In this podcast episode, hosts Kim and Mary talk with Sydney Bassard, known as The Listening SLP, who shares her intriguing journey from a public health undergraduate to a successful speech therapist and entrepreneur. Sydney discusses her initial career aspiration in pharmacy, which shifted after a impactful summer at a literacy center. This experience, combined with her brother's ADHD and dyslexia diagnosis, steered her towards speech-language pathology. Sydney's professional path was notably marked by her significant involvement in research and a key role on a cochlear implant team at a children's hospital, before she returned to her hometown, Charlotte, North Carolina, to embrace entrepreneurship.

Sydney’s venture, The Listening SLP, was born out of a desire to make health information accessible online, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions. This stemmed from experience and understanding of public health prior to going into the field of speech pathology. She elaborates on the challenges of practicing in multiple states, the differences in licensing requirements, and the potential benefits of an interstate compact. Sydney emphasizes a holistic understanding of language and literacy over strict adherence to specific programs, advocating for adaptable approaches tailored to individual needs.

Throughout the episode, Sydney also discusses her engagement with the public through platforms like Instagram and her blog, where she combines professional insights with personal engagement. She reveals her ongoing projects, including a children's book inspired by her own childhood, "A Day With Mom," and stresses the importance of self-love and resilience in professional life. Sydney's focused experience with literacy as an SLP, working closely with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population, her background in speaking and engaging audiences and her desire to share her resources and services in as many areas as possible has made her a force in our field! This episode is not just a narrative of professional achievement but also of personal growth and innovative engagement in speech-language pathology.

For more information about Sydney and her services, check out her website, The Listening SLP, here.

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