My Stuttering Life
Pedro Pena
This is my life with all its trials and tribulations as a person who stutters. I believe in the power of positivity and I use it in my daily struggles with stuttering. I truly believe that it is OK to stutter and that I can accomplish any goal in my life with a positive mindset. As a husband, a father, a USAF Gulf War Veteran, and as an entrepreneur, I use many tools in my tool belt to become successful in all my endeavors. My goal is to share my journey so that others can see it is possible to...
Don't Let Your Stutter Stop You!
Today’s featured guest is Ryan Chrisenberry. Ryan is a creative with a passion for comedy, writing, performing, and design. He states, “I’ve stuttered since I was 5 or 6, but it first started with me saying ‘mmmmm…’ a lot, and then eventually evolved into the stutter that I have today. Everyone told me up throughout high school, and even some in college, that I would grow out of it, and at 33, almost 34, it hasn’t happened yet!”. Currently living in Houston, Texas, he explores various creative
Remembering Ethan: Laughs, Love, and Memories
Today’s episode is very close to my heart. In honor of our son, Ethan, I’ve put together a tribute filled with laughter, love, and memories that capture the amazing person he was. Ethan was just 20 years old when he was taken from us far too soon by a drunk driver. He was a bright light in our life—a passionate gamer, talented basketball player, swimmer, vintage truck enthusiast, and a person whose laugh could fill a room. To everyone who recorded a message for this special episode, thank you.
My Stammering Life
Today’s featured guest is Luke Critchley. Luke is from the UK and stated that stuttering had been a part of his life for over 30 years. “That was up until COVID and I started to work with John Harrison over Skype. Over 3 years and countless public speaking groups, I have improved to the point it’s no longer a big issue in my life”. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Luke for sharing his story with me today. LINKS: Email: lukecritchley1@gmail.com Free Book: Red
Fighting To Speak: Rugby, Rage & Redemption
Today’s featured guest is Mark Jones. Mark Jones was a talented and ferocious dual-code rugby player who was tormented by a debilitating stammer. During a professional career that spanned 22 years he was capped 15 times for Wales, 11 times for Wales RL and once by Great Britain RL. One of the acknowledged ‘bad-boys’ of the sport, he was sent off six times and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct. His on-field brutality was a direct consequence of the off-field frustration and self-loat
Speechie From Saipan Who Stutters
Today’s featured guest is Ignacio Dela Cruz. Ignacio is a Native of Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands, and is a current Speech-Language Pathologist. Prior to his role as an SLP, Ignacio taught special education and preschool and represented his home at different conferences. Ignacio has degrees from the University of Guam and San Jose State University. Ignacio is pursuing a doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. I believe that there is heal
Echoes of Resilience: Embracing Every Word
Today’s featured guest is Kenny M’Pindou. Kenny shares his personal journey of overcoming obstacles and pursuing his dreams despite facing challenges. Originally from DR Congo but born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, he developed a speech impediment at a young age. He can't remember when he first noticed a difference in his speech or when it started to affect him, but to this day, he still stutters. As he always told himself, he is a work in progress. While his speech may
My Stammering Experiences
Today’s featured guest is Sam Bagshaw. Sam Bagshaw is a 27-year-old residing in the UK who has grappled with a stammer since childhood. Over the past few years, Sam has found a newfound confidence in speaking and has taken to TikTok to raise awareness about the challenges of living with a stammer. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Sam for sharing his story with me today. CLICK ON LINKS: TikTok Instagram Facebook Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and prod
Embracing My Voice: A Journey Beyond Stuttering
Today’s featured guest is Jia Bin. Jia Bin, M.A., is a doctoral student at Michigan State University. Jia earned her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature at Chongqing Normal University in China, master’s degree in Secondary Education at Oakland University, and master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University. Jia has been a language teacher (English & Mandarin Chinese) who has taught in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Jia's
Compelling Speech and Society - When Does 'Disorder' Become 'Disability'?
Today’s featured guest is Sean Bw Parker. Sean Bw Parker (MA) is a British artist, musician and writer specializing in art, cultural theory and justice reform. He has published several books and albums, won several awards – including Koestler Arts platinum for play The Wolfstadt-Wire (2020) and Compelling Speech - The Stammering Enigma (2023) - and gave a TED talk in 2013. He holds Masters and BA degrees in Fine Art from the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey and worked for ten years in
Knowledge and Hope: Tom Lovett's New Book On Stuttering
In today's episode, we're delighted to welcome back a returning guest, Tom Lovett. Tom is the author of the insightful book, "Words Unspoken: The Science, Experience, and Treatment of Stuttering." In this fascinating discussion, Tom opens up about his journey in writing this book, offering a blend of scientific exploration and personal experiences related to stuttering. Join us as we delve into the complexities of stuttering, the emotional impact it can have, and the various treatment approach
Yes I Stutter, I'm Unique, I'm Me
Today’s featured guest is Gabriela Hammoud. Gabriela Hammoud is 16 years old, and she lives in New Zealand. She has had a stutter since she was 4 years old. As she has a stutter, she wanted to help make a difference for those who stutter. She started a business at her high school through an organization called the Young Enterprise Scheme. Her business is called Stutterfly, selling products that promote stuttering awareness in support of those who stutter. To give them a voice. I believe that
Our Speech is a Kind Act of Rebellion- Finding and Fostering a Community for PWS
Today’s featured guest is Kelly Garcia-Ramos (pronouns They/Them). Kelly is a rising fourth year student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Neuroscience and Chinese. Kelly has stuttered ever since they could remember, and going through having a stutter has been one of their most difficult challenges up until recently. They started a support group at UPenn called Speech Fluency @ Penn (though this will be changed to Stuttering Advocacy @ Penn) to raise awareness about this special kin
My Journey From PWS To PWSS
Today’s featured guest is Danny Miguel. Danny is 34 years old and lives in Connecticut. He states, “I started stuttering surprisingly at 18 which is kind of odd since most stutterers develop stuttering during their adolescent years. I became a situational stutterer, often long pauses and struggled with it for 15 years until I found a program and book late last year. After 2-3 months of diligently immersing myself in the author’s methods, I overcame my stutter which brings me here to discuss a
Standing Up To My Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Josef Rodriguez. Josef is a writer and filmmaker currently living in New York City. He works as a Contributing Writer to We Are Mitú, a Latino-centric, online news and entertainment outlet. Over the last decade, Josef has contributed to outlets like Latina, Desde Hollywood, and Geek Exchange. Josef is also a filmmaker, focusing most of his efforts on documentaries. He is in the process of finishing his first documentary feature, which he directed in 2021. As both a fi
Stammering Challenges: Ways To Cope And Recover
Today’s featured guest is Dr. Mobbassar Hassan Sk. Dr. Hassan is a Materials and Physical Scientist by training and profession. He graduated with a PhD in Materials Science from Auburn University, United States. He is presently working in the Department of Chemistry, at the University of Cambridge as a research associate. Dr. Hassan is a scientist with life-long stammering, he uses a speech synthesizer to deliver his lectures and conference talks to finish them on time. He shared his techniq
Finding My Stammer Twin
