New Episodes Every Wednesday

Episodes

Episode 97 | Samarrah's Story: A Son with an Ependymoma Brain Tumor
Nov. 30, 2021

Episode 97 | Samarrah's Story: A Son with an Ependymoma Brain Tumor

My guest today, Samarrah, is sharing her story about her son being diagnosed with a brain tumor. I encourage you to be present as you listen to her story and take the wisdom she is offering. In this episode, we talk about… [1...

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Episode 96 | Carrie's Story: A Son with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
Nov. 23, 2021

Episode 96 | Carrie's Story: A Son with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

My guest today is Carrie Holt. Carrie is one of those people who, when you talk to her, you feel like you've known her your whole life AND it feels like you're there in the room with her. She has such a great perspective on ...

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Gratitude Journaling for Kids: How to Start
Nov. 16, 2021

Gratitude Journaling for Kids: How to Start

Meet the author, Priscilla Morgan. She gives us exactly what we need to know to start a gratitude journal with kids, without making it a chore. She teaches us how to find the emotional connection with gratitude to make it me...

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Episode 94 | Moira's Story: Kids with Celiac Disease and Migraines
Nov. 9, 2021

Episode 94 | Moira's Story: Kids with Celiac Disease and Migraines

Today I get to introduce you to Moira, the host of Surviving the Waiting Room - a podcast based on her experiences from learning how to be an advocate for her teenage children as they started to figure out their health issues...

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Episode 93 | Expert Advice Every Parent Should Know From an Occupational Therapist
Nov. 2, 2021

Episode 93 | Expert Advice Every Parent Should Know From an Occupatio…

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm interviewing Ashley McGaughy. Ashley is a pediatric occupational therapist from Chicago, and she primarily works as an independent contractor with kids in intervention programs, ages zero to t...

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Episode 92 | The Dad's Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic Disease
Oct. 26, 2021

Episode 92 | The Dad's Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic Disease

The Dad's Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic Disease So there is this rock star in the podcast world, and her name is Effie Parks. She hosts a podcast called Once Upon a Gene, inspired by her son who has a rare genetic d...

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Episode 91 | How Do You Explain the COVID-19 Vaccine to Kids?
Oct. 19, 2021

Episode 91 | How Do You Explain the COVID-19 Vaccine to Kids?

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm talking about the COVID-19 vaccine and how to discuss it with kids. I'm going to give you some ideas, with the caveat that you don't have to use the exact words I use. You know your child bes...

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Conjoined Twins: A Story of Separation Surgery and Adoption
Oct. 12, 2021

Conjoined Twins: A Story of Separation Surgery and Adoption

Today I'm introducing you to Jenny Hull, a single mom to Josie who just turned 20 years old. Jenny is also the CEO and founder of a nonprofit organization called Once Upon a Room. They are changing the game for kids in hosp...

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Episode 89 | How to Talk with Kids About Disabilities with Dr. Brittany Ferri
Oct. 5, 2021

Episode 89 | How to Talk with Kids About Disabilities with Dr. Britta…

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm interviewing Dr. Brittany Ferri. She is an occupational therapist, and she has a passion for talking with kids about disabilities. Brittany talks about her program, Social Fly, a social and m...

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Episode 88 | [Repost] Life On Pause: Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories
Sept. 29, 2021

Episode 88 | [Repost] Life On Pause: Cancer Survivors Share Their Sto…

It's an incredibly rare experience to sit next to someone else who "gets" what you're going through… exactly. That's what support groups are for, right? Well, today you're getting an inside look into what young adults who hav...

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Episode 87 | Lisa and Brady's Story - A Mom and Son Discuss Their Past Cancer Experience
Sept. 28, 2021

Episode 87 | Lisa and Brady's Story - A Mom and Son Discuss Their Pas…

I connected with one of today's guests, Brady, through our shared alma mater, Penn State University. He has dealt with cancer not once, but twice, and he agreed to come on the podcast with his mother, Lisa. I'm so honored t...

