Episode #281: This episode is recorded live from where my stuttering comes from!



My grandfather and his sisters stuttered so I like to refer to my father’s hometown in Molise, Italy as “where my stutter comes from” or “my stutter’s origin story”.



In this episode, I travel to my parent’s hometowns (only 2km apart) in Italy and share with you:




* How this was the first time in 21 long years that I have returned but this time, I didn’t hide my stuttering… and benefitted from doing so as per usual.



* A ridiculous avoidance tactic I used during a visit in the 1990s.



* My observations of a cousin’s daughter who awesomely owned her wheelchair like a boss.



* A little but of info about my parents’ home towns and a few travel stories.



* Why I highly recommend the Molise region as a travel destination.



* A funny incident I had with a member of the Swiss Guard in Rome while looking for the gym where Pope Leo XVI worked out when he was a cardinal.



* My tip for avoiding the long, long lineup to see St. Peter’s Basilica.



* A few more of my travel tips in Rome.




I also mention a livestream I did on Instagram showing you my father’s home town; part one where I climb up a mountain and part two where I climb down and show you the town.



Please note: I originally recorded this episode while walking around the countryside in my father’s home town in Molise and later while walking in Rome. However, to my disappointment, upon my return home to Canada, I discovered a lot of wind noise showed up in my recording and drowned out my voice. I tried various ways to reduce it, even resorting to using over-promising and under-delivering AI tools, but nothing worked. So I re-recorded it only to still find wind noise making its way into this episode! At least it’s minimal.



This episode is brought to you the Franky Banky shop. Fun resources for people who stutter and speech therapists. Details at frankybanky.com.



All episodes of the Stuttering is Cool podcast are released under creative commons license Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0 for more information.



I am not affiliated with any of the links shared except for FrankyBanky.com.

Episode #280: “I grew frustrated with others defining the experience for me.”



I speak with, Irmo Stijnberg, the filmmaker behind Unspoken Truth, a powerful short film that shines a light on the lived experience of stuttering in a world obsessed with fluency and speed.









Unspoken Truth follows Timothy, a talented graphic designer who stutters and whose passion and skill are overshadowed by misunderstandings and a devastating false accusation. As Timothy struggles to defend himself in an HR meeting, we see the deeper reality of stuttering and the mental energy it takes to speak, the frustration of not being heard, and the heartbreak of being misjudged.



The film also gives us rare access into Timothy’s thoughts as he stutters. This film isn’t just about stuttering. It’s also about injustice and resilience.









And speaking of injustice, the film was also immediately disqualified from the European Film Festival Integration You and Me claiming stuttering isn’t a disability despite the fact that the festival is a European event that receives funding by the EU which recognizes stuttering as a disability and prohibits discrimination under its laws.



We also dive into Irmo’s own experiences with stuttering and talk about what inspired the film and our thoughts about the abrupt disqualification.



Read more about Unspoken Truth at censtudios.com.

Episode #279: Your stutter as a sidekick. In this episode, I share the story behind my new book, Draw Your Stutter, which grew out of a mind-blowing experience in 2024. It all started when I tested a new idea for a cartooning workshop. After refining it through a few virtual sessions, I finally led it in person at STAMMAFest in front of a packed room—where the impact was life-changing for both me and the participants.



Draw Your Stutter is a guide to creating a cartoon character based on your stutter, inspired by these workshops. You’ll also hear from a few participants who share their powerful, real-life transformations.



Since launching, I’ve already sold 20 copies within the first two days — five of them even before the official release!



Now, you can experience it for yourself. Order your copy of Draw Your Stutter today! And once you’ve drawn your stutter cartoon character, consider sharing it online with the hashtag #DrawYourStutter or #DrawYourStammer. I can’t wait to see your creation!



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Draw Your Stutter book



* The Stuttering is Cool Shop



* Episode #275 recorded at STAMMAfest



* Sign up for the Franky Banky Newsletter

Episode #277: Two stutterers walk into a podcast… I chat with stand-up comedian Aidan Greene about his upcoming film, Stutterbug, the first film since 1937 to feature a stuttering actor playing a stuttering character.

