Personal Stories

We recently had the opportunity to interview Larry Stein, speaker and author of several books on stuttering and public speaking. Based in the United States, Larry Stein struggled with stuttering for 50 years, compromising his career and suffering debilitating depressions. In an effort to save the business of his dreams, he launched a drive to improve his speech that far exceeded his expectations. Over the next two years, he relearned to speak, retrained his brain and worked through speaking situations that once paralyzed him. Today, he runs his dream business, is a professional speaker and mentors people who stutter on nearly every continent of the world at no charge. Active in the stuttering community worldwide, he writes and posts videos on his blog SteinOnStuttering.com as well as his YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels of the same name. Larry Stein is also on LinkedIn.

Larry Stein’s Journey: from 50 years of stuttering to public speaker

We recently had the opportunity to interview Larry Stein, speaker and author of several books on stuttering and public speaking. Based in the United States, Larry Stein struggled with stuttering for 50 years, compromising his career and suffering debilitating depressions. In an effort to save the business of his dreams, he launched a drive to […]

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Erik Lamens is the co-founder and President of Belgian Stuttering Association since 2011. A filmmaker and a person who stutters, Erik shares his powerful journey from a childhood marked by bullying and isolation to becoming an award-winning filmmaker. His acclaimed film, ‘To Speak,’ has won 17 awards and aired in 15 countries, resonating with audiences worldwide. Watch the interview to hear Erik’s inspiring story and insights. To watch his movie ‘To Speak’, with subtitles in FR/ENG: https://vimeo.com/44418974

Erik Lamens: From Bullying to Filmmaker and President of the Belgian Stuttering Association

Erik Lamens is the co-founder and President of Belgian Stuttering Association since 2011. A filmmaker and a person who stutters, Erik shares his powerful journey from a childhood marked by bullying and isolation to becoming an award-winning filmmaker. His acclaimed film, ‘To Speak,’ has won 17 awards and aired in 15 countries, resonating with audiences […]

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Ali Rishab shares: “My speech impediment creates barriers to advancing in my career”

Today we share the story of Ali Rishab, who is sharing his journey with us below.

Hi Everyone

My name is Ali Rishab from Sri Lanka. I am 48 years old, married and with three kids. Professionally, I am an accountant, currently living in Dubai. I stutter since my childhood.

Childhood and Student Life

During my childhood, I did […]

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Halife Tunç is a 23 year-old university student living in İstanbul but studying in Kayseri. During our interview, he shared his journey growing up with a stutter, how he deals with stuttering at university, acceptance and projects for the stuttering community. In addition to his studies, he works as a Turkish-English translator remotely for a company based in UK.

Halife talks about growing up with a stutter, stuttering at university, acceptance and resilience

Halife Tunç is a 23 year-old university student living in İstanbul but studying in Kayseri. During our interview, he shared his journey growing up with a stutter, how he deals with stuttering at university, acceptance and projects for the stuttering community. In addition to his studies, he works as a Turkish-English translator remotely for a […]

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Sean Bw Parker (MA) is a British writer, artist, musician and academic specialising in cultural theory and justice reform. He has published a number of books and albums, won several awards – including a Koestler Arts platinum for play The Wolfstadt-Wire – and gave a TED talk in 2013. He holds BA and Masters degrees in Fine Art from the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, and lived and worked in Istanbul for ten years until 2014 as a musician and teacher. He has given talks at Istanbul University, Kadir-Has University, University of Bristol, Bristol BIMM, and Brighton Science Festival amongst other venues; and has been published in Time Out Istanbul, Louder Than War, The Epoch Times, TS Eliot Foundation, CIEO, New Thinking, STAMMA and Cosmopolitan. He has appeared at the Brighton Science Festival, on NTV Turkey, Rise TV, and BBC Radio Wales; in documentaries by Richard Vobes and Dogs On The Run films, on Sky Arts and on various podcasts. He has interviewed Ed Harcourt, Kristin Hersh, Julie Burchill, Danny Macnamara, Garry Bushell and Ian Broudie amongst many other musicians and writers, was a music columnist for Turkish magazine the Multicultural Guide, and ran the Seafish music and arts venue on the Sussex coast (in 2016). He has been Editor of False Allegations Watch – a division of the Empower the Innocent organisation, affiliated with the University of Bristol – since 2022, and was born in Exeter in 1975. His latest book can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compelling-Speech-Stammering-Sean-Parker/dp/B0BW2QM7NY/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Sean Parker on his latest book and stuttering: ‘I didn’t want to lose my job, so I changed my name’

Sean Bw Parker (MA) is a British writer, artist, musician and academic specialising in cultural theory and justice reform. He has published a number of books and albums, won several awards – including a Koestler Arts platinum for play The Wolfstadt-Wire – and gave a TED talk in 2013. He holds BA and Masters degrees […]

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Raiani Sibien, founder of Stuttering Society, had a chat with Rutger Wilhelm, author of the book ‘Too Fast for Words’, about how she handled performing on stage and giving interviews as a singer/songwriter while stuttering. She also shared about stuttering at work and the journey of acceptance. Rutger is a person who clutters. If you want to learn more about cluttering, take a look at our interview with Rutger and his book, where he shares his journey with cluttering.

