#81 From Getting Help to Giving Help with Naomi Zauderer

TranscendingX with Uri Schneider

In this deeply moving episode, Uri Schneider reunites with former client Naomi Zauderer, now a clinical social worker in Tel Aviv. Naomi shares her journey from being a confident, outgoing child to experiencing the "rock bottom" of her stuttering in middle school, and ultimately transforming into a therapist who helps others process and heal.

Naomi reveals how drawing cartoons externalized her overwhelming experiences, making them tangible and even humorous. She recalls the pivotal moment of her bat mitzvah speech and how finding her father's supportive gaze gave her the courage to continue despite her stutter. Their conversation highlights the powerful "Daddy Naomi Radio" ritual that created a special bonding space between father and daughter.

The turning point came in ninth grade when Naomi discovered that by shifting focus away from stuttering and celebrating moments of fluency, she experienced dramatic improvement. This revelation about the power of perspective became the foundation for her professional path in therapy.

This episode offers profound insights for anyone facing challenges: look beyond the problem to see solutions, recognize that you are more than your struggles, and understand that adversity can unlock special knowledge that becomes your greatest asset. For parents and educators, Naomi emphasizes the importance of focusing on what children say rather than how they say it, and protecting the innate self-confidence children are born with

A must-listen for anyone interested in personal transformation, the psychology of communication, and the journey from getting help to giving help.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Introduction of Naomi Zauderer and her current role

00:01:54 - Naomi describes her "rock bottom" with stuttering in middle school

00:03:23 - Naomi's personality as a young child before stuttering became an issue

00:05:16 - Formative experiences in school and avoidance strategies

00:08:00 - The stuttering iceberg metaphor explained

00:10:00 - How drawing cartoons helped externalize overwhelming experiences

00:15:26 - Naomi's bat mitzvah speech experience and intense anxiety

00:20:00 - Finding Uri in the audience and gaining courage to continue

00:23:13 - The "Daddy Naomi Radio" show as a bonding experience

00:27:12 - The turning point in ninth grade with social and academic pressures

00:28:05 - Stuttering as a scapegoat for other challenges

00:30:08 - How focusing less on stuttering led to more fluency

00:40:11 - The pizza analogy: reducing the proportion of stuttering in identity

00:42:00 - Patch Adams story: looking beyond the problem to see solutions

00:47:48 - The "secret knowledge" gained through adversity

00:50:21 - Naomi's journey to becoming a therapist

00:51:53 - Addressing underlying shame and beliefs beyond fluency

00:54:34 - What Naomi would tell her younger self: "You're so much more than your stuttering"

00:55:57 - Advice for parents, teachers, and employers: focus on content, not delivery

00:57:10 - Closing reflections on protecting children's innate self-confidence

ABOUT THE HOST

Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC -SLP is co-founder and leader at Schneider Speech; creator and host of Transcending Stuttering; and faculty at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

SEE ALL SHOW NOTES

http://www.transcendingx.com/podcast

LEARN MORE Visit http://www.transcendingx.com or http://www.schneiderspeech.com