The Growth Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba Patlakh sits down with Alex Lopiccolo, known as the King of Swings, a certified occupational therapy assistant and sensory integration specialist who has spent the last decade designing sensory gyms and teaching hands on workshops around the world. Alex shares how his own childhood experience with sensory sensitivities shaped his approach to movement based t...

This episode is one of the most personal conversations on the podcast, as host Luba Patlakh opens up about losing her own mom to cancer and how that loss shaped her view of advocacy and leadership. Luba sits down with Katia Conte, founder of the Daniela Conte Foundation, who shares the story of her daughter Daniela's four year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. K...

Is your child a late talker, and are you wondering whether to wait it out or pay closer attention? In this solo episode, Luba breaks down the real truth about late talkers, the version you won't find on social media. She explains what a late talker actually is, why understanding language is not the same as being able to communicate, and how speech delays ripple out into behavior, confidence, learn...

Most of us were raised on "clean your plate," "that's a bad choice," and "you're so lucky you can eat that." Then we grow up and wonder why food feels so loaded. In this episode I sit down with Lea Rifkin, a non-diet registered dietitian and founder of Kindred Nutrition Co., to talk about how early food messaging shapes our kids, and how we can rewrite that story while we heal our own relationship...

When childcare falls apart, everything falls apart with it, work, stress, and the whole rhythm of family life. In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Beth Heyer, founder of Babysitting Connection and mentor to women building service-based businesses across the country. Beth shares how a frustrating search for trustworthy sitters turned into a vetted, membership-based network now se...

Long before children can use their words, they communicate through behavior, their play, their reactions, and the patterns parents and teachers notice but can't always name. In this solo episode, Luba walks through the everyday signs that quietly signal a child may need more help, from delayed speech and frustration-driven meltdowns to sensory red flags, feeding challenges, rigid routines, and mot...

Behavior isn't random, and it isn't your child being "bad." It's communication. In this episode, Luba sits down with Kea Lee, M.S., BCBA, LBA, founder of Moment of Behavior, to unpack what your child's behavior is actually telling you, and how parents can shift from reactive to responsive. Kea brings 8 years of experience across clinic, home, school, and community settings, with a Bachelor's in Sp...

In this special solo episode, Luba shares the deeply personal story behind her very first children's book, Bobo Wears a Bowtie, launching this May during Better Speech and Hearing Month. This isn't just a book about speech, it's a story about courage, confidence, and helping children build the inner voice that says "I can try, I can learn, and I don't have to be perfect to grow." Luba opens up abo...

Jamie Giannino is a speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and nonprofit founder who has spent the last decade working in the gaps the system pretends don't exist. Luba sits down with Jamie to talk about building Bee Bright Therapy and the Wordwise Speech Therapy Foundation side by side, what it actually takes to become an early intervention agency in New York State, and what pushed...

What happens when a pediatric SLP gets tired of reinventing the wheel before every session and decides to build something better? Luba sits down with Stephanie Feero, MS, CCC-SLP and founder of Chomper Champs, a speech therapy companion tool born in a feeding therapy room and now shipping to SLPs across the country. They talk about why play-based therapy produces better outcomes, how Stephanie wen...

The Growth Lab is back, and Luba is marking one full year of the podcast with a solo episode that's equal parts reflection and momentum. She gets honest about what year one actually looked like behind the scenes, how the show evolved from a business-focused platform into a space built for families and providers navigating child development, and why she didn't have it all figured out when she start...

In this episode, Luba sits down with Nicole Casey, speech language pathologist, clinic owner, and the creator of the Child Led SLP community, for a conversation that is equal parts clinical insight and personal honesty. Nicole unpacks what "child led" therapy actually means, clearing up the common misconception that it equals no structure or goals, and explaining how following a child's lead leads...

Somewhere along the way, parents were made to believe that advocating for their child means being difficult, confrontational, or “that parent.” In this solo episode of The Growth Lab , speech-language pathologist and child advocate Luba Patlakh challenges that narrative and explains why advocacy is not aggression, it’s clarity. Drawing from years of experience supporting families through IEP meeti...

