Beyond The Tube: Real Stories, Real Advice

I was so glad to sit down with Emily from Lively Eaters to talk about feeding challenges and how she can support families in this space. Emily is a speech pathologist by background and the founder of this multidisciplinary feeding therapy service based in South Australia that has been running for about fifteen years. Emily shared her passion for feeding therapy, which started during her university...

I was so excited to sit down with Hannah from Nappy Free to talk about toilet training. Not just for medically complex kids, but for all kids. Hannah toilet trained her first child at around 20 months and her second at just 11 months old. She’s a teacher of 18 years, and through Nappy Free, she has already supported 87 families through their toilet training journey. We talked about the myth of ‘wa...

I was so excited to sit down with Mel, the founder and editor of the gorgeous publication, The Blend magazine. Mel and I talked all about how this beautiful resource came to be, starting from a very desperate and personal place when her son, Arlo, had a horrendous start to his tube-feeding journey. Mel shared her experiences of navigating her son's diagnosis of quadriplegic cerebral palsy and...

If you're just joining us, I highly really recommend you go back to Episode 26 to hear the first part of Michelle's incredible story. In this episode, Michelle opens up about the hardest part of her journey, and her answer really surprised me. It wasn't the medical side, but the psychological impact of feeding trauma on her daughter, Mila, and the unexpected regression after a successf...

In this episode, I sit down with Michelle, a fellow tubie mum from New York, to talk about her daughter Mila and the long road that brought their family into tube feeding. From the very beginning, Michelle knew something wasn't right with feeding, and what followed was a whirlwind of appointments, failed feeds, hospital admissions, scary tests, and the kind of overwhelm that so many of us know...

I was so glad to sit down with Jason from Supertee for this conversation, because this is one of those ideas that makes an immediate difference to families like ours. If you haven't come across Supertee before, it's a medical garment disguised as a hero costume, created to help children feel more comfortable, more capable, and more like themselves during hospital stays and treatment. Jason...

I was so excited to sit down with Leticia, the CEO and co-founder of the incredible app, Understanding Zoe . Leticia and I talked all about how this app came to be, starting from a very personal place with her daughter, Zoe, who is autistic and has ADHD. Leticia shared her own journey of discovery, and how the challenges she faced as a parent sparked the idea for an AI-powered "second brain&q...

In this episode of Beyond the Tube, Fi interviews Kate Broderick, an occupational and speech therapist, who shares her insights on sensory processing in tubie kids. They discuss the importance of understanding sensory processing challenges, the role of the nervous system, and how medical trauma can impact a child's sensory experiences. Kate emphasises the need for advocacy, effective communica...

In this episode of Beyond the Tube, Fi Rodrick speaks with Alex De Young and Nicki Walsh from Frankie's Clubhouse , an initiative designed by Queensland Health, to support children and families navigating healthcare challenges. They discuss the origins of Frankie's Clubhouse, the importance of addressing emotional needs post-hospitalisation, and the role of personal experiences in shaping...

In this episode, I'm joined by Maddie (the CEO of Little Dreamers Australia) to discuss the vital role of young carers in our community. Maddie shares her personal story of caring for her brother and mother (a journey that began when she was just six years old) and how it inspired her to create a national support network. I wanted to explore how we can better identify the two or three young carers...

It's the final episode for 2025 and Eliana joins me to wrap up the year with some incredible stories and practical advice. We discuss the reality of establishing feeding schedules (flexible or strict), managing big emotions in the morning, and transitioning from NG tubes to G-tubes. Eliana shares an amazing story about Luke’s button popping out mid-flight and how preparation saved the day. She...

Nurse Mary (The Butterfly Pig founder) shares her journey from paediatric oncology to designing over 90 different medical play toys (from G-tubes to miniature ultrasound machines). She explains how tangible, realistic medical toys are a vital resource for children managing medical conditions and procedures. Mary highlights that play is the gold standard for patient education and is an essential to...

