All About Kids Podcast

How do you go from supporting one child’s development at a time to leading the people and programs that support thousands? Today, Eileen Lombardo-Young answers that question.

Eileen is a speech-language pathologist, educator, and Executive Director of Preschool Programs and Services at All About Kids. Her role in making a difference in the lives of children was built case by case through hands-on experience as a provider. A SUNY New Paltz graduate and ASHA-certified clinician, she began her career supporting autistic students ages six to twenty-one, then worked across preschool programs, evaluations, camps, teletherapy, and clinical supervision.

Over more than two decades, Eileen has moved from managing a therapy caseload to leading multidisciplinary teams and overseeing Early Intervention, preschool, and school-age services across New York State. Along the way, she has helped therapists grow, families navigate important decisions, and children continue receiving high-quality care even through the uncertainty of COVID.

On the All About Kids podcast, we’ll explore what direct clinical work taught Eileen about leadership, why talented providers burn out, what parents should really look for in a therapist, how motherhood keeps Eileen grounded, and how she helped navigate All About Kids through the chaos of the COVID crisis. 

Guest bio: Eileen Lombardo-Young is the Director of Programs and Services at All About Kids 

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aakcares/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids/

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Substack: https://aakcares.substack.com/

There’s a surreal moment that happens when you stop being an SLP grad student and suddenly become the Clinical Fellow walking into the room. On this episode of the All About Kids Podcast, Speech Language Pathologists Mallory Kanterman and Kate Grande pull back the curtain on what their Clinical Fellowship at All About Kids actually looked like.

From communicating with their supervisors to managing caseloads to panic-filled “What am I doing?” moments, Kate and Mallory don’t hold back on painting the full picture of their CF year. We get into navigating the chaos of the school environment, awkward parent phone calls, parking nightmares, and those breakthrough moments where therapy finally clicks and everything feels worth it.

Mallory and Kate share how mentorship, flexibility, and learning to think on the fly shaped their confidence during their CF year at All About Kids. Alongside the obstacles and the pressure of first-time responsibility, they racked up plenty of wins that made them stop and think, “Okay… I actually can do this.” 

Guest bios: Mallory Kanterman is a speech language pathologist completing her Clinical Fellowship at All About Kids in elementary school settings. Kate Grande is a speech language pathologist completing her Clinical Fellowship at All About Kids, specializing in Early Intervention and CPSE services.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

Substack: https://aakcares.substack.com/

In this episode, Zach sits down with speech-language pathologists Maggie and Francie, hosts of Tell Me About It: An SLP Podcast (‪@tellmeaboutitslp‬), to unpack the explosive claims made in the wildly popular Telepathy Tapes. The series suggests that some non-speaking autistic individuals can communicate telepathically, but when communication experts listened closely, they saw a different story.

Drawing on their backgrounds in speech science and psychology, Maggie and Francie break down the communication methods featured in the podcast, including Spelling to Communicate (S2C), AAC, and the controversial history of facilitated communication. They explore how unconscious cueing, tiny signals like posture, breathing, or eye movement, can shape responses without anyone realizing it, and why extraordinary claims require careful scientific testing.

The conversation also tackles the emotional side of the issue: how well-meaning parents can be drawn into pseudoscience, and how clinicians can support non-speaking individuals with compassion while staying grounded in evidence-based communication tools.

Guest bios: Maggie Johnson is a speech-language pathologist who has worked with children across schools, homes, and clinical settings. She is also the founder and owner of Bright Light Language in St. Louis, Missouri. Francie Collins is a speech-language pathologist specializing in pediatric communication and has an academic background in psychology. Together, Maggie and Francie host Tell Me About It: An SLP Podcast, where they explore topics in speech-language pathology, communication science, and evidence-based clinical practice.

MAGGIE JOHNSON LINKS:

Tell Me About It Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@tellmeaboutitslp

Tell Me About It (Spotify): https://bit.ly/4djwFgd 

Bright Light Language: https://www.brightlightlanguage.com/

Instagram (Tell Me About It): https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutitslp/

 Instagram (Bright Light): https://www.instagram.com/brightlightlanguage/

FRANCIE COLLINS:

Tell Me About It Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@tellmeaboutitslp

Tell Me About It (Spotify): https://bit.ly/4djwFgd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franciehcollins/

This episode features Philippa Ross, a speech therapist sharing her journey from graduate school into clinical practice. She reflects on the shift to teletherapy, the importance of flexibility, building rapport with children and families, and adapting sessions in real time. Philippa also breaks down common misconceptions about speech therapy and explains how creativity, play, and perspective-taking are essential to helping children make meaningful progress.

