Episode #248: Be a fly on the wall as I chat with Annie Bradberry, board member of the National Stuttering Association (NSA), Stutter Social host, and a long list of other activities she does for the global stuttering community the day after the NSA@Home Conference which took place online from July 7 to 10, 2020. Despite a collective disappointment across organizers, veteran attendees, and first timers that the covid-19 pandemic kept us all from coming together to the legendary NSA conference in...
Jul 12, 2020•55 min
A new podcast about stuttering that has nothing to do with stuttering! A group of people gather around a table every month and chat nonsense. Some of those people stutter. It’s a very clever way to raise stuttering awareness while having a good laugh. That podcast, Oh and on that note… , is produced in association with the Scottish Stammering Network providing a platform for people who stutter (or as they say in Scotland and other parts of the world, stammer) to have their voices heard and an op...
Jun 09, 2020•48 min
Episode #246: What you say is important, not how you say. I chat with French filmmaker Melissa Bronsart , creator of the documentary, L’Êloquence du bégiament , also known as The Eloquence of Stuttering. Created in partnership with the Association Parole Bégaiement (the stuttering association in France), Mélissa takes us along the journey of people who stutter as they prepare and compete in a national speech contest which made headlines in the French media. Joining our conversation is Mounah Biz...
May 26, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 246
Episode #245: Instachat! Being cooped up in isolation to help fight the spread of covid-19 opened up opportunties for me to try new things. Such as live streaming on Instagram. Near the end of March, I chatted with artist Willemjin, who runs the @juststutter Instagram account full of comics she drew based on her everyday stuttering experiences. We talk about her art, covid lockdown, and… stuttering! The post Instachat with Just Stutter appeared first on Stuttering is Cool ....
May 07, 2020•58 min
The song Franky Banky sings as he washes his hands for 20 seconds. Episode #244: Keep your distance. Wash Your Hands. Don’t touch your face. And keep in touch over the Internet. We’re in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic with many countries in lockdown and people staying inside in doing their part for preventing the spread of the virus that has circled the globe like wildfire and caused over 118,000 deaths. Anxiety and uncertainty is everywhere along with isolation from our friends and family a...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 244
Episode #243: How do you engage child clients? Be a clown! I chat with Erik X. Raj, Ph.D. CCC-SLP , stuttering researcher , app maker , rock star , podcaster – is there anything he doesn’t do? – about being a “clownician”. From playing Fortnite or Minecraft, to using his apps to make funny photos or activity sheets where the child is the star, Erik shares his methods of using humour to engage child timid or uninterested clients who don’t want speech therapy in the first place. If you’re an SLP h...
Feb 25, 2020•43 min
Episode #242: Difference not defect. All about the book that challenges the stereotype that stuttering is bad instead of a way of speaking that is different, valuable, and respected. Stammering Pride and Prejudice: Difference not Defect features a variety of voices and opinions on stuttering from a social model perspective through 22 essays written for people who stutter, the general public, and professionals. Following up from episode 241 where I chat with one of the book’s authors about the im...
Feb 18, 2020•43 min
Episode #241: If you are a parent of a child or teen who stutters, you’ll definitely want to listen! On this episode, I’ll be chatting with Dori Holte, mother of a young adult who has stuttered since he was a toddler. She is also the author of the book “ Voice Unearthed — Hope, Help, and a Wake-Up-Call for the Parents of Children Who Stutter ”. That title pretty much sums up this episode! Dori’s son, Eli, was a chatty toddler who soon grew silent not because he stuttered, but because of the over...
Feb 04, 2020•43 min
Episode #240: We are staaaaaaaaaamily! Stamily is a new, multi-platform network of people who stutter all around the world. Get instant access to a supportive community no matter where you are. Join me as I speak with a few active regulars in the Stamily community. A few? Hear from Willemjin Bolks, Jurjen de Jong, Vinnie De Craim, Marc van Krakinger, Satu Nygren, and Natalie Park across a number of time zones (isn’t technology awesome?) as we discuss their respective stuttering histories, the fo...
Jan 14, 2020•46 min
Episode #239: “We can do this. We are strong. We are in this together.” Those are the encouraging words from a listener who stutters in Kenya who submitted audio for this episode! I also cover what me and Franky Banky have been up to since October, I give a quick review of the Canadian Stuttering Association ‘s one-day conference, and… drink a glass of water. Links mentioned on this epsiode: Sign up for the Stuttering is Cool newsletter and get first dibs on Franky Banky merchandise sneak peeks ...
