Stuttering is Cool

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 to be prideful about it.

Meanwhile, the fluency camp continues to present fluency as either the only option or as a cure (misinformation much?) and not as a choice or a way to cope, but as a way out. Unfortunately, this preys on vulnerable people trying to seek freedom from their stutter (scam cures much?).

Presenting fluency or embracing your stuttering as the only way just isn’t helping anyone who asks you for help or advice. Whether you’re a speech-language pathologist, or fellow stutterer on social media.

Join me as I chat about this topic with Nicole Kulmaczewski, CCC-SLP, at the recent Canadian Stuttering Conference, a bilingual joint conference organized by the Canadian Stuttering Association and Association bégaiement communication in Montréal, Québec, Canada from November 8 to 10, 2024.

I also participated in the talent show which took place during the Saturday night banquet. I read and described one of my Franky Banky comics in both English and French!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Correction notice: Nicole meant to say “prominent stutter” instead of “profound stutter” at around the 16:30 mark.

Static sound effect from Pixabay.

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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 the U.K. (hey that rhymed). To my surprise, the room was packed! And even better, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the activity.

On this episode, a few of those who attended share their experiences from drawing cartoon characters of their own stuttering. And for the most part, I’m blown away by what they all drew!

I then take you along with me for a bit of a soundseeing tour in London as I try to make my way from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square — and lose my way a few times — as I reflect on STAMMAFest while stumbling upon various statues and landmarks.

Links mentioned on today’s episode:

P.S. You know those iconic red phone booths all over the U.K.? Well, there was one near the STAMMAFest event that was converted into a book exchange. So I left two copies of my books in it!

A post shared by Franky Banky, a stuttering fox (@heyfrankybanky)

Transcription available upon request.

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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 many ways to manage it with a neutral point of view from speech therapy to acceptance and exploring stigma, self-advocacy, and the medical and social models of disability.

There is also a free Stuttering is Beautiful manual for people who work with youth who stutter, such as social workers, teachers, and parents (and adult educators, too!). This manual offers youth workers who want to learn more about working with and provide support to young people who stutter.

While there are already many handbooks on youth work, this may very well be the first time a handbook specifically covered the topic of stuttering.

On this episode, I cross time zones and continents (well, virtually) and chat with the creators of these manuals, a collaboration between stuttering associations across Europe.

Links mentioned on this episode:

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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’s World.

Scatman also stuttered and talked about it in his debut single, Scatman. This touched fellow PWS, Gina Wag, who was in high school school at the time and dealing with her speech difference. One day, Gina gave contacting Scatman a try and to her surprise, the busy international superstar did! Gina is currently writing on Scatman’s official biography.

Listen as Gina shares a bit about Scatman’s life, the resurgence of interest in his music, and her friendship with this man who set out to create uplifting music for everyone.

Links mentioned on this episode:

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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 social skills, public speaking, etc. I share my friend’s perspective. Working on eliminating your fear of stuttering first means you will no longer be afraid stuttering and evolve any way you want or just be who you are.

There is no one way. Just… my way that works for me.

In other words, fluency is a trap because it will make you avoid speaking so you can avoid stuttering. You’re going to switch words, avoid talking, and create one avoidance behaviour after another. Thus, one of the first steps you need to take is to be willing to stutter. That is the advice given on this episode by my guest, Larry Stein, author of the book, Free To Speak, which chronicles his stuttering memoirs.

All it takes is one small step out of your comfort zone every time. You cannot become a bodybuilder if you don’t lift a weight. And when you start lifting weights, you don’t start lifting 700 pounds from day one. You have to build it up slowly from a weight you can handle even if it’s 1 pound.

As I’ve said numerous times on my show, “no victory too small!” and “you can still be an effective communicator regardless of stuttering”. And don’t compare yourself to anybody else no matter how fluent they are.

Links mentioned on this episode:

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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 stuttering journey and Franky Banky’s origin story. This inevitably leads us to the neverending fluency vs. acceptance debate that seems to have become really explosive lately along with the term “speech-language pathologist”.

Links mentioned on this episode:

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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 meet up, then the first Stamily meet up in North America, and I ate lots of lobster and clam chowder.

Though I had a lot of fun seeing the booths, the incredible technology in the field, and meeting new friends, I also share two stories of experiencing first-hand the education gap when it comes to stuttering treatment that I’ve always heard about.

Links mentioned on this episode:

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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 mentioned on this episode:

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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 interviewed live on the radio.

Join us as we talk about Paul’s art, his Portraits of People Stammering series, his experiences being on TV and radio, and his questions about… my art!

Links mentioned in this episode:

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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 accurately guess which side of the argument I sit on

Join me on a walk as I share my thoughts on this tactic along with the consequences of all our decisions, both positive and negative.

Transcript available upon request.

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