The King's Speech and other screen royals with a stutter

September 6

00:00

Stephanie Fornasier

Before we start the show I have HUGE favour to ask you. I promise it’ll take you 2 minutes to do. I’m taking a punt and getting everyone I know to vote for Psychocinematic Podcast in the Listeners choice category of the Australian Podcast Awards. Your vote would mean everything to me. So open your browser right now, go to australianpodcastawards.com, I'll wait. Click on the Listeners Choice Awards - Vote Now Link, search for psychocinematic, (spelled) click on the first option, and submit. Check your email, including your spam because to make your vote count, it’ll ask you to verify it there. You are all sweet gorgeous angels, and I’m just so thankful to have an audience who listens and enjoys this podcast. Love you all to the moon and back. Ok here’s the episode.

Music Break 0:00

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Stephanie Fornasier 0:19

Welcome to Psychocinematic a podcast where we analyse depictions of mental illness and disability in popular films and TV. I'm your host, Stephanie Fornasier. If you love our podcast and want to give us some support, make sure you're following Psychocinematic podcast on Instagram, tiktok and Twitter. And check out our website Psychocinematic podcast.com. For access to special bonus content episodes, Early Access, stickers, and contribute to our regular fundraisers, join our Patreon. Starting from $3.50 a month you can be the coolest Psychocinematic listener there is.

Music Break 0:50

*intro ends*

Stephanie Fornasier 0:55

So, I'd like to start the podcast today by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which I'm recording this podcast on today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay respects to elder's past, present and emerging and recognise that we are I am currently standing sitting on stolen land. And I have my wonderful guest today. Priya from Stutter Conversation podcast. Welcome to Psychocinematic Priya

Priya 1:25

thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited to talk to you and yeah,

Stephanie Fornasier 1:30

fantastic. I'm in enamoured of you because you are in year 12. And you have had the StartUp podcast for some time now. Which is an incredible achievement. And also you you also have an advocacy page called Stutter Conversation as well. So I don't know how you do it all. Because year 12 was full on from my memory. Tell me how you started your page.

Priya 1:55

Yeah. So my name is Priya I'm 17 years old, and I have a stutter. I kind of started this page when I was 50. And I think it was just kind of like an on the whim kind of thing I had just I think I was in like year 10 break. And I was on my sister's bed like just randomly thinking of what to do. And I remember scrolling through Instagram and looking up like stuttering pages. And I never really found a page when there are so many amazing pages out there. But I think at the point that I was in, I kind of was looking for something that kind of spoke to the teenage experience, I guess, and something that I could relate to, in kind of the situation that I was in and where I was at in my soldering journey. And so then I was kind of like, Oh, why? I mean, why don't I just start one then I think that's like something interesting. 

I mean, I love Instagram. So I was like it should be fine. And then yeah, just kind of Yeah, it just kind of happened. And then my sister actually was the one that came up with the name. And then I think from then it's just kind of like taking over and I think I'm I'm still in this state of like, I don't know what's happening. Like it's it's kind of just grown suddenly. And yeah, I think I'm really like grateful that this is all happened. And I've met amazing people. And I think it's also helped me in my stuttering journey as well, which is really cool.

Stephanie Fornasier 3:30

That's wonderful. And that's so it's awesome to see like, where's the gaps are with... Because yeah, like you said, there's lots of advocacy, awareness pages on Instagram. But there's a lot of ones sort of targeting adults or a particular cohort. And it's great having a teenage page that's also run by a teenager as well, because I think that comes across so much more authentically and can be really important for lots of teenagers wanting. Yes, some support. And yeah, it's so fantastic that it's grown so much. It must be a lot of work to maintain going on.

Priya 4:11

It definitely is sometimes but I think for me, it's kind of like a good escape in a way. So I'm getting through all my studying, which is a lot. It's kind of a good break. And I think it's probably taking up a bit more of my time, then I probably shouldn't be studying. But I mean, just okay. So positive. Yeah, exactly. I'm always thinking of how to do more and how to expand it more, and I definitely should be thinking more about my school than anything else. Oh, well.

Stephanie Fornasier 4:42

Oh well. Most teenagers are in that boat. Tell me how the podcast came about as well.

Priya 4:48

Yeah, I think even that one was a bit on the whim. So I had so I had started the page. I think it had been about six months and I was invited on to another stuttering podcast. I asked. And he we Yeah, it was just, it was my first ever podcast. And at first I wasn't quite sure. But I just yeah, we we started talking and after the podcast who was like, you know, there's not a single podcast out there that is run by teenager that talks about soldering from the perspective of a teenager. And again, I was like, oh, that's actually quite interesting. 

And I think at first I was a bit like, oh, I mean, I don't know what I don't know anything about podcasting. I don't know if this is going to be something that's going to go well. And yeah, I think it just kind of again, I was like, you know, like, I'll just, I'll just see what happens and kind of go for it. And then, yeah, again, it just kind of flourished. And I think it's also interesting. I've been able to talk to so many amazing people. And they've also have come and said, like, you know, the page is really great. And I'm always like, I think I always have like impostor syndrome.

Stephanie Fornasier 5:57

yeah I feel you!

Priya 5:57

Where i'm like, I don't know if i'm the right person, to be doing this? Yeah, but I think it's really cool that I, the podcast is a place for people. I mean, a lot of the time a lot of people come and find me and asked me if they want to be on the podcast, which I seem like it. That's really, it's really amazing to see that people are wanting to share their story. I think the podcast is a great place to just give people that voice as well. So I think it's all very on the whim for me.

Stephanie Fornasier 6:26

That's so good. And yeah, I love your podcast. I think for someone so young, I sound really ageist but who's, you know, quite new in this space. And, you know, I'm I didn't know much about podcasting when I started as well. But it sounds so good. You're such a great interviewer. And you really make it a very safe space for people to share.

Priya 6:48

Thank you.

Stephanie Fornasier 6:49

Yeah, their stories and create that awareness. So yeah, it's fantastic. Well done.

Priya 6:55

Thank you so much.

Stephanie Fornasier 6:57

So for today, what would you mind, I guess, to start with telling me a little bit about sort of your history with stuttering and your experience when you were when it started becoming prominent and all of that sort of stuff?

Priya 7:10

Yeah, of course. So I think it was actually my preschool teacher that picked up that I had a stutter. Yes, I would have been, I think four or five. And she was the one that went and told my, my parents that I had a stutter. And then my mom was like, because in my family, I do have, we do have a history of stutter that stuttering that runs in the family. So I think for my mom, it just kind of, I guess, kind of made sense, in a way. And I never like it was never made into a huge thing or anything. But yeah, when we found actually, we went to a stuttering clinic. And I did a year of stuttering, of speech therapy there. And then I stopped for a bit and I think, I think because, you know, when you're in primary school, you're so like, You're so young, you're just trying to get through, you know, meeting new friends, and everything is just so much fun. 