Guest bio: Philippa Ross is a speech-language pathologist who works with children across settings, focusing on flexible, play-based therapy, strong family partnerships, and adapting care to meet each child’s unique needs.

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

Speech-language pathologist Danielle Pugliese shares an honest look at her clinical fellowship year, from common mistakes new SLPs make to navigating agency life, paperwork, billing, and time management. She explains how teletherapy reshaped her workflow, why humility and ongoing learning matter early in a career, and what grad school doesn’t prepare you for. The episode offers practical advice for CFs, students, and early-career therapists finding their footing in the field.

Guest bio: Danielle Pugliese is a speech-language pathologist who completed her clinical fellowship with All About Kids. She specializes in pediatric speech and language development and shares practical insights on teletherapy, agency life, time management, and the realities of the CF year, offering guidance for graduate students and early-career SLPs navigating the field.

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

Speech-language pathologist Carrie Clark breaks down how the pandemic exposed major cracks in the speech therapy system. She explains why teletherapy became a necessity overnight, where it falls short, and why parent support and mental health must come before rigid therapy goals. Clark also highlights overwhelming SLP caseloads, lack of funding, and the urgent need for early intervention and better access—especially for underserved and rural families.

Guest bio: Carrie Clark is a certified speech-language pathologist and the founder of SpeechAndLanguageKids.com and SLPSolution.com. She helps parents and SLPs navigate communication disorders through practical, research-backed strategies, focusing on early intervention, teletherapy, and improving access to speech services for underserved families.

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

Comedian Kirk Smith shares an unfiltered, deeply human look at raising his nonverbal, severely autistic son. He talks about grief, humor, public judgment, parenting expectations, and why comedy helps him survive overwhelming moments. Smith challenges stereotypes about autism, argues against romanticized portrayals, and explains how compassion, patience, and “presuming competence” matter more than words—both in parenting and in how society treats people with disabilities.

Guest bio: Kirk Smith is a stand-up comedian, writer, and podcast host best known for his honest, darkly funny takes on parenting and autism. He is the creator of Autastic: A Comedian’s Guide to Autism and author of Rice Krispies with Ketchup, inspired by raising his nonverbal autistic son.

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

On this episode of The All About Kids Podcast, we’re joined by Shannon Kennedy, a certified speech-language pathologist and former Clinical Fellow here at All About Kids. Shannon takes us through her journey into the world of speech therapy — from her early inspiration to that powerful moment when everything clicked and she knew she was right where she was supposed to be. We talk about what it’s really like during your CF year, what she wishes she had known going into it, and how she’s learned to navigate one of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects of the job: the parent-therapist dynamic. Shannon also opens up about misconceptions around the SLP field, how to spot burnout, and what keeps her inspired. Plus, she shares her favorite tools and toys for therapy sessions, and gives thoughtful advice for grad students and future CFs stepping into the field. Whether you’re an aspiring SLP, a seasoned therapist, or someone who just wants to understand the heart behind this work — this episode has something for you.

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

Welcome back to the All About Kids Podcast, this time I sit down with Gabrielle Carmody. Gabrielle is a BCBA and sleep specialist dedicated to helping children on the spectrum improve their sleep. In this episode, we get into what drew Gabby into the world of BCBAs and sleep. We discuss the key elements of creating a bedtime routine for a child with autism, common mistakes parents make when getting their kids ready for bed, the importance of “setting” events, the biggest misconceptions about sleep hygiene, and more. 
 

GABRIELLE CARMODY LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleeptight_gabby/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rjT9o9t44NGooWW0m9-LA

Website: https://bit.ly/3R3CUID 

Sleep Products: https://bit.ly/4kN4mYT

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS 

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids

On this episode of The All About Kids Mashup, Dr. Sima Gerber discusses how to build a preverbal vocabulary with your toddler, Abbie Lande discusses the stages of late talkers, and the Pediatric Speech Pals discuss what it's like applying to SLP grad School. 

ALL ABOUT KIDS LINKS

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-kids-podcast/id1522359220

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I6qWwwdeJnlJg8Mx94He9?si=A7ieoF8yQJeqi_JnS6tXrg&dl_branch=1

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1522359220/all-about-kids-podcast

Website: https://aakcares.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aakcares

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aakcares

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-about-kids