John Finn is Chief Scientific Officer at Tome Biosciences. John opens about his personal and professional journey as a person who stutters, including how it shaped his career in science, approach to public speaking, and interactions with his colleagues. He also talks about the science behind how genetics and stuttering connect. Episode breakdown 00:00 “Rock of Hope” Sneak Preview  02:47 John Finn's Journey: From Stuttering to Scientific Breakthroughs 12:24 The Challenges and Triumphs of...

John Stossel, renowned TV personality and reporter, shares the challenges he faced in his broadcast journalism career and what led him to seek help with his fluency. 03:09 John Stossel's Broadcast Journalism Career Journey & Facing His Stutter 06:07 His Time At Hollins Communication Reconstruction Center 09:47 Stuttering in Pop Culture 12:48 John's Reflections and Advice Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/proud-stutter/exclusive-content

Swathi grew up in India speaking multiple languages. She talks with Maya about how her stuttering influenced interactions, often prompting language shifts. Transitioning into her career as a software engineer, Swathi finds solace in a supportive workplace environment, sharing her experiences through writing to advocate for inclusivity. In this episode Swathy's blog post Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/proud-stutter/exclusive-content

Jayne Amelia Larson is an actor, voiceover artist, bestselling author and podcaster. Jayne shares with Maya her journey of covert stuttering and her struggle with being open about her stutter over the course of her career. They also talk about Jayne's family dynamics, acting in Judging Amy, and her difficult experience with recording the audio version of her bestselling book, 'Driving the Saudis.' Episode breakdown 00:50 Jayne's Journey with Stuttering and Covert Stuttering 02:12 The...

This episode is Part 2 of Proud Stutter's official launch party and reading in Los Angeles to celebrate its comic book, MY STUTTER: LIFE OF VERBAL TURBULENCE. Episode breakdown06:05 The Power of Stuttering Communities 08:16 Discussion on the Creation of the Comic Book 08:51 Visual Representation in Stuttering 10:25 Making the Comic Book 13:26 Stuttering and Personal Growth 16:04 The Role of Speech Therapy in Stuttering 19:12 The Concept of Speech Diversity 27:47 The Evolution of Personal...

Proud Stutter celebrated the official launch of its comic book, MY STUTTER: LIFE OF VERBAL TURBULENCE, on February 12, 2024. Proud Stutter hit the road and went to Pasadena, California to bring the Los Angeles stuttering community together to talk about the comic book and stuttering stories. We were also joined by some special guest speakers from the Los Angeles stuttering community. Episode breakdown02:32 Event reflections with Julian 12:23 Part 1 of the event with guest speakers from the...

Lorenzo Becerra is a college freshman who stutters. He is studying to be a speech pathologist. When he thinks about his future, he envisions a happy life. But, he didn’t always see his stutter as something to be proud of.  “I put some of my self worth in speaking. And since I couldn't speak that well, my self worth was down.” How do you find self-worth with a stutter?  Episode breakdown02:39 Lorenzo and Maya’s Stuttering Experiences 04:12 The Power Behind Stepping Out of Your Comfort...

Sammar Farooqi is a person who stutters based in Dubai. He’s an executive at SAP where he explains complex technology to people on a daily basis. Sammar shares his experiences with stuttering starting from his childhood, the mocking he faced, and how he used a traumatic event to motivate himself to become a successful communicator in the technology space.  He offers some communication techniques that have helped him navigate the corporate world and how he adapted to a new communication...

David Mayan, aka emcdouble, is a professional recording artist based in Queens, New York. He also stutters.  David shares how he initially used music as a form of therapy to manage his stuttering and how this later formed the basis for his versatile musical style, melding elements of hip hop, Spanish music, and electronic fusions. Episode breakdown 02:56 Stuttering and Music 03:46 Growing Up with Stuttering 08:01 Stuttering and Parenting 09:24 Stuttering and Language Learning 13:09 Music,...

Host of Proud Stutter Maya recaps Proud Stutter’s annual gala with some clips from the evening, featuring special guests Senator Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston. She also looks back on some of Proud Stutter’s biggest moments from 2023 and more! Part 1: Proud Stutter's Gala 01:33 Julian's Speech: The Silence of Stuttering 06:12 Sarah's Story: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Stuttering 10:40 Johnny's Journey: Finding Community and Advocacy 15:12 Zainab's Poetry: Expressing...

Keegan Murphy thought he outgrew his childhood stutter, until a traumatic event triggered its return. Not only does Keegan share his experience with his stuttering popping back up unexpectedly, but he also talks about the challenges and frustrations of stuttering in corporate America and how seeking professional help transformed his view on his stutter and helped get him out of his deep depression. Keegan is now doing stuttering advocacy within his workplace by creating an employee resource...

Isaac Bailey is a stutterer, author, and professor. His book, 'My Brother Moochie', details his family's struggles after his eldest brother was sentenced to life imprisonment. Isaac talks about growing up poor, black, and with a stutter in the South, his traumatic family history, and his realization that being a stutterer is a part of his identity rather than an impediment. He also opens up about how he turned to writing, as it granted him a different way of sharing his voice.  Isaac offers...

