In this episode of Proud Stutter, Maya talks with Joze Piranian, a comedian, speaker, and author, about growing up with a stutter and how early experiences shaped his relationship with speaking. Joze reflects on patterns of avoidance, the role of silence, and what it took to begin shifting how he showed up in the world. He shares how humor became part of that process, along with speech therapy and intentionally stepping into uncomfortable situations. The conversation explores the connection between stuttering and mental health, including anxiety and depression, and how internal and external pressures can influence both. Joze also talks about how his experiences have shaped his work and daily life, and what it has meant to build a career that brings him into constant interaction with others.

Links & Resources

Joze's website

Joze's book - STOP HOLDING BACK

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Big thanks to Proud Stutter's recurring supporters: Jennifer Bolen, Jerry Slaff, Josh Compton, Pablo Meza, Alexandra Mosby, Ingo Helbig, Jonathan Reiss, Jason Smith, Paige McGill, Wayne Engebretson, Swathy Manavalan, and Martha Horrocks.

If you can become a monthly donor at $10 or more, we’ll give you access to ad-free episodes and bonus Proud Stutter+ content as a token of our thanks! Make your tax deductible gift here.

Proud Stutter is proudly fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media.

Want to lean more about what Proud Stutter has to offer? Sign up here to stay in the loop and take advantage of our upcoming events, actions, and educational materials.

This week, we’re doing something a little different on Proud Stutter. We’ve partnered with the podcast Down to the Struts for an episode swap, sharing each other’s work as a way to support disabled creators and build deeper, intersectional connections across our communities.

In this episode, host Qudsiya Naqui sits down with Haben Girma, a human rights lawyer, author, and disability activist who is the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. They explore what it means to center access and how it can lead to “empowered interdependence,” a powerful framework for challenging ableist systems and reimagining how we support one another.

Episode page: https://www.downtothestruts.com/episodes/season-6-haben-girma

Maya talks with fiction writer and teacher Jennifer Dickinson about her new middle grade novel featuring a young girl who stutters. Jennifer shares how her own experiences growing up with a stutter shaped the story, including memories of bullying, lost friendships, and the loneliness she felt during middle school.

The conversation looks at how storytelling can transform difficult experiences into something meaningful. Jennifer reflects on how writing the book allowed her to revisit a painful time in her life and create a story where a young girl who stutters is supported by friends, teachers, and community. Maya and Jennifer also discuss the need for more representation of people who stutter in books, television, and film, and how visibility can help shift public understanding.

Jennifer also talks about discovering writing at a young age, working in theater, and building a career as a fiction writer and book coach. She shares how long it took to bring the book to life and why she stayed committed to the story. At the center of the episode is Jennifer’s hope that young readers who stutter will see themselves in the book and feel encouraged to take risks, express themselves creatively, and pursue what they love.

Links & Resources

• March 17 SXSW event

You can add that MAGGIE'S BIG BREAK by Jennifer Dickinson will be released on April 30, 2026, and listeners can pre-order it now on Amazon or Bookshop.org.

• Amazon: amazon.com/Maggies-Big-Break-Jennifer-Dickinson/dp/1949983234/
• Bookshop.org: bookshop.org/p/books/maggie-s-big-break-jennifer-dickinson/6c6924a4a5fe7305

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Big thanks to Proud Stutter's recurring supporters: Jennifer Bolen, Jerry Slaff, Josh Compton, Pablo Meza, Alexandra Mosby, Ingo Helbig, Jonathan Reiss, Jason Smith, Paige McGill, Wayne Engebretson, Swathy Manavalan, and Martha Horrocks.

If you can become a monthly donor at $10 or more, we’ll give you access to ad-free episodes and bonus Proud Stutter+ content as a token of our thanks! Make your tax deductible gift here.

Proud Stutter is proudly fiscally sponsored by Independent Arts & Media.

Want to lean more about what Proud Stutter has to offer? Sign up here to stay in the loop and take advantage of our upcoming events, actions, and educational materials.