#36 Listen to the Music with Justin Matley
“I don’t think stuttering has been something dramatic in my life”
BIO
JUSTIN MATLEY is a multi-award-winning Post Sound / Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Designer, and Music Supervisor who works on a plethora of television, film, radio, podcast, internet, and experiential-based projects for the broadcast, motion picture, and advertising industries. He currently works both at his clients' facilities and in-house at his private studio. A 17-year industry veteran, Justin takes pride in being an excellent problem solver, team player, and creative executor.
Justin also doubles as a Producer and Creative Consultant, running his own production collective, Matley Productions, focused on integrated audio and video projects with a backbone in education and social causes. He is also adjunct faculty at the University of Connecticut, Department of Digital Media and Design, where he teaches coursework in sound technology.
Justin is a has-been musician with 30 years of experience as a classically trained percussionist and chronic noodler on other instruments. He's an avid Red Sox fan, skier, mediocre tequila drinker, and lover of most things outdoors. Above all, his most important roles are as a husband and father to two amazing girls.
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform. You can also watch the interview on YouTube.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Justin talks about how growing up he viewed his stutter as an undercurrent in his life but in hindsight, it shaped him into the person he is today.
Justin briefly mentions growing up in a household where addiction played a huge role.
Justin discusses how he got into his creative career path of filmmaking.
He delves into the behind scene experiences of creating films and how he adds the elements of stuttering into the films to create awareness.
Ways the stuttering and the film community can change and better advocate for those who don’t have a voice.
RESOURCE LIST
MORE QUOTES
“I always want to honor that feeling and give permission for that fear and concern because that's what parents are supposed to do. They're supposed to look out for the wellbeing of the future of their kids. At the same time, I try to put out the hope and the possibility a there are things we can do to build strength and self image and identity at an early age.” - Justin Matley
“A stutter can be a part of you and also fade into the background.” - Uri Schneider
TRANSCRIPTION:
uri schneider: Hey, good morning. Here we are. What a special morning we're here at the end of 2020. It's just me for now. The reality is this was scheduled for yesterday and as a dad and as a husband, I needed to reschedule because we needed to take care of some things at home with the family. Uh, right now Justin is working on some things which gives me a chance to just talk, speak.
uri schneider: Directly with you, please feel free to give us a, like a, share a comment, pop, any questions that you want to ask, uh, that you'd like to ask me or that you'd like to ask Justin. Um, we're going to have a great conversation. Justin, matley is super special guy and, uh, he's been involved in almost everything that we've done at Schneider speech.
uri schneider: So it's a big treat and a big privilege, but I'll just share with you one thought. And that is, I'm obsessed with the idea of how we give and how we take, how we learn and then what we do with that knowledge as we move along. So one of the big things that you may have seen in one of my previous videos and Facebook live, or in other places on Instagram, um, we're all looking to grow.
uri schneider: You know, whether we have a communication challenge, whether we are imperfect parents, Myself being the head of that pack of imperfect parents, um, whether we're professionals and our job and our wish is to be there, to be a guide for others. We're all on this journey towards figuring out how to express ourselves most, fully and most freely, and to have the least amount of fear and the most amount of courage to really just be who we are.
uri schneider: And I think as we're looking towards the end of this. Super challenging year. I think we all should take the time to think about those questions. What are the things that we really wish we could do? If not for X, Y, or Z, allow ourselves give ourselves permission to think what is it we wish to do the day after that circumstance, whether it's a financial, uh, relational, emotional circumstantial situation is present in our lives.
uri schneider: What is it we wish to do? And then what are the things that hold us back? What are some of the fears? What are some of the stories that we have that hold us back? Certainly part of learning and growing is figuring out the skills, the knowledge to really hack a problem. So at times there are things one wants to learn and needs to learn and deserves to learn.
uri schneider: And other times it's much less about that, or it's not all about that. It's about looking beyond and would that. I welcome a good friend hero collaborator. Mr. Dad
justin matley: has been
uri schneider: look at that background Huston, so good to see you, man.