Today’s featured guest is Liv Durning. Liv is a 25-year-old registered nurse and university lecturer at the University of Nottingham in the UK, where she teaches nursing students clinical skills. She has had a stammer her whole life and after 20 years of experience with a stammer, she has decided to use that experience to help raise awareness for stammers and other speech disorders and reduce stigma. In speaking with Liv, our careers were so similar that she chose that as the title of this i
Do It Scared And Do It Excited
Today’s featured guest is Xiaofan Lei. Xiaofan Lei is a PhD candidate in speech pathology at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Lei is a person who stutters, and her research focus is on stuttering in daily life. Lei is originally from China, but she has been studying in the U.S. for close to 10 years now. She has lived in Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. She is now in California, where she lives with her husband and her dog Salsa. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and
Learning How To Live With Dysfluency
Today’s featured guest is Pixie-Ray Price. Pixie experienced a reoccurrence of a childhood stammer brought on through lockdown and the trauma of losing her mum to suicide. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Pixie for sharing her story with me today. LINKS Tiktok (main account): https://www.tiktok.com/@pixie_smiles?_t=8Z23TlcsJYJ&_r=1 Tiktok (second account): https://www.tiktok.com/@pixie_smilesnew?_t=8Z23iJ25Oe6&_r=1 Instagram: https://instagram.com/pixieraesmile
Stutterer and SLP Student: A Duel Identity
Today’s featured guest is Hayden Downs. Hayden is a 20-year-old person who stutters from Nashville, TN. He is currently a junior at Baylor University and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences & Disorder. He plans to pursue a master's degree as well as a clinical doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology. Hayden is passionate about serving others, serves as a summer camp counselor, and plans to write a memoir. Some of his passions include snow skiing, Formula 1 racing, and readi
Stammering Is A Superpower, Not A Barrier
Today’s featured guest is Joe Dilling. Having left the Army at the start of this year, Joe Dilling is now a Personal Trainer where he works in person and online. Joe has had a stammer since a young age but hasn't let it stop him from getting to where he wants to be in life. Now, Joe uses his experience in the Army, Personal Training Experience and Social Media presence to help people improve their confidence through exercise. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Joe f
Coping With A Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Josh Simpson. Josh is happily married to his wife of one year (celebrated their first anniversary last month) in their home in southern Utah. He was born and raised in New England, where his family still lives. Josh works full time, but still makes time for his hobbies and date nights with his wife. Josh states, “…I am happy to be here and talk about my experiences with all of you”. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Josh for sharing his s
Making Connections With Your Voice
Today’s featured guest is Malachi Kanfer. Malachi Kanfer has served as the Cantor at Sutton Place Synagogue in Midtown, Manhattan since 2020. Previously, Malachi served as the Cantor and Youth Education Director of Congregation B’nai Jacob in New Haven, Connecticut, from 2013-2020, and as the High Holidays Cantor at Congregation Agudas Achim in Columbus, Ohio from 2010 - 2013. Malachi graduated from the H.L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received numerous
My Voice Is Important
Today’s featured guest is Owain Davies. Owain (pronounced Owen) is a 22-year-old amateur content creator under the name, The Broken Record. With an interest in all pop culture, he just aims to rid the world of gatekeeping and toxicity. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Owain for sharing his story with me today. LINKS TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebrokenrecord?_t=8X7SE0Z8D1Z&_r=1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrueBrokenRec?t=-Ee-an8ttgM64vXYuVUAAA&s=09 Thank yo
Christopher Anderson Shares Every Waking Moment of His Stuttering Journey
Today’s featured guest is Christopher Anderson. Christopher is a person who stutters who self-published a memoir this year title, "Every Waking Moment: The Journey to Take Back My Life from the Trauma and Stigma of Stuttering." He is a longtime member of stuttering self-help organizations, such as the National Stuttering Association, and regularly shares his experience with speech-language pathologists. Christopher has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Intelligence studies and is an award-w
Matt Herdman Living His Game Show Host Fantasy
Today’s featured guest is Matt Herdman. Matt is a returning guest with a special project that he would like to share with the world….” Werewolf”. This game involves leveraging social equity to further yourself in this social strategy game. Matt is a longtime fan of reality television shows such as ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Survivor’ which mirror this game as it shares some of the same competition elements. I have always stated in my podcast and YouTube videos that PWS are courageous, resilient, res
Speaker & Founder, Authentically YOU
Today’s featured guest is Jim Love. Jim Love is a keynote and motivational speaker based in Milwaukee, WI and has been speaking professionally for nearly a decade. He speaks about authentic leadership, mental health, gratitude and finding your voice. Jim has been a person who stutters his whole life and is now empowered by this obstacle. Additionally, he is a podcast host, writer and is active on social media. He can’t wait to join Pedro’s podcast today! I believe that there is healing in shar
Be Brave
Today’s featured guest is Jamie Wilson. Jamie is originally from Northern Ireland where he studied Physiotherapy in Edinburgh before working briefly in South Africa and then moving to London in 2011. Jamie states, “Despite enjoying the challenge of Sports Physio, a career change saw me join the Royal Air Force in Jan 2021 in a Training role. In my spare time I enjoy hill walking, rugby and walking my springer spaniels – Jim and Winnie.” I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I would
Lessons Learned
In this episode, we are talking about the lessons learned during this two and half year pandemic with regards to remote working. If you are a PWS (Person Who Stutters) or not, what did you learn about yourself in this time period. If you want to email me your response or send me a voice message, I'll add it to the follow up episode. Thank you for listening. LINKS Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click
I Am Who I Am Because Of You
Today’s featured guest is Mashael AlBanyan. Mashael (Michelle) states that she is dedicating this podcast interview to her husband. Michelle is from Saudi Arabia and graduated from college with a degree in computer science. She is a 27-year-old writer, public speaker, and business analyst who has a story to share with the world through her Stutter101 platform. Her Motto in life is: S: Successful T: Talented U: Underrated T: Trustful T: Thankful E: Eager R: Radiant I believe that there
Accept, Embrace and Empower: A New "SSStart"
Today’s featured guest is Puneet Singh Singhal. Puneet Singhal is a person with a stammer and the Founder of "SSStart", an organization working towards normalizing speech disabilities. Also, to initiate difficult and unconventional conversations around disability rights, accessibility, gender, sexuality, and climate change. Puneet uses comedy as a tool to show the mirror to society about how people with disabilities are treated and looked as an object of pity. I believe that there is healing in
Stuttering Through Life.....And Learning To Be Okay With It
Today’s featured guest is Ryan Cowley. Ryan is a hockey writer, author, and a public speaker who has been living in Toronto since 2009. Ryan has written for such publications as the CBC and The Globe & Mail and is currently the co-editor of HockeyRoyalty.com. Ryan has also spoken for the Canadian Stuttering Association and Australian Speak Easy Association and is in the process of writing his second book -- a collection of his interviews from 2013 to 2017. I believe that there is healing in sh
Your Struggle Is Your Superpower
Today’s featured guests are Ann Marie King & Ava Murphy. Ann Marie King and Ava Murphy are the authors of Different Like Delia. They wrote the book to raise awareness about what a stutterer experiences in everyday life. The book tells the story of Delia, an eight-year-old girl with a stutter. Delia is a smart-witted fashionista from San Francisco. She seems to have it all, but her stutter sometimes holds her back. She turns her struggle into her superpower by embracing what makes her different.