So I never really noticed I had a stutter or never, I don't think it really bothered me. My mom used to say that I used to come home sometimes and ask her or tell her that some people are asking about why I speak like that, or things like that. But I think for me, I just never really noticed. I think I'm oblivious to everything. So I don't think yeah, it never really bothered me. And think I think, yeah, until I got to high school. And then year seven is kind of where it all started again. And yeah, it was 20 I think 2016 When I started speech therapy again, I did that for about four years. I did the whole it was like a whole course or hold program. And then yeah, 2020 was, yeah, we see COVID here, and I think I had like semi relapsed again. But I didn't go back to therapy since then. So yeah, it's been. Yeah, I don't know. I think it's been a really interesting journey, I think. Yeah. But yeah, it's kind of only bothered me, since I started high school. And that's when it all kind of kicked off for me.

Stephanie Fornasier 9:23

Yeah. And high school's a very fraught year with Yeah, trying to fit in and make friends and that yeah, all of those things that come with it. What was what was the therapy process? Like, I guess, what was the goal of the speech therapy and what kind of things did you do?

Priya 9:40

Yeah. So when I was so my first year of speech therapy when I was five, I think at first he she was focusing more on trying to bring down the stuttering severity. And so obviously, when you're so young, it's usually just games and puzzles and all that kind of things. And she was just counting How many stutters I had? And yeah, kind of going like that. Um, and then in when I started back up again, I did the whole programme was called the Lidcombe programme. And that programme, I think was, I mean, I don't know if I'm correct or not. But we focused a bit more again on. Yes, the severity of it. 

So I think when I was when I had started back, I was writing myself to be more of a 6. And then when I finished, I was down to a zero. So it had progressively, I think helped a lot. So yeah, I think it was more, I guess, fluency based in a way but I had switched over a speech therapist, and she was really great. And we talked a lot about how I wanted to, like how I could take the most out of Stuttering Therapy and what I wanted from each session. And yeah, this was during high school. So my main concern was just more about fitting in, I guess. And so we did a lot of it was more just speaking. So I would go in for 45 minutes. And we actually would just talk to me, sometimes we would play games, but she just wanted to give me as many tools as I needed for. Yeah, high school. So we did presentation work, and I would practice Yep, speaking to her and all of that. 

So I think when you get a lot older, the therapy changes from more fluency base to I guess, support and mental health because mental health is a big factor of stuttering. So yeah. Yeah, that's kind of how it was for me. And, yeah, I think I really gained a lot from it. And I think as I got older, I kind of understood stuttering more from my therapist, which was really helpful.

Stephanie Fornasier 11:48

Fantastic. So what like what, from your understanding, like, Why? Why does stuttering occur? What do we know what causes it and you know, some of the processes behind it?

Priya 12:01

So stuttering is one of those things that no one knows the cause for and there's so much research behind it, but it's kind of an unknown thing that happens. There's a lot of research around genetics. So it can it is a hereditary thing. And so I've spoken to some people who Yeah, do have some like sometimes their whole family studies. Sometimes it's a distant relative, like for me, I have a cousin that studies. And that's kind of it for me, I guess, or maybe my grandfather, but yeah, I think it changes from person to person. Sometimes it can just happen. 

My sister is actually a speech therapist. Yeah, very handy. Um, but yeah, so sometimes stuttering can just appear one time. So I know she had a kid that stuttering just appeared when they were like they came back from school, and suddenly he had a stutter. So it's kind of Yeah, it's a very unknown thing. I think for a lot of people. That's probably the hardest factor, I guess, understanding that it can just appear and may never leave. Yeah, so and it could be as a result of like, a traumatic experience or anything like that. But yeah, it's just very, it can just kind of appear, sometimes it can be very annoying.

Stephanie Fornasier 13:17

And if you don't mind sharing, and feel free to share as much as you like, how was the impact on your mental health? Particularly as you know, it went away for a while, and then it came back during high school? Yeah. How did that sort of affect you?

Priya 13:32

Yeah, I think I've, I think mental health is a really important thing for me. And I think that's why I'm so big on mental health on my stuttering page, because a lot of the times that are in can impact, things like anxiety, social anxiety, and all of that. And that's something that I do struggle with is anxiety. And I think that has stemmed from my stutter, and that like feeling of like guilt and shame and embarrassment to stutter in front of people. Yeah, so that's been really big for me. And, yeah, I think as I got older, I kind of didn't really understand what was, I guess, happening, and that did effect a lot of the time. Yeah, my mental health. So yeah, it's been a bit of a bit of a struggle with stuttering. And because of that, yeah, it has stemmed off into a few mental health issues. 

So but I think it's important and I think a lot of teens do struggle with it. And even going to school, a school can be a stressful place for many people who stutter. So I think stuttering just kind of elevates those levels of stress in a way and can make the youth the teenage experience a bit more challenging. Yeah, so I think it's been a struggle, but I think having this page has helped me understand myself as well and then if I ever have needed to ask questions or seek support, then I've been able to do that, which is really cool. So yeah, yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 15:09

What sort of things have helped you in managing your anxiety around stuttering and some of that confidence and things that you mentioned?

Priya 15:19

Yeah. I mean, I still struggle with it. And I think I don't really sometimes that hopefully you don't use it in the best of Yeah, I don't. Yeah, I think sometimes I bottle it in, which is not good. But I find a lot of the time helps is like speaking to people. So family members. Yeah, even journaling, I found to be really useful, just being able to write down all my experiences. But I think probably what's been the biggest thing is trying to channel that stress into something that's a bit more positive. And I think that for me, was the Instagram page. 

So I, because it is such a I think, relatable experience for many other teens who start off there have been able to, we've been able to kind of talk to each other in a way. And I know, a teen actually reached out to me a couple weeks ago. And yeah, we've just been talking about, like, all the sorts of experiences that we have, I think that's been really helpful for me as well to understand that, like, I think I find I mean, stuttering is a very isolating experience, but to be able to talk to other team that's dealing with similar situations has been really, I think, yeah, relaxing in a way. Yeah so thats

Stephanie Fornasier 16:35

Yeah. They're feeling heard and seen.

Priya 16:39

Yeah, exactly. And to know that, like it my feelings aren't aren't invalid, if that makes sense. Yeah, totally.

Stephanie Fornasier 16:46

There's such strength in having that sort of community connection, whether it's online or face to face, it's all of it is so helpful and important.

Priya 16:55

Yeah, it's been a huge a huge thing.

Music Break 16:58

Stephanie Fornasier 17:04

Is it alright, if we talk a little bit about some of the depictions of stuttering in the media that you've seen and good examples? And also some maybe not so good examples?