Dec 18, 2019•36 min
Episode #238: I’m back in Montreal for the Association bégaiement communication (ABC) annual conference! It’s a very special conference for me as it was also the launch of the French version of my book, Stuttering is Cool: A Guide to Stuttering in a Fast-Talking World ! Join me in my conversations with: Claire Norman , founder and director of of Stammerers Through University Consultancy (S.T.U.C.) who flew in from the U.K. to give her keynote about growing up stuttering and founding S.T.U.C.; Ca...
Oct 29, 2019•1 hr 2 min
Episode #237: The most effective stuttering awareness campaign I have ever seen! I chat with Jane Powell, CEO of the British Stammering Association, about the brilliantly clever STAMMA awareness campaign recently launched across the United Kingdom. Learn how the campaign aims to change misperceptions about stuttering (or stammering, as it’s known in the UK and other parts of the world), it’s attention-getting name and design, and more. If you’re a member of a stuttering association looking to fo...
Sep 03, 2019•49 min
Episode #236: I chat with director, Ryan Gielen , about his latest documentary, My Beautiful Stutter , which follows five young people from ages 8 to 18 who stutter and come from diverse backgrounds all around the United States as they participate in programs with The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY). After attending a SAY gala and witnessing the empowerment of young people getting up on stage and declaring they will no longer hide their stuttering, Ryan decided to make a film to raise...
Aug 20, 2019•33 min
(Audio transcript available upon request) Nina G, myself, and friends in Iceland admiring her book Episode #235: Stand up comedian, Nina G , joins me to talk about… well, a lot of things! We have an animated chat about her new book, “ Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn’t Happen ” and her excellent keynote given at the World Stuttering Congress in Iceland this year. Nina also has dyslexia and received undeserved bad grades in school due to the lack of accommodation which she need...
Aug 06, 2019•1 hr 36 min
Episode #234: What a pity people can’t swap problems, when so many know how to solve others’. Also, disfluency isn’t a failure. You are not a failure. Failure is an event. In fact, there are no failures. Only life lessons. Stuttering is not something you caused. These are the wise words from Anita Blom, my guest on this episode. Anita gave one of three keynotes at the International Stuttering Association World Congress held in Hveragerði, Iceland in June 2019 which you will be able to listen to ...
Jul 23, 2019•1 hr 5 min
Including and educating researchers, empowering children who stutter, and being a “clownician” were a few of what was presented and discussed at the 13th International Stuttering Congress held in Hveragerði, Iceland on June 22 to 27, 2019. There were about 165 attendees from over 20 countries including yours truly. I felt an enthusiastic vibe that lived up to the congress’ theme of “Embrace Your Stutter”. On this episode, I report some of the takeaways and action items born from this global stut...
Jul 02, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Episode #232: Are we doing enough to raise stuttering awareness outside our community? On this episode, I share a number of unfortunate incidents which happened in March – a sexist tote bag offensive to people who stutter sold at a speech pathology conference in California; two of my friends were laughed at a fast food restaurant and doctor’s office and educating about their stuttering; stuttering being used by politicians in Israel to denote lack of intelligence by opponents. Fortunately, my fr...
Apr 08, 2019•49 min
Episode #231: Laughter is the best medicine. On this episode, I chat with Agathe Tupula Kabola , speech language pathologist and author who lives in Montréal, about her use of humour in therapy sessions. Agathe recently published her third book, Je bégaie… laissez-moi parler ! Bien vivre avec le bégaiement (which roughly translates to I stutter… let me speak. Living well with stuttering .), containing all the information readers need to know about stuttering, therapy, and, well, living well with...
Jan 29, 2019•26 min
Episode #230: And a role model for stuttering awareness! Space Jam 2 will be coming out in theatres next summer and it’s time we see Porky Pig in a positive light (if Hollywood doesn’t screw up and use his stuttering for cheap laughs). On this episode, I chat with my friends and fellow stutterers, Lynne Mackie, Tom Scharstein, and Jeff Fett, about their thoughts on Porky Pig as a cartoon character that stutters. Some people who stutter do not like Porky Pig while others, including myself, do and...
Dec 19, 2018•52 min
Episode #229: Stuttering conference junkies! Join me as I chat with two good friends of mine, Árni Birgisson and Doug Scott about our first time meeting each other at the 2016 Nordic Stuttering Seminar in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and reuniting at the 2018 National Stuttering Association Conference in Chicago, USA. As co-organizer, Árni will also tell us what’s in store for the 2019 International Stuttering Association World Congress in Hveragerdi, Iceland. Links mentioned in this episode: Iceland 2...
