Scott Palasik

When reading about celebrities or certain charismatic figures from history, you will often hear they had the “ability to make the person they were talking to feel like they were the most important individual in the world.”  Anyone that has ever had the pleasure of talking to Scott Palasik would probably say the same thing.

Like Kevin Eldridge and Dale Williams, I saw Scott speak at the 2011 ASHA Convention in San Diego.  He was part of the “Paths Toward Recovery from Stuttering” seminar where he and several other professionals talked about their individual journeys with stuttering.

At the time, I was only in the planning stages of WHEN I STUTTER but I knew that Scott needed to be in the film. When he spoke about his experiences with stuttering it was very heartfelt and you could hear tell from the murmurs in the audience that people were affected on a deep emotional level. This was not unlike the response an audience might give to an actor that just touched their hearts through a singularly great performance. In other words, the storyteller’s ability was as great as the story itself.

I could go on and on about Scott Palasik… Not only was he a participant, Scott contributed to WHEN I STUTTER as a writer, singer, and creative consultant. At this point, the film has allowed us to go on many adventures together.  I often refer to Scott as my “brother.”  My guess is that a great many people feel close to Scott too.  When you meet him, you’ll understand why.

 

“Being open does not mean you have to do something, or buy into an idea, it just means you are willing to keep your mind from judging that idea or thing long enough to learn about it, and not be ignorant and think there is one way of doing ANYTHING.”

 

What has been the response from others about you in the film?

Ha! You are asking me to talk about me, which is challenging, but I will give it a shot. If I had to summarize the responses from others to me being in the film, it might be “emotional.” I think about my mom, friends, family, and the MANY supportive and encouraging students who went out of their way to see the film, and take their precious and valuable time to talk to me and share their thoughts. I often hear the words, “I did not know this story about you,” or “It is was great to see you tell your story, even though it was a challenging and scary one.” My response to their kindness is I would not be here if it were not for ALL of the individuals I have crossed paths with in my life. In one way or another, everyone has given me support, hope, and a slice of positive energy, which has brought me to this moment, and gave me the courage to be in WHEN I STUTTER. So thinking in those terms, each person that has helped me along the way is as much in the film, as I am. After I give them my response  I then begin to cry, with them (I’m a crier by nature. This goes with being an artist I think). Ha!

One story that sticks in my mind involves a young man who stuttered, about the age of 10, who came up to me after a screening we did. He was with his Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and his mother. The boy asked me some questions and wanted to give me a hug and take a picture with me. I glanced at his mother and SLP who were off to the side while we were chatting; they both had tears in their eyes. It was at that moment that one of my dreams was fulfilled. Ever since I was in my undergraduate education at Syracuse University to become a Speech Pathologist I wanted to make an impact on one (only 1) young child so they might not go through the pain and darkness I did. With meeting that little guy, I felt my journey was worth it, and I was so thankful to everyone who helped me keep going so I could get to that moment where I met that inspiring little boy. And of course, I cried (shocker, I know).

What was your favorite or most memorable part of the process of making the film?

Oh man, the process of being involved in a film like WHEN I STUTTER has so many bright spots, shiny moments, and just life-changing people it is hard to narrow down. There are so many magnificent memories and inspiring moments that I will treasure. From attending screenings at Film Festivals, like the Cleveland International Film Festival, to traveling to Iceland and Japan for screenings, along with showing WHEN I STUTTER to rooms full of Speech-Language Pathologists (peers) at the ASHA National Convention in LA and many other conferences.  There are countless experiences meeting caring people during these screenings, so it is hard to choose just one because they all were breathtaking.

However, one of my favorite stories was editing WHEN I STUTTER with John Gomez. The first cut we saw was in May of 2015 and it came in at around 4 hours. I remember turning to John and saying, “It feels like a real movie.” John’s response was simple, “Yeah, well, it is.” He was right. IT IS A REAL MOVIE! It is a brilliantly real movie, telling stories from inspiring people who have struggled with stutter. Looking back at that moment over five years ago, I cannot believe how well the film has been received and how many memories have been created since then.

 What has surprised you about the film since it was first presented?

Two things have surprised me about the film since it was first presented. One is its longevity with screenings and its impact on people around the world. When I first met John in 2012 I had no idea what making a film was like, and my image of a Film Festival consisted of me and John sitting in a high school classroom with  a few friends watching WHEN I STUTTER on a 32 inch television. That being said, to be a part of screenings and film festivals and seeing WHEN I STUTTER on the big screen several times has been beyond my wildest dreams. 

Another thing that has surprised me is how many people we have met who connect with WHEN I STUTTER in ways other than stuttering. Some have connected the film with their own personal challenges with ADHD, psychological health, and/or other family members struggling with something in their lives. The film really has brought out the best in the individuals depicted in WHEN I STUTTER, along with audience members who have seen the movie. So, it has been amazing, and surprising, to see the mass influence WHEN I STUTTER has had on so many.

