The Untethered Podcast

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

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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.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Kelly Wenger to explore the evolution of a pediatric feeding clinician. Kelly shares her raw and relatable journey—from the initial overwhelm of entering private practice as a new mother to finding her voice as a confident feeding specialist.

The conversation dives deep into the "confidence gap" many clinicians face when dealing with complex feeding cases. Kelly discusses how shifting to an integrative approach and moving therapy into the home environment has not only improved patient outcomes but has also allowed for a more profound connection with parents. Whether you are a clinician looking to level up your skills or a business owner wanting to build a stronger referral network, this episode offers a roadmap for professional and personal growth.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

✔️ The Confidence Catalyst: How specialized training like Feed the Peds transforms clinical uncertainty into expert action.
✔️ The In-Home Advantage: Why the home environment is the "secret sauce" for the generalization of feeding skills.
✔️ Integrative Thinking: How to look at a child holistically to address multiple developmental needs simultaneously.
✔️ Building Your Network: Strategies for creating a robust referral circle that supports your practice growth.
✔️ Empowering Parents: Navigating the shift in parental awareness and how to effectively educate caregivers on their child’s needs.
✔️ The Ripple Effect: Understanding how one clinician’s education creates a wave of positive impact across an entire community.

Join me for this free 3-day training, where I’ll show you how to screen feeding cases clearly, confidently, and with intention — so you know exactly what to do next.

👉 Join the free 3-day Screen The Peds to Feed The Peds training

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE
Episode 314: Navigating Motherhood and Feeding Challenges with Aerica Walsh M.S, CCC-SLP
When Imposter Syndrome Shows Up in Pediatric Feeding Therapy (and What to Do Next)

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.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin dives into the intricate world of pediatric eating behaviors, pulling back the curtain on why "picky eating" is often a symptom of a much deeper developmental gap.

Many caregivers and clinicians feel stuck when a child refuses certain foods, often labeling it as a behavioral "no." Hallie challenges this perspective, urging us to look at the infrastructure of the mouth. She explores how the transition from a simple vertical munch to a mature circular rotary chew isn't just a milestone—it's the foundation of safe and varied nutrition.

This episode dives deep into the reality that clinical excellence requires a keen eye for motor mechanics and sensory processing. From identifying the three distinct chewing patterns to creating supportive environments that reduce mealtime stress, Hallie provides a roadmap for anyone looking to transform a child’s relationship with food.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why "surface behaviors" are red flags: How to stop chasing symptoms and start addressing causes.
✔️ The 3 Stages of Chewing: Understanding vertical, diagonal, and circular rotary patterns.
✔️ Sensory vs. Motor: How to distinguish between a child who won’t eat and a child who can’t eat.
✔️ The Role of Textures: Why certain food groups are "safe" and others are "scary" based on mechanical demand.
✔️ Observation Skills: How to spot "pocketing" or ineffective grinding during mealtime.
✔️ Strengths-Based Intervention: Why building on a child’s current motor abilities is more effective than forcing progress.
✔️ Success Redefined: How improving chewing mechanics directly improves the quality of life for the whole family.

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your clinical decisions and start leading with confidence, Screen The Peds to Feed The Peds is your next step.

Join me for this free 3-day training, where I’ll show you how to screen feeding cases clearly, confidently, and with intention — so you know exactly what to do next.

👉 Join the free 3-day Screen The Peds to Feed The Peds training

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

Episode 276: TOTs, Food Aversions & The Nervous System with Hallie Bulkin
Ep 338: The Missing Link in Pediatric Feeding: Critical Skills Grad Programs Skip

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.