The Growth Lab Podcast

Luba Patlakh-Kaplun
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Parenting

You’ve Googled your kid's development at midnight. You're drowning in appointments, acronyms, and advice that doesn't quite fit. Wherever you are in the process, this is the show for you. Luba Patlakh is a speech-language pathologist, myofunctional therapist, and founder of Kidology, a pediatric practice that has worked with over 150,000 families. She's also a mom of three. She knows what it's like to sit with a question that no one around you seems to have the answer to. Every week, Luba brings on the clinicians, advocates, and specialists who actually work with kids. Real conversations about speech delays, feeding, IEPs, sensory processing, and everything in between. No fluff, no fear. Just the clarity you deserve. Whether you're just starting to notice something or you've been in the thick of it for years, The Growth Lab gives you the information and confidence to show up for your child.

  1. 16h ago

    The Early Signs Your Child Needs More Support

    Long before children can use their words, they communicate through behavior, their play, their reactions, and the patterns parents and teachers notice but can't always name. In this solo episode, Luba walks through the everyday signs that quietly signal a child may need more help, from delayed speech and frustration-driven meltdowns to sensory red flags, feeding challenges, rigid routines, and motor concerns. She explains why these cues so often get dismissed with "wait and see," why waiting rarely makes things easier, and what actually happens when a family reaches out for support. Most of all, she reminds parents that their intuition is powerful, that there is nothing wrong with them or their child, and that they don't need a diagnosis or anyone's permission to start advocating right now. 00:01:09 The everyday behaviors that signal your child needs more support 00:01:36 Why behavior is your child's first language 00:02:33 Your gut is data too 00:03:05 Speech and communication signs to watch for 00:04:58 Meltdowns, biting, and shutting down 00:06:23 Sensory needs and when OT can help 00:07:57 Feeding challenges that aren't just picky eating 00:09:14 Rigid routines and hard transitions 00:10:22 When your child just seems different 00:10:54 Why waiting doesn't make it easier

    15 min

  2. May 26

    Meltdowns, ABA Wait Lists, and What Behavior Is Really Telling You with Kea Lee

    Behavior isn't random, and it isn't your child being "bad." It's communication. In this episode, Luba sits down with Kea Lee, M.S., BCBA, LBA, founder of Moment of Behavior, to unpack what your child's behavior is actually telling you, and how parents can shift from reactive to responsive. Kea brings 8 years of experience across clinic, home, school, and community settings, with a Bachelor's in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology from Old Dominion University and a Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Together, Luba and Kea dig into the real meaning behind meltdowns, what modern assent-based ABA actually looks like, why "wait and see" can cost families precious time, and what parents stuck on ABA wait lists can do right now. Kea also opens up about caregiver burnout, the power of self-grace, and why every parent deserves to hear, "you are enough." Whether you're newly navigating a diagnosis, sitting on a wait list, or just trying to better understand your child, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and equipped. Connect with Kea Lee: Website: momentofbehavior.com Instagram: @momentof_behavior Connect with Luba: Instagram: @lubapatlakh Pre-order Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:59 Meet Kea Lee, BCBA and founder of Moment of Behavior 03:15 What "behavior is communication" really means 07:34 From speech path student to BCBA, Kea's origin story 11:50 The body says what words can't 14:42 Why therapy only works when parents do the work at home 16:21 The biggest misconceptions about ABA today 21:51 A practical strategy for handling meltdowns 26:20 Caregiver burnout and giving yourself grace 29:23 Why "wait and see" can hurt your child 31:35 Rapid fire: first steps after a diagnosis and what every parent should hear

    37 min

  3. May 19

    I Wrote a Children's Book in My Mom's Memory

    In this special solo episode, Luba shares the deeply personal story behind her very first children's book, Bobo Wears a Bowtie, launching this May during Better Speech and Hearing Month. This isn't just a book about speech, it's a story about courage, confidence, and helping children build the inner voice that says "I can try, I can learn, and I don't have to be perfect to grow." Luba opens up about the real reason this book exists, her mom, the woman who believed in her first, who spoke to her in possibilities instead of limits, and whose voice still shapes the way Luba raises her own family and supports the hundreds of children she works with each year. Written in her mom's honor and released around the four-year anniversary of her passing, Bobo Wears a Bowtie is a love letter to every child who just needs someone to believe in them, and to every parent looking for the words to do it. Preorder Bobo Wears a Bowtie now at bobowearsabowtie.com. Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Follow Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh 00:00, Welcome to The Growth Lab 00:47, Introducing today's episode and the story behind the book 02:43, The real reason this book exists, a tribute to Luba's mom 03:37, How the words adults say become a child's inner voice 04:32, The kitchen table conversation that started it all 06:32, What Luba sees in her clinics when children lose confidence 08:26, Why she made an intentional choice not to make this a "therapy book" 10:31, The bigger message, you don't have to be perfect to grow 12:38, Why launching during Better Speech and Hearing Month matters 13:19, Preorder Bobo Wears a Bowtie at bobowearsabowtie.com

    15 min

  4. May 12

    Jamie Giannino on Early Intervention Access and Fighting for the Kids Nobody Else Would

    Jamie Giannino is a speech-language pathologist, private practice owner, and nonprofit founder who has spent the last decade working in the gaps the system pretends don't exist. Luba sits down with Jamie to talk about building Bee Bright Therapy and the Wordwise Speech Therapy Foundation side by side, what it actually takes to become an early intervention agency in New York State, and what pushed her to dress up as the Grinch and end up on the news fighting for providers who weren't getting paid. They also get into what parents need to know about IEPs, why you should never sign one you don't agree with, and how Jamie thinks about advocacy as someone who once needed someone to fight for her too. If you've ever felt like the system wasn't listening, this one's for you. 00:00 Welcome and intro to Jamie Giannino 02:52 Inside Bee Bright Therapy and serving rural counties 06:22 Jamie's road to becoming an SLP and finding her path 14:18 Building an agency and surviving New York's payment freeze 18:48 The private client who changed everything: discovering apraxia 24:42 Why Jamie started the Wordwise Speech Therapy Foundation 26:00 Dressing as the Grinch to get the state's attention 32:53 Funding a nonprofit and the grant writing reality 37:46 How providers can better support families beyond the session 43:09 Reading the IEP line by line and fighting for what's right

