The Untethered Podcast™

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Cheryl Pelletier ,M.S., CCC-SLP to discuss the essential infrastructure of a successful career in feeding therapy: mentorship, community, and the courage to evolve. Many clinicians feel like they are on an island when navigating complex pediatric swallowing and feeding cases. Hallie and Cheryl pull back the curtain on why "gat...

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin addresses one of the most common challenges clinicians face when entering pediatric feeding therapy: imposter syndrome. Many speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists feel unqualified or “not ready” to begin working with pediatric feeding cases. Hallie explains why this feeling is normal, why it doesn’t m...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin breaks down one of the biggest shifts in pediatric feeding therapy over the past year: the growing recognition that feeding and airway are inseparable . In 2025, feeding therapy evolved beyond skills at the table. Clinicians are now expected to screen breathing patterns, observe resting mouth posture, and consider sleep symptoms as part of a comprehensive feeding eva...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin speaks with Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT about the vital role of interprofessional collaboration in achieving optimal patient outcomes, particularly for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT emphasizes that working alongside occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), dentists, and other specialists is not just beneficial—it is now...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin addresses what she calls "one of the most misunderstood topics in our field" : tongue tie diagnosis. She challenges the common clinical practice of relying on visual assessment—hearing clinicians say, "it looks tied" or "it's a mild tie"—and emphatically states that function is what determines a diagnosis, not appearance. Hallie introduces a 4-step framework for maki...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin discusses the complexities surrounding tethered oral tissues, specifically tongue ties, lip ties, and buckle ties. She emphasizes that not all ties require surgical release and that the decision should be based on functional impacts such as speech, feeding, and sleep.  Hallie highlights the importance of thorough evaluations and the role of therapy in determinin...

In this empowering episode, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Angela Richwine, RDH, BASc, QOM, COM®, to dive deep into the world of myofunctional therapy and collaboration in healthcare. Angela opens up about her personal journey into the field, the pivotal moments that shaped her practice, and how her passion for helping others led her to uncover the root causes behind oral and airway issues. Together...

In this engaging conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Kassi Klein explore the intricate world of airway dentistry, discussing Kassi's personal journey into the field, the importance of understanding craniofacial development, and the need for a patient-centered approach that focuses on the underlying reasons for patients' concerns.  They emphasize the significance of collaboration among various hea...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin welcomes special guest Dr. Anita Gouri, a board-certified pediatric dentist, to dive deep into the critical, often-missed connection between pediatric dentistry and a child's overall airway health and development. Dr. Gouri shares her personal journey into airway and tissue-focused dentistry, motivated by her own daughter's and nephew's feeding and developmental chal...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin dives into a topic we all need to hear as we navigate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the rest of the holiday season: how our festive food and drink habits directly impact our sleep and breathing. It's about more than just your waistline, what you eat and drink this time of year directly affects your airway health and daily function. Hallie connects the dots between com...

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin interviews Meaghan Beames, a craniosacral therapist, discussing the profound impact of craniosacral therapy on infant feeding and development. They explore Meaghan's journey into this field, the connection between craniosacral therapy and oral development, and the importance of addressing tension patterns in infants.  The conversation emphasizes the need for mor...

In this episode of the Untethered podcast, Hallie Bulkin and her daughters, Lily and Mia, share their experiences with dental expanders and clear aligners. They discuss the feelings associated with getting and removing expanders, the transition to Invisalign, and the daily challenges and funny moments that arise during their orthodontic journeys.  Hallie also provides an update on her own den...

In this insightful conversation, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Emily Hussey, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, CLC , founder of Eats and Speaks, to explore the dynamic world of pediatric feeding therapy . Emily shares her journey from speech-language pathology to pediatric feeding, highlighting the importance of early oral health , parent education , and individualized care for every child. They unpack the realitie...

