Posts Tagged ‘National Stuttering Association’
Episode 271 features Paula Campbell-Schwab, who hails from Houston, Texas. Paula is a retired Special Education teacher and spends her time doing lots of fun things, such as yoga, water aerobics, and Tai Chi. At 72 years young, Paula is a force to be reckoned with.
Paula grew up in the Northeast, and lived in nine different states, before moving to Houston. She has been very active in the National Stuttering Association and in 1985, she helped co-found the NSA Houston Chapter. Fast forward to 2024, Paula was inducted into the NSA Hall of Fame. She said she found it so surreal, and tried to concentrate on all the others at the conference while on stage accepting her award.
Paula shared that a friend recorded her acceptance speech and she hasn’t watched it yet. Paula doesn’t like seeing herself stutter on screen, can be highly self-critical, and described years of wanting to be invisible, wanting to blend in, feeling like she didn’t have a voice. She goes on to share that now that she has found her voice, she likes “Authentic Paula” who is more “Real” than the Paula she knew growing up.
Listen in as Paula talks about why she chose teaching, learned ASL, how stuttering runs in her family, and what brings her back every year to the NSA.
Paula was very touched by a book written by mutual friend Hanan Hurwitz titled Stuttering: From Shame and Anxiety to Confident Authenticity. She brought copies of the book and gave one to every member of the Houston Chapter and arranged to have Hanan join a meeting and have an open discussion about the book and its meaning to members.
If you don’t know Paula, make it your business to get to know her. She is a treasure.
You’re Worth It – Episode 270
Posted on: September 13, 2024
Episode 270 features Chyncia Smith, who hails from New Jersey. She works in outdoor retail, and also coaches field hockey and softball.
Chyncia studied accounting in college, and we talk about whether that was an intentional career choice based on perceived communication demands. In her present role, Chyncia shares that she always tries to stay focused on customer goals vs. worrying about self and possible judgment.
We also talk about covert stuttering. Chyncia shares that she carried a lot of weight around in her efforts to “try not to stutter.” A lot of that changed as an adult when she finally found a SLP that told her it was OK to stutter.
Chyncia found the National Stuttering Association (NSA) in 2021 and has benefitted greatly from the sense of community she finally found. I met Chyncia in person at this year’s NSA conference, and I shared that I loved the workshop she facilitated on “How We Listen.”
Chyncia shares an inspiring message that is important for all of us. “I cannot focus on me and give space to you at the same time.”
Episode 269 features Brittney O’Neal who hails from Sacramento, California. Brittney is busy with a wife and almost 3 year old daughter and her career. Brittney is a Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist and is preparing to soon open her own clinic.
In her work, Brittney makes artificial limbs and custom braces. She combines her lifelong passion for building things and helping people.
She stuttered covertly for a long and did not meet another person who stuttered until she was 25 years old. Because she felt alone with her disability, she looked up to those with visible, physical disabilities.
Brittney had plans to enter the Marine Corps and during basic training was told she needed to “fix” herself and she entered into speech therapy for the first time ever. She enrolled into the two-week intensive therapy offered at AIS. She was expecting to learn fluency enhancing strategies and found instead it was all about acceptance. She decided against enrolling in the Marine Corps, as acceptance of stuttering and letting it out opened new doors for her and she couldn’t close that door.
She attended her NSA conference this year. She felt is was so freeing, and she was so happy that she gave herself that time and space.
Listen in to this great conversation and learn how Brittney wants to be a good role model for her daughter.
Find Your Community – Episode 268
Posted on: June 20, 2024
Episode 268 features Amber Kennedy, who hails from South Lake Tahoe, California, by way of Australia. Amber came to the USA by way of working on private yachts. She and her husband own and manage 10 restaurants around the lake.
We talk about how Amber manages stuttering in a communication heavy industry. She talks about advertising, advocacy and self-disclosure. Amber also shares that one needs to be prepared to have a conversation about stuttering when you self-disclose.
Amber attended her first NSA conference in 2022 and found it to be life changing. She found language and tools she needed to make it easier to talk about stuttering. She also talks about the great experience she has had being a co-leader of the Sacramento, CA chapter with Mike Molino, who Amber shares took her under his wing and helped her acclimate to this part of her stuttering journey.
