Guest: Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLCIn this episode, Michelle is joined by the one and only Heidi Liefer Moreland, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, Clinical Coordinator with Thrive Tube-Weaning Program, cohost of the podcast “Tube to Table,” published author and researcher, and internationally sought after speaker! For this hour-long conversation, Heidi shares her evidence-based approach to supporting little ones and their caregivers in their natural environment as they learn to eat by mouth! So, suppose you are ready to learn about intrinsic motivation and responsive feeding and pick up successful strategies to engage in interprofessional practice as a home-based, private practice, or school-based clinician. In that case, this is the episode for you.

Guest: Lisa Bowers, PhD, CCC-SLPIn this episode, Michelle is joined by the charismatic Lisa Bowers, PhD CCC-SLP, Chair of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorder's (CAPCSD) IPE/IPP committee, and Director of the Service Learning Initiative at the University of Arkansas. Lisa, a passionate advocate for the speech-language pathologist working to improve children’s language and literacy abilities, spends this power hour sharing some of her favorite resources and imparting pearls of wisdom! So, whether you are a tried and true SLP and want to improve your interprofessional education and practice within the public schools for your students struggling with reading or are still in your clinical fellow and not sure where to begin when it comes to speech-sound disorders and literacy, this episode has you covered.

Guest: Marsha Dunn Klein, OTR/L, MEd, FAOTA - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Marsha, founder of the “Get Permission Institute,” for part one of a four-part miniseries on Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)! To kick off the miniseries, Marsha discusses the evidence-based PFD shifts that have occurred over the last few years… shifts that come from listening to and elevating neurodivergent voices. Gone are the days of forcing a child to eat during therapy or relying upon external reinforcement to “take a bite.” The shift is towards respecting individual autonomy, encouraging diversity in thought about what constitutes a safe and healthy mealtime routine and a well-balanced meal...and the list goes on! Marsha quoted Maya Angelo, “Once you know better, you do better,” she hopes this episode will inspire today’s treating PFD clinicians to embrace the shift.

Guest: Claire Martin, M.Ed., CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Claire, a recent James Madison University Speech-Hearing-Association of Virginia Leadership and Advocacy Academy graduate, to discuss all things AAC. Claire creates a safe space to walk us through the process of establishing accessible AAC for outpatient clinics, explains the requirements for submitting a permanent device request to insurance, and tackles some of the most common barriers an SLP will encounter when initiating an AAC trial, all while offering functional advice on how to overcome these.

Guest: Brooke Nutting - Join Erin and Brooke, a mother of an autistic child, in this deep and heartfelt discussion regarding advocating for children and their right to neurodiversity-affirming care. Erin and Brooke discuss the challenges of finding the right team and knowing what is right for your child in a world full of voices thinking they know best. As clinicians, we discuss the importance of working with caregivers and listening to autistic voices, but how often do we truly take the time to listen to the lived experiences of caregivers? This discussion will hopefully open your eyes to taking a step back and truly understanding a family’s core values, how to best support the families of our neurodivergent clients, and knowing that we don’t always have the answer.

Guests: Memorie Gosa, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Jeanne Marshall, Ph.D, B Sp. Path- In this episode, Michelle is joined by two powerhouses in the world of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD): Dr. Memorie Gosa and Dr. Jeanne Marshall. This conversation, which was many moons in the making, addresses a crucial topic in the world of PFD; we are talking all things PROM. (Rhinestones and tulle are not required) 😊 PROM, or patient-reported outcome measures, are truly a clinician’s greatest ally, as they help demonstrate the value of intervention in improving the child and their caregiver’s quality of life surrounding mealtime. So, if you have been looking for a way to chart growth and improvement with your patients with a pediatric feeding disorder but are unsure which evidence-based tool to use, folks, these two ladies have you covered!