justin matley: The CEO. Let me make sure my audio specs are right. You're hearing me. You're I'm seeing you. Good. Can you
uri schneider: hear all the construction that, uh, is conveniently happening behind me?
justin matley: No, no,
uri schneider: that's fantastic.
justin matley: That means that the. The zoom audio cancellation is, uh, is operational.
justin matley: What's good,
uri schneider: either that or the hours and oodles of emails that I've sent you to ask you how to soundproof this room have paid off. Um, because only God knows between you and me. How many times I asked you for suggestions, but it's all your credit. Anything. Anything worth sharing. That's come out of Schneider speech.
uri schneider: And I mean, this sincerely, um, Justin, at least on the audio side of things has made that possible. And, uh, he's been a dear friend and collaborator forever. So transcending, stuttering. Uh, the first movie we did transcending stuttering, the inside story, going with the flow, a guide to transcending stuttering, another film that my father produced, righteous rebel documentary, or of Abby Weiss.
uri schneider: And then this latest iteration of transcending stuttering, a learning online video course, that's really gonna help and is helping us adults and teens who stutter and also speech pathologists looking for training. This is the guy with the magic. And he has been a director, a producer, a friend, and just, you couldn't ask
justin matley: him in the wheel, but a cognitive wheel, but the brain, but the brains and the, and the oversight and the, uh, the inspirational comes from you and your dad.
uri schneider: Listen,
justin matley: I love and respect and adore.
uri schneider: I heard something about Hanukkah. I don't think you celebrate Hanukkah, right?
justin matley: Good.
uri schneider: But this you could celebrate. And that is that like knowledge, when we share knowledge, we don't lose it. We just share it. Now the other person has it as well. It's not like it's a zero sum game.
uri schneider: So similarly, when we light two candles, When one candle Kindles another candle at that moment, they come together. They actually burn bigger and brighter. When two waves collide the amplitude, whether it's sound waves, water, waves, whatever, they relate with one another, they amplify each other. And at that moment, and that's what you've been for us.
uri schneider: So we may provide some waves. You create the amplification?
justin matley: No, I, I appreciate that. Um, and to be honest, I mean, it's a good jumping off point, perhaps. Um, In that I never really thought a heck of a lot about
justin matley: stuttering, um, speech challenges, stammering, however you want to define it. Uh, you know, before I, I at least started getting involved with the NSA, which then. Proxy had me involved with say at the time, our time, and then that's how I, how I met your dad. So it really wasn't until, I mean, maybe like 10 years ago, uh, 10, 12 years ago that I really started to think a heck of a lot about.
justin matley: All of that. And, um, you know, like S sorta came to me and I was, I was on a flight out to California and I was at the airport and I wanted to snag a book just at the airport. A God, I forgot the book, or, you know, I, as monk, I booked for the flight, whatever. Hi.
justin matley: Grab Michael Fox is auto biography. I just looked at it and I always thought he was kind of an interesting guy and, and it was looked like an easy read. I was like, yeah, I'll grab it and go. And, uh, just his involvement with his
justin matley: foundation. And.
justin matley: Seriousness by his lightness about his issue too really was sort of, um, his sort of his angle and his twist really sort of was, was inspiring in some ways for me. And it was actually on that flight that I, but I logged on after the book, it was a very easy read. I think I read it. One leg of the flight. Uh, and, uh, it sort of inspired me.
justin matley: I was like, Hey, like I've got a thing, right? I've got this thing. That's, that's a challenge in many ways. And I don't know that it had defines me. I don't know that it at the time, you know, I wasn't sure if it had, you know, if it had any. Influence in who I was, but, but I, but I, uh, I realized I had a thing and I wanted to be able and, you know, I I've always loved, loved kids and things like that.
justin matley: So I was like, how can I use my thing to get involved with something and feel like I'm active in, um, in a way that's authentic, you know, like I have this thing. So then like, it's okay for me. To talk about it because I got this thing. Right. And, uh, yeah, so that was inspiration to start. I reached, you know, I just went online and re you know, and, and that, that launched of, you know, my involvement with, with them as a little bit volunteered at, uh, I met some, I now.