In this episode of The Growth Lab , Luba Patlakh sits down with speech-language pathologist, educator, and clinic owner Jessie Ginsburg—known online as the Sensory SLP—for a candid conversation about the evolving world of speech therapy and what it really takes to support children and families well. Together they explore Jessie’s journey from starting her own clinic to building widely used sensory...

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of suicide and loss. Please take care while listening. Crisis resources are included below. In this powerful Season 3 episode, Luba welcomes Mattie Murrey a former Speech-Language Pathologist and private practice owner of 30 years who traded speech drills for stages and story thrills. Now a keynote speaker, certified life coach, ghostwriter, and pu...

If you're listening to this late at night your house is quiet, your child is finally asleep, but you're on your phone wondering, "Is this normal?" this episode is for you. Luba speaks directly to the parents Googling developmental milestones at 2AM, comparing their child to other kids, or feeling dismissed by "wait and see" advice. As a speech-language pathologist, myofunctional therapist, child d...

In this inspiring Season 3 episode, Luba welcomes Hallie Sherman, M.S. CCC-SLP the powerhouse behind Speech Time Fun, the SLP Elevate membership, and The Speech Retreat. With 16 years of school-based experience, Hallie built one of the most recognizable platforms in the SLP community while working full-time, raising kids, and learning business from scratch. This isn't just a "how I built my busine...

In this groundbreaking Season 3 episode, Luba welcomes Erinn Askin, OT and founder of Oteim Pediatrics in California, to discuss one of the most innovative approaches in pediatric therapy today: neuroadaptive therapy using low-level lasers (photobiomodulation). Erinn's journey is inspiring and unconventional. From nannying and wanting the "cute minivan life," to becoming an OT, to teaching anatomy...

If your child is smart, understands everything, follows directions but still struggles to speak clearly this episode is for you. Your child isn't lazy or careless. This has nothing to do with intelligence. In this solo episode, Luba breaks down one of the most misunderstood areas of speech development: why brilliant kids struggle with articulation, motor planning, and speech clarity and what paren...

From entering foster care at age 4 with a 20-word vocabulary to becoming a multimillionaire entrepreneur and CEO of the Year Crystal Noell's story is nothing short of extraordinary. In this transformative episode of The Growth Lab, host Luba Patlakh-Kaplun sits down with Crystal Noell, founder of My CFO and creator of The STOP Method™, to unpack the financial strategies that changed both of their...

In this powerful Season 3 episode, Luba welcomes Erika Sinner Inc. 5000 founder (2x!), Chief Empathy Officer, author of Pets Are Family , and the visionary behind Tiny Superheroes, an organization transforming hospital culture for children facing serious illnesses. Erika's story is one of resilience, empathy, and purpose. Growing up with food stamps, an absent father, and instability, she learned...

Welcome to Season 3 of The Growth Lab Podcast! In this premiere solo episode, Luba shares the raw, real origin story of Kidology from driving her car to daycares as a solo mobile therapist to building a multi-location, Inc. 5000-recognized pediatric therapy empire. This episode is about being the heartbeat of your clinic greeting clients, jumping in when someone calls out, noticing what others mis...

In the Season 2 finale of The Growth Lab Podcast, Luba sits down with Jennifer Esperante—the "Cha-Cha Queen" who has spent the last 24 years spreading hope, optimism, and empowerment as a wellness coach, business coach, keynote speaker, and author. Jennifer's journey is extraordinary: Miss Sonoma County 1992, Miss San Francisco 1993, producer of pregame and halftime shows for the San Francisco 49e...

In this deeply personal solo episode, Luba shares how gratitude became the secret weapon that transformed her business and her life. From conducting interviews at Starbucks with no office, no team, and no roadmap to building Kidology Inc. into an Inc. 5000-recognized, multi-location pediatric therapy empire Luba reveals how shifting from survival mode to gratitude changed everything. This isn't ab...

In this inspiring Season 2, Episode 8 of The Growth Lab Podcast, Luba Patlakh-Kaplun welcomes Cori Wamsley - award-winning author of the Soul Sisterhood series, CEO of Aurora Corialis Publishing, and writing coach dedicated to helping authors turn their stories into reality. Cori has written 11 books filled with enchanting women's fiction, woven with themes of self-discovery, history, adventure, a...