About this episode

Maya Chupkov interviews comedian Joze Piranian about his experiences with stuttering and how it has influenced his life and career.

In this episode of Proud Stutter, Maya talks with Joze Piranian, a comedian, speaker, and author, about growing up with a stutter and how early experiences shaped his relationship with speaking. Joze reflects on patterns of avoidance, the role of silence, and what it took to begin shifting how he showed up in the world. He shares how humor became part of that process, along with speech therapy and intentionally stepping into uncomfortable situations. The conversation explores the connection between stuttering and mental health, including anxiety and depression, and how internal and external pressures can influence both. Joze also talks about how his experiences have shaped his work and daily life, and what it has meant to build a career that brings him into constant interaction with others. Links & Resources Joze's website Joze's book - STOP HOLDING BACK ----- Big thanks to Proud Stutter's recurring supporters: Jennifer Bolen, Jerry Slaff, Josh Compton, Pablo Meza, Alexandra Mosby, Ingo Helbig, Jonathan Reiss, Jason Smith, Paige McGill, Wayne Engebretson, Swathy Manavalan, and Martha Horrocks. If you can become a monthly donor at $10 or more, we’ll give you access to ad-free…

People in this episode

Host: Maya Chupkov

Guest: Joze Piranian

Topics covered

• stuttering
• comedy
• mental health
• speech therapy
• personal growth

Keywords

• stuttering
• comedy
• mental health
• speech therapy
• anxiety
• depression
• personal growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Proud Stutter, Independent Arts & Media

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• From Delhi to Data and Back to the Stutter That Shaped Him · December 26, 2025 · 33 min
• From The Vault: The Psychology Behind Our Responses To Stuttering · November 7, 2025 · 27 min
• This Playwright Who Stutters Found His Voice on the Page, and the Stage · October 17, 2025 · 40 min

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