Hilary Utaegbulam is a Nigerian-born physics student and teacher who stutters. He recently gave his first ever public presentation on his research, which went extremely well. Hilary offers advice on preparing for public speaking and how to give a confident presentation as a person who stutters. He also talks about how he got through his first stuttering encounter at a conference and the mental and physical hurdles of stuttering, how it influenced his career choices, and the importance of seeking...
Jun 14, 2024•40 min
Carol Labov is the author of “The Cave Boy Who Would Be President,” a children’s book inspired by her own experience with her grandson Cooper. Where did the idea of the book come from and why did she write it? This book is built on the love of a grandmother to her grandson and is meant to be helpful for other parents going through similar experiences. You can get a copy here. In this episode There still time to support the ROCK OF HOPE film crowdfunding campaign . Support Maya and her team of st...
May 31, 2024•18 min
This episode celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month and Stuttering Awareness Week. Casey Combs is an attorney. She's also a new mother. How did motherhood change her relationship with her stutter? What was it like going to law school with a stutter and how did she land a job that accepted her speech? From dark thoughts to becoming more accepting, Casey explains why it's okay to have big feelings around stuttering. In this episode Today also marks the launch of the ROCK OF HOPE film crowdfundin...
May 17, 2024•32 min
John Finn is Chief Scientific Officer at Tome Biosciences. John opens about his personal and professional journey as a person who stutters, including how it shaped his career in science, approach to public speaking, and interactions with his colleagues. He also talks about the science behind how genetics and stuttering connect. Episode breakdown 00:00 “Rock of Hope” Sneak Preview 02:47 John Finn's Journey: From Stuttering to Scientific Breakthroughs 12:24 The Challenges and Triumphs of Public Sp...
May 03, 2024•31 min
John Stossel, renowned TV personality and reporter, shares the challenges he faced in his broadcast journalism career and what led him to seek help with his fluency. 03:09 John Stossel's Broadcast Journalism Career Journey & Facing His Stutter 06:07 His Time At Hollins Communication Reconstruction Center 09:47 Stuttering in Pop Culture 12:48 John's Reflections and Advice Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/proud-stutter/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.c...
Apr 19, 2024•16 min
Swathi grew up in India speaking multiple languages. She talks with Maya about how her stuttering influenced interactions, often prompting language shifts. Transitioning into her career as a software engineer, Swathi finds solace in a supportive workplace environment, sharing her experiences through writing to advocate for inclusivity. In this episode Swathy's blog post Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/proud-stutter/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/br...
Apr 05, 2024•26 min
Jayne Amelia Larson is an actor, voiceover artist, bestselling author and podcaster. Jayne shares with Maya her journey of covert stuttering and her struggle with being open about her stutter over the course of her career. They also talk about Jayne's family dynamics, acting in Judging Amy, and her difficult experience with recording the audio version of her bestselling book, 'Driving the Saudis.' Episode breakdown 00:50 Jayne's Journey with Stuttering and Covert Stuttering 02:12 The Challenges ...
Mar 22, 2024•29 min
This episode is Part 2 of Proud Stutter's official launch party and reading in Los Angeles to celebrate its comic book, MY STUTTER: LIFE OF VERBAL TURBULENCE. Episode breakdown 06:05 The Power of Stuttering Communities 08:16 Discussion on the Creation of the Comic Book 08:51 Visual Representation in Stuttering 10:25 Making the Comic Book 13:26 Stuttering and Personal Growth 16:04 The Role of Speech Therapy in Stuttering 19:12 The Concept of Speech Diversity 27:47 The Evolution of Personal Attitu...
Mar 08, 2024•36 min
Proud Stutter celebrated the official launch of its comic book, MY STUTTER: LIFE OF VERBAL TURBULENCE, on February 12, 2024. Proud Stutter hit the road and went to Pasadena, California to bring the Los Angeles stuttering community together to talk about the comic book and stuttering stories. We were also joined by some special guest speakers from the Los Angeles stuttering community. Episode breakdown 02:32 Event reflections with Julian 12:23 Part 1 of the event with guest speakers from the LA s...
Feb 23, 2024•35 min
Lorenzo Becerra is a college freshman who stutters. He is studying to be a speech pathologist. When he thinks about his future, he envisions a happy life. But, he didn’t always see his stutter as something to be proud of. “I put some of my self worth in speaking. And since I couldn't speak that well, my self worth was down.” How do you find self-worth with a stutter? Episode breakdown 02:39 Lorenzo and Maya’s Stuttering Experiences 04:12 The Power Behind Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 07:19 T...