Steven Anthopoulos is the director and writer of “Voice Activated,” a short film that has won 11 awards, a Tribeca selected film, and is eligible for an Academy Award. Steven talks about how he got the idea for his film, which revolves around a florist with a stutter interacting with a voice-activated car, and how filmmaking has helped him accept his stutter and face it head on. Watch Voice Activated, Steven's award-winning film Buy Tickets for Proud Stutter's Community Comedy Night ft....

Julian Benabides is Proud Stutter’s special guest, and he just happens to be Maya’s neighbor. Julian talks about his experience stuttering in foreign countries and what it’s been like collaborating on Proud Stutter’s comic book called "My Stutter: Life of Verbal Turbulence." Maya and Julian also talk about their experience door knocking in their neighborhood to spread the word about Proud Stutter’s annual gala. Buy Tickets for Proud Stutter's Community Comedy Night ft. Nina G Where: Peacock...

Steven Tallas might stutter in the human world, but in the dog world, he is completely fluent. Maya speaks with Steven about his journey to becoming a professional dog trainer and how he never let his stutter get in the way of his dreams. Jay Feinstein, the co-host for this episode, is a Senior Podcast Producer for WBUR, Boston's public radio station. Buy Tickets for Proud Stutter's Community Comedy Night ft. Nina G Where: Peacock Lounge/San Francisco When: Thursday, December 7, doors open...

Kai Caragenis is a father of a young girl. In this bonus episode of Proud Stutter, he shares his feelings around being adequate enough to be a father, how the King’s Speech changed his relationship with his stutter, and how breathing techniques helped his speech. Host & Producer: Maya Chupkov Save the date (12/7/2023) for Proud Stutter’s 1st Annual Gala + Community Comedy Event in San Francisco Support Proud Stutter’s Mini Series Crowdfunding Campaign  Support this podcast at —...

Maya is back to answer your questions ranging from TV shows, public speaking tips, navigating her stutter, and more.  Host & Producer: Maya Chupkov Editor: Quinn Greenhaus   Save the date (12/6/2023) for Proud Stutter’s 1st Annual Gala + Community Comedy Event in San Francisco Support Proud Stutter by becoming a recurring donor via Flipcause Vote for Proud Stutter to win a Signal Award for ‘Most Inspirational Podcast’ Listen to Maya talk about Star Wars on Trash Compactor Support this...

Jay Jordan and Jesse Vasquez are back on the pod this week. Jay talks about how his identity as a person who stutters intersects with his criminal record identity. Jesse and Jay both share a passion for de-stigmatizing the narrative surrounding people who are incarcerated and those that have come out of prison. You can listen to Part 1 of this episode here. Host: Maya Chupkov Guest Co-Host: Jesse Vasquez Guest: Jay Jordan Sound Designer: Leo Maymind Support Proud Stutter by making a...

Jay Jordan, a person who stutters, has devoted his life after incarceration to challenging the stigma surrounding criminal records. For the first time ever, Jay opens up publicly about what it was like serving seven-years in prison with a stutter. He talks about a life changing experience that led him to coming to terms with his stutter and his purpose.  Post-incarceration, Jay faced rejection when it came to jobs and getting an apartment. But Jay developed a high level of resilience with...

For this special bonus episode of Proud Stutter, Maya is rebroadcasting an episode from the Beyond Awareness podcast. Host Diana Pastora Carson interviews Maya and they talk about the intersections between inclusive education and supporting people who stutter in and outside the classroom. In this episode: Diana's TedTalk, "Walking with Joaquin," chronicles her family's journey to bring home her brother after living in an institution for 15 years.Proud Stutter's Virtual Art GalleryBeyond...

Blaise Ventura, a 20-year-old person who stutters, joins Maya to talk about blocking, his journey towards self-improvement, dating, and how FOMO can play into anxiety. Blocking is a form of stuttering that is extremely misunderstood and Blaise offers a unique perspective around his acceptance of his stutter that many people, especially young people, may find relatable. He also discusses his participation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to change his thought patterns and reduce anxiety...

Using fashion as a form of self expression is one of the main topics in part 2 of Maya’s interview with Mia and Lila. Mia talks about how stuttering intersects with her multiple identities, such as being Chinese, an adoptee, and a college student. She emphasizes the importance of community support, including her family and friends, in helping her embrace her stutter and advocate for others. Other topics include advocating for disabilities, the power of sharing personal stories, and the power...

Mia Hitterman spent most of her childhood and teenage years hiding her stutter. It wasn’t until college that she discovered pageantry and finally found her community.  In this episode of Proud Stutter, Mia talks about how joining Miss Chinese Chicago helped strengthen her confidence, embrace every part of herself, and come out as a person who stutters. Our guest co-host is Lila Carrillo, a dear friend of Maya’s who told her about Mia after seeing her at a pageant contest in Chinatown in San...

A few months ago, the MLB released a video of 10 Year-Old Mateo Sanchez and professional baseball player George Springer. The special bond between these two was palpable. Also featured was father Jesse Sanchez. The MLB video was inspiration for this interview with both Mateo and father Jesse. Mateo, the show's youngest podcast guest, has been stuttering his entire life. In this special episode of Proud Stutter, Maya interviews Mateo and his father about both of their stuttering journeys -...