Best TopClass Podcasts (2025)

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Foundational Supports S07E35 30:08

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3h ago30:08

30:08

In this week’s episode, we start a conversation about Foundational Supports with Dr Erin West from SPA’s Policy and Advocacy team. Erin will discuss a conceptual model that SPA are using to advocate to ensure that Foundational Supports reflect the need of the children and families speech pathologists support, and that speech pathologists working ac…

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Why student career preparation is going wrong 34:57

7d ago34:57

34:57

A new OECD report reveals that nearly 40% of 15-year-olds are uncertain about their future careers. Alarmingly, only one in three students has attended a job fair or completed an internship, and over 20% hold unrealistic job aspirations. These findings come from The State of Global Teenage Career Preparation, a comprehensive look at how well young …

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Supporting children with co-occurring DLD and ADHD S7E34 45:25

6d ago45:25

45:25

In this week’s episode dual-qualified speech pathologist and clinical psychologist, Natalie Manley, speaks about supporting children with co-occurring Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She discusses cognitive and linguistic characteristics of these kids, and strengths-based approaches to moti…

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Allyship in Action S7E33 48:19

14d ago48:19

48:19

In this week’s episode, Cyndal Nelson (they/them) of the Queer Speech Collective speaks with Lauren Haskins (she/her) about her practice’s efforts to create a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ individuals through the Pride in Health and Wellbeing program. Lauren then speaks with Tyler Chapman (he/him) about his perspectives on allyship as a fin…

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The state of global education, with OECD’s Andreas Schleicher 25:56

22d ago25:56

25:56

More people are getting degrees than ever before, but family background has a big influence on whether people pursue university or another form of tertiary education. That’s one of the key findings of this year’s OECD report Education at a Glance. The report is the authoritative source of information on the state of education worldwide, with data o…

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Chronic pain and speech pathology: what’s our role? S7E32 56:48

21d ago56:48

56:48

In this week’s episode, Asta Fung discusses her soon to be completed PhD research about applying our skills to breathing interventions to offer relief to people experiencing chronic pain. Asta discusses how she became interested in breathing interventions and recognised the skills speech pathologists can bring to this area of emerging speech pathol…

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Functional Dysphagia S7E31 1:08:32

28d ago1:08:32

1:08:32

In this week’s episode, we speak with Associate Professor Anna Miles and Adjunct Associate Professor Jan Baker about functional dysphagia. Jan and Anna talk about the research from FND that they have drawn on to create a biopsychosocial framework for supporting people with functional dysphagia. Resources:  Read Anna and Jan’s article here: Miles, A…

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Impact through communication about dysphagia S7E30 23:44

1M ago23:44

23:44

In this Speech Pathology Week episode, Dr Debbie Pu from Monash University discusses how we can have “Impact through communication” about dysphagia awareness. She discusses what different stakeholders understand about swallowing difficulties, how public awareness can support people living with dysphagia to enjoy safe meals, and how speech pathologi…

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Rebroadcast: Using minimal pairs S7E29 42:51

1M ago42:51

42:51

From time to time Speak Up will rebroadcast previous episodes and invite speech pathologists to offer their reflections on the episode. This week Rebecca O’Neill (she/her), a Conference Support Fund Awardee reflects on her learning from Rebecca Reinking (she/her), both in this episode and at her conference presentation.Rebecca Reinking is a paediat…

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Cybersecurity for speech pathology practices S7E28 35:41

2M ago35:41

35:41

In this week’s episode we speak with Dr David Lacey, CEO of IDCARE about cybersecurity for practices offering speech pathology and other allied health services. We discuss how threat actors gain access to data, how to manage data breaches, and steps that workplaces can take to prevent them.Resources: IDCARE – Services for small businesses: https://…

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Culturally responsive speech pathology S7E27 1:10:25

2M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

This week’s episode is a panel from the SPA 2025 Conference about bias within the profession. Dr Vishnu Nair, Professor Betty Yu and Associate Professor Sarah Verdon discuss the history of our field’s alignment with medical approaches, and the subsequent bias particularly in relation to race, disability, and the intersection of disparities, with a …

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Building your voice banking toolkit S7E26 1:04:08

2M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

In this week’s episode, Dr Lillian Krikheli and Dr Sarah El Wahsh speak about all things voice banking. Sarah and Lillian discuss how to raise the topic of voice preservation, how to support your service user to select the best software for their needs, and what changes AI has facilitated in voice banking. Much of the content discussed in this podc…

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Managing unexpected workplace risks S7E25 25:13

2M ago25:13

25:13

In this week’s episode, we speak with Anna Pannuzzo from WorkPlacePLUS about preparing for the unexpected, and using risk management to enable business continuity. Anna speaks about the process of making contingency plans for situations such as natural disasters, sudden illness, and data breaches. Resources: WorkPlacePLUS: https://www.workplaceplus…