Feb 09, 2024•33 min
Sammar Farooqi is a person who stutters based in Dubai. He’s an executive at SAP where he explains complex technology to people on a daily basis. Sammar shares his experiences with stuttering starting from his childhood, the mocking he faced, and how he used a traumatic event to motivate himself to become a successful communicator in the technology space. He offers some communication techniques that have helped him navigate the corporate world and how he adapted to a new communication environmen...
Jan 26, 2024•28 min
David Mayan, aka emcdouble, is a professional recording artist based in Queens, New York. He also stutters. David shares how he initially used music as a form of therapy to manage his stuttering and how this later formed the basis for his versatile musical style, melding elements of hip hop, Spanish music, and electronic fusions. Episode breakdown 02:56 Stuttering and Music 03:46 Growing Up with Stuttering 08:01 Stuttering and Parenting 09:24 Stuttering and Language Learning 13:09 Music, Stutter...
Jan 12, 2024•26 min
Host of Proud Stutter Maya recaps Proud Stutter’s annual gala with some clips from the evening, featuring special guests Senator Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston. She also looks back on some of Proud Stutter’s biggest moments from 2023 and more! Part 1: Proud Stutter's Gala 01:33 Julian's Speech: The Silence of Stuttering 06:12 Sarah's Story: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Stuttering 10:40 Johnny's Journey: Finding Community and Advocacy 15:12 Zainab's Poetry: Expressing Pai...
Dec 29, 2023•32 min
Keegan Murphy thought he outgrew his childhood stutter, until a traumatic event triggered its return. Not only does Keegan share his experience with his stuttering popping back up unexpectedly, but he also talks about the challenges and frustrations of stuttering in corporate America and how seeking professional help transformed his view on his stutter and helped get him out of his deep depression. Keegan is now doing stuttering advocacy within his workplace by creating an employee resource grou...
Dec 15, 2023•31 min
Isaac Bailey is a stutterer, author, and professor. His book, 'My Brother Moochie', details his family's struggles after his eldest brother was sentenced to life imprisonment. Isaac talks about growing up poor, black, and with a stutter in the South, his traumatic family history, and his realization that being a stutterer is a part of his identity rather than an impediment. He also opens up about how he turned to writing, as it granted him a different way of sharing his voice. Isaac offers advic...
Dec 01, 2023•32 min
Steven Anthopoulos is the director and writer of “Voice Activated,” a short film that has won 11 awards, a Tribeca selected film, and is eligible for an Academy Award. Steven talks about how he got the idea for his film, which revolves around a florist with a stutter interacting with a voice-activated car, and how filmmaking has helped him accept his stutter and face it head on. Watch Voice Activated , Steven's award-winning film Buy Tickets for Proud Stutter's Community Comedy Night ft. Nina G ...
Nov 17, 2023•32 min
Julian Benabides is Proud Stutter’s special guest, and he just happens to be Maya’s neighbor. Julian talks about his experience stuttering in foreign countries and what it’s been like collaborating on Proud Stutter’s comic book called "My Stutter: Life of Verbal Turbulence." Maya and Julian also talk about their experience door knocking in their neighborhood to spread the word about Proud Stutter’s annual gala. Buy Tickets for Proud Stutter's Community Comedy Night ft. Nina G Where: Peacock Loun...
Nov 03, 2023•32 min
Steven Tallas might stutter in the human world, but in the dog world, he is completely fluent. Maya speaks with Steven about his journey to becoming a professional dog trainer and how he never let his stutter get in the way of his dreams. Jay Feinstein, the co-host for this episode, is a Senior Podcast Producer for WBUR, Boston's public radio station. Learn more about Steven and his dog training practice Donate to Fund The Future of Stuttering Campaign to help de-stigmatize stuttering Support th...
Oct 20, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Kai Caragenis is a father of a young girl. In this bonus episode of Proud Stutter, he shares his feelings around being adequate enough to be a father, how the King’s Speech changed his relationship with his stutter, and how breathing techniques helped his speech. Host & Producer: Maya Chupkov Save the date (12/7/2023) for Proud Stutter’s 1st Annual Gala + Community Comedy Event in San Francisco Support Proud Stutter’s Mini Series Crowdfunding Campaign Support this podcast at — https://redcir...
Oct 06, 2023•39 min
Maya is back to answer your questions ranging from TV shows, public speaking tips, navigating her stutter, and more. Host & Producer: Maya Chupkov Editor: Quinn Greenhaus Save the date (12/6/2023) for Proud Stutter’s 1st Annual Gala + Community Comedy Event in San Francisco Support Proud Stutter by becoming a recurring donor via Flipcause Vote for Proud Stutter to win a Signal Award for ‘Most Inspirational Podcast’ Listen to Maya talk about Star Wars on Trash Compactor Support this podcast a...
