Bright Conversations

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:In this episode of Bright Conversations, Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan, founder of Dr. Karen LLC, host of the DeFacto Leaders Podcast, and July 2026 SLP Summit presenter, joins us to rethink what executive function support can look like beyond planners, checklists, and isolated social skills groups.

Dr. Karen breaks executive functioning into five core areas: time perception, self-talk, future pacing, episodic memory, and encoding. She explains how these underlying skills influence a student’s ability to plan, initiate, self-regulate, problem-solve, and follow through, and why behaviors often labeled as “non-compliance” or “defiance” may signal something very different beneath the surface.

From explicit instruction and cognitive flexibility to assessment, IEP documentation, and team collaboration, this conversation offers practical ways to identify what students actually need, prioritize intervention targets, and build supports that can generalize beyond the therapy room.

👤 Guest Bio:
Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is the founder of Dr. Karen LLC and host of the DeFacto Leaders Podcast. Her work helps SLPs and other related service providers strengthen clinical practice, leadership, and executive function support within real-world school systems. Through her programs and resources, she focuses on helping clinicians build scalable frameworks that support students while strengthening collaboration across school teams.

💬 Quotable Moments:

“The observable behaviors might be ‘non-compliance’... but those are the external things you're seeing. It's why are they doing it?”

“It's really about changing the model.”

🔗 Resources & Links:

• School of Clinical Leadership: drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership
• Language Therapy Advance Foundations: drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy
• Task Execution and Planning Protocol: drkarendudekbrannan.com/taskexecution
• DeFacto Leaders Podcast: drkarendudekbrannan.com/blog
• Dr. Karen Executive Functioning Systems: YouTube
• Additional resources mentioned: Jill Fahy, Sarah Ward, Russell Barkley, TILLS, Test of Problem Solving, Social Language Development Test, and BRIEF

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠.⁠

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this After SLP Summit episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with Rachel Madel, speech-language pathologist and AAC advocate, to continue the conversation sparked by her SLP Summit presentation. Together, they explore the role of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in supporting nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals.

Rachel shares the story of how she first encountered AAC as a graduate student—and how that experience reshaped her understanding of communication, language development, and what meaningful support looks like for students with complex communication needs. From visual supports and communication devices to shifting mindsets around speech and language, this conversation highlights the importance of meeting students where they are and honoring all forms of communication.

Whether you're new to AAC or looking to strengthen your clinical approach, this episode offers insight, reflection, and practical encouragement for supporting communicators in more inclusive and empowering ways.

👤 Guest Bio:
Rachel Madel, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is passionate about helping clinicians and families better understand how to support nonspeaking communicators through visual supports, communication systems, and accessible language opportunities. Through her clinical work and online education, Rachel empowers professionals to rethink communication and build inclusive environments where all voices are valued.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• What AAC really means and who it supports

• Rachel’s journey into AAC and the student who changed her perspective

• Common misconceptions about AAC and “teaching kids to talk”

• The role of visual supports, choice boards, and communication devices

• Why honoring all forms of communication leads to better outcomes

• How clinicians can grow their confidence when working with AAC users

💡 Final Thought: Supporting AAC isn’t about replacing speech—it’s about expanding opportunities for connection, autonomy, and expression.

🔗 Learn More:
SLP Summit is the premier biannual virtual conference hosted by Bright Ideas Media that brings together learners from around the globe. Explore our courses and upcoming events at www.bethebrightest.com and join our mailing list to stay updated on the next Summit.

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
This episode of Bright Conversations is sponsored by BIZCon, the premier continuing education experience by Bright Ideas Media for aspiring and growing entrepreneurs.

Host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with Ebony Greene and Sarah Breshears, two inspiring speech-language pathologists who expanded their clinical expertise into thriving businesses.

Ebony and Sarah share their journeys from traditional clinical roles into entrepreneurship. They discuss what motivated them to step outside of conventional career paths, the challenges they faced while building businesses, and the lessons they learned along the way.

From launching private practices to mentoring other clinicians, this conversation highlights how SLPs can use their expertise in innovative ways. Ebony and Sarah talk about the realities of running a business, balancing leadership with clinical work, and the importance of community and mentorship in the profession.

