#118 Redefining Stuttering and Embracing Verbal Diversity with Nina and Lee Reeves

What if the very thing you’ve spent your life trying to fix… isn’t broken?

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Nina and Lee Reeves—two passionate professionals reshaping the way we think about stuttering. Nina is a nationally recognized speech-language therapist specializing in children and adolescents who stutter. Lee, a retired veterinarian and lifelong stutterer, offers powerful insights from his personal journey—sharing the challenges he’s faced and how he found purpose through both his career and advocacy work.

 

Together, they unpack the neuroscience behind stuttering, debunk harmful myths, and reveal why stuttering isn’t a flaw to fix—but a neurological difference to understand. Their insights challenge outdated thinking and emphasize the power of resilience, individualized support, and embracing communication in all its forms.

 

This conversation offers a liberating reminder: your value isn’t defined by how smoothly you speak, but by how fully you show up.

 

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The neurological truth behind stuttering—and why it’s not just about slowing down or taking a breath
  
  

• How emotions, anxiety, and societal stigma compound the experience of stuttering
  
  

• Practical ways therapists, families, and individuals can reframe thinking to build resilience
  
  

• Why “fluency is a fallacy,” and how chasing it can hold us back from real progress
  
  

• How faith, identity, and personal values shape the way we communicate and connect

 

Whether you're a therapist, educator, parent, or someone navigating a personal challenge, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what it means to be seen and heard.

📣 Know someone who would benefit from this message? Share this episode and subscribe to Thinking That Matters for more conversations that help us grow—one thought at a time.

 

🔗 Resources mentioned:

• National Stuttering Association
  
  

• Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY)
  
  

• British Stammering Association

More about Nina and Lee:

Nina Reeves, a career-long school-based speech-language pathologist and Dr. Lee Reeves, retired veterinarian and person who stutters are dedicated to decreasing stigma surrounding stuttering, and bringing voices of those who stutter to the forefront. 

Connect with Nina and Lee:

Email: [e-mail], [e-mail]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@StutteringTherapyResources/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stutteringtherapyresour