Around The Block

Gemma and Matty reflect on 2021, chatting about how it was for them, as well as some of the year's stammering highlights, including Joe Biden becoming President and STAMMA's campaigns. They look ahead to what's coming next year, such as the STAMMAFest in August. Listen to the end as they pay tribute to one of the charity's longest-standing members, Roy Tranckle, who passed away last month. Read more about Roy at stamma.org/roytranckle

Become a STAMMA member for free to get all the latest news, features and events, at stamma.org/join 

Seasons greetings from Around the Block!

In part 2 of our special with Scroobius Pip, the actor, rapper and podcaster goes back to his childhood and explains how his parents instilled in him a belief that stammering wouldn't hold him back. He still has down days with his speech though, and talks about his mental health and how he deals with it.

Hosts Gemma & Matty ask about the big name guests he's had on his podcast, and Pip tells us how his stammer can make people feel at ease.

Check out and subscribe to Scroobius Pip's podcast Distraction Pieces to listen to his back catalogue, with guests including Louis Theroux, Mary J Blige, Romesh Ranganathan and many more!

Around The Block is a podcast from STAMMA, the British Stammering Association. Visit stamma.org to become a member (for free) and to get support using our webchat.

Gemma & Matty chat to the awesome Scroobius Pip for part 1 of a  2-part special edition to celebrate International Stammering Awareness Day (22nd October).

Scroobius Pip is an actor, rapper, STAMMA patron and host of Distraction Pieces, the podcast where he's interviewed tons of big names like Louis Theroux, Jimmy Carr, Fearne Cotton, Nish Kumar and Jess Thom aka Tourettes Hero. He chats about his TV and film career, and how his stammer has shaped and affected it. Pip also gives his views on how stammering is represented in the media, coinciding with STAMMA's campaign 'No Diversity Without Disfluency' (find out more and sign the petition).

Warning: There are a couple of swears. Part 2 coming soon.

STAMMA, the British Stammering Association, is the national UK charity for people who stammer and their supporters. Go to stamma.org to find out more, become a member (for free) and start a webchat or helpline call.

In the final episode of season 1, Gemma & Matty chat about how stammering has impacted their relationships. 

Realising they both have a very different approach to talking about it with family, friends and partners, they discuss why. And what about socialising, parties, meeting new friends and the effects of alcohol?

Thank you for listening and we'll back for season 2 later in the year. We promise we'll get better mics for next time. In the meantime, tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. If you're at school, see our website for information on coping with stammering at school. If you're a teacher, see our resources for creating a stammering-friendly classroom.

Become a STAMMA member for free. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline.

Gemma & Matty look back on their school days and the times when they had to  introduce themselves on the first day of term or read aloud in class - things which can be really scary for children who stammer.

They chat about the good and bad experiences they had from teachers, and the things they wish could have been done better.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains mention of sexual assault, which might be triggering for some listeners. It is mentioned briefly and not at length.

In a special segment at 25:46, Abed Ahmed, a teacher who stammers gives tips for other teachers for making things easier for the child who stammers, and gives advice for children who stammer themselves. Abed is a maths teacher and former STAMMA Trustee, and he runs an online support group for 5-16-year-olds who stammer.  You can follow Abed on Twitter using @stammer_teacher.

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. If you're at school, see our website for information on coping with stammering at school. If you're a teacher, see our resources for creating a stammering-friendly classroom. Become a STAMMA member for free. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline.

Tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

This week, Gemma & Matty chat with guest Lynne Mackie all about the Netflix series Bridgerton. The hit show features the main character Simon, who is seen to stammer as a child. Gemma, Matty & Lynne discuss how stammering (or stuttering)  is represented and ask if it's a helpful portrayal.

They also talk about how stammering is depicted more widely in TV and film, such as in The Umbrella Academy and A Fish Called Wanda. They also tell each other how they'd like to see stammering portrayed in the future.

Lynne Mackie is a YouTuber, writer and STAMMA Trustee. Read her article about Bridgerton for our website and check out her YouTube video. Follow Lynne on social media using @StammerOn.

Tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. Become a member for free. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline.

In episode 3, Gemma & Matty chat about their stammering stories of the week, then Gemma talks about her brand new job at the BBC which starts tomorrow.

Meeting her new team over video call is something she's anxious about, so they share their stories and talk about using Zoom in general. Has it made them both stammer more or less? How do they cope with having to see themselves mid-block? Plus, they explore the benefits of video calls for people who stammer and share useful tips.

Tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline. Become a member for free. 

Gemma & Matty catch up after a year to talk about how the covid-19 lockdown affected them - how it changed their job situations, and the impact it had on their stammers, their mental health and their sense of connectivity.

Tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline. Become a member for free. 

Welcome to the very first episode of Around The Block, a podcast all about stammering, or stuttering, from STAMMA, the British Stammering Association.

Hosts Gemma and Matty chat about life, jobs and relationships as people who stammer.  In episode 1 we meet Gemma and Matty, and listen as they find out more about each other. They chat about growing up with a stammer, their jobs and how stammering affects them at work - Gemma in TV and Matty as the co-owner of a street food start-up.

This episode was recorded in February 2020 before the pandemic hit. In episode 2 we find out how they coped with stammering in lockdown.

Tell us what you think. Fill out our Podcast Season 1 Feedback Form. You can also use the form to submit a short audio/video recording telling us what resonated with you. You need a google account to upload a recording - if you don't have a google account, email it to [email protected]

STAMMA is the UK national charity for people who stammer. Visit stamma.org for information & support. Start a webchat or call our helpline. Become a member for free.