Whether you're curious about entrepreneurship, looking to grow an existing business, or simply interested in hearing how clinicians are expanding the impact of their work, this episode offers inspiration and resources to help you get started.

👤 Guest Bios

Sarah BreshearsAt the height of the COVID pandemic, Sarah Breshears transitioned from clinical work in schools and hospitals to founding Social Moguls, where she helps female health and wellness professionals build businesses and systems for success.

Ebony Greene, MS, CCC-SLPEbony Greene is a private practice owner, founder, business consultant, and online course creator. After leaving the classroom in 2011, Ebony pursued speech-language pathology and later expanded into entrepreneurship. Through The SLP Business Suite and her signature events, she teaches clinicians how to stop trading time for dollars and build scalable businesses.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode

• How speech-language pathologists can transition from clinician to entrepreneur

• The moment Ebony and Sarah realized they wanted more than traditional clinical roles

• Lessons learned when launching private practices and businesses

• Balancing leadership, clinical work, and personal growth

• Why mentorship and community are essential in entrepreneurship

• How SLPs can expand their impact beyond direct therapy

📚 Key Takeaways

• Speech-language pathologists have valuable skills that translate well into entrepreneurship

• Business ownership requires learning beyond clinical training

• Mentorship and community are critical when building a business

• Entrepreneurship allows clinicians to expand their impact and create opportunities for others

• There is no single path to success—clinicians can build careers aligned with their passions

🔗 Resources & Links

BIZCon Event
https://www.bethebrightest.com/en/events/biz-con-2

Sarah Breshears
https://social-moguls.com/
https://www.instagram.com/social.moguls

Ebony Greene
https://bio.site/ebonygreen
https://www.instagram.com/slpbizqueen/

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with educator and advocate Germaine Graham to explore what meaningful inclusion truly looks like for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals. From early intervention and communication access to representation and self-advocacy, Germaine shares insights grounded in both personal experience and professional practice.
Together, they unpack how educators, therapists, and families can move beyond surface-level awareness toward everyday actions that promote accessibility, belonging, and empowerment. This conversation challenges listeners to rethink inclusion—not as a checklist, but as a commitment to honoring communication diversity and identity.

👤 Guest Bio:
Germaine Graham is an educator, advocate, and community leader dedicated to improving access, representation, and equity for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. With a strong focus on communication rights and inclusive education, Germaine works with schools, families, and professionals to build environments where DHH individuals are seen, heard, and valued for who they are.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Understanding social and educational barriers faced by Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals

• Why communication access requires more than amplification

• The importance of representation and authentic visibility in schools and media

• Creating inclusive spaces through language choice, visual supports, and advocacy

• Empowering families as they navigate systems, resources, and identity development

• The role of SLPs, educators, and service providers in fostering equity

• Moving from awareness to action in inclusive, culturally responsive practice

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Identify common barriers to inclusion for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals
✅ Describe strategies to promote equitable communication access and representation
✅ Apply inclusive principles to better support DHH students, clients, and families

💬 Memorable Quote:
“Representation gives Deaf and Hard of Hearing students permission to dream bigger.” — Germaine Graham

🔗 Resources & Links:

• National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes: https://www.nationaldeafcenter.org

• Hands & Voices: https://www.handsandvoices.org

• Bright Ideas Media Courses: Explore inclusive communication and accessible education at https://www.bethebrightest.com

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠https://www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠.

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman welcomes school-based speech-language pathologist and creator of Panda Speech Publishing, Amanda Schaumburg, for a refreshingly honest discussion on real-world case management. From managing hundreds of IEPs to deciding when to dismiss a student, Amanda shares practical strategies that help SLPs work smarter—not harder. Together, they explore how to streamline data collection, make ethical and confident dismissal decisions, and set healthy boundaries to prevent burnout. This episode is equal parts practical guidance and encouragement for every SLP navigating the demands of school-based work.

