The Speech Space Podcast

WH-questions are a foundational language skill that many speech-language pathologists target in therapy. But practicing who, what, where, when, why, and how questions can sometimes start to feel repetitive. In this episode of The Speech Space Podcast, we share fun and engaging ways to target WH-questions in speech therapy using pictures, games, videos, and stories. These simple strategies can help...

Burnout is a common experience for speech-language pathologists working in schools, healthcare, and private practice. Heavy workloads, therapy planning demands, documentation requirements, and large caseloads can make it difficult to maintain balance over time. In this episode, we discuss what SLP burnout looks like, why it happens in our field, and practical strategies for preventing and managing...

AI is everywhere—but what does it actually mean for speech-language pathologists? In this episode, we break down how SLPs can use AI safely, ethically, and realistically, including privacy concerns, accuracy limits, and where AI can genuinely save time without replacing clinical judgment. You can access the show notes here.

Moving more doesn't have to mean intense workouts or rigid routines. In this episode, we explore creative, realistic ways to add more movement into everyday life — focusing on habits that support energy, mood, and long-term consistency without burnout. You can access the show notes here.

This episode discusses how to create a culture of kindness in speech therapy. It gives an overview of Dr. Bruce Perry's neurosequential model as an evidence-based rationale for the connection between kindness and learning. Next, it emphasizes the importance of prioritizing kindness as soon as we begin working with a student or a group of students. This could involve placing visual kindness cues in...

In this episode of  The Speech Space Podcast , we share practical behavioral interventions and evidence-based strategies to help SLPs manage challenging behaviors in the speech room. Learn how to use positive supports, function-based assessment, and proactive techniques to create calm, engaging, and productive therapy sessions.

This episode explores practical communication techniques that help SLPs build strong, trusting rapport with students and clients. Jessica discusses why harsh, punishment-based communication often backfires, and offers evidence-informed strategies that foster connection, collaboration, and emotional safety. Listeners will leave with clear, actionable tools to strengthen therapeutic relationships an...

The episode explores what SLPs need to know about childhood cancer. Its goal is to function as a broad introduction to this topic, primarily for SLPs who work in educational settings. The episode begins with some childhood cancer basics, including the most common types of pediatric cancers, as well as an overview of childhood cancer symptoms. The episode then examines the different ways in which c...

This episode focuses on top sleep tips for SLPs. The topic of sleep has a strong connection to the work that SLPs do, because being well-rested can support us in navigating complex clinical issues and managing stressful situations. The episode includes research-based tips from sleep scientists and experts, but it is not medical advice. The first part of the episode explores the importance of havin...

This episode is about what SLPs need to know about reading comprehension. It begins by acknowledging that SLPs have a large scope of practice, and that they are not typically seen as the primary professionals who work on reading comprehension, especially in the school setting. It invites SLPs to make slight adjustments to their practice to ensure that students get the best support possible. The ep...

This episode is about sensory strategies for speech therapy sessions. It opens with an acknowledgement that OTs are the primary sensory experts, and offers resources for reviewing sensory basics. The episode then discusses the difference between being "sensory-defensive" and "sensory-seeking," reviews the sensory system, and then moves into a discussion of strategies to support students with senso...

This episode is about essential counseling skills for SLPs. It begins by acknowledging that even though counseling is a daily component of our work as SLPs, it's not necessarily something that we focus on. Research also indicates that counseling is an area where many SLPs lack confidence. The episode goes on to assert that counseling is simultaneously a bigger and a smaller part of speech-language...

This episode is about how to thrive as a preschool SLP. The episode opens with an acknowledgement that working as an SLP will probably never be easy, but it asserts that thriving is possible. It then moves into a brief recognition of the uniquely challenging and exhausting work that preschool SLPs do each day. The episode then goes on to offer three strategies to thrive as a preschool SLP. The fir...

This episode is about SLPs and conflict management. It opens with a discussion of Nonviolent Communication, an approach that focuses on using empathy during challenging interactions. There are four main components in Nonviolent Communication: observation, feelings, needs and requests. A core understanding within Nonviolent Communication is that everything we do is in service of our needs. This ide...

This episode shares communication tips to use during situations that tend to involve complex and nuanced conversations; e.g., at family gatherings over the holidays, and during meetings with parents or caregivers. The strategies that are included in the episode come from three recently released books about communication. The first book I discuss is  Permission to Speak , by Samara Bay. The tips fr...

This episode discusses the reasons why it's important to support increased diversity in the SLP profession. I provide demographic information related to the SLP field, and then share results from two studies that indicate improved outcomes for patients and students when they have a shared racial or ethnic identity with their medical providers and/or teachers. I explain that in school settings, app...

This episode covers the top five evaluation tips for SLPs. I discuss the difference between the terms "evaluation" and "assessment," and offer five practical tips to help make the evaluation process easier for SLPs. These tips include learning about the student's strengths, making the language sample analysis process more efficient, using templates for reports, collaborating with families and teac...

This episode focuses on building belonging in speech therapy sessions. I share three different definitions of belonging, and then focus on simple principles and strategies to help our students and clients experience a sense of belonging in the speech room and beyond. These include fostering a sense of ownership and agency, establishing routines that encourage belonging, honoring student identities...

This episode is about finding simple ways to incorporate nature into speech therapy sessions. I share highlights from the research about how nature supports learning, and then explore a variety of strategies for helping students connect with nature as they work on speech and language skills. I focus on activities that don't require access to green spaces, including several variations of forest bat...

In this episode, I discuss mental health basics for SLPs and their students and clients. I share why I'm passionate about this topic, and why I decided to focus on it in this episode. I talk about the variety of mental health crisis lines that are available, and encourage listeners to use them if needed. I also share basic information about common mental health warning signs, and highlight some of...

This episode discusses the importance of hearing care and protection. I review the concept of decibels and the difference between sound intensity and sound loudness, and talk about how excessive noise exposure damages our hearing. I focus on how to educate students and clients about hearing protection, and share some hearing protection tips for a variety of age groups. The show notes from this epi...

This episode is about neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy. I review the basic terminology of the neurodiversity paradigm, and explain what inspired the creation of this episode. I acknowledge the concerns that some SLPs have about the neurodiversity movement, and share why I'm excited to be a neurodiversity-affirming SLP. I also offer my favorite idea for getting started with neurodiversity-af...

This episode is about using music to support speech and language skills in our speech therapy sessions. I introduce some of the research that supports connections between music and learning, and then provide a variety of practical ideas for how to use music in speech therapy with both older and younger students. The episode concludes with a brief exploration of how music is experienced in the Deaf...

This episode is about ideas for spring-themed speech therapy sessions. I discuss how to use nature in spring-themed speech therapy sessions, including observing the weather, going on nature walks, and planting seeds. I include options for adapting these ideas for different contexts, including teletherapy. I also share spring-themed picture book recommendations, and ideas for spring-themed speech t...

This episode focuses on the important role that SLPs can play in helping their students and clients feel safe and ready to learn. I review basic information about trauma, and then cover topics related to trauma-informed speech therapy. The episode includes an explanation of the principles of trauma-informed care, and practical suggestions for how to put them into practice during your speech therap...