Founder of Stuttering Society talks music career, public speaking, stuttering and acceptance

Raiani Sibien, founder of Stuttering Society, had a chat with Rutger Wilhelm, author of the book ‘Too Fast for Words’, about how she handled performing on stage and giving interviews as a singer/songwriter while stuttering. She also shared about stuttering at work and the journey of acceptance. Rutger is a person who clutters. If you […]

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Rutger Wilhelm is chair-elect of the International Cluttering Association. Also, he is board member of the Dutch stuttering association and has served the board of the International Stuttering Association (ISA) in the past. Rutger has published a book about his experiences with cluttering: Too fast for words. For years Rutger was told by others that he stuttered. The fluency disorder had a disruptive effect on his life. To better cope with this, he attended all kinds of (group) stuttering therapies. Slowly he began to realize that he was “different” from other stuttering speakers. After he was diagnosed with cluttering many things started to fall into place. In this lecture he shares with you his personal voyage of discovery. We will discuss need-to-knows, tips, tools and strategies to better cope with the cluttering; on a mental and emotional level, or in interaction with others.

Author Rutger Wilhelm: how I discovered I clutter and my journey with cluttering

Rutger Wilhelm is chair-elect of the International Cluttering Association. Also, he is board member of the Dutch stuttering association and has served the board of the International Stuttering Association (ISA) in the past. Rutger has published a book about his experiences with cluttering: Too fast for words. For years Rutger was told by others that […]

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James Hayden is an HLA technologist, writer, and a person who stutters from the New Orleans area. James is the author of Dear World, I Stutter: A Series of Open Letters from a Person Who Stutters. His work has been published by The Mighty, The Stuttering Foundation, Stamma, Yahoo, and MSN. James has also appeared on several podcasts, presented at the National Stuttering Association conference, the Australian Speak Easy Association Virtual Conference, numerous universities, and was a speaker at TEDxOchsner 2019. He also serves as the chapter leader for the New Orleans chapter of the National Stuttering Association. Here’s a link to all of his articles: https://linktr.ee/jhayden93

Author James Hayden talks stuttering, hiatus, and acceptance

James Hayden is an HLA technologist, writer, and a person who stutters from the New Orleans area. James is the author of Dear World, I Stutter: A Series of Open Letters from a Person Who Stutters. His work has been published by The Mighty, The Stuttering Foundation, Stamma, Yahoo, and MSN. James has also appeared […]

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Isabel Espinoza is a make-up artist and social media influencer based in Colorado, USA. Isabel started stuttering at the age of 17 and after ups and downs in her stuttering journey, she decided to be a voice and help other people with disfluency. In this interview, she talks about resilience, raising awareness, motherhood and how her daughter changed her perspective on stuttering.

Makeup artist & digital influencer shares how motherhood changed her perspective on stuttering

Isabel Espinoza is a make-up artist and social media influencer based in Colorado, USA. Isabel started stuttering at the age of 17 and after ups and downs in her stuttering journey, she decided to be a voice and help other people with disfluency. In this interview, she talks about resilience, raising awareness, motherhood and how […]

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Malachi Kanfer is the Cantor at Congregation B’nai Jacob in New Haven, Connecticut and he also serves as the Education Director for Yahad, the joint Hebrew School of Congregation B’nai Jacob and Congregation Or Shalom.

Cantor Malachi Kanfer shares his journey as a musician who stutters

Malachi Kanfer is the Cantor at Congregation B’nai Jacob in New Haven, Connecticut and he also serves as the Education Director for Yahad, the joint Hebrew School of Congregation B’nai Jacob and Congregation Or Shalom.

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Karen Dipp shares her journey and talks about stuttering: “Embrace your stutter. People will like you for who you are. Be you!”

Jurjen de Jong is currently the Chair of Stamily as well as an astronomer and data scientist, currently working for the Leiden Observatory. He started this association with fellow friends who stutter in 2018. In the end of 2020, Stamily became officially the association it is today. Stamily is there for and by people who stutter with the aim of connecting people and raising awareness about stuttering through varies activities and by maintaining an online environment, which functions as a safe space for its members.