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Reinventing education in Ukraine with former education minister Liliia Hrynevych 23:39

2M ago23:39

23:39

Despite Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine is rewriting the future of its education system. The New Ukrainian School reform programme is a bold initiative to move away from Soviet-era style schooling and to instead embrace a more modern, student-centred approach. It was launched in 2016, two years after Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanuk…

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Using AI to support communication and connection S7E24 53:32

3M ago53:32

53:32

In this week’s episode, we bring you a recording live from SPA’s 2025 conference, in Tarntanya | Adelaide. Dr Fiona Kerr, who was the plenary presenter the morning of this recording, and speech pathologist Ishwari Samarakoon, speak about using AI and technology to support connection and communication. They speak about resources, and ways to ensure …

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Navigating NDIS changes, and NAIDOC week reflections S07 E23 25:37

3M ago25:37

25:37

In this week’s episode we speak with Jane and Kelly from the Advisor team about the frequently asked questions that they are hearing from SPA members about the recent NDIS changes. Kelly and Jane speak about the resources that members have found helpful, including information about pricing, ceasing services, and the heavy toll that speech pathologi…

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The battle for education in Ukraine 16:42

3M ago16:42

16:42

How to improve Ukraine’s education system during a time of war was the main topic of discussion at an education festival in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv last month. More than 2,000 Ukrainian teachers gathered for the Teachers of the Future 2025 festival to discuss efforts to reshape schools across the country. Despite Russia’s ongoing war of …

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Oral histories: SPA Life member Helen Smith S7E22 48:46

3M ago48:46

48:46

In this live episode from the 2025 SPA Conference in Tarntanya | Adelaide, we speak with Helen Smith, who the day before became Speech Pathology Australia’s newest Life member.Resources: If you would like to hear Helen speak more about ethics, she contributed to the Code of Ethics: Support for everyday practice https://learninghub.speechpathologyau…

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S7E21: Supporting LGBTIQ+ individuals in Aged Care 36:41

3M ago36:41

36:41

In this week’s episode, we recognise Pride month as SPA’s Jess Kaplonyi (she/her), speaks with Chris Hunt (she/her) and Dr Louisa Smith (she/her) from LGBTIQ+ Health Australia’s Silver Rainbow program. They discuss the experiences and support needs of LGBTIQ+ individuals living with dementia and who engage with palliative care and Aged Care. Resour…

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Rebroadcast: Ethical AI in Speech Pathology, part 1 S7E20 45:22

4M ago45:22

45:22

In this week’s episode, the Scientific Chair of the 2025 conference, Dr Jacqueline McKechnie offers her reflections on the episode ethical AI in speech pathology, a conversation with Professor Emma Power, from UTS. Emma speaks about the opportunities and considerations that using Generative AI can provide and the ethical considerations that we need…

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Rebroadcast: UN Sustainable Development Goals S7E19 45:04

4M ago45:04

45:04

In this week’s episode, Dr Debbie Pu from the 2025 Conference Planning Advisory Committee offers her reflections on the episode UN Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Sharynne McLeod and Professor Julie Marshall about a special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Developme…

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Planning ahead: psychosocial safety in your practice S7E18 26:40

4M ago26:40

26:40

In this week's episode, we speak with Anna Pannuzzo, from WorkPlace PLUS, about creating policies to uphold everyone’s psychosocial safety at work. Anna speaks about how planning ahead can help to ensure that if something challenging and unexpected does happen, there is a prepared plan. Anna speaks about policies and processes for psychosocial haza…

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Holding connections in speech pathology practice S7E17 20:35

4M ago20:35

20:35

In this week’s episode, we speak with Associate Professor Jade Cartwright. Jade is delivering the Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture at the 2025 SPA conference in Tarntanya | Adelaide on Sunday June 15th, 2025. Jade discusses the inspiration behind her plenary address, and reflects on the learnings we can achieve when we work to co-design with the pe…

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Public funding models: Ethical challenges and practices S7E16 39:32

4M ago39:32

39:32

In this week’s episode, Dr Tristan Nickless explores ethical challenges and considerations that speech pathologists face when working with funding models like the NDIS and Medicare. He discusses ways practitioners can be ethical stewards of public funds in supporting equitable access, managing time requirements, aligning funded supports with eviden…

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Neurodiversity affirming practice and disability justice S7E15 51:32

5M ago51:32

51:32

In this week’s episode, Professor Betty Yu of San Francisco State University provides a brief overview of the workshop on conversational analysis that she will co-present with Dr Vishnu Nair at the SPA Conference 2025. In this unscripted conversation she reflects on the nature of neurodiversity-affirming practice, whose experiences and communicatio…

