Beyond The Tube: Real Stories, Real Advice

This episode is a bit different. Instead of a guest interview, I wanted to give you an honest update on where things are at with the podcast, with me personally, and with Ezra. I've recently started a new job which means I'm back to the 9 to 5 grind, and I wanted to be transparent about what that means for Beyond the Tube and how we're navigating it together.

We're also diving into what's been happening with Ezra lately. He's doing really well and we've moved to an overnight feeding schedule to give him space to explore eating during the day. But we've hit some challenges along the way, particularly with his Mickey button. I've been working closely with Avanos and our local rep to address some faulty buttons, and I'm sharing what we've learned about keeping those batch numbers.

One thing that's really stood out to me is how aware Ezra is of his own body and what's happening with his tube. We're challenging some of the medical assumptions about what kids should and shouldn't be able to feel, and I'm making a case for truly listening to what our children are telling us. We're also trialling a mini button to see if it makes a difference.
I hope you find something useful or reassuring in this update.

This episode of Beyond The Tube is proudly sponsored by Little Harvesters.

Little Harvesters create nourishing whole-food pouches made with bone broth, organic ingredients, superfoods and healthy oils like olive and avocado oil. Their recipes are free from added sugars, cheap fillers and unnecessary nasties, making them a convenient option for busy families looking for quality nutrition.
To learn more about Little Harvesters and their range, visit littleharvesters.com.au or follow them on Instagram @littleharvesters.
Thank you to Little Harvesters for supporting Beyond The Tube and helping us continue sharing stories, education and support with the tube feeding community.

We're building a community here, one story at a time, and I'm so glad you're along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!
Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast
Email: beyondthetubepodcast@gmail.com

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so glad to sit down with Emily from Lively Eaters to talk about feeding challenges and how she can support families in this space. Emily is a speech pathologist by background and the founder of this multidisciplinary feeding therapy service based in South Australia that has been running for about fifteen years.
Emily shared her passion for feeding therapy, which started during her university studies, and how over twenty-six years of working with children, she recognised there was a gap in how families with feeding challenges were being supported. Through her clinical experience in the community, tertiary hospitals in Adelaide, and the UK, she saw that something needed to change in how we approach these families and their experiences.
We explored why feeding challenges are so often misunderstood, particularly when tubes are involved. We talked about oral aversion, how control matters for children who have already had so much control taken away by medical treatment, and why reducing pressure at mealtimes is so crucial. We discussed the link between fullness, satiation cues, and how tube feeding can interrupt the natural appetite signals children need to develop.
Emily also shared insights from her PhD research on tube weaning, practical approaches to mealtime environments, and how families can support their children without pushing for specific amounts or outcomes. We covered the importance of consistency, predictability, and treating mealtimes as relational and emotional experiences rather than purely medical procedures.

To learn more about Lively Eaters, visit:Website: livelyeaters.com.auInstagram: @livelyeatersfeedingtherapyFacebook: facebook.com/livelyeatersA huge thank you to Lively Eaters for supporting Beyond The Tube and helping us continue to bring education, awareness, and support to families navigating feeding challenges and complex care journeys.
Please feel free to reach out!
Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast
Email: beyondthetubepodcast@gmail.com

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so excited to sit down with Hannah from Nappy Free to talk about toilet training. Not just for medically complex kids, but for all kids.
Hannah toilet trained her first child at around 20 months and her second at just 11 months old. She’s a teacher of 18 years, and through Nappy Free, she has already supported 87 families through their toilet training journey.
We talked about the myth of ‘waiting for readiness’ along with who has been selling that narrative to us - and why. We also look at the window of opportunity, why power struggles emerge after age 2.5, and what elimination communication looks like for babies and younger children.
In this episode, Hannah shares practical tips for getting started: awareness of the body, visual and sound cues, routine-based prompting, and the importance of giving your child that one element of control.

This episode was proudly sponsored by Little Harvesters. They're on a mission to make feeding our little ones easier by offering nutritious, convenient meals designed for busy families.
Check them out at littleharvesters.com.au or on their Instagram: @littleharvesters

We’re building a community here, one story at a time, and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!
Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast
Email: beyondthetubepodcast@gmail.com

This is a Podvan Media production.

I was so excited to sit down with Mel, the founder and editor of the gorgeous publication, The Blend magazine. Mel and I talked all about how this beautiful resource came to be, starting from a very desperate and personal place when her son, Arlo, had a horrendous start to his tube-feeding journey.
Mel shared her experiences of navigating her son's diagnosis of quadriplegic cerebral palsy and why she felt compelled to challenge the clinical, sterile imagery that usually surrounds disability. We explored how the magazine acts as a mirror for little people seeing themselves represented for the first time, while also providing an authentic, premium space for adults who tube feed.
Our conversation hit back hard against the "charity mindset" and "inspo porn" so often pushed by mainstream media, focusing instead on the vibrant, multi-layered reality of our everyday lives.

You can find out more about The Blend and connect with Mel here:
Website: https://www.theblendmag.com/
Instagram: @the_blend_mag

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!
Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast
Email: beyondthetubepodcast@gmail.com

This is a Podvan Media production.

If you're just joining us, I highly really recommend you go back to Episode 26 to hear the first part of Michelle's incredible story.
In this episode, Michelle opens up about the hardest part of her journey, and her answer really surprised me. It wasn't the medical side, but the psychological impact of feeding trauma on her daughter, Mila, and the unexpected regression after a successful weaning period. We talk about the immense guilt parents can feel, the challenges of navigating public spaces with a feeding tube, and the absolute necessity of keeping detailed logs.
More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone. There is a whole community of parents who understand the fear, the exhaustion, the setbacks, the small wins and the days where you just need to vent.
You can check out Mila's story from The Blend Mag here

We’re building a community here - one story at a time - and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride. Please feel free to reach out!
Instagram: @beyond.the.tube.podcast
Email: beyondthetubepodcast@gmail.com

This is a Podvan Media production.