justin matley: Close, uh, some close friends, um, from that, um, certainly you guys, Laurie as well, who, you know, and, um, and, and yeah, and that was, that was it. So here we are. So then from that, having got involved with our time and now called say, and then your dad and. Working on the films and it was, it was, it was great because then I could say, okay, I got this thing, but now I'm learning more about this thing just from a technical standpoint, but also from how his influence was two, I am the standpoint, but I'm in a way that didn't realize.
justin matley: Yeah. And then at the same time, I was able to find him, uh, just inject some of my professional, um, Career arc into all this too. So anyway, you didn't ask anything. I just,
uri schneider: I didn't even know that part
justin matley: background. Yeah.
uri schneider: So it all goes back to Michael J. Fox and that thing called an airport.
justin matley: It does, oddly enough. Yeah. And
uri schneider: what's interesting is that for those that know, my dad recently found out that he has Parkinson's. Like Michael J. Fox. And it's interesting that that book kind of sparked your journey and it's also beautiful.
uri schneider: I just think it's so striking. One of the amazing things I really admire and adore about Justin is. He really shows how much, um, when you're all about substance and you bring something valuable to the table, a stutter can be a part of you and also fade into the background. So for Justin, it was like, wow, that's inspiring what this guy does.
uri schneider: I wonder if I have anything I could do something with. Hm. It was such an afterthought the way you shared that. And I think for a lot of people, not. In that place where stuttering is not in the background, but it's much more in the foreground or it's impossible to think how it couldn't be. I think you really are sharing a very authentic story.
uri schneider: That's not a result of any worker program, but a living example. And then here, my dad ends up with Parkinson's and he's finding inspiration and strength from Michael J. Fox as well. And in his own right. Kind of like. Yeah, the living example for others inspiration, but what do you think contribute to that, Justin?
uri schneider: Cause obviously along the way, you've met other people through the films, um, which the producer director is here. So I may as well plug them, you can go to Schneider speech.com/movies to see these documentaries. They're incredible. And you see people who hit rock bottom, who have tough times ultimately find their way.
uri schneider: And, and we believe everyone can find their way. But how is it that at that point in your life, Your stutter. Wasn't something that was so prominent and wasn't something that was like a dramatic forefront
justin matley: theme. Yeah. Yeah. That's a really, that's a good question. And to be really Frank, I don't know that it's ever really been something dramatic in my life.
justin matley: It's always been an. You're gone. You went away. Oh, he's you're doing something. Okay. Um, you know, it's always been, have an undercurrent in, in my life. And then in hindsight, now I can look back on and, and how I feel it's shaped. Some of what I feel is empathy that I, I think I have, um, I don't know that I am a completely patient, but I think whatever, what I have for patients I have, I think is in large part to my experience with, with speech.
justin matley: Um, I also had some other, um, challenge, uh, some other challenges growing up within my household, where for addiction, shouldn't played a role in, in my house. So in, in, you know, in some respects, Aliyah have always been sort of a gung ho sort of extra, I think to a certain extent. And perhaps more my later years when I started not to care what other people thought.
justin matley: I mean, not that I was ever, somebody really overly was concerned with how other people thought, but I think more just he'd get older and more confident and, and things, things like that. They, they tend to matter less, you know, and like your kids and job matter more. Right. So, um, You know, it hides speech therapist.
justin matley: I was growing up. I went to Ross Barrett's thing. Um, and Virginia, um, I guess after eighth grade, um, I grew up in South Carolina, largely. I was born in New York, but I moved from there. Really. Um, at age of four and I was in South Carolina till, till just about 13 and I moved to Massachusetts when I was 13.
justin matley: So I interesting sort of like I started hop that I moved that it really interesting time in my life, like right before, like eighth grade. Right. It's like one of those critical, like wild times. And it like in, uh, like in adolescent life. Um, so like in some ways, like, whilst. Stuttering played, um, undercurrent to everything.
justin matley: It was never a fixation for me. And I don't know whether that's because of me or whether that's because of the things that were also happening around me. Um, you know, um,
uri schneider: you're talking, it's interesting, Justin, because when you look at the literature, it's very different than the lived experience. A lot of us have.
