The Myohacker Podcast: Answering Myo, Airway, & Feeding Questions

In this episode, Karindy Ong hosts Sanda Valcu-Pinkerton and Leyli Norouz-Knutsen from The Breathe Institute to explore interdisciplinary approaches to airway health, myofunctional therapy, and the latest research and clinical practices transforming the field.   Key Topics:  Interdisciplinary approach to airway health Role of myofunctional therapy in cranial facial development Latest research on s...

Mouth breathing can be a sign of underlying airway, inflammatory, or structural challenges. In this episode, Karindy discusses how to recognize the signs of mouth breathing in children, explores common root causes, and shares a whole-body approach to supporting healthy nasal breathing and development. In This Episode: Signs of mouth breathing in children Inflammation and environmental contributors...

In this experiential episode, Karindy breaks down the real meaning of grounding and why it may be the missing piece behind airway issues, chronic tension, and stalled therapy outcomes. This isn’t just about “earthing.” You’ll discover three powerful types of grounding—through the earth, the body, and human connection—and how they directly impact the nervous system, learning, and healing. If your p...

In this episode, originally aired on The Wellness Reality Check Podcast, Karindy Ong shares her journey from working with brain injuries to specializing in airway health and myofunctional therapy. She explores why a whole-body approach is essential for addressing airway and oral dysfunction, and how structure, function, and the nervous system are deeply interconnected. In this insightful conversat...

In this special solo episode, Karindy explores how trauma, both physical and emotional, can be stored in the body, creating protective patterns that limit healing. Through clinical insights and a powerful story from her beta program, Karindy shows how awareness of these patterns can unlock transformation for both patients and providers. You’ll go behind the scenes of her upcoming provider training...

This episode focuses on clinical intuition in feeding & oral motor therapy, using a detailed infant case study to illustrate how providers can move beyond symptom-based care and into a whole-body, systems-based approach. Karindy explains how clinicians should think in layers (like tracing paper) - from structure to soft tissue to systemic processes - and how dysfunction in one area (like movem...

In this mini case study episode, Karindy shares a real clinical moment that underscores the importance of trusting your instincts as a clinician. Subtle body cues can reveal deeper physiological stress - often tied to inflammation, infection, or nervous system dysregulation - if we’re willing to look beyond surface-level symptoms. She breaks down why whole-body thinking is essential in airway and...

In this quickie episode, Karindy provides a case study of how her holistic approach to myofunctional therapy helped a patient who had seen a variety of providers over years overcome her lateral lisp through individualized therapeutic techniques. Karindy emphasizes clinical intuition, body awareness, and individualized strategies to optimize patient outcomes.  Takeaways Every session is unique and...

If you have ever been confronted with complex feeding challenges in a child, this episode is for you. Karindy is joined by Jean Hawney, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC, to discuss the complexities of infant and pediatric feeding challenges. Jean shares her experience working with medically complex babies navigating tube feeding, bottle aversion, oral motor development challenges, and transitioning to soli...

In episode 42 of the MyoHacker Podcast, Karindy sits down with airway dentist Dr. Julia Sadove-Lopez who explains how families can navigate the confusing world of airway dental treatment options. Dr. Julia introduces a clear and simple framework that organizes treatment options into three categories based on how they support growth and apply force. This conversation is one you don’t want to miss i...

Biohacking tools are everywhere right now, but can they truly improve airway function? In this conversation, Freddie Kimmel joins me to explore the role of PEMF, red light therapy, ozone, and emerging oxygen technologies that support breathing, sleep, and tissue repair. We dive into: How electromagnetic fields influence circulation and cellular repair • Why red light supports nitric oxide producti...

In this quickie episode of the MyoHacker podcast, Karindy discusses the importance of self-care and awareness in myofunctional therapy. She emphasizes the need for therapists to tune into their own bodies while observing patients, highlighting the significance of body awareness and the ability to sense underlying issues. The conversation explores how understanding body signals and connections can...

In episode 39 of The Myohacker Podcast, Karindy interviews Dr. Shereen Lim on oral ties, facial development, and the importance of early intervention for sleep and airway health. Discover how releasing cheek and lower lip ties can improve facial growth, nasal breathing, and overall health, with practical tips for parents and professionals. Karindy and Dr. Lim also discuss the impact of trauma in a...