We also talk about shame, acceptance and the crucial importance of finding community.
Never Say Never – Episode 267
Posted on: May 21, 2024
Episode 267 features Lexi Hewitt who hails from Exton, Pennsylvania. Lexi just graduated with a Masters degree in school counseling and is looking forward to working with elementary school students one day.
She is active with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) as a family chapter leader and was a former intern and mentor. Lexi shares that both she and her brother stutter but she was more emotionally affected than he was. They both attended speech therapy as kids.
She looked up information about stuttering in 2019 and learned about the NSA and wound up attending her first conference with her mom and even did a workshop for kids, as a first timer.
As a school counselor, Lexi wants to create a safe space for ALL kids to share anything. Her final words: “Don’t be afraid to face challenges. Make room for all of the feelings.”
A Full Heart – Episode 265
Posted on: March 25, 2024
Episode 265 Features Stacey Dedering, who hails from San Jose, California. Stacey is the proud mom to 17 year old twins and works as a HR Generalist in the education industry. She also volunteers with her local Food Bank, takes leadership roles and will soon celebrate 4 years of volunteerism.
Listen in to a wonderful conversation where we discuss how Stacey has come to love doing presentations after many years of shying away from that. We also talk about whether we consider stuttering to be a disability, accommodations that can be made for stuttering, covert stuttering and the stigma that is still associated with stuttering.
We also talked about the safety created in the monthly “NSA Women Connect” which has become a sacred space exclusively for women who stutter.
Stacey is hoping to attend her first National Stuttering Association conference this summer, and we have already vowed to give each other big bear hugs.
Talk More – Episode 264
Posted on: February 1, 2024
Episode 264 features Elizabeth Edwards, who hails from Baltimore, Maryland. Elizabeth works in Public Health as an Adult Immunization Coordinator.
Elizabeth shares that she attended an Older Adults workshop at the annual NSA conference in 2022 and found that she really wanted to develop and sustain intergenerational relationships. She is now part of the NSA Older Adults committee, as the youth liaison.
Listen in as we discuss “mending the generation gap,” the importance of meaningful connections and stuttering in her own family. Elizabeth’s brother stutters but the two never talked about it until college. She is hopeful that 2024 is the year that her brother will attend a NSA conference.
Life Is A Cabaret – Episode 263
Posted on: November 16, 2023
Episode 263 features Michelle Polinsky, who hails from New York, NY. Michelle works as an ENT surgery coordinator, where she works with a lot of anxious parents. This job sort of fell into her lap, and has actually helped with her speech, as it’s helped her deal with her fear of phone calls.
Michelle studied theater in college, and before the pandemic, started taking cabaret classes. She took a class again after the pandemic and was encouraged to do a show of her own. She has now performed it twice. She couldn’t find a song that represented stuttering, so she wrote one herself. She has been encouraged to submit it for the Cabaret Awards.
Michelle is involved in the stuttering community, as a long time member of the Manhattan chapter of the National Stuttering Association and as a former member of Our Time Theater (now known as SAY.) In fact, Michelle was one of the original pre-teen members of Our Time, and attended a couple of NSA conferences where they performed at the NSA Opening Ceremonies.
Michelle shares that stuttering isn’t the worst thing in the world and that she has a relationship with stuttering that includes community and friends she loves. She treasures her time with “her people” a couple of days a year at the conferences.
And I treasured this conversation. Dear listeners, please take a moment to watch and listen to Michelle’s wonderful original song, in her YouTube video.
Take That Leap – Episode 262
Posted on: October 23, 2023
Episode 262 features Devin, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Devin is a nanny/house manager for a family with two kids, ages 11 and 12. She has worked in the child care field for about 12 years.
Devin attended her first National Stuttering Association conference this past summer, after learning about it from a SLP who stutters that she had seen for two years over Zoom. She had not met other people in person who stutter until attending the conference. She’s been covert most of her life.
Listen in as we discuss the power of disclosure, ownership and increased confidence. Devin also shares that she didn’t know how much she needed friends who stutter until she met so many people that stutter. She also talked about the experience of speaking at an open mic, and the impact of the women who stutter workshop. She felt buoyed by the “female energy” and thinks there should be a women’s workshop once each day during the conference.
