Beyond The Tube: Real Stories, Real Advice

This episode is a bit different. Instead of a guest interview, I wanted to give you an honest update on where things are at with the podcast, with me personally, and with Ezra. I've recently started a new job which means I'm back to the 9 to 5 grind, and I wanted to be transparent about what that means for Beyond the Tube and how we're navigating it together.

We're also diving into what's been happening with Ezra lately. He's doing really well and we've moved to an overnight feeding schedule to give him space to explore eating during the day. But we've hit some challenges along the way, particularly with his Mickey button. I've been working closely with Avanos and our local rep to address some faulty buttons, and I'm sharing what we've learned about keeping those batch numbers.

One thing that's really stood out to me is how aware Ezra is of his own body and what's happening with his tube. We're challenging some of the medical assumptions about what kids should and shouldn't be able to feel, and I'm making a case for truly listening to what our children are telling us. We're also trialling a mini button to see if it makes a difference.

I hope you find something useful or reassuring in this update.

This episode of Beyond The Tube is proudly sponsored by Little Harvesters.

Little Harvesters create nourishing whole-food pouches made with bone broth, organic ingredients, superfoods and healthy oils like olive and avocado oil. Their recipes are free from added sugars, cheap fillers and unnecessary nasties, making them a convenient option for busy families looking for quality nutrition.

To learn more about Little Harvesters and their range, visit littleharvesters.com.au or follow them on Instagram @littleharvesters.

Thank you to Little Harvesters for supporting Beyond The Tube and helping us continue sharing stories, education and support with the tube feeding community.

We're building a community here, one story at a time, and I'm so glad you're along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so glad to sit down with Emily from Lively Eaters to talk about feeding challenges and how she can support families in this space. Emily is a speech pathologist by background and the founder of this multidisciplinary feeding therapy service based in South Australia that has been running for about fifteen years.

Emily shared her passion for feeding therapy, which started during her university studies, and how over twenty-six years of working with children, she recognised there was a gap in how families with feeding challenges were being supported. Through her clinical experience in the community, tertiary hospitals in Adelaide, and the UK, she saw that something needed to change in how we approach these families and their experiences.

We explored why feeding challenges are so often misunderstood, particularly when tubes are involved. We talked about oral aversion, how control matters for children who have already had so much control taken away by medical treatment, and why reducing pressure at mealtimes is so crucial. We discussed the link between fullness, satiation cues, and how tube feeding can interrupt the natural appetite signals children need to develop.

Emily also shared insights from her PhD research on tube weaning, practical approaches to mealtime environments, and how families can support their children without pushing for specific amounts or outcomes. We covered the importance of consistency, predictability, and treating mealtimes as relational and emotional experiences rather than purely medical procedures.

To learn more about Lively Eaters, visit:Website: livelyeaters.com.auInstagram: @livelyeatersfeedingtherapyFacebook: facebook.com/livelyeatersA huge thank you to Lively Eaters for supporting Beyond The Tube and helping us continue to bring education, awareness, and support to families navigating feeding challenges and complex care journeys.

Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so excited to sit down with Hannah from Nappy Free to talk about toilet training. Not just for medically complex kids, but for all kids.

Hannah toilet trained her first child at around 20 months and her second at just 11 months old. She’s a teacher of 18 years, and through Nappy Free, she has already supported 87 families through their toilet training journey.

We talked about the myth of ‘waiting for readiness’ along with who has been selling that narrative to us - and why. We also look at the window of opportunity, why power struggles emerge after age 2.5, and what elimination communication looks like for babies and younger children.

In this episode, Hannah shares practical tips for getting started: awareness of the body, visual and sound cues, routine-based prompting, and the importance of giving your child that one element of control.

This episode was proudly sponsored by Little Harvesters. They're on a mission to make feeding our little ones easier by offering nutritious, convenient meals designed for busy families.

Check them out at littleharvesters.com.au or on their Instagram: @littleharvesters

We’re building a community here, one story at a time, and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so excited to sit down with Mel, the founder and editor of the gorgeous publication, The Blend magazine. Mel and I talked all about how this beautiful resource came to be, starting from a very desperate and personal place when her son, Arlo, had a horrendous start to his tube-feeding journey.

Mel shared her experiences of navigating her son's diagnosis of quadriplegic cerebral palsy and why she felt compelled to challenge the clinical, sterile imagery that usually surrounds disability. We explored how the magazine acts as a mirror for little people seeing themselves represented for the first time, while also providing an authentic, premium space for adults who tube feed.

Our conversation hit back hard against the "charity mindset" and "inspo porn" so often pushed by mainstream media, focusing instead on the vibrant, multi-layered reality of our everyday lives.

You can find out more about The Blend and connect with Mel here:

• Website: https://www.theblendmag.com/
• Instagram: @the_blend_mag

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

If you're just joining us, I highly really recommend you go back to Episode 26 to hear the first part of Michelle's incredible story.