uri schneider: So as parents, you know, we think about the challenges we're all living through right now, the stress. The small T traumas, the big T traumas and just ongoing stress and the impact. And then we worry about our kids now that we're parents, um, and certainly could look back and think how those worried about us.
uri schneider: But I meet so many parents who say my kid's stutters. He's going to enter second grade, third grade, and it's going to be fortress. Um, and I always want to honor that feeling and give permission for that fear and concern because that's what parents are supposed to do. Yeah. They're supposed to look out for the wellbeing of the future of their kids.
uri schneider: At the same time, I try to put out the hope and the possibility a there are things we can do to build strength and, and self image and identity at an early age. But also it's not necessarily true that people that stutter go through really challenging times and the people around, you know, with the people around them.
uri schneider: It sounds like you didn't come from a, you didn't have the cards stacked in your favor. I mean, between stuttering and it sounds like some other things going on. What were the things do you think contributed to the, to the experience, the strength, the, the fact that it wasn't a big theme?
justin matley: Well, um, it was interesting, like how to answer that, um, you know, is interesting.
justin matley: Uh, just maybe a year or two ago, I noticed that Josie started. She started she's my oldest daughter. Um, and, uh, at first there was like a little bit of Insurity, but then like, really, really soon after that I was like, we got this. I was like, I know Phil and Ori. I got people that say like, we're outside New York, like, like got this, like whatever, you know?
justin matley: And then of course, once I started getting all like, sort of excited in a way, like she stopped stuttering. So, but, uh, no, you know, I mean, I've always been, I've always been pretty, pretty confident, I think. Um, you know, perhaps at times in my life, that's, that's been contrived as, as hubris. I mean, I don't know.
justin matley: I hope not, but, um, you know, I don't, I don't, but I've always felt that. Yeah. And again, this, this may have been shaped by like survival mode at home. And then I also, I, I was an only child now for that eight and a half, nine years. And then, and then I had two sisters coming into my life and, uh, because it was going in the household, I ended up taking on very much like a, like a third.
justin matley: Third parent kind of role in my house very soon. I'll just based on my age, but also based on kind of what was happening in household. So I think that also enveloped my, my, I guess, whatever fortitude, you know, perhaps that I had as a person and just reinforced that. And, um, so I dunno, I mean, I, I, I saw part of his DNA, I suppose, and.
justin matley: Uh, part of it is, um, you know, like I've always been, it's interesting, you know, like if you look, look back, um, At like my, like my progress sports is like kindergarten, first grade. I mean, I don't have them anymore, but I mean, I remember
uri schneider: we can compare,
justin matley: uh, I don't have the, you know, but it was, you know, but it's always been like, you know, Chastain's good student, blah, blah, blah, like talks too much, you know?
justin matley: And it's interesting that the stutter is the one that's in the background. That's talking too much. I'm probably not saying much cause I'm probably not getting through many words, but I'm certainly
uri schneider: my dad. My dad always likes to point out that most people who start to really enjoy talking and that stuttering is getting in the way you wouldn't stutter.
uri schneider: If you didn't try talking. So it's a, it's a, it's a misconception to think that someone who stutters doesn't want to speak or want to enjoy speaking. Um, so that is pretty funny. The kid who stutters is getting on his report card, listen, he's, he's chatting too much. You need to tell him to. Yeah,
justin matley: you sit down, he needs to stop talking.
uri schneider: Let's start amazing.
justin matley: No, I mean, it was always, you know,
uri schneider: but that speaks, that speaks volumes. I just wanted to riff off something that you said, and you have this new album coming out too. I just wanted to plug all your creativity. You know, it took a little while, but
justin matley: it's
uri schneider: coming, it's coming. It's coming at some point.
uri schneider: It's a project
justin matley: with the friends. That's
uri schneider: everything. That's the creative process. He kind of like you can't architect. Life. Right? So like you couldn't draw up the childhood that you might've wished wanted planned hoped for you live through the experiences and conditions that you had. And thankfully you came out the other side, maybe stronger for it is what it sounds like to me.
