Rooted in Connection is a podcast about the relationships that shape us in our work, our families, and the moments in between. Hosted by relationship-based speech and feeding therapist Erin Forward, this show explores the stories, science, and small shifts that help us understand ourselves and each other. Through honest conversations with clinicians, caregivers, and community voices, we look at how connection guides growth, healing, and the way we show up in the world.
Rooted in Connection: Where Relationship Moves us Forward
Claim This Podcastby Erin Forward, MSP, CCC-SLP, CLC
5.0(5 reviews)
17 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Rooted in Connection is a podcast about the relationships that shape us in our work, our families, and the moments in between. Hosted by relationship-based speech and feeding therapist Erin Forward, this show explores the stories, science, and small shifts that help us understand ourselves and each other. Through honest conversations with clinicians, caregivers, and community voices, we look at how connection guides growth, healing, and the way we show up in the world.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/2/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 1, 2026
ARFID, Neurodiversity, and Lived Experience: A Conversation on Feeding, Connection, and Self-Advocacy
<p>In this episode, Erin sits down with friend and colleague Rachel Conrad for an honest conversation about ARFID, neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and the profound impact relationships have on our growth and well-being. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, Rachel shares her own journey navigating ARFID and how understanding her neurodivergence helped her make sense of challenges that once felt isolating.</p><p>Together, they explore the complexities of feeding, sensory processing, attachment, and diagnosis while challenging the idea that progress comes from rigid protocols or compliance-based approaches. Instead, they discuss the importance of safety, connection, curiosity, and creating environments where children, families, and clinicians can feel understood and supported.</p><p>This conversation is a reminder that feeding is never just about food. Whether you're a clinician, caregiver, or someone navigating your own neurodivergent journey, you'll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the role of relationships, self-understanding, and authentic connection in fostering meaningful growth.</p><p><br></p>
May 20, 2026
Humor, Humanity & Feeding Therapy with Deborah Brooks
<p>In this episode, Erin sits down with speech therapist and feeding specialist Deborah Brooks for an honest conversation about confidence, connection, humor, and what it really means to support children and families in a relational way. Deborah shares her unique journey from advertising and comedy into pediatric feeding and speech therapy, and how those experiences shaped the way she communicates with both caregivers and clients.</p><p>Together, they explore the importance of trusting yourself as a clinician, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning how confidence is built through experience, reflection, and authentic connection rather than perfection. The conversation also dives into the realities of social media in the therapy world, the pressure many clinicians feel online, and the value of long-form conversations that allow for nuance and deeper understanding.</p><p>Throughout the episode, Deborah emphasizes responsive, attachment-based feeding approaches that prioritize relationship, observation, and the child’s autonomy. Erin and Deborah discuss the importance of seeing children beyond labels or diagnoses, embracing imperfect progress, and creating safety for both children and caregivers throughout the feeding journey.</p><p>This episode also highlights Deborah’s upcoming course, Feeding Babies with Confidence, which focuses on developmentally appropriate, relationship-centered feeding strategies rooted in attachment and trust.</p><p>Whether you’re a therapist, caregiver, or professional navigating your own confidence and growth, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that connection is often the foundation for meaningful progress.</p><p><br></p><p>Deborah Brooks’ Course: Feeding Babies with Confidence</p><p><br></p>
April 15, 2026
When the Body Speaks: Understanding Pain Through Safety and Attunement
<p>In this episode, Erin sits down with physical therapist and craniosacral practitioner Joanna Ferreri to explore what it really means to listen to the body.</p><p>Together, they unpack the relationship between pain, safety, and somatic awareness—shifting away from viewing pain as something to fix, and toward understanding it as a meaningful signal. Joanna shares her journey from traditional physical therapy into more holistic, relationship-based approaches, and how this shift transformed the way she understands both the body and healing.</p><p>This conversation weaves through pain neuroscience, trauma, and the role of attunement, especially when working with children and individuals who may not communicate through words. Erin and Joanna reflect on the importance of consent, safe touch, and honoring the body’s cues, while also challenging some of the limitations of traditional clinical models.</p><p>Joanna Ferrer Bio </p><p>Joanna Ferreri, DPT, is a physical therapist working with children by day and with adults as a holistic bodywork practitioner by night. Over her 12 years of experience working in a variety of physical therapy settings ranging the full human experience quite literally from birth to death, she began to notice something missing: despite all the clinical training and experience, there was little space for the deeper internal, intuitive, and often unacknowledged forces that truly guide recovery. She founded a bodywork practice to bridge that gap. By integrating spiritual traditions with scientific understanding, she offers a holistic approach to chronic pain and chronic stress treatment. Utilizing connection through touch, she facilitates body-led wellness, where the client learns to trust their own inner wisdom to guide their own healing from an empowered lens.</p><p><br></p><p>Instagram @rootsunboundbodyworks</p><p><br></p>
17 total episodes available
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- What is Rooted in Connection: Where Relationship Moves us Forward?
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This podcast updates daily.
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