Franky Banky
Overview
Franky Banky started as a hobby podcast in 2007 and has grown into an educational brand creating practical, audience-driven resources. By listening closely to speech therapists and people who stutter (PWS), I design web comics, books, and tools that meet real-world needs.
My Role
Founder, visual storyteller, UX designer, interaction designer, digital marketer.
Responsibilities
Comic art and illustration, content and digital strategy, visual design, digital marketer, podcaster, user research.
Overview
Franky Banky started as a hobby podcast in 2007 and has grown into an educational brand creating practical, audience-driven resources. By listening closely to speech therapists and people who stutter (PWS), I design web comics, books, and tools that meet real-world needs.
My Role
Founder, visual storyteller, UX designer, interaction designer, digital marketer.
Responsibilities
Comic art and illustration, content and digital strategy, visual design, digital marketer, podcaster, user research.
Problem
Stigma continues to prevent PWS to say what they want to say which often leads to avoiding social situations.
Misconceptions about stuttering continue to cause underemployment and bullying among other things.
Stuttering treatment tends to suffer from a lack of education and specialisation. Without proper training, ineffective therapy is common which have caused long-lasting harm for PWS.
Goal
I set out to solve these problems by encouraging PWS to take steps out of their speaking comfort zones and benefitting from doing so; spreading stuttering awareness; and developing quick, effective resources for speech therapists to use with clients in sessions.
Tactics
Podcast
I launched the Stuttering is Cool podcast in 2007 to foster community, encourage discussions around acceptance and understanding of stuttering through personal anecdotes, expert interviews, and insights.
Results
- SLPs play episodes in therapy sessions.
- Used for a research study exploring the effectiveness of stuttering-related podcasts as a form of self-help.
- About 700 downloads a month.
Impact
- “Hearing stutterers stutter is grand! This is a delightful podcast beneficial to people who stutter, those who love them and those who want to learn about this common condition.” – Review on Apple Podcasts
- “A massive confidence booster” –Review on Apple Podcasts
This led to…
Co-Founding Stutter Social
Being asked to co-found an organisation facilitating group video chats for PWS – 10 years before Zoom chats became commonplace!
Facilitated by friendly hosts who stutter, these chats promote connection and community in a safe space. Conversations range from stuttering-related issues to general life topics, helping build friendships.
Results
- Regular participants spanning 40 countries.
- Featured on the Google intranet for a week.
- Interviewed on CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, and Teen Vogue.
Impact
- Stutter Social sparked friendships that later led people to meet in real life — often at their very first stuttering conference!
- Reviews include “Life-changing experience” and “Encouraging atmosphere”.
While Stutter Social is not directly related to Franky Banky, co-founding and actively being involved as a host helped lead to the opportunity and success of …
My First Book
Impact
- “I am a Speech and Language Therapy student with a particular interest in stammering. I have lots of friends who stammer. This is a fantastic book! Smiled from ear to ear the whole time I was reading it. Thank you! It was with me remarkably soon after ordering it.” – Reader review
- “The page numbers were also written in a ‘stuttering’ way. That was crazy. I LOVE the book. It is truly a must read.” – Reader review
Results
- 100 sales in its first month of release.
- Speech therapists have used my book to spark discussions with clients.
- Used as a textbook or required reading in 13 universities across North America and the U.K.
- Translated into French.
This led to…
Leading Cartooning Workshops
Results
- I teach how to comics about speaking situations (and change the ending) as well as creating a cartoon character based on your own stutter. This also became a book named Draw Your Stutter!
- I also give workshops to speech therapists with takeways they can use in therapy sessions.
Impact
- “Using the ideas in therapy has been truly revelatory, especially when words or feelings are difficult.”
– Nicola Maddy, Speech therapist
…meanwhile, I was also creating…
Creating Web Comics
Results
- SLPs using my comics in therapy sessions to generate discussion and explore emotions.
- Offers from SLPs around the world asking if they can translate in their native language for use in therapy sessions and presentations at conferences.
Impact
- SLPs started asking for my comics as posters — so I made them!
