The Myohacker Podcast: Answering Myo, Airway, & Feeding Questions

When a child comes in for speech sounds, Holly Probst-Bowers wants to watch them eat. Holly, a Speech-Language Pathologist and owner of Atwell Therapeutics in Houston, joins me to talk about how myofunctional training changed her evaluations, her treatment sessions, and the questions she asks families. In this episode, we talk about: Why Holly includes feeding in her speech evaluations, even when parents haven’t raised feeding concerns. What she looks for in tongue position, lip closure, and oral structure, and why she asks about sleep. What she took from the MyoHacker Mini, including case discussions, movement, and getting kids out of the therapy chair. Connect with Holly: Follow Holly on Instagram @atwelltherapeutics or visit Atwell Therapeutics to learn about her team or book a free 15-minute consultation. (Atwell Therapeutics) Connect with Karindy: Want to learn more about the Myohacker Mini Cohort? Send Karindy a DM on Instagram at @myohackerslp. Credits: The MyoHacker Podcast is hosted by Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP, and edited by Allison Massengale. “Better Sweater” is performed by Desert Dive and licensed through Soundstripe. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual care.

Dr. Julia Kagan joins me to explore the ALF appliance through a whole-body lens, including cranial motion, tongue-palate input, neuroregulation, and why the body’s response matters just as much as the appliance itself. We also dig into laser therapy, the anterior coupling reflex, and what can happen when we pay attention to the sensory and neurologic information our patients are giving us. In this episode, we talk about: How the ALF can support cranial motion, neuromyofunctional growth, and regulation How laser therapy may influence fascia, muscle function, and sensory-motor feedback Why listening to patients, parents, and the body’s response can change clinical decision-making Connect with Dr. Julia Kagan: https://integrativedentalartsofwny.com/  Connect with Karindy: https://www.myohackerslp.com/ Instagram: @myohackerslp and @theintuitivemyohacker

When you have a dozen possible root causes & recommendations, the answer isn’t to do everything all at once. Instead, it’s best to identify what is disrupting your child’s daily life, separate what you know from what you’re still questioning, and choose the next useful step that won’t leave you and your family feeling crazy.. In this episode, Karindy helps you move out of overwhelm and into action by showing you how to prioritize concerns, navigate differences between caregivers, release the pressure to “fix” everything, and create a focused 90-day plan. Listen now & download the free Family Treatment Alignment Guide here to decide what to act on, what to plan for, and what you can confidently set aside for now. Get your Free Guide Here: https://bit.ly/3SHHi4x  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to navigating complex child health issues 01:14 The overwhelm of information and root causes 02:34 Focusing on daily life and what actually needs to change 03:30 Setting observable, specific goals 04:46 The parent’s experience and avoiding burnout 06:38 Separating facts from questions in research 07:32 Understanding the complexity of individual children 08:50 Questions versus diagnoses and next steps 09:48 Sequencing and family capacity considerations 11:14 Realistic family capacity and workload 13:32 Avoiding treatment as a moral issue 18:57 Identifying the smallest useful next step 21:19 Prioritizing actions and building a 90-day plan 23:39 Reassessing and adjusting after 90 days 24:37 Encouragement for overwhelmed parents 25:38 Closing thoughts and resources Credits:  The Myohacker Podcast is hosted by Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP and edited by Allison Massengale. Song “Better Sweater” performed by Desert Dive, licensed via Soundstripe.  Disclaimer:   This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your care.

Nature-based occupational therapy brings movement, sensory input, and real-world variability into every session. Pediatric OT Stacie Goodwin shares how outdoor and equine therapy, bottom-up clinical reasoning, and knowing when to pause help her support the whole child without forcing treatment. What We Talk About How nature functions as a “second therapist” in pediatric occupational therapy Why inflammation, brain energy, and fascial restrictions may interfere with progress on higher-level skills How Stacie combines equine therapy, bodywork, movement, and nervous system support The role of compassionate attention, safety, and co-regulation in treatment Why experienced providers still need to develop and trust their clinical intuition Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The MyoHacker Podcast 01:08 Meet pediatric OT Stacie Goodwin 02:16 Nature as the second therapist 03:30 A whole-child, bottom-up approach 06:45 Moving beyond cookie-cutter protocols 08:16 Clinical intuition and compassionate attention 13:13 Why Stacie joined The Intuitive MyoHacker 17:21 Knowing when to pause during treatment 19:10 What experienced providers need beyond training 21:57 Specialization without provider burnout 23:25 How to connect with Stacie Connect with Stacie Website: Upstate Therapy Co. Instagram: @upstatepediatrictherapy.co The Intuitive MyoHacker The Intuitive MyoHacker is an advanced eight-week experience for clinicians who want to move beyond rigid protocols, strengthen their clinical observation, deepen their understanding of the body and nervous system, and become more confident using their intuition in practice. Want to learn more? Send Karindy a DM on Instagram at @myohackerslp. Credits The MyoHacker Podcast is hosted by Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP, and edited by Allison Massengale. “Better Sweater” is performed by Desert Dive and licensed through Soundstripe. Content ID: EZJ9SYJM1ELVD21U. Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual care.

In this episode of The MyoHacker Podcast, Dana Lopez from Inspiration Myo shares her journey from dental hygiene into myofunctional therapy and how her clinical approach expanded to include the nervous system, development, airway, and the whole person. We talk about what happens when a protocol isn’t enough and why providers need both solid training and the confidence to adapt care to the person in front of them. In this episode, we talk about: Why myofunctional therapy is about more than tongue exercises How the nervous system, development, and oral function connect When to move beyond a standard protocol and trust your clinical reasoning Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dana Lopez and her journey 02:56 The shift from dental hygiene to myofunctional therapy 04:11 Recognizing early signs and seeking specialist help 05:17 The importance of proper post-op care and training 07:42 Observing developmental signs and connecting the dots 08:09 Supporting children with myofunctional therapy and orthodontics 10:19 The broader health implications of oral and airway health 11:31 Encouragement for hygienists and providers to speak up 13:01 Changing the nervous system, not just the tongue 16:55 Why Dana chose to join the MyoHacker cohort 19:43 The value of a holistic, big-picture perspective Connect with Dayna:  https://www.inspiration-myo.com/ Instagram  |  @inspirationmyo    Connect with Karindy:    https://www.myohackerslp.com/ Instagram  |  @Myohackerslp  YouTube  |  @theMyohackerPodcast   Credits:  The Myohacker Podcast is hosted by Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP and edited by Allison Massengale. Song “Better Sweater” performed by Desert Dive, licensed via Soundstripe. Content ID: DFKYWEZIUCTMMH0L Disclaimer:   This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your care.