uri schneider: And we would never wish that upon someone, but I think just the idea of realizing that it's possible to grow through adversity. And I wondered if you feel that's.
justin matley: To categorize my, my, my, my growing up as, as unique, there are a lot of very wonderful things about my, my growing up too. And my family, you know, I, I had every, you know, I had everything that I hadn't done, that I needed a middle-class family. So I, you know, I was in, you know, like I was entitled in many ways.
justin matley: These are maybe not entitled the privileged, I suppose, in many. Anyways. I think that should be acknowledged in that I was never hurting for food or things that I needed. I was able to go to college, um, without accumulating things yet. I mean, these are huge, huge things. So, you know, the certainly there's a lot of good with, with, with, with, uh, some challenges.
justin matley: Um,
uri schneider: So coming to the stuttering community, as you did, kind of bringing your thing as an excuse or as a, just happens to be the theme with which you bring your volunteerism and you contribute to that community and then get so much more involved. What were some of the surprising things you discovered or surprising outcomes, whether it was what you saw for others or what you got out of it for yourself that were surprising, you wouldn't have expected.
uri schneider: Number
justin matley: one, just the author authenticity of people. I mean, I have such a short leash and I worked in advertising for, for a good part of my career, dealing with a lot of things. You know that diversity, um, you know, and just seeing the like authentic people, just, it just a, just the people just putting it out there, like putting themselves out there.
justin matley: Um, and just, just connections with people who are making with each other, um, know just over like a few days at some conference in Fort worth, Texas where no one knows anybody or, and then, you know, over the course, it was a few days like, Really developing these lifelong relationships. And I was like, I like, I did that as well.
justin matley: Um, and, uh, yeah, just, yeah, it speaks to not only the kind of end of event, like, like a conference for, for people who have a shared challenge is, but also the kind of people that have these challenges and how it's shaped, who they are. Um, there's a lot of, like, I think a lot of it is like, You know, uh, What the small talk, right?
justin matley: I think like it's hard enough to speak as it is. So let's just cut through this. We know we don't have the energy or the wherewithal to say small talk because it's hard enough to speak. So let's just cut to like the real talk.
uri schneider: Most of us, those of us that don't stutter. We struggle with that. We kind of get stuck in the smalltalk and then time's up and we never got to the meat.
justin matley: It's I used to go to these, like, you know, in my industry. So I've been in, uh, um, I've only owned businesses. That's right. and the line of work that I do for about seven years now, but for nine and a half, for 10 years prior to that, I was largely in advertising and, and, um, And also like the, like the, like the film industry and such, and they, you know, there's all these events, right?
justin matley: There's always these, like, after hours, like hanging cocktail hangs and like, you know, I found myself going to these things and like, you know, I ended up like, after like a year or two, I ended up in like the, in the corner with this one. With the same three people talking about things that wholly unrelated to what we did for work, you know, it was like, I'm not like football or like politics or whatever.
justin matley: And like, you know, I just, I just ended up just having more and more, not frustration, but just, I just being turned off by just like, I just kinda wanted people to talk to the people that I know do I know, like authentically know and talking about things that I think are. I'm not saying like football or politics is really worthwhile.
justin matley: That being said, I, I felt like those are more interesting to me than talking about stumps, some commercial that we were working on, that the people who actively try to avoid watching,
justin matley: but, uh, you know, but pays the bills, I suppose. Yeah.
uri schneider: So, so that's the experience that you got, like the surprises of jumping into the starting community when you went through creating these films? With my dad and these projects with me over some things that excited you or that you discovered, or maybe on the other end, like.
uri schneider: People coming back to, and, and seeing you are associated with these things and it being a conversation starter, I don't know what were some interesting behind the scenes insights or experiences?
justin matley: Yeah, so I was sort of brought on, um, you know, so, like I said, I met your father through taro and then, um, I was sort of like brought on as sort of in kind of in a consultant capacity.
justin matley: So your dad was always. Director on those things. I was always sort of, um, you know, I was like, like a producer type and what my role in that entails is just keeping things on track. Um, trying to sort of act as sort of like a, um, a S founding board. I'm in a creative capacity, technical capacity. I'm an organizational capacity.
