Speech Talk

About Speech Talk

Welcome to Speech Talk, a podcast for SLPs who are hungry to stay on top of the latest research but don’t have the time to read it. Every other week, join hosts Emily and Eva, two working SLPs who have taken it upon themselves to dive into the data so you don’t have to. Together, they’re turning clinical studies into real-life solutions. From cognitive screening to medication management, adult neuro rehab to discharge planning, they break it all down with evidence, empathy, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. It’s smart, practical, and very real. It’s also, ahem, your new favorite podcast! — New Episodes Every Other Week —

Publisher

Eva Johnson & Emily Brady

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Apr 2025

Latest episode

3 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

41 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Nov 2026

   Feelings and Phonemes: Are SLPs Trained to Counsel?

   Your patient starts crying mid-session, and nobody ever taught you what to do. Sound familiar? Counseling is one of the core pillars of speech-language pathology practice. But how prepared are SLPs to do it? This week, Eva and Emily dig into two studies from the University of Wisconsin on counseling training among SLPs working in adult rehab and with people with aphasia. Spoiler: the titles of the articles pretty much say it all. Eva also shares the session that sparked this topic, after a referral earned her a “please don’t do counseling stuff” message. The hosts trade stories about the moments that caught them off guard, and Eva makes Emily guess the stats in a game she keeps promising to stop playing. You don’t need to be your patient’s therapist, but you do need a framework. Feeling unprepared isn’t a personal failing. The research says it’s normal, and the training gap is the problem. Citations Townsend, A. K., & Hoepner, J. K. (2025). A survey of counselling training and practices among United States speech-language pathologists working in adult rehabilitation contexts. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2025.2532786 Hoepner, J. K., & Townsend, A. K. (2024). Counseling practices of speech-language pathologists working with aphasia: “I did not have adequate training in actual counseling strategies.” Aphasiology, 38(6), 1118–1137. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2023.2262682 Thomas, J. B., Ravi, R., & Gunjawate, D. R. (2023). Counseling in speech-language pathology: Perspectives and experiences of speech-language pathologists in India. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 19, 101207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2022.101207 DEMQoL: https://www.bsms.ac.uk/research/clinical-neuroscience/cds/research/demqol.aspx Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Support: buymeacoffee.com/speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Dysphagia Treatment: Kinesiology Tape for Swallowing Rehabilitation

   Could kinesiology tape make swallowing exercises more functional? This week on Speech Talk, Emily and Eva break down a 2026 systematic review exploring kinesiology taping as a treatment for dysphagia. We discuss how clinicians are using tape to support swallowing muscles or add resistance to exercises like the effortful swallow, along with the research on swallowing safety, biomechanics, and functional outcomes. Is this a promising new tool for dysphagia rehabilitation, or are we getting ahead of the evidence? We unpack the findings, limitations, and clinical considerations speech-language pathologists should know before bringing kinesiology tape into their swallowing treatment plans. Citations Kim, H.-H., & Park, J.-S. (2024). Effects of effortful swallowing against kinesiology taping resistance on the swallowing function in patients with poststroke dysphagia: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine, 103(21), e38344. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038344 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Support: buymeacoffee.com/speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   So Burnt Out You Mix Up the Podcast

   In this episode we discuss burnout and productivity pressure in adult medical speech-language pathology and related rehab settings. We focus on how long workdays, inconsistent hours, documentation demands, and holiday coverage contribute to stress in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.We look at a 2024 study of rehab practitioners in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities that used the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The study found that one in five practitioners scored in the extreme range for burnout, and 25% scored in the extreme range on all three burnout domains: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.We also review how productivity standards relate to burnout and ethically questionable behaviors. The study found a measurable link between productivity requirements and all three burnout domains, even after other factors were accounted for, and productivity standards were tied to five of six ethical gray-area behaviors that were measured.We discuss how these pressures are shaped more by role and workplace culture than by facility type alone. The conversation highlights differences between evaluators and assistants, the demands placed on SLPs in particular, and the impact of settings where clinicians are expected to meet numbers while still providing clinically appropriate care.We close by reflecting on three burnout-related questions from the inventory: feeling emotionally drained, not caring what happens to patients, and feeling that work has accomplished worthwhile things. We emphasize that these responses can signal the need to step back, get support, and recognize burnout early. Citations Coleman A, McLaughlin E, Floren M. Practitioner Burnout and Productivity Levels in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities, Part 1: A Descriptive Quantitative Account. Am J Occup Ther. 2024 Jan 1;78(1):7801205090. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2024.050341. PMID: 38224353. Mahrukh, Malik , S., Khan, H., Khalil , R., & Akram , A. (2023). Level of Stress Among Speech and Language Pathologists Working in Clinical Setups. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 3(2), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v3i2.58 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Support: buymeacoffee.com/speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

95

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

0

YouTube

63

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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