The Growth Lab Podcast

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 [http://bobowearsabowtie.com]. Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://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 [http://bobowearsabowtie.com]

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

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 [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

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

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://childled.org] https://alignedrubricframework.com [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