- Kids and adults alike love Franky Banky!
And Draw-Toons!
I am always trying new ways to tell a visual story. I created “draw-toons” as a spin on whiteboard animations that were popular a few years ago.
…and then I was invited to collaborate on creating …
Creating Franky Banky Resources For Speech Therapists
Speech therapists invited me to collaborate on creating resources for SLPs who don’t specialize in stuttering.
Results
5-star reviews! Also, speech therapists reported that the resources:
-
Validate clients’ experiences by showing that other kids face similar challenges.
-
Reinforce acceptance of stuttering and support self-advocacy.
-
Provide thought-provoking activity and answer sheets that help clients reflect while giving SLPs insight into feelings and sparking deeper discussions.
-
Offer valuable insights for parents.
Impact
- “…an absolute gem for teletherapy, and it’s just as versatile for in-person sessions since it’s printable.”
– Martha Speech - “I appreciate how Daniele presents being open about stuttering as a way to ‘create mutual understanding,’ portraying common scenarios on how to handle ‘stuttering’s daily mischief.’ … The discussion prompts/questions included foster so much openness about talking about stuttering in a safe space!”
– Ana Paula Mumy, SLP
…meanwhile…
Ongoing Digital Marketing Campaigns
- Generated over $24K in sales to date.
- Grew my fan base with each campaign and used audience feedback to guide future content.
- Built long-term relationships by engaging directly with readers and speech therapists.
- Adapted messaging and visuals based on what resonated, improving each campaign’s performance.
Stuttering is Cool Day
Every Friday the 13th, I run a playful “Stuttering is Cool Day” hashtag campaign that encourages followers to try stuttering openly — and discover the surprising benefits that come with it.
Suspenseful Storytelling For My Second Book Launch
I created a suspenseful, character-teasing campaign that slowly revealed my new graphic novel across social, email, and web. It all led to a red-carpet launch day reveal that sparked strong engagement and excitement.
10 Things I Did To Market My Book Without Annoying Anyone
I shared the social, human-focused marketing tactics behind my first book, Stuttering is Cool, in a SlideShare post. A simple, people-first approach that still resonates today.
Tactics
Podcast
I launched the Stuttering is Cool podcast in 2007 to foster community, encourage discussions around acceptance and understanding of stuttering through personal anecdotes, expert interviews, and insights.
Results
- SLPs play episodes in therapy sessions.
- Used for a research study exploring the effectiveness of stuttering-related podcasts as a form of self-help.
- About 700 downloads a month.
Impact
- “Hearing stutterers stutter is grand! This is a delightful podcast beneficial to people who stutter, those who love them and those who want to learn about this common condition.” – Review on Apple Podcasts
- “A massive confidence booster” –Review on Apple Podcasts
This led to…
Co-Founding Stutter Social
Being asked to co-found an organisation facilitating group video chats for PWS – 10 years before Zoom chats became commonplace!
Facilitated by friendly hosts who stutter, these chats promote connection and community in a safe space. Conversations range from stuttering-related issues to general life topics, helping build friendships.
Results
- Regular participants spanning 40 countries.
- Featured on the Google intranet for a week.
- Interviewed on CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, and Teen Vogue.
Impact
- Stutter Social sparked friendships that later led people to meet in real life — often at their very first stuttering conference!
- Reviews include “Life-changing experience” and “Encouraging atmosphere”.
While Stutter Social is not directly related to Franky Banky, co-founding and actively being involved as a host helped lead to the opportunity and success of …
My First Book
Impact
- “I am a Speech and Language Therapy student with a particular interest in stammering. I have lots of friends who stammer. This is a fantastic book! Smiled from ear to ear the whole time I was reading it. Thank you! It was with me remarkably soon after ordering it.” – Reader review
- “The page numbers were also written in a ‘stuttering’ way. That was crazy. I LOVE the book. It is truly a must read.” – Reader review
Results
- 100 sales in its first month of release.
- Speech therapists have used my book to spark discussions with clients.
- Used as a textbook or required reading in 13 universities across North America and the U.K.
- Translated into French.
