Bright Conversations

Bright Ideas Media

Bright Conversations, a podcast by Bright Ideas Media, is your space for "Conversations that Connect" and the tools to "Learn Today, Use it Tomorrow." Rooted in compassion and a shared passion for supporting clients with diverse needs, this podcast features engaging discussions to empower SLPs and the entire SPED team. Each episode offers practical insights, meaningful strategies, and uplifting stories. Bright Conversations will leave you feeling inspired, supported, and ready to make an even greater impact on the lives of the clients you serve.

  1. 12H AGO

    Real-World Case Management for SLPs: Data, Dismissal & Boundaries

    Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 📌 Episode Summary: In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman welcomes school-based speech-language pathologist and creator of Panda Speech Publishing, Amanda Schaumburg, for a refreshingly honest discussion on real-world case management. From managing hundreds of IEPs to deciding when to dismiss a student, Amanda shares practical strategies that help SLPs work smarter—not harder. Together, they explore how to streamline data collection, make ethical and confident dismissal decisions, and set healthy boundaries to prevent burnout. This episode is equal parts practical guidance and encouragement for every SLP navigating the demands of school-based work. 👤 Guest Bio: Amanda Schaumburg, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a school-based speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and founder of Panda Speech Publishing. With extensive experience in case management, Medicaid billing, and resource creation, she trains districts nationwide on efficient IEP documentation and eligibility processes. Amanda is also a children’s book author and a passionate advocate for supporting busy SLPs through realistic tools and empowering professional boundaries. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Real-world case management: balancing high caseloads and leadership roles Data collection strategies that are simple, sustainable, and effective Making ethical, confident dismissal decisions for diverse student needs Setting professional boundaries and protecting your time and energy Navigating polarizing opinions in the field and redefining SLP roles 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to: ✅ Identify efficient strategies for managing large caseloads and documentation demands ✅ Apply practical data collection systems focused on meaningful student progress ✅ Describe ethical considerations in dismissal decisions and eligibility reviews ✅ Recognize the importance of boundaries in preventing burnout and sustaining impact ✅ Reflect on evolving models of service delivery and advocacy within schools 🔗 Resources & Links: Panda Speech Publishing Follow Amanda on Instagram: @pandaspeech Explore more episodes and earn ASHA CEUs at www.bethebrightest.com Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    47 min

  2. JAN 28

    After the Summit: Bridging Speech and Literacy with Lauren & Shelby

    📌 Episode Summary:In this special SLP Summit edition of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with Lauren Kline and Shelby Ford, two standout presenters whose courses sparked powerful conversations during the SLP Summit. Building on their sessions From Sounds to Sentences and S Sound Solutions, Lauren and Shelby share how they translate evidence-based strategies into real-life therapy—whether you’re in the schools or private practice.Lauren discusses blending speech sound intervention with structured literacy to support students with dyslexia and apraxia, while Shelby breaks down her practical, student-centered approach to tackling tricky /s/ sounds and clusters. This episode is packed with actionable ideas, relatable clinical examples, and encouragement to make therapy more connected, effective, and enjoyable. 👤 Guest Bios:Lauren Kline, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in integrating speech sound intervention with structured literacy. Her work focuses on supporting students with dyslexia, apraxia, and complex speech-language needs through evidence-based, connected practice. Shelby Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP is a private practice SLP known for her clear, practical approach to treating speech sound disorders—especially /s/ and /s/ clusters. She helps clinicians simplify complex concepts and tailor intervention to each child’s unique movement patterns and strengths. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Bridging speech sound intervention and literacy instruction When and how to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy goals Practical strategies for targeting /s/ and /s/ clusters Managing caseloads that include speech sound disorders and dyslexia Tailoring intervention based on student strengths, needs, and response 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Explain how speech and literacy skills intersect in intervention✅ Identify ways to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy sessions✅ Apply practical strategies for treating /s/ sounds and clusters✅ Reflect on how to individualize therapy for diverse learners 💬 Quotes to Remember: “We can't work on reading in isolation from speech. When we connect the dots, kids make meaningful gains.” — Lauren Kline “There’s no one-size-fits-all for the /s/. It’s about tuning in to how each child moves and responds.” — Shelby Ford 🔗 Resources & Links: SLP Summit: www.bethebrightest.com/slp-summitCourses:From Sounds to Sentences — Lauren KlineS Sound Solutions — Shelby FordFollow Lauren: @laurenkline.slpFollow Shelby: @shelbytheslpAssessments: Gray Oral Reading Test, Gray Silent Reading Test, CTOPP, PAT-2, Tests of Dyslexia, Gallistel-EllisPrefixes Resources: Words Their Way (includes spelling inventories at the back of the book)Multilingualism Book: Multilingualism, Literacy, and Dyslexia Clusters vs Blends? https://www.bjoremspeech.com/blogs/bjorem-speech-blog/clusters-vs-blends?_pos=1&_sid=d6f798c74&_ss=r

