Stuttertalk: Changing How You Think About Stuttering

Taro Alexander joins Peter Reitzes to discuss the wonderful documentary film My Beautiful Stutter which follows five kids who stutter, ages 9 to 18, from all over the United States and all walks of life who meet at SAY, an interactive arts-based program. Taro Alexander - founder of the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) - is asked about a wide range of topics from the film including positive stuttering affirmations, embracing stuttering, the fairly common experience of being a person who stutters who is not viewed as a person who stutters, dating and thriving with stuttering, the physical frustration of stuttering, and so much more.   StutterTalk is so proud to have interviewed Taro many times. Click here to hear the full Taro Alexander StutterTalk archive. 

Dr. John Jackson joins Dr. Christopher Constantino to discuss becoming a medical doctor by standing up to repeated discrimination and going on to serve thousands of patients in rural America.  Known to some as the "Yankee Doctor," Dr. John Jackson has delivered more than 5,000 babies in rural America and talks openly today on StutterTalk about facing his stuttering and discrimination in medical school and in practice. 

Dr. Christopher Constantino joins Peter Reitzes to discuss competing pressures placed on people who stutter to be fluent and to also be unashamed and fearless with stuttering. Chris and Peter revisit the Brayden Harrington endorsement video of President Joe Biden and discuss doing Zoom therapy with people who stutter and their families.  Chris Constantino is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at Florida State University. Chris co-edited the highly acclaimed book Stammering Pride & Prejudice.  

Dr. Nan Bernstein Ratner joins Peter Reitzes to discuss what is new and exciting in stuttering and updates to A Handbook of Stuttering, which is soon entering its 7th edition.Dr. Bernstein Ratner is asked about updates she and Dr. Shelly Brundage have made to the handbook regarding stuttering treatment, predictors of recovery, brain imaging research, genetics, evidence based practice, and so much more. Nan and Peter also discuss the fluencybank, Lidcombe's impact on the field, and assessment challenges. Dr. Nan Bernstein Ratner is a Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park and a Fellow and Honors recipient of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Bernstein Ratner is co-author of the seminal publication, A Handbook on Stuttering, which will soon be published in its 7th edition. Nan has co-authored A Handbook on Stuttering with the late Oliver Bloodstein and with new co-author Shelly Brundage.

Dr. Christoper Constantino joins Peter Reitzes to discuss the listener question, "What parent would not want their child to be fluent?" Chris and Peter discuss the questions, "Do we want stuttering to be eradicated?", "Do people who stutter have anything to gain from stuttering?", and so much more.  Links: The Last Children of Down Syndrome Natural recovery from stuttering for a clinical cohort of pre-school children who received no treatment StutterTalk Episode 701

Dr. Christopher Constantino joins Peter Reitzes to discuss an important 2020 study on verbal contingencies in Lidcombe treatment and the related question, "What exactly is working in preschool stuttering treatment?" Links: Verbal Contingencies in the Lidcombe Program: A Noninferiority Trial Direct versus Indirect Treatment for Preschool Children who Stutter: The RESTART Randomized Trial Lidcombe Program Materials including Manual Demands and Capacities and Lidcombe: Roughly Equal Preschool Stuttering Treatments at 18 Months Post Treatment Onset (StutterTalk Ep. 548) Evidence-based practice in stuttering: Some questions to consider

Caryn Herring and Seth Tichenor join host Christopher Constantino for a frank discussion about fluency stuttering. On this special and fun 700th episode, the crew talk about their own experiences of fluency changing over time, why this might happen, what it means for therapy, and how to discuss it with other stutterers.

Rich Stephens joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss the expansion of the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) into Australia. Rich shares what’s been happening “down under” and some personal points that have kept him going through this demanding and exciting time. Rich Stephens is a person who stutters and is the President and Programming Director of SAY: Australia, the first International arm of SAY: The Stuttering Association For The Young founded in 2001 in NYC by Taro Alexander. Prior to launching SAY: Australia in June 2019, Rich lived in Manchester, UK. Rich spent 6 years working as a Psychiatric Nurse, and his work in the field of Mental Health took him to all parts of the UK, Dublin-Ireland, and Wellington New Zealand. Rich completed his BSc studies in Speech & Language Therapy and MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuroimaging at the University of Manchester. During his BSc studies, Rich first volunteered at Camp SAY in 2015 as a bunk counsellor, and fast forwarded several years later is now bringing

Barry Yeoman and  Chris Constantino join Peter Reitzes to discuss the determination and empathy of people who stutter and the question, "Why Can’t You Stutter More Like President Biden?" Barry Yeoman is a journalist with more than four decades of experience who specializes in in-depth reporting that puts a human face on complex issues.  Chris Constantino is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at Florida State University. Chris co-edited the highly acclaimed book Stammering Pride & Prejudice.   Peter Reitzes is a speech-language pathologist and President of StutterTalk. Barry, Chris, and Peter are all people who stutter. 