Thank you for such a wonderful conversation, Devin!
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.
I’m Finally Home – Episode 260
Posted on: August 14, 2023
Episode 260 features Sara Ayala, who hails from Houston, Texas. Sara is a Montessori teacher working with infants and toddlers. She is a member of the Houston Chapter of the NSA and recently attended her first National Stuttering Association conference.
Listen in as we discuss how freeing it felt for Sara to meet so many other people who stutter and how she immediately felt “she was home.” We also talked about how everything happens for a reason and unfolds the way it should.
Sara shares that for so long she had been operating from a state of fear and had been in hiding. She now feels she can own it, and even sees stuttering as an art form. Since returning from the conference, Sara has been socializing more than she ever has and has been trying to “reprogram her mind,” that she is young and it is OK for her to go out, socialize and have fun.
Sara says: “We live life based on what others think or say. If we can ignore that and just focus on living life, you’ll fall more in love with yourself.”
Stutter With Me – Episode 259
Posted on: August 1, 2023
Episode 259 features Haley Totherow, who hails from Benicia, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Haley has always had a passion for writing, thinking she could express herself better on paper. However, the stress of job interviews caused her to put her writing dreams on hold and she found herself pursuing other opportunities.
Haley currently works as a production baker, a career jump that prompts her to acknowledge the importance of rolling with the punches.
Listen in as we talk about how an NSA workshop on job interviews really helped her to see stuttering’s strengths. We also talk about small talk, increasing confidence and exploring new parts of her personality.
Haley has an Instagram account, @StutterWithMe, which she hopes to create more content and work on educating others about stuttering. She also has a blog of the same name, which shows off her writing skills.
Thank you Haley for such an inspiring conversation.
Known And Understood – Episode 258
Posted on: July 19, 2023
Episode 258 features Marissa Druzchetta, who hails from Houston, Texas. Marissa is a social worker and presently works as a Director of a Meals-on-Wheels program. She supervises around 10 staff and 100 volunteers, so she describes her work environment as very fast paced and not always conducive to disclosure.
Marissa is also very involved in the stuttering community and the NSA, currently serving as Chapter Leader for the NSA Houston Adult chapter. This chapter is the second longest established chapter and several of the early founders and leaders of the group are still actively engaged.
Listen in as we discuss the importance of finding community, the importance of self care and showing up and being there for others. Marissa also shares a great piece of advice for any of us to take to heart. Say this out loud a few times: “Don’t let the Perfect be the enemy of the Good.” We are good enough!
On Becoming More Introverted
Posted on: July 13, 2023
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I recently returned from another life changing NSA conference. This experience was especially poignant for me as I had not planned to go due to all of the challenges I am up against. I describe myself these days as being “medically and financially precarious.” My community helped me get there and I am grateful.
I always learn so much about myself when I am with my tribe and can take in all of the warmth and richness of the stuttering community. This year I learned that I am definitely becoming more introverted than ever. I’ve always leaned towards being an introvert, due to both being a stutterer and living a relatively isolated life for so long.
I love being with my stuttering community, but I found this year that I needed more alone time and that I was anxious in common areas with big crowds. I don’t recall this being as acute as it seemed to be this year. Several times, I found myself at a table full of friends over dinner with no desire to say anything.
I recall a friend sitting across from me asking more than once if I was OK and what was I thinking about. He tried to draw me into conversation. I think I sent off signals that I wasn’t having it! I guess it may have appeared I was lost in thought or daydreaming. I think it was actually being acutely aware of how uncomfortable I felt, and not understanding why.
Like I said, I love being with my community and giving as much of myself as I can. But I found I needed lots of “breaks.” Alone time, non-talking time, thinking and reflecting time. I went to my room early on several nights and then criticized myself for doing that.
Maybe it’s a product of aging. Maybe it’s a product of stuttering. Maybe it’s just a preference for quiet. In a couple of places, the music was so loud, people were shouting to be heard. I don’t enjoy that anymore. I actually don’t know if I ever did.
Has anyone else discovered a new desire for more alone time? Does it get in the way of doing all that you want to do?
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