Guest: Nathaniel B. Ellis, M.S., CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Nate, a school-based phonetics and phonology specialist! In addition to being an active member of the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV), serving on its Conference Planning Committee and CE Administration Team, he regularly lectures on clinical phonetics, clinical phonology, and developmental speech-sound disorders… bringing unbridled passion and new insight into the topic to both current and future colleagues. Today, “Nate” takes listeners on a journey that unites the formally separated theoretical and clinical practice realms of phonetics and phonology. If you are a fellow speech-sound nerd, join this fabulous conversation to learn how to improve your accuracy in analyzing typical and atypical speech-sound errors… and how this carries over to improved intervention and outcomes for the children we serve!

Guest: Madilyn "Madi" Metcalf, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Madi, the delightful host of “Making Sense of Selective Eating,” a podcast miniseries with Speech Therapy PD. Over this hour, Madi speaks from her heart, sharing insight on the journey that she took to be able to competently serve the pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) patients in her hometown. So, if you, too, have looked around your community and recognized that PFD services are in need but are unsure where to begin, this is the conversation for you! Madi shares how she overcame imposter syndrome by bravely taking numerous courses, volunteering with her state association, and entering the field of early intervention and private practice to cast a wide net, all to meet caregivers and patients right where they are (both figuratively and literally!). Let her illuminate the path forward through functional recommendations for growing your PFD evidence-based practice!

Guest: Gillian Boudreau, PhD - Join Erin and Dr. Boudreau to discuss the intricacies of the psychosocial component of pediatric feeding disorders and how a caregiver’s relationship with food can impact the overall dynamics of mealtime. Dr. Boudreau and Erin dive into the neurobiology of safety to help guide our understanding of what a child and caregiver truly need. We hope this episode helps you take a step back and better understand the importance of relationships and how the intimacy of eating can play a large role in how those relationships play out at mealtime.

Guest: Taylor Anderson, MS, CCC-SLP - Erin is joined again by her wonderful colleague, Taylor Anderson, to discuss a topic near and dear to their hearts: autonomy, trauma-informed care, and DIR/Floortime. Erin and Taylor have worked with many medically complex kids and found the value of utilizing these strategies to promote their self-advocacy and feel like they have a say in the world around them. This is critical for building communication as well as opening their world to promote imagination and new ideas. Erin and Taylor will dive into what trauma-informed care is and its collaboration with DIR/Floortime strategies to best serve our patients and their families.

Guest: Casey Rovinksi, SLP - In this episode, Erin is joined by the lovely Casey Rovinksi, SLP and owner of Speak Outside the Box practice in Tampa, Florida. Casey and Erin discuss the value of relationship-based therapy with our clients and within ourselves.They dive into the value of building community with our families and coworkers. Casey talks about finding like-minded clinicians when growing a private practice and how to learn to step outside the box in our sessions. This episode truly comes from the heart, and we hope that you allow yourself to open up by listening.

Guest: Martin B. Brodsky, Ph.D., Sc.M., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA - In this episode, Michelle is joined by none other than THE Martin B. Brodsky, Ph.D., Sc.M., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA, Section Head for Speech-Language Pathology in the Integrated Surgical Institute at Cleveland Clinic and Adjunct Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Martin opens this hour, sharing his journey into critical care for adults and the role of mentors. Then Martin and Michelle deep dive into ICU delirium, discussing potential etiologies that could trigger it and how it could impact a patient’s cognition and deglutition. The hour wraps with a discussion on the speech-language pathologist’s role and responsibility to support patients across the life continuum with respect to the ethical timing of intervention. If you are an SLP who treats across the life continuum or are interested in working with adults, this is the episode for you!

Guest: Farwa Husain, MS CCC-SLP - Farwa, a bilingual speech-language pathologist and private practice owner of One-on-One Speech Therapy in New Jersey, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, spends this hour sharing her passion for growing culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy for gestalt language processors (GLP) and their caregivers! So, if you want to learn more about GLP, how it compares to analytic language processors (ALP), and how to support GLP in their natural environments, then tune in and let Farwa share her brilliance and compassion!

