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Beyond Words Ep. 17 | Language as a Complex Adaptive System with Dr. Joan Bybee In this episode of Beyond Words, Garrett Oyama speaks with Dr. Joan Bybee, pioneer of usage-based linguistics, about how language emerges through use, repetition, and social interaction rather than abstract rules. They explore why sounds don’t exist in isolation, how frequency and predictability shape speech and sound change, and what this means for child language development, speech therapy, and learning. Along the way, they connect language to music, motor practice, and improvisation, reframing speech as a dynamic, living skill shaped by experience. Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 16 | Speech Therapy in the Age of AI: Play, Screens, and Language Development In this episode of Beyond Words, Garrett sits down with renowned developmental scientist Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek—professor at Temple University, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, bestselling author, and one of the leading voices in early learning, language development, and play. Kathy breaks down what quality language input really looks like, why back-and-forth interaction is the engine of learning, how play and boredom shape the developing brain, and what parents and clinicians should know about screens, e-books, and the rise of AI-powered toys. This conversation is packed with clarity, humor, and practical wisdom for anyone who works with children—or wants to understand how humans learn in a world overflowing with technology. Watch on YouTube Get ASHA CEUs: SpeechTherapyPD Kathy's work: WebsiteEinstein Never Used Flashcards Playful Learning Spaces

Beyond Words Ep. 15 | Before Words: Understanding Babbling with Dr. D. Kimbrough Oller What do a baby’s coos, squeals, and growls reveal about the origins of language? In this episode of Beyond Words, Dr. D. Kimbrough Oller — a leading voice in speech and language development — joins Garrett Oyama to explore protophones, functional flexibility, and why spontaneous infant vocalizations may hold the key to understanding how language evolved. Topics include: What protophones are and why they matterThe Functional Flexibility HypothesisHow infant vocal play relates to evolutionWhat LENA recordings reveal about early speechWhy babies vocalize even when no one is listening Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 14 | Inside the Language Network: Brains, AI, and What Words Really Mean Is language the same as thought? Dr. Idan Blank (UCLA) joins Beyond Words to explain why the answer is no — and why that matters for neuroscience, speech therapy, and AI. We explore the brain’s language network, how large language models learn, why Broca’s area is misunderstood, and what this all means for testing, development, and the future of cognition. Topics include: Why language and thought are separate systemsHow ChatGPT challenges our assumptionsWhat Broca’s area really doesImplications for speech therapy and assessmentWhat LLMs and infants both tell us about language learning Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 13 | Bilingual Brains and Sound Processing with Dr. Jennifer Krizman What does it mean to hear the world through two languages? In this episode, host Garrett Oyama speaks with Dr. Jenn Krizman, research scientist at the Brainvolts Lab (Northwestern University), about how bilingualism reshapes the brain’s sound processing networks. Together they explore how speaking multiple languages enhances inhibitory control, boosts consistency in auditory encoding, and even provides a kind of “neural armor” that can delay cognitive decline. They also discuss clinical implications for speech-language pathologists, common myths about bilingualism, and why parents should feel confident nurturing their child’s native tongue. Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 12 | The Developing Sound System: From Canonical Proportion to Cochlear Implants with Dr. Cychosz In this episode of Beyond Words, Dr. Meg Cychosz (Stanford University) joins host Garrett Oyama to explore how children develop speech and language—from babbling and canonical proportion to cochlear implants and multilingual environments. We dive into naturalistic data, cultural variation, and the surprising ways infants make sense of sound. Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 11 | The Inner Voice: Exploring Intrapersonal Communication with Constance Bainbridge In this special archive episode, Garrett sits down with fellow UCLA PhD student Constance (Connie) Bainbridge, a researcher in the Department of Communication who studies the inner voice—how we communicate with ourselves. Connie is the Principal Investigator of the Stream of Mind Lab and her work blends evolutionary, developmental, and cognitive science to better understand intrapersonal communication and the flow of consciousness. She also draws on her background as a musician to explore how music and self-expression shape human experience. This conversation covers: What the “inner voice” really isHow self-talk and imagination shape decision-making, self-regulation, and well-beingWhy hidden differences (like having no inner voice) matter for research and therapyConnections between music, language, and consciousness Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube

Beyond Words Ep. 10 | The Magic of the Sound Mind: Bridging Neuroscience and Speech Therapy with Dr. Nina Kraus In this special archive episode of Beyond Words, host Garrett Oyama sits down for his very first conversation with Dr. Nina Kraus — renowned auditory neuroscientist and author of Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World. Dr. Kraus shares her journey from studying chinchilla neurons to developing clinically relevant tools for measuring how the human brain processes sound. Together, they explore the frequency following response (FFR), the role of music in therapy, and why understanding the brain’s sound processing is essential for clinicians, educators, and anyone working with language. This episode laid the foundation for an ongoing series of conversations between Garrett and Dr. Kraus, diving deeper into the science and clinical applications of Of Sound Mind. Find them here: Dialogue Series Book Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD

Beyond Words Ep. 9 | The Power of Gesture in Language Development with Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Join host Garrett Oyama as he sits down with Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow, one of the world’s foremost experts on gesture and language development. Together, they explore how our hands reflect what we know, how gesture supports learning and communication, and why paying closer attention to movement can reshape how we teach, think, and connect. 🧠 Learn more about Dr. Goldin-Meadow’s work: Thinking With Your Hands Book contact: [email protected]

