StutterTalk: Changing how you think about stuttering

Hanan Hurwitz joins Peter Reitzes to discuss the growth and success of stuttering support in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Hurwitz is asked about Israel’s first support group meeting for children who stutter, a current series of online stuttering lectures, and serving in the military while stuttering.  Hanan Hurwitz is an electronics engineer and independent Quality Management consultant, and presently the Executive Director of the Israeli Stuttering Association, AMBI. Hanan is a PWS who started on his Journey of understanding stuttering in 2010, when he attended the National Stuttering Association annual conference. Hear Hanan’s previous StutterTalk appearances here. 

Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. joins Peter Reitzes to discuss the genetics of stuttering and a recent study in which stuttering mutations were engineered into mice that caused stuttering-like vocalization deficits. Dr. Dennis Drayna is Scientist Emeritus at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and a Board Member of the Stuttering Foundation.  Dr. Drayna was asked to discuss how “normal” mice responded to mice with stuttering-like vocalizations, what genetics research suggests about persistency and recovery, how genetics research may impact future treatment research, his future plans, and so much more. 

John Gomez joins Chaya Goldstein to discuss his special reduced rate offer for at-home viewing of his award winning documentary WHEN I STUTTER.Gomez expresses his gratitude to the stuttering community for helping translate his documentary into a number of languages.   John shares how the current health crisis is impacting upcoming film screenings, the languages the film has been translated into, the new child-friendly version of the film, where the characters of the film are now, what he’s working on next, and more. Links: * WHEN I STUTER trailer * When I Stutter reduced cost at home screening

Tiffani Kittilstved joins Reuben Schuff to discuss connecting in the stuttering world.  Ms. Kittilstved reports that 48 chapters of the National Stuttering Association have hosted online meetings with more to come.    Virtual Support Links: * National Stuttering Association (NSA) Chapters * FRIENDS virtual resources * Stuttering Foundation of America: Stuttering and Social Distancing: Adjusting to Communication in Virtual Contexts, April 7, 2020 * StutterSocial Tiffani Kittilstved is a Speech-Language Pathologist, PhD student, and a person who stutters. She lives in Seattle, Washington and is actively involved with the NSA and Friends, leading the NSA Bellevue Adult Chapter, the Seattle Family Chapter, and serving as an RCC for the NSA nationally, and organizing regional Friends conferences annually. Tiffani loves meeting people who stutter and believes that connecting with others who share similar stories and experiences can be not only meaningful but also healing. Reuben Schuff is a person who stutters, aerospace engineer, juggler, traveler and speaker. He lives in Los Angeles and actively participates with the stuttering community, including NSA, FRIENDS, and the StutterTalk Podcast. He believes that communication is intended to be a joyful part of the journey and works to spread this message through workshops, writing and speaking.

Caryn Herring, Joel Korte, and Roisin McManus (the StutterTalk B Team) discuss making good family memories during this challenging time, when acquaintances make psychological assumptions about people who stutter, stuttering around young children, and much more.

Michael Turner, a filmmaker who stutters, joins Christopher Constantino to discuss MONUMENT, a feature-length documentary about Turner’s visit to the Holocaust memorial in Hungary built by his grandmother.  Visit MONUMENT on Kickstarter Michael Turner is a filmmaker and a person who stutters. Turner was awarded the 2015 Oregon Media Arts Fellowship for The Way We Talk, his documentary about his experiences with stuttering. In 2016, Turner appeared on StutterTalk to discuss his work. 

Gerald Maguire, MD Gerald Maguire, MD joins Peter Reitzes to discuss ecopipam, the medical treatment of stuttering, and the National Stuttering Association. One of the points Dr. Maguire shares is that “acceptance of stuttering and acceptance of treatment are not mutually exclusive.” Gerald A Maguire, MD is Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at UC Riverside School of Medicine and Board Chair of the National Stuttering Association. Dr. Maguire is considered by many to be the leading expert in the medical treatment of stuttering. Links: * National Stuttering Association (NSA) * NSA on Facebook * Manhattan Chapter of the NSA * Ecopipam as a pharmacologic treatment of stuttering (pdf) * The Pharmacologic Treatment of Stuttering and Its Neuropharmacologic Basis

Roisin McManus, NP Roisin McManus, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who stutters, joins Chaya Goldstein to provide a first hand perspective from the front lines of COVID-19. Roisin shares ways we can contain the spread, defines flatten the curve, ways we can support healthcare workers and the general public; including education, mental health support, and dropping off medical supplies at local hospitals in need. And finally, Roisin offers advice on what to do if you get sick. As you can imagine, stuttering is not on Roisin’s mind right now. StutterTalk appreciates Roisin McManus, and healthcare workers on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roisin McManus has been involved in stuttering self-help and advocacy for awhile now. She has volunteered with StutterTalk, the NSA, Friends and was co-founder of the NYC Stutters Conference. She currently serves on the board of directors of Friends: The National Association of Young People who Stutter. Roisin is a nurse practitioner who specializes in ICU and end of life care. She is now working on the front lines of the SARS-Cov2 epidemic (otherwise known as COVID-19) providing ICU care in a New York City hospital.