Guests: Kelly Farquharson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BSC-CL, F-ASHA, & Jennifer M. Simpson, AuD, CCC-A - The ASHA Convention may only happen once a year, but the planning and dedication that leads up to those few days starts two years before the go-live date. In this candid episode, Kelly and Jennifer share behind-the-scenes data on everything from convention registration numbers, variety in convention topic committees, and ways our colleagues volunteer their time to propel our fields forward. So, if you have ever wondered about the process involved in a “call for papers” or how you can become more involved in convention, this is the episode for you.

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 honest and raw questions get to our hearts; they stir at our souls, because we want and deserve more than our Monday through Friday, the bare bones of our 9-5 grind. But can we actually do it? Can we take that leap of faith and become an “SLP Entrepreneur”? The answer is YES! Join Michelle, Sarah, and Savanah as they discuss options for expanding upon your baseline skills to enter into SLP businesses and the benefits of using social media.

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.

Guest: Stephanie Michelle Sweigart, MS CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by none other than the “Golden State SLP,” aka Stephanie Michelle Sweigart, MS CCC-SLP, to cover all things of Therapeutic Presence. If you’ve met Stephanie, then you know that a conversation with her feels like a warm hug. Why? Because she has spent years cultivating her emotional intelligence, regulation, and therapeutic presence to be fully engaged and present in those moments. Stephanie provides her new take on the three “C’s”: “Center,” “Connection,” and “Communication." The outcome is improved therapeutic presence with those that we serve.

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.

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 prohibit access for a potential user. Jenn concludes the first of her two-part episode by guiding colleagues through a screening tool to determine if they could potentially benefit from an eye gaze communication device.

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 and resources to treat the littlest ones on your caseload!

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 knew from working with different mentors, what they found most valuable in their growth with PFD, and how they continue to grow their leadership and mentor skills.

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 talking about the various interprofessional practice partners that make this dream a reality and how to support their clients and caregivers ethically, and she offers strategies to make this a possibility.

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’ll share the exciting ASHA Advocacy news, then discuss neurodiversity-affirming trends and applications to intervention, the value of personal/professional growth to learning new evidenced-based approaches, and round out with the role of implementation science in pediatric feeding disorder.

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 currently training over 1,000 early intervention SLPs on how to conduct virtual ASD assessments. Lillian is conducting qualitative research with the caregivers on their experiences to grow our cultural understandings and improve our caregiver coaching with families from different backgrounds.

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.

Guests: Rebekah Wada, ABD, CCC-SLP and Megan Israelsen-Augenstein, PhD, CCC-SLP - In the last few years, the field of speech-language pathology has increased its attention on the understanding and use of implementation science. But what is implementation science? And how is it useful for practicing speech-language pathologists? In this hour, Michelle hosts Dr. Rebekah Wada and Dr. Megan IIsraelsen-Augenstein to discuss all of the above and how an implementation science framework can be applied to AAC assessment and intervention. P.S. Catch Rebekah and Megan at ASHA sharing more on the beautiful scientific marriage between AAC and Implementation Science.

Guest: Jerrold Jackson, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Jerrold Jackson, who embodies the meaning of servant-led leadership. His compassion for colleagues and students is abundant. This heartfelt conversation, which definitely exceeds our hour-long average, gets to the core of what it means to serve one another and our field as advocates, mentors, and sponsors and how to do so with joy and hope. Jerrold shares his personal walk as a black male speech-language pathologist, how mentors shaped his life, how, through their representation in the field and now his, conversations have been held, advocacy has occurred, and desperately needed policy changes have resulted.

