The Stuttering Springboard

Meet Greg Beasley, a chiropractor for 31 years and a person who stutters. Greg attended Central Michigan University for his undergraduate studies and Palmer College of Chiropractic for his postgraduate studies. He’s owned and run four successful chiropractic clinics in Michigan and Washington. Within his practice, he makes a point to encourage people of all ages to not let social constructs limit their desires. Greg shares his story of grit and determination and the importance of not letting society tell you who you are and what you can be. Take a listen as Greg and Brian’s energy and passion for shedding the shame and stigma associated with stuttering resonates throughout the podcast. 

Brandon, a lifelong person who stutters, is an American politician serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 25th district. Elected in November 2018, he assumed office on December 1, 2018, succeeding his father, Joseph Markosek.
Brandon has introduced House Bill 2268, which requires insurance companies to provide speech therapy services to children ages 2- 6, a critical time for a young person who stutters.  The bill has passed the House and is now being considered in the Senate.
Take a listen as Brandon shares his journey as a person who stutters, including getting the courage to run for office, and explains the impact of House Bill 2268.  Thanks for what you do Brandon!

Many of us who stutter feel like speech and language pathologists (SLPs) have been poorly equipped to treat people who stutter.  In fact, many of them shy away from it because of the lack of training they received on stuttering therapy, and because of the emotional and psychological components that need to be addressed to make a difference. In this podcast Kim Sabourin shares how she is helping to shape the SLPs of the future by designing classes that address all aspects of stuttering, including trauma informed care.  An SLP must understand where stuttering is in a kids’ life and the emotional toll it has taken on them. This is a very individualized approach.  Kim also explores educating and involving parents in stuttering therapy.  Kim is a Board-Certified Stuttering Specialist.

She is the Founding Program Director of the Master's in Speech Language Pathology program at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, New Jersey, including curriculum development, faculty recruitment and management, and student recruitment.  Prior to St Elizabeth's, Kim spent 17 years as a Speech Language Pathologist and Clinical Instructor at Temple University in Philadelphia. Enjoy the listen.

Brian's Key takeaways from the first 38 episodes

Meet Kevin Rafferty, a wealth advisor and special needs financial planner.

Kevin is dedicated to providing customized wealth management services and holistic financial planning to a diverse group of clients at GVA Wealth Management.  Kevin is also a person who stutters. In this insightful and in-depth podcast, Brian and Kevin dig deep into Kevin’s journey to become a rising young professional and the impact stuttering has had and still has on his life. They also peel back Kevin’s recent best man speech for his brother. A best man speech is daunting enough when you don’t stutter, now imagine doing it with a stutter!  Take a listen as Kevin shares his preparation and mindset for the event.  

Kevin’s message to his former self: speak up when you want to, it may feel safe in the moment not to, but in the long run, you’ll benefit from speaking your mind.

Prior to joining GVA, Kevin was a Financial Planner at a prominent financial advisory firm in Conshohocken, PA, where he specialized in wealth management, retirement income strategies, business succession, and special needs planning.

He received a B.S. in Finance from Temple University. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys golfing, coaching baseball and traveling. Kevin lives with his wife, Kelly, in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Master Sergeant John McDermott is a lifelong stutterer, and currently serves in the United States Air Force. 

John is stationed at McGuire Air Base in New Jersey. With 15 years of active duty military service, multiple deployments, and four years of experience as a maintenance training instructor, he has built a distinguished military career, demonstrating resilience and leadership at every step.
Before his military service, John enjoyed staying involved in the stuttering community. He volunteered with the National Stuttering Association, hosting teen icebreaker workshops that provided a safe space to connect and share common experiences. His dedication to supporting others began even earlier, in his senior year of high school, when he founded a stuttering support group for fellow students.
John’s journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to both his country and the stuttering community. His contributions have made a lasting impact, and he continues to serve as a role model for perseverance and service.   

Stephen Greene has a beautiful stutter. Through avoidance reduction therapy, he has reduced the tension and struggle and given his stutter a green light. He has gone from concealment to proudly identifying as a person who stutters. 

Stephen is a Social Care Worker who is passionate about disability services. He is also the Former Chair of the Irish Stammering Association and currently serves as a Stuttering Peer Support Leader in the ISA.  Stephen is a powerful stuttering advocate that does a lot of awareness and advocacy work on social media, including writing beautiful poems about stuttering. You can follow him on Instagram! @The_Stutterverse

This podcast  with Mark O'Malia ventures deep into the mindset of people who stutter. According to Briqn Nolan, it shook him and moved him up the spectrum of acceptance. Some takeaways to explore: Walk the talk.  Nonone is asking me what it feels like to be a person who stutters.  What happens if it doesn't go away? Get comfortable sitting in discomfort. Engage in your thoughts vs running away from them.  Regarding your stutter: who are you and what are you trying to  tell me? Anything that is human is mentionable.  Anything that is mentionable is manageable!

Mark O’Malia, MS, CCC-SLP is the New York Clinic Director for the American Institute for Stuttering (AIS), working with people who stutter across the lifespan since 2017. In addition to his work with AIS, Mark serves on the Board of Directors of Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, and is an adjunct instructor, teaching graduate level courses in stuttering, cluttering, and other fluency disorders. Being a stutterer himself, Mark is actively involved in the stuttering support community, regularly presenting at national conferences.

Mark first came to AIS as a client in 2013, where he discovered and eventually developed a professional passion in collaborating with clients to find their most authentic voice.