Priya 17:15

Yeah. So the biggest ones I've seen would be movies and TV shows. And I've also seen a lot on Instagram, actually, I send my sister some of these reels that I find then some of them are really quiet, like terrible. So for example, someone might be like, Oh, how many times do you stutter in a conversation or something, but and if they're to portray that experience, they wouldn't even stutter at all. So the first thing would be like the misunderstanding of what a stutter is, I think a lot of people will be like, Oh, I have a stutter. But I think everyone stumbles on their words, but stumbling and stuttering are two very different things. So that would be Yeah, the first thing. A lot of TV shows I've noticed have portrayed stuttering so I'm in the process of watching Bridgerton right now.

Stephanie Fornasier 18:10

Oh, yes. Yeah I saw on your Instagram.

Priya 18:13

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 18:15

Remind me because it's been a while since I've seen it. Who's the character that stutters on bridgerton?

Priya 18:19

Yeah. So Simon, the, he's the Duke.

Stephanie Fornasier 18:24

Oh yeah of course

Priya 18:24

So when he was child? Yeah. So when he was a child, and I hadn't, I didn't even know I was just watching him. I was like, Oh, hey, he's got a stutter. But, and I think that one's a bit of a more trickier one, because it is set in, like, olden day, I guess,

Stephanie Fornasier 18:43

sort of like a different olden day. Than what we know.

Priya 18:48

Yeah, like an alternate universe.

Stephanie Fornasier 18:50

Yeah there's that layer of fantasy as well. Yep.

Priya 18:53

Yeah exactly. But yeah, so he, he has a stutter. And the way it was portrayed was his father never, because he couldn't speak. And he used to always say 'you can't speak'. He kind of banished him in a way and didn't, because of his stutter, he wasn't fit for the role of the Duke. And that's a very Yeah, common, I think experience that a lot of like that generation saw is that stuttering made you weak. And it also didn't make you suitable for like, battle, I guess, as well. So it was like that whole thing. And I think, like, I think there's a positive and negative to that, to that depiction as well. 

And the first thing would be, it puts stuttering, like it started creating conversations about stuttering, which is like just from the like, it's great, whether it be positive or negative. I think it first put stuttering out. And it's such a huge TV show as well, so that's even better.

Stephanie Fornasier 20:03

yep massive

Priya 20:03

Yeah, exactly. Um, but I think it also showed the like, the shift in how stuttering was seen then and how it's seen now, as well. So that was also really interesting to see as well. yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 20:16

Yeah. And I guess, I think for that sort of time, and probably for lots of time after that period of time, disability in general or being different, and that impacting on your communication, or whatever it might be was very much like not accepted as as a rule. So I guess it's within the context that that's would have been the the outcome of him stuttering.

Priya 20:45

Yeah, exactly. And I think it also was like, like you were saying disability was also like, not really seen. I think it also in a way made them seem that they were damaged, and they weren't able to, like fulfil their duties or their roles, especially for men as well. So yep.

Stephanie Fornasier 21:00

Yeah, for sure. That was all that societal expectation and yeah, value of what you can do.

Priya 21:06

Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 21:09

And does he get treatment in Bridgerton?

Priya 21:13

Yeah, yeah. So and then there was the lady that kind of took her took him under his wing, took him under her wing. And I can't I don't think they ever really spoke about where, where if he got therapy, but I think it just kind of like they never really they only showed it in like flashbacks. And it was more in like the terms of him being like, Not good enough, I think.

Stephanie Fornasier 21:40

Yeah, that makes sense. So that sort of oppression.

Priya 21:43

Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 21:44

Yeah, that's a really good point. And there's a lot of depictions in Bridgerton could be talked about that's.. I'm glad you brought that one up. Because it's one of those things that it's not a huge plot point. But it's it's very much there.

Priya 21:56

Yeah. And it kind of makes up his character in a way and like, yeah, glory as well. So

Stephanie Fornasier 22:01

yep, definitely. And what other TV shows did you have in mind,

Priya 22:05

so the other TV show that I saw was, I don't know if you know, Elite, the Spanish Netflix show?

Stephanie Fornasier 22:12

No. Oh, okay. I think I might have seen something about it. But yeah,

Priya 22:15

yeah, yeah. So there's a character on there that he stutters, and I don't want to spoil anything, but he ends up having like, a not so great ending. But, um, his depiction is one that seen with a lot of people that have the surgery and TV shows, and it made him weak and made him like he was like, this shy kind of character. People didn't really understand him. That kind.. Yeah, it was it was sort of under those lines. And yeah, that's a very known depiction of stuttering. And I think that also affected the way his character, or the way his character, like not ended, but the way his character was built, as well. 

And as the story went on, so yeah, that was another TV show to make sure I remember, like seeing as well. And there were a few other movies. I remember. So. Yeah. Professor Quirrell from Harry Potter is a big one.

Stephanie Fornasier 23:14

Yeah. And that's, I feel like that one is definitely like, he is very week and very meek and doesn't have a lot of power or strength.

Priya 23:24

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 23:25

And it's almost like a character trait to convey that about him.

Priya 23:29

Yeah, exactly. And the fact that he kind of was like, part of Voldemort. So yeah, he was this odd kind of character no one really... Yeah, he was just kind of there in a way and then he ended up becoming like a villain. So yeah, it's, again, a very, like, common depiction of the way stuttering is, and we all know that's not the case.

Stephanie Fornasier 23:49

It hits that sort of stuttering as weak trope but also a villain-who-stutters trope.

Priya 23:54

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's kind of like a double whammy. There's also one more movie that I remember seeing. I don't know if you've seen the movie Little.

Stephanie Fornasier 24:02

Yeah, I don't think I've seen it. But I know what you're talking about. 

Priya 24:06

Yeah. It's actually it's a funny, it's a funny movie, but there's a little it's yet when they go back in time when she's like a little kid. There's a little boy on there that has a stutter. And I can't remember what the joke was, but they I remember they are making some kind of comment about it and just kind of like a backhanded comment towards him and his character. So that was Yeah, another

Stephanie Fornasier 24:29

Sounds like a similar sort of trope as well.

Priya 24:32

Exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 24:33

I was having a think about what I'd seen as well if you don't mind me share. Yeah. I don't know if you've seen Primal Fear

Priya 24:40

No.

Stephanie Fornasier 24:41

Which we covered briefly, you know, dissociative identity disorder episode of the podcast, and spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't seen the film and yourself, Sorry Priya.

Priya 24:54

That's okay.

Stephanie Fornasier 24:54

But it would Norton's character basically pretends that he has dissociative identity disorder in order to get off from a murder charge, and he his the personality that he makes up stutters, which I think he tries to seem innocent by being a stutterer and someone who wouldn't have this mentality to actually murder. And then you know, the the other personalities is the person who murdered him. So he gets that insanity plea. Yeah, so there's a few tropes there, not only that, stuttering equals someone who's weak or meek, but also that intelligence as well, because, you know, he's seen as a lot less savvy, intelligence sort of character. 

And I was reading in preparation for today that there was that mentality that people who stutter have a lower IQ or a lower intelligence level, traditionally, not just in films, but also just that's what society thought at the time, which is absolutely untrue.

