Proud Stutter

This week on Proud Stutter, Maya is joined by Ismaele Tortella, a filmmaker and cinematographer based in the Norwegian Arctic whose upcoming documentary Arctic Blue explores his personal relationship with stuttering through nature and silence. In this powerful 100th episode, Ismaele and Maya talk about using art to process shame, navigating everyday challenges as covert stutterers, and how speaking openly about stuttering can light...

Maya, Caitlin, and Elliot recap the thrilling finale of Survivor Season 48, celebrating Mitch's incredible journey and the great representation of the stuttering community. They discuss the season's most memorable moments, strategic plays, and emotional highlights, including Kyle and Camilla's secret alliance, Mitch's social game, and Eva's perseverance. They also reflect on the portrayal of stuttering in the sh...

Andrew Flint is a 16-year old and a person who stutters. Andrew's powerful essay in The Washington Post sparked conversation in his school, family, and beyond. In this episode, he shares what it was like to write and publish such a personal story—and how it’s helped others around him understand stuttering more deeply. We talk about misconceptions, daily challenges, and how good it feels to speak your truth.

You can read Andrew&#...

This episode is Part 2 of our series “What We Can Learn from the Rare Disease Community.” Last week, we heard from Bobby Glen about navigating the healthcare system as a parent of a child with HNRNPH2. Today, his wife Nicole—who is also a pediatrician—joins us to share how raising a child with a rare disease has shaped the way she practices medicine, approaches patient advocacy, and supports families navigating speech and communica...

Bobby Glen shares his family's journey, from getting a diagnosis to participating in a clinical trial, and the importance of early screening and community support.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series about raising a child with HNRNPH2, a rare disease that affects speech and motor skills.

Part 2 will feature his wife, Nicole, who reflects on how this experience has shaped her work as a pediatrician and her views on patient advoc...

Maya, Caitlin, and Elliot are back to discuss stuttering on Survivor Season 48, Episode 8, and the latest twists and turns in the episode. From alliances and drama to strategic plays and surprise advantages, they break down all the key moments you won't want to miss.

In this episode

Register for Proud Stutter's Stuttering Awareness Week event on May 8

Use promo code PROUD25 at checkout for a free ticket.

-----

Big thanks...

Maya is back with Caitlin Dietz and Eliot Goldstein to talk about Episodes 6 and 7 of Survivor Season 48. Highlights include discussions about Mitch, a contestant on the show who stutters, his social game and personal story, as well as strategic plays and alliances forming among the castaways.

In the episode

Save the date for Proud Stutter's Stuttering Awareness Week event happening in San Rafael...

Maya is joined again by friends Caitlin Dietz, her childhood friend, and Eliot Goldstein, friend and person who stutters to talk about stuttering on the current season of Survivor!

Check out our feed for a recap of Episode 3!

Maya interviews Philip, a contestant from Deal or No Deal Island, who shares his experience with stuttering on the reality TV show and how stuttering has impacted his life and career. Philip talks about the audition process, navigating gameplay, and forming relationships with other contestants, including Survivor's Parvati. He also touches on his background as a first-generation American and educator, his transition to becoming...

Elia Powers is a professor, podcast reporter and the author of 'Performing the News, Identity, Authority, and the Myth of Neutrality' exploring how journalists from historically marginalized groups navigate unspoken norms in the industry. Elia shares his personal journey as a journalist who stutters and his research on how the media landscape is changing, particularly through the inclusivity offered by podcasting. The conve...

Gavin Szilvasi is the founder and chairman of the Tia Maria Foundation. He's also a freshman in college at Villanova University. Gavin talks about his early challenges with speech, the impact of bullying, and the mental resilience he developed. The Tia Maria Foundation supports students in Elizabeth, New Jersey and is awarding its first scholarship at the foundation's upcoming gala on February 28, which you can...

Ben Miller is a videographer and person who stutters. Ben spent most of his childhood in speech therapy. His mother is a speech-language pathologist.

Maya met Ben at Sundance at the Proud Stutter event during the Festival. They both saw Ricky, which ended up winning the Jury Grant Prize for Best Director.

How does a stutter impact one's personality? This is just one of the many questions Ben and Maya dissect in a thought provokin...

Cody Dew is a professor, researcher, and person who stutters. Cody's research focuses on how perceived communication skills influence stereotyping of people who stutter in the workplace. How can disclosing your stutter help? What are some strategies to make work environments more inclusive for people with speech differences?

Proud Stutter is going to Sundance! Join our creative team behind our upcoming documentary for a special event on January 25 at 5pm in Park City featuring award-winning filmmaker Reid Davenport (I DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE and LIFE AFTER). Get your free tickets today before they sell out!

In this episode

Dave Rodriguez is an experimental filmmaker who stutters. He made his way into filmmaking through the Miami punk scene and his areas...

Kurt Kessler is a class action attorney who stutters from San Francisco. Kurt is not the only member of his family who stutters. How did that impact him growing up? What's it like going through law school with a stutter? Kurt is currently doing advocacy work with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's nonprofit, which is aimed at improving positive outcomes for people who stutter.

Elisha Boxer Magnifico and David Catlin are both professors at Northwestern University. Together, the developed "Break The Blocks," an improv program developed at the university to help build confidence in young people who stutter. They delve into the program’s conception, its structure, and the profound positive impact it has had on participants, parents, and student leaders.

For anyone interested in signing up for the impr...

Puneet Singh is a disability inclusion advocate with personal experiences of stuttering, dyslexia, and dyspraxia.

Puneet shares his challenges and triumphs, including the creation of his nonprofit and his latest initiative, Green Disability, focusing on the intersection of disability and climate change.

Open Call! Submit an essay for inclusion in “Still Speaking: A Collection of Essays on Navigating Life with A...

In part 2 of our conversation with Raphael, we talk about our shared passion of filmmaking.

Raphael shares his journey in photography, his involvement with PBS Hawaii, and more creative projects.

We’re grateful to Raphael for sharing his story with us.  

-----

Big thanks to Proud Stutter's recurring supporters: Jennifer Bolen, Jerry Slaff, Josh Compton, Pablo Meza, Dustin Wells, Alexandra Mosby, Ingo Helbig, Jonathan Reiss, Paige M...