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

Summary

In this TED Talk, an artist with a stutter shares her personal journey, blending humor, vulnerability, and insights on the connection between language, identity, and performance. She discusses the challenges of speaking in public due to her stutter and how singing offers a unique form of relief, allowing her to express herself fluently. The talk explores themes of self-image, societal perceptions of speech impediments, and the therapeutic power of music. With humor and emotional depth, the artist underscores the liberating impact of singing, culminating in a poignant, self-composed song that captures her emotional struggle and resilience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker begins by acknowledging their stutter, setting the tone for a vulnerable and honest conversation about their challenges with public speaking.
• 😀 Despite being a performer, the speaker reveals that they live with a constant fear of public speaking, contrasting it with their ease in singing.
• 😀 The speaker shares the common misconception that they might be drunk or forgetful due to their stutter, highlighting societal misunderstandings of speech impediments.
• 😀 A key coping mechanism for the speaker is to alter their speech by changing words at the last minute to avoid stuttering, especially with difficult proper nouns.
• 😀 One of the most awkward moments for the speaker occurs when they meet another person with a stutter, leading to miscommunication and embarrassment.
• 😀 The speaker humorously explains how they once dealt with the challenge of introducing a band member named 'Steve' by changing his name to 'Seve' to avoid stuttering on the 'S' and 'T' sounds.
• 😀 Therapy, including techniques like 'smooth speech,' helps the speaker manage their stutter in formal situations like radio interviews or panel discussions.
• 😀 Despite the effectiveness of smooth speech, the speaker feels it conflicts with their artistic integrity, as it feels like a form of 'cheating' when compared to their desire for authenticity.
• 😀 Singing is a form of relief for the speaker, as they experience fluency and the ability to express themselves fully when they sing, unlike in spoken language.
• 😀 The speaker’s song performance illustrates the central theme: singing provides a space for the speaker to feel fluent and true to themselves, offering a moment of personal liberation.
• 😀 Overall, the talk explores the intersection of vulnerability, humor, and creative expression, highlighting the emotional power of music as a form of self-expression despite personal challenges.

Q & A

What personal challenge does the speaker discuss in the TED Talk?

The speaker discusses their experience with a stutter, which has been a lifelong challenge affecting their ability to speak in public.

How does the speaker feel about public speaking versus singing?

The speaker expresses that they live in fear of public speaking but find singing to be a completely different experience, offering them comfort and fluency.

Why does the speaker mention that they have never talked about their stutter before?

The speaker explains that they have avoided talking about their stutter, hoping that as they grew older, they would overcome it, but as an adult performer, they feel it is time to be open about it.

What does the speaker's method of using 'smooth speech' entail?

Smooth speech is a technique where the speaker sings or joins words together in a singsong, fluid manner, often used in public speaking or radio interviews to manage their stutter.

What does the speaker reveal about the impact of their stutter on social interactions?

The speaker shares humorous yet uncomfortable anecdotes, such as when they meet another person who stutters and unintentionally cause misunderstandings, or when others mistake their hesitations for being drunk or forgetful.

How does the speaker describe their coping strategy for dealing with difficult words?

The speaker explains that they often use a 'loophole method' by quickly changing difficult words, such as replacing 'Wednesday' with 'tomorrow' or 'the day after Tuesday,' which helps avoid stuttering but can feel clunky.

What is the significance of the speaker's relationship with the pianist named Steve?

The speaker reveals that their stutter makes it difficult to pronounce 'S' and 'T' sounds, so they would often introduce the pianist as 'Seve' instead of 'Steve' to avoid embarrassment and maintain the flow during performances.

What does the speaker mean by saying that singing is 'sweet relief' for them?

Singing allows the speaker to express themselves fluently and precisely without the constraints of their stutter, offering a rare sense of comfort and control in their communication.

What does the speaker mean when they say it's impossible to stutter when singing?

The speaker suggests that the act of singing engages a different part of the brain, allowing them to bypass the stutter, making it a form of treatment and a way for them to communicate freely.

Why does the speaker feel that singing is not just about making nice sounds or songs?

For the speaker, singing is a deeply personal and honest form of expression. It's not about impressing others or creating mythology but about experiencing fluency and connection through music.