What if supporting speech and language started with the body? In this episode, Tristen is joined by speech-language pathologist and yoga teacher Jennifer Schmid to explore how movement, breath, and regulation can directly support communication.

Together, they unpack why a calm, organized body creates better conditions for speech and language learning, how yoga-informed strategies can fit naturally into speech therapy, and what parents can try at home. This conversation is practical, grounded, and accessible for families and clinicians who want to better support the whole child.

• Why regulation is foundational for speech and language development
• How movement and breath support attention, motor planning, and communication
• What “yoga-informed” really means in a speech therapy context
• How speech-language pathologists can integrate yoga-based strategies without losing focus on goals
• Examples of yoga-informed activities used during speech therapy sessions
• Simple breath and movement routines parents can use at home
• Why supporting the body can help words come more easily

Jennifer Schmid is a speech-language pathologist and yoga instructor who specializes in integrating mind–body practices into speech and language therapy. She brings together evidence-based speech therapy with yoga-informed strategies to support regulation, communication, and learning in children. Jennifer is passionate about helping clinicians and families understand how the body and nervous system influence speech, language, and connection. Through her work, she supports a whole-child approach that is practical, accessible, and grounded in both clinical expertise and compassion.

Learn more about Jennifer and her work at jenschmid.com.

• Jennifer Schmid: https://www.jenschmid.com
• RLLC’s Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com

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Why does it feel like kids forget instructions the moment they hear them? In this episode of More Than Words, host Tristen is joined by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Erika Madison to unpack how executive function plays a critical role in memory. Rather than being a true “memory problem,” many everyday struggles with forgetting directions, losing materials, or blanking on tests are rooted in how the brain organizes, holds, and retrieves information.

Dr. Madison breaks down executive function in clear, relatable terms and explains how skills like attention, working memory, organization, and planning directly impact learning and recall. Together, they explore why memory demands increase as children get older and share practical, realistic strategies parents and educators can use to reduce memory load and better support kids at home and school.

What You’ll Learn

• What executive function is and why it acts like the brain’s “CEO”
• How working memory supports learning and following directions in real time
• Why kids can seem to “know it yesterday” but forget it during tests
• How executive function challenges can look like memory problems
• Why memory demands increase as academic tasks become more complex
• How organization and planning affect memory retrieval
• Practical strategies to reduce memory load and support executive functioning

About Dr. Erika Madison Dr. Erika Madison, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at MindWell Psychology, where she specializes in comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. Her clinical focus includes executive functioning, attention, learning differences, ADHD, autism, and emotional regulation. Dr. Madison is known for helping families understand the “why” behind a child’s learning or behavioral challenges and translating assessment results into clear, actionable recommendations that support success at home and school. With a background that also includes forensic psychology, she brings a deep understanding of cognitive processes and behavior, along with a practical, compassionate approach to care.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Dr. Erika Madison and MindWell Psychology: https://mindwell.us/

Subscribe, Rate, and Review If this episode helped you see your child’s behavior in a new light, please subscribe, rate, and review More Than Words on your podcast platform. It helps other parents and teachers find tools that make daily life easier.

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• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center

In this episode of More Than Words, we sit down with Madison Brumbaugh, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and clinical assistant professor at The George Washington University whose work focuses on supporting individuals with complex communication needs. Madison has experience serving clients across the lifespan and working in public schools, private practice, and home health settings. She holds master’s degrees in Educational Research and Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Translational Health Sciences at GW. Madison is also active in professional leadership and advocacy, including roles with ASHA and state speech-language-hearing associations.

Whether you are new to AAC or have some background, this conversation highlights a fresh and essential perspective: how we can design AAC supports with students, not for them.

Madison breaks down what AAC actually is and what it looks like in real classrooms and therapy settings. From there, we explore how involving students in the design of AAC tools can increase engagement, support literacy, and help learners express themselves more meaningfully across environments.

We also discuss both low-tech and high-tech AAC supports, including visual organizers and personalized digital tools, and how students can help shape these tools to better meet their communication and learning needs. Throughout the conversation, Madison shares practical examples and mindset shifts that educators, therapists, and families can apply right away.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What AAC is and who it can support
• What it means to design AAC supports with students
• Why student involvement matters for meaningful communication
• How students can participate in designing both low-tech and high-tech AAC tools
• The connection between AAC, literacy, and classroom engagement
• Practical steps educators and families can take to center student voice

This episode is ideal for educators, therapists, and caregivers who want to better understand AAC and create communication supports that truly reflect the students using them.

Links and Resources:

• Madison’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-b-b171a9155/
• Madison’s information at George Washington University: Madison Brumbaugh
• About Madison Brumbaugh | DC Speech & Literacy

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center