justin matley: Okay.
justin matley: Well, the director and I'm a facilitator for what, what his goals are. Um, and, um, you know, I, I, I was instantly, I mean, I mean, you're. Your dad's a force and you know that, you know, and, um, he, he's just, he just owns, he just owns this topic, but owns who he is. And he's like, it's so easy to just like, be wrapped up in that.
justin matley: Um, and it was, yeah, it was really inspiring. And he was really what kind of like. Sure. The NSA and our time pulled me into it were drawn me in for different reasons. Um, certainly with our time and say it, the creative arts and stuff, but like your dads want to kind of like, kept that, get me there. You know, like you sort of like the magnet amongst all of this, he was like the son of like, you know, planets are circling, but you're sort of like locking everything together.
justin matley: Um, and, uh, you know, I found he was just so focused on. Doing these things for the, just the, what he felt were the right, right. Reasons that he wasn't doing this for, for fame or fortune or to him, or to, you know, to make a buck or to publicize like Schneider speech. Uh, he was doing it because he just felt it was the right thing to do.
justin matley: And these words, stories, and these were, these were, uh, practices and, um, The issues that just needed to be talked about that weren't talking to me, he was trying to fill what he felt was a void on the community. And it was worse in the sense of like using film and use stories to define and, um, Like a topic like this, like a condition like this.
justin matley: He was a trailblazer. I mean, really, I mean, I wasn't involved in the, in the first film that he worked on, but, um, I mean, really that was. I mean, based on what I've, I've learned. I mean, that was really kind of like the first of its kind like really like a feature length documentary based on the stories of people who stutter, you know?
justin matley: Um, yeah, because at the time of sort of a niche-y sort of topic, you know, but like, it's come more to the mainstream now because of getting speech and like things like that sort of brought it out more and to the forefront and people like learning more about some. Famous people who've had the condition, things like that, but yeah.
justin matley: Um, yeah, you know, like, I think for me personally learn just about like, just working on things because they are meaningful because they mattered and also working with people who you, you trust and respect and all those kinds of things helped reinforce . My own professional
justin matley: practices as well. Um,
uri schneider: interesting. That's an interesting angle.
justin matley: Let's see relationships. I mean, I have to say that these were things that were completely new to me, but they're kind of really reinforced by just sort of like learning about like your dad and you and how you operate. And, um, seeing that in practice really kind of reinforced.
justin matley: Um, I dunno, just like doing things for the right, right reasons, and also cutting through the, the fat of, of life too. And just get into like, you know sure. There's there's things and we can't control them variables in life that sort of are the shiny objects of our day to day. But like when it comes down to it, it's about, it's about authenticity and it's about.
justin matley: Helping each other. And it's about doing things for, for right, right. Reasons, whatever that means to any individual. I, and I'm not claiming that right. Reasons is a whole universal thing either. I mean, everybody's got their own right reasons, you know? Yeah.
uri schneider: Wow. And what was it like? I'm just curious. Cause I didn't realize that for you, you came to that juncture in life, coming from a place that stuttering didn't really have a prominent foreground kind of thing for you.
uri schneider: What did it mean to you to discover other people that had a very, a different experience, but on the other hand, how did you resonate with the stories that you chose to
justin matley: keep like it's equally, equally.
uri schneider: Thank you for one second to interrupt you. I just want to frame that even a little bit bigger. I think it's so important.
uri schneider: People are looking for community people. They're looking to find their people. People are looking to find people that get them. And I think all of us want that whatever, and wherever we are in life and whatever our life looks like, whether it's a significant other, whether it's a local community, whether it's an online community, we're looking for people that are, they just resonate, they get it.
uri schneider: They just really understand our experience and our struggle and our. Our dream that we want to fulfill. And at the same time, people who stutter shouldn't be thought of as a homogenous group, they are as different
justin matley: from the other.
uri schneider: It's not a model if you know, so there's such a, uh, although those are popping up all over the world monoliths, but, um, people who stutter are as different one from the other, as you can imagine.