Priya 25:55

Yeah, exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 25:57

So the fact that he like puts on the stutter is actually quite to me offensive as well, to people who stutter

Priya 26:03

Yeah, absolutely. And I think the other point that you made as well was, yeah, the IQ and that's also another, like misconception about stuttering is that people with a stutter are not as smart because they can't, I guess, "speak", quotes, in quotation marks. And again, that's something that we know is not true. So yeah, I think that's also Yeah, like you said, a common a common depiction as well as stuttering is makes or equals like being unsmart

Stephanie Fornasier 26:32

Yeah, definitely. I guess it comes with lots of other disabilities that particularly in that involve communication. Often people with autism who were nonverbal were seen as not having a high IQ, which is just absolutely not related at all. So yeah, that's very common. The other movie I just wanted to mention is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which we covered way, way back when we started the podcast, but there's a character there called Billy Bibbit, who has a very tragic ending. I won't spoil I mean, it's not a... he's just one of many characters. But yeah, he's in a psychiatric hospital. He's has a bit of a tragic ending. There's no diagnosis mentioned of him. 

So it's sort of alludes to, is he in the there's some other stuff that we find out about him, but stuttering maybe being part of his psychiatric diagnosis? This sort of equates stuttering with a psychiatric condition, which is again, also completely untrue. So yeah, I just thought that was an interesting depiction. And that was released in the 70s. So that was probably one of the few depictions of stuttering that were in movies at the time. Yeah, and I guess another thing I just reflect on, is stuttering being used in a comedic sense as well. Like I remember in Billy Madison and the kid in Big Daddy who stutters, in Superstar there's a character who stutters, but he just repeats words five times, which is not stuttering.

Priya

Ohh ok.

Stephanie Fornasier

It's a very silly film.

Priya

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier

Have you come across many sort of, you know, in those kind of very silly comedic films, stuttering being used as like, that's a silly character. That's a comic relief sort of character. Um,

Priya 28:19

I don't think so. I... there's a common phrase that gets used in a lot of TV shows and a lot of movies of "Did I stutter?"

Stephanie Fornasier 28:30

Oh, my gosh, yes.

Priya 28:31

And that's like in..

Stephanie Fornasier 28:31

It's in everything.

Priya 28:31

Yep, yep. That's super. Everything. Yeah, the Office. I can't... There's another one that I've seen. Oh, 10 Things I Hate About You. Yeah, so that's another huge, like, really irritating. And like, annoying comment that we get so often. And everyone in the stuttering community will tell you that we hate that statement so much. Because it Yeah, again, it looks like a negative connotation on stuttering. And everyone and when you say it is like, oh, so if you can't say something without stuttering, then what you have to say isn't going to be as powerful or to that kind of effect, which, again, is not true in any type of sense. But yeah, I haven't really seen much that the character who stutters is like a comic, I guess, relief, but that would be an interesting one to keep in mind.

Stephanie Fornasier 29:27

Yeah. And I guess, you know, there's, there's no real need of going to look for it. Because, really, it's an offensive use of stuttering.

Priya 29:35

Yeah, exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 29:37

And yeah, I think a lot of those particularly those kind of 90s comedies, Farrelly brothers comedies, they loved using disability as comedy. So yeah, it's just part of that sort of canon, I guess. Which is not good.

Priya 29:53

That's true. no, yeah. I think it's also been of that generation as well.

Stephanie Fornasier 29:56

Absolutely. Yeah, for sure.

Music Break 30:03

Stephanie Fornasier 30:03

Have you come across any media at all? Where an actor who stutters is actually playing the role? Or do we know of any prolific actors who have shared that they have a struggle?

Priya 30:16

Yeah. So I don't think that I haven't seen any actors that have a stutter that play a character that has a startup, but there are quite a few. Yeah, actors and actresses that do have a stutter. So big one is Emily Blunt. She Yeah, she's come on. She's part of like the big organisation in America. She's like one of the wedding board members. She's a huge advocate for stuttering. Samuel L. Jackson has or had a stutter. Ed Sheeran, he's not an actor, but Ed Sheeran used to have this stutter. Marilyn Monroe, people have said nothing yet she also used to have a stutter. I think someone's had Mr. Bean as well, which was interesting.

Stephanie Fornasier 30:56

Oh, cool, Rowan Atkinson.

Priya 30:58

Yeah, that's the actor's name! Who else Chris Martin from Coldplay, he's a music.. singer. But yeah, he started house have a stutter. Some football players as well, have also said they've had to start off. So there's been quite a few people in the media that have said it. But I think also what we haven't seen is someone, I think a lot of the actors and actresses that do start off have kind of I guess, overcome their stutter, which is, we shouldn't say overcoming stutter. But that's kind of always the I guess, portrayal of it is that they used to have a stutter. And then I guess, you know, so I don't think we've seen anyone that has a stutter that continues to stutter in the media. So that would be really important, I guess, whats the word.. like that.

Stephanie Fornasier 31:53

Representation?

Priya 31:53

To see that? yes, that's a good, representation. To see that, especially for young people now, you know, social media and televisions and television, movies and TVs. TV shows are so big right now. I think for another for kids to grow up to know that stuttering is okay. They need to be able to see someone that accurately portrays them in the media, as well. So I think that's yeah, and that's one that I'm really passionate about as well is to get more accurate representation of stuttering in the media, because it's so important as well. Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 32:29

And I think that's, that's a really good point, because it's really nice to hear that so many actors and actresses, and people in the media have, have stuttered or used to used to stutter. And it's great to have that awareness. But it's kind of comes with a bit of a message that if like, you need to overcome that stutter and not actually overtly stutter in order to make it sort of in the world.

Priya 32:53

Exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 32:54

So to actually see someone in that role, you know, demonstrate that they do still stutter, would be such a powerful message.

Priya 33:03

Exactly. And a message that also doesn't have like, an added message on it, that it's like a terrible thing to have a stutter, or, like, I think the representation needs to be accurate. And it needs to not be a huge, made into like, a huge kind of thing. It just, there's just a character that stutters and that would be so cool to see. Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 33:22

And it's not a storyline they just happen to stutter.

Priya 33:24

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Because that's, that's what we know. That's like what happens in society. So like, why can't that be shown? I guess? Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 33:35

I when I was doing a little bit of research to for today, like I came across, there seems to be like two schools of thought in stuttering foundations, a little bit like lots of disabilities, one being focusing on trying to cure and get rid of the stutter and have full fluency. And the other camp being sort of more just managing and supporting and living with stuttering, and just doing what you'd want getting what you want out of life while having stutter, having a stutter. What are your... Am I correct in that, too, because I've only done a little bit of research. And what is your thoughts about those sort of two camps?