Stutterbug follows a man with a stutter, played by Aidan, who goes to extreme lengths to hide his speech, leading to a series of hilarious misadventures…at his expense. All Aidan wants is a cup of coffee, but his efforts to conceal his stutter cause him to accidentally curse out a charity worker, sabotage his chances with his college crush, Jess, by insulting her stuttering brother Sean, and—perhaps worst of all—end up with a mocha instead of an americano.

The film is currently crowdfunding, and you can help bring it to life!

Aidan and I also dive into his stuttering journey, how he got into comedy, and his experiences performing at major Irish comedy festivals. A regular headliner in clubs across Ireland, Aidan's shows has played to sold-out crowds and he supported some of Ireland’s top comedians.

Aidan's jokes are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Be sure to check out his comedy on his website and socials!

Photo credit: Lisa Hollingsworth


Episode 276: Stuttering is more complicated than just choosing fluency or acceptance.



The current way the acceptance movement is being presented is “it’s ok to stutter… as long as you’re only embracing it”, however, this is not saying it’s ok to stutter in general – which is what the acceptance movement was initially about. Because it is ok to stutter and not want to be prideful about it.



Meanwhile, the fluency camp continues to present fluency as either the only option or as a cure (misinformation much?) and not as a choice or a way to cope, but as a way out. Unfortunately, this preys on vulnerable people trying to seek freedom from their stutter (scam cures much?).



Presenting fluency or embracing your stuttering as the only way just isn’t helping anyone who asks you for help or advice. Whether you’re a speech-language pathologist, or fellow stutterer on social media.



Join me as I chat about this topic with Nicole Kulmaczewski, CCC-SLP, at the recent Canadian Stuttering Conference, a bilingual joint conference organized by the Canadian Stuttering Association and Association bégaiement communication in Montréal, Québec, Canada from November 8 to 10, 2024.



I also participated in the talent show which took place during the Saturday night banquet. I read and described one of my Franky Banky comics in both English and French!



Links mentioned in this episode:




* Franky Banky SLP Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers



* The Stuttering is Cool Shop



* Association bégaiement communication



* Canadian Stuttering Association




Correction notice: Nicole meant to say “prominent stutter” instead of “profound stutter” at around the 16:30 mark.



Static sound effect from Pixabay.

Photo taken with permission of the group







Episode #275: My first time attending STAMAMFest and going to the UK! Join me as I chat with new and old friends at my very first STAMMFest which took place in Nottingham from August 15 to 18.



It was also the first time I gave a new version of my cartooning workshop where attendees draw cartoon characters of their stutter, I mean, stammer, as they say in the U.K. (hey that rhymed). To my surprise, the room was packed! And even better, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the activity.



On this episode, a few of those who attended share their experiences from drawing cartoon characters of their own stuttering. And for the most part, I’m blown away by what they all drew!



I then take you along with me for a bit of a soundseeing tour in London as I try to make my way from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square — and lose my way a few times — as I reflect on STAMMAFest while stumbling upon various statues and landmarks.




* (0:00) Introduction and I describe the latest Franky Banky comic strip, Love At First Flight.



* (6:59) Marc tells me about the recent ERASMUS+ Youth Exchange in The Netherlands, co-founding Stamily, and his Stammafest highlights.



* (13:35) Volunteer and co-organizer, Anne-Marie, talks about how running the kids sports session for Family Day and what makes her come back to Stammafest.



* (16:20) Sophie shares the cartoon character she created based on her stammer.



* (18:27) A multi-disciplinary artist shares how she combines science and art to teach people about language and communication. She also shares the cartoon character she drew of her stutter.



* (22:25) Fellow first timer and previous Stuttering is Cool guest, Cynthia, being nervous while giving her session and Tam returns to STAMMAFest after a short sabbatical.



* (28:06) Bill shares how he enjoys trying new activities to explore his speech such as art and poetry. He also shares how drawing his stutter as a cartoon character made him stop and think.



