New Episodes Every Wednesday

Child Development Episodes

Discuss the developmental challenges faced by children with various conditions, highlighting strategies caregivers and professionals can use to support their growth and well-being.
Episode 50 | Eileen's Story - A son with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa
Nov. 10, 2020

Episode 50 | Eileen's Story - A son with Recessive Dystrophic Epiderm…

In this episode, Annie, Certified Child Life Specialist, talks to Eilieen. She is the amazing mom of a determined, fun loving, 4-year-old hero named Brady. Brady was diagnosed with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (...

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Episode 48 | Meg's Story - A daughter with craniosynostosis
Oct. 13, 2020

Episode 48 | Meg's Story - A daughter with craniosynostosis

Meg, is mom to four children one of whom is living with syndromic craniosynostosis. Her daughter, Avery, who is now six-years-old is proof that children are resilient and capable of so much. She discusses the exhaustion that ...

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Anti-Racism and Diversity in Child Life: An Important Conversation
June 9, 2020

Anti-Racism and Diversity in Child Life: An Important Conversation

Katie interviews Meg and Jess, two certified child life specialists who also have dual certifications in rec therapy and nursing! These two ladies host a podcast called Don't Worry Bout My Hair and they are your @friendswithf...

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Autism Diagnosis: A Mother's Journey from Anxiety to Acceptance
May 25, 2020

Autism Diagnosis: A Mother's Journey from Anxiety to Acceptance

In this episode, Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist, interviews Jessica, mom to two special needs children and one of which who is on the Autism spectrum. Jessica is also an adult clinical neuropsychologist and also hosts...

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Episode 35 | Talking to kids about the Coronavirus
March 12, 2020

Episode 35 | Talking to kids about the Coronavirus

When it comes to the Coronavirus, how we inform our children is incredibly important. If you're wondering though, how can we talk to our kids when we as adults still don't know exactly what's happening, you're not alone. This...

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Neuroblastoma: Creating Joy During Childhood Cancer Treatment
Jan. 13, 2020

Neuroblastoma: Creating Joy During Childhood Cancer Treatment

In this episode Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist interviews Tara Geraghty, President and Founder of Making Cancer Fun . Tara is momma to Emily who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just three years old....

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Episode 28 | Lauren's Story - A daughter with Congenital Heart Defects
Oct. 28, 2019

Episode 28 | Lauren's Story - A daughter with Congenital Heart Defects

This is Lauren's Story - A daughter with congenital heart defects on the Child Life On Call Podcast, hosted by Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist. Little Everly is just over two years and has more fight and life in...

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Episode 23 | Stephanie's Story - A daughter with functional short bowel syndrome
March 18, 2019

Episode 23 | Stephanie's Story - A daughter with functional short bow…

After a long fertility journey and a high risk, stressful, and very sick pregnancy, Stephanie gave birth at 26 weeks due to severe preeclampsia. Stephanie, mom to Adeline, shares her experiences in the NICU and describes Addi...

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Episode 22 | Belinda's Story - A son with low muscle tone, epilepsy and autism
April 30, 2018

Episode 22 | Belinda's Story - A son with low muscle tone, epilepsy a…

Belinda, a mom, certified child life specialist, teacher and creator of ChildLifeConnection.com shares her story with us today on the final episode of season two of the Child Life On Call Podcast. As a cancer survivor herself...

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Episode 21 | Alex's Story - A daughter born with congenital heart defects and heterotaxy
April 23, 2018

Episode 21 | Alex's Story - A daughter born with congenital heart def…

At Alex's 20-week ultrasound appointment, she and her husband learned that their daughter, Lucy, had heterotaxy and congenital heart defects. From that moment, their lives changed and they became advocates and fighters for th...

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Cochlear Implants and Severe Hearing Loss in Newborns
March 19, 2018

Cochlear Implants and Severe Hearing Loss in Newborns

When Lyndsey's newborn daughter failed her initial hearing screening, she wasn't too worried—her older son had also failed the first test. But after a second failed newborn hearing screening, Lyndsey was referred to an audiol...

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Episode 13 | Nina's Story - A son with craniosynostosis
Feb. 26, 2018

Episode 13 | Nina's Story - A son with craniosynostosis

In this first episode of the second season of this podcast, we hear from a self-proclaimed "crunchy granola mom" Nina, whose fourth child was born with what she calls "a funny shaped head." Nina goes on to describe her son's ...

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Episode 8 | Part Two of Mandy's Story - A son born with a rare genetic condition
Aug. 20, 2017

Episode 8 | Part Two of Mandy's Story - A son born with a rare geneti…

Episode 8 is Part 2 of Mandy and Nolan's story. If you haven't listened to Part 1, head on over to Episode 7 so you have a better understanding and appreciated for Mandy's story. I mentioned that Nolan was scheduled for surge...

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Episode 7 | Part 1 of Mandy's Story - A son born with a rare genetic condition
Aug. 14, 2017

Episode 7 | Part 1 of Mandy's Story - A son born with a rare genetic …

Episode 7 features the first part of Mandy's story. Her son, Nolan, was born five weeks early with a host of symptoms which led them to find that he was diagnosed with a condition that only four other people are currently liv...

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Episode 6 | Tricia's Story - A daughter diagnosed with Rolandic Epilepsy
Aug. 7, 2017

Episode 6 | Tricia's Story - A daughter diagnosed with Rolandic Epile…

Episode 6 features Tricia, a mama who lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Tricia bring a unique perspective and understanding of child development in her experience based on the fact that she has her masters in early ...

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Episode 3 | Kim's Story - A son born with Microtia Atresia and hearing loss
July 10, 2017

Episode 3 | Kim's Story - A son born with Microtia Atresia and hearin…

In this episode you will hear Kim talk about her experience in finding out that her son had Microtia Atresia, the interesting link to their family history and how that has affected her journey, and the tough decision about ho...

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