👤 Guest Bio:
Amanda Schaumburg, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a school-based speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and founder of Panda Speech Publishing. With extensive experience in case management, Medicaid billing, and resource creation, she trains districts nationwide on efficient IEP documentation and eligibility processes. Amanda is also a children’s book author and a passionate advocate for supporting busy SLPs through realistic tools and empowering professional boundaries.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Real-world case management: balancing high caseloads and leadership roles

• Data collection strategies that are simple, sustainable, and effective

• Making ethical, confident dismissal decisions for diverse student needs

• Setting professional boundaries and protecting your time and energy

• Navigating polarizing opinions in the field and redefining SLP roles

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Identify efficient strategies for managing large caseloads and documentation demands
✅ Apply practical data collection systems focused on meaningful student progress
✅ Describe ethical considerations in dismissal decisions and eligibility reviews
✅ Recognize the importance of boundaries in preventing burnout and sustaining impact
✅ Reflect on evolving models of service delivery and advocacy within schools

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Panda Speech Publishing

• Follow Amanda on Instagram: @pandaspeech

• Explore more episodes and earn ASHA CEUs at www.bethebrightest.com

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this special SLP Summit edition of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with Lauren Kline and Shelby Ford, two standout presenters whose courses sparked powerful conversations during the SLP Summit. Building on their sessions From Sounds to Sentences and S Sound Solutions, Lauren and Shelby share how they translate evidence-based strategies into real-life therapy—whether you’re in the schools or private practice.
Lauren discusses blending speech sound intervention with structured literacy to support students with dyslexia and apraxia, while Shelby breaks down her practical, student-centered approach to tackling tricky /s/ sounds and clusters. This episode is packed with actionable ideas, relatable clinical examples, and encouragement to make therapy more connected, effective, and enjoyable.

👤 Guest Bios:
Lauren Kline, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in integrating speech sound intervention with structured literacy. Her work focuses on supporting students with dyslexia, apraxia, and complex speech-language needs through evidence-based, connected practice.

Shelby Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP is a private practice SLP known for her clear, practical approach to treating speech sound disorders—especially /s/ and /s/ clusters. She helps clinicians simplify complex concepts and tailor intervention to each child’s unique movement patterns and strengths.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Bridging speech sound intervention and literacy instruction

• When and how to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy goals

• Practical strategies for targeting /s/ and /s/ clusters

• Managing caseloads that include speech sound disorders and dyslexia

• Tailoring intervention based on student strengths, needs, and response

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Explain how speech and literacy skills intersect in intervention
✅ Identify ways to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy sessions
✅ Apply practical strategies for treating /s/ sounds and clusters
✅ Reflect on how to individualize therapy for diverse learners

💬 Quotes to Remember:

“We can't work on reading in isolation from speech. When we connect the dots, kids make meaningful gains.” — Lauren Kline

“There’s no one-size-fits-all for the /s/. It’s about tuning in to how each child moves and responds.” — Shelby Ford

🔗 Resources & Links:

• SLP Summit: www.bethebrightest.com/slp-summit
• Courses:
• From Sounds to Sentences — Lauren Kline
• S Sound Solutions — Shelby Ford
• Follow Lauren: @laurenkline.slp
• Follow Shelby: @shelbytheslp
• Assessments: Gray Oral Reading Test, Gray Silent Reading Test, CTOPP, PAT-2, Tests of Dyslexia, Gallistel-Ellis

• Prefixes Resources: Words Their Way (includes spelling inventories at the back of the book)
• Multilingualism Book: Multilingualism, Literacy, and Dyslexia 
• Clusters vs Blends? https://www.bjoremspeech.com/blogs/bjorem-speech-blog/clusters-vs-blends?_pos=1&_sid=d6f798c74&_ss=r

📌 Episode Summary:
In this After SLP Summit episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones reconnects with Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP to continue an important conversation sparked during Angela’s SLP Summit presentation, Anti-Ableist Care: A Disabled Clinician’s Perspective.

Angela, a speech-language pathologist with cerebral palsy, shares how her lived experience as a disabled person has shaped her clinical practice and deepened her understanding of what ethical, affirming care truly looks like. Together, Shontaye and Angela unpack how ableism shows up in therapy spaces, why language around disability matters, and how compliance-driven models can unintentionally cause harm.

Rather than offering a checklist of “right” and “wrong” practices, this episode invites listeners into a deeper mindset shift—one that centers disabled voices, challenges deficit-based goals, and encourages clinicians to reflect on whose comfort, expectations, and outcomes are prioritized in therapy.

