Name: Why I live in mortal dread of public speaking
Uploaded: 2014-08-08T14:59:43Z
Duration: 12 min 48 s
Description: Megan Washington is one of Australia's premier singer/songwriters. And, since childhood, she has had a stutter. In this bold and personal talk, she reveals how she copes with this speech impediment—from avoiding the letter combination “st” to tricking her brain by changing her words at the last minute to, yes, singing the things she has to say rather than speaking them.

Megan Washington: Why I live in mortal dread of public speaking

Why I live in mortal dread of public speaking

Megan Washington is one of Australia's premier singer/songwriters. And, since childhood, she has had a stutter. In this bold and personal talk, she reveals how she copes with this speech impediment—from avoiding the letter combination “st” to tricking her brain by changing her words at the last minute to, yes, singing the things she has to say rather than speaking them.

For some, the terror of public speaking is a daily reality, especially when living with a stutter. Everyday words and even friends’ names can become obstacles, but singing offers a remarkable escape: the inability to stutter while singing. Techniques like 'smooth speech' help in formal settings, but true relief and authenticity come when song replaces spoken words. Language and music become deeply entwined, revealing both struggle and hope.