uri schneider: So like a friend of mine called me, um, and he just messaged me. He's like, do you think it's fair to say that people who stutter are generally agreeable. And I said, let's get on a call cause it's not a yes or no, you know, it's as varied as any other thing would be, but there is something that sticks. So as much as people's experiences are different, one person's stutter is very different from the other person's stutter one person's way of coping, adapting, and getting through it different than the other.
uri schneider: But there's still this glue. So I was just wondering if you could reflect on that.
justin matley: Yeah. So, um, you know, like. Like it comes down to life experience, right? I mean, I don't
justin matley: think stuttering itself, um, has to be the condition by which these certain personality traits emerge maybe, or get reinforced through life. I think there's, there's any number of dozens, hundreds, thousands of, of, of challenges that people can face going through life that shape. These kinds of traits that you're talking about.
justin matley: Um, so I think just, I think the, the, the larger term is sort of just like whatever unique life experience, um, that you have. And S I suppose it helps if it's a challenge because it sort of forces you to, to face. Whether, you know, where at first you did to apply work or a struggle or an encounter, a conflict and resolve it.
justin matley: I mean, these are all life traits, right? Things that we, you know, that we have to learn at some point somehow in our life, whether it's through marriage or through a job or whatever, you know? So, um, but also just to go back to what you're saying before, I mean, when I met. Sort of when I met other, uh, other people, I mean, certainly there was like one part of me that was just like, wow.
justin matley: You know, I mean, I certainly knew that other people had much stronger, um, with, with speech challenges in terms of how it, like, like some of the trauma, you know, um, and, and hearing those stories is incredible. I mean, certainly from the kids, I mean, that's more than anything is hearing the stories from the kids, um, and hearing the catharsis to.
justin matley: That came from them, whether it be at camp, the campfire they're in a safe space and finally able to sort of project what they've kept internalized. I mean, that was, that was, you know, that stuffs, um, you know, it's just, it's inspiring. It's, it's, you know, it's, it's all of that. Um, you know, but at the, uh, yeah, so there's certainly that, but there's certainly like an interesting curve.
justin matley: Um, you know, like, Okay.
justin matley: It's just very interesting to see that so many people could have so many different relationships with the condition, but yet ultimately have, have a commonality of their relationships with each other, um, in that you could have.
justin matley: Different different layers of experience with there's commonality, but that wasn't so important as it was the commonality. Um, and the, it didn't take, somebody went through a horrible trauma to recognize too. To at empathy for a person perhaps who did or were sympathy or whatever. Um, it's, I'll call it. It comes down to empathy, I think is, is like the key Turner is like, whatever your experience with this condition may have been the, the hope is that.
justin matley: You can't empathy through the process and can see people. And this isn't just for stuttering. This is just for people in general, it can see different people's experiences and how they manifest Fest. Um, and ultimately what makes them who they are. Um, I don't know if I answered your question. I sort of went off a little bit there, but
uri schneider: questions are just an offering and an invitation and you take them to places that's the way it always goes.
uri schneider: And so it's so powerful. And I do think that's really something to highlight is like, like you said, that functionally, as much as people are different, one from the other, this experience, somehow it's just a difference of degree, different cytokines that somehow just there's enough there that we just get one another.
uri schneider: Uh, in that space and I don't stutter. So I'm, I'm just an ally in that space, but I care deeply and learn. And, and I think that's why my dad and I, and so many people are so inspired. I think that, and that's what the film brings out is this universal experience, this universal journey that we all have, something stuttering happens to be one.
uri schneider: Um, and it can be a pretty. It can be a pretty wicked teacher as, as John Gomez says in his film, you know, when I talk, but, um, but there's a lot there for all of us. Anyone who stutters for parents, of kids who stutter, um, it is so daunting to be a parent. And then if you have a kid that has any sort of difference, You now have to go from parenting one Oh one, which you didn't take now you got to do parenting four Oh one and there's no, there's nobody teaching the class.
uri schneider: It's
justin matley: well, cause as a, as a parent, right? I mean, and we have to wrap up here soon. Um, you know, but you know, like, listen,
uri schneider: I don't stutter, but don't rush me.
