The STARS Speak podcast is where we explore the neuroscience of stuttering. Through conversations with leading researchers, health professionals, and people who stutter, host Gerald Maguire, MD unpacks what we don’t yet know about the science behind stuttering—and the path of developing new therapies today while discovering the cures of tomorrow.
Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or part of the stuttering community, this podcast offers expert insight, honest dialogue, and a deeper look at the path forward.
This episode features Stanley Goodfriend, a person who stutters whose journey with stuttering began at age seven and has included decades of treatment experiences. Stanley speaks candidly about the many approaches he’s tried over the course of his life, from psychoanalysis as a young boy to delayed auditory feedback, intensive speech therapy programs, and reflects honestly on what helped and what didn’t. Stanley also shares how he built a successful career in the mortgage industry, running h...
3 Aug 2026
A Mother-Son Story on Stuttering
This episode features Harris, a young person who stutters, and his mother Shereen, offering a rare dual perspective on growing up with a stutter.Harris speaks candidly about first noticing his stutter, navigating misconceptions about intelligence, and finding his voice at STARS events. Shereen shares how her understanding of stuttering evolved over time and how she's worked to help Harris see his own brilliance, especially on harder days. In this episode, Harris and Shereen discuss: W...
22 Jun 2026
The Emotional Weight of Stuttering Nobody Talks About
This episode features Tony De La Mora, a cybersecurity professional, Air Force Reserve veteran, and STARS Community Advisor whose journey with stuttering spans decades of personal resilience. Tony brings a grounded perspective to the conversation. One shaped by professional environments, military service, and the emotional weight that stuttering can quietly carry. He shares what it meant to navigate those worlds as someone who stutters, the mental health toll that often goes unspoken, and how...
10 Jun 2026
Neurophysiology, Neuromodulation, and the Future of Stuttering Research
This episode features Pierpaolo Busan, PhD, a Tenure-Track Researcher at the University of Trieste and STARS Scientific Advisor, whose work focuses on the neurophysiological mechanisms of stuttering and rehabilitation approaches through neuromodulation, EEG/MEG, and neurofeedback. In this conversation, Dr. Busan shares what emerging science reveals about the brain and stuttering, how neuromodulation therapies may benefit people who stutter, and what he hopes the broader research community wil...
15 May 2026
Stuttering Through the Eyes of an Educator
This episode features Maura Miles, a Special Education teacher in Southern California and STARS Community Advisor whose perspective on stuttering is both personal and professional. As someone who stutters herself, Maura brings a uniquely powerful voice to conversations about stuttering in children and young adults. She shares her own journey with stuttering, what it means to navigate school as a student who stutters, and the role educators play in shaping confidence and acceptance. Through he...
6 May 2026
The Neuroscience of Stuttering
This episode features Per Alm, a researcher and lecturer whose work sits at the intersection of neuroscience and speech science, dedicated to advancing our understanding of the neurological mechanisms behind stuttering. Per shares his journey into the field and explores what science has revealed about the complexity of stuttering — and what remains to be discovered. Through his commitment to rigorous research and collaboration, he offers meaningful insights that have the potential to shape ho...
21 Apr 2026
Advocacy, Support, and Community in Stuttering
This episode features Farah Al Qaissieh, founder of The Stutter Community in the UAE, as well as an advocate, speaker, and coach dedicated to supporting people who stutter. Farah shares her personal journey with stuttering and explores how advocacy, leadership, and community can foster greater understanding, inclusion, and belonging. Through her work creating spaces for connection and support, she continues to amplify the voices and experiences of people who stutter and their families. You ca...
6 Mar 2026
Global Perspectives on Stuttering Care
This episode features Gonçalo Leal, an internationally recognized speech and language pathologist, educator, and mentor who works to advance the understanding and treatment of fluency disorders through clinical practice, research, and global collaboration. Visit our YouTube channel for the video version of this episode
5 Feb 2026
Understanding Stuttering and Support
Episode Description: In this episode, Dr. Gerald Maguire speaks with Dr. Lisa LaSalle about the complexity of stuttering, the importance of individualized support, and what progress in research and clinical care means for people who stutter at every age. Visit our YouTube channel for the video version of this episode
2 Jan 2026
Personal Journeys Through Stuttering
This episode features Dr. Gerald Maguire, joined by Zach Greene, Annie Hernandez, and Sam, who share personal and professional perspectives on living with stuttering and advancing understanding through the STARS community. Watch this video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/GV8Z6d0EZTQ
5 Dec 2025
The Research Behind Stuttering - Part 1
Our first episode features Dr. Shahriar SheikhBahaei, whose work focuses on the neural circuits involved in speech production and stuttering. In this episode, Dr. SheikhBahaei discusses: How his lab studies the brain mechanisms that support fluent speechWhat recent findings may tell us about the biology of stutteringHow research today may guide tomorrow’s treatmentsVisit our YouTube channel for the video version of this episode
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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