In this episode, Michelle opens up about the hardest part of her journey, and her answer really surprised me. It wasn't the medical side, but the psychological impact of feeding trauma on her daughter, Mila, and the unexpected regression after a successful weaning period. We talk about the immense guilt parents can feel, the challenges of navigating public spaces with a feeding tube, and the absolute necessity of keeping detailed logs.

More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone. There is a whole community of parents who understand the fear, the exhaustion, the setbacks, the small wins and the days where you just need to vent.

You can check out Mila's story from The Blend Mag here

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

In this episode, I sit down with Michelle, a fellow tubie mum from New York, to talk about her daughter Mila and the long road that brought their family into tube feeding. From the very beginning, Michelle knew something wasn't right with feeding, and what followed was a whirlwind of appointments, failed feeds, hospital admissions, scary tests, and the kind of overwhelm that so many of us know far too well.

Michelle shares what it was like watching Mila struggle to feed, being told she was failing to thrive, and eventually learning that silent aspiration and a laryngeal cleft were at the heart of it all. We talk about NG tube life, why it felt so traumatic, and the relief that came with moving to a G-tube.

One of the biggest takeaways from this chat is that even when the medical reason for a feeding tube is sorted, feeding challenges do not always disappear. Michelle speaks so openly about Mila's ongoing journey with ARFID and paediatric feeding disorder, and why the psychological side of feeding deserves so much more awareness. I really hope this episode helps families feel less alone, more seen, and a little more understood in the middle of it all.

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so glad to sit down with Jason from Supertee for this conversation, because this is one of those ideas that makes an immediate difference to families like ours. If you haven't come across Supertee before, it's a medical garment disguised as a hero costume, created to help children feel more comfortable, more capable, and more like themselves during hospital stays and treatment.

Jason shares the deeply personal story behind Supertee, which began during his daughter Angela's cancer treatment. We talked about the hospital gown as a symbol of illness, the power of play and imagination, and why choice matters so much for children whose lives are often shaped by medical appointments, procedures, and things they never asked for. We also spoke about siblings, dignity, medical trauma, and how small changes can completely shift how a child experiences hospital.

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so excited to sit down with Leticia, the CEO and co-founder of the incredible app, Understanding Zoe. Leticia and I talked all about how this app came to be, starting from a very personal place with her daughter, Zoe, who is autistic and has ADHD.

Leticia shared her own journey of discovery, and how the challenges she faced as a parent sparked the idea for an AI-powered "second brain" for families raising neurodivergent children. We explored how Understanding Zoe helps connect a child's entire care village (therapists, teachers, support workers) by providing quick, relevant information, all while maintaining a strengths-based approach.

A huge focus of our chat was data safety. Leticia, with her background in big data and AI, has made sure Understanding Zoe is ISO 27001 certified (that's bank-level security!), with all data anonymised, encrypted, and stored safely in Australia, completely offline from the internet. This means your family's sensitive information is incredibly secure, which I know is a big concern for many of us.

You can find out more about Understanding Zoe and connect with Leticia here:

• Website: understandingzoe.com
• Instagram: @understandingzoe
• Research on Invisible Load: understandingzoe.com/research

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

In this episode of Beyond the Tube, Fi interviews Kate Broderick, an occupational and speech therapist, who shares her insights on sensory processing in tubie kids.

They discuss the importance of understanding sensory processing challenges, the role of the nervous system, and how medical trauma can impact a child's sensory experiences. Kate emphasises the need for advocacy, effective communication, and the role of therapists in supporting children with feeding challenges.

The conversation also highlights practical strategies for parents to help their children navigate sensory difficulties and create a safe environment for them.

You can follow Kate at Spot Therapy Hub on Instagram. You'll also find the details of her **FREE** workshops advertised on the Spot Therapy Hub Insta page.

For online resources please head to:

http://spottherapyhub.com.au

We’re building a community here – one story at a time – and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride.

Please feel free to reach out!

Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast

Email: [email protected]

This is a Podvan Media production.

In this episode of Beyond the Tube, Fi Rodrick speaks with Alex De Young and Nicki Walsh from Frankie's Clubhouse, an initiative designed by Queensland Health, to support children and families navigating healthcare challenges. They discuss the origins of Frankie's Clubhouse, the importance of addressing emotional needs post-hospitalisation, and the role of personal experiences in shaping the resources provided. The conversation highlights the impact of trauma on children and families, the significance of storytelling and play in healing, and the need for advocacy and awareness in child healthcare. They also introduce Frankie, a comfort toy designed to help children process their experiences, and discuss the future goals of Frankie's Clubhouse, including expanding accessibility and resources for families.This episode is proudly sponsored by Tubie Love, now part of the Independently You family. Offering practical, beautifully designed products, these are a must for families navigating tubie life.

Use code BTT20 to receive 20% off any Tubie Love product or the full range of products on Independently You. Valid until 15th March 2026.

Visit independentlyyou.com.au

This is a Podvan Media production