Stuttering is Cool

Episode #282: Why do we find that letting ourselves stutter more often leads to stuttering less, while trying to speak fluently seems to result in more stuttering? Join me as I explore this phenomenon with Dr. J Scott Yaruss , speech-language pathologist, researcher, and educator for more than 30 years. We also talk about the various research studies Scott has and is working on and how you may be...

Episode #281: This episode is recorded live from where my stuttering comes from! My grandfather and his sisters stuttered so I like to refer to my father’s hometown in Molise, Italy as “where my stutter comes from” or “my stutter’s origin story”. In this episode, I travel to my parent’s hometowns (only 2km apart) in Italy and share with you: How this was t...

Episode #280: “I grew frustrated with others defining the experience for me.” I speak with, Irmo Stijnberg, the filmmaker behind Unspoken Truth , a powerful short film that shines a light on the lived experience of stuttering in a world obsessed with fluency and speed. Unspoken Truth follows Timothy, a talented graphic designer who stutters and whose passion and skill are overshadowed by misunders...

Episode #279: Your stutter as a sidekick. In this episode, I share the story behind my new book, Draw Your Stutter , which grew out of a mind-blowing experience in 2024. It all started when I tested a new idea for a cartooning workshop. After refining it through a few virtual sessions, I finally led it in person at STAMMAFest in front of a packed room—where the impact was life-changing for both me...

Episode #278: Cowboy Stuttering. I chat with Dr. John Tetnowski, Ph. D., CCC, who is the Jeanette Sias Endowed Chair in Speech Pathology at Oklahoma State University. In addition to his over 25 years of clinical experience and over 85 published research papers about fluency disorders and research methods, and being a board certified fluency specialist and an ASHA Fellow, John also organizes free e...

Episode #277: Two stutterers walk into a podcast… I chat with stand-up comedian Aidan Greene about his upcoming film, Stutterbug, the first film since 1937 to feature a stuttering actor playing a stuttering character. Stutterbug follows a man with a stutter, played by Aidan, who goes to extreme lengths to hide his speech, leading to a series of hilarious misadventures…at his expense. All Aidan wan...

Photo credit: Lisa Hollingsworth Episode 276: Stuttering is more complicated than just choosing fluency or acceptance. The current way the acceptance movement is being presented is “it’s ok to stutter… as long as you’re only embracing it”, however, this is not saying it’s ok to stutter in general – which is what the acceptance movement was initially about. Because it is ok to stutter and not want...

Photo taken with permission of the group Episode #275: My first time attending STAMAMFest and going to the UK! Join me as I chat with new and old friends at my very first STAMMFest which took place in Nottingham from August 15 to 18. It was also the first time I gave a new version of my cartooning workshop where attendees draw cartoon characters of their stutter, I mean, stammer, as they say in th...

Episode #274: Ever wish there was a manual for stuttering? There is one now! Stuttering is Beautiful is a free online manual for young people who stutter created by people who stutter (PWS) from all over Europe, in particular Italy, Estonia, The Netherlands, Iceland, and Finland, and professionals working with PWS. The manual provides evidence-based information about stuttering and explores the ma...

Episode #273: Ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop! You know that song! And I’m sure it’s now playing in your head and no doubt putting a smile to your face. On this episode, I chat with Gina Waggot , personal friend of Scatman John, also known as John Paul Larkin, who shot to fame in the mid-1990s with huge hits – and much welcomed earworms for me – such as Scatman, Everybody Jam!, and Scatman&#8217...

Episode #272: Stuttering is one of the most important things you can do – because fluency is a trap . A friend recently shared with me that she believes acceptance must come first in order to get rid of the fear of stuttering. Only after that can you work on your speech, if you want to. Or work on your self-esteem caused by a lifetime of society’s stigma towards your speech. Or work on your...

Episode #271: Being told how to speak just won’t go away will it? I chat with Danra Kazenski , a speech-language pathologist… or is that speech therapist? Well, she helps clients who stutter to manage their stuttering and communicate the way they want to. We start our conversation about narrative therapy and how Danra uses comics in her speech therapy practice then she interviews me about my...