👤 Guest Bio:
Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and disability advocate who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about equity and inclusion in speech therapy. As a clinician with cerebral palsy, Angela is passionate about anti-ableist practice, affirming care, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and authentic communication.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• What anti-ableist care looks like in real clinical settings

• Why “disabled” is not a bad word and why language choices matter

• How compliance-based therapy models can conflict with affirming care

• Reframing goals away from normalization and toward functionality and autonomy

• The role of lived experience in ethical clinical decision-making

• Disability identity, terminology, and stigma in therapy spaces

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Define anti-ableist care within speech-language pathology
✅ Explain why disability-affirming language is essential to ethical practice
✅ Identify ways compliance-driven goals may unintentionally cause harm
✅ Reflect on how to prioritize autonomy, dignity, and meaningful outcomes in therapy

💬 Notable Takeaway:
Anti-ableist practice isn’t about memorizing a list of techniques. It’s about re-examining our assumptions, listening to disabled voices, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and lived experience over compliance and normalization.

🔗 Listen & Learn:
SLP Summit is available now through February 6, 2026.
Register and learn more at www.bethebrightest.com

Want to hear more conversations like this? Subscribe to Bright Conversations for episodes that connect—and ideas you can use tomorrow.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with “power SLP couple” Jessie Ginsberg (@sensoryslp) and Chris Wenger (@speechdude) for a candid, insightful, and often hilarious look at what neurodiversity-affirming practice really means—at home, in early intervention, and in school-based IEP meetings.
Jessie shares the moment her worldview shifted when an autistic SLP challenged her use of person-first language, explaining how identity-first perspectives reshaped her understanding of autism as identity, not something to separate or “fix.”
From the school lens, Chris exposes the hidden cost of compliance-based goals—planned ignoring, forced eye contact, eliminating echolalia—and offers practical reframes that support regulation, safety, and authentic connection. Together, they talk about neurodiversity in their own home with five boys, the shifts they’re seeing in the next generation of SLPs, and how clinicians can create goals that don’t require students to mask or become someone they’re not.

👤 Guest Bios:
Jessie Ginsberg, M.S., CCC-SLP is known as The Sensory SLP, a leader in sensory-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She co-hosts The Neuroaffirm Show, runs Neuroaffirm Academy, and creates learning experiences that help SLPs rethink behavior, regulation, and identity.

Chris Wenger, M.S., CCC-SLP, aka Speech Dude, is a school-based SLP, consultant, and national presenter known for bringing humor, honesty, and classroom-tested neuroaffirming approaches to teams across the country. He helps SLPs reframe behavior, write more supportive IEP goals, and build strong connections with students and staff.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Why neuroaffirming practice is personal for Jessie & Chris as parents and clinicians

• Identity-first language: what autistic people say and why it matters

• The hidden cost of compliance-based goals: eye contact, still bodies, eliminating scripts

• IEP language that keeps meetings student-centered and strength-based

• Echolalia, scripting, and why these are connection bids, not behaviors to extinguish

• The “wedding seating chart” analogy for outdated social skills goals

• Hopeful shifts in grad programs and early-career SLPs

• What neuroaffirming actually means (spoiler: it’s not “no expectations”)

• Where to learn more: The Neuroaffirm Show, Neuroaffirm Academy, and social channels

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe how neurodiversity-affirming practices can be integrated across home, clinic, and school settings
✅ Explain the differences between person-first and identity-first language and why many autistic individuals prefer identity-first terminology
✅ Identify compliance-based goals and contrast them with neuroaffirming goals that reduce masking, anxiety, and burnout

💬 Key Takeaways / Quotes:

“If we’re really putting people first, we have to actually listen to the people we’re talking about.”
“Sometimes those compliance-based social goals are the very thing creating anxiety.”
“We don’t need you to think about high school today. We need 15 minutes of connection today.”
“Neurodiversity-affirming doesn’t mean no expectations; it means the supports match the neurology.”