    46 min

  3. JAN 26

    After the SLP Summit: Disability Is Not a Bad Word

    📌 Episode Summary:In this After SLP Summit episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones reconnects with Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP to continue an important conversation sparked during Angela’s SLP Summit presentation, Anti-Ableist Care: A Disabled Clinician’s Perspective. Angela, a speech-language pathologist with cerebral palsy, shares how her lived experience as a disabled person has shaped her clinical practice and deepened her understanding of what ethical, affirming care truly looks like. Together, Shontaye and Angela unpack how ableism shows up in therapy spaces, why language around disability matters, and how compliance-driven models can unintentionally cause harm. Rather than offering a checklist of “right” and “wrong” practices, this episode invites listeners into a deeper mindset shift—one that centers disabled voices, challenges deficit-based goals, and encourages clinicians to reflect on whose comfort, expectations, and outcomes are prioritized in therapy. 👤 Guest Bio:Angela Evenich, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and disability advocate who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations about equity and inclusion in speech therapy. As a clinician with cerebral palsy, Angela is passionate about anti-ableist practice, affirming care, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and authentic communication. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: What anti-ableist care looks like in real clinical settings Why “disabled” is not a bad word and why language choices matter How compliance-based therapy models can conflict with affirming care Reframing goals away from normalization and toward functionality and autonomy The role of lived experience in ethical clinical decision-making Disability identity, terminology, and stigma in therapy spaces 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Define anti-ableist care within speech-language pathology✅ Explain why disability-affirming language is essential to ethical practice✅ Identify ways compliance-driven goals may unintentionally cause harm✅ Reflect on how to prioritize autonomy, dignity, and meaningful outcomes in therapy 💬 Notable Takeaway:Anti-ableist practice isn’t about memorizing a list of techniques. It’s about re-examining our assumptions, listening to disabled voices, and creating therapy spaces that value autonomy, dignity, and lived experience over compliance and normalization. 🔗 Listen & Learn:SLP Summit is available now through February 6, 2026.Register and learn more at www.bethebrightest.com Want to hear more conversations like this? Subscribe to Bright Conversations for episodes that connect—and ideas you can use tomorrow.

    33 min

  4. JAN 5

    Neuroaffirming in Real Life: Rethinking Goals, Language, and IEPs with Jessie Ginsberg & Chris Wenger

    📌 Episode Summary:In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with “power SLP couple” Jessie Ginsberg (@sensoryslp) and Chris Wenger (@speechdude) for a candid, insightful, and often hilarious look at what neurodiversity-affirming practice really means—at home, in early intervention, and in school-based IEP meetings.Jessie shares the moment her worldview shifted when an autistic SLP challenged her use of person-first language, explaining how identity-first perspectives reshaped her understanding of autism as identity, not something to separate or “fix.”From the school lens, Chris exposes the hidden cost of compliance-based goals—planned ignoring, forced eye contact, eliminating echolalia—and offers practical reframes that support regulation, safety, and authentic connection. Together, they talk about neurodiversity in their own home with five boys, the shifts they’re seeing in the next generation of SLPs, and how clinicians can create goals that don’t require students to mask or become someone they’re not. 👤 Guest Bios:Jessie Ginsberg, M.S., CCC-SLP is known as The Sensory SLP, a leader in sensory-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She co-hosts The Neuroaffirm Show, runs Neuroaffirm Academy, and creates learning experiences that help SLPs rethink behavior, regulation, and identity. Chris Wenger, M.S., CCC-SLP, aka Speech Dude, is a school-based SLP, consultant, and national presenter known for bringing humor, honesty, and classroom-tested neuroaffirming approaches to teams across the country. He helps SLPs reframe behavior, write more supportive IEP goals, and build strong connections with students and staff. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Why neuroaffirming practice is personal for Jessie & Chris as parents and clinicians Identity-first language: what autistic people say and why it matters The hidden cost of compliance-based goals: eye contact, still bodies, eliminating scripts IEP language that keeps meetings student-centered and strength-based Echolalia, scripting, and why these are connection bids, not behaviors to extinguish The “wedding seating chart” analogy for outdated social skills goals Hopeful shifts in grad programs and early-career SLPs What neuroaffirming actually means (spoiler: it’s not “no expectations”) Where to learn more: The Neuroaffirm Show, Neuroaffirm Academy, and social channels 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Describe how neurodiversity-affirming practices can be integrated across home, clinic, and school settings✅ Explain the differences between person-first and identity-first language and why many autistic individuals prefer identity-first terminology✅ Identify compliance-based goals and contrast them with neuroaffirming goals that reduce masking, anxiety, and burnout 💬 Key Takeaways / Quotes: “If we’re really putting people first, we have to actually listen to the people we’re talking about.”“Sometimes those compliance-based social goals are the very thing creating anxiety.”“We don’t need you to think about high school today. We need 15 minutes of connection today.”“Neurodiversity-affirming doesn’t mean no expectations; it means the supports match the neurology.” 🔗 Resources & Where to Find the Guests: Jessie Ginsberg – @sensoryslp Chris Wenger – @speechdude Neuroaffirm: The Neuroaffirm Show + Neuroaffirm Academy SLP Summit – Free online conference held each January and July: bethebrightest.com