Beyond Words Ep. 8 | Memory, Language, and Meaning with Dr. Charan Ranganath Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Charan Ranganath (author of Why We Remember) joins Garrett Oyama to explore how schemas, event boundaries, and the structure of language shape what we remember — and why. We discuss how memory works not just in the brain, but in real life: through storytelling, attention, emotion, and meaning. SLPs, therapists, and educators will also gain practical tools for supporting memory using language — from narrative scaffolds to emotional salience and linguistic cues that enhance recall. Topics include: How the brain chunks experience into eventsWhy schemas help (and sometimes distort) memoryThe blurred line between cognition and memoryHow to use language to support clients with memory difficultiesMemory as prediction, not just storage Learn more about Dr. Ranganath’s work: https://www.charanranganath.com/ https://dml.ucdavis.edu/ https://www.charanranganath.com/book Please like, subscribe, and share it with anyone curious about language, memory, and the brain. Your support helps keep the podcast going and growing.

Beyond Words Ep. 7 | The Neuroscience of Language: Brain Networks and Individual Difference with Dr. Ev Fedorenko Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: SpeechTherapyPD Watch on YouTube Dr. Ev Fedorenko (MIT) joins host Garrett Oyama to explore how the brain processes language — and why the language network is far more distinct and specialized than previously thought. From the surprising isolation of this network to what this means for aphasia, speech therapy, and AI, this episode dives into some of the most exciting neuroscience of language today. We discuss: Why traditional brain maps may be misleadingHow individual brain variability affects language recoveryWhy the language system doesn’t overlap with math, music, or logicWhat this means for clinicians and educators 🔗 Relevant Links 🧠 Ev Fedorenko’s lab: https://evlab.mit.edu

Beyond Words Ep. 6 | The Music and Speech Connection with Dr. Anita Collins Get ASHA CEUs: SpeechTherapyPD Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Watch on YouTube Join host Garrett Oyama in this Beyond Words archive episode with internationally renowned educator and author Dr. Anita Collins to explore one of the most practical and powerful tools for child development: music. Best known for her TED-Ed video How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain, Dr. Collins brings science down to earth, showing how sound acts as “superfood” for a baby’s brain and how music learning can profoundly shape language, attention, literacy, and even emotional regulation. Whether you’re a parent, speech-language pathologist, educator, or simply music-curious, this episode is packed with insights and real-life strategies: 🎶 Why singing to your baby is more powerful than playing music on a device 🧠 How rhythm and beat perception relate to reading ability 🗣️ The surprising connection between musical training and speech development 👶 What to know about noisy environments and infant sound nutrition 💡 Easy musical activities that support language — even if you “can’t sing” This is an inspiring and actionable listen that reminds us of something deeply human: music and language aren’t separate — they’re entwined from the very beginning. 🟢 More from Dr. Anita Collins: https://www.biggerbetterbrains.com

Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Learn more about Dr. Michael Frank: X YouTube talks Join host Garrett Oyama on Beyond Words for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Michael C. Frank, the Benjamin Scott Crocker Professor of Human Biology at Stanford University. Dr. Frank directs the Language and Cognition Lab and the Symbolic Systems Program, and his research asks some of the biggest questions about how children learn language and how social interaction shapes that learning. In this episode, we explore: The origins of WordBank and how massive open datasets are transforming child language research.What the MacArthur–Bates CDI reveals about early vocabulary, variability, and developmental trajectories.Why children’s first words are more social than survival-based.How pointing, joint attention, and even hand movements lay the foundation for communication.The surprising universals of variability across cultures and languages.What large language models (LLMs) can and can’t teach us about human language learning.New multimodal projects like BabyView, capturing the world from a child’s perspective.

Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD Watch on YouTube Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Learn more about Dr. Barenholtz: Elan's substackElan on XElan's labElan's YouTube channel Join host Garrett Oyama in this thought-provoking episode of Beyond Words, featuring Dr. Elan Barenholtz, cognitive scientist and professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University. Together, they explore Dr. Barenholtz’s compelling theory that language is not invented, but discovered—emerging from structured, sequential patterns much like music. They dive deep into the concept of language as an autoregressive system, where meaning arises not from static symbols but from dynamic movement through linguistic space. Key topics include the aesthetics of syntax, the parallels between language and jazz improvisation, and what large language models can teach us about human communication. With implications for AI, language development, and clinical practice, this episode offers a paradigm-shifting view of how we speak, think, and understand the world.

Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Get ASHA CEUs: SpeechTherapyPD Watch on YouTube Description: What shapes the way humans speak? In this episode of Beyond Words, Garrett Oyama sits down with Dr. Ted Gibson, professor of cognitive science at MIT and director of the MIT Language Lab, to explore how language emerges from cognitive and communicative pressures. From Amazonian hunter-gatherer languages with no number words, to cross-linguistic patterns explained by dependency length minimization, Ted shares insights from decades of research across dozens of languages. We also discuss why syntax matters for communication, how brain imaging separates language from thought, and what this means for speech-language pathologists, educators, and anyone fascinated by human cognition. Find Dr. Gibson here: X Lex Fridman Interview