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Code C.L.I.O. (Child Life Isn’t Optional)

Code C.L.I.O. (Child Life Isn’t Optional)

By: Code C.L.I.O. Podcast
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*New episodes release every other Thursday beginning March 12, 2026!*

Welcome to Code C.L.I.O.! The podcast for everyone and anyone who cares about the psychosocial, cognitive, and emotional development of children. Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) want to care for you and your families. But, we can’t do that if we don’t get paid a living wage or if we’re constantly disregarded, disparaged, and disrespected by our colleagues.

Join us for our inaugural season as we seek to ask and answer what is a Certified Child Life Specialist, does it matter that the field could disappear altogether, and is there anything we can do about it?

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • The Not So Hidden Epidemic: Community Based Child Life (w/Katie Taylor, CCLS and Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS)

    The Not So Hidden Epidemic: Community Based Child Life (w/Katie Taylor, CCLS and Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS)
    Apr 24 2026

    Child development + stress/trauma/harm to that development doesn’t just exist during a hospital admission or a clinic visit.

    The good news? The solution to supporting children and families outside the four walls of a hospital is already here. The real question is are we ready to listen and uplift the Certified Child Life Specialists doing it?!

    Join guests Katie Taylor, CCLS and Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS as we discuss the not so hidden epidemic of preventing stress/trauma/harm to development out in the community setting, and why having access to a Certified Child Life Specialist matters even more when it's in your own home.

    Host: Annie J, MS, CCLS, CAHP

    Guests: Katie Taylor, CCLS + Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS

    Follow Katie: @childlifeoncall

    Follow Shani: @ChildLifeMommy

    Join Child Life Circle: https://childlifeoncall.com/child-life-circle-community/

    Editing: SH Creative

    Follow the Pod: @code_clio
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • The War on Wages (w/Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS)

    The War on Wages (w/Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS)
    Apr 9 2026

    What does it look like when hospitals don't value your child's psychological and emotional safety? A 2023 salary survey suggests it might mean nearly 60% of the Certified Child Life Specialists who do this vital, necessary work become "likely" or "extremely likely" forced out due to an inability to afford basic living expenses.

    Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS (and architect of that salary survey) joins the pod this week to discuss the true cost when Certified Child Life Specialists can't earn a living wage.

    Host: Annie J, MS, CCLS, CAHP

    Guest: Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS

    Editing: SH Creative

    Follow the Pod: @code_clio
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Episode 3 PREVIEW: The War on Wages (w/Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS)

    Episode 3 PREVIEW: The War on Wages (w/Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS)
    Apr 9 2026

    ➡️ April 09. 🕔 5:00pm EDT 🗣️ Episode 3: The War on Wages w/guest Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS It matters that the people who care for your child’s psychological and emotional safety can’t afford their basic living expenses. It matters that hospitals see Certified Child Life Specialists as opportunities to trim the budget. It matters that we refuse to allow this topic to become too taboo to discuss. Thank you to everyone who shared their heart, and their story, as we preview the true cost when Certified Child Life Specialists aren’t paid a living wage.

    Host: Annie J, MS, CCLS, CAHP

    Guest: Kirsten Black, MS, CCLS, Registered HPS

    Editing: SH Creative

    Follow the Pod: @code_clio
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
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