    38 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    Who We Are and Our Stories: Exploring Identity, Culture, and Narratives

    Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. 📌 Episode Summary:In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with bilingual SLP and culturally responsive practice advocate Sarah Little to explore how identity, culture, and personal narratives shape the ways we communicate and connect. Together, they examine the influence of intersectionality, cultural context, and developmental stages on how children make meaning of their experiences—and how SLPs can support that process through intentional, inclusive practice.This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own identities and stories, embrace cultural humility, and create learning spaces where every child feels valued, represented, and heard. 👤 Guest Bio:Sarah Little, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist based in the Chicago area. With a background in linguistics and Spanish, she brings deep expertise in language diversity, bilingual assessment, and culturally responsive practice. Sarah works in the public school system and conducts bilingual evaluations across Chicagoland. Her work centers on identity, advocacy, and supporting families and educators in building affirming communication environments for all children. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Identity & intersectionality: how our lived experiences shape communication The Wheel of Power & Privilege: using frameworks to understand layered identity Culture as a core component of communication—not an add-on Narrative development through Erikson’s stages & how language disorders impact storytelling The importance of representation in books, media, and therapy materials Cultural sensitivity vs. cultural humility: moving from awareness to reflective action Diversity audits: how to evaluate materials, environments, and mindsets for inclusion 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Describe how identity and culture influence communication and narrative development✅ Recognize how personal and cultural narratives shape children’s self-perception and learning✅ Identify strategies to incorporate cultural humility and inclusive representation into therapy and educational settings 💬 Memorable Quotes: “Culture is not something we add on—it’s the lens through which we all experience the world.” — Sarah Little“When children see themselves in the stories we share, they begin to believe that their voice matters.” — Shontaye Glover-Jones 🔗 Resources & Links: Sylvia Duckworth’s Wheel of Power and Privilege Bright Ideas Media Blog — resources on culturally responsive & identity-affirming practice More CEU opportunities at ⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠ Earn ASHA CEUs for listening to this episode and learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bethebrightest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    53 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    The Speech Shelf Story: Building Affordable Tools for SLPs

    📌 Episode Summary:In this episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover-Jones sits down with Sophia Ermmarino, SLP graduate student and founder of The Speech Shelf, for an honest, eye-opening discussion about the financial realities of becoming—and being—a speech-language pathologist. From graduate school costs and unpaid internships to the pressure of buying materials and navigating early-career salaries, Sophia shares her lived experience and the inequities that pushed her to create a more affordable, accessible resource platform for SLPs. This conversation shines a light on the need for financial transparency in our field, the hidden expectations placed on student clinicians, and the systems that create unnecessary barriers for those entering the profession. Sophia also shares her vision for a more equitable, community-supported future where high-quality therapy materials are accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. 👤 Guest Bio:Sophia Ermmarino is a speech-language pathology graduate student and the founder of The Speech Shelf, a low-cost, unlimited-access therapy materials platform designed to support students, CFs, and school-based SLPs. Inspired by her own experiences navigating the financial challenges of graduate school and early career demands, Sophia is committed to increasing transparency, reducing inequity, and empowering the next generation of SLPs with accessible tools and resources. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Sophia’s path into the profession and her early experiences as an SLP student The real financial burden of becoming an SLP: tuition, unpaid placements, materials, and more The origin story of The Speech Shelf and the need it fills in the field How affordability and access impact student clinicians and early-career SLPs The “hidden curriculum” in SLP programs and why open conversations about money matter Practical ideas for building a more equitable and transparent future for SLPs Supporting the next generation through community-driven, budget-friendly solutions 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Describe the financial challenges faced by SLP students and early-career clinicians✅ Recognize how lack of transparency affects access, equity, and burnout✅ Identify strategies to support affordability and accessibility within therapy practice 💬 Memorable Quote: “Nobody prepares you for how expensive it is just to become an SLP.” — Sophia Ermmarino 🔗 Resources & Links: The Speech Shelf: https://www.thespeechshelf.com/ ASHA Student Resources: https://www.asha.org/students/ Scholarships: ASHA Minority Student Scholarship, NSSLHA Scholarships, state-level loan forgiveness Teacher/Special Ed Mini-Grants: DonorsChoose, Scholastic Action Grants, local foundations Affordable Material Repositories: The Informed SLP, curated TPT free resources Budgeting Tools: EveryDollar, YNAB, Mint

