Joze Piranian

Transcript

I want everyone to see their first name out loud 1 2 3 easy right my whole life I have had a severe stutter and before learning this breathing technique to control it the mere act of having to say my own name was terrifying I used to dread the first day in school when I had to introduce myself in front of the whole class I would go and by the time I got the word out I was unable to look at any of my classmates in the eyes I felt worthless and I would and I would wonder will I ever be enough Robert Frost once said

the only way out is through to me that meant the only way I would ever overcome stuttering and all the pain it came with was by doing what I feared the most speaking I began speaking to people I know at the strangers on stages and in comedy clubs don't worry I always tell the audience at the comedy club that my performance is full of suspense I decided to grab fear by the balls and so can you and so can you whatever your stutter looks like oh I show of hands who here has ever held back your fear every single hand is up I hate to

break it to you guys but in a way you all have a stutter and you want to say something in a meeting or start your own business but you don't that's your stutter when you see that attractive girl or guy that you are dying to speak to and yet you don't act that's your I held back for the same reason that you you might hold back I was afraid of being judged I'm not trying to inspire you by saying what I think you want to hear no I am showing you by being on this stage right now against all odds that you can all look

at your fear in the eye and face it because only then can you really start to live thank you

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.

Transcript

to speak or not to speak growing up with a severe stutter I gravitated towards not speaking why engage the world when I could hide in the isolating year yet comforting cocoon of my silence I avoided every speaking situation that I could and those like current were often followed by shame embarrassment and anger why me I hated myself I I hated that I was unable to say the words to express my thoughts feelings and and emotions once a the party as a teenager I meet this girl and we hit it off we start holding hands and then she asks me what is your name my name

used to be the most difficult word for me to say so I reply with and as I am struggling to tell her who I am she Shh that's my hand go and walks away basic act of speaking that everyone else did so that did so did so effortlessly was mission impossible to me I had enough something had to change first I learned a breathing technique to control my stuttering then I I joined Toastmasters to overcome the fear of public speaking and trust me it was terrifying at first then I even started doing stand-up comedy because why stop there adversity is defined as misfortune but when

I reflect on my journey it becomes clear that my stutter has been the main drive behind this burning desire to destroy my fears was initially a misfortune proved to be a hidden fortune not only can your adversity be overcome but it is also the source of so many positives that define who you are as a person stuttering room remains a daily challenge for me but every time that I speak I focus take a deep breath and walk through the fire to speak or not to speak now I choose to speak thank you

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.