News

Audiobook live on Audible and Kobo.

Audiobook live on Audible and Kobo.

The audiobook version of 'Just One More Drive: The true story of a stuttering homosexual and his race car is now' is now live on Audible and Kobo for purchase and review!

It was a wonderful experience recording this version of my book and one I would recommend to any author who is thinking about narrating their own work.

Audible link:

https://www.audible.co.uk/search?keywords=Just+One+More+Drive&ref-override=a_hp_t1_header_search&k=Just+One+More+Drive&crid=TEHWXE4AZCUC&sprefix=just+one+more+drive%2Ceu-audible-uk%2C126&i=eu-audible-uk&url=search-alias%3Deu-audible-uk&ref=nb_sb_noss

Kobo link:

https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/search?query=just+one+more+drive%3A+the+true+story+of+a+stuttering+homosexual+and+his+race+car

 

 

 

 

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
VoiceStory – ‘The Pitfalls of Perseverance’ speech now live

VoiceStory – ‘The Pitfalls of Perseverance’ speech now live

My speech titled ‘The Pitfalls of Perseverance’ is now live on the VoiceStory YouTube channel. A huge thank you to Winston Yeung and all of the VoiceStory team for this opportunity to speak and share my perspective.

This speech was a challenge to write because I have struggled with the idea of perseverance over the years. My father taught me the importance of working hard and persevering when things got difficult from an early age. I tried to follow his example, but struggled to fit in and find my niche as I navigated having a stutter and being gay. I chased fluency and later tried my hand at acting and writing, consistently working harder and harder waiting for ‘something’ to happen. But I never knew what that ‘something’ was. As a result, I have fallen into various pitfalls that I felt needed to be highlighted to give a balanced account of what perseverance truly is, and to allow all of us to succeed and achieve our goals.

 

Posted by Robert O'Brien in Media, News
Top 100 Stuttering Influencers 2023 – World Stuttering Community

Top 100 Stuttering Influencers 2023 – World Stuttering Community

It is a huge surprise and honour to be included among the top 100 stuttering influencers of 2023. We are all in this journey together, and the more voices we have, the more awareness we can bring to all issues surrounding stuttering.

Thank you to Tom Scharstein, Tricia Hedinger and everyone involved in the World Stuttering Network.

Here is to expanding this list for 2024.

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
VoiceStory Speaking Event: May 18th 2023

VoiceStory Speaking Event: May 18th 2023

This coming Thursday on May 18th at 6:30pm, I will be one of six guest speakers talking about 'Perseverance'. My speech is titled  'The Pitfalls of Perseverance' and below is the promotion write up.

"Robert’s father passed and he returned to Ireland as it fell upon him to give his eulogy, but this trip triggered introspection as he reflected on the last 20 years of his life.
His father said “Life is hard Robert!” and he was right… growing up with the bullying for having a stutter and being gay. Life was a struggle, but he didn’t give up trying to survive in this world.
But as his father’s words echoed in his mind, he wondered if all the hard work he put in was worth it?
Join us on May 18 and experience Robert’s story, as he shares his insight that action and hard work alone is not enough, and it can become a pitfall. “If you keep chasing a goal out of desperation, you wind up exhausted and cynical. We need to know when to stop, take a breath and reassess our goals."
Voicestory Live at the Evergreen Cultural Center in Coquitlam.
Get your tickets now at https://www.voicestory.ca
**All tickets sales are now considered a donation and a tax receipt will be issued to you!
Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
StutterFEST 2023 – Audiobook Adventure Presentation.

StutterFEST 2023 – Audiobook Adventure Presentation.

I am very excited to be taking part in the World Stuttering Network's StutterFEST 2023 event on Saturday, May 6th. This is an online 24-hour event and all times are in Eastern Standard Time. It is a great opportunity to connect, listen and interact with people who stutter from all over the world.

This year, I will be taking about embracing our fear of stuttering when reading out loud and seeing how it can actually be fun. As a self-described 'unsuccessful covert stutterer', I could hide my stutter to varying degrees of success, but reading out loud in class or in a public setting put the fear of God into me. I can still remember the panic and shame I felt in those situations when the words just would not come out of my mouth fluently.

As an author, I had been slow to take on recording an audiobook recording of my memoir; Just One More Drive: The true story of a stuttering homosexual and his race car. The process took twenty hours and over that time, I learnt a lot about myself and my feelings around my stutter. I was able to move from fear and begin to embrace fun. It is that process that I will be talking about from 11:40-12pm EST (8:40 - 9:00am PST) May 6th 2023. 

For more information about StutterFEST and how to register, you can check out their website at: http://www.worldstutteringnetwork.net/stutterfest-program-of-events

 

 

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
UnBlockables – Returns for spring 2023 with funding from Vancity!

UnBlockables – Returns for spring 2023 with funding from Vancity!