Episode #270: I attended my first American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Conference! Join me as I chat with a few friends I met at the incredibly gigantic ASHA Conference 2023 which took place in the beautiful city of Boston. I helped out at the withVR booth run by owner and friend, Gareth Walkom, who also happens to be a previous guest on my podcast , attended an NSA Boston Chapter m...

Episode #269: Choose your own speaking adventure! Join me at the Canadian Stuttering Association Annual Conference which took place in Ottawa this year. I chat with old and new friends about a variety of topics including trying new things outside of your comfort zone, forming a stuttering community across rural areas, my cartooning workshops, and more. But first, some grocery shopping! Links menti...

Episode #268: Painting in front of a studio audience… and the entire country! I chat with portrait artist, Paul Aston, who recently participated in Portrait Artist of the Year, a television competition with portrait artists from all around the United Kingdom, as a way to step out of his comfort zone and spread stuttering awareness. Paul then stepped out of his comfort zone again and was interviewe...

Episode #267: Hello, my name is… point to the name tag. That was a scenario someone had recently proposed in a stuttering forum. The poster was worried about stuttering on his name when meeting new colleagues. He pondered the use of a name tag. Responses to his question varied from agreement to enabling avoidance. As the creator of a podcast named “Stuttering is Cool”, you can ac...

Episode #266: The most adorable reviews ever! Hear from two children, one who stutters and one who doesn’t, and their review of my new book, Tales of Mischief, Mayhem and Mirth . We also hear from their parents. What do the four think of my book? Listen in and find out! The post Kids review Franky Banky’s graphic novel appeared first on Stuttering is Cool .

Episode #265: Introducing Franky Banky’s new book, Tales of Mischief, Mayhem and Mirth . And an audio review! Links mentioned on this episode: Details about the new book Buy the book on Amazon Buy the book on Etsy Epic book launch post on Instagram STAMMA contest Every Friday the 13th is Stuttering is Cool Day comic The Great Name Search comic Subscribe to the Stuttering is Cool monthly news...

Episode #263: Listen to highlights from the Canadian Stuttering Association two-day conference – first time in person since the pandemic began! Join me as I hike through Niagara Gorge (and almost get lost), run into people as I check into my hotel room, meet some new friends at the Hard Rock Club, and join everyone for a group photo as the falls are lit up in sea foam green for International Stutt...

Episode #262: I chat with comic book artist, Jean-Sébastien Bérubé, about his experience with stuttering openly in the media after drawing two autobiographical comic books that mention his stuttering; Comment je ne suis pas devenu moine (How I Didn’t Become a Monk) and Vers la tempête (Towards The Storm), both published by Futuropolis. The result created a very powerful transformation and a boost...

Episode #261: I hope you’re having a great start to the new year. I’ve been busy drawing my next Franky Banky book which I will provide a read-along preview on this episode! Then I’m joined by what must have been 400 geese. This episode is brought to you by the Stuttering is Cool shop and FrankyBanky.com . Let’s connect on Instagram at @heyfrankybanky . The post New book pr...

Art by Willemijn Bolks Episode #260: Snow report. Join me on my walk as I give you an update on what I’ve been up to the past six months including the new Franky Banky book I’ve begun working on, new products in my shop, cartooning workshops I’ve given, being interviewed on CNN, the passing of Lynne Mackie a stuttering shining star, the tight Stamily community, and lots more. Lin...

Episode #259 – Who knew accepting your stuttering can be controversial? For some, like myself, accepting one’s own stuttering is the definition of empowerment, freeing one from worrying about stuttering, and opening up many opportunities in all facets of life. For others, it’s the definition of… giving up and defeat? You can understand why I’ve always had a hard time understanding the latter. Afte...

Episode #258: I speak with Ari Waldman, co-funder of Pathway With Stuttering, an initiative that takes a unique approach to supporting people who stutter. Learn about Ari’s journey from covert stutterer to overt stutterer working in commercial real estate sales and how Pathway With Stuttering uses a wholistic approach that not only covers stuttering via Schneider’s Speech’s free...

Episode #257: I chat with Sherrika Meyer, author of the Lil Herbie series of books for children, about her experiences growing up with stuttering and how she came to create the Lil Herbie series. However, Sherrika is not just an author, she is also the founder of Every 1 Voice Matters which breaks down communicative, social, and cultural barriers to teach kids to live their best lives through comm...