Deeper Understanding of Stuttering Through Art: Nina G, Gina Chin-Davis

Nina G

About the Authors:

Nina G is a comedian, professional speaker, and author of multiple books including Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn’t Happen. She has been featured in/on everything from HuffPost’s Culture Shifters, NPR’s 51%, BBC’s Ouch, Psychology Today, Tedx, public radio and multiple daytime talk shows and podcasts.  She has shared the stage with legendary comedians like Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci), Mort Sahl, Eddie Pepitone, Cathy Ladman and participated for four years straight at San Francisco’s Comedy Day.  Nina shares her wit and wisdom with corporations, colleges, libraries, conferences, and community events. In October 2023, her first comedy special hits streaming services.

Gina Chin-DavisGina Chin-Davis is an award-winning filmmaker and writer based in California. She attended Barnard College in New York City where she received the Howard M. Teichmann Writing Prize for work distinguished in originality of concept and excellence of execution. Chin-Davis’ writings have been featured in Rigorous, Penultimate Peanut, and The Conium Review, and her plays have been produced by The Aluminous Collective and The Piedmont Center for the Arts. Chin-Davis’ first feature film, I Can’t Sleep (2020), was produced on a self-raised budget of $10K and went on to win Best Script at the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival and Best Sci-Fi Film at the MidWest WeirdFest. Gina’s newest endeavor is the comedy special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted.  

One size does not fit all when it comes to stuttering advocacy and activism!  Different people may engage in advocacy with direct action or through their profession.  This video from Gina Chin-Davis and Nina G discusses stuttering advocacy/activism through art. The duo explore how art can help win over the hearts, minds and souls to  move people to a deeper understanding of stuttering to help move toward a more just world. 

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Deeper Understanding of Stuttering Through Art: Nina G, Gina Chin-Davis — 22 Comments

  2. Thanks everyone who checked this out! Looking forward to your questions and comments!

  3. Hi, Nina and Gina,
    Thanks for sharing. You mentioned something about culture and gender. Both are very important topics to explore and discuss. 
Regarding the documentary, that is so cool! I can´t wait to watch it!

    -Cynthia

    • Thank you! So many important topics to discuss and challenge our expectations/beliefs around.

  4. Hi Gina and Nina,
    This is such a great conversation! I was curious, how do you think the medium of film and comedy helps break down the stigmas associated with stuttering?
    -Zoe

    • I think stand up comedy is one of the few art forms that has no filter and can directly interact with the audience…I mean try heckling me and see! I am able to represent my expriences in whatever way I want to. There is not always a lot of ambiguity. Plus when I am on stage I feel my freest with my stutter. One of the few places I have complete control over the speaking environment. I think people are able to examine their own expectations around stuttering and what they think it looks like and how they feel about it.

    • I think that film and comedy has the power to influence how people think and you can use those mediums to challenge engrained stigmas, including those about stuttering.

  5. What made you start combining your stuttering into your writing and film work? Did you have a sort of “a-ha” moment that pushed you or did someone influence you?

    • I personally never thought too much about combining the two artistically before, but it is an experience I have had in my life that has shaped who I am and how I see the world. Developing a more positive, empowering perspective on my stuttering over the years helped me see how I could create art that could share that, which feels like a win-win!

  6. Nina and Gina, Thank you for sharing this conversation.
    I’m excited for your film coming out soon! I feel as if films are a great way of reaching people and educating them about stuttering. I love the approach that you mentioned of educating but lovingly calling people out. What do you think is the best way to advocate for the stuttering community?

    • I feel that there is no one best way. I hope people can develop their own favorite ways to advocate. We need it ALL! Whether that is in state houses advocating for our rights or posting online about images we see. Everything we do to decrease stigma is important <3

  7. Thanks for giving PWS a voice, Nina. And what a voice! I just showed a mother to a CWS some of your videos, as she was worried about her child’s future, with bullying, job situation etc. After watching, she knew we can speak for ourselves and tell it like it is. And that what her child needed was a portion of self esteem and words to express facts and feelings. But without using your language. 😉 Also thanks Gina for conversation. What a team you are!

    Happy ISAD and keep talking

    Anita

  8. Thank you for courageously pursing your art and passion and telling your stories! To tell ones personal story is an opportunity for connection, opening of communication, and pure vulnerability and I am grateful to be able to hear your experiences and to now learn even more viewing your film collaboration.

    In describing your experiences I really keyed into the shame and suppression of who you are that was created from speech sessions in the early 90s. As an upcoming speech language pathologist it is so impactful to learn and hear about the importance of understanding a whole person and thinking ahead on the impacts interactions and theories can have in the future.

    I also enjoyed hearing about how in your humor and creative process you talk about the whole person as well, beyond the stutter, and that through this education can happen through art, humor, and really speaking truth, stories, and experiences.

    Thank you. I look forward to watching film and also looking into more of both of your work to learn about your experiences.

    • I’m not upset about the speech therapy I got in the 90s – it helped me do what I needed to do at the time. But looking back, it was just one side of the coin for me: I had to do the acceptance work and learn that stuttering is okay, too. That part came later. Thanks for your comment!

  9. Hi Nina and Gina,

    I think you are both amazing and powerful women who are addressing issues not only about stuttering but other topics that are relatable as well. As an SLP grad student who is currently learning about stuttering and some of the challenges that people with a stutter face, I think that it is awesome how you both are successful so successful with what you do. I love how you have normalized stuttering for your audience’s. Not only are you normalizing stuttering, but using your platforms to educate others as well. I find the topic of stuttering very interesting compared to other speech disorders out there. Thank you for sharing the film you have been working on, I am going to have to check it out!

  10. Nina and Gina,
    I am so excited about your work because great comedy absolutely stirs us and inspires us to look at the world in a different way. I love that this was your goal all along. I am also completely in love with how you’re fighting the narrative that if you stutter, you should find a way to stop stuttering. I looked into your book of the same name, and I have it on hold now at my local library. It’s so cool that you have all of these amazing reviews for it. Way to turn shame on its head and go on to make a sense of belonging for yourself in the male dominated culture of stand-up. Best of luck in wrapping up the film!

    • Appreciate your words. Hope you enjoy the book. I really love that you said “comedy stirs us.” I know that it has done that for me.

  11. Hi Nina and Gina! Thank you for helping raise awareness for the stuttering community! It is so important to see a woman who stutters become a successful comedian. Because of both of your platforms, it is easier to reach a larger amount of people, however, I am someone who does not have a platform. What are some ways for people who do not have a platform to help spread awareness of stuttering?

    • I think anyone can raise awareness of stuttering anytime. I thing that I appreciate is those who advocate and demand more and better stuttering representation in the media. If you see bad representations of stuttering, please let the producers of the video know that there are other alternatives. One thing that annoys me is that people will repost an article of something bad but not elevate something they like. Lots of very talented stuttering people online to choose from 🙂