    28 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    The Origin Story of SLP Summit: Building Community, Connection, and Confidence

    📌 Episode Summary:In this special episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with the founders of SLP Summit — Lisa Kathman and Sarah Bevier of SLP Toolkit and Marisha Mets of SLP Now. Together, they share how a simple idea to connect SLPs and provide accessible professional development grew into a beloved, career-sustaining event that’s been going strong for nine years. Listeners will hear the behind-the-scenes story of how the Summit began, how it’s evolved, and what continues to motivate these leaders to create meaningful, affordable, and community-centered learning experiences for SLPs worldwide. 👤 Guest Bios:Lisa Kathman, M.S., CCC-SLPLisa is a school-based speech-language pathologist and co-founder of SLP Toolkit, a digital platform that helps SLPs streamline data collection, progress monitoring, and goal tracking. She’s passionate about making clinical work more efficient and empowering clinicians with practical tools that make their work more sustainable. Sarah Bevier, M.S., CCC-SLPSarah is a speech-language pathologist and co-founder of SLP Toolkit. She’s known for her humor, honesty, and deep understanding of what it means to juggle real-world SLP responsibilities. Sarah believes in supporting clinicians through transparency, collaboration, and fun. Marisha Mets, M.S., CCC-SLPMarisha is the founder of SLP Now, a membership platform designed to help SLPs plan, organize, and deliver evidence-based therapy with confidence. She blends her experience as a school-based SLP with a systems mindset, helping professionals work smarter, not harder. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: How SLP Summit began — the conversation that sparked an event now in its ninth year Why accessibility and affordability matter in professional development How collaboration between SLP Toolkit and SLP Now built a movement The evolution of the Summit from small beginnings to a global PD event Keeping the focus on community, connection, and confidence over competition Favorite moments, lessons learned, and behind-the-scenes memories What’s next for SLP Summit and how the team continues to innovate 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Describe the origin and evolution of SLP Summit and its impact on the SLP community✅ Identify the key values that guide the event’s continued success — accessibility, collaboration, and relevance✅ Reflect on how community-driven professional development sustains growth and engagement throughout an SLP’s career 🔗 Resources & Links: SLP Summit – Register for the next event and learn from expert presenters SLP Toolkit – Streamline data collection and goal tracking SLP Now – Plan and organize therapy with evidence-based tools Bright Ideas Media – Your home for practical, accessible professional development

    43 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    “Why /r/ Is So Hard: A Conversation About Speech Sound Disorders with Dr. Kelly Farquharson”

    📌 Episode Summary:In this special episode of Bright Conversations, host Shontaye Glover Jones sits down with Dr. Kelly Farquharson, professor at Florida State University and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab, for an in-depth discussion about speech sound disorders—and why the /r/ sound continues to challenge SLPs everywhere. Kelly unpacks the science behind articulatory placement, motor planning, and phonetic variation while offering practical, evidence-based strategies to support real-world therapy. Listeners will gain clarity on the difference between developmental errors and disordered patterns, why early intervention matters, and how implementation science bridges research and classroom practice. 👤 Guest Bio:Dr. Kelly Farquharson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for children with speech sound disorders and language impairments through school-based implementation science. A frequent conference presenter and educator, Kelly is also known for her popular Phonetics Friday series on social media, where she blends humor and evidence to make speech science accessible and fun for clinicians. 🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode: Why /r/ is such a challenging sound to teach and master The science behind articulatory placement and motor planning Distinguishing between developmental patterns and true speech sound disorders Understanding dialectal variation versus disorder Contextualized and functional approaches to targeting speech sounds Why “waiting until age 8” is too late for intervention Using implementation science to strengthen classroom carryover and collaboration How SLPs can practice confidently at the top of their license 📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:✅ Describe the factors that make /r/ and other speech sounds difficult to remediate✅ Identify evidence-based strategies for contextualized, functional speech sound intervention✅ Explain how implementation science principles can improve collaboration and carryover in schools 🔗 Resources & Links: Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab Speech Sound Disorders Series Facilitative Context Deck – Rock the R Coarticulation Deck – Rock the R Learn more about motor chaining and other strategies mentioned in this episode

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Bright Conversations, a podcast by Bright Ideas Media, is your space for "Conversations that Connect" and the tools to "Learn Today, Use it Tomorrow." Rooted in compassion and a shared passion for supporting clients with diverse needs, this podcast features engaging discussions to empower SLPs and the entire SPED team. Each episode offers practical insights, meaningful strategies, and uplifting stories. Bright Conversations will leave you feeling inspired, supported, and ready to make an even greater impact on the lives of the clients you serve.

Information

  • Creator
    Bright Ideas Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bright Ideas Media
  • Show Website
    Bright Conversations