her niece Savanah Reaser, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, and illustrator of “Short and Sweet Stories.” With spring break upon us and summer knocking at the door, a fair few of us are contemplating the inevitable question, “Should we return to this job?” “Am I truly using all of my talents here?” or “Am I destined for more?”. These h ..read more

Guest: Emily Starling, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle and Erin are joined by Emily Starling, the host of the Neurotwist podcast, who shares her experience being an SLP who was later identified as autistic. Emily, Michelle, and Erin have an honest, authentic discussion of neurodiversity-affirming practices and what that means in the context of EI. Erin, Michelle, and Emily share their experiences navigating the world of clinical practice and how they have implemented neurodiversity-affirming practices, reiterating the importance of listening to autistic voices ..read more

Guest: Jennifer Ruckner, MS CCC-SLP, & Beth Cooper, MOT, OTR/L - Michelle, Jennifer, and Beth encourage you to don your detective cap, procure your magnifying glass, and let the sensory detective training begin. Jennifer and Beth offer foundational guidance on why an SLP needs to understand the unique sensory needs of the little ones we are called to serve. They offer strategies on how to create a dynamic transdisciplinary team, then go in-depth on the roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist ..read more

Guest: Jenn Rubenstein, MS CCC-SLP - Have you ever stood in AWE watching an eye-gaze user navigate their communication device to express joy but were left scratching your head and wondering, “But how does it work?” In this episode, the ladies of “First Bite” are joined by Jenn Rubenstein, MS CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and Clinical Account Executive for Eyegaze, to unlock the mysteries behind the machine. Jenn starts with explanations of the anatomy and physiology, transitions into how the device works to “read” the eye, and then offers an explanation of some diagnoses that could proh ..read more

Guest: Lindsay Stevens, MA CCC-SLP - Join Michelle and guest Lindsay Stevens, MA CCC-SLP, who brings her years of experience as a clinician and caregiver to help grow your evidenced-based practice regarding infant dysphagia. Are you unsure of what potential positional strategies you can employ to see little ones have joyful and successful feeds? If you have observed behaviors, signs, and symptoms that made you think the infant may need a thickening agent to assist, then this episode is for you. Lindsay is here to guide your clinical decision-making process by providing you with dynamic facts a ..read more

Guest: Taylor Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Erin is joined by friend and colleague Taylor Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP, to discuss mentor and mentee relationships when it comes to pediatric feeding disorders. In this niche of the speech pathology world, young and seasoned clinicians are constantly looking for support and mentorship to grow their skills for treating this specific population. Erin and Taylor discuss how they build their relationship as mentor and mentee early on, but how that can become very fluid and shift to learn from each other. This episode will dive into what they both ..read more

Guest: April Helper, LPC - Michelle is joined for this truly powerful episode by April Helper, LPC, Founder and Executive Director of Adagio House. The Adagio House “exists to provide high-quality, trauma-informed, attachment-based services to all types of caregivers and their loved ones, regardless of their ability to pay.” They engage in comprehensive care through psychotherapy, holistic wellness, mentoring, sustainable gardening, medical and psychiatric services, and psychological testing for neurodiverse individuals from toddlers to adults and their caregivers. April spends this hour talki ..read more

Michelle and her favorite co-host Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC, relive the best parts of the 2023 ASHA Convention: Igniting Innovation as it relates to all things neurodiversity-affirming care and pediatric feeding disorder. Michelle and Erin, who both volunteer in convention planning, as well as at the convention, attended several courses and are bringing their favorite new facts directly to you! So, whether your current clinical setting is working in the NICU, Early Intervention, or even as a full-time or adjunct faculty member, the ladies of “First Bite” have you covered. To start, they’l ..read more

Guest: Lillian Thompson Brown, MS CCC-SLP - Lillian's current research undertakings have been driven by passion from her personal experiences as a younger sibling to an autistic brother. If you, too, have been despairing over the extensive wait times that little ones and their caregivers have to endure in the process of obtaining an ASD diagnosis, then despair no more. If you have been frustrated that children of color tend not to receive an ASD diagnosis until years after their white male counterparts, again, we say, despair no more. There is hope. “The Reduce the Wait” project in Illinois is ..read more

Guests: Juliet Ochura, MS CCC-SLP, CLC, Kerry Pearl, MS CCC-SLP, CLC, & Jennifer Perez, MS CCC-SLP, CLC - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Juliet, Kerry, and Jennifer, a fabulous trio of colleagues from Boston Medical Center, to discuss all things “Breaking Down Barriers to PFD Care." These brilliant leaders have witnessed first-hand the health equity barriers that numerous patients have encountered in their attempts for evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. They share the successful strategies that they have implemented at their facility ..read more