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Can apprenticeships solve the job skills gap? 40:52

5M ago40:52

40:52

Employers are struggling to find skilled workers. How can we fix the job skills gap? Apprenticeships are touted as one possible solution. They combine on-the-job training with classroom learning, allowing employers to recruit and train people to meet their skills needs. According to the OECD, there are huge opportunities for apprenticeships to expa…

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People experiencing homelessness and speech pathology S7E14 42:00

5M ago42:00

42:00

In this week’s episode, Leigh Andrews from Change Communication in the UK and Lauren Gibbs from Launch Housing in Victoria, speak with Mary Woodward, SPA’s Senior Advisor, Justice. Leigh and Lauren tell Mary about the benefit speech pathologists can bring when supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, and some of the resources that suppo…

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Celebrating one million listens! S7 bonus episode 12:17

5M ago12:17

12:17

In this bonus episode, we are celebrating the Speak Up podcast having been listened to one million times! Thank you to everyone who listens, every guest who has so generously shared learnings with us, guest interviewers who approach their role with curiosity and everyone else who supports the podcast in visible and invisible ways. Nathan and Nadia,…

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Adopting a decolonial vision for the profession S7E13 33:29

5M ago33:29

33:29

In this week’s episode Dr Vishnu Nair lays groundwork for his keynote address at the SPA Conference on a Critical and Decolonial Vision for Speech and Language Therapy. He discusses communication as an embodied experience for - and the knowledge of - people who live with disability, critically examining historical and current power dynamics in the …

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Inside the Justice Reform Initiative S7E12 39:36

5M ago39:36

39:36

In this week’s episode, Dr Mindy Sotiri, who is the Executive Director of the Justice Reform Initiative speaks with Mary Woodward, SPA’s senior advisor for justice. Mindy and Mary discuss the work that the Justice Reform Initiative do, some of the changes they are advocating for, and what role speech pathologists play when working in this space. Re…

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Climate change: core concern of speech pathology S7E11 50:01

6M ago50:01

50:01

In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr Abby Foster and Suzanne Mungall, speech pathologists, about Earth Day, coming up on 22 April. Suzanne and Abby share their experiences about speech pathology and climate change, and why they feel the urgent need for health professionals to address the impacts of climate change on health and service delivery.…

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Federal election: Standing up for speech pathology S7E10 18:10

6M ago18:10

18:10

In this week’s episode, we speak with SPA’s CEO, Lyn Brodie, and General Manager for Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations, Dr Jennifer O’Connor, about the upcoming federal election and speech pathology. They discuss “wins” from the federal budget, critical “asks” during the election and how these are determined, and ways that stakeholders can …

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Primary progressive aphasia and speech pathology S7E09 44:06

6M ago44:06

44:06

In this week’s episode, we recognise the inaugural International Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Awareness Day 2025 coming up this Friday on 4 April 2025. Kym, Speech Pathology Australia’s Senior Advisor- Aged Care, speaks with Scott Cooper a dementia advocate living with PPA, and his speech pathologist Dr Penelope Monroe from FRONTIER's PPA Comm…

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Beyond clinical learning, developing as professionals S7E08 55:56

7M ago55:56

55:56

In this week’s episode, Ishwari Samarakoon and Nisrine El-Choueifati speak about the role that professional support can play in managing challenging interactions and the stress that this can cause us to feel. Nisrine and Ish discuss wellbeing, values-based decision making, and the things they have learned when providing supervision following a brea…

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Neurodiverse safe work initiative S7E07 53:21

7M ago53:21

53:21

In this week’s episode to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we speak with Catherine Lee from the Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative, an organisation with a focus on creating an environment for neurodivergent workers to thrive. Catherine speaks about the role speech pathologists can play in supporting someone to advocate for their needs at school…

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How to ensure quality early childhood education and care for all 40:32

7M ago40:32

40:32

The early years of a child's life are crucial for their development. Falling behind early can mean never catching up. How can countries ensure lasting benefits from early childhood education and care? In this episode of Top Class, Stephanie Jones, the Gerald S. Lesser Professor in Early Child Development at Harvard University, and Professor Henrik …

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Rethinking thickened liquids S7E06 52:50

7M ago52:50

52:50

In this week’s episode SPA’s Jessica Kaplonyi speaks with Tracy Lazenby-Paterson from the National Health Service and Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists in the UK, and Dr Arlene McCurtin from the University of Limerick in Ireland, about research into thickened fluids and people living with dysphagia. They discuss misconceptions about thi…

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Returning to practice: A new program S7E05 27:37

7M ago27:37

27:37

In this week’s episode we hear from Mary and Fiona from the Professional Recognition Team about the new program to enable speech pathologists to return to practice. Mary and Fiona speak about the new program having self-directed learning goals, and condensing the program to be completed in less time, so speech pathologists can safely and effectivel…