Priya 34:15

Yeah, I mean, that's yeah, it's very true right now. And there's a huge shift in the community right now that's trying to tell people that fluency shouldn't be the main goal of therapy, it shouldn't be the main goal in people's head. So I think right now, people who stutterwe just want to be able to freely starter and not feel feel that we need to be ashamed or embarrassed of our stutter. And I think the main thing that's kind of contributing to that is this need for fluency and the need for everyone to stutter, to be to be at like a zero and to not stutter at all. And yeah, I think we're all kind of trying to change. 

And that's not to say that, you know, speech therapists, their role is, you know, trying to achieve fluency. But I think it's more listening to the experiences of people who stutter and trying to see what we want out of the therapy and what our goal is to to be set where we can feel comfortable. So yeah, there definitely is a huge.. and yeah, it also is a curative thing. I think the other thing is people don't also because there is no cause and there is kind of no cure for stuttering. That's also a big thing. So people always, you know, I think for anything, people wish to find a cure for it. But I think for people who stutter, we know that there isn't, isn't a cure. And I think for a lot of us, it's about feeling comfortable in like ourselves in our communication. 

And yeah, so I think it's, it is a big movement right now shifting everyone's like perspectives and ideas on stuttering and just kind of telling people like telling, and educating and bringing awareness that it's okay to stutter, and it's okay, if you do stutter, but it's also okay to not be fluent as well. I think they like Like, like, there's the whole movement around autism and neurodivergence, because there is a huge shift with that. I think there is also a huge shift in the stuttering community as well. So yeah, it's more just society being, like accepting of everyone's, like uniqueness and not having to achieve like, perfection, I guess, if you want to call it.

Stephanie Fornasier 36:43

Yeah. And that sounds like a much more sustainable way to be and, and also looking at it less of the person who needs to change and fit in with society, but society being more inclusive and accepting of people with all their different needs and quirks and traits. Yeah

Priya 36:58

Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. It's yeah, it's a big move. And I think it does need to happen for everyone to be to feel comfortable, and if and then not to be any sort of negativity around it. Because, you know, it's something that we can't control. And we can't control how the way we speak and we can't control if we do have a stutter So why should we have to I guess, change for everyone else to accept us?

Stephanie Fornasier 37:20

100% Totally.

Music Break 37:27

Stephanie Fornasier 37:27

We might talk about the King's speech, as because it really is one of the bigger probably the big movie, where stuttering is featured. And it was superduper popular, it won Oscars. It was dire.. It was released in 2010. And it was directed by Tom Hooper, who I just found out did Cats, the that remake, which everyone hated, but we'll forgive him. Because, this is a better film.

Priya 37:57

Yeah! Yes.

Stephanie Fornasier 37:58

And it was written by David Siedler, who himself had a stutter as well, or a stammer, because I think he was British. And I think they they call it stammer in England.

Priya 38:09

yes Yes.

Stephanie Fornasier 38:09

You know, it's one of those few films that was actually written it was written as a play and then developed as a movie where the person writing and putting those experiences in, has that lived experience. So that's fantastic. And of course, it was about the Prince Albert, Duke of York, who goes on to become the king, who had a stutter in real life. So yeah, I thought we might have a little bit of a chat about that.

Priya 38:34

Yeah, let's do it.

Stephanie Fornasier 38:36

Great. I'm gonna start with the plot. I won't go too deeply into it because if people don't know the story, they can watch the Crown as well as look it up because there's lots of political and historical things that are going on which we won't focus on for the purposes of today. But essentially 1930s England, Prince Albert is the second son of King George the fifth, and he has a strong stammer or stutter. His search for treatment has been discouraging, but his wife Elizabeth persuades him to see the Australian born Lionel Logue played by Geoffrey Rush, and also... sorry, Colin Firth plays Prince Albert, so Lionel Logue is a non medically trained, they call it here "speech defects therapist". That's from Wikipedia. I did not write those words. 

Bertie, who they call Prince Albert, believes that the first session doesn't go well. But Lionel who insists that all his patients address him as such, has his potential client recite Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy while hearing classical music played on a pair of headphones. Bertie is frustrated at the experiment but Lionel gives him the recording that he has made of the reading as a souvenir. To his surprise he does not stammer during the speech. He agrees to do more therapy with Lionel. They have lots of ups and downs but they end up becoming friends. 

Long story short, King George dies in 1936 and Bertie's brother Edward is to succeed the throne but decides to abdicate in order to marry the divorced Wallis Simpson. So Bertie, who has a lot of self doubt, and has been, you know, not treated as someone who's capable of being king, is very nervous and does not necessarily wish to be king, but he is then succeeded to the throne. As the new king Bertie is in a crisis when he must broadcast to Britain and the Empire following the declaration of war on Nazi Germany in 1939. with Lionel Logue in the room, he delivers the speech in full to Alexandre Desplat's award winning score, featuring Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. It's a good scene. I like that last bit. 

So yeah, that's kind of the plot, and I'll just really skim through lived experience because as we just said, David Siedler, he had a stammer. Interestingly, he believed that his stammer or stutter was caused by the emotional trauma of World War Two, and the murder of his grandparents during the Holocaust. I don't want to invalidate David's experiences, but from what you know Priya in the science, is there a link between generational, intergenerational trauma and and stuttering from what we know?

Priya 41:21

I think, Yeah, I think there is I think, because of all of that, I guess, trauma and the stress and the anxiety of a lot of I guess, yeah. of what happened during those events. I think we do know that there would be a link between stuttering and trauma. I guess, like that response to all of that would affect like the talk about like science now, I guess, like the brains like connections and the communication pathways. I would have to probably look into it a bit more to understand it.

Stephanie Fornasier 41:57

I wouldn't expect you to.

Priya 41:57

But I think from that there is.. yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 42:01

Go research it right now.

Priya 42:03

Yeah. But yeah, there is a link between Yeah, trauma and stuttering. So yeah, I feel like that would make sense to happen. Yeah, it is.

Stephanie Fornasier 42:14

And I guess in terms of lived experience for that, actors, Colin Firth did not have a stutter. But it sounds like he worked with this voice coach, and also with his sister, who's a professional voice coach, and talked about sort of exercises that they would have done with Logue. And apparently, Colin Firth, like he watched the king actually, like archival footage of the King speaking to sort of pick up on that. And apparently, he struggled to then lose the stammer, once they finished filming, which is very interesting.

Priya 42:52

Oh wow.

Stephanie Fornasier 42:52

He found it a good exercise into what it feels like to have a stutter in you just find yourself sort of doing it, he said. So I found that interesting, too. So what did you think of I guess, firstly, the portrayal of, of stuttering in general and how he was treated by his family in that way.

Priya 43:12

So I remember I watched this movie back, I think probably two years ago. And I remember when we watched it, I was one it was I had like this immense sort of like excitement to watch a movie that was about stuttering. And everyone you know, knows of the king that had the, King George that had a stutter. So the first thing would be that it puts stuttering, like I said, on the map, and it started conversations about stuttering. And you know, someone, people were to ask me, or have you seen King George? Or if I say I have a stutter, they'd be like, Oh, then like, you know, like King George in the movie. So it was a really good conversation starter. 

