Wine with Wita | Speech Pathology & Parenting Support

Get Rita's free speech pathology guide for parents: https://www.rsspeechpathology.com.au/free-training

In this episode of Wine With Wita, Rita sits down with Dr Mary Bourke to talk about chewing, airway health, and what a child's mouth can tell you long before anyone puts a name to it. You have watched your child sleep with their mouth open and wondered whether it means anything. You have been told the teeth grinding is normal, the fussy eating is a phase, the broken nights will sort themselves out. Maybe someone has raised behaviour, or ADHD, and it did not sit right with you. Rita has been in that spot herself, standing in a dentist's office being told her daughter's tongue thrust was hers to solve because she was the speech pathologist.

Dr Mary Bourke is a chiropractor of more than 30 years and the CEO of Myo Munchee, the chewing device her father, Australian dentist Dr Kevin Bourke, first developed after noticing how differently jaws grew in people who chewed hard for their food. Mary explains why most facial growth happens in the first four to six years, why chewing is one of the simplest inputs a parent has in that window, and how it connects to sleep, speech and what shows up later in the classroom. She and Rita also cover when the dummy's job is done, why swaddling past six weeks can get in the way of a baby's movement, and what to watch for at three to five months.

If you are a parent who has looked at your child sleeping with their mouth open, watched them push food to one side of their plate, or been told it is just behaviour, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
- Why Rita trained as an orofacial myologist after a dentist told her she should already know
- What a tongue thrust is, and how it reshapes a child's teeth and jaw over time
- The jawbone on a beach that led to the Myo Munchee, and why Mary's dad kept going
- Why children chew far less than they used to, and what that does to jaw growth
- The difference between a whole apple and a pretty bento box of cut up fruit
- When the dummy has done its job, and what Mary suggests takes its place
- Why lips resting open is worth a closer look, and what the tongue is doing instead
- How Mary connects early sleep trouble to what turns up later in the classroom
- What Mary wants parents watching for at three to five months old

Connect with Dr Mary Bourke:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarybourke/
Myo Munchee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myomunchee/
Myo Munchee: https://myomunchee.com/
Handbook for the Human: https://www.handbookforthehuman.com/

Connect with Rita:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winewithwitapodcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WineWithWitapodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2igo4o3aDACW150Al0aLr1
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/wine-with-wita-speech-pathology-parenting-support/id1743156009
Website: https://www.rsspeechpathology.com.au/
Connection Creates Communication waitlist: https://wine-with-wita.kit.com/connection-waitlist
Wita's Weekly Wecap (newsletter): https://wine-with-wita.kit.com/09e84e6753

The purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/iros-young/rain-of-light
License code: LZFCDXTEOYBYGYI0

Wine with Wita is Australia's leading podcast for parents navigating life with children with communication difficulties, disabilities and additional support needs. Hosted by Rita Shamoun, speech pathologist and founder of RS Speech Pathology.

New episodes every Friday.

Three paediatricians told Jo Diaz her son was fine. One toldher she could "tell she was a first-time mum." She knew something was different about Cruz from the time he was two and it took years, four paediatricians and a file full of evidence before anyone finally sat down and listened.
 
In this episode of Wine with Wita, Jo Diaz from JD Marketing shares the raw, honest story of getting her six-year-old son diagnosed with ADHD and ASD Level 1. We talk about the sensory signs everyone dismissed, the year she spent trying every possible therapy before agreeing to medication, 2 NDIS rejections, and the moment a doctor finally said the words she'd waited years to hear: "I don't think you're crazy."
 
We also celebrate the woman behind the mum - how Jo built amarketing agency from scratch in 2019 while pregnant and heading into COVID and her powerful take on AI: "We have become so reliant on it to be our voice that we have lost our own voice."
 
In this episode we cover:
Early signs of autism and ADHD in toddlers 

Medical gaslighting and being told "he's fine, he's a boy"  

Autism masking and how it affects assessments  

Why ADHD and autism strategies can work against each other in a classroom 

The ADHD medication decision, titration, and what changed at full dose 

Two NDIS rejections and paying for therapy out of pocket 

Occupational therapy, early intervention and mum guilt 

Building an authentic brand as a mum in business and using AI without losing your voice

Connect with Jo Diaz

Instagram: @jodiaz_
Business Instagram: @jd.marketing
TikTok: @jd.marketing
 
Wine with Wita
Wine with Wita is a podcast about the families behind adiagnosis, the advocacy, the exhaustion, the small wins and the stories that remind you that you're not alone.
If this episode resonated, please subscribe, leave a reviewand share it with a mum who needs to hear it today. New episodes every week.