* (31:53) Amanda shares her Dr. Seuss-esque cartoon and accompanying rhyming description that turned into a poem. She also talks about the benefits of creative activity at stuttering conferences.



* (36:22) I’m in London. My opinion on why STAMMAFest did a great job at including both fluency and acceptance camps.



* (45:36) My cartooning workshop and the surprising large amount of people who attended! Around 50 people attended. My largest turnout ever!



* (48:56) I realize I haven’t introduced myself to new listeners.



* (51:25) The diverse cartoon characters people who attended my session created based on their stuttering



* (1:00:33) Outro




Links mentioned on today’s episode:




* STAMMAFest



* Stamma



* Stamily



* FrankyBanky.com



* Canadian Stuttering Association and l’Association bégaiement communication joint conference Connecting Voices/Connecter les voix from November 8 to 10, 2024.




P.S. You know those iconic red phone booths all over the U.K.? Well,

Episode #274: Ever wish there was a manual for stuttering? There is one now! Stuttering is Beautiful is a free online manual for young people who stutter created by people who stutter (PWS) from all over Europe, in particular Italy, Estonia, The Netherlands, Iceland, and Finland, and professionals working with PWS. The manual provides evidence-based information about stuttering and explores the many ways to manage it with a neutral point of view from speech therapy to acceptance and exploring stigma, self-advocacy, and the medical and social models of disability.



There is also a free Stuttering is Beautiful manual for people who work with youth who stutter, such as social workers, teachers, and parents (and adult educators, too!). This manual offers youth workers who want to learn more about working with and provide support to young people who stutter.



While there are already many handbooks on youth work, this may very well be the first time a handbook specifically covered the topic of stuttering.



On this episode, I cross time zones and continents (well, virtually) and chat with the creators of these manuals, a collaboration between stuttering associations across Europe.



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Manual for Young People Who Stutter



* Manual for Youth Workers



* The above two manuals available in many languages



* Stamily



* Just Stutter



* Franky Banky



* Málbjörg (Icelandic Stuttering Association)



* Finlands Stammarförening (Association of the Finnish Stutterers)



* Eesti Kogelejate Ühing (The Estonian Association of People Who Stutter)



* Associazione Italiana Balbuzie e Comunicazione APS (Italian Stuttering Association)



* Demosthenes (Dutch Stuttering Association)

Episode #273: Ski-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop! You know that song! And I’m sure it’s now playing in your head and no doubt putting a smile to your face.



On this episode, I chat with Gina Waggot, personal friend of Scatman John, also known as John Paul Larkin, who shot to fame in the mid-1990s with huge hits – and much welcomed earworms for me – such as Scatman, Everybody Jam!, and Scatman’s World.



Scatman also stuttered and talked about it in his debut single, Scatman. This touched fellow PWS, Gina Wag, who was in high school school at the time and dealing with her speech difference. One day, Gina gave contacting Scatman a try and to her surprise, the busy international superstar did! Gina is currently writing on Scatman’s official biography.



Listen as Gina shares a bit about Scatman’s life, the resurgence of interest in his music, and her friendship with this man who set out to create uplifting music for everyone.



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Scatman John website



* Scatman John official Instagram account



* Scatman John YouTube channel



* Scatman John’s Facebook page



* Listen to Scatman John on Spotify



* Who’s The Scatman? German graphic novel by Jeff Chi

Episode #272: Stuttering is one of the most important things you can do – because fluency is a trap.



A friend recently shared with me that she believes acceptance must come first in order to get rid of the fear of stuttering. Only after that can you work on your speech, if you want to. Or work on your self-esteem caused by a lifetime of society’s stigma towards your speech. Or work on your social skills, public speaking, etc. I share my friend’s perspective. Working on eliminating your fear of stuttering first means you will no longer be afraid stuttering and evolve any way you want or just be who you are.



There is no one way. Just… my way that works for me.