And another thing that I think was really cool about the portrayal is that it did accurately shows the impact that stuttering had, you know, King George, he, he hated public speaking. I mean, he didn't like to do public speaking because he was so ashamed of the way he felt. And when you're in such a position that, you know, the king like it's a massive responsibility and it is a huge position and then something that's very relatable to a lot of people who stutter.

Stephanie Fornasier 44:21

Yeah Totally.

Priya 44:21

So that was, yeah, really positive, inaccurate representation. And yeah, I think given some of the, if I can remember, I think King George's wife, kind of, I think she was supportive of the king. And yeah, I think and again, it was during that time of when stuttering was like, not really accepted or if it was, it was seen as like a terrible thing. So I think it was really important that the this movie was out because it also started conversations and it was a great way for people to talk about stuttering in like something that was in like a positive light, I guess.

Stephanie Fornasier 45:01

Yeah.

Priya 45:02

So yeah, that was really important. And I think that was a good movie for, yeah, just kind of all the different areas of stuttering to be seen and in like a huge scale as well.

Stephanie Fornasier 45:13

I think you really sympathised with the king in that he was not seen as as capable as his brother, who you know, originally was to be the king, and was kind of treated with a lot of disdain. And there's that there was a scene with his dad who's you know, about to pass away and the way that he talks to at the time the prince, It's like, what does he say relax!, relax! when he starts to stutter, and it's just like, the opposite of relaxing?

Priya 45:48

Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 45:50

And how, you know, that's probably it sounds like that's probably only half of what would someone in the thirties would be treated if they're if they're a stutterer

Priya 46:02

Yeah, exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 46:03

And you can see how he's like struggles with feeling that he's capable, because he's got such once he becomes king, he's got such a public facing role and has to communicate with everybody. That's like a huge part of what a king does, and saying, How am I going to do this if I can't? And sort of, I guess, working through those feelings as well, I thought that was a really, it was really well portrayed, I thought

Priya 46:30

Yeah. And I think it's also cool to see was like he was struggling with two kind of sides. Like he was struggling with trying to fulfil his, like kingly duties, but also trying to battle like the stutter that, yeah, for one people thought it was because someone was speaking too quickly. Well, they were nervous. So they were stressed, which again, is not the case. And yeah, like you said, his father telling him to relax. And that would only increase the stuttering and make the stutter more severe. But it also invalidates his experiences as well. So yeah, it was interesting to see how he kind of juggled those two experiences.

Stephanie Fornasier 47:13

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. How did you find the therapy scenes? I guess, the previous therapy, like all the different types of things he tries, and then, you know, the therapy with Lionel Logue.

Priya 47:26

Yeah, I remember there was a therapy that they did with with like, the marbles. *both laugh* That yeah, that was actually a it's a it's so it was a common therapy for stuttering in the like, in those generations, like, because I can remember what it was that it actually did, or what the marbles would do. I think that sort of like expanded your mouth and made it a bit more like loose, I guess. Yeah, so you could blow? I think it's Yeah, I think it was more that because stuttering is like, it's because of like tension as well. So the marble was, would you expand your mouth and make the words I guess, or they tried to make it so that when you spoke, it was more like smoother? And so your mouth wasn't so tense. 

And there's a great video by a stuttering advocate Mark Winsky, who did a video on the marble therapy. So that would be an interesting one to watch as well.

Stephanie Fornasier 48:23

Yeah, I might get you to send that to me. So I can put it in the notes.

Priya 48:26

Oh, yeah. Yeah, of course.

Stephanie Fornasier 48:28

Yeah, I found that one interesting.

Priya 48:30

And it was because it was so common as well, and a lot of people. I think a lot of people actually remember that therapy as well. And the therapy, I can't remember what was the therapy that he did with Lionel? What was it that one with the music? You said?

Stephanie Fornasier 48:46

Yeah, and I guess there was a few different we saw him do lots of vocal exercises. And that's right. Yeah, like making him listen to a big, very loud piece of music and then recite the passage.

Priya 49:02

Yeah, yeah, I think that one, so the music, I think, because music is very powerful for anything. But a lot of the time, when you stutter, people will find that when you stutter, and you sing, people who would sing and if they have a stutter, they don't stutter when they sing. And I think that's because like you there's like the two parts of the brain. So it's like, the different, like, the music part is different to the communication part. And it's like, you know, music is quite relaxing. So I think that was kind of the therapy. And I think yeah, that's probably because music is so powerful. 

So in that scene, I think it was also really interesting to see like all the different therapies that they use, like the voice exercises, again, I think some people now still use that therapy because it kind of it's again, it's like releasing some of that tension. And like opening up your mouth and creating more like flow. Yeah, so as I actually will was interesting to see how it's also interesting to see how the the therapy was back then and how some of it is still used today and how it is different as well. So thanks like the shift and how like over time with more research and more understanding of stuttering how therapy has changed as well. Yeah, that's also cool to see.

Stephanie Fornasier 50:21

So interesting.

Priya 50:22

Yeah, and I, a lot of I spoke to someone who was saying when they act, and they put on different voices, or they they talk at a higher range, they also don't find that they stutter. So I found that was really cool as well to see that like how the different pitches of your voice can impact like, yeah, your communication if you stutter, and if you don't, so, yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 50:42

I think I've read that there's a common malady of when someone's angry or swear, they don't stutter as much. Is that true?

Priya 50:54

*Laughs* Oh, I actually don't know. That's actually I might have to try that

Stephanie Fornasier 51:01

Maybe, maybe it wasn't a very good source there. *both laugh*

Priya 51:06

Um, I mean, probably if you get angry, you wouldn't stutter all that. I mean, I kind of make sense. Because I think again, it's like that different. It's like, you're focusing on something. So yeah, yeah, you don't stutter. It's like when people are like more tired, you'll find that they stutter more, as well. So it's yeah, it's like different times of the day, you might stutteror different experiences as well. I think that's also just the nature of stuttering. It just can just happen and you don't really expect it as well.

Stephanie Fornasier 51:33

Yeah, true. I thought it was interesting, too, that one of the previous therapists recommended smoking as a cure. Which for me, like checks out, because I think at the time, smoking was a cure for everything at one stage. The cigarettes are good for your health, I think people actually thought that.

Priya 51:55

That's really cool.

Stephanie Fornasier 51:58

But obviously, Lionel Logue stopped him from smoking.

Priya 52:01

Definitely good

Stephanie Fornasier 52:08

I also thought it was interesting to I don't know, obviously, I'm not expecting you to know everything about speech and communication. But the fact that the Kings struggled to enunciate the W like W, which I thought was probably more of a speech disorder than the stutter, or an enunciation sort of issue is that can that be common with stuttering to struggle to enunciate?

Priya 52:35

Yeah, I mean, I think this is where having a sister as a speechie has helped me. So yeah, with stuttering, a lot of like I was saying is the tension, but it's also like the way your tongue is.