As a co-instructor with the UnBlockables (in association with Tightrope Theatre and Columbia Speech and Language Services Inc.), I am thrilled to announce that Dan, Wendy and myself are back for spring 2023. We are ecstatic to announce that thanks to Vancity funding, we are now offering 36 fully funded spots available over the span of the 3 workshops!
We will continue to focus on presence, saying yes, cultivating laughter and celebrating mistakes over three workshops on the first Saturday of each month starting on April 1st. Participants can apply to take 1 or all 3 workshops. Spots are limited so don’t wait to apply! For more information and information on registration:
Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
Stuttering and Dating with Some Stutter Luh!

Stuttering and Dating with Some Stutter Luh!

To celebrate this year's Valentine's Day, I was invited to take part in a group discussion around dating and stuttering with Greg O'Grady and 'Some Stutter Luh!' along with other people who stutter.

As a person who stutters, I have often found my speech to be a barrier to dating and opening up to strangers, especially in a romantic context. That being said, our conversation, guided by Greg and his thought provoking questions really got to the core of the issue and ultimate positive conclusion, which is that we ALL deserve love and have every right to go out there and get it!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Audio file: https://somestutterluh.ca/2023/02/14/Vday.html

YouTube: below:

 

Posted by Robert O'Brien in Media, News
Belfast Men’s Health Group Podcast: Stuttering & Mental Well-Being – Live!

Belfast Men’s Health Group Podcast: Stuttering & Mental Well-Being – Live!

A huge thank you to Paul O'Kane and the Belfast Men's Health Group podcast for featuring me on their latest episode.

Paul and I discuss issues around stuttering and homosexuality and the implications they can have on mental well-being. I get to share me story and experience and what I have discovered for myself around resilience and acceptance.

Link to the podcast episode:

https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-mdmne-1301af2

You can hear more podcast episodes around men's health by checking out the group's website at:

https://belfastmenshealthgroup.podbean.com

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
‘Being Seen, Being Heard’ – Speaker Series with the Irish Stammering Association.

‘Being Seen, Being Heard’ – Speaker Series with the Irish Stammering Association.

I have been invited by the Irish Stammering Association (ISA) to speak as part of their Speaker Series this Friday October 21st on the topic of 'Being Seen, Being heard'. This is to help mark International Stuttering Awareness Day 2022 and highlight the importance of people who stutter being seen and heard in society.

This invitation has been a wonderful opportunity for me to connect with the ISA and share my story. A huge thank you to Stephen Greene, Jonathon Linklater and Naill Walsh for making this speaking event happen and for the two very favourable reviews of Just One More Drive: The true story of a stuttering homosexual and his race car. 

Our conversation will take place online this Friday from 7:00 - 8:00pm Irish time and 11:00 - 12:00pm PST. It is free to join and you can register at the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/isad-speaker-series-tickets-397003196247

Review by Stephen Greene - Current Board member and past Chair of Irish Stammering Association.

"Robert’s book was an excellent and engrossing read. His account of his life of coming to terms with and understanding of his identity as a gay man who stutters was an honest and authentic exploration.
What stood out was the effect of suppression and masking of these identities could have on one’s life and the need to make up for lost time after coming out and how is one equipped mentally and emotionally when they are immersed in the communities of stuttering and LGBTQIA+ and wider society. 
Another stand out from the book was the theme of love and support Robert had from his family and allies. As a person who stutters I am very thankful that Robert has shared his story with us and that allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and embracing our identities can lead to happiness in our lives. Thank you Robert."

Review by Niall Walsh - Current Board member and Company Secretary of Irish Stammering Association.

"I was so entranced by this book, it is a wonder I can drag myself away from it for long enough to write this review of it!
Yes, it’s very subject matter (and book title) is a draw in itself, but that hardly guarantees anything.
This book guides the reader through Roberts personal journey from child to adult with all the ups, downs, blockages and stutters in between.
Robert writes with a brutal honesty about what it’s like to have a stammer in Ireland as a child (we’ve all had that one teacher, regrettably!..) to young adult life struggling with self-confidence and identity which, as I would imagine, resonates with many readers.
This book is told through the eyes of a young stuttering gay Irish man with a disarming honesty and a wicked sense of humour. However, under the relatable sci-fi references and wit, the author gives us so much more: he explains, educates, inspires, and shares his stuttering story."

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News
Drop in  workshop to celebrate International Stuttering Awareness Day 2022.

Drop in workshop to celebrate International Stuttering Awareness Day 2022.

To mark International Stuttering Awareness Day 2022, Dan Dumsha, Wendy Duke and myself will be running a free drop in workshop of 'The UnBlockables' from 1-3pm PST on October 22nd. This will be online and is a great way to celebrate stuttering with improv games, fun and laughter.

For anyone who is interested just resister by emailing rosemary@tightropetheatre.com

We hope to see you there.

Posted by Robert O'Brien in News