    52 min

  5. May 5

    Play Is the Point: How Stephanie Feero Built a Therapy Tool Kids Actually Love

    What happens when a pediatric SLP gets tired of reinventing the wheel before every session and decides to build something better? Luba sits down with Stephanie Feero, MS, CCC-SLP and founder of Chomper Champs, a speech therapy companion tool born in a feeding therapy room and now shipping to SLPs across the country. They talk about why play-based therapy produces better outcomes, how Stephanie went from a single janky 3D printer to a growing subscription box business, and what it actually takes to turn a clinical idea into a real product. Stephanie also gets honest about clinician burnout, the pressure SLPs put on themselves to create custom materials, and why low-prep tools aren't a shortcut. They're just good clinical sense. Check out Chomper Champs here: https://www.chomperchamps.com 00:00 Welcome & intro to Stephanie Feero 01:36 Stephanie's path to becoming an SLP 05:28 Building Chomper Champs from her home workshop 08:41 Why fun is the driver of progress, not a distraction 12:00 From janky prototype to version 30 19:16 Advice for SLPs with an idea but no time 26:17 Preventing clinician burnout & what's next for Chomper Champs 29:50 Where to find Stephanie & Chomper Champs

    33 min
  6. We're Back and the Show Has Grown Up

    Apr 28

    We're Back and the Show Has Grown Up

    The Growth Lab is back, and Luba is marking one full year of the podcast with a solo episode that's equal parts reflection and momentum. She gets honest about what year one actually looked like behind the scenes, how the show evolved from a business-focused platform into a space built for families and providers navigating child development, and why she didn't have it all figured out when she started. She also shares what's ahead, including new episodes with a sharper focus, and the launch of her book, coming this May. If you've been here since episode one or you're just finding the show now, this is the conversation that sets the tone for everything coming next. 00:00 One year of The Growth Lab 02:08 Starting before you're ready 03:22 The pivot from business to families 05:49 The real work behind the podcast 08:16 How hosting sharpened her voice 11:52 What's next: the book launch 14:14 Thank you to the listeners

    18 min
  7. You're Not Doing It Wrong: What Every Parent Needs to Hear Before Starting Therapy with Nicole Casey

    Mar 20

    You're Not Doing It Wrong: What Every Parent Needs to Hear Before Starting Therapy with Nicole Casey

    In this episode, Luba sits down with Nicole Casey, speech language pathologist, clinic owner, and the creator of the Child Led SLP community, for a conversation that is equal parts clinical insight and personal honesty. Nicole unpacks what "child led" therapy actually means, clearing up the common misconception that it equals no structure or goals, and explaining how following a child's lead leads to deeper generalization outside of sessions. The two also get into what parents really need emotionally before strategies can even land, why finding the right therapist fit matters, and how Nicole accidentally went viral on Instagram, built a 100K following, and pulled off a 15,000-person summit while running a clinic and raising two kids. It's a refreshing reminder that you can grow a business and a platform without losing the heart of why you started. Nicole's links: https://childled.org https://alignedrubricframework.com (00:01:27) Child-Led Communication Development in Speech Therapy (00:07:49) Building a Supportive Therapy Team for Children (00:10:18) Empowering Parents through Non-Judgmental Support (00:24:02) Speech Therapy Community Thrives Online During Pandemic (00:29:15) From Clinic Owner to Movement Builder (00:35:34) Purposeful Connection Through Compassionate Entrepreneurship (00:38:52) Building Business Success Through Compassionate Growth

    40 min
  8. How to Advocate for Your Child Without Being “That Parent”

    Mar 14

    How to Advocate for Your Child Without Being “That Parent”

    Somewhere along the way, parents were made to believe that advocating for their child means being difficult, confrontational, or “that parent.” In this solo episode of The Growth Lab, speech-language pathologist and child advocate Luba Patlakh challenges that narrative and explains why advocacy is not aggression, it’s clarity. Drawing from years of experience supporting families through IEP meetings and school systems, Luba shares the mindset shifts and practical language that can completely change how these conversations unfold. From asking the right questions to regulating emotions in high-stress meetings, this episode gives parents the tools to advocate with confidence, stay steady in difficult rooms, and ensure their child’s needs are truly heard. (00:00:46) Empowered Parental Advocacy for Child Services (00:10:41) Power of Clarity in Effective Advocacy

    12 min
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Trailer

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About

You’ve Googled your kid's development at midnight. You're drowning in appointments, acronyms, and advice that doesn't quite fit. Wherever you are in the process, this is the show for you. Luba Patlakh is a speech-language pathologist, myofunctional therapist, and founder of Kidology, a pediatric practice that has worked with over 150,000 families. She's also a mom of three. She knows what it's like to sit with a question that no one around you seems to have the answer to. Every week, Luba brings on the clinicians, advocates, and specialists who actually work with kids. Real conversations about speech delays, feeding, IEPs, sensory processing, and everything in between. No fluff, no fear. Just the clarity you deserve. Whether you're just starting to notice something or you've been in the thick of it for years, The Growth Lab gives you the information and confidence to show up for your child.

Information

  • Creator
    Luba Patlakh-Kaplun
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Luba Patlakh-Kaplun
  • Show Website
    The Growth Lab Podcast

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