Vladan Sibinovic Vladan Sibinovic joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss “The Language,” an art exhibition that dives deep into the experience of stuttering.  In their conversation they discuss why Vladan decided to create art about stuttering, how he uses his art to spread stuttering awareness, and how his art has transformed his relationship with his stuttering. Vladan Sibinović (1987) was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and received his Master’s Degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Arts in Belgrade. His practice encompasses fields of painting and photography. Vladan has exhibited solo on five occasions and been involved in several group exhibitions across the USA and Europe. Currently, he lives in New York City, where he works as an independent artist. Vladan is also a person who stutters. Website: www.vladansibinovic.comInstagram: @sibinovicvladan

Marc Winski joins Chaya Goldstein in honor of International Stuttering Awareness Day to discuss how he gained 27,000 followers on TikTok and how he is using the platform to spread awareness about stuttering. Marc discusses how TikTok has helped bring awareness to a global population, how he challenges the 'overcome' stuttering narrative, and his vision for stuttering in the arts and theatre once COVID is over. Marc Winski is a professional actor/singer/motivational speaker in NYC and a person who stutters.  Winski leads an improv workshop for people who stutter and he hopes to give many more opportunities to show stuttering in the arts. TIKTOK: marcwinski IG: marcwinskiCAMEO: marcwinskiEmail: Mrwinski@gmail.com

Barry Yeoman and Christopher Constantino join Peter Reitzes to discuss how to talk about Joe Biden's stuttering. Topics include how to respond to well intentioned but ableist descriptions of Joe Biden's stuttering, Barry Yeoman's recent column in the Nation titled Our Stutter: Joe Biden, Brayden Harrington—and Me, policing stuttering voices, and much more. Barry Yeoman is a journalist with more than four decades of experience who specializes in in-depth reporting that puts a human face on complex issues.  Chris Constantino is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at Florida State University. Chris co-edited the highly acclaimed book Stammering Pride & Prejudice.   Peter Reitzes is a speech-language pathologist and President of StutterTalk. Barry, Chris, and Peter are all people who stutter. 

John Hendrickson John Hendrickson joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss the months after his article with Joe Biden went viral and how it impacted his stuttering journey. Hendrickson shared how these past few months have altered his relationship with his stuttering, his most memorable and challenging experiences, and his upcoming book Life On Delay.John Hendrickson is a Senior Editor at The Atlantic, where he edits and writes stories across the entire spectrum of politics. He was previously the Politics Editor at Rolling Stone, the Digital Deputy Editor at Esquire, and an editor and reporter at The Denver Post. For the January/February 2020 issue of The Atlantic, John wrote a feature about Joe Biden’s lifelong journey with stuttering, and his own. The article has been read by over a million people and was named one of the best stories of 2019 by Longform. John is now working on a book about stuttering, Life On Delay, and is interviewing people who stutter from all over the world. If you’re interested

Sam Simpson joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss Stammering Pride and Prejudice, a book that explores stuttering from the social model of disability. Sam shares how she learned about the social model in the 1990’s, and how this continues to influence her work as a speech therapist and counselor today. Sam Simpson is a speech and language therapist with over 25 years experience of working with people who stammer and their families in the public, private, education and voluntary sectors. She is also a person-centered counselor who runs her private practice just outside London. She co-edited the book “Stammering Therapy for the Inside” with Rachel Evrard and Carolyn Cheasman, and most recently co-edited Stammering Pride and Prejudice: Difference not Defect with Patrick Campbell and Chris Constantino. Links: Sam Simpson Counseling Sam Simpson Stuttering Therapy email: sam@redefiningstammering.co.uk twitter: @redefinestammer

