It’s A New Life – Episode 106
Posted on: July 14, 2013
Episode 106 features Amey Herrin, who hails from McDonough, Georgia, where she lives with her husband and young daughter.
Amey has a BS degree in psychology and did graduate work in UTEP (Urban Teaching Education Program). She plans to finish her degree in counseling and become a psychologist when her daughter is older.
Amey has been actively involved in stuttering advocacy and education for many years, speaking to schools, universities and SLP groups. She takes great pride in representing the stuttering community and helping people.
Listen in as we discuss Amey’s experiences with intensive speech therapy, covert to overt stuttering, and confident stuttering. We also talk about fear and pride.
According to Amey, “we can choose what kind of stutterer we’re going to be.”
This was a great, robust conversation. Feel free to leave comments or just let Amey know what a great job she did.
The podcast safe music used in this episode is credited to ccMixter.
8 Responses to "It’s A New Life – Episode 106"
July 18, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Dear Amey and Pam,
I have sincerely appreciated your conversation, especially when Amey mentioned that her stuttering was something she is proud of (Did I get this right? Do I remember correctly?). That leads me to a question, to both of you: What is the contribution of your respective maturity, life experiences, and better knowledge of yourself, in coming to terms with stuttering, so that what used to be a shameful thing transforms into something you are proud of?
July 20, 2013 at 5:59 PM
Jean-Francois,
For me, I think its been a combination of getting older, losing the self-consciousness and the realization that my openness can be inspiring to other people, that has helped me to be proud of who I am and where I am on my journey.
I did find stuttering to be terribly shameful, so much so that I was covert for a long time – and took great pains to hide my stuttering, and thus miss out on important things in life and opportunities in general. Coming to terms with my stuttering, and making room for it in my life, has helped me shake the need for approval and acceptance from others. That’s what I’m most proud of – that my acceptance comes from within, and when I can stutter openly and confidently, that shows self-acceptance and that’s important to show the world. So yeah, I’m proud of that!
Jean-Francois,
This reply is so late, please forgive me! You did hear me correctly. I am proud of my stuttering. Maybe not the actual repetitions and block but the way I handle and carry myself while doing it. I feel proud to represent and show people what stuttering really is. It’s just interruption in speech. I like standing eye to eye with someone , who has a misconception about people who stutter, and begin to chip away at their faulty thinking. I am proud of the struggle I have overcome and continue to overcome. I have seen, as most PWS, the worst, inhumane behavior that society has to offer and i am in a place where I can put it behind me.
I always fought for the underdog even as a small child who stuttered. I felt a strength and passion but didnt have anyone to show me how to be a PWS. No one to show me what a strong stutterer looked like. It wasn’t until the age of 26 that the inner strength I felt was matched with the “how’s” of stuttering. With the life experiences I had at that point, the inner drive, and role model to show me how, that’s when the acceptance fell in place. Not only acceptance but pride. Losing eye contact, avoiding situations, being quiet was no longer an option because I became intune to my stuttering self and i found power in that.I would no longer be silenced. No more apologizing.
January 16, 2014 at 5:32 AM
A very good website for people who stutter http://www.fluentyou.in
July 20, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Amey, I just loved listening to you. You are so happy and positive and I love it! I also love how you laugh about it. This was a great podcast. You are very inspiring. I was wondering throughout the whole thing how you would feel if your daughter stuttered too and I was glad that Pam asked that question.Now I know the answer. I think this is my favorite podcast. You and Pam did a great job. I really enjoyed listening to what you had to say and to hear you laugh a lot. I think laughing about our stutter is a good thing and I do it too sometimes. I wish I were as open as you with my stuttering. I still cringe a bit just saying that word lol. You were just wonderful!
July 13, 2014 at 8:04 PM
Amy…you are a truly amazing and inspirational human being. I would like to know how you do it. I am in the same position as you with two kids. I would really like to get in touch with you, hopefully through FaceTime to get some hope as I was fluent up until now. Please help!
Make Room For The Stuttering 
July 15, 2013 at 5:06 PM
Great interview Amy, you was amazing, a truly inspiring journey you are on and look at how far you have come. Well done and keep up the great work at helping other stutterers. x