You Are Worthy, Never Settle, You Are Enough
Today’s featured guest is Fernando Angulo. Fernando is from California however he currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. He recently graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Grand Canyon University. He states that he is a lifelong stutterer however only until recently has it made an impact in his life. His mission in life is helping people reach their true potential and it begins with health and wellness. Fernando states that everyone deserves to tell their sto
Choose To Stand Up
Today’s featured guest is Tyler Kastelberg. Tyler states, “I was raised in Richmond, VA and have had a stutter for as long as I can remember. I studied engineering at Virginia Tech before joining corporate America in corporate finance and then investment banking. I didn't see an avenue where I could get ahead as an employee with a stutter, which is part of the reason why I decided to become an entrepreneur and started Bullpen. I met my wife 5 years ago after moving to San Francisco. We got marri
Stuttering Sneaker Reseller
Today’s featured guest is Cesar “Tito” Aranguena. Tito was born in Venezuela but now lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He is bilingual (Spanish & English) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He is currently 29 years old and is a content creator on YouTube with his channel “Tito Hustles” where he teaches people how to “hustle”. He has been self-employed for the last three years with his business - Tito Kicks LLC. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank
Think Less.....Talk More
Today’s featured guest is Maged Darwish. Maged states, “I am 35 years old with a lifetime stutter. Stuttering developed the blessing of empathy in my personality. I have been analyzing my stuttering patterns for years in order to have a better understanding about myself and I decided to exert more effort and time to spread awareness about stuttering and share my experience that may help people with stutter move forward.” I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Maged for
Stuttering Is Not A Defect
Today’s featured guest is Andrea Callegaro. Andrea Callegaro is an Italian and English language teacher, and podcaster from Padua, Italy. As a child and adolescent, he experienced speech therapy in an attempt to improve his stuttering; however, he recently started actively exploring the different frameworks, strategies, and practices within the stuttering ecosystem. Andrea’s passion for languages has led him to work in Spain, France, and Sudan, and he hopes to experience more countries in the f
Running A Business & Raising Children With A Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Greg Pakes. Greg is 37 years old and is a lifelong stutterer. He is an entrepreneur who started a software company when he was 18 years old which employs over 140 people. He recently sold the company. Greg has a 3-year-old daughter who has just started stuttering. This has brought up a whole lot of suppressed feelings and he is at the beginning of that journey. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Greg for sharing his story with me today.
Uncovering the Research and Neuroscience of Stuttering
Today’s featured guest is Tom Lovett. Tom Lovett is writing a book about stuttering that combines the latest research into the neuroscience and experience of stuttering. He draws upon this research - as well his own experience as a lifelong stutterer - to share insights into stuttering, as well as a research-backed plan to improve fluency and quality of life. The book is tentatively scheduled for release in summer 2022, though individual chapters have been published to Reddit. I believe that t
My Words Are Worth Waiting For
Today’s featured guest is Bevin Murphy. Bevin states, “I'm 23 years old and have had a stutter since I was five years old. I am a recent humanities graduate with a major in English, Media, and Culture. I am a new (and hopeful) voice in the stuttering community who wants to spread awareness about stuttering and learn more about myself along the way. My stutter has given me the gift of compassion and understanding for those who are struggling, and because of that I am a strong advocate for mental
Every Day Is A Battle, And I Chose To Fight
Today’s featured guest is Liam Snell. Liam states, “I am 23 years old, and I currently work as a private investigator. Stuttering has also been a part of my life as I struggled with it throughout my early school days through high school. Despite battling stuttering daily, I continue to pursue my goals and ambitions head-on. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University, and I am currently in my second year of graduate school studying for my MBA. I aspire to land a career
I Am Not My Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Shian Williams. Shian (pronounced ‘Cheyenne’) is dedicated to being an advocate for self-expression. She is a poet, dancer, YouTuber, and a speech-language pathologist. She has spent her entire life finding her voice after never believing she had something to say as a person who stutters. In the past two years, God has really activated her to live boldly and authentically. Shian currently has a virtual private practice in Atlanta that specializes in stuttering treatmen
Smile I Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Michael Campbell. Michael states, “Growing up in a small town with a stutter was pretty rough, so much that I was embarrassed of my stutter for most of my life. Then I had a son, and he began to stutter and after that, I couldn't be embarrassed anymore. I had to show him that he can do anything he wants to do in spite of his stutter. So, I created Smile I Stutter In hopes to help my son and others like us with a speech impediment. It is my goal to change the way future
Now I Stutter Without Shame
Today’s featured guest is Cassie Johnson. Cassie Johnson is a senior accounting major in college. After starting speech therapy in college, she created a YouTube channel, AmbitiousCass, to show others like her that you can achieve your goals while having a stutter. She also raises awareness about living with a stutter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies and programming. She believes in continual learning and strives to learn something new every day. I believe that there is he
The Funny Side of Stuttering
Today’s featured guest is Callum Schofield. Callum is an aspiring stand-up comedian who has used laughing at his own stutter to progress in comedy. He has performed at various comedy nights and charity fundraiser events. In addition to this, Callum has set up a virtual, online comedy club purely for people who stutter called The C-Comedy Club. This is the second time I’ve interviewed Callum Schofield and I’m very proud of his accomplishments both in podcasting and comedy. I encourage everyone
100th Episode!
This is my 100th episode and I’m so blessed to have this platform to share with the world how AWESOME, CREATIVE, RESILIENT, COURAGEOUS & RESOURCEFUL PWS (People Who Stutter) are!!! Thank you to Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting, David Hooper from Big Podcast and Larry Roberts from Readily Random Podcast for those amazing intros! This episode is all about showing up and being present in every aspect of your life. For More Information on Dave Jackson, David Hooper & Larry Roberts: LINKS
Two Petes In A Pod
Today’s featured guest is Pete Bradley. Pete is a full-time fire fighter, husband to Lisa and father to his beautiful 9-month-old son Finn. Pete lives in a wee village Carryduff just outside Belfast. He is a keen sportsman playing rugby and Gaelic football. His stammer has equipped him with a passion for challenging himself. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to Thank Pete for sharing his journey with us. LINKS Email: belfaststammer@gmail.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.c
Starting A Conversation About Stuttering
Today’s featured guest is Priya Isaacs. Priya is 15 years old and is currently in Year 10. She has had a stutter since age 3. Throughout her journey she has learned so much about stuttering and how it affects a person. Her aim now is to educate and spread awareness, but also to help people who stutter connect. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to Thank Priya for sharing her journey with us. LINKS Email: stutterconversation@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stut
Speech Without Fear: Story of a Man From A Small Town In India
Today’s featured guest is Shreyas Pandey. Shreyas Pandey is working as a Network Automation Engineer in Hughes Network Systems in Maryland, leading development and engineering in launching satellites to space. He was born and raised across eastern part of Uttar Pradesh in India. He received his bachelor’s degree in electronics and telecommunications from Mumbai, India and a master’s degree in telecommunications management from university of Maryland, College Park, USA. He is passionate and eage
Every Little Step
Today we are talking about Practicing Courage. By stepping out of your comfort zone and performing one small act of courage every day, that will add up over time and help build momentum for the next challenge. I know that you can do it, and I want you to share with me your win or your challenge. Leave me a voicemail on my website or email me and let’s talk about it. Links: Email: mystutteringlife@gmail.com Website: www.mystutteringlife.com Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of