In this episode, Michelle and Erin are back together to discuss one of Erin’s favorite topics, “Neurodiversity Affirming Feeding Therapy.” The term “Neurodiversity Affirming” has grown in frequency of usage; as such, it should. However, many of us went through graduate school before this phrase became part of our everyday lexicon. We probably did not have explicit instruction on how to embrace and implement it in therapy sessions, especially regarding feeding therapy. Evidence-based practice evolves with the addition of new projects becoming published, listening and learning from the lived experiences of our patients, clients, and students, and our clinical extrapolation of different interprofessional education activities. So, grow your PFD EBP with this episode and learn why embracing neurodiversity-affirming care into feeding therapy is invaluable, strategies to implement this successfully, and resources to continue your growth journey.

Guest: Valerie James Abbott - If you work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist with the birth through 8-year-old population on speech sound disorders and/or language acquisition, this is the hour for you. Valerie is here to educate us all on potential risk factors for late childhood onset hearing loss, including the dangers of the cytomegalovirus. Did you know that this virus can appear as a common cold for the mother during pregnancy, can only be tested for shortly after birth, but may lay dormant for years, then result in devastating hearing loss when the little one is entering school? Hold hope, though! Valerie will share the initiatives that are occurring by various organizations across the country to advocate for change to catch this type of hearing loss and intervene earlier.

Guest: Lauren Hastings, MS, CCC-SLP - For this passionate conversation, Lauren addresses common myths and roadblocks to setting up a private practice and then empowers us all to overcome them. So, if you need help with credentialing and have never heard of a “CAQH” or a “clearing house,” then don’t worry! Lauren will cover all these questions and more in this episode.

Guests: Caroline Brindo, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S & Steven Sireci, MD - Not all of us will have the professional opportunity to conduct video fluoroscopic instrumental swallow evaluations; however, most of us will encounter pediatric patients, clients, or students who are in need of one. When that happens, it is common for the caregiver to ask, “What’s going to happen?”, “Will the barium hurt?”, “Will they be radioactive?”. These questions can feel overwhelming for those of us in home health, early intervention, and schools because we may not have the answers readily available. But never fear, Caroline and Dr. Steven are here! They will answer these questions and more, such as, “What is barium?”, “Do different recipes for barium impact the swallow study?”, “What can my patient expect?”. So, if you want to know more about the nitty-gritty of barium, then tune in for this hour.

Guest: R. Danielle Scott, PhD, CCC-SLP - Dr. Dani shares the definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this hour and how they pertain to the CSD community as clinical practitioners and faculty. The conversation lays out specific steps that faculty members can utilize to engage in anti-racism instruction, as well as steps clinicians can take to center diversity, equity, and inclusion into their clinical speech-language pathology practice. Remember, cultural competency is never the goal. The goal is to engage in cultural humility and meaningful conversations to grow not only as an individual but also as a citizen of the world.

Guest: Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L - This course will integrate theories and ideas from the previous three courses to dive deep into what we are actually asking our patients to do in sessions. How do we truly analyze the task and work to find the just right challenge to help them grow within their zone of proximal development while also helping them feel successful? Karen and Erin will explore the beautiful tool of joy and play, which can uncover true learning in a child.

Guest: Karen McWater, MOT, OTR/L - As SLPs, we can often look at speech and language development in isolation, as our formal assessments encourage us to do; however, it is imperative that we learn from our occupational and physical therapy colleagues regarding motor learning principles and how they parallel those of language development. When we get out of our box, we can further understand the children we work with and their capacities. Erin and Karen will discuss their journey of collaborating within this context and how they learned from each other to help the children they worked with reach further potential.

Guest: Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L - With all the therapy tools we have access to, all the worksheets, toys, and bubbles, it is important to understand that you are your own best tool. Karen and Erin discuss the role of effect and attunement to truly connect with children and their caregivers in sessions. They discuss the intentional relationship model and how we clinicians can use it to truly identify and improve our relationships with our clients and their caregivers to further build our connection. They will discuss the evidence behind relationship-based therapy and the true heart and joy that comes with it.

