My Stuttering Life

Today's featured guest is Will Hocker. Along with being a life-long person who stutters, Will is a speech therapist practicing in the school setting. Before that, Will worked as a camera operator, writer, line-cook, and sous chef but always knew that he would eventually become a speech therapist. Will has a history of covert stuttering and is on a life-long mission to be more open and willing to stutter and wants to help others find the strength to own and embrace their stuttering as well. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife and daughter where in his spare time he likes to cook, bake, and play the drums. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Will for sharing his story with me today. LINK: Contact Email: haws.hocker@gmail.com Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com

Today's episode is very close to my heart. In honor of our son, Ethan, I've put together a tribute filled with laughter, love, and memories that capture the amazing person he was. Ethan was just 20 years old when he was taken from us far too soon by a drunk driver. He was a bright light in our life—a passionate gamer, talented basketball player, swimmer, vintage truck enthusiast, and a person whose laugh could fill a room. To everyone who recorded a message for this special episode, thank you. Your voices, your memories, and your love have helped create a beautiful celebration of Ethan's life, and I am deeply grateful. This episode is filled with the joy and warmth he brought into all our lives. Join me in remembering Ethan and in celebrating his incredible spirit. May his laughter echo forever in our hearts. Contributors: Connar Debra Sheri Zach Carolyn Zita Christian Aracely Andre Kevon Diana Margie Roni Marcus #RememberingEthan #CelebrationOfLife #PodcastTribute #ForeverInOurHearts There will also a YouTube version both audio only and video with photos of Ethan published tomorrow, 11/14/2024. Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Website: https://mystutteringlife.com

Today's featured guest is Mark Jones. Mark Jones was a talented and ferocious dual-code rugby player who was tormented by a debilitating stammer. During a professional career that spanned 22 years he was capped 15 times for Wales, 11 times for Wales RL and once by Great Britain RL. One of the acknowledged 'bad-boys' of the sport, he was sent off six times and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct. His on-field brutality was a direct consequence of the off-field frustration and self-loathing caused by his stammer. Mark now acknowledges that he was internalizing an explosive hate that only playing rugby could release. Mark received counselling and constructive help rather than condemnation for his unacceptable behavior and along with a program of speech therapy provided by his friends and mentors, all this has helped him turn his life around. "I have learnt to control my stammer and have stopped my stammer controlling me. Anyone who has suffered from a stammer will know of the humiliation and low self-esteem it creates. Thankfully, I have now found a way to live my life free from its grip and I hope that my honesty and insight will help others experiencing the same torment." I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Mark for sharing his story with me today. LINKS Email: Mark Jones c/o - belfaststammer@gmail.com Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Speak-Rugby-Rage-Redemption/dp/1904609015 Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com

Today's featured guest is Kenny M'Pindou. Kenny shares his personal journey of overcoming obstacles and pursuing his dreams despite facing challenges. Originally from DR Congo but born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, he developed a speech impediment at a young age. He can't remember when he first noticed a difference in his speech or when it started to affect him, but to this day, he still stutters. As he always told himself, he is a work in progress. While his speech may never be fluent, he hopes to one day be able to control it. As a bobsled athlete with aspirations of competing at the 2026 Olympic Games, he found inspiration and guidance from his coach, Neville Wright, a three-time Olympian. At the same time, he hopes to be an inspiration to those with speech impediments, encouraging them to continue to defy the odds and show that we, too, are capable of many great things despite what waves life may throw at us. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Kenny for sharing his story with me today. CLICK ON LINKS: LinkedIn Squarespace Instagram Email: kenny.mpindou@gmail.com Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com

Today's featured guest is Jia Bin. Jia Bin, M.A., is a doctoral student at Michigan State University. Jia earned her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature at Chongqing Normal University in China, master's degree in Secondary Education at Oakland University, and master's degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University. Jia has been a language teacher (English & Mandarin Chinese) who has taught in China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Jia's own journey of being a person who stutters, and an inter-cultural communicator motivates her to pursue a doctorate in CSD to help the people who stutter and bring people from various cultural backgrounds together. Jia is currently a research assistant at Spartan Stuttering Lab. Jia is also a content creator and leader for the Chinese-speaking stuttering community and is active in the global stuttering community. I truly believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Jia for sharing her story with me today. CLICK ON LINKS: Email: binjia@msu.edu Article: Building Voice AI That Works for Everyone Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com