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AI and Language Sample Analysis S7E04 58:15

8M ago58:15

58:15

In this week’s episode Dr Darin Woolpert and Dr Michael Cannizzaro discuss what Generative AI is (and is not) effective at when analysing language samples, and the importance of practitioner knowledge and critical thinking when using AI.Resources: A full list of resources / references for this podcast is available via the SPA Learning Hub. ChatGPT …

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Advocacy updates and NDIS AT replacement supports S7E03 48:03

8M ago48:03

48:03

In this week’s episode, SPA’s Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations Team speak about the work they have been doing. Then we receive an update about changes in the NDIS that have occurred since 3 October 2024, including things to keep in mind when using the new AT pathway for replacement supports. Resources: Contact the Policy, Advocacy, and Gov…

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How to help disengaged teenagers learn 31:14

8M ago31:14

31:14

How can you help disengaged teenagers rediscover their passion for learning? In this episode of Top Class, Rebecca Winthrop, a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, discusses ideas from the new book she has co-authored called ‘The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and L…

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Introducing CEO Lyn Brodie & looking forward to Season 7 S7E01 38:43

8M ago38:43

38:43

In this week’s episode the podcast production team, Nathan Cornish-Raley, Renae Hobson and Nadia Marussinszky, give a peek behind the curtain on the Speak Up podcast and what listeners can expect for Season 7. Nadia also chats to SPA’s new CEO, Lyn Brodie, about her vision for the Association and the profession.Resources: SPA Strategic Plan 2023-20…

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LA wildfires: What educators can do when disaster strikes 37:47

9M ago37:47

37:47

Wildfires raging in Los Angeles have destroyed thousands of homes and forced the closure of hundreds of schools. As communities try to rebuild following the destruction, including the burning down of schools, what can teachers do to support students? In this episode of Top Class, Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrician David Schonfeld, Director of …

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Inside the Food, Nutrition and Dining Unit S7E02 33:44

9M ago33:44

33:44

In this week’s episode, Jane Villari, Assistant Director in the Food, Nutrition and Dining Advisory Support Unit at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, speaks with Kym Torresi, SPA Senior Advisor Aged Care. Jane and Kym discuss the Food, Nutrition, and Dining Unit, and the supports that speech pathologists can access from the FNDU to suppo…

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The Speech Pathology Role in Palliative Care SLS25E3 1:03:14

9M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

In our third instalment of the Summer Listening Series Connie Huang from the Early Career Reference Group offers her reflections on episode 31 from season 4 The Speech Pathology Role in Palliative Care. Lisa Terry and Samantha Bradley, Senior Speech Pathologists from Monash Health, speak with Dr Laura Chahda, from the University of Melbourne, and D…

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Adult learning styles and supervision SLS25E4 38:42

10M ago38:42

38:42

In this final episode of the Summer Listening Series, speech pathologist Brittany Fong recommends a conversation from Season 5 with Nicola Dann about principles of adult learning and supervision. She discusses learning stages and styles, how supervisors can adapt their support, supervision at different career stages, and guidance for a supervisor’s…

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AAC across the lifespan SLS25E2 44:23

10M ago44:23

44:23

In this week’s episode, speech pathologist Ashleigh Glover offers her reflections on AAC across the lifespan, a conversation between Kristen Potts and Amanda Hartmann. Kristen, a private speech pathologist, explores four AAC case studies across the lifespan with Amanda, an experienced speech pathologist and AAC enthusiast. Amanda is a lecturer at t…

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A behind the scenes look at Maggie Beer’s Big Mission SLS25E1 38:32

10M ago38:32

38:32

In this first episode of the Summer Listening Series, Dr Rebecca Packer, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, reflects on her recommended listening from Season 6. She introduces this episode in which Associate Professor Jade Cartwright and Natalie O’Brien discuss their involvement in the ABC documentary Maggie Beer’s Big Mission. They d…

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What skills are needed for the AI and green jobs era? 45:45

10M ago45:45

45:45

As technologies transform businesses, what critical skills are needed to succeed in the workforce of the future? With artificial intelligence, the green transition, globalisation and much more all impacting the world of work, there is an urgent need for policymakers, educators and businesses to respond. In this episode of Top Class, we explore what…

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Why are adult literacy skills dropping? Insights from the OECD Survey of Adult Skills 32:41

10M ago32:41

32:41

Over the past decade, literacy and numeracy skills among adults have largely declined or stagnated in most OECD countries. This is the main finding from the second OECD Survey of Adult Skills, a once-in-a-decade assessment that measured the skills of adults across 31 countries and economies. Despite efforts to strengthen education and adult trainin…