Sep 22, 2023•14 min
Jay Jordan and Jesse Vasquez are back on the pod this week. Jay talks about how his identity as a person who stutters intersects with his criminal record identity. Jesse and Jay both share a passion for de-stigmatizing the narrative surrounding people who are incarcerated and those that have come out of prison. You can listen to Part 1 of this episode here . Host: Maya Chupkov Guest Co-Host: Jesse Vasquez Guest: Jay Jordan Sound Designer: Leo Maymind Support Proud Stutter by making a tax-deducti...
Sep 08, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Jay Jordan, a person who stutters, has devoted his life after incarceration to challenging the stigma surrounding criminal records. For the first time ever, Jay opens up publicly about what it was like serving seven-years in prison with a stutter. He talks about a life changing experience that led him to coming to terms with his stutter and his purpose. Post-incarceration, Jay faced rejection when it came to jobs and getting an apartment. But Jay developed a high level of resilience with having ...
Aug 25, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 21
For this special bonus episode of Proud Stutter, Maya is rebroadcasting an episode from the Beyond Awareness podcast. Host Diana Pastora Carson interviews Maya and they talk about the intersections between inclusive education and supporting people who stutter in and outside the classroom. In this episode: Diana's TedTalk, " Walking with Joaquin ," chronicles her family's journey to bring home her brother after living in an institution for 15 years. Proud Stutter's Virtual Art Gallery Beyond Awar...
Aug 11, 2023•15 min
Blaise Ventura, a 20-year-old person who stutters, joins Maya to talk about blocking, his journey towards self-improvement, dating, and how FOMO can play into anxiety. Blocking is a form of stuttering that is extremely misunderstood and Blaise offers a unique perspective around his acceptance of his stutter that many people, especially young people, may find relatable. He also discusses his participation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to change his thought patterns and reduce anxiety rela...
Jul 28, 2023•27 min
Using fashion as a form of self expression is one of the main topics in part 2 of Maya’s interview with Mia and Lila. Mia talks about how stuttering intersects with her multiple identities, such as being Chinese, an adoptee, and a college student. She emphasizes the importance of community support, including her family and friends, in helping her embrace her stutter and advocate for others. Other topics include advocating for disabilities, the power of sharing personal stories, and the power of ...
Jul 14, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Mia Hitterman spent most of her childhood and teenage years hiding her stutter. It wasn’t until college that she discovered pageantry and finally found her community. In this episode of Proud Stutter, Mia talks about how joining Miss Chinese Chicago helped strengthen her confidence, embrace every part of herself, and come out as a person who stutters. Our guest co-host is Lila Carrillo, a dear friend of Maya’s who told her about Mia after seeing her at a pageant contest in Chinatown in San Franc...
Jun 30, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 18
A few months ago, the MLB released a video of 10 Year-Old Mateo Sanchez and professional baseball player George Springer. The special bond between these two was palpable. Also featured was father Jesse Sanchez. The MLB video was inspiration for this interview with both Mateo and father Jesse. Mateo, the show's youngest podcast guest, has been stuttering his entire life. In this special episode of Proud Stutter, Maya interviews Mateo and his father about both of their stuttering journeys - Mateo ...
Jun 16, 2023•22 min
This episode is part 2 of Maya’s interview with Calvin and Roy. Calvin talks more in-depth about his relationship with his stutter, including how he deals with triggers. He also talks about goal setting helps him accept his stutter and tricks he uses when public speaking. You can follow Calvin Williams, Jr on Instagram and Savage Truth Podcast here . In this Episode Interest form to join the career network for college students who stutter Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/proud-stu...
Jun 02, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Having friends who can help see your true potential is a gift. Part 1 of my conversation with Calvin Williams, Jr. and Roy Dockery talks about friendship and the importance of having people around you that lift you up. Calvin Williams, Jr is a person who stutter and an entrepreneur and founder of Freeman Capitol. How has Calvin navigated his stutter while running a successful fintech company? We talk about his daily rituals and how he balances his busy schedule and self-care. He also talks about...
May 19, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Today’s episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Benedict Sheehan, a person who stutters, and Talia Sheehan, his wife. We talk about the different forms of speech therapy Benedict has tried over the years, from fluency shaping to acceptance. Benedict changed the way he looked at his stutter after his speech therapist gave him the option to work towards hiding their stutter or becoming a better stutterer, and he chose the latter. We also talk about his recent ADHD diagnosis, and how it has helpe...
May 05, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 16