In today's episode, we're delighted to welcome back a returning guest, Tom Lovett. Tom is the author of the insightful book, "Words Unspoken: The Science, Experience, and Treatment of Stuttering." In this fascinating discussion, Tom opens up about his journey in writing this book, offering a blend of scientific exploration and personal experiences related to stuttering. Join us as we delve into the complexities of stuttering, the emotional impact it can have, and the various treatment approaches available. Tom's unique perspective sheds light on a topic often shrouded in misunderstanding, offering valuable insights for both those affected by stuttering and those seeking to understand it better. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of stuttering and the power of words left unspoken. LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomlovettpod Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Words-Unspoken-Experience-Treatment-Stuttering-ebook/dp/B0C2FCRN1Q Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/AlsoTomLovett Email: hi@tomlovett.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomlovettpodcast/ Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com I use SquadCast for all my remote interviews. If you are interested in SquadCast, check out my affiliate link: https://squadcast.fm/?ref=pedropena If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com This interview originally was recorded 10/2023

Today's featured guest is Kelly Garcia-Ramos (pronouns They/Them). Kelly is a rising fourth year student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Neuroscience and Chinese. Kelly has stuttered ever since they could remember, and going through having a stutter has been one of their most difficult challenges up until recently. They started a support group at UPenn called Speech Fluency @ Penn (though this will be changed to Stuttering Advocacy @ Penn) to raise awareness about this special kind of neurodiversity for students. They have recently been featured on Penn Today, a school-wide publication, for their advocacy and have plans to expand their advocacy into their research and daily life. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Kelly for sharing their story with me today. LINKS Email: kellygar@sas.upenn.edu LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com I use SquadCast for all my remote interviews. If you are interested in SquadCast, check out my affiliate link: https://squadcast.fm/?ref=pedropena If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com For Correspondence/Bookings: Pedro Peña, PO Box 1585, La Porte, Texas USA 77572

Today's featured guest is Josef Rodriguez. Josef is a writer and filmmaker currently living in New York City. He works as a Contributing Writer to We Are Mitú, a Latino-centric, online news and entertainment outlet. Over the last decade, Josef has contributed to outlets like Latina, Desde Hollywood, and Geek Exchange. Josef is also a filmmaker, focusing most of his efforts on documentaries. He is in the process of finishing his first documentary feature, which he directed in 2021. As both a filmmaker and a reporter, Josef's favorite aspect of his job is the opportunity to interview people from all walks of life. Because of that, he plans to launch an outlet of his own devoted entirely to interviews later this year. Besides that, he loves his cats, collecting cassette tapes, and riding the Staten Island Ferry. I believe that there is healing in sharing, and I want to thank Josef for sharing his story with me today. LINKS Website: https://wearemitu.com/ Email: josef.henry.rodriguez@gmail.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/josef.mov Documentary: My short documentary, "A Vendor Named Nadir," which played at a handful of festivals and won an award at The Lift-Off Festival in New York: https://vimeo.com/505013283 Thank you to Noah Swiderski (owner and producer of Briton Beats) for your outro music. For more information on Briton Beats, click this link: https://www.britonmedia.com/editing Thank you to Epidemic Sound for the intro music. https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Thank you to Mike Russell for that voice over outro. https://musicradiocreative.com I use SquadCast for all my remote interviews. If you are interested in SquadCast, check out my affiliate link: https://squadcast.fm/?ref=pedropena If you would like to support this podcast, then I would love a cup of coffee: buymeacoff.ee/mslpodcast Website: https://mystutteringlife.com For Correspondence/Bookings: Pedro Peña, PO Box 1585, La Porte, Texas USA 77572