Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Stories, Hope, Healing and Help for Parents Navigating Illness and Healthcare with Their Children
*Top 15% Globally Ranked Podcast*
Katie Taylor has been a child life specialist for almost 15 years and has one mission: to ensure that any parent who has a child with medical needs has access to other parents who have walked through the path before.
With over 200+ diagnoses covered in this podcast, Katie interviews parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories in safe, supportive discussions with a child life specialist.
Navigating life with a child who is sick can feel isolating, and this podcast offers parents a sense of connection.
Hosted by Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist who provides evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions to help promote positive coping with hospitalization and illness.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 277
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2025
Episode 97 | Samarrah’s Story: A Son with an Ependymoma Brain Tumor
My guest today, Samarrah, is sharing her story about her son being diagnosed with a brain tumor. I encourage you to be present as you listen to her story and take the wisdom she is offering.
In this …
Episode 96 | Carrie’s Story: A Son with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
My guest today is Carrie Holt. Carrie is one of those people who, when you talk to her, you feel like you’ve known her your whole life AND it feels like you’re there in the room with her. She has su…
Episode 95 | How to Start a Gratitude Journal
For today’s 12 minute talk, I’m interviewing author Priscilla Morgan. She gives us exactly what we need to know to start a gratitude journal with kids, without making it a chore. She teaches us how …
Episode 94 | Moira’s Story: Kids with Celiac Disease and Migraines
Today I get to introduce you to Moira, the host of Surviving the Waiting Room - a podcast based on her experiences from learning how to be an advocate for her teenage children as they started to figu…
Episode 93 | Expert Advice Every Parent Should Know From an Occupational Therapist
For today’s 12 minute talk, I’m interviewing Ashley McGaughy. Ashley is a pediatric occupational therapist from Chicago, and she primarily works as an independent contractor with kids in interventio…
Episode 92 | The Dad’s Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic Disease
The Dad’s Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic Disease
So there is this rock star in the podcast world, and her name is Effie Parks. She hosts a podcast called Once Upon a Gene, inspired by her …
Episode 91 | How Do You Explain the COVID-19 Vaccine to Kids?
For today’s 12 minute talk, I’m talking about the COVID-19 vaccine and how to discuss it with kids. I’m going to give you some ideas, with the caveat that you don’t have to use the exact words I use…
Episode 90 | Jenny’s Story: Head-Conjoined Twins and Adoption
Today I’m introducing you to Jenny Hull, a single mom to Josie who just turned 20 years old. Jenny is also the CEO and founder of a nonprofit organization called Once Upon a Room. They are changing…
Episode 89 | How to Talk with Kids About Disabilities with Dr. Brittany Ferri
For today’s 12 minute talk, I’m interviewing Dr. Brittany Ferri. She is an occupational therapist, and she has a passion for talking with kids about disabilities. Brittany talks about her program, …
Episode 88 | [Repost] Life On Pause: Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories
It’s an incredibly rare experience to sit next to someone else who “gets” what you’re going through… exactly. That’s what support groups are for, right? Well, today you’re getting an inside look int…
Episode 87 | Lisa and Brady’s Story - A Mom and Son Discuss Their Past Cancer Experience
I connected with one of today’s guests, Brady, through our shared alma mater, Penn State University. He has dealt with cancer not once, but twice, and he agreed to come on the podcast with his mothe…
Episode 86 | Starlyn's Story - Quadruplets in the NICU
I’m so excited to have my friend Starlyn on the show today! She and her husband have struggled with infertility for years, and she is here to share the miraculous story about having one embryo and e…
Episode 85 | Lisa's Story - A daughter with Sickle Cell (Repost!)
It’s another day in September, which means we are going to be recognizing National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder in which blood cells may become sic…
Episode 84 | Parents of Kids with Cancer
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Over the last four-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity and honor to interview many parents who are a part of a club that they didn’t ask to be…
Episode 83 | How to Talk to About a Friend or Classmate's Cancer
When it comes to talking about cancer with kids, there is no one that compares to Holly Senn (Certified Child Life Specialist at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital). We’re going to share some tips…
Episode 82 | Taraneh's Story - A son with cleft palate
My guest this week is Taraneh, sharing her story about having a son with cleft palate.
In this episode, we talk about…
[2:24] Taraneh’s background and her family
[3:54] Taraneh’s pregnancy and birt…
Episode 81 |How to Support Your Kids for Back to School
This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more!
This episode is also sponsored by Magic Mind, the World'…
Episode 80 | Bonnie’s Story - A son with Type 1 Diabetes
This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more!
Meet Bonnie, her husband and her three adult children…
Episode 79 | How to Talk to Kids About an Upcoming Surgery
Answering parent questions in a 12 minute talk.
This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more!
Katie, …
Episode 78 | Kara’s Story - A son with a brain tumor and the journey after resection
“For me, it's balancing supporting him in full honor of his disabilities and making sure I am advocating for him AND relating to him as fully capable and strong.”
Katie, Certified Child Life Speciali…