Roisin McManus, a Nurse Practitioner who stutters and has been on the frontlines of COVID-19, joins Chaya Goldstein to reflect upon this important work and stuttering. This is a follow-up conversation to episode 678. Roisin shares her recent transition as a Nurse Practitioner to work in Palliative Care and her engagement with COVID-19 in that role.  Ms. McManus discusses how she's been bringing her full self into the work she does, stuttering included. She shares how we can continue to take measures to stay healthy, considerate and safe during the pandemic. Roisin McManus has been involved in stuttering self-help and advocacy for awhile now. She has volunteered with StutterTalk, the National Stuttering Association, FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, and was co-founder of the NYC Stutters Conference. She currently serves on the board of directors of FREINDS. Roisin is a nurse practitioner who specializes in ICU and end of life care. She is now working as a Palliative Care Nurse Prac

Patrick Campbell joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss Stammering Pride and Prejudice, a book that explores stuttering from the social model of disability. Patrick explains why this book was written and how it can help us change the way we approach stuttering. Patrick reflects on his chapter “People With Stigma: A reflection on stigma against stammering in society and the stammerer” in which he covers topics such as shame, stigma, hidden disability and loneliness, and the ultimate antidote to them: Stammering pride.  Patrick Campbell is a stammerer and doctor living in Cambridge, England. Through his personal experience, he has developed an interest in how public and self-stigma intertwine to produce disability for people who stammer and how this debilitating process can be altered through seeing positive value in stammering. Patrick has recently enjoyed editing the book Stammering Pride and Prejudice. During lock-down, he has got back into jogging. Links: Purchase the book USA Purchase the book UK  Patricks's bl

Dr. Kia Noelle Johnson Dr. Kia Noelle Johnson and Dr. Darren Johnson join Chaya Goldstein to share their experience of what it's like to be a black person in America today. Together they discuss the impact of overt and covert racism, microaggressions, and digging deep on self reflection to start making internal changes. Darren and Kia share what we can do as individuals and a community to show up in support of our black friends, and be part of the change. Dr. Darren Johnson Dr. Darren Johnson is a person who stutters and has been an active member of the New York City stuttering community since 2015. Outside of his involvement in the community, he is a cancer researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and enjoys exploring the city in his free-time. Dr. Kia Kia Noelle Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Houston and an ASHA board certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologist

Dane Isaacs joins Chris Constantino to discuss Isaac's recently published paper ‘I Don’t Have Time For This’: Stuttering and the Politics of University Time. Issacs and Constantino discuss stuttering from a disability rights perspective.  Dane Isaacs is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University. He holds a Masters degree in psychology from the University of Cape Town. His doctoral work explores discourses of masculinities amongst young adult men in Western Cape who stutter. His research interests include psychoanalytic perspectives on disability inequality and psychological experience of disability discrimination and impairment, specifically in the context of people who stutter. In addition, he is interested in poststructuralist theories of gender, the social construction of masculinities particularly within the South African context, and the perpetration of intimate partner violence against women.

Chris Constantino joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss Stammering Pride and Prejudice, a book that explores stuttering from the social model of disability. Chris shares his insights on the social model of disability and how it applies to stuttering. Dr. Constantino discusses his chapter in the book “Stutter Naked” and how stuttering has fostered intimacy and other gains in his life. Christopher Constantino lives in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife, Megan, and son, Augustine. He is a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at Florida State University. He teaches classes on counseling and stuttering and researches how the subjective experience of stuttering interacts with culture and society. He recently co-edited the book, Stammering Pride and Prejudice. Chris enjoys riding his bike and eating chocolate chip cookies.

Cody Packer Cody Packer joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss First Day, a short film being used as a Public Service Announcement to raise awareness about stuttering during National Stuttering Awareness Week. https://youtu.be/ZaXVte823Rs Cody Mathieson Packer is a proud person who stutters from New Zealand. He started making films in his parents backyard at the age of 13, which was the time he discovered the magic of filmmaking and storytelling. Since then he studied film directing at the New Zealand Broadcasting School and Columbia College Chicago. He now lives in Los Angeles, California where he works as a commercial and film director full time. Cody is a passionate advocate involved in the National Stuttering Association Stuttering Association for the Stuttering Association for the Young communities. He released this PSA to celebrate the communities he holds close to heart, and to spread awareness about stuttering during National Stuttering Awareness Week. Links: Cody's Website Cody's Facebook Cody's Instagram