For 9 Year Old Bradley
This episode is special because it’s for a brave young man, Bradley, who reached out to me via YouTube. That’s right, I also have a YouTube channel (see link below) where you can see me with other MSL content. Listen to this episode and head on over to my YouTube channel and show Bradley some love! LINKS My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrsdvEcWGb_XeSzAE4mDLcw Official Site: www.MyBeautifulStutter.com Rent on Vimeo: https://bit.ly/watchMBS Watch on Discovery Plus: discoveryplus.co
Producer/Director of My Beautiful Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Ryan Gielen. Ryan is the producer and director of the new documentary My Beautiful Stutter from executive producers Paul Rudd & Mariska Hargitay, streaming exclusively on Discovery Plus Channel in the United States, and available now on Vimeo On Demand throughout the rest of the world. My Beautiful Stutter is a documentary film about the arts-based program at Camp SAY (The Stuttering Association for the Young) for children who stutter. Ryan is also the executive produ
Meditation Can Help Remove Imagined Obstacles
Today’s featured guest is Maria Humphreys. Maria is the Founder of the Strong Body Strong Soul platform; she describes herself as a Spiritual Activist. This means she uses her energy, the power of her voice to help people shift into a more conscious state of being. Her podcast STRONG BODY STRONG SOUL has over 80K downloads to date She is a featured teacher on the INSIGHTTIMER Meditation App and offers meditations weekly in her Meditation with Maria Private Group on FACEBOOK. She firmly believes
From College Flunkout To Teacher Of The Year
Today’s featured guest is Derek Sutor. Derek Sutor is a 38-year-old High School Special Education Teacher and Baseball Coach. From memorable stuttering moments in high school, to flunking out of college due to depression and anxiety to being honored as a High School Teacher of the Year, Derek has experienced the highs and the lows of living life with a stutter. He uses his life experiences to show people that you are not defined by your situation, but rather how you respond to it. Derek encoura
Becoming Comfortable In Your Own Skin
Today’s featured guest is Emmanuel Asenso Jr. Emmanuel Asenso Jr is a 3rd year, Ghanaian American, medical student at Rowan SOM. He was born and raised in Northern Virginia, received his bachelor’s in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech and his Master’s in Public Health from The George Washington University before starting medical school. He is passionate about using medicine, nutrition and public health as a platform and resource to empower patients and communities to improv
Find A Reason To Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Christopher Constantino. Christopher Constantino lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Megan, and son, Augustine. He is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at Florida State University. He teaches stuttering and counseling. He researches ways to improve the embodied and social experiences of stuttering. He co-edited the book Stammering Pride & Prejudice. Chris is a co-host on the StutterTalk podcast. Thank you Christopher for sharing your story because
From Stuttering To A Successful Public Speaker
Today’s featured guest is Daniel Francis. Daniel Francis is a Communication and Public Speaking Coach for people who stutter. Daniel helps people who stutter, overcome their stuttering blocks and anxiety by learning the fundamentals of public speaking. Daniel struggled with his communication his entire life, and he is dedicated to help others unlock their communication potential. Daniel has publicly spoken on stage in front of 1000s, ran 100s of public speaking events, has sold 3000 sales door
Early Stuttering Life of Rob Greenlee
Today’s featured guest is Rob Greenlee. Rob Greenlee is the VP of Content and Partnerships, Libsyn (LSYN), Current Board of Governors Member and former Chairperson of The Podcast Academy and was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2017. Formerly served as VP, Podcaster Relations at Voxnext’s Spreaker. He started on radio in 1999 and then podcasting in 2004 with the first nationally syndicated radio show "WebTalk World Radio Show" to begin podcasting. He also worked as Voxne
My First Week On The Clubhouse App
Today we are talking about the new social media app – Clubhouse. I’ve only been on it for a week, but I have already gained so much knowledge from some amazing speakers that I can apply it to assist me in my journey as a PWS. I knew nothing of this app until a few weeks ago and it is still in beta, but I believe that this app is going to be so beneficial for those who want to learn and grow. I have added the link to the article below describing the app and I encourage everyone to check it out
Job Searching In The New Normal
Today we are talking about employment in 2021. It’s a whole new year and in this new normal, everything employment related is online. As a PWS, we are adapting and facing this new challenge head on. I talk about my job history and give some tips to help you along your way. Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonbeats.com/ Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music.
My Stutter Didn't Stop Me From Creating For Universal Studios
Today’s featured guest is Rob Bloom. Rob Bloom is a Creative Director at Universal Orlando Resort. He is also a person who has stuttered since the age of 3. Before creating for Universal, Rob helped craft advertising campaigns for brands like The Home Depot, Dunkin', Virgin Islands, the U.S. Marines, and many others. In addition, Rob is an award-winning comedy writer and screenwriter, having written for NPR, The Onion, and the Cartoon Network. I believe that there is healing in sharing and I wou
Jamming To My Own Beat In Life
Today’s featured guest is Nakia Grayson. Nakia Grayson is a legal, privacy, and technology enthusiast with a passion for helping to educate and expose girls and women to STEM career fields. She works in the Federal Government as an IT Security Specialist. She is also a person who stutters who constantly reminds herself that no obstacle in life is too big to prevent you from reaching your goals, and each one makes you stronger. In her leisure time, she enjoys volunteering with various youth organ
Stuttering: Coming Full Circle
Today’s featured guest is Tim Mackesey. Tim Mackesey had a severe stuttering problem into his mid 20's. He has been an SLP since 1992. He is a Board-Certified Specialist in Fluency Disorders with a private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Tim has taught the graduate level fluency disorders program at Georgia State University. He provides a unique and leading holistic therapy model that incorporates CBT and best practices in traditional speech therapy. I believe that there is healing in sharing a
The New York City Office Broker Who Stutters
Today’s featured guest is Ari Lev Waldman. Ari was born in Peekskill, NY and is a 43-year-old Jewish male who stutters. He has been married since June 2012 and has no children. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and as a profession, he is an associate real estate broker specializing in office leasing in Manhattan for Lee and Associates. I believe that there is healing in sharing and I would like to Thank Ari for sharing his story with us. For more information on Ari Lev Waldman: Email: awaldman@lee-a
I Was A Word Changer: The Journey Of Christopher Massella
Today’s featured guest is Christopher Massella. Christopher lives in Blue Bell, PA, outside of Philadelphia, PA. After years of frustration and shame, he sought speech therapy at 31 years of age. At the end of that therapy, he committed to becoming a speech therapist. Since 2008, he has been an SLP. He is certified by ASHA, licensed in PA, and currently works with middle school and high school students in a local school district. After years of hiding the reason he made the career switch, he be
I am Rick the STUTTERING DESIGNER
Today’s featured guest is Rick Scuotto. In 2018, Rick combined the passion of design and a lifelong stutter together and created #StutteringDesigner. Since then he started to create videos for his YouTube channel and other social media platforms, participated in events like “Learn One Thing hosted by Free From Stutter” or gave Stuttering Awareness Presentations at different events. Rick’s goal is to provide people with a little insight into what many stutterers might struggle with every day in
Happy 2nd Anniversary
Happy 2nd Anniversary to the My Stuttering Life podcast! This has been an amazing season with amazing guests. I would like to thank all my guests for sharing their stories of adversity and triumphs, you are a true inspiration for all. Season 3 will be filled with more amazing guests and some on-location live shows. Thank you again and let’s get started with Season 3. Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats,
Stuttering Is My Superpower
This episode, Stuttering Is My Superpower, is a powerful episode for me because after decades of feeling shame and guilt because of my stutter, I’m realizing now that it is actually my superpower. Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonbeats.com/ Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over ou
