SLP Full Disclosure

Did you know you can travel during your Clinical Fellowship Year? So many speech-language pathologists still believe this is off-limits, and it is simply not true. In this episode, host Michelle welcomes Breana, Associate Brand Manager on the Allied Brand team at AMN Healthcare, for an insider preview of the 2026 ASHA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, running November 19-21. Together, they unpa...

Are you an SLP who feels intimidated by artificial intelligence? Wondering whether tools like ChatGPT and Claude have any place in your practice? This week, host Michelle sits down with Jennie Belen, founder of The Latina SLP, to talk candidly about why she stopped fighting AI and started using it to reclaim her time. Jennie shares her journey from writing IEPs by hand to confidently using AI tool...

Have you ever wondered why age norms alone cannot tell you if a child needs speech therapy? Are you ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about treatment sequencing? In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with her friend and school-based SLP Catherine Grizzard to explore the world of articulation and speech sound disorders. With almost 20 years of school-based...

What if the career path you were told to avoid turned out to be the best decision you ever made? In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with Claudia Jones, a travel occupational therapist with AMN Healthcare and 11 contracts under her belt. Claudia shares how she went from a new grad who was warned away from travel therapy to a passionate advocate helping the next generati...

After nearly two decades of working in pragmatics and social communication, Erin Weiner noticed something shifting. Her clients were no longer engaged by traditional curricula. They were online, motivated by media and games—and she was only seeing them for one hour a week. So she did something unconventional: she built a solution. Autizan is an AI-powered platform that meets neurodivergent individ...

Izzy Montano's path to speech-language pathology started in the deaf community of San Diego, wound through the U.S. Navy's intelligence division, and eventually landed him in a school district managing a caseload of over 100 students. Somewhere in the middle of all that, he taught himself to code and built SLP AI Tools, a platform designed specifically to eliminate the administrative burnout that...

Welcome back to another episode of the SLP Full Disclosure podcast. In Episode 144, host Michelle sits down with Maurice Goodwin, a licensed speech-language pathologist and voice teacher based in Houston, Texas. Maurice is the founder of Goodwin Voice and Speech, adjunct faculty at Lamar University and Marymount University, and a specialist in voice and upper airway disorders. Together, they pull...

Ever wonder how your dream school assignment actually comes together? What does it take for a staffing agency to land a contract with a school district, and what does that mean for your career? In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with Patrick O'Connor, President of AMN's Schools Division, for an inside look at the school staffing world. With more than 15 years of experi...

Kailey Harmon has spent nearly a decade working in acute care and the NICU, building expertise in neonatal feeding, myofunctional therapy, and outpatient feeding intervention. In this conversation, she and Michelle explore the realities of NICU speech pathology, from earning the trust of nursing staff to navigating the emotional weight of supporting families through some of the most difficult mome...

Claudia and Michelle first connected at ASHA in Washington, D.C., where Claudia, a Travel SLP fielded a steady stream of questions from curious graduate students. This episode captures all of that and more. Claudia walks listeners through how she discovered AMN Healthcare, what her first recruiter call felt like, her clinical fellowship year, how she chose Vermont as her first destination, and how...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the job market right out of graduate school? Do you desire greater control of your clinical career trajectory from day one? In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle welcomes back Jill Pantle, the Director of University Programs at AMN Healthcare, to discuss an incredible new initiative. They explore how the University Program connects educational inst...

In episode 139, Michelle Gage and Breana Donnelly celebrate Speech and Hearing Month with a special live episode focused on the impact of speech-language pathologists, the many paths within the profession, and the exciting opportunities available to both experienced clinicians and new grads. Michelle shares her personal career journey through public schools, early intervention, travel therapy, and...

In episode 138, Michelle sits down with AMN Healthcare recruiter Kristie Yakovich to explore the highly desired and empowering world of travel therapy. Kristie shares her 15 years of insight into the differences between school-based and medical settings, the step-by-step process of securing your ideal contract, and the incredible support systems AMN provides.  The conversation covers how to handle...

In episode 137, Michelle explores the realities of articulation therapy, and the practical skills speech-language pathologists learn on the job. While graduate school provides a strong foundation in anatomy, speech sound norms, and analytical skills, many therapists find themselves figuring out the exact techniques to correct specific sounds through trial and error. Michelle shares her experiences...

In episode 136, Michelle welcomes back Laura Smith, a speech-language pathologist who specializes in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Also known as the "SLP Mommy of Apraxia," Laura brings both clinical expertise and personal experience as a mother of a child with CAS. She breaks down exactly what apraxia is—a disconnect between the brain's planning and the mouth's movement—and why the diagnosis...

In episode 135, Michelle welcomes Dylan Makani, co-founder and CEO of Ner Chat, to discuss how his company is revolutionizing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Inspired by a close friend who used an AAC device but struggled to stay in touch remotely, Dylan set out to bridge the gap in digital communication. He created tools that allow AAC users to connect seamlessly through mainstr...

In the second part of this series, Michelle continues the discussion on the foundational skills toddlers need before they begin to talk. This episode builds on the previous one by exploring how play, imitation, and environment shape a child's path to verbal communication. Michelle offers practical strategies for parents and SLPs to encourage these skills, emphasizing that language development is a...

In this episode, Michelle kicks off a two-part series focusing on critical developmental skills that precede speech. While many parents and caregivers eagerly await a child’s first words, several foundational milestones must occur first to support successful communication. Michelle breaks down these essential skills, offering practical advice for parents, caregivers, and speech-language pathologis...

Episode Summary In this episode, Michelle sits down with Tim Mackesey, a board-certified specialist in fluency disorders with over 33 years of experience. Tim brings a unique perspective to the conversation, as he is both a seasoned clinician and a person who stutters. Together, they explore the complexities of fluency disorders, moving beyond the mechanics of speech to address the deep emotional...

Episode Summary In the first episode of 2026, Michelle gives a special preview of the exciting guests and topics lined up for SLP Full Disclosure in the coming months. From groundbreaking AAC technology and fluency therapy to the worlds of voice coaching and pediatric feeding, this season is packed with diverse expertise. Listen in as Michelle shares how she discovers incredible SLPs on social med...

Episode Summary In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, Michelle shares an exciting recap of the ASHA 2025 Convention in Washington, D.C. Celebrating ASHA's centennial anniversary, this year's convention was a massive gathering of nearly 15,000 speech-language pathologists, graduate students, and exhibitors from around the world. Listen in as Michelle discusses the incredible energy at the AMN Hea...

In this episode, we're joined by Regina Ramone, a Speech Language Pathologist who brings a unique perspective from her work in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Regina shares her journey from Texas to directing a clinic in Mexico, focusing on the critical care for children with cleft lip and palate.  She discusses the significant differences in speech pathology services, early intervention, and family suppo...

In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure , Michelle is joined by AMN Healthcare teletherapist and bilingual SLP, Natalie Jaramillo. Natalie shares her expertise on supporting Spanish-speaking students in a school setting, from the importance of a thorough family interview to understand a child's language exposure and cultural background to how dynamic assessments can reveal a child's learning potent...

In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure , Michelle interviews Melissa Perez, a passionate speech-language pathologist and business owner. Melissa shares her journey into the field, from discovering her love for working with children to starting her private practice, Honeybee Speech.  She discusses the challenges she has faced, including navigating insurance, building client relationships, and growi...

In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure , Michelle sits down with Stefanie LaManna, an experienced SLP and Associate Director of Healthcare Services in Speech-Language Pathology at ASHA, to discuss the critical topic of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) . Together, they explore how SDOH impacts healthcare access, patient outcomes, and the role of SLPs in addressing these factors across various s...