Julia Franklin, MS CCC-SLP, a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and owner of Echo Speech Therapy in Charlotte, NC. With over 15 years of experience, Julia blends her clinical expertise, motherhood, and passion for movement to offer a holistic approach to communication and connection—for clients and professionals alike.
Finding Rhythm: How Unexpected Passions Can Create a Life You Love
by Julia Franklin, MS CCC-SLP
I used to measure my daily progress at work by counting words or sounds—like a student finally saying their “r” sound or a child confidently saying their first word. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), my world revolved about helping people find their voices, literally and figuratively. But along the way, I found myself drawn to a different kind of work—one that wasn’t just about speech but was about access, connection, and belonging.
So, I leaped into tech.
Today, instead of working in therapy spaces, I work with software engineers, ensuring that people of all abilities can use technology to express themselves and engage with the digital world. My clinical instincts—the deep listening, the problem-solving, the advocacy—didn’t disappear. Rather, they shifted into a new professional arena, one where software, AI, and alternative digital inputs transform access for people to be more productive, creative, and connected.
At first, the giant transition from therapy into tech felt like stepping onto a stage mid-performance, trying to catch the rhythm of a song I didn’t know. But then, I realized—I’ve always loved a good beat.
Enter POUND®—a high-energy, drumming-inspired fitness class where movement and music collide. What started as an evening stress reliever transformed into a side hustle when I became an instructor.Leading a POUND® class isn’t so different from leading in tech or as an SLP. These three communitiesrequire me to create inclusive spaces where everyone belongs, barriers disappear, and the joy of participation & connection take over.
And then, there’s motherhood—perhaps the most profound rhythm (or lack thereof) of them all.Motherhood intertwines with everything, teaching me to listen beyond words and adapt to life’s ever-changing beat and developmental stage (hello pre-teens). It’s where I learned that inclusion isn’t just about the workplace or the gym—it’s about raising humans who understand the value of every voice(including their own) and making sure THAT is what I pass on to the next generation.
Finding Your Own Beat
Maybe your passions feel scattered, and you find yourself constantly shifting and adapting – going freestyle, like me. Life’s playlist will always be on shuffle—jumping from one genre to the next. But what if, instead of trying to pick your favorite song, you started looking for the rhythm that ties them all together?
For me, it’s inclusion and belonging. For you, it might be creativity, connection, movement, or curiosity. A life you love isn’t about one path—it’s about finding the throughline, the beat that makes you you. So, go ahead and layer the tracks that bring you joy and find harmony in the unexpected pairings of life. You may just discover that your favorite song was one you never expected to play.
