S5E3: Sean BW Parker

S5E3: Sean BW Parker  Description: In this episode, Some Stutter, Luh! welcomes Sean BW Parker, a British writer, artist, musician, and academic specializing in cultural theory and justice reform to discuss his recently published book, "Compelling Speech: The Stammering Enigma." Sean shares his personal experience with stammering, highlighting the challenges he faced and the various therapies he underwent over the years. Sean expresses his pride in the unique aspects of his personality that come with stammering and he believes in a kind of natural fluency in which there is no need to hammer the stammer!   Notes: Following his 2013 Ted Talk on stammering and creativity, Sean BW Parker was inspired to write his autobiography on the subject, titled "Compelling Speech: The Stammering Enigma”.  Using a fun language in this book, Sean tracks the social and cultural-political context of communication differences through the cultural lens. Sean discusses the origins of his stammer, attributing it to a mix of genetic factors, upbringing, and personal experiences. Pointing to his personal journey with stammering, he reflects on the interplay between nature and nurture. Defining natural fluency as the ease of communication, Sean suggests that if one can stammer easily, it can be considered a form of fluency. Through the concept of "Stammering Pride," he explores how confidence and directness can, at times, reduce stammering. Sean believes in the multifaceted nature of people who stammer and encourages individuals not to limit themselves based on their speech impediment. Discussing reviews of his book, he particularly values feedback from Jack Nicholas and Joann Williams, appreciating reviews that acknowledge the complexity and interest in his writing rather than providing simplistic praise. Finally, Sean emphasizes the importance of embracing the present moment, minimizing expectations, and the value of thinking less.