Speech Talk Podcast By Eva Johnson & Emily Brady cover art

Speech Talk

Speech Talk

By: Eva Johnson & Emily Brady
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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 —© 2026 Eva Johnson and Emily Brady. All rights reserved. Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • Thickened Liquids...It’s Complicated

    Thickened Liquids...It’s Complicated
    Mar 24 2026
    Thickened liquids are one of the most common recommendations in dysphagia management—but are they always the safest option? In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva review The Adverse Effects and Events of Thickened Liquid Use in Adults: A Systematic Review and dig into the real evidence behind thickened liquids. We talk aspiration risk, dehydration, pneumonia, quality of life, and why dysphagia management is rarely as simple as “just thicken it.” From the proxy problem in aspiration research to free water protocols and real-world SNF decision-making, this conversation explores why thickened liquids can help some patients, harm others, and almost always require careful clinical judgment. Because when it comes to dysphagia management… thickened liquids are complicated. Citations Abrams, S. W., Gandhi, P., & Namasivayam-MacDonald, A. M. (2023). The adverse effects and events of thickened liquid use in adults: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00380 Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • The Difficult Dance: The SLP’s Role in Huntington’s Disease

    The Difficult Dance: The SLP’s Role in Huntington’s Disease
    Mar 10 2026
    What does evidence-based practice look like when the disease is progressive, fatal, and relentlessly complex? This week on Speech Talk, Emily and Eva discuss clinical management of Huntington’s disease in long-term and residential care settings. Using a comprehensive 2007 primer for speech-language pathologists, we explore dysphagia progression, dysarthria, AAC challenges, behavioral supports, staff training, and the importance of early education. We also reflect on real-world clinical decision making with a late-stage patient — including thickened liquids, unintelligible speech, low-tech and high tech AAC, impulsivity, weight loss, and the emotional weight of progressive decline. Because sometimes evidence-based practice isn’t about fixing — it’s about guiding, adapting, and supporting with intention. Note to our listeners: Your headphones are not broken, the audio on this episode is a little funky (all Emily's fault). It is still worth a listen and we promise it won't happen again :) Citations Klasner, E. R., & Yorkston, K. M. (2007). A primer for speech-language pathologists managing clients with Huntington’s disease in a residential care facility. Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders, 17(2), 59–64. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4958906/ George Huntington (1872). On chorea. The Medical and Surgical Reporter. Huntington’s Disease Society of America. History of Huntington’s Disease. https://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/history-and-genetics-of-huntingtons-disease/history-of-huntingtons-disease/ BBC News. (2024). Experimental gene therapy slows progression of Huntington’s disease. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevz13xkxpro Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  • Bone Spurs & Bolus Flow: Cervical Osteophytes and Dysphagia

    Bone Spurs & Bolus Flow: Cervical Osteophytes and Dysphagia
    Feb 24 2026
    In this episode of Speech Talk, Emily and Eva dive into cervical osteophytes (aka bone spurs in the neck) and how they can mechanically impact swallowing. We break down what osteophytes are, why they form, and how they can present just like “typical” dysphagia — globus, coughing, choking, wet vocal quality — but may gradually worsen over time. We talk about imaging (Because how else would we even know it’s there!?), conservative management strategies like texture modification and suprasubglottic swallow, and when a surgical consult might be appropriate. Citations Bakshi, S. S., & Ramesh, S. (2021). Cervical osteophytes causing dysphagia: A case report. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 361(5), e43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjms.2020.10.014 Lyrtzis, C., Poutoglidis, A., Stamati, A., Lazaridis, N., & Paraskevas, G. (2024). A case of dysphagia due to large osteophytic lesions in the cervical spine: A conservative approach. Cureus, 16(4), e59011. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59011 Egerter, A. C., Kim, E. S., Lee, D. J., Liu, J. J., Cadena, G., Panchal, R. R., & Kim, K. D. (2015). Dysphagia secondary to anterior osteophytes of the cervical spine: A retrospective case series and literature review. Global Spine Journal, 5(5), e78–e83. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1546954 Park, B. J., Gold, C. J., Piscopo, A., Schwickerath, L., Bathla, G., Chieng, L.-O., Yamaguchi, S., & Hitchon, P. W. (2021). Outcomes and complications of surgical treatment of anterior osteophytes causing dysphagia: A single center experience. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 207, 106814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106814 Melbourne Swallow Analysis Centre. (n.d.). Cervical osteophytes and dysphagia. Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.melbswallow.com.au/resources/cervical-osteophytes-and-dysphagia/ HealthCentral. (n.d.). Osteophytes (bone spurs). Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/spondylosis/osteophytes-bone-spurs Get in Touch: hello@speechtalkpod.com Or Visit Us At: ⁠www.SpeechTalkPod.com⁠ Instagram: @speechtalkpod Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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