My Sleep Experiment
I have always wondered if sleep has a direct correlation to my stutter. Recently I have been hearing about the benefits of sleep and the deficits from a lack of sleep. I decided to conduct my own personal experiment to see if sleep had an impact on my stuttering. Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonbeats.com/ Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www
Stuttering & Succeeding In Life: The Journey of Juan Pablo Garcia
Today’s featured guest is Juan Pablo Garcia. Juan Pablo is from Paraguay and is 22 years old. He is studying to become a computer scientist while also working a full-time job as a software developer. Juan Pablo states, “I’ve stuttered for as long as I can remember, and I’ve had some days where I thought I could not even have a job because of my inability to properly communicate. I am currently training every day with a community of stutterers in order to lift ourselves up and practice and i
We Have Our Own Language
Today’s featured guest is Saif Mihyar. Saif is a 22-year-old Business Administration student who currently lives in Jordan. Saif has a strong passion towards sports and a desire to help individuals who face hardship that may come along with speech disfluency. I believe that there is healing in sharing and I would like to Thank Saif for sharing his story with us. For more information on Saif Mihyar: Email - mihyarsaif@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithastutter/ Thank you
The Value of Vulnerability
Today’s featured guest is John McIntosh. John is 60 years old and is from Glasgow, Scotland, and has stammered for as long as he can remember. After graduating with an honors degree in English Literature, John worked in social care for many years, mainly because he could not envisage entering a profession that made big demands on his speech. At the age of 35, he was married with two young daughters and decided to become a high school English teacher which he did until last August, when he reti
From Nutrition To NASA: The Journey of Xavier Thibodeaux
Today’s featured guest is Xavier Thibodeaux. Xavier is from Houston, Texas, and is a graduate from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance with a specialization in human nutrition and dietetics. His dream is to work for NASA as a researcher studying different and new ways to send food into space, prolonging food out there, and ways to grow food on exoplanets. Xavier states that “Everything will get better if you work your hardest for what yo
To Finish Or Not To Finish
Stuttering and Finishing Your Sentences is a topic with extremely high opinions, and I would like to start the conversation. When I ask PWS (people who stutter) if they allow others to finish their sentences, the responses are split right down the middle, 50/50. For some it brings strong emotions and for others, it’s a non-issue. We are all different in our speech journey, but our common denominator is that we are not alone, and this platform allows us to discuss those issues that directly pe
Know Your Worth: The Journey To Acceptance
Today’s featured guest is Courtland Crain. Courtland is 22 years old and an upcoming first-year Speech-Language Pathology Master's student at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He’s been a person who stutters his whole life, and just recently found confidence and acceptance when he started college. His goal is to be a role model and inspiration for those who stutter, teaching the idea of acceptance, confidence, and management of stuttering. The past few years Courtland has worked as a ca
The Tools I Use To Manage My Stutter & Listener Feedback
Over the years I learned many tools and techniques to help me manage my stutter. I know the reality that there is no cure for stuttering but these four things that I do on a daily basis has truly helped me in my journey. I would like to thank Gloria, The Guru Warrior and Amelia for your feedback. I am proud to be a part of this community. The Podcast & YouTube Channel Mentioned in The Episode: Grownup Eruptions - https://anchor.fm/grownup-eruptions The Guru Warrior - https://www.iheart.com/p
Be Determined To Be Yourself
Today’s featured guest is Mike Wilson. Mike Wilson is originally from Atlanta, GA. He is married with four kids between the ages of 3 and 10, and currently lives in Syracuse, NY. He is a dentist and is the founder and owner of 5 dental practices in Upstate NY. His hobbies include playing basketball, reading history, and listening to podcasts. In this podcast episode, Mike discusses the importance of eye contact. I believe that there is healing in sharing and I would like to Thank Mike fo
Keep Moving Forward
Today’s episode is about the importance of having a thick skin and moving forward. For decades I let the opinions of others be my reality and I allowed that negativity into my life which caused me great pain and anguish. Over the years, I learned to develop a thick skin so that any negative comments would bounce off me and that allowed me to keep moving forward with my life. Life is a celebration and living my best life is now my goal. Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton
Have You Seen My Bookmark?
I am so thankful to belong to a community of creators that are showing the world that if you have a stutter, know that you are not alone and that you have a community to support, inform and inspire you. In this podcast, I am highlighting four books that have taught me a great deal about stuttering and inspired me as a person who stutters. These are the four books I recommend if you are a PWS: Rama Siva, “Dreaming of Stuttering Freedom” - https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Stuttering-Freedom-Min
Am I Alone In This?
Today’s featured guest is Will McClurg. Will is 36 years old and a medical sonographer specializing in pediatrics. Currently, Will is involved in medical sales and clinical training. Will has been stuttering since the age of 5 and states that it was terribly hard growing up. He’s had many doubts along the way about how his disability could hinder his success but continues to exceed his past expectations. Will is currently trying to find a way to help youth that stutter and feels that the big
Be Confident In Who You Are
Today’s featured guest is Sherrikka Myers. Every 1 Voice Matters is a nonprofit designed to help kids break down communicative and social barriers such as stuttering, self-esteem, self-confidence and bullying to improve their quality of life. Founder, Sherrikka Myers, grew up stuttering in a single-family household with limited resources. She used the only resource available to her to control her stuttering, which was a book. Reading out loud, instead of quietly to herself, is what helped her ov
"Stop Worshiping The Fluency Gods"
Today’s featured guest is Benjamin Schussheim. Benji Schussheim is a senior at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. He enjoys jazz saxophone, piano, coding, and stuttering advocacy. Benji began to stutter severely at 10 years of age and has been in speech therapy for six years at the American Institute for Stuttering with Dr. Heather Grossman. Over his junior year in high school, Benji began to giving presentations on stuttering to classes and local organization on stuttering. Since t
The Power Of Your Voice
This interview was recorded before Covid-19. Today’s featured guest is Hakim Erwin. Mr. Erwin was born and raised in West Philadelphia, PA and graduated from Edward Bok High School in 1991. An avid hip hop music lover in his teenage years through his mid-20s, he enjoyed a brief career in the music industry where he served as an audio engineer and an intern & assistant A&R representative with Ruffhouse Columbia Records in Philadelphia. In 2003, he was called into Ministry and became a licensed
Taking Ownership Of Your Stutter
Today’s featured guest is Sandeep Krishnakumar. Sandeep is a first year PhD student studying Human Factors and Ergonomics at Penn State University. His research is in the realm of engineering design, and he is particularly interested in design methods, human-centered design, and user experience. When he is not busy with schoolwork or research, Sandeep loves to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen, go out for a run, be in the outdoors, or play a game of scrabble. He is also passionate abou
Prioritizing My Life: The Story of Michaela Misskee Maia
Today’s featured guest is Michaela Misskee Maia. Michaela is German-Brazilian and is currently working as a Marketing Manager at a Software Company in Florida, where she lives with her husband. Growing up, Michaela and her family lived in places like Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and Frankfurt. Even though she has been to speech therapists around the world, she would never see any real improvement in her speech. However, after having learned the Del Ferro Method to overcome stuttering, sh
Drive-Thrus, Cell Phones & Social Distancing: The New Normal
Today’s world is changing due to the Covid-19 virus. What we enjoyed in the past has now gone away; restaurants are closed, concerts cancelled, conferences cancelled, festivals cancelled, grocery store shelves are almost bare, and we must maintain social distancing to combat this virus and lower the infection rates. If you are a PWS (person who stutters), the occasional excursions for take-out have now become the only way to obtain take-out food. The occasional cell phone and laptop use is no
