Identity, Connections, and Writing Poetry with Poet Tyson Higel

On Stuttering and Meeting Your Hero, Scatman John with Author Gina Waggott

Host Madeline Wahl speaks with Gina Waggott, who is a writer, editor, and former TV professional. She is the author of the authorized biography Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Unlikeliest Popstar, due from Bloomsbury in February 2026   Together, they also talk about John Larkin, aka Scatman John, was a stuttering jazz pianist turned global pop sensation in his 50s, thanks to his breakout dance hits like Scatman (Ski‑Ba‑Bop‑Ba‑Dop‑Bop) and Scatman's World in the 1990s. He transformed his lifelong stutter into art, inspiring millions to never let stuttering hold them back.  Links: * Gina Waggott's Website [https://www.ginawaggott.com/] * Pre-Order Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Unlikeliest Popstar [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/scatman-john-9798881807078/] * Scatman John's Website [https://scatmanjohn.com/biography/] Music: guitar songs provided by mobygratis.

Identity, Connections, and Writing Poetry with Poet Tyson Higel

Host Madeline Wahl speaks with Tyson Higel, a nurse, a poet, and most unimportant of all, a person who stutters. His difficulty with speaking is what led him to writing, however—a landscape in which words are no longer obstacles, but bridges. Confessions of a Stutterer aims to be a bridge itself, to connect the reader, the listener, to what goes unspoken for from those who struggle with speaking. Together, they talk about poetry, stuttering, identity, and more.  Links: * Tyson Higel's Website [https://www.tysonhigel.com/] * Buy Confessions of a Stutterer [https://www.tysonhigel.com/confessions-of-a-stutterer] * Amanda Gorman's poem [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ055ilIiN4] Music: guitar songs provided by mobygratis.

Poetry and Children's Picture Books with I Talk Like A River Author Jordan Scott

Host Madeline Wahl speaks with Jordan Scott, poet and children’s author. His debut children’s book, I Talk Like a River (illustrated by Sydney Smith), was a New York Times best Children’s Book of 2020. I Talk Like a River is translated into nineteen languages and was the recipient of the American Library Association’s, Schneider Family Book Award, which honors authors for the artistic expression of the disability experience. I Talk Like a River has won numerous international awards and was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Prize for Young People’s Literature. Scott is also the author of four books of poetry and the recipient of the Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize, given to a mid-career poet in recognition of a remarkable body of work, and in anticipation of future contributions to Canadian poetry. Together, they talk about poetry, children's picture books, stuttering, and more.  Links: * Jordan Scott's Website [https://www.jordanscottwrites.com/] * I Talk Like A River * Jordan Scott's Poetry [https://www.jordanscottwrites.com/poetry] Music: guitar songs provided by mobygratis. Note: An attempt has been made to edit out technical glitches due to unstable WiFi connection in the conversation, but some may have remained. Thank you for your patience.

Stuttering Advocacy, Survivor, and Publishing a Book with James Hayden

Host Madeline Wahl speaks with James Hayden, who lives in the New Orleans area with his fiancée and works in the medical field. He is the author of Dear World, I Stutter: A Series of Open Letters from a Person Who Stutters. Together, they talk about facing fears, content creation, creativity, and finding your community.  Links: * Buy Dear World: I Stutter [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dear-world-i-stutter-james-hayden/1127583369] * Reflecting on Our Reality: Seeing Stuttering on Survivor [https://www.westutter.org/post/seeing-stuttering-on-survivor] Music: guitar songs provided by mobygratis. Note: This episode was recorded before the National Stuttering Association's Conference in Denver.

Finding Your Community and Facing Fears with Tv Writer/ Caregiver Influencer Jacquelyn Revere

Host Madeline Wahl speaks with Tv writer/Caregiver Influencer Jacquelyn Revere. After college, she moved to Atlanta to help care for her grandmother, then to NYC to pursue a career in theatre. Her openness about becoming her mother's dementia caregiver lead to her Op-Ed in the LA Times and feature on NPR. Revere specializes in family-centered half-hours that center on themes of disability and caregiving. She is alumna of Disruptors and Mentorship Matters and most recently Respectability TV writing Fellowships. Together, they talk about facing fears, content creation, creativity, and finding your community.  Links: * Mom of My Mom [https://momofmymom.com/] * NPR Feature [https://momofmymom.com/pages/on-dementia-tiktok-family-caregivers-find-support-and-bring-the-disease-to-light] * The New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/style/carefluencer-social-media.html] Music: guitar songs provided by mobygratis.