In other words, fluency is a trap because it will make you avoid speaking so you can avoid stuttering. You’re going to switch words, avoid talking, and create one avoidance behaviour after another. Thus, one of the first steps you need to take is to be willing to stutter. That is the advice given on this episode by my guest, Larry Stein, author of the book, Free To Speak, which chronicles his stuttering memoirs.



All it takes is one small step out of your comfort zone every time. You cannot become a bodybuilder if you don’t lift a weight. And when you start lifting weights, you don’t start lifting 700 pounds from day one. You have to build it up slowly from a weight you can handle even if it’s 1 pound.



As I’ve said numerous times on my show, “no victory too small!” and “you can still be an effective communicator regardless of stuttering”. And don’t compare yourself to anybody else no matter how fluent they are.



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Stein on Stuttering



* The Fluency Trap (part 1) – Stuttering is Cool epsiode #271



* 2023 International Stuttering Awareness Day online conference. The theme this year was One Size Does NOT Fit All.

Episode #271: Being told how to speak just won’t go away will it? I chat with Danra Kazenski, a speech-language pathologist… or is that speech therapist? Well, she helps clients who stutter to manage their stuttering and communicate the way they want to.



We start our conversation about narrative therapy and how Danra uses comics in her speech therapy practice then she interviews me about my stuttering journey and Franky Banky’s origin story. This inevitably leads us to the neverending fluency vs. acceptance debate that seems to have become really explosive lately along with the term “speech-language pathologist”.



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Vermont Stuttering Therapy – the Normalize Stuttering Shop!



* Curiosity Filled The Cat – the Franky Banky comic book you help draw!



* Stuttering is Cool shop – Franky Banky books and stuttering awareness pins on Etsy



* Franky Banky books on Amazon



* Franky Branky SLP Guides on Teachers Pay Teachers



* ASHA Conference from a PWS perspective: the education gap – Stuttering is Cool podcast episode #270

Episode #270: I attended my first American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Conference! Join me as I chat with a few friends I met at the incredibly gigantic ASHA Conference 2023 which took place in the beautiful city of Boston.



I helped out at the withVR booth run by owner and friend, Gareth Walkom, who also happens to be a previous guest on my podcast, attended an NSA Boston Chapter meet up, then the first Stamily meet up in North America, and I ate lots of lobster and clam chowder.



Though I had a lot of fun seeing the booths, the incredible technology in the field, and meeting new friends, I also share two stories of experiencing first-hand the education gap when it comes to stuttering treatment that I’ve always heard about.



Links mentioned on this episode:




* TranscendingX



* Details about Stuttering Therapy: A Conversation on What We Do and Why We Do It one-hour seminar presented by Christopher Constantino and Sara MacIntyre

Episode #269: Choose your own speaking adventure! Join me at the Canadian Stuttering Association Annual Conference which took place in Ottawa this year. I chat with old and new friends about a variety of topics including trying new things outside of your comfort zone, forming a stuttering community across rural areas, my cartooning workshops, and more.But first, some grocery shopping!



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Canadian Stuttering Association



* HeyFrankyBanky on Instagram



* Franky Banky and Stuttering is Cool Facebook page

Episode #268: Painting in front of a studio audience… and the entire country! I chat with portrait artist, Paul Aston, who recently participated in Portrait Artist of the Year, a television competition with portrait artists from all around the United Kingdom, as a way to step out of his comfort zone and spread stuttering awareness. Paul then stepped out of his comfort zone again and was interviewed live on the radio.



Join us as we talk about Paul’s art, his Portraits of People Stammering series, his experiences being on TV and radio, and his questions about… my art!



Links mentioned in this episode:




* Paul’s website



* paulastonpainter on Instagram



* Franky Banky Teachers Pay Teachers Shop

Episode #267: Hello, my name is… point to the name tag. That was a scenario someone had recently proposed in a stuttering forum. The poster was worried about stuttering on his name when meeting new colleagues. He pondered the use of a name tag. Responses to his question varied from agreement to enabling avoidance.