The Be Kind Campaign And Stuttering: The Story Of Jack Dinsley
Today’s featured guest is Jack Dinsley. Jack states that he’s had a stammer ever since he can remember. Over the years, Jack has turned the negativity of having a stammer into something positive. He’s been involved with the performing arts since a young age, and that has turned into journalism over the years. Jack is now in his third and final year at UCLan and has worked for the BBC Newsround recently. He launched his own stammering awareness campaign this year where he has spoken to 550+
My Pecha Kucha Presentation and Continuing the Conversation With Evan Sherman, SLP
This episode was recorded in Orlando, Florida, at the Podfest Expo 2020 (podfestexpo.com). I was honored to have spoken at the Pecha Kucha portion of the expo and my title was “The Stuttering Podcaster”. I spent months and months preparing for this 5-minute presentation where I discussed the origin of my podcast and the main component of it which is to raise awareness about Stuttering. I also had the privilege and honor to speak with Evan Sherman, SLP, and continue our conversation in part two
What My Stutter Has Taught Me: The Journey of Matt Herdman
Today’s featured guest is Matt Herdman. Matt Herdman, a creator who lives in Oklahoma, is striving to make positive impacts on the world. He recently had the opportunity to be a speaker at Oklahoma’s first ever Next Gen Talks where he gave his speech, “What Stuttering Taught Me About Anxiety”. He graduated with a bachelor’s in music with a focus in Musical Theatre and currently works in marketing in Oklahoma City. In his free time, he enjoys writing, videography, graphic design, reading and
Stamily: Raising Global Awareness For Those Who Stammer
Today’s featured guest is Jurjen de Jong. Jurjen is 26 years old and has stuttered since the age of 7. He became involved in the world of people who stutter since attending a youth exchange that he joined last year in Italy. This inspired him to start the platform Stamily, where people who stutter can share their stories, raise awareness and form a community. Since last summer this platform is growing rapidly. Jurjen studied mathematics, physics, astronomy, and space studies in the Netherlands
Serving Our Nation's Heroes: A Discussion With Cynthia Zmroczek
Today’s featured guest is Cynthia Zmroczek. Cynthia Zmroczek received her Masters of Science degree from West Virginia University and has been a speech language pathologist with the Department of Defense for the past 11 ½ years providing comprehensive services to active duty service members, retirees, and their families who have been injured as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Her primary area of expertise is working with people who have difficulty with memory, organization, and time mana
#1 Tips for People Who Stutter
Today’s episode features some amazing, courageous and phenomenal contributors to the Stuttering Community. My call to action was to create an episode of #1 Tips for PWS and these tips will no doubt help those who are struggling with their stutter. I am honored to showcase these amazing contributors on this podcast episode. I have attached their links down below if you wish to reach out. If you have a #1 Tip, please click the SpeakPipe link and leave your voice message that I will add to a fu
My Stutter Is A Blessing: A Story of Determination & Patience
Today’s featured guest is Jason Nunez. Mr. Nunez is 39 years old, Catholic, Husband and father of two. He was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and now lives in San Antonio, Texas. Jason and his family are active parishioners at The Church of The Holy Spirit. He has stuttered for as long as he can remember. He went through speech therapy all through his elementary school years and was discharged from therapy after his 7th grade year. His journey through his stuttering life has taught him m
Competing in Bodybuilding and Fluency: The Story of Gal Zussman
Today’s featured guest is Gal Zussman. Mr. Zussman is from Israel and is currently a 12th grader in high school and he states that his stutter came back after two years of fluency. He shares his speech journey with us and his future goals in the fitness industry. Mr. Zussman is an amateur bodybuilder and won the Mr. Israel competition with a 1st place finish. If you would like more information on Gal Zussman, here is his contact information: Email: zussman13@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.in
The Big "D"
Over the years I have learned a few things about my stuttering and one of the big takeaways is disclosure. I find that it is so much easier to disclose my stuttering so that the other individual knows what it is, what to expect, and how to appropriately respond and/or interact during our conversation. Disclosure is my #1 Tip for people who stutter and I would like to know what is your #1 Tip for people who stutter. This would be a such a great benefit to all PWS around the globe so that they
From YouTube to the Literary World: The Life of this Aspiring Author
Today's featured guest is Vicky Gilbert. Vicky has worn many hats over the years from musician, to student, to retail worker, to managing a popular food chain and is currently working towards attain her dreams of becoming an author, one page at a time. Vicky lives with her spouse and four cats in a small town in Missouri and when she's not working or writing, she creates YouTube videos in her free time. I believe there is healing in sharing and Vicky is an inspiration to all. I am very
Par for the Course: This Golfer's Challenge On & Off the Fairway
Today's featured guest is Andrew Simpson. Andrew is a second year student at the University of Cincinnati. He is an avid golfer and sports fan in general. Andrew loves to help others and prides himself in being the best friend/brother/son that he can be every day. One day, Andrew hopes to work in the golf industry or in the business world. I believe there is healing in sharing and Andrew is an inspiration to all. I am very appreciative of all the guests that have shared their story of a
The Journey of YouTube Vlogger Adam Wright
Today's featured guest is Adam Wright. Adam recently turned 40 years old and is married with two kids. This YouTube Vlogger has been stammering for as long as he can remember. I believe there is healing in sharing and Adam is an inspiration to all. I am very appreciative of all the guests that have shared their story of adversity and triumphs on the MSL podcast. If you want more information on Adam Wright, here is the contact information: 40 Minute Documentary : https://youtu.be/VL6jG3T
From Adversity To Acceptance: One Man's Journey To The Main Stage
Today's featured guest is Callum Schofield. Callum is from South Wales and has had a stammer for as long as he can remember. At present, he is trying to learn from his experiences to help others as a motivational speaker by sharing his story and life advice to people of all ages. I believe there is healing in sharing and Callum is an inspiration to all. I am very appreciative of all the guests that have shared their story of adversity and triumphs on the MSL podcast. If you want more infor
Jared Glickfield Paves The Road With Determination
Today's featured guest is Jared Glickfield. Jared is a teenager from Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C. He's a high school senior who plans to study computer science in college. Active in his community, Jared leads programming for a local youth group and is a member of his high school rock climbing team, co-chair of the robotics club at school and does some tech support on the side. He started his podcast, Stuttering Since '02, to tell his story and encourage and support ot
#VeryConfident In The Caribbean
Today's featured guest is Angella Marston. Ms. Marston is a 23 year old who resides in Jamaica and works as a secretary for a law firm. In her spare time, she spends a lot of time creating videos, motivational quotes about stuttering and also shares her Jamaican culture via YouTube. In the future, she is looking forward to starting a Stammer Foundation in her country. Ms. Marston also wants to build a stammering school where students can come and practice their class presentations, get motivatio
The Journey Of A Stutterer From Down Under
Today's featured guest is Daniel Lopriore. Mr. Lopriore is a 28 year old music producer from Perth, Australia. He started producing music at the age of 22. He wanted to take producing full time and few out to Los Angeles to attend the music school Icon Collective. Daniel has been stuttering his whole life and just recently started YouTubing, sharing stories about his life growing up with a stutter. He hopes these stories can help young kids who stutter understand that you can still have a normal
Aaron Toubian - The Stuttering Coach
Today's guest is Aaron Toubian and I had the pleasure of speaking with him and discussing the origin of his stutter, school life, dating and the genesis of his new practice as a Stuttering Coach. For more information on Aaron Toubian: Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/aaron_toubian/ Website: www.thestutteringcoach.com Email: aarontoubian@gmail.com YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/AZuJcZB78C8 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-toubian-931b58195/ I believe that there is healin
Lanny Morris - "My Stutter Is My Friend"