Music Break 52:47

Priya 52:47

So it's, yeah, more harder sound. So things like D or B, or P. A lot of the time is like a big thing that some people stutter on. Even words. Yeah, even s's. It's like, yeah, it's the different kind of speech or the different ways in like the position of your tongue and I can affect how you start off. And so yeah, W is, I think, a big one because it's got like the it's like, it's the W it's the D in the thing. So again, it's like that hard sound. So yeah, I think that does that does make sense that he would stutter on to the W sound, because I think it's a...

Stephanie Fornasier 53:29 

It's a bit of a tricky one to, like, put your mouth around.

Priya 53:32

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 53:35

Yeah, I just thought that was interesting. And, you know, I'm a psychologist, not a speech therapist. So I don't know the answer to these things. So yeah, i'm learning something.

Priya 53:44

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 53:45

Anything else that you liked about the King's speech, or you thought it was refreshing or helpful?

Priya 53:52

I think the biggest thing was me from for me was seeing how the stutter did affect King George. And seeing how a lot of the time he was very frustrated with it. And I think there were scenes where he would kind of sit alone in his, I can't remember which room it was in, but he was sitting somewhere and just kind of thinking about, you know, his daughter, and he really had to get through these presentations and the speeches and he just he did not want to do it. And, you know, besides the fact that he was the king, I think even speeches for anyone would be stressful. 

But yeah, I think that was really refreshing to see that the stutter didn't, like it affected him and they showed a really like raw portrayal of that. So that was yeah, really, like you said, refreshing to see that they showed that in a positive way. And really, it really highlighted how having a stutter can affect someone's mental health and can also affect like your just kind of everyday, like experiences or situations that you could be in?

Stephanie Fornasier 55:00

Yeah, yeah, definitely. I really liked as well, on that note that he had lots of therapy with Lionel. And it was, I think, I think I what I really liked it, I think this was the point I was trying to make is that Lionel saw him as equal as an equal and like, wanted, all that, you know, that hierarchy to be removed in order to be able to do the therapy and how that relationship was really important, which I think is really a good depiction of just therapy in general, like in order to make, to progress in therapy, Relationship is just probably the most important thing. Which I just I really love as Someone who has often done a lot of therapy.

Priya 55:51

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 55:51

And also the fact that he doesn't, like he's stutter doesn't go away by the end of the film, like he, he gets through the speech beautifully. But he, you know, it's not it's not 100% fluency the whole way through.

Priya 56:06

Yeah, that's a good point.

Stephanie Fornasier 56:07

Yeah. And then, like, everyone's very proud and happy that he's portrayed the message, but it's not like it's cured. Like it's completely gone away. He's still, it's still something that doesn't come naturally and easily to him. So I thought that was really good.

Priya 56:23

Yeah, that's actually a good point. That it, I think this is probably one of the few stories that isn't like an overcoming story. Again, stuttering everything, everything doesn't have to lead to overcoming that, like, we know that that's not the case. And a lot of the time people will end up stuttering for the rest of their life. So I think it's important that we see that there is like, a representation that shows that stuttering Yes, we know, we may have good days, so we don't stutter at all, or Yeah, like, like the king, he got through a huge speech. And you know, like you said, Everyone was super proud of him. But then he still went home and has a stutter. So yeah, yeah, that was Yeah, that's actually a good point. I forgot.

Stephanie Fornasier 57:07

Yeah, I think I think he overcomes like in some, to some degree in that, like, he's able to carry out the duties of a king. But it's not eliminated. Which is yeah, really important.

Priya 57:18

Yeah. And I think also, he feels more comfortable. And as well, as well. And I And like you said, as well, I think the relationship that you have with a therapist is really important, because then you can feel more comfortable, whether it be for stuttering whether it just be in general. And I think for the king, you know, all of his interactions, I think have maybe not as been as positive as he would have hoped. And with his previous, the previous therapy, he didn't achieve what he wanted to achieve. So yeah, I think Lionel was a good, a good person that he needed to help him.

Stephanie Fornasier 57:55

And yeah, as you mentioning that the focus of therapy before Lionel was on like fixes. Like, if you do this thing, you're If you smoke, or if you put these marbles in your mouth or whatever, it'll fix it. Like it'll go away. And it makes it doesn't seem to make much sense. Like at the like, obviously, they had some theories behind why they were doing those things. But like, clearly that didn't work. And then by actually not focusing on let's fix this right now. And over time developing a relationship and getting to know, King George, and I guess building his confidence really over time. 

That's what actually helped, which I think is a good message for therapy in general of whether it's speech therapy, OT, psychology, is that it's a... There's no quick fixes, and it's a long game. And the focus doesn't shouldn't necessarily be on fixing anything.

Priya 58:58

Exactly. I think it's more just trying to achieve what the person wants to achieve, given, you know, their experience of and how they're feeling at that time. Yeah, and like you said, it shouldn't be a quick fix, or it shouldn't be a fixed I think it's more how can we support you with what you need to be and what you need to be supported for? I guess?

Stephanie Fornasier 59:20

Yeah, definitely. On that note, too, did you think that there were any thing that was potentially harmful in the film or any sort of misconceptions or messages that could be construed from the film that maybe aren't so positive?

Priya 59:33

Um, I think all in all, it was a pretty positive portrayal. I'll probably have to come back and watch it again and see how like how, how my ideas have changed. Now, given everything that's happened,

Stephanie Fornasier 59:48

I did do a bit of reading and there's been a lot written about this film for like different stuttering organisations and even like literature reviews

Priya 59:58

okay

Stephanie Fornasier 59:59

and there was a couple All that was suggesting is sort of suggests that stuttering is more of a moral failure rather than a sort of more socially constructed condition. Like, you know, because he's stuttering, he's like failing, as you know, the person he needs to be to be the king, which I guess is a fair call, but I think that was also the time that he was in.

Priya 1:00:23

Yeah absolutely.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:00:24

But I guess the facts like, obviously, this is a historical, you know, reimagining of something that actually happened. But one of the articles I read said that it's basically saying that fluent speech is a necessary component of being a royal, or royal performance. Yeah, which I can see where that comes from. Because, you know, it would be great to, you know, have the king, you know, stumble quite a bit and stammer quite a bit and still get his message across. And that seems to be okay, or acceptable.

Priya 1:00:56

Exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:00:57

But I don't think they could have put them in the film, because that obviously wasn't what happened. And also, yeah.

Priya 1:01:04

Yeah, I guess that's true.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:01:04

I can see why that wasn't what's depicted...

Priya 1:01:06

Yeah, I guess they have to go off what what actually happened is what I think during that time, as you know, having a stutter I think also made, and for society to accept him as the king he had to, I guess speak more fluently. Instead of having a king that stammers or stutters. I mean, if we look at Joe Biden, now, I feel like that's probably a good example of it as well. You know, he has a stutter, but he, a lot of the time gets put down or people don't see. I mean, I don't I don't know anything about US politics.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:01:44

Me neither!