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Episode 86 | Starlyn's Story - Quadruplets in the NICU
Sept. 21, 2021

Episode 86 | Starlyn's Story - Quadruplets in the NICU

I'm so excited to have my friend Starlyn on the show today! She and her husband have struggled with infertility for years, and she is here to share the miraculous story about having one embryo and ending up with four babies....

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Sickle Cell Anemia in Children: A Mother's Advocacy Journey
Sept. 14, 2021

Sickle Cell Anemia in Children: A Mother's Advocacy Journey

It's another day in September, which means we are going to be recognizing National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder in which blood cells may become sickle shaped and harden, cau...

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Childhood Cancer: Support and Wisdom from Parents Who've Been There
Sept. 7, 2021

Childhood Cancer: Support and Wisdom from Parents Who've Been There

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Over the last four-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity and honor to interview many parents who are a part of a club that they didn't ask to be in. There is a common bo...

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Episode 83 | How to Talk to About a Friend or Classmate's Cancer
Aug. 31, 2021

Episode 83 | How to Talk to About a Friend or Classmate's Cancer

When it comes to talking about cancer with kids, there is no one that compares to Holly Senn (Certified Child Life Specialist at Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital). We're going to share some tips for parents, teachers, an...

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Episode 82 | Taraneh's Story - A son with cleft palate
Aug. 24, 2021

Episode 82 | Taraneh's Story - A son with cleft palate

My guest this week is Taraneh, sharing her story about having a son with cleft palate. In this episode, we talk about… [2:24] Taraneh's background and her family [3:54] Taraneh's pregnancy and birth experience with her son [5...

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Episode 81 |How to Support Your Kids for Back to School
Aug. 17, 2021

Episode 81 |How to Support Your Kids for Back to School

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more! This episode is also sponsored by Magic Mind, the World's First Productivity Drink...

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Episode 80 | Bonnie's Story - A son with Type 1 Diabetes
Aug. 10, 2021

Episode 80 | Bonnie's Story - A son with Type 1 Diabetes

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more! Meet Bonnie, her husband and her three adult children. Bonnie calls herself "the r...

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Preparing Your Child for Surgery: What to Say and How to Help
Aug. 3, 2021

Preparing Your Child for Surgery: What to Say and How to Help

Answering parent questions in a 12 minute talk. This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL25 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more! Katie, Certified Child Life Specia...

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Episode 78 | Kara's Story - A son with a brain tumor and the journey after resection
July 27, 2021

Episode 78 | Kara's Story - A son with a brain tumor and the journey …

"For me, it's balancing supporting him in full honor of his disabilities and making sure I am advocating for him AND relating to him as fully capable and strong." Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist talks with mom of four,...

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Episode 77 | How Can Music Therapy Help my Child
July 20, 2021

Episode 77 | How Can Music Therapy Help my Child

Answering parent questions in a 12 minute talk. Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist talks with Christine Bomberger, Music Therapist at Cleveland Clinic Children's . We talk about: +Why music therapy should be a staple in e...

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Episode 76  | Cortney's Story - A daughter with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
July 13, 2021

Episode 76 | Cortney's Story - A daughter with Hypoplastic Left Hear…

Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist talks with Cortney Given, Life Coach and Host of the Mindset for Medical Moms Podcast . Cortney could have never guessed that the high school paper she wrote HLHS would be given to her s...

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How to Talk to Kids About Death: Child Life Expert Guidance
July 7, 2021

How to Talk to Kids About Death: Child Life Expert Guidance

Answering parent questions in a 12 minute talk. Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist talks with Lauren Holley, CCLS and Professor discusses the topic: How to Talk to Kids About Death. We talk about: +How to concretely expla...

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Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS): Navigating Diagnosis and Daily Life
June 29, 2021

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS): Navigating Diagnosis and Daily Life

Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist talks with Jessica Patay, Founder and Executive Director of We Are Brave Together. Her own story as a mom of a child with special needs began in 2003 when her second son, Ryan, was born ...

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