Follow the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/winewithwitapodcast/

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wine-with-wita-speech-pathology-parenting-support/id1743156009

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WineWithWitapodcast
 
  
Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provideinformation. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about yourchild's communication and/development.
 
Music from
Author Username: Denisdrummer85
Licensee: Brigitte Ngo-Trinh
License Name: Envato
License Date: July 28th, 2026
Item License Code: BANXY58MHS

Hey everyone,
This week, I’m joined by speech pathologist, clinic owner and long-time friend Julia Orsini for a raw and honest conversation about the realities of building a business, leading a team and trying to hold everything together.
Julia shares how the drive to grow a successful clinic eventually led to severe burnout and the moment she realised she could no longer keep going without asking for help.
​In this episode, we talk about:
💫 Building a clinic while raising a young family
💫 The hidden cost of constantly striving for more
💫 Recognising the signs of severe burnout
💫 Learning to ask for and accept help
💫 Redefining what a successful business looks like
💫 The importance of genuine supervision and mentorship
💫 Supporting the next generation of speech pathologists
💫 Why sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause

​It’s an important reminder that success is not always about building something bigger. Sometimes, success lookslike protecting your wellbeing, staying connected to your purpose and creating a business that allows you and the people around you to thrive.
​If you would like supervision or to find out more about Julia's group mentoring in speech pathology, you can contact her ⁠here.⁠

Looking for more support with your child’s communication?​​

Connection Creates Communication is my group program for parents and caregivers who want simple, practical strategies to build connection, engagement and communication with their child.
​The next round is coming soon. ​⁠Join the waitlist here ⁠to be the first to know when enrolments open.
​Lots of love,
Rita

P.S.: follow me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ for more tips, insights and updates.

Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Audio:
Author Username: Denisdrummer85
Licensee: Brigitte Ngo-Trinh
License Name: Envato
License Date: July 28th, 2026
Item License Code: BANXY58MHS

Hey everyone,

Part 2 of my conversation with Kathryn Denny is now live!​

We go deeper into Kathryn’s experience raising and advocating for her non-speaking autistic son, Jaska, and what it means to truly believe in a child’s ability to understand and communicate.

​In Part 2, we talk about:

💫 Presuming competence in non-speaking children
💫 Understanding versus being able to express
💫Modelling communication without pressure
💫 Listening to non-speaking voices
💫 Recognising communication attempts
💫 Continuing to believe in their ability to communicate.
its a powerful reminder that just because someone cannot express everything they are thinking, it doesn’t mean there isn’t so much happening beneath the surface.

This episode of Wine with Wita is brought to you by Wonsie -thoughtfully designed adaptive clothing that supports children and adults with disability and additional needs.

As a speechie, I know how the right supports can make everyday life easier for individuals, families, and carers.​

Wonsie creates adaptive clothing that promotes comfort, dignity, and independence, while making everyday care that little bit easier.

Enjoy 15% off all Wonsie branded products with the code WINE+WONSIE at ⁠www.wonsie.com.au⁠.

Lots of love,
Rita

Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.

Ad details:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/iros-young/a-perfect-day
License code: HNK2Y5KYSFI2JFGE

Trailer: 
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/studiokolomna/elegy-of-the-heartstrings
License code: TQHUCREOAEKUT9F2

Hey everyone,

This week, I’m joined by Kathryn Denny, a mother of three,content creator and passionate disability advocate.

​Kathryn openly shares her journey raising her non-speaking autistic son, Jaska, from the early signs she noticed and the diagnosis that was initially missed, to learning how to understand and advocate for his unique way of communicating.

She also shares how AAC has helped give Jaska access to a wider vocabulary, allowing his family to model language, acknowledge his emotions and include him more fully in everyday conversations.
In this episode, we talk about:
💫 Recognising autism and navigating diagnosis
💫 Understanding and advocating for non-speaking children
💫 Presuming competence and looking beyond spoken words
💫 Using AAC to support meaningful communication
💫 Recognising behaviour, gestures and music as communication
💫 Navigating healthcare, education and the NDIS
💫 Helping every child feel heard and included

​Kathryn’s story is an important reminder that communication is so much more than spoken words.

This episode of Wine with Wita is brought to you by Wonsie -thoughtfully designed adaptive clothing that supports children and adults with disability and additional needs.
As a speechie, I know how the right supports can make everyday life easier for individuals, families, and carers.
Wonsie creates adaptive clothing that promotes comfort, dignity, and independence, while making everyday care that little bit easier.
Enjoy 15% off all Wonsie branded products with the code WINE+WONSIE at www.wonsie.com.au.
Lots of love,
Rita
​
P.S.: follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates.
Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provideinformation. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. You must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about yourchild's communication and/development.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/iros-young/a-perfect-day
License code: HNK2Y5KYSFI2JFGE