Interview with Jurjen de Jong, Chair of Stamily

Jurjen de Jong is currently the Chair of Stamily as well as an astronomer and data scientist, currently working for the Leiden Observatory. He started this association with fellow friends who stutter in 2018. In the end of 2020, Stamily became officially the association it is today. Stamily is there for and by people who […]

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Tom Scharstein is a person who stutters and entrepreneur from South Florida, USA. He has maintained a high level of involvement in the stuttering support community for over 25 years. Tom is deeply honored to serve as the chair of the World Stuttering Network (WSN), and says, “This is the MOST exciting time to be a person who stutters! The pandemic has brought the world’s stuttering community together!”

Chair of the World Stuttering Network (WSN) shares his story and perspective on stuttering

Tom Scharstein is a person who stutters and entrepreneur from South Florida, USA. He has maintained a high level of involvement in the stuttering support community for over 25 years. Tom is deeply honored to serve as the chair of the World Stuttering Network (WSN), and says, “This is the MOST exciting time to be […]

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Stephen Greene is a Social Care Worker (Disability Services) from Ireland. He is a person who stutters and is the former Chairman of the Irish Stammering Association and support group facilitator. Stephen is also a musician and is the keyboard player in his band.

Stephen Greene shares his journey of stuttering acceptance, resilience and dealing with disfluency

Stephen Greene is a Social Care Worker (Disability Services) from Ireland. He is a person who stutters and is the former Chairman of the Irish Stammering Association and support group facilitator. Stephen is also a musician and is the keyboard player in his band.

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Bevin Murphy is a blogger and stuttering advocate from Ireland. Here, she shares her personal story dealing with stuttering, and talks about her blog My Stutter and I, and her journey towards self-acceptance. For more information, follow Bevin’s account on Instagram @mystutterandi and check out her blog: https://mystutterandi.blogspot.com

Blogger Bevin Murphy shares her personal story coping with stuttering

Bevin Murphy is a blogger and stuttering advocate from Ireland. Here, she shares her personal story dealing with stuttering, and talks about her blog My Stutter and I, and her journey towards self-acceptance. For more information, follow Bevin’s account on Instagram @mystutterandi and check out her blog: https://mystutterandi.blogspot.com

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Sharon Brady is a speech therapist who stutters. Sharon shares her journey growing up with stuttering, being bullied at school and becoming a speech pathologist specialised in stuttering/stammering.

Sharon Brady talks about being bullied at school and the turning point in her stuttering journey

Sharon Brady is a speech therapist who stutters. Sharon shares her journey growing up with stuttering, being bullied at school and becoming a speech pathologist specialised in stuttering/stammering.

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Courtland Crain, speech language pathology student, shares his personal journey dealing with stuttering. Courtland also spoke about stuttering acceptance, how he uses social media to raise awareness about the topic and sent a key message to other people who stutter. To follow his latest videos and posts on stuttering, subscribe and follow him: YouTube channel @CourtlandCrain / Instagram @stutteringslp

Courtland Crain shares his personal journey dealing with stuttering

Courtland Crain, speech language pathology student, shares his personal journey dealing with stuttering. Courtland also spoke about stuttering acceptance, how he uses social media to raise awareness about the topic and sent a key message to other people who stutter. To follow his latest videos and posts on stuttering, subscribe and follow him: YouTube channel […]

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Mario Salinas talks about resilience, courage and stuttering acceptance. Mario is a public speaker and a community organizer with an incredible life & professional story. Based in Texas, USA, Mario has been a Coordinator for the Pep Mueller Community Center in Aldine and is a former Community Partner for Houston in Action and former Texas Deputy Director for Mi Familia Vota. He serves on the Latino Initiatives Advisory Committee for the Holocaust Museum Houston, Vice President of Latino Giving Houston and was the recipient of a 2018 Comcast Hispanic Hero Award. Mario became a full-time community organizer in early 2014. He also co-founded the Emerging Latino Leaders Fellowship, and is committed to raise awareness about stuttering wherever he goes.

Mario Salinas shares his story: “I had to fight to be accepted”

Mario Salinas talks about resilience, courage and stuttering acceptance. Mario is a public speaker and a community organizer with an incredible life & professional story. Based in Texas, USA, Mario has been a Coordinator for the Pep Mueller Community Center in Aldine and is a former Community Partner for Houston in Action and former Texas […]

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Stephen Greene shares his personal experience dealing with stuttering. He also talks about how accepting stuttering helped him gain more confidence and changed his mindset and the way he feels about it.

Stephen Greene: “my stutter has given me a lot of resilience”

Stephen Greene shares his personal experience dealing with stuttering. He also talks about how accepting stuttering helped him gain more confidence and changed his mindset and the way he feels about it.

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