Dec 06, 2018•49 min
Episode #228: The perfect book for children who stutter! On this episode, I chat with co-authors, Saadiq Wicks and his mother, Kimberly Garvin, about their charming and very encouraging book for children who stutter, When Oliver Speaks . We also chat about Saadiq’s founding of Llet Me Finish and the SAY summer camps , which Saadiq has been attending for 9 years and got the idea of creating the book. When Oliver Speaks is a story about a middle school kid who stutters and is worried about giving ...
Nov 13, 2018•36 min
Episode #227: I chat with John Gomez, filmmaker of the multi-award winning documentary, When I Stutter . We discuss the making of his film, worldwide reception, translations, and – SPOILER ALERT! – the unexpected surprises that blew my mind. When I Stutter presents the raw emotions people who stutter feel and develop from growing up and dealing with their speech impediment and the negative reactions they receive from it. Gomez’s documentary spans over the course of 4.5 years shining a spotlight ...
Oct 28, 2018•46 min
Episode #226: “This is a journey about knowing who I am, it’s not about stuttering. The only person who has to love me when I stutter is me.” Those very wise words came from Mary Wood’s encouraging and uplifting keynote given at this year’s Canadian Stuttering Association annual conference which took place in Toronto on October 20, 2018. Mary shares her words of wisdom gained from her life long journey of stuttering along with a plethora of suggested books to read and a fun mini-concert by The E...
Oct 21, 2018•1 hr 10 min
Episode 225: The stuttering experience depicted in sequential art. Just in time for International Stuttering Awareness Day! We hear from the creators of two new comic books, Gareth Cowlin and Joe Stone, who drew and wrote Floor is Lava and Stutter respectively. Both books were drawn directly from each of their experiences of growing up stuttering, and in the case of Gareth’s, dealing with the loss of a sibling. If you enjoy comics and how the medium is perfect for pulling readers into the charac...
Oct 03, 2018•32 min
Episode #224: Building bridges with all communication disorders. I chat with movers and shakers in the worldwide stuttering community, Annie Bradberry and Mitch Trichon, CCC-SLP, about the keynote they gave at the recent One World Many Voices Joint World Congress in Hiroshima, Japan. We each have something we can do! This episode is brought to you by my book, Stuttering is Cool: A Guide to Stuttering in a Fast-Talking World . Packed with tips, stories, encouragement and comics for fearless stutt...
Sep 07, 2018•39 min
Episode #223: Join me on a summer morning walk as I review the latest in stuttering current events. Links mentioned in this episode: A Tribute to Dr. Alan Rabinowitz – The Boy and His Jaguars Stutter Social Free group video chats for people who stutter worldwide. Currently in it’s 7th year. Full disclosure: I’m a co-founder. International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) Online Conference They have an open call for papers (and videos, too!) until August 31, 2018. Don’t Finish My Sentences voice c...
Aug 13, 2018•25 min
Episode #222: We don’t overcome stuttering. We navigate it. Those are the wise words spoken by Annie Bradberry who gave a very motivating keynote speech at the National Stuttering Association 35th annual conference held in Chicago in July 2018. You will hear Annie’s keynote in its entirety on this episode which includes Annie’s life experiences and valuable learnings from being a covert stutterer to a confident leader in the stuttering community who faces fears head-on. And you can, too. You won...
Jul 17, 2018•46 min
Episode #221: Learn about cluttering along with me as I chat with Sister Carol Mary Nolan, Carmelite Sister for the Aged and Infirm and person who clutters, and Dr. Charley Adams , Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Coordinator of the International Cluttering Association . This episode was created in honour of the upcoming 2018 Inaugural Joint World Congress of the International Stuttering Association , I...
May 21, 2018•37 min
Episode #220: Get on stage and stutter! On this episode, I speak with Dale Williams and Jaik Campbell, co-authors of the textbook, Shining a Light on Stuttering: How One Man Used Comedy to Turn His Impairment Into Applause . Their textbook explains stuttering with academic, diagnostic, and therapeutic perspectives along with Jaik’s journey of becoming a stand up comedian after a lifetime of dealing with his stuttering. This episode brought to you by my book, Stuttering is Cool: A Guide to Stutte...
Apr 25, 2018•37 min
Episode #219: I chat with three of my friends who have experienced stuttering discrimination that put an abrupt, unwanted change in their life plans. All because of one or two people who don’t understand stuttering. This episode brought to you by my book, Stuttering is Cool: A Guide to Stuttering in a Fast-Talking World . Packed with tips, stories, encouragement and comics for stuttering resilience and joy. The post Stuttering discrimination needs to stop appeared first on Stuttering is Cool ...
Mar 28, 2018•50 min