In this episode, Fi welcomes law graduate Tomika, who has a special interest in helping families navigate the complex world of the NDIS. Tomika clarifies the differences between a  plan reassessment  and a  change in circumstance  . She also shares practical advice on handling plan rollovers and escalating issues to your MP. You'll hear about the essential evidence checklist to help families with...

In this episode, I’m joined by Reidena Barrett, Complex Care Coordinator , to explore the vital role care coordinators play in supporting families of children with medical complexity. Reidena shares her experience working alongside families, health professionals and support networks to make sure no detail is missed and every child gets the care they need. From navigating hospital stays to coordina...

In this episode, I'm joined by Simone from Plan Tracker, to explain the often confusing world of NDIS plan management. She breaks down the three ways you can manage NDIS funding (plan managed, self managed, and agency managed) and explains the statistics on which options are most popular. Simone also clarifies what a plan manager actually does, focusing on how they remove the administrative bu...

Finding a reliable support worker can be stressful, especially during an emergency. What happens when your regular support worker calls in sick, has an accident, or you need to find someone new at short notice? Trent from Care Agency Services joins me to talk about how his agency provides a safety net for families and NDIS providers. He explains their process for hiring, vetting, and training a po...

What is it really like to be the sibling of a child with additional medical needs? In this episode, I sit down with my two older kids, Keira and Asher , as they share their honest perspective on what it’s like having Ezra as their brother. From the challenges to the changes, and the resilience they’ve built along the way, this conversation shines a light on the often-unseen impact of medical compl...

Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains a personal account of a traumatic parenting journey, including a brief mention of self-harm. If this conversation brings anything up for you, help is available. You can contact Lifeline anytime on 13 11 14. In this powerful episode, Fi is joined by Amy, who shares the deeply personal and challenging story of her son, Thomas. Amy recounts how a...

In this episode, Fi chats with Hilarie Geurink , the founder of Blended Tube Feeding - a paediatric dietician and passionate advocate for real food blends. Hilarie has supported hundreds of families worldwide in making the switch to blended diets, helping them navigate medical resistance, build confidence, and simplify the process of nourishing their tube-fed children. We explore the benefits of b...

This is a vital conversation for any parent navigating feeding challenges and looking for compassionate, practical guidance. In this episode, speech pathologist Eliza from Milk and Munch joins Fi to discuss the intricacies of paediatric feeding therapy. She explains her specialisation and clarifies the key differences between a speech pathologist who focuses on communication and one who centres on...

Fi is joined by Manisha Uprety, a Nursing Specialist & Paediatric Complex Care Expert. She shares invaluable advice for parents navigating the often overwhelming transition from hospital to home with a tube-fed child. Manisha stresses the importance of parents becoming the loudest voice for their child, ensuring they don't accept a discharge until they feel completely confident and equipped. S...

Well, this episode will certainly give you the warm fuzzies! Today, Fi sits down with two incredible sisters, Loz and Rhonda, the driving force behind Central Coast Kids in Need . They share the story of their one-of-a-kind charity that provides crucial financial support to families with sick children on the NSW Central Coast. The organisation operates with no means testing, ensuring help gets to...

Fi sits down with Sam, the co-founder of the Heba app, a tool designed to change how families manage and navigate the care of children with additional needs. Sam shares the personal story behind the app's creation, stemming from his experiences with family and volunteering. He explains how Heba helps families move away from paper folders and scattered notes to a single, secure digital space. Heba...

𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙀𝙔𝙊𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝙐𝘽𝙀 𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙨. NEW EPISODES FORTNIGHTLY on THURSDAYS How do you advocate for the right support when your child has complex feeding needs? In this episode, I’m joined again by NDIS consultant Belle Kelly to deep dive into the specific supports available for our tube-fed kids—whether they’re on NG tubes, PEGs or experiencing feeding difficul...

What’s it like to navigate the world of NDIS as a family living with medical complexity? This episode is absolutely eye-opening, with so much to learn and advocate for. In this one, Fi is joined by Belle Kelly, a business consultant who’s spent more than two decades in the disability sector, specialising in supporting NDIS providers and families. They get right into the complex world of NDIS plans...