In episode 38 of the MyoHacker Podcast, Karindy speaks with Kelley Rubio, BS, RDH, QOM founder of My Myo My Health about the intersection of myofunctional therapy, women’s health, hormones, and airway-centered care. They explore how hormonal shifts during pregnancy, perimenopause, and midlife influence oral health, TMJ symptoms, breathing patterns, sleep quality, and nervous system regulation. The...

Did you know surgery recovery doesn’t start in the operating room? It starts weeks before! Discover holistic, science-informed strategies for pre-op preparation, post-op healing, pain management, and personalized recovery as Karindy and Danielle Mitchell, M.Ed., LPC, RDN, LD, FMCHC, discuss essential strategies for surgery recovery.    What You'll Learn:  Why pre-op preparation is critical. How pr...

In episode 36 of the Myohacker Podcast, Karindy talks with Casey Masalehdani, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and mother, about her journey into myofunctional therapy, pediatric speech therapy, and whole-child development. Together, they explore how engaging therapy strategies improve outcomes for children with speech delays, orofacial myofunctional disorders, and sensory processing differences....

In episode 35 of The MyoHacker Podcast, Karindy interviews Speech-Language Pathologist and Infant Feeding Specialist Amanda Chastain for a deep, holistic conversation about why feeding, sleep, breathing, and nervous system regulation can never be treated in isolation. Karindy and Amanda explore why grounded regulation opens the “learning window” for feeding skills, and how subtle cues signal what...

In episode 34 of The Myohacker Podcast, Karindy speaks with Courtney Mallally, a mother and Craniosacral Fascial Therapy practitioner, about her son Everett’s journey after being diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) following a traumatic birth.   Courtney walks listeners through the early days in the hospital, the devastating prognoses she was given, and the pivotal moment when she...

In this episode of The Myohacker Podcast, I interview Megan Robertson about early airway and myofunctional support for babies and young children, and the growing role of coaching in helping families before therapy begins. We explore the difference between coaching and treatment, common gaps in provider education, and how clinicians can responsibly guide families without crossing boundaries. Megan...

What do techniques for the tongue have to do with toes? In this quickie episode of The Myohacker Podcast, Karindy shares how techniques that we use in neurologically based myofunctional therapy can apply across disciplines and resulted in the movement of a patient’s toe that had been disconnected despite PT and other therapies. She shares techniques for enhancing tongue and toe movement, emphasizi...

In this episode of the MyoHacker Podcast, Karindy Ong speaks with Kim Garcia, MS, CCC-SLP, a specialist in Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Together they share what apraxia is, how it’s diagnosed, and some therapeutic strategies that support children with CAS. Kim shares why parental involvement is vital, the emotional realities families face, and how individualized approaches help children prog...

Have you ever wondered why feeding feels tricky, or why your baby has a hard time settling into sleep? In this episode of the MyoHacker Podcast, Karindy Ong welcomes back Nat Udwin—The Baby OT—to break down the why behind your baby’s behaviors. Nat explains how reflexes shape a baby’s ability to eat, sleep, and move—and why simple things like swaddling, tummy time, or even too much time in baby ge...

In this episode, Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP and Dr. Caitlin Keller PT, DPT dive into the essential and often overlooked role of pediatric pelvic floor therapy. They explore how pelvic floor tension and relaxation directly impact not only toileting challenges like constipation and bedwetting, but also airway health and function. The conversation highlights how pelvic floor therapy for children differ...

In this episode of The Myohacker Podcast, host Karindy Ong speaks with Dr. Melissa Jones, a pediatric neurologist specializing in functional psychiatry. They discuss PANS/PANDAS, their diagnostic criteria, and the challenges in identifying these conditions. The conversation delves into the importance of nutrition, the role of infections, and the need for a holistic approach to treatment. They also...

In this enlightening episode of The Myohacker Podcast Karindy welcomes guests Colleen Zeni and Catherine Kangas as they unpack the Oral Recovery Kit—a comprehensive resource that combines targeted homeopathy solutions with airway education to support families facing oral health challenges. Together, they discuss the personal stories that inspired the creation of the kit, the foundational role home...