LINQ to XML tiny sample

// load from file

XElement resp = XElement.Load("RCExtResponse.xml");

var all = from r in resp.Descendants()

          where r.Attributes().Count() == 0

          select r;

// or load from string

XElement xe = XElement.Parse(xmlString);

// use default

var caller =

    (from e in xe.Descendants("PracticeName")

     select (String)e).DefaultIfEmpty("");