There comes a time when an interview doesn't feel like an interview and feels more like friends chatting in a coffee house. My guest, Lanny Morris, brought back some fond memories of when I used to live in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr. Morris is a 47 year old association executive in the world of not-for-profit, non-government entities and states that his stutter is his friend. Mr. Morris is happily married with two children and enjoys life on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Mr. Morris told me t
"Dear World, I Stutter"
James Hayden returns as my special guest to discuss his Tedx Talk experience and his book "Dear World, I Stutter". This book can help many people who stutter in their journey and I will be purchasing my book today! I believe there is healing in sharing and Mr. Hayden is an inspiration to all. I am very appreciative of all the guests that have shared their story of adversity and triumphs on the MSL podcast. If you wish to contact James Hayden, here is the contact information: Email: dearwor
James Hayden - Tedx Speaker & Author
Today's featured guest is James Hayden. Mr. Hayden lives in the New Orleans area and works for Ochsner Health System as an HLA Technologist. Outside of work, James is a writer and serves as the chapter leader for the New Orleans chapter of the National Stuttering Association. James is also the author of "Dear World, I Stutter" and his work has been published by various platforms such as The Mighty, Yahoo, MSN and the British Stammering Association. James is also a New Orleans Saints fan and
Jaleesa Bygrave
Today's featured guest is Jaleesa Bygrave. Ms. Bygrave is a social worker from Toronto, Ontario, who has worked in the profession since 2011. She has a breadth of experience supporting individuals, children, and families with complex needs. She works as a prison social worker on a full-time basis and is starting a social work private practice part-time for persons with various speech impediments. This stems from her own personal experience living with a stutter and she shares her story with
Mike Wallace - Software Engineer and Gamer
Today's featured guest is Mike Wallace. Mr. Wallace is a 28 year old software engineer who also enjoys creating video games with others and playing them competitively (both of which can rely heavily on spoken communication). Mr. Wallace also enjoys photography and creative writing, both of which he finds as a useful outlet for expressing himself out of speech. Mr. Wallace is also a lifelong stutterer and he shares his story with us. I believe there is healing in sharing and Mr. Wallace is an
The Wanderer
If you are a person who stutters then I know this has happened to you. Have you ever walked into a store and wanted to ask for help but did not due to your stutter? Listen to my story.... If this has happened to you, send me a voice message and let me know how you dealt with it. We are all different in our stuttering journey but we have a common bond that we are not alone. Let's help one another and share our stories so that we can use this as a teaching moment moving forward. Thank you to Ep
The Hang Up
If you are a person who stutters then I know this has happened to you. When you are dialing a number and get ready to speak but nothing comes out and the other caller makes a rude remark (in my case) and hangs up on you it can be very devastating. The after effects usually, in my case, resulted in falling back into my dark place for a while until I recovered. I have learned that you have to keep moving forward and keep making those phone calls. I learned to embrace my stutter and not fight i
Happy 1st Anniversary MSL !
What a year this has been for me. A huge thank you to my son, Ethan, who recorded his first jingle. I would also like to thank my guests for their inspirational stories and my supporters for your amazing emails of encouragement. I look forward to Season 2 of MSL podcast filled with more inspirational guests and episodes to let other PWS know that you are not alone and that we are in this together. I believe that there is healing in sharing so let's kick off Season 2 with a BANG. Thank you
It Really Does Work !
When you put your positive thoughts and energy out in the universe, you can create your own reality. During my years of personal development, I read many great books by Mel Robbins, Tony Robbins, John Maxwell, Les Brown and many others that helped me realize that I have the power to change my life for the better. CALL TO ACTION: I want for you to let me know via email or Anchor voice message if this has changed your life. I want to know if you have had a daily win. With your approval, I w
The Card You Need
It is true that we learn something new everyday and today is no different. I came across a great tool to use if you are ever pulled over by the police, asked a question or to just educate people what what stuttering is. This helpful tool looks like a business card but on the front of this card states, "I am a person who stutters". The card explains what Stuttering is so that we can erase the stigma that is associated with this condition. I wish this was around when I was pulled over by the p
Matice - Author and YouTube Content Creator
Today's featured guest is Matice Ahnjamine. Matice is a published author of first her book titled: The Product of My Selfishness: The Stutter and the Story. As someone who stutters, Matice wanted to encourage and educate stutterers and non-stutterers alike about the challenges people who stutter face. Keeping with that same mission, she started a YouTube channel in July 2017 that focuses on how she and others can live their best life with a stutter. Through YouTube, she has a platform that s
Jason Curtis - The Horse Show Announcer
Today’s podcast has a special guest, Jason Curtis. Mr. Curtis has been involved with horses and horse shows for the majority of his life. For many years he had operated Oakridge Farms, a breeding & boarding operation in Florida, but decided to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time horse show announcer. He started announcing at a local horse show when he was asked to fill in for the regular announcer. The rest as they say is history, today he announces shows nationwide. In addition to announ
Vince Vawter - From Paperboy To Author
Today's podcast has a special guest, Vince Vawter. Mr. Vawter retired after a 40-year career in newspapers, most recently as the president and publisher of the Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press. Mr. Vawter is a published author of two books and his debut novel, PAPERBOY, received a Newbery Honor award in 2014. The story is based on his real-life experience growing up in the 1950s as a person who stutters. We discuss the origins of his stutter, his family history, speech therapy, and his advice
Talking To The Man In The Mirror
Over my 43+ years of stuttering, I've learned many techniques to help with my fluency. One of those techniques is talking in front of the mirror. In this technique, I am cognizant of my facial expressions and through practice, I can improve my overall delivery. I have practiced in front of the mirror from 30 mins to over an hour for days because you've heard the old saying, "Practice makes perfect". If you have used this technique, please let me know by clicking the link at the bottom of th
Strike 1, Strike 2, Strike 3
This episode is not about sports but more about job interviews. If you are a PWS (person who stutters) or even a non-stutterer, we've all had those job interviews that were less than favorable. In my experience, every job interview that I have crashed & burned, I learned from and applied that knowledge to the next interview. My motto is that I'm going to fail myself to success. Check out this episode on the little secret that they don't tell you about regarding job interviews.
Vampire Crabs
Are you aware of the people around you? I'm talking those individuals in your inner circle who are negative and drain your energy on a daily basis. Plus, those people around you who don't want for you to succeed and they keep you at their level because it's where their comfort level is. I call these two groups: Vampires & Crabs In a Bucket. If you surround yourself with positive people and let go of those Vampires and Crabs In A Bucket, you will see a definete change in your outlook. As a
Rama Siva - Author and Believer In "The Key Is Self-Confidence"
Today's podcast has a special guest, Rama Siva, who lives in the UK and has worked at the Prime Minister's Office in London, serving Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. We discuss the origins of his stutter, his family history, speech therapy, energy vampires, and his advice for parents and teachers. Mr. Siva is an inspiration to stutterers and non-stutterers stating that the key to success is believing in yourself and having confidence. For more information on Rama Siva, you can reach him on all
Coping With Daily Struggles
We are all dealing with our own personal struggles on a daily basis. You know my daily struggle is fluency and my special guest, Thomas Kenyon, explains his daily struggle with his thought processes. We discuss his speech therapy in school, his coping strategies, and his successful podcast on Apple Itunes. This podcast has many long pauses which will illustrate the struggle that my guest experiences on a daily basis. For more information on Thomas Kenyon, his website is www.thomaskenyon.
