The Untethered Podcast™

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Cheryl Pelletier ,M.S., CCC-SLP to discuss the essential infrastructure of a successful career in feeding therapy: mentorship, community, and the courage to evolve.

Many clinicians feel like they are on an island when navigating complex pediatric swallowing and feeding cases. Hallie and Cheryl pull back the curtain on why "gatekeeping" in the profession hinders patient care and how transitioning from a solo mindset to a collaborative one transforms clinical outcomes. They explore how the right tools—combined with structured mentorship—can turn clinical anxiety into confident, life-changing intervention.

This episode dives deep into the reality that clinical excellence isn't just about what you know; it’s about who you learn with. From navigating the "imposter" feelings of a new specialty to leveraging innovative tools for safer feeding, Hallie and Cheryl provide a roadmap for clinicians ready to elevate their professional standing and improve their patients' quality of life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why mentorship is a constant necessity, not just a "beginner phase" 

✔️ How to overcome the obstacles and "gatekeeping" that stall professional growth 

✔️ The role of specialized certification in building clinical reasoning and authority 

✔️ Why sharing knowledge across disciplines (SLPs and OTs) is the key to reducing waitlists 

✔️ How innovative feeding tools can facilitate safer, more effective therapy sessions 

✔️ Why building on a child’s strengths is more effective than focusing on deficits 

✔️ How to measure success through improved 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 318: Feed The Peds®: The Mission with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

Ep 337: Unlocking Pediatric Feeding: Expert Strategies with Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

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!

🥄 Connect with Cheryl Pelletier HERE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Untethered Podcast, Hallie Bulkin addresses one of the most common challenges clinicians face when entering pediatric feeding therapy: imposter syndrome.

Many speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists feel unqualified or “not ready” to begin working with pediatric feeding cases. Hallie explains why this feeling is normal, why it doesn’t mean you lack competence, and why waiting for confidence before taking action can keep clinicians stuck for years.

This episode explores why confidence in pediatric feeding therapy is not built through endless studying or certifications alone. Instead, confidence is cumulative and develops through real clinical experience, repetition, mentorship, and supported decision-making. Hallie reframes imposter syndrome as a sign of professional growth and stretching into new clinical skills, not a signal to stop.

If you’re interested in pediatric feeding therapy but feel unsure where to start, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and a realistic path forward grounded in action and support.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why nearly every pediatric feeding therapist starts out feeling unqualified

✔️ How imposter syndrome shows up in feeding therapy and what it really means

✔️ Why studying alone doesn’t build clinical confidence

✔️ How hands-on clinical reps accelerate learning in pediatric feeding

✔️ The role mentorship plays in developing feeding therapy competence

✔️ Why confidence grows through experience, not readiness

If you’re feeling unsure where to start in pediatric feeding, Screen The Peds to Feed The Peds is the perfect 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 what to do next.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 336:  Feeding Therapy in Schools: Safety, Culture, and Collaboration with Karen Howarth
• Ep 335: The #1 Way to Transform Your Pediatric Feeding Evaluations with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

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, Hallie Bulkin breaks down one of the biggest shifts in pediatric feeding therapy over the past year: the growing recognition that feeding and airway are inseparable.

In 2025, feeding therapy evolved beyond skills at the table. Clinicians are now expected to screen breathing patterns, observe resting mouth posture, and consider sleep symptoms as part of a comprehensive feeding evaluation. These changes reflect a deeper understanding of how airway, function, and feeding intersect and why early identification matters more than ever.

Hallie unpacks what changed, why it matters for your clinical decision-making, and how this evolution positions feeding therapists as key collaborators in early airway intervention as we move into 2026.

✔️ Why airway can no longer be separated from feeding assessment

 ✔️ What’s newly expected in modern feeding evaluations

✔️ How breathing, posture, and sleep inform feeding outcomes

✔️ Where feeding therapists fit in early airway identification

✔️ Why collaboration across disciplines is now essential

• Episode 311: The Future of Dentistry and Rethinking Dental Health with Dr. Hilary Fritsch, DMD
• Episode 319: Elevate Your Practice with the Pediatric Feeding Hub, Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT & LEARN

💬 Let’s hang out on social: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

⭐ Love the show? Leaving a quick review helps more clinicians find the podcast.

📅 Doors to Feed The Peds® open soon | join the waitlist

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin speaks with Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT about the vital role of interprofessional collaboration in achieving optimal patient outcomes, particularly for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT emphasizes that working alongside occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), dentists, and other specialists is not just beneficial—it is now a core competency in modern healthcare.

Dr. Alyssa Welch, PT, DPT and Hallie discuss the necessity of recognizing the limits of your own expertise and knowing when to make a referral. Collaboration ensures a whole-person therapeutic approach and prevents the professional burnout that comes from trying to "fix everything" in isolation. They cover key areas where SLPs and other therapists must coordinate care, such as feeding mechanics, positioning for speech, and addressing core stability and motor skills.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ ️ Interprofessional collaboration is essential for SLPs, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced medical errors.