This led to…
Leading Cartooning Workshops
Results
- I teach how to comics about speaking situations (and change the ending) as well as creating a cartoon character based on your own stutter. This also became a book named Draw Your Stutter!
- I also give workshops to speech therapists with takeways they can use in therapy sessions.
Impact
- “Using the ideas in therapy has been truly revelatory, especially when words or feelings are difficult.”
– Nicola Maddy, Speech therapist
…meanwhile, I was also creating…
Creating Web Comics
Results
- SLPs using my comics in therapy sessions to generate discussion and explore emotions.
- Offers from SLPs around the world asking if they can translate in their native language for use in therapy sessions and presentations at conferences.
Impact
- SLPs started asking for my comics as posters — so I made them!
- Kids and adults alike love Franky Banky!
And Draw-Toons!
I am always trying new ways to tell a visual story. I created “draw-toons” as a spin on whiteboard animations that were popular a few years ago.
…and then I was invited to collaborate on creating …
Creating Franky Banky Resources For Speech Therapists
Speech therapists invited me to collaborate on creating resources for SLPs who don’t specialize in stuttering.
Results
5-star reviews! Also, speech therapists reported that the resources:
-
Validate clients’ experiences by showing that other kids face similar challenges.
-
Reinforce acceptance of stuttering and support self-advocacy.
-
Provide thought-provoking activity and answer sheets that help clients reflect while giving SLPs insight into feelings and sparking deeper discussions.
-
Offer valuable insights for parents.
Impact
- “…an absolute gem for teletherapy, and it’s just as versatile for in-person sessions since it’s printable.”
– Martha Speech - “I appreciate how Daniele presents being open about stuttering as a way to ‘create mutual understanding,’ portraying common scenarios on how to handle ‘stuttering’s daily mischief.’ … The discussion prompts/questions included foster so much openness about talking about stuttering in a safe space!”
– Ana Paula Mumy, SLP
…meanwhile…
Ongoing Digital Marketing Campaigns
- Generated over $24K in sales to date.
- Grew my fan base with each campaign and used audience feedback to guide future content.
- Built long-term relationships by engaging directly with readers and speech therapists.
- Adapted messaging and visuals based on what resonated, improving each campaign’s performance.
Stuttering is Cool Day
Every Friday the 13th, I run a playful “Stuttering is Cool Day” hashtag campaign that encourages followers to try stuttering openly — and discover the surprising benefits that come with it.
Suspenseful Storytelling for My Second Book Launch
I created a suspenseful, character-teasing campaign that slowly revealed my new graphic novel across social, email, and web. It all led to a red-carpet launch day reveal that sparked strong engagement and excitement.
10 Things I Did To Market My Book Without Annoying Anyone
I shared the social, human-focused marketing tactics behind my first book, Stuttering is Cool, in a SlideShare post. A simple, people-first approach that still resonates today.
What I Learned
Through conversations with SLP students, therapists, people who stutter, and Franky Banky fans, I learned what each group actually needed. Being open to listening made it easy to tailor my content to serve them. Also, understanding how different audiences think shaped everything I created.
- Children love Franky Banky, can relate to him, and learn from his actions.
- In general, PWS across social networks resonate more with content offering awareness more than desensitization and acceptance.
- Fluent-speaking SLP students see value in learning about the stuttering experience. This gives them insight into their future client’s needs.
- SLPs are always on the hunt for activities to engage child clients in therapy sessions.
- In general, school-based speech therapists may have limited-to-no knowledge in treating stuttering. They may encounter very few children who stutter in their entire career and may not have the time to learn how to treat stuttering properly due to full work loads.
Next Steps
1
Continue producing more Franky Banky books and resources.
2
Continue outreach with a focus on translating current and future books and resources into multiple languages to reach new and under-served communities.
3
Collaborating on a narrative-driven video game to expand storytelling methods
Next Steps
1
Continue producing more Franky Banky books and resources.
2
Continue outreach with a focus on translating current and future books and resources into multiple languages to reach new and under-served communities.
3
Collaborating on a narrative-driven video game to expand storytelling methods