Episode 261 features Mandy Rodstrum, who hails from Columbus, Ohio. Mandy is a wife, mother, and school based Speech Language Pathologist. She has worked as a SLP for 19 years.

Mandy originally thought she was going to be a music teacher. She considers music “her first language.” After taking an elective course in speech and hearing science, she realized she was meant to be a SLP.

Listen in as Mandy talks about the “distant relationship” she had with her stutter. As a SLP, she had been taught “fluency enhancing” therapy only, which solidified her own covert stuttering. She eventually realized she wanted to become more of a counselor rather than a “fixer.”

I met Mandy at her first National Stuttering Association conference this summer, which was a life changing experience for her. She also went to the Friends conference, both helping her see that she was enough and worthy, and that it was exciting to experience new calmness, confidence and curiosity.

Mandy shares that she has always been “Amanda” professionally, because she didn’t stutter when introducing herself as “Amanda.” She has said goodbye to “Amanda,” thanked her for her service and has welcomed “Mandy,” who is ready to be, and stay, in the drivers seat.