What’s changed in your life since we saw you in the film?

This is a great question, and I honestly had to take some time to reflect on it. I am a person who meditates daily and enjoys looking back on life in order to learn for the future. One thing that has changed in my life since the film’s World Premiere in April of 2017 has been the practice of appreciation. With the world being in the middle of the Coronavirus and everyone’s life going through major changes, it would be easy to look at the negatives with what is happening. Yet, we can learn so much from where we are. We can learn to appreciate that there are many ideas, many optional thoughts, many ways to think, and countless things to appreciate.

Another change in my life has been in the way I TRY (emphasize the word “try”) to approach life, conflicts, and where I want to put my energy. I try to look at life with as much decreased ego as possible. Trying to give myself optional thoughts has been challenging, and rewarding at the same time, which is enlightening and inspiring. I need to thank all of the tremendously intelligent mindfulness, ACT, and psychological scientists and authors that I have read for opening my eyes to create a little happiness every day. Without these wonderfully thoughtful researchers and philosophers I could not keep evolving toward the person I wish to be each day. Namaste to them!

What’s your relationship with stuttering now?

We walk together a little bit easier. We talk (stutter) together without the need to fight as often as we did. We move together without the need to push and shove each other as often as we used to. We are siblings now, two individuals that may sometimes think alike, but do not have to always be alike.  We have learned to appreciate each other’s’ presents in our lives, and I look forward to our relationship evolving in the future. After all, without stuttering I would not have been involved in such a life changing project as WHEN I STUTTER. So I take bow to stuttering, to reflect my appreciation. We might not ever agree on everything, but we can now at least have a conversation to find common ground. That common ground is the desire to communicate, express, and do so in a meaningful way.

What’s some advice for people who are on their journey with stuttering?

This is a great question, with a vast array of answers. I guess my first thought is to be open to all ideas, thoughts, forms of treatment, and information about stuttering. Being open does not mean you have to do something, or buy into an idea, it just means you are willing to keep your mind from judging that idea or thing long enough to learn about it, and not be ignorant and think there is one way of doing ANYTHING. The journey of stuttering is variable for everybody, full of hills, valleys, bumps, and smooth roads. Allowing ourselves to be willing to listen to new ideas, is the start to creating flexibility to how we approach not only stuttering, but how we might approach life and other challenges.

I’m not a fan of giving “advice” but I love the word “encourage” because it inspires a connection and the perspective of a WE ATTITUDES (team). As a person who stutters since I was 3, and a Speech Language Pathologist for over 20 years, I encourage anyone who walks the journey of stuttering to talk to Speech Language Pathologists, gather information from different websites that house content about stuttering (e.g., ASHA, FRIENDS, NSA, NSF, ISAD and so many more). Also, find someone you trust to help you discover the style of speaking that you feel make you feel comfortable. A quality and ETHICAL therapist will give you everything our field knows about stuttering and let you decide what might work best for you, and what helps you create your voice, your speech, your power.  For it is a Speech Language Pathologist’s job to educate and pass on the knowledge about the field of Stuttering in order to allow a person who stutters the choice with what they want to do with their speech.

So, ask questions. Gather knowledge. Discover the values and the person you want to be. It may be a journey that hurts sometimes, but all success comes with bumps and bruises, and falling down. It is the skill of getting up after you fall that can take us beyond our wildest dreams.

You helped write, made creative decisions and contributed an original song to WIS.  Can you speak to that experience?

To be a part of WHEN I STUTTER in a variety of ways has truly been an honor and privilege. To learn from John about film making (and he knows A TON), and to be a part of a project that harnesses the love, compassion, kindness, and so many more emotions from wonderfully generous people featured in the film, has been a journey that I will treasure forever. I consider myself in the right place at the right time, when John asked, “I’m doing a film about stuttering. Are you interested in being a part of it?” That question came in October of 2012 and I have thanked him several times since then for allowing me to be a part of the creative process in order to deliver a unique film.

Being able to contribute a song to the film is another dream come true. I have been a musician since I was 12 mainly as the lead singer (bands associated with: Stranger Than Fiction, Hour Glass, The Plastic Hearts, Easy Onset, Latency Effect – solo project, and currently Light Stone Rain). Singing and writing music has always been my way of expression, for many dark years. It has brought me joy and I consider it the air I breathe. To hear music I wrote in a movie, is beyond any words or lyrics I could write.

To conclude, I want to thank John for his generosity inviting me to ride the journey of WHEN I STUTTER with him and the rest of the outstanding folks in the movie and those involved in its production. I appreciate all of you who have supported the film in so many wonderful ways. It is because of you that the film will continue to live and touch countless lives. It is because of John that the film has taken on a life of its own.

 

Purchase WHEN I STUTTER to watch

Scott and 18 other compelling individuals

talk about their journey with stuttering.