First Bite
Michelle Dawson & Erin Forward
Recent Episodes
Guest: Rachel Conrad, MA, CCC-SLP
Earn 0.10 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/embracing-lived-experiences
In the first episode of 2025, Michelle is joined by Jaclyn Pederson, MHI, CEO of Feeding Matters, and William Sharp, PhD, Director of Children’s Multidisciplinary Feeding Program (Atlanta, GA) and Professor at Emory University School of Medicine, to lay the foundation for a year of combining passion, advocacy, and learning. These guests share their expertise and highlights from a recent journal publication on how the diagnoses of “Pediatric Feeding Disorder” and “Avoidant Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder” are individualistic while simultaneously overlapping to capture the unique needs of the little ones on our caseloads. Additionally, they share practical insight into the roles and responsibilities of various team members, such as the SLP and the psychologist, in evaluating and treating these little ones as part of an interprofessional practice team.
About the Guest:
Rachel Conrad, MA, CCC-SLP, is the owner of Bite and Bloom Therapy, LLC, under The Mindful Collective, where she specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing, ARFID, AAC, and sensory-based therapy. She serves as the Chair of the Feeding Matters Research Consortium, a patient- and family-centered research initiative partially funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Rachel brings a unique perspective to her work, combining her professional expertise with her lived experience of pediatric feeding differences and ARFID. She collaborates with The Village, a perinatal and eating disorder provider group, and participates in national advocacy and education initiatives to improve early intervention and interdisciplinary care for children with feeding differences. Rachel has delivered presentations and talks on best practices for evaluating and treating medically complex children with feeding and swallowing disorders. She is passionate about creating spaces where patients and families feel truly heard, seen, and valued in discussions about feeding differences. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) and is committed to advancing awareness, research, and best practices in pediatric feeding and swallowing. Rachel bridges the gap between research, clinical practice, and lived experience to support children and families navigating feeding differences.
Show Notes:
Bite & Bloom Therapy: https://www.mindfulcollectivegroup.com/rachel-conrad
Feeding Matters: https://www.feedingmatters.org
Find Assistance: https://www.findhelp.org
Guests: Chelsie Esek-Onyeahialam, MS, CCC-SLP, and Jordyn R. Montique, MS, CCC-SLP
Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/cours...
If you’re an advocate for creating inclusive spaces, an ally for growing diversity within our profession, and want to engage in professional networking through evidence-based empowerment, then y’all, this is the hour for you!
Chelsie and Jordyn educate colleagues on “White Supremacy Culture” and how it manifests in the field of speech therapy, discuss common barriers BIPOC individuals encounter when entering the profession, and inspire us all with strategies our field can take to overcome them.
Show Notes:
#BlackSLPMagic: https://www.blackslpmagic.org
#BlackSLPMagic Linktree: https://linktr.ee/blackslpmagic
JRC the SLP: https://beacons.ai/jrc_theslp
Esek Health: https://linktr.ee/EsekHealth
Culturally Responsive Clinician Handbook: https://www.raynetherapy.com/thecultu...
About the Guests:
Chelsie Esek-Onyeahialam, MS, CCC-SLP is a highly respected, board-certified Speech-Language Pathologist whose career reflects both academic excellence and an unwavering dedication to healthcare equity. A proud Magna Cum Laude graduate of Howard University with a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Chelsie has devoted her expertise primarily to acute care, where she champions improved access, outcomes, and advocacy for underserved communities.
Jordyn R. Montique, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and the owner of RAYNE Therapy, a private practice providing therapy for clients, school contracting, and professional development hours (PDHs). She is the author of The Culturally Responsive Clinician Handbook and the creator of JRCtheSLP, LLC, where she speaks, consults, and develops diverse therapy materials.