In this episode, we sit down with the thoughtful and talented Shruti Mallapur — an audiologist and speech-language pathologist (ASLP) by training, who now designs quiet books for children under her brand ASLP Creates.

This is a story of transformation — from science to art, from clinic to creative entrepreneurship, and from professional speech therapy to hands-on parenting. Shruti's journey is filled with warmth, wit, practical wisdom, and just the right dose of reality-checks for modern parenting.

🔍 Highlights & Time Stamps:

• 00:00 – 01:20 | Introduction: Neha introduces the theme of the episode and Shruti Mallapur, a former ASLP turned quiet book creator.
• 01:21 – 03:56 | From Audiology to Creativity: Shruti shares her career roots in audiology, and how a handmade birthday gift for her niece sparked the beginnings of her quiet book journey.
• 04:00 – 06:20 | Transition to Entrepreneurship: She talks about leaving clinical work during the pandemic and slowly building a home-based creative venture while parenting her young son.
• 08:06 – 11:00 | What Is a Quiet Book?: Shruti redefines "quiet books" as interactive learning tools, not just toys, with benefits for speech, fine motor skills, and engagement.
• 11:01 – 16:37 | Design Process & Custom Projects: Peek behind the scenes at how Shruti conceptualizes and customizes each book — including a Cocomelon-themed build with intricate moving parts.
• 17:05 – 22:02 | Choosing the Right Book for Your Child: Advice for parents on choosing books based on children's interests and developmental needs — not just what adults want to teach.
• 22:24 – 27:48 | ASLP Insight + Real-Life Utility: How her therapy background shapes how she makes and tests products — factoring in durability, behavior patterns, and child safety.
• 28:07 – 29:09 | Raw Materials & Consistency Challenges: Shruti explains the behind-the-scenes effort of sourcing, quality control, and managing customer expectations for handmade products.
• 32:00 – 40:00 | Emotional Impact & Touching Stories: Real-life feedback from parents: a child pretending with a mouse doll from a book, another squealing with joy at a Peppa Pig toy.
• 40:01 – 48:00 | Work-Life Juggle & Honest Parenting: She reflects on working from a small Mumbai apartment, relying on family help, and letting go of the pressure to do it all perfectly.
• 48:01 – 56:00 | Growth Plans & Templates: Future goals include launching digital templates on Etsy, designing simpler products for outsourcing, and dreams of a quiet book library.
• 56:01 – 1:03:00 | Freebies, Influencers, and Gratitude: Shruti shares why she avoids influencer gifting and instead pours her appreciation into generous customer gestures and sale bonuses.
• 1:03:01 – 1:08:51 | Screen-Free Play — Real Talk: A nuanced take on screen time — why quiet books aren’t a perfect replacement, and why parents deserve less judgment and more flexibility.
• 1:08:52 – 1:14:00 | Digital Privacy & Parenting Online: Shruti shares why she no longer posts personal milestones online, and cautions parents about oversharing their children's lives on social media.
• 1:14:01 – 1:18:09 | Lessons, Identity & Letting Things Take Time: Closing thoughts on balancing ambition with patience, setting realistic expectations, and trusting that creativity and care will lead to growth

🔗 Links & Resources:

🌟 Follow Shruti:

• Instagram: @aslp_creates
• YouTube: ASLP Creates
• Facebook: Created by ASLP

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