Sam Gennuso Sam Gennuso joins Reuben Schuff to discuss being healthy people who stutter. Sam Gennuso is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and recovery coach, an advocate for difference, and a person who stutters. She specializes in communication evolution and self-care as a radical political statement. She holds masters’ degrees in Clinical Psychology and Communication Studies, which shape her understanding of how people communicate and move through the world. Her background in psychology, the Bhakti yoga tradition, and addiction recovery inform her work as an integrative and holistic therapist. Her work centers around cultivating true self-compassion through healing shame, active recovery from trauma, and uncovering true wishes and dreams by letting our inner voices be as wild as they want to be. Links: * Sam’s website* Sam’s daily meditation on Instagram Live

Sam Gennuso joins Chaya Goldstein to provide a grounding meditation during this chaotic time. Sam Gennuso is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and recovery coach, an advocate for difference, and a person who stutters. She specializes in communication evolution and self-care as a radical political statement. She holds masters’ degrees in Clinical Psychology and Communication Studies, which shape her understanding of how people communicate and move through the world. Her background in psychology, the Bhakti yoga tradition, and addiction recovery inform her work as an integrative and holistic therapist. Her work centers around cultivating true self-compassion through healing shame, active recovery from trauma, and uncovering true wishes and dreams by letting our inner voices be as wild as they want to be.   Links: * Sam’s website * Sam’s daily meditation on Instagram Live

Loryn McGil joins Reuben Schuff to discus social communication and how to keep social and be productive with stuttering in a quarantined world.  Loryn McGill M.S. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in treating people who stutter in her private practice, OC Fluency Center located in Costa Mesa, California.  She is adjunct faculty at Chapman University where she teaches the graduate course in fluency disorders.  She is the co-developer of the Childhood Stuttering Screening for Physicians (CSS-P) and involved with various stuttering self-help organizations.  Reuben Schuff is a person who stutters, aerospace engineer, juggler, traveler and speaker. He lives in Los Angeles and actively participates with the stuttering community, including NSA, FRIENDS, and the StutterTalk Podcast. He believes that communication is intended to be a joyful part of the journey and works to spread this message through workshops, writing and speaking. Links: FRIENDS National Stuttering Association  CAMP SAY LA

Chaya Goldstein joins Peter Reitzes to discuss working with our stuttering during this challenging time. Chaya shares some exciting, virtual (online) resources for support and well being. Chaya Goldstein M.A. CCC-SLP is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist who works at the American Institute for Stuttering (AIS) in New York City. Chaya is also a person who stutters. Peter Reitzes M.A. CCC-SLP is President of StutterTalk, a person who stutters, and a speech-language pathologist in North Carolina. Links from today’s episode: * StutterSocial * National Stuttering Association (NSA) Manhattan Chapter * Samantha Gennuso morning meditation * AIS free online event John Hendrickson * AIS free online event Dr. Karen Dobkins * Yale The Science of Well Being

Bob “the Expert” Quesal joins Peter Reitzes to discuss when a child has multiple challenges in school, but only stuttering is being considered by the IEP team, stuttering in the military, and Vice President Biden’s stuttering. Bob and Peter discuss the column Is Biden’s Stutter Being Mistaken for “Cognitive Decline”? Robert Quesal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a professor emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Illinois University, a person who stutters, a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a former Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders.

Professional actor Marc Winski joins Chaya Goldstein to challenge the ongoing narrative of “overcoming” stuttering. Marc and Chaya discuss the latest Marie Claire article and People magazine article where stuttering is once again described as something to overcome. Chaya and Marc engage in a frank conversation about what needs to change in how we think and talk about stuttering. Marc is a professional actor, singer and dancer in NYC, and a person who stutters.  Some of his credits include National Tours such as Grease and Hairspray. He was also a Mainstage Performer with Disney Cruise Lines. As a member of the stuttering community he is currently striving to give a voice and be an advocate for people who stutter in theatre/film/media/television. He recently appeared on an episode of “What Would You Do?” on ABC where he portrayed a waiter who stutters. Marc is fortunate to have been a member of the stuttering community for over 8 years and helped to start and reignite the new Midtown Manhattan chapter of the NSA. He leads an improv workshop for people who stutter and he hopes to give many more opportunities to show stuttering in the arts. He wants to thank his amazing ‘Stamily’ for all of their constant love, friendship, and support. Link: * NYC Stutters article in Medium – Stuttering: How to “Overcome” the Narrative Contact Marc Winski: * email: mrwinski@gmail.com * Instagram: @marcwinski

Nina G joins Chaya Goldstein in celebration of Nina’s 10 years of comedy. The talk included Nina’s story of how she became a comedian, the road she’s traveled these past 10 years, the importance of a stuttering community, disability as empowerment, moving away from the “overcome stuttering” narrative, taking up space, bringing our full selves into relationships, her vision for 2020, and so much more. Nina G is a comedian, professional speaker and author of Stutterer Interrupted. She has been featured in/on everything from NPR’s 51%, BBC’s Ouch, Psychology Today, Tedx, multiple day time talk shows, Howard (Stern) 100 News, and even the Stuttering John Podcast. Nina shares her wit and wisdom with corporations, colleges, libraries, conferences, and community events. Her no-nonsense approach to disability awareness and acceptance helps to bring institutions, communities, and individuals to deepen their understanding of the disability and bring practical approaches to making a more inclusive society. Nina G Links: * Nina G website * Reframing the Stuttering Iceberg * Stutterer Interrupted book * Once Upon an Accommodation book