Hugo Torres - Language and Communication Barriers
Today's podcast has a special guest, Hugo Torres, who is a freelance writer and a podcaster practicing in Civic Virtue. We discuss our challenges in language and communication plus we dive into other topics such as the military, education and stereotypes. For more information on Hugo Torres, you can find him on Twitter (@Hugoposts), Instagram (@HugoTorres), his blog (hugotorres.com/blog), and his podcast (anchor.fm/hugotorres).
Stuttering & Dating
This is another conversation with Roy as we delve into the topic of stuttering and dating. We share our personal experiences on this topic as we discuss our adventures.
A Parent's Perspective On Stuttering
My featured guest is Carolyn Doucette who gives us the parent's perspective on stuttering. In this podcast interview, she discusses her thoughts on her son's stutter, family history, speech therapy and advice for parents and teachers. This was truly an informative and inspirational interview that will illustrate the support that is needed for anyone who stutters. Thank you Carolyn for sharing your story with us and we will definitely continue the conversation.
LeRon Barton - Author and Tedx Speaker
Today's podcast has a special guest, LeRon Barton, who is a writer, author, and Tedx speaker who is also a person who stutters. We discuss the origins of his stutter, his family history, speech therapy, and his advice for parents and teachers. Mr. Barton's positivity, courage and tenacity is a true inspiration to people who stutter and non stutterers. For more information on LeRon Barton, his website is www.leronbarton.com , twitter.com/MainlineLeRon, www.instagram.com/leronlbarton and
Stuttering & Network Marketing
Today's podcast has a special guest, Joni Glaze, who is an entrepreneur and a fellow network marketer. As a person who stutters, I would not have imagined that I would be in network marketing given the stories from people in the industry talking about getting in front of people and giving presentations. Listen to how network marketing and personal development opened my eyes to amazing possibilities that I thought would never happen to me. I would like to thank Joni Glaze for her time and we
Evan Sherman, SLP
Today's podcast has a special guest, Evan Sherman, who is a person who stutters and is also a licensed Speech Language Pathologist. We discuss the origins of his stutter, family history, speech therapy, advice for parents/teacher and his successful practice as a SLP. For more information on Evan Sherman, visit his website: www.progressionspeechtherapy.com. I would like to thank Mr. Evan Sherman for his time and we will be speaking again as I have many more questions.
Stuttering & S-G-A
As a person who stutters, I've experienced shame, guilt and constantly apologizing for my stutter. This is my journey and I want to share it with you because if you are a PWS, you are not alone. You've experienced this and maybe have no one to talk to about your experiences. Well, let's help one another and navigate through this life with tenacity and positivity.
Stuttering & Tools
As a person who stutters, the two tools that have been instrumental in my speech journey have been hypnosis and diaphragmatic breathing. You know that when you have a block, your entire body is tensed and it may be that way for a quite a while. Hypnosis taught me how to breathe into relaxation so that I can use this technique in my daily regimen. Also, diaphragmatic breathing has taught to me while in my 20s and it has proven effective in beginning my sentences on the exhale with 100% fluenc
Stuttering & Comparing Yourself With Others
When comparing yourself to others, the outcome is most always unfavorable. When I was younger I compared myself to others because I did not like who I was because of my stutter. Now that I'm a little older, somewhat wiser, I am happy with who I am. It took me a long time to embrace my stutter but once I did, my whole life became a little brighter.
Stuttering & Fake News
Have you ever been told that you were faking something to get attention?
Roy Johnson
Today's podcast has a special guest, Roy, whom I've known for over twenty years but until recently found out that he stuttered as a child. We discuss the origins of his stutter, family history, speech therapy, theft of a library book, high school life, and advice for parents/teachers. Thank you, Roy, for sharing your stories of adversity and triumphs with us.
Stuttering & the Magic Pill
There is no magic pill to cure stuttering (sorry for that cold hard fact). However, there are speech therapies, devices, and drugs that may help with fluency. I have had amazing speech therapists help me along my journey along with hypnosis to assist me with fluency. There is a video on YouTube from Steve Harvey that had a guest who has a stutter and was asking for advice. Steve Harvey stated that stuttering is curable and that he could cure her stutter in 1 hour. This statement was unfortunate.
Stuttering & the 5 Second Rule
Mel Robbins wrote an amazing book titled, "The 5 Second Rule", and it completely changed my life. Those difficult things we have to do in life can no longer control our actions. Just countdown 5-4-3-2-1-GO.
Stuttering & Emergency Situations
How do you handle emergency situations as a person who stutters? Are you able to call 9-1-1? Are you able to effectively direct emergency personnel to the situation? Thinking of this paralyzes me with such great fear and contemplating can I do this when the time comes. If you are a PWS (person who stutters), have you encountered an emergency situation and what was the outcome.
Stuttering & the Military
Joining the US Air Force was a goal of mine and my stutter was not going to get in the way! On this Veterans Day, I want to thank all the Veterans for everything they do to keep us safe! Happy Veterans Day! God Bless the USA and God Bless Our Military!
Stuttering & Voice Technology
Voice activated technology is emerging and people who stutter are finding it difficult to adapt to this technology. I can the appreciate the ease of this technology but for me, I'll stick with typing everything out.
Stuttering & Setbacks
We've all had those minor bumps in the road that make your journey a little harder to reach. This is how I deal with setbacks as a person who stutters.
Stuttering & Having A Good Support System
It's important to surround yourself with positive people who are going to lift you up and be there for you during the good times and bad.
Stuttering & Negative Self Talk
We all have that negative voice inside of us telling us what we cannot do in this life. Find out how I silenced my negative voice.
Nic
Today's podcast has a special guest, Nic, who is a high school and also a person who stutters. We discuss the origins of his stutter, family history, speech therapy, high school life, advice for parents/teachers and his AWESOME YouTube Channel "Friday Nights with Nic". This young man is an inspiration to all living his best positive life. I encourage everyone to check out his YouTube Channel "Friday Nights with Nic" and subscribe. This young man has a bright future and I can't wait to speak with
Stuttering & Daily Wins
Vince Lombardi said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing". We all want to win in life and in business. When I have a win, I feel invincible. In my daily battles as a stutterer, I have many epic failures but when I have a win, I CELEBRATE it. Leave me a comment on one of your daily wins.
Stuttering & My Name
If you are a PWS (person who stutters) then you know how difficult it is to say your name. If you are asked your name and you have a block, it doesn't help when the other person asks you, "Did you forget your name?" Listen for my response to that question in this episode.
Stuttering & Exhaustion
If you are a PWS (Person Who Stutters) then you know that every day is a battle for fluency. Your entire body is tense from the moment you wake up until the moment you lay your head on your pillow. At the end of the day, I just want to stop talking and allow my body to rest.
Stuttering & the New School Year
Every school is exciting for most students but if you have a child that stutters, the new school year can be very difficult. I have advice for teachers and students who stutter so that the new school year is smooth and successful.
In the Beginning
The origin of my stutter.