🔗 Resources & Where to Find the Guests:

• Jessie Ginsberg – @sensoryslp

• Chris Wenger – @speechdude

• Neuroaffirm: The Neuroaffirm Show + Neuroaffirm Academy

• SLP Summit – Free online conference held each January and July: bethebrightest.com

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with bilingual SLP and culturally responsive practice advocate Sarah Little to explore how identity, culture, and personal narratives shape the ways we communicate and connect. Together, they examine the influence of intersectionality, cultural context, and developmental stages on how children make meaning of their experiences—and how SLPs can support that process through intentional, inclusive practice.
This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own identities and stories, embrace cultural humility, and create learning spaces where every child feels valued, represented, and heard.

👤 Guest Bio:
Sarah Little, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist based in the Chicago area. With a background in linguistics and Spanish, she brings deep expertise in language diversity, bilingual assessment, and culturally responsive practice. Sarah works in the public school system and conducts bilingual evaluations across Chicagoland. Her work centers on identity, advocacy, and supporting families and educators in building affirming communication environments for all children.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Identity & intersectionality: how our lived experiences shape communication

• The Wheel of Power & Privilege: using frameworks to understand layered identity

• Culture as a core component of communication—not an add-on

• Narrative development through Erikson’s stages & how language disorders impact storytelling

• The importance of representation in books, media, and therapy materials

• Cultural sensitivity vs. cultural humility: moving from awareness to reflective action

• Diversity audits: how to evaluate materials, environments, and mindsets for inclusion

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe how identity and culture influence communication and narrative development
✅ Recognize how personal and cultural narratives shape children’s self-perception and learning
✅ Identify strategies to incorporate cultural humility and inclusive representation into therapy and educational settings

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Culture is not something we add on—it’s the lens through which we all experience the world.” — Sarah Little
“When children see themselves in the stories we share, they begin to believe that their voice matters.” — Shontaye Glover-Jones

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Sylvia Duckworth’s Wheel of Power and Privilege

• Bright Ideas Media Blog — resources on culturally responsive & identity-affirming practice

• More CEU opportunities at ⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠

Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

📌 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with Sophia Ermmarino, SLP graduate student and founder of The Speech Shelf, for an honest, eye-opening discussion about the financial realities of becoming—and being—a speech-language pathologist. From graduate school costs and unpaid internships to the pressure of buying materials and navigating early-career salaries, Sophia shares her lived experience and the inequities that pushed her to create a more affordable, accessible resource platform for SLPs.

This conversation shines a light on the need for financial transparency in our field, the hidden expectations placed on student clinicians, and the systems that create unnecessary barriers for those entering the profession. Sophia also shares her vision for a more equitable, community-supported future where high-quality therapy materials are accessible to everyone, regardless of budget.

👤 Guest Bio:
Sophia Ermmarino is a speech-language pathology graduate student and the founder of The Speech Shelf, a low-cost, unlimited-access therapy materials platform designed to support students, CFs, and school-based SLPs. Inspired by her own experiences navigating the financial challenges of graduate school and early career demands, Sophia is committed to increasing transparency, reducing inequity, and empowering the next generation of SLPs with accessible tools and resources.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Sophia’s path into the profession and her early experiences as an SLP student

• The real financial burden of becoming an SLP: tuition, unpaid placements, materials, and more

• The origin story of The Speech Shelf and the need it fills in the field

• How affordability and access impact student clinicians and early-career SLPs

• The “hidden curriculum” in SLP programs and why open conversations about money matter

• Practical ideas for building a more equitable and transparent future for SLPs

• Supporting the next generation through community-driven, budget-friendly solutions

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Describe the financial challenges faced by SLP students and early-career clinicians
✅ Recognize how lack of transparency affects access, equity, and burnout
✅ Identify strategies to support affordability and accessibility within therapy practice

💬 Memorable Quote:

“Nobody prepares you for how expensive it is just to become an SLP.” — Sophia Ermmarino

🔗 Resources & Links:

• The Speech Shelf: https://www.thespeechshelf.com/

• ASHA Student Resources: https://www.asha.org/students/

• Scholarships: ASHA Minority Student Scholarship, NSSLHA Scholarships, state-level loan forgiveness

• Teacher/Special Ed Mini-Grants: DonorsChoose, Scholastic Action Grants, local foundations

• Affordable Material Repositories: The Informed SLP, curated TPT free resources

• Budgeting Tools: EveryDollar, YNAB, Mint