Guest: Karen McWaters, MOT, OTR/L - As SLPs, we have, in the past, passed all of our questions regarding sensory systems and regulation off to our OT counterparts due to their expansive education on the subject. However, it is time that we sit at the same table and have a conversation about sensory and its role in communication. A child needs to be regulated to grow their communication skills, and as such, we as SLPs need to learn from those around us how to support a child’s sensory system for optimal language development. Today, Erin and Karen discussed sensory systems and regulation and how it is imperative for us to join in.

Guest: Meg Simione, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Meg Simione, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, a clinician-scientist focusing on infant and child feeding and growth and implementing innovations to improve care delivery. One of the hardest aspects of the “Pediatric Feeding Disorder” diagnosis to grasp can be the “psychosocial" domain. Why? As clinicians, we were trained to focus on the “feeding skill” domain, typically addressing the caregiver’s psychosocial impact falls by the wayside. But, it is critical that we understand this core component of PFD. Dr. Meg shares some of the most common psychosocial consequences, what clinicians can do to overcome these impacts, and why it is critical for clinicians to collaborate with researchers to expedite current research into daily practice for the little ones we have been called to serve.

Guest: Hallie Sherman, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Hallie Sherman discusses all things about working with older elementary-age students. If you’re a “First Bite” listener but work with older elementary-age students or are considering leaving the world of early intervention and jumping to the school setting, this is the motivational hour for you. Hallie shares her tips on the trade in how to establish buy-in from older children in taking ownership of their goals and speech-therapy destiny. If you need guidance on building rapport with older speech kids, how understanding their reading fluency and comprehension levels impact all facets of their learning readiness, or how to help these students create their own speech therapy goals, this episode is for you.

Guest: Amy Miller Sonntag, SLPD, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Amy Miller Sonntag, SLPD, CCC-SLP, a faculty member in the OSU Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology Certificate Program and the current secretary of the USSAAC (United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Board. The ability to say “No!”, the ability to say “Yes!”, the ability to name reproductive body parts, the ability to request tattoos, or a quick “Hey, how are you?” these are crucial conversations for late teens and young adults even more so when it comes to those who utilize AAC devices. So, how do we, as speech-language pathologists working with these individuals, help caregivers and AAC users determine the ideal vocabulary to communicate their wants, needs, likes, dislikes, passions, dreams, and hopes? In his hour, Amy shares current research and pulls from her clinical experiences to shape and offer guidance on holding these empowering conversations with grace and compassion.

In this episode, Michelle and Erin tackle the joy of episodic care for the treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorder. For those who are used to productivity requirements, understand that those percentages are probably substandard during the summer months. But what if those weekly sessions for a year-long plan of care that adhere to tight productivity regimens may not be optimal for your patient or client? Let Michelle and Erin share the power of episodic care with you. The who, what, where, when, and why will all be covered in this hour-long conversation on an alternate form of service delivery.

Guest: Amanda Pericles, MS, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Amanda Pericles, MS, CCC-SLP (She/Her/Ella), a bilingual speech-language pathologist working in Charlotte, NC. Amanda, a Black Dominican-American daughter of immigrant parents and a simultaneous Spanish-English language learner engages in a crucial conversation today regarding her personal experiences as a member of the BIPOC speech-language pathology community. Our lived experiences in this profession, starting with our college journey, the application process into graduate school, the overwhelming juggling act of graduate coursework and clinical practicums, and applying for and surviving the clinical fellowship, all of it can leave a lasting impact on how we ultimately engage in the profession as “CCC-SLP.” However, research has consistently demonstrated that the lived experiences of our colleagues who are members of the BIPOC community are often fraught with additional challenges, such as academic literacy, challenges that clinical supervisors, faculty, and colleagues need to be aware of, as well as be prepared to offer strategies and support. Join in for this hour empowering hour to inspire future generations of SLPs.

Guest: Cheri Dodge Chin, ClinScD, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Michelle is joined by Dr. Cheri Dodge Chin, an Assistive Technology consultant, adjunct professor, published researcher, and one of the original SLP bloggers known as “Super Power Speech.” Cheri shares her professional lows and highs, the barriers that her students encounter, and how to work through the “storming, forming, and norming” stages of teams, to fully equip high-tech AAC users for success.

Guest: Kendra T. Allison, MS CCC-SLP - Kendra is a founding owner of Speechology communication services and founder/host of "8% Summit for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists of Color." By the end of this hour, which starts with a fair bit of astrology-driven laughter, you will be able to describe the heartfelt mentorship mission that drives Kendra and the 8% Summit, describe common barriers to members of the BIPOC community for entering the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology, as well as how mentorship can be an invaluable tool to overcome those barriers.

Guest: Kayla Duncan - Kayla, the Director of Communications and Outreach with the Sexual Assault Resource Center, will discuss a topic that we all need to learn about, assault. The statistics for sexual assault, domestic abuse, and sexual harassment in this country are staggering. One in four will have personal experience, which means the other three will know a colleague, a student, a family member, and/or a patient whose life has been impacted by the assault. Therefore, it is our responsibility, not only to ourselves but also to those that we love and those we are called to serve, to become educated about the signs and symptoms, and red flags for potential behaviors, as well as to learn what community resources are available in the event that they are needed. Yes, this is a potentially triggering and difficult topic to know about. Still, Michelle and Kayla promise to add joy and laughter to leave listeners with a better understanding of what to do when and with the hope that we can collaborate to make the world better truly.

Guests: Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer, PhD, CCC-SLP, Julie Feuerstein, PhD, CCC-SLP, Shirley Huang, PhD, CCC-SLP, Jennifer Tucker PhD, PT, DPT, PCS - In this episode, Michelle is delighted to be joined by an all-star lineup of colleagues to share how the ASHFoundation is leading the way in expediting research to practice. Dr. Julie Barkmeir-Kraemer, who currently serves as an ASHFoundation Board Member, is also a professor in the Dept of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Director of the Voice, Airway, Swallowing Translational (VAST) Research Lab, Clinic Director of the Voice Disorders Center, and Adjunct Faculty to the Dept of CSD at the University of Utah. They are joined by three recipients of the ASHFoundation’s scholarships, including Julie Feuerstein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who is an Assistant Professor School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Central Florida and runs the Early Communication and Play (ECAP) lab there; Shirley Huang, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who is currently a health and science policy fellow with the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)/American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; and Jennifer Tucker Ph.D., PT, DPT, PCS is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Program of Physical Therapy at the University of Central Florida, where she serves as the Director of UCF Go Baby Go lab. By the end of this hour, their combined goal is for colleagues to understand the ASHFoundation's mission, identify different research fields that have grown because of their recipient’s funding, and find ways to volunteer.

In this episode, Michelle and Erin are back to discuss pediatric feeding disorder clinical case studies for “Dysphagia Awareness Month." With the addition of the new ICD-10 codes for Pediatric Feeding Disorder, there have been questions on the role and responsibilities of the SLP in diagnosing a PFD and how pediatric dysphagia fits into the diagnostic criteria. Michelle and Erin share resources to answer this question and how to guide allied health and medical health partners in their roles for PFD and pediatric dysphagia diagnoses too. The ladies of “First Bite” then transition to case studies that discuss strategies for intervention and how to engage in the interprofessional practice for optimal patient outcomes for little ones with pediatric dysphagia and PFD.

Special Guests: Goose Danger Dawson, Boo Bear Extreme Dawson, and a cameo by Mr. Dawson. Y'all, in this oh-so-special and definitely not-for-CEs episode, Erin and Michelle are joined by the rest of Pack Dawson to celebrate "First Bite" reaching 1.5 million downloads! So, you've been warned, there are probably 5 minutes cumulatively of fart jokes, a few tearful moments for the big fears and changes that the last five years have brought, belly laughter and smiles to accompany dreams for the future, raw moments of sharing faith, and a whole lot of gratitude for our colleagues and guests. Thank you for joining us and letting us serve you! XOX -M and E