justin matley: But as a, as a, um, All right. Like what, it all comes down to like wanting the best for your kid. Right? You just want your kid to have an easier life situation than maybe you had, or just, you want them to have all, all that they need to succeed in life, whether that be emotionally, financially, physically.
justin matley: Right? So like when you see a child with a condition, especially if you're not as informed on the topic or, or perhaps. You live somewhere where access to there. And this is why it goes back to your B or your online program here. Why it's so important, especially from an access kind of, of standpoint. I think access to the quality of care and, and repeatable information, you know, I think is so important because, um, you know, you can get really.
justin matley: Loss as a parent, especially this year. I mean, my kids now home for the next two weeks, like e-learning, she's on a laptop, she's five, you know, you know, and I'll, you know, I'm working as well, you know, so I'm like up and down, but if she needs, you know, thankfully she's relatively self-sufficient, but it's like, all you want is for it to be.
justin matley: To be them to be happy and then to pay laughing and then to be talking. And this year in particular has shaped people. And I mean, wow, it's been a ride just the first eight months just in terms of watching her and her experiences and how she's she went in when she went internal and you know, and when she opened up and how she's affected by going in and out of school and things like that, um, So, yeah, I think it's all goes just through like share life experiences.
justin matley: And again, as, as parents, all we want is the best for our children, but it's also why information and access and, and assistance is so is so wholly important is feeling like you have an ally, and that's what you were saying about yourself. And your dad is just having this year. If it's proven. Anything it's that happening allies?
justin matley: Uh, is we, I mean, we w you know, we have to have allies in life, I guess, is what I'm saying. There isn't any way of
uri schneider: putting it humbling. If you're an introvert,
justin matley: whether you're a loner or, uh, you know, uh, Somebody is out there, that's an off the walls. I mean, whatever, whoever he may be, we need to, um, other people in our life, in our unit, in our circle to be able to handle this existence that week.
uri schneider: I think that, you know, and I saw how much you were involved in that, whether it was hosting radio shows early on in COVID or sharing information. And it's not a surprise. I was trying to do the same thing. And I think, uh, as Mr. Rogers says, right, you know, in times of difficulty look for the helpers, the ones who are running to be there for others and, uh, put on your sweater and be Mr.
uri schneider: Rogers, but on your ugly holiday sweater or whatever. But, uh, yeah, there should be no shame in looking for help, whether it's professional help or whether it's just a mentorship kind of relationship or a peer, you know, whether it's dad, to dad just having a check-in, but we all. Yeah, we're all in this to win it.
uri schneider: And it's challenging. And I think what I would add to that, and then we'll wrap is my dad always says the goal is not to have a happy kid, is to raise a kid to become a well adjusted, responsible adult. So it's a long-term investment and there will be temper tantrums nonstop during different times and years and whatnot.
uri schneider: The key is planting and modeling for them. How we respond to challenges because they will face challenges and we can show them the way
justin matley: I think that's so, and I think it's just, I just want to reaffirm that. I think that's part is so key. It's just like, you just want them to be happy all the time, but like there's also an unhealthy and as about you want the dig experience, the full breadth of life so that they are well-prepared for the challenges that they encounter.
justin matley: I think, yeah. You said it much better than I did. I think that's great.
uri schneider: I was listening to you and formulating it and riffing off of you, Justin, Matt Lee. It's been a pleasure. I'm glad we caught just even a few minutes, but again, I just want to give you the credit that's due, whatever the title is, and I mess it up every time you could be producer director, we could match those together.
uri schneider: The bottom line is, I mean, this sincerely the things that we've been able to put out your. Fingerprints and your involvement is all over it and you have a share in anything good that came out and anything that sounded crappy. Definitely not your fault.
justin matley: Well, I'm very grateful for you as well. And this relationship and your family and what you do.
justin matley: It's, it's it, it's added a lot of, a lot of value into my life as well. So I'm appreciative of that
uri schneider: then my regards to your wife and your daughters. They're
justin matley: lucky to have such
uri schneider: a dad. All right. All the best. Thanks a lot.
justin matley: Have a great day. We'll circle
uri schneider: back later. Bye. Bye.