The Untethered Podcast

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin tackles a question many feeding specialists quietly wrestle with:
Why can two therapists treat the same child — and achieve completely different outcomes?

The answer isn’t more techniques. It’s clinical reasoning.

Hallie dives into the complexity of pediatric feeding therapy, unpacking why progress often stalls when clinicians focus on surface-level feeding skills instead of identifying the primary systems driving a child’s feeding patterns. She challenges therapists to move beyond siloed thinking and into an integrated, systems-based approach that transforms therapy outcomes.

This conversation marks a powerful shift — from simply treating feeding challenges to stepping into clinical leadership.
If you’ve ever wondered why some cases feel stuck… or why therapy timelines stretch longer than expected… this episode will sharpen your lens and elevate your practice.

WHAT YOU’LL UNCOVER

🧠 Why two therapists can produce completely different results with the same child
🔍 How a lack of structured clinical reasoning impacts therapy outcomes
🧩 Why identifying primary systems matters more than targeting isolated skills
🚫 The danger of siloed treatment approaches in pediatric feeding programs
📈 How mentorship accelerates clinical growth
🎓 Why leadership — not just intervention — defines advanced feeding specialists

KEY SOUND BITES

“Find your feeding people.”
“Trust your gut.”
“Growth isn’t about more techniques — it’s about refining how you think.”
“Applications are currently open.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Variability in outcomes often reflects clinician reasoning — not child ability
• Complex feeding cases require structured clinical frameworks
• Extended treatment timelines may indicate a systems issue
• True growth comes from refining decision-making, not stacking certifications
• Mentorship and community are critical for effective pediatric feeding therapy
• The Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist pathway supports clinicians in leading integrated feeding programs

WORTH A LISTEN: CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
Ep 338: The Missing Link in Pediatric Feeding: Critical Skills Grad Programs Skip
What Helps Pediatric Feeding Therapists Gain Confidence in Practice

If you’re a practicing SLP, OT, or PT looking to strengthen your assessment skills, clinical reasoning, and treatment approach in pediatric feeding, check out CPFT™.
The Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist™ program was built to help clinicians deepen their expertise and feel more confident navigating the complexity of feeding cases.
Learn more and see whether CPFT™ is the right next step for you.

STAY CONNECTED & GROW YOUR PRACTICE
💬 Join the Conversation: Catch behind-the-scenes insights and daily clinical tips on
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⭐ If this episode shifted your perspective, please Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

Your feedback helps us reach more therapists and families who need these answers!
Ready to advance your clinical skills? Learn more here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Beth R Poe, MA, CCC-SLP , a certified pediatric feeding therapist and the founder of Way to Grow Therapy. Beth shares her inspiring transition from clinical certification to the launch of her own private practice, proving that with the right foundation, you can turn a clinical passion into a thriving business.

The conversation goes beyond just "starting a business." Beth and Hallie pull back the curtain on the realities of working with medically complex infants, specifically those navigating Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). They discuss why feeding therapy for these "heart warriors" requires a specialized lens, the vital role of natural environments in therapy, and why your network of fellow therapists is your greatest clinical asset. Whether you are dreaming of opening your own doors or looking to sharpen your skills with complex cases, this episode is your roadmap for growth.

UNPACKING THE EPISODE: WHAT YOU’LL UNCOVER

🚀 The "Leap" to Private Practice: Beth’s journey of launching Way to Grow Therapy and the mindset shift required to move from therapist to owner.
❤️ The CHD Connection: Why Congenital Heart Disease is a game-changer in pediatric feeding and how to adapt your approach for medically complex infants.
🤝 Power of the Pivot: The role of networking and mentorship in avoiding burnout and solving "impossible" cases.
🏡 The Natural Setting Advantage: Why the most effective feeding breakthroughs often happen at the family kitchen table rather than a sterile clinic.
📣 Advocacy in Action: Challenging the status quo to ensure medically complex children receive accurate diagnoses and timely intervention.
📈 Growth & Marketing: Practical insights on how to market a specialized practice while maintaining a focus on high-quality, evidence-based care.

KEY TAKEAWAYS & SOUND BITES

"I launched Way to Grow Therapy because I knew these families needed a different kind of support—and if you dream it, you can do it!"
"Don’t be afraid to ask questions. In the world of medical complexity, your curiosity is a clinical tool."
"Networking isn’t just about business; it’s about building a safety net for your patients and your own professional growth."

WORTH A LISTEN: CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY

EP 343: Inside a Mission-Driven Pediatric Feeding Practice
Why We Can’t Ignore the AirwaWhy We Can’t Ignore the Airway in Pediatric Feeding Therapy

STAY CONNECTED & GROW YOUR PRACTICE
💬 Join the Conversation: Catch behind-the-scenes insights and daily clinical tips on
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ If this episode shifted your perspective, please Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

Your feedback helps us reach more therapists and families who need these answers!
Ready to advance your clinical skills? Learn more here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin exposes the "hidden" red flag that most people dismiss as just a bad habit: mouth breathing. Far from being just a look, it’s a functional crisis that can silently derail a toddler’s feeding development, destroy sleep quality, and even physically reshape their face.

Hallie challenges the status quo, urging us to stop relying on standard "testing" and start mastering the art of observation. She introduces her game-changing "Statue and Sniff" test - the essential tool for catching airway issues before they become permanent developmental roadblocks. If your therapy has hit a plateau or a child is struggling to progress at the table, the answer isn’t in their bite - it’s in their breath. This is the deep dive into functional foundations that every therapist and parent needs to hear to secure a child's long-term success.