Priya 1:01:44

But I think that's probably, I mean, some of the comments that I've seen people, I think stuttering just kind of makes more of a point that he shouldn't be in his position, because he has a stutter. If that sort of makes sense. I think that was similar to King George as well. So I think it's just a consistent like misconception of stuttering is people people just don't understand that. It doesn't actually affect us in the way that people think it affects things that affects us. I think, what people think affects us is what's affecting us.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:02:16

Completely, I also wondered in terms of, like, tropes or stereotypes, I do get a little bit of inspiration porn. Like that sort of vibe, like, and I did read someone who, who thought this as well, like, we've sort of start to kind of pity the king, and it feels sort of a bit sorry for him. And then by the end of it, were feeling inspired by him. And, you know, it's a bit of a heartwarming, like, he did it! sort of thing, which, which is, you know, what makes the movie great, I think, but also, you know, for some people from that community, and probably many people, they don't want to be seen as, like, an inspiration.

Priya 1:02:57

Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:02:58

So that I think that was a fair point to make as well.

Priya 1:03:01

Yeah, that's true. I think that's all disability in general is yeah, I Sedu kind of anything that is yes. Seen as like, Oh, wow. Like, look at them, and even some, like headlines, people would say, Oh, look at this person who stutters and see where they are now, or like, you know, but the any sort of small experience for us or even just, you know, going to a restaurant and saying what we want to say that's enough for us to feel proud. We don't need someone to pity us for doing that or be inspired, that we were able to do what we wanted to do.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:03:34

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And you're right, like all those headlines of like, oh, this actor stuttered. But now look, look they're an actor, like

Priya 1:03:42

Yeah exactly.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:03:43

What is that inspirational.

Priya 1:03:46

They're just, you know, doing what they have to do. It's like, they just happen to have a stutter, and they're still able to complete what they need to complete. Like, why do we need to make a huge, big deal about it? Yeah,

Stephanie Fornasier 1:03:56

yeah, exactly. Is there any sort of last thoughts you had about The King's Speech?

Priya 1:04:01

I think all in all, it was a good representation. And I think like you said, it had to also relate back to what actually happened. So I think yeah, all in all, it was good. It also shows the time and how people saw stuttering. So I think it's it's a good kind of going off point. And if we can, yeah, expand more and create more movies like this then and, you know, explore more than I think we will able to create a more inclusive society

Stephanie Fornasier 1:04:32

100% agree, and maybe some films with people who are actually current stutterers would be fantastic as well.

Priya 1:04:39

Exactly. That's a good point.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:04:41

Awesome. Well, on that note, too, are there any good resources or organisations that you would recommend to anyone who's a stutterer? Or or even parents of kids who are they're developing a stutter or Yeah, yeah. Is there anything that you would recommend?

Priya 1:04:56

Yeah, so there are some really great organisation so the first First one is, Say Australia. So they do, they're a huge youth and teen organisation that focuses a lot on creating a more supportive environment for teens who start off, but also for kids. Like from five, you know, so that's a great organisation, and they host like workshops and they do regular zoom meetings. So they're they're really great. They're Speakeasy as well, that's another Australian organisation. They're kind of similar. Both these organisations are run by a person who stutters. So that just makes it even greater. Yeah, that one's really good. In America, there's, like the NSA, the National Stuttering group, there's, there's also WeStutterSo yeah, that's another great one. I did do a post on five of the great organisations. So that's probably one, two, I can't remember off the top of my head. But yeah, that's a good place to probably see some of the organisations

Stephanie Fornasier 1:06:09

awesome, I'll make sure I use that in the notes as well.

Priya 1:06:13

Yeah, even Yeah, talking to a speech pathologist, they'll be able to hand you off can with, you know, resources that can help parents who want to support their children as well.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:06:24

Fantastic. And of course, people should listen to your podcast, and access your page as well. Um, so tell us how people can reach you as well. And your social media accounts.

Priya 1:06:37

Yeah. So I've got my Instagram, which is @StutterConversation. I've got a Twitter as well, which is @StutterConverse? Because they wouldn't let me put my whole handle on there

Stephanie Fornasier 1:06:49

Of course not. Have you started a threads to and, to defect from Twitter, or X as it's now called?

Priya 1:06:56

Oh, yeah, don't even get me started on that one. *both laugh* But yeah I do have a threads as well. And yeah the podcast as well, which is Stutter Conversation the podcasts so, that's on, yes, Spotify, Google podcasts, Apple podcasts as well. I think that might be all of them. Yeah

Stephanie Fornasier 1:07:15

all the good ones. And you mentioned that you have a mailing list as well.

Priya 1:07:19

Yes. I do also have a mailing list. I recently started one. So probably a good way, if you want to keep up with any updates that are happening with the page or? Yeah,

Stephanie Fornasier 1:07:29

and I want to ask you one final question. Because you, you do so much. And I know that you also, you mentioned that you help your parents with their wedding events and stuff like that. Is that correct?

Priya 1:07:39

That is true. Yeah.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:07:41

What advice would you give any student who is also juggling, like advocacy as you do? And podcasting and just being a teenager? How do you... how do you do it all!

Priya 1:07:54

*laughs* well, I think the first thing for me is I study at home. So that's probably that's probably the biggest thing.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:08:00

That's so good.

Priya 1:08:01

Yeah. Makes life a little bit easier. But I think it's also just for me, I think advocacy is like a good release. I'm, it's a way for me to kind of balance how I'm feeling but also put my energy into something that's positive. So I guess my advice would just be like, follow. I guess not, it sounds corny, but follow your heart in a way. But just kind of Yeah, doing what makes you happy and makes you comfortable. And we all need advocacy, and especially if it's stuttering. So education, even if it's, you know, talking to your friends about stuttering, or even talking to teachers about stuttering, that's advocacy as well. So it doesn't have to be a huge thing. Even something small is enough. So

Stephanie Fornasier 1:08:53

That's a really good point to like, it doesn't have to take a lot of energy or time. Let's just have it having a chat or pointing something out to someone.

Music Break 1:09:01

Outro starts

Priya 1:09:02

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. awareness comes in all sorts of forms. So yeah, I guess put your energy where you want to put your energy.

Stephanie Fornasier 1:09:09

That's awesome advice. Well, thank you so much for joining me. I had a wonderful chat with you and hope everybody listens to your fantastic podcast. Thank you so much for coming on

Priya 1:09:22

Thank you so much for having me. This is so much fun to talk about something that I'm really passionate about too, so. Thank you.

Music Break 1:09:28

outro ends

Stephanie Fornasier 1:09:33

This podcast is not designed to be therapeutic, prescriptive or constitute a formal diagnosis for any listener. For a longer version of this disclaimer, please check the Episode notes on your podcast app.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai