Swallow Your Pride Podcast
The Swallow Your Pride Podcast was created with the purpose of diving deeper into the issues that speech-language pathologists face when working with patients with swallowing disorders. We’ll discuss many controversial topics in order to provide the LATEST evidence-based treatment strategies, and create a community of dysphagia clinicians who want to consume incredibly valuable insight and information. Our goal is to allow you to #swallowyourpride, and be open and willing to try the latest in evidence based treatment approaches by learning from experts and researchers in our field in order to create the best outcomes for our patients who need it most. The Swallow Your Pride Podcast is hosted by Theresa Richard, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-S, a Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders.
Episodes
Ever leave a CEU course thinking…
“Okay, but how do I actually do this with a patient tomorrow?”
In this episode, Theresa Richard sits down with Dr. Kristen West to talk all things active learning—including how we’ve evolved from death-by-PowerPoint to interactive clinical simulations (yep, even flaming barrels made an appearance ).
Whether you're a new grad, mid-career, or switching settings, this convo will hit home.
Learn more a...
What happens when a passionate SLP flies to Hawaii to train a hospital team in FEES—and ends up learning just as much as she teaches?
In this episode, Theresa shares the powerful, behind-the-scenes story of a multi-day FEES training in a hospital system. From the logistics (yes, including rolled up manila folders) to the deeply human moments (like helping a burn patient eat for the first time in months), you’ll hear exactly what it...
After an unexpected summer hiatus, we’re back with a solo episode that’s part update, part confession, and 100% from the heart. In this deeply personal kickoff to the new season, Theresa opens up about a professional ego check she didn’t see coming—one that hit close to home.As a board-certified swallowing specialist, choosing a feeding tube for my own son was never part of the plan. But what started as a tough decision turned into...
What do you get when you mix a surgeon, a scientist, and a self-proclaimed “tinkerer” who also happens to struggle with reflux? You get Dr. James Daniero—and you get this conversation about RefluxRaft.
In this episode, Theresa Richard chats with Dr. Daniero, an ENT who’s not just treating voice, airway, and swallowing disorders—he’s innovating them. From basement experiments to biomaterials backed by NIH grants, Dr. Daniero walks u...
“They just told me I had a stroke—but no one ever explained what that means.”
In this eye-opening episode, Theresa chats with with bilingual SLP and educator Jackie Rodriguez to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of poor outcomes: health literacy.
Episode Page: https://syppodcast.com/371
The post 371 – When Care Misses the Mark: How Health Literacy Impacts Our Patients appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Wait… are we as SLPs really allowed to be in the esophagus?” — this episode is for you. Theresa brings on two MedSLP Collective favorites, Christoph Schmitz, CEO of PatCom Medical, Inc, and Laura McWilliams, med SLP + board-certified swallowing specialist + all-around powerhouse. Together, they unpack what might just be […]
The post 370 – Improving NG Tube Placement: What Every Med SLP Should Know About th...
Feeling all the feels around pediatric feeding disorders? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of Swallow Your Pride, Theresa Richard sits down with Dr. Jeanne Marshall—a clinician-researcher and passionate advocate for early intervention in pediatric feeding—to talk about the real stories behind the research. They dive into: A scoping review on dysphagia prevalence in […]
Raise your hand if you've ever felt like airway and breathwork live in some mysterious corner of our field that only a handful of people truly understand ♀️ Well… this episode might just be your flashlight. ✨ Theresa chats with with the incredibly knowledgeable—and wonderfully down-to-earth—Kaitlyn Shrum, MS, CCC-SLP, QOM, IBT, who wears many hats: […]
The post 368 – Exploring the Vital Role of Breathwork and Airway Health in Spee...
When it comes to true community reentry after brain injury or stroke, real magic happens through teamwork—and Alexandra Arvidson, M.S., CCC-SLP, is here to show us how. In this episode, Alexandra shares her journey from feeling stuck on “SLP Island” to thriving as part of an interdisciplinary dream team that gets patients back into the […]
The post 367 – Beyond the Workbook: Engaging Patients with Meaningful, Tailored Therapy appea...
In this episode of the Swallow Your Pride podcast, Theresa Richard sits down with Ali Mehreganfar—a stroke survivor, motivational speaker, and author who is redefining what recovery can look like. Ali shares his incredible journey from coma to comeback, offering a heartfelt look into his hospital experiences, the hurdles of rehab, and the mindset shifts […]
The post 366 – From Stroke to Strength: How One Survivor is Rewriting the R...
In this episode of the “Swallow Your Pride” podcast, host Theresa Richard speaks with Roxann Diez Gross, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow, an expert in dysphagia with over 38 years of experience. Dr. Gross discusses her innovative Diez technique, which focuses on the interplay between breathing and swallowing to treat dysphagia. She shares insights from her […]
The post 365 – The Diez Technique: Revolutionizing Dysphagia Care Through Brea...
In this episode of the “Swallow Your Pride” podcast, host Theresa Richard speaks with Dr. Lauren Tabor Gray, a clinician scientist and assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Gray, who directs the Gray Research Lab, discusses her work on respiratory exercise interventions for ALS patients. The conversation covers the complexities of managing swallowing disorders […]
In this episode of the "Swallow Your Pride" podcast, host Theresa Richard engages with Dr. Stephanie Watts and Jessica Gregor, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S to discuss advancements in dysphagia care. They introduce the Esophageal CoLab and the Robust Esophageal Screening Test (REST), aiming to improve swallowing disorder diagnostics and treatment. The conversation highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, flexible clinica...
In this episode of the "Swallow Your Pride" podcast, host Theresa Richard interviews Bennett Blakeman, co-founder of K Pharmaceuticals, about Aquoral, a product designed to alleviate dry mouth (xerostomia). Bennett explains how Aquoral differs from typical water-based products by creating a protective layer in the mouth, offering longer-lasting relief. They discuss the importance of patient education, access, and the cost of Aquora...
What do rats have to do with swallowing disorders? More than you think! In this episode, we talk with Michelle Ciucci, PhD, CCC-SLP, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to explore the important role of animal research in understanding swallowing disorders in neurogenic diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Michelle explains how her lab uses […]
The post 361 – Beyond the Clinic: How animal models are changing dy...
"I go to swallow, and nothing triggers. Alarm bells are ringing in my head because, as a speech therapist, it's the scariest feeling."
What started as a routine cosmetic procedure turned into a medical nightmare for SLP Megan McCue. After just 12 units of Botox, she experienced severe swallowing difficulties, systemic complications, and a battle to be believed by medical professionals. Her story exposes the darker side of a treatme...
Is picky eating just a phase, or could it be something more serious?
How can we tell the difference?
What do we do next?
These questions are so common for clinicians and caregivers alike.
Feeding challenges can contribute to high levels of stress and even PTSD for the families we serve.
Thankfully, in this week’s episode, renowned feeding specialist Melanie Potock, MA, CCC-SLP, brings her 25 years of experience and expertise to ...
When passion meets purpose, incredible things happen… In this inspiring episode, Melissa Grassia-Chisholm shares her vision for bridging gaps in voice and swallowing therapy through the upcoming Functional Voice Swallow Airway Conference – and proves that innovation often starts with seeing what's missing. With remarkable enthusiasm, Melissa opens up about: ➡️ Creating a hands-on learning […]
The post 358 – Breaking the Voice Conf...
Ever wished there was a way to make nutritional supplements actually enjoyable for your patients with dysphagia? Meet Jeff Holtz, the ice cream innovator who's shaking up how we think about dysphagia nutrition. With 30 years in the ice cream industry, Jeff didn't just create another supplement – he developed a fortified ice cream that […]
The post 357 – Ice Cream That Heals? Meet Jeff Holtz, CEO of Thrive Ice Cream! appeared first ...
When life hands you an unconventional path, sometimes it leads to exactly where you're meant to be… In this inspiring episode, Hannelyn Perez shares her remarkable journey from Navy medical service to speech-language pathology to tech innovation – and proves that your background doesn't define your future. With remarkable candor, Hannelyn opens up about: ➡️ […]
The post 356 – From Military Service to Med SLP Innovation: A Story o...
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