UNPACKING THE EPISODE: WHAT YOU’LL UNCOVER

🚩 Decoding the "Functional Cry": Why an open mouth is never "just a phase" but a loud signal that your toddler is struggling to reach their functional baseline.
🦴 Architectural Impact: A look at how mouth breathing acts as a "silent sculptor," physically altering craniofacial growth and narrowing the airway over time.
👃 The Art of Observation: Master Hallie’s "Statue and Sniff" technique—a precision assessment tool that tells you more than a standardized test ever could.
💃 The Neuromuscular "Dance": Why feeding is a high-stakes coordination of nerves and muscles that falls apart when mouth breathing takes over.
🛠️ The Restoration Blueprint: Practical, high-impact strategies to pivot a child toward healthy nasal breathing and optimal oral rest posture.
🎓 The Clinical Missing Link: Why adding airway expertise to your toolkit is the "secret sauce" for solving your most complex pediatric feeding cases.


KEY TAKEAWAYS & SOUND BITES
"You don't test, you observe. The 'Statue and the Sniff' test will tell you more than a standardized assessment ever could."
"Oral rest posture matters in everybody. If the mouth is open, the foundation for feeding is already crumbling."
"Mouth breathing isn't just a habit; it's a signal that the body is struggling to find its functional baseline."

WORTH A LISTEN: CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
EP 349: Myofunctional Therapy Explained: Root Causes, Airway Health & Collaborative Care
Why We Can’t Ignore the AirwaWhy We Can’t Ignore the Airway in Pediatric Feeding Therapy

STAY CONNECTED & GROW YOUR PRACTICE
💬 Join the Conversation: Catch behind-the-scenes insights and daily clinical tips on
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ If this episode shifted your perspective, please Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

Your feedback helps us reach more therapists and families who need these answers!
Ready to advance your clinical skills? Learn more here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin is joined by Melanie Peacock Shell to explore the deep shift from being a “therapist” to becoming a Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist (CPFT). Melanie pulls back the curtain on the "hidden gem" of the Pediatric Feeding Hub, sharing how advanced mentorship and a community of experts can turn clinical overwhelm into streamlined, interdisciplinary success.

They dive into the "gut-brain-plate" connection, discussing how gut health, sensory processing, and even sleep are the quiet drivers behind feeding challenges. If you’ve ever felt humbled by a complex case, this episode will show you how to lean into your community and use a holistic lens to finally see the results your families deserve.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

✔️ The CPFT Edge: How advanced certification shifts your clinical perspective and improves patient outcomes.
✔️ The Gut-Brain Connection: Why understanding a child’s gut health is non-negotiable for solving "sensory" feeding issues.
✔️ Power in Numbers: The role of the Pediatric Feeding Hub in providing the mentorship and collaboration needed to survive private practice.
✔️ The Holistic Evaluation: Integrating nutrition, sleep, and family dynamics into your therapy plan rather than just focusing on the "bite."
✔️ Navigating Referrals: How to build an interdisciplinary "dream team" to support a child’s developmental needs simultaneously.
✔️ Overcoming the "Humble" Phase: Dealing with the realization that there is always more to learn—and why that makes you a better therapist.

KEY TAKEAWAYS & SOUND BITES

"This thing humbled me big time. Pursuing advanced certification isn't about knowing it all; it's about having the tools to figure out the 'why' behind the 'what'."
"It all starts with nutrition. If the gut isn't happy and the child isn't sleeping, we are just spinning our wheels at the table."

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

Episode 251: You’re Worth The Time and Investment with Melanie Peacock Shell, MEd, CCC-SLP
Why Feeding Therapy Needs a Whole-Body Lens

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN
💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!

Ready to step into certification? Learn more here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin dives deep into the non-negotiable link between how a child breathes and how they eat. This conversation provides the essential clinical "missing link" for pediatric therapy: The Airway.

Hallie challenges the idea that mouth breathing is "just a habit," reframing it as a structural adaptation that can stall even the best feeding therapy plans. If you’ve ever had a patient hit a plateau or show signs of "feeding fatigue," this episode will show you why you must look at the nose and the airway before you can fix the plate.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

✔️ The Adaptation Myth: Why mouth breathing is a physiological survival mechanism, not a behavioral choice.
✔️ Structural Consequences: How chronic open-mouth posture alters dentofacial development and maxillofacial growth over time.
✔️ The "Airway Trumps Everything" Rule: Why the body will always prioritize breathing over eating, and how this creates "feeding fatigue."
✔️ The Airway Lens: How to integrate airway and sleep screenings into your standard feeding evaluations.
✔️ Beyond the Plate: Recognizing when feeding therapy alone isn't enough and when to refer out for airway obstruction.
✔️ Efficiency vs. Effort: How open mouth posture impacts a child's ability to coordinate the suck-swallow-breathe sequence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS & SOUND BITES

"Mouth breathing is not just a habit. It is an adaptation. We have to ask: What is blocking nasal breathing?"
"Airway trumps everything. If the body is fighting for air, it will never prioritize the complex mechanics of feeding."

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE
Ep 337: Unlocking Pediatric Feeding: Expert Strategies with Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™
How Pediatric Feeding Changed in 2025—and What It Means for Clinicians

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN
💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leave a quick review — it means the world to me!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.