As the creator of a podcast named “Stuttering is Cool”, you can accurately guess which side of the argument I sit on 😉



Join me on a walk as I share my thoughts on this tactic along with the consequences of all our decisions, both positive and negative.



Transcript available upon request.

Episode #266: The most adorable reviews ever! Hear from two children, one who stutters and one who doesn’t, and their review of my new book, Tales of Mischief, Mayhem and Mirth. We also hear from their parents. What do the four think of my book? Listen in and find out!

Episode #265: Introducing Franky Banky’s new book, Tales of Mischief, Mayhem and Mirth. And an audio review!



Links mentioned on this episode:




* Details about the new book



* Buy the book on Amazon



* Buy the book on Etsy



* Epic book launch post on Instagram



* STAMMA contest



* Every Friday the 13th is Stuttering is Cool Day comic



* The Great Name Search comic



* Subscribe to the Stuttering is Cool monthly newsletter.

Episode #263: Listen to highlights from the Canadian Stuttering Association two-day conference – first time in person since the pandemic began! Join me as I hike through Niagara Gorge (and almost get lost), run into people as I check into my hotel room, meet some new friends at the Hard Rock Club, and join everyone for a group photo as the falls are lit up in sea foam green for International Stuttering Awareness Day – and we bewilder passersby!



I took this photo during my hike. This reminded me a lot of a famous painting by the Group of Seven.


Niagara Falls by day.


Niagara Falls lit up in stuttering awareness colours by night on October 23, 2022.


Poutine in a fancy glass


Franky Banky poking his head from behind the book table. Look, it’s Nina G beside him signing autographs!


I sculpted a Franky Banky out of Play Dough for the popsicle stick swing set during my workshop for children.


One of the children drew Franky Banky with drip painting!


We were also treated to a performance by fellow PWS, Francy Goudreault, of Hello Kelly during the Saturday night banquet. His song, “The Communication Breakdown” which is an excellent reflection on the stuttering experience.

Episode #262: I chat with comic book artist, Jean-Sébastien Bérubé, about his experience with stuttering openly in the media after drawing two autobiographical comic books that mention his stuttering; Comment je ne suis pas devenu moine (How I Didn’t Become a Monk) and Vers la tempête (Towards The Storm), both published by Futuropolis. The result created a very powerful transformation and a boost of confidence for Jean-Sébastien. A topic I talk about a lot on my podcast.



What I like about these two books is they aren’t exclusively about stuttering, which is usually the case in across the entertainment world such as the movie, The King’s Speech. Being autobiographical, the protagonist in Jean-Sébastien’s books lives a life of ups and downs and with worries and drama like all of us – the protagonist just happens to speak with a stutter. A goal I have with my own Franky Banky comics.



Links mentioned on this episode:



* International Stuttering Association Online Conference* Excerpt of my video chat with Jean-Sébastien* Franky Banky comics* Franky Banky comics in Spanish* Stuttering is Cool shop* Sign up for my newsletter!

Episode #261: I hope you’re having a great start to the new year. I’ve been busy drawing my next Franky Banky book which I will provide a read-along preview on this episode! Then I’m joined by what must have been 400 geese.



This episode is brought to you by the Stuttering is Cool shop and FrankyBanky.com. Let’s connect on Instagram at @heyfrankybanky.

Art by Willemijn Bolks



Episode #260: Snow report. Join me on my walk as I give you an update on what I’ve been up to the past six months including the new Franky Banky book I’ve begun working on, new products in my shop, cartooning workshops I’ve given, being interviewed on CNN, the passing of Lynne Mackie a stuttering shining star, the tight Stamily community, and lots more.



Links mentioned on this episode:



* Remembering Lynne Mackie* Lynne was big on theatre and the arts. A scholarship fund supporting young people who stutter in arts and theatre was set up in Lynne’s honour. Please donate!* Stamily * My interview on CNN Prima



I was also among four people with a variety of differences featured in an art video project by University student and future medical illustrator, Simone Noelle.



Podcast cover artwork by Willemijn Bolks.