EP 342: The MARPE Experience – Bodywork, Diet, and the Mind-Body Connection in Orthodontics In this engaging conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Jeannie Nelson discuss their upcoming Marpe procedures, sharing their personal experiences, expectations, and the challenges they anticipate. They delve into the intricacies of the Marpe process, the importance of bodywork and therapy, dietary considerations...

In this engaging conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Ashley Dorado explore Ashley's journey from dental hygiene to becoming a myofunctional therapy advocate. They discuss the importance of nutrition, the challenges of private practice, and the significance of building a collaborative care team. Ashley shares her personal experiences and insights on addressing oral habits, the role of family in therapy...

In this conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Robyn Merkel Walsh discuss the resurgence of evidence-based practice (EBP) in myofunctional therapy, addressing the challenges faced in research acceptance and the misconceptions surrounding pseudoscience.  They emphasize the importance of clinical insight, the role of therapy tools, and the need to address compensations in therapy. The discussion highl...

In this episode of the Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin discusses the complexities of pediatric feeding, focusing on lip ties, latch issues, and the misconceptions surrounding 'lazy bottles.'  She emphasizes the importance of functional assessments over labels, advocating for a comprehensive approach to feeding therapy. Hallie provides practical takeaways for clinicians and introduces the Pe...

Ep 338: The Missing Link in Pediatric Feeding: Critical Skills Grad Programs Skip In this episode, Hallie Bulkin discusses the critical gaps in pediatric feeding education that graduate programs often overlook. She emphasizes the importance of understanding messy eating behaviors and tethered oral tissues, and how these insights can enhance therapy outcomes.  Hallie introduces her course, Fee...

Ep 337: Unlocking Pediatric Feeding: Expert Strategies with Hallie Bulkin In this episode of the Untethered Podcast™, Hallie discusses the intricacies of pediatric feeding assessments and treatments. She emphasizes the importance of thorough assessments that include parent interviews, oral motor examinations, and understanding airway issues.  Hallie also highlights the significance of parent...

Ep 336: Feeding Therapy in Schools: Safety, Culture, and Collaboration with Karen Howarth In this episode, Hallie Bulkin interviews Karen Howarth, a pediatric occupational therapist with 25 years of experience — and our new resident OT mentor inside Feed The Peds®. They dive into Karen’s work in feeding therapy within school settings, including the development of the MEALS screening tool, the...

Ep 335: The #1 Way to Transform Your Pediatric Feeding Evaluations In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin reveals why a truly effective pediatric feeding evaluation starts long before the child walks into the room. She shares how well-designed intake forms with targeted, specific questions unlock critical insights into a child’s feeding behaviors and highlight red flags that migh...

Ep 334: Bye-Bye Thumb! Myo & Airway Strategies to Break the Habit - for Good In this episode of The Untethered Podcast™, Hallie Bulkin explores the complexities of thumb sucking in children, emphasizing that it is often a symptom of deeper issues such as airway obstruction and oral dysfunction. She discusses the importance of understanding the underlying causes of thumb sucking, the role of ai...

Ep 333: Transforming airway health & smiles with MARPE featuring Dr. Svitlana Koval, DMD, MSc, BDS This week on The Untethered Podcast™, Hallie welcomes back Dr. Svitlana Koval, Florida’s leading provider of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE).  Together, they explore the powerful connection between dental expansion, airway health, and facial balance covering MARPE and clea...

Ep 33 2: The Interconnectedness of Oral and Systemic Health with Amber White RDH, HHP This week on The Untethered Podcast™ , join Hallie Bulkin and Amber White for an eye-opening conversation that bridges biological dentistry, holistic health, and overall well-being. Amber shares her journey from traditional dentistry to a holistic approach, revealing how oral health deeply influences the entire b...

Ep 331: Inside My MARPE Journey with Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™ In this solo episode of The Untethered Podcast ™, Hallie Bulkin opens up about her decision to undergo Mini Screw Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) . Despite previous expansion efforts, Hallie experienced persistent post-nasal drip, jaw pain, facial asymmetry, and disrupted sleep. All of which led her to explore MA...