✔️ Collaboration often involves partnering with Occupational Therapists (OTs) for fine motor skills, positioning, and feeding mechanics, and Physical Therapists (PTs) for gross motor skills, body positioning, and trunk control.

✔️ Collaboration shifts the focus from checking off individual treatment boxes to a patient-centered approach that meets the family's actual needs.

✔️ Poor communication is responsible for an estimated 70-80% of serious medical errors; collaboration significantly reduces this risk.

✔️ Recognizing the limits of your own scope and knowing when to refer is crucial for long-term career sustainability and preventing professional burnout.

✔️ Clinical collaboration can take many forms, including email consultations, case conferences, co-treatment sessions, and shared documentation.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 234: The Role of Occupational Therapists in TOTs Care with Anna Dearman MBA, MOT, LOTR, CLC
• Ep 332: The Interconnectedness of Oral and Systemic Health with Amber White RDH, HHP

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!

📅 Doors to Feed The Peds® open soon | join the waitlist

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin addresses what she calls "one of the most misunderstood topics in our field" : tongue tie diagnosis. She challenges the common clinical practice of relying on visual assessment—hearing clinicians say, "it looks tied" or "it's a mild tie"—and emphatically states that function is what determines a diagnosis, not appearance.

Hallie introduces a 4-step framework for making confident, clinically sound decisions : Function, Form, Impact, Decision. She emphasizes that the appearance-based mindset often leads to both over- and under-diagnosis of ties, and that true diagnosis requires observing the tongue's mobility, coordination, and control within the entire system.

Hallie also stresses the importance of addressing compensatory movements, which she believes mask true movement and should not be taught as a form of "survival mode". For optimal outcomes, treatment must focus on function and consider the whole connected system—airway, jaw, spine, and nervous system.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 347: Airway First: The Pediatric Dentist's Essential Role in Treating Tongue Ties and Growth Issues
• EP 348: Tongue Ties, Sleep Apnea & More: The Patient-Centered Approach to Airway Dentistry

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!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

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In this episode, Hallie Bulkin discusses the complexities surrounding tethered oral tissues, specifically tongue ties, lip ties, and buckle ties. She emphasizes that not all ties require surgical release and that the decision should be based on functional impacts such as speech, feeding, and sleep. 

Hallie highlights the importance of thorough evaluations and the role of therapy in determining the necessity of a release. She advocates for a patient-centered approach, considering individual goals and the overall impact on health and function.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

✔️Not all ties need to be released; it depends on function.

✔️Function is the key driver in determining the need for release.

✔️Research is often behind clinical practice by about 17 years.

✔️Therapy can sometimes eliminate the need for a release.

✔️Evaluations should focus on how tethered tissues impact daily life.

✔️Compensatory strategies can mask the need for a release.

✔️Patient goals should guide treatment decisions.

✔️Open mouth posture is a significant indicator for evaluation.

✔️Therapy before and after release is crucial for success.

✔️Individualized treatment plans are essential for optimal outcomes.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Episode 200: Functional Impact: When A Tongue Tie Is ACTUALLY A Tongue Tie
• Ep 348: Airway Dentistry Demystified: Kassi Klein on Tongue Ties, Sleep Apnea & Childhood Development

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!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this empowering episode, Hallie Bulkin sits down with Angela Richwine, RDH, BASc, QOM, COM®, to dive deep into the world of myofunctional therapy and collaboration in healthcare. Angela opens up about her personal journey into the field, the pivotal moments that shaped her practice, and how her passion for helping others led her to uncover the root causes behind oral and airway issues.

Together, Hallie and Angela explore the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork, patient education, and parent advocacy in achieving better outcomes. They shed light on the growing awareness of myofunctional therapy, the challenges professionals face in bridging knowledge gaps, and the need for continuing education to deliver truly holistic care.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that myofunctional therapy is not just about correcting habits - it’s about understanding the “why” behind them, empowering patients, and transforming lives through collaboration and education.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ How Angela’s personal journey led her to specialize in myofunctional therapy.

✔️ Why collaboration among healthcare professionals enhances patient care.

✔️ The critical role of patient education in lasting health outcomes.

✔️ How parents can advocate for their children’s oral and airway health.

✔️ The importance of addressing the root causes, not just the symptoms.

✔️ Why continuing education is essential for myofunctional therapists.

✔️ How understanding the mouth as a “gateway to health” changes everything.

✔️ The power of listening to patients and setting clear therapy goals.

✔️ How to navigate misconceptions and raise awareness about myofunctional therapy.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Evidence vs. Pseudoscience in Myofunctional Therapy with Hallie Bulkin & Robyn Merkel-Walsh
• EP 341: From Dental Hygiene to Myofunctional Therapy with Hallie Bulkin & Ashley Dorado

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!

• Become a Certified Myofunctional Therapist™ (CMT®): https://www.themyomethod.com

• “Turn on your Myo Eyes” free webinar: https://www.feedthepeds.com/myo-webinar

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, Hallie Bulkin and Kassi Klein explore the intricate world of airway dentistry, discussing Kassi's personal journey into the field, the importance of understanding craniofacial development, and the need for a patient-centered approach that focuses on the underlying reasons for patients' concerns. 

They emphasize the significance of collaboration among various healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care, the balance between functional and structural treatment approaches, and the critical role of assessing tongue ties and other oral tissues. The discussion also touches on common myths surrounding airway health, the impact of sleep apnea on children, and Kassi's vision for the future of airway dentistry.

✔️Kassi's journey into airway dentistry began with her mother's health issues.

✔️Understanding craniofacial development is crucial for effective treatment.

✔️Finding the 'why' behind patients' concerns enhances care.

✔️Collaboration with other healthcare providers is essential.

✔️Functional treatment approaches must complement structural changes.

✔️Assessing tongue ties is vital for proper oral development.

✔️Symptoms like ear infections can indicate underlying airway issues.

✔️Common myths about airway health can mislead parents and providers.

• Episode 200: Functional Impact: When A Tongue Tie Is ACTUALLY A Tongue Tie
• Ep 347: Airway First: The Pediatric Dentist's Essential Role in Treating Tongue Ties and Growth Issues (with Dr. Anita Gouri)

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!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com
• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

• Connect with Kassi Klein, DDS, D.ABDSM:
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassi-klein/overlay/about-this-profile/?trk=people-guest_people_search-card
• https://www.instagram.com/breathesleepandairway/?hl=en
• https://www.zocdoc.com/dentist/kassi-klein-dds-610392

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin welcomes special guest Dr. Anita Gouri, a board-certified pediatric dentist, to dive deep into the critical, often-missed connection between pediatric dentistry and a child's overall airway health and development.

Dr. Gouri shares her personal journey into airway and tissue-focused dentistry, motivated by her own daughter's and nephew's feeding and developmental challenges due to undiagnosed tongue ties.

They emphasize the absolute necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, stressing that therapy (SLP, OT, IBCLC, etc.) is optimal before and after a tongue tie release for the best outcomes and to avoid reattachment or unresolved symptoms. The conversation extends to older children, discussing the importance of an airway evaluation before prescribing ADHD medications and the dramatic life-changing results of early palatal expansion to open the airway.

✔️ Dr. Gouri’s personal experience discovering her daughter's tongue tie at age 7, long after dealing with feeding issues, colic, and difficulty eating non-pureed foods. 

✔️ Why pre- and post-operative therapy (like with an SLP, OT, or IBCLC) is 100% crucial for optimal outcomes following a tongue tie release. 

✔️ The importance of getting an airway evaluation before putting children on ADHD medication. 

✔️ Key signs of pediatric airway issues during sleep, including mouth breathing , tossing/turning/restless sleep , and the often-missed red flag of hyperextension of the neck. 

✔️ The dramatic benefits of early palatal expansion (as early as 3 or 4 years old) to open the airway, often resolving issues like chronic infections (like croup) and snoring , even if the child does not have a crossbite. 

✔️ How simple strategies like sleep hygiene (removing dust mite harbingers like stuffed animals and blankets) and dietary changes (like kicking gluten) can reduce inflammation and improve breathing. 

✔️ Why a "quick snip" of a tongue tie may not address the entire posterior tie, which can lead to later issues like speech problems.

• Episode 204: Progressing Through Play and TOTs with Dr. Brita Destefano
• Episode 293: Finding a TOTs Release Provider with Hallie Bulkin, MA CCC-SLP, CMT®, CPFT™

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!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com
• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com
• Connect with Dr. Anita Gouri: https://nocavitykids.com/meet-dr-gouri/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hallie Bulkin dives into a topic we all need to hear as we navigate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the rest of the holiday season: how our festive food and drink habits directly impact our sleep and breathing.

It's about more than just your waistline, what you eat and drink this time of year directly affects your airway health and daily function. Hallie connects the dots between common holiday culprits like sugar and alcohol, and poor sleep quality, snoring, and overall well-being. She emphasizes the importance of moderation, modeling good habits for your kids, and creating simple strategies to thrive through the season.

 ✔️Why sugar contributes to inflammation throughout the body, which can cause swelling and restrict an already tight airway.

 ✔️How consuming too much sugar can lead to sleep-disordered breathing, disrupted sleep, and snoring.

 ✔️The signs of sugar impact in children (hyperness followed by a hard crash, restless sleep) and adults (frequent nighttime waking, morning exhaustion, or a "low-level cloud" feeling).

 ✔️Why alcohol acts as a muscle relaxer, which can cause airway muscles to be more easily collapsible, leading to more snoring and potentially more apnic events.

 ✔️The benefit of balancing carbohydrates (sugar) with protein, fiber, and fat to help your body process food with greater ease.

 ✔️Simple strategies for both adults and families to focus on airway health during the holidays.

RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT LOVE

• Ep 332: The Interconnectedness of Oral and Systemic Health with Amber White RDH, HHP
• Ep 333: Transforming airway health & smiles with MARPE featuring Dr. Svitlana Koval, DMD, MSc, BDS

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!

• Free F.A.S.T. Myo Screening Packet: https://FastMyoScreening.com

• Find a myofunctional therapist: https://www.themyodirectory.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.