{ "schema_version": "1.0", "id": "CC-051", "title": "What should you look for in my speaking videos?", "topic": "Getting started and understanding my approach", "author": { "name": "Craig Coffee", "id": "https://usedtostutter.com/craig-coffee#person" }, "canonical_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations", "access": "public", "content_kind": "author_published_article", "context_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/about-this-material", "source_sha256": "5b57a77f8db0c4aee06b65a69029848f8dd5984adbeacdc79432934df15735d9", "source_markdown": "# What should you look for in my speaking videos?\n\nBy [Craig Coffee](/craig-coffee)\n\nLook at what happens before the conversation, what I actually say, and what happens next. I want you to understand why I chose an opening and what I did when the other person said something I hadn't planned.\n\n## Starting with something we can both see\n\nIn [the grocery-store recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReIuSd0BgeM), a man was looking at cookies. I commented on the cookies. Afterward I explained what I was looking for: a natural opening based on something we had in common or could both see.\n\nThat's an example of [how I start](/starting-conversations-when-you-stutter). I see something in front of us and say something about it. Then I have to deal with the response I actually get.\n\n## Taking one opening inside a crowd\n\nIn [the market recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3NpKI6mGgs), I see somebody miss a trash can and make a comment. I had already talked to people on the way from my car. Those little conversations were part of how I got myself going.\n\nI walk through the crowd finding a person and something to say. There are people I have met before and people I haven't. That's what I am showing when I talk about [practicing in a crowd](/talking-in-crowds-when-you-stutter).\n\n## Asking for something I came to buy\n\nIn [the pizza-dough exchange](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zr2h0ts3-fE), I ask where to find fresh dough, ask whether it is in the bakery, and follow up about sauce and cheese. Then I say, “perfect thank you very much.”\n\nI needed pizza dough. That gave me a reason to speak. It was a quick exchange, and I connected it to [talking to somebody each day](/asking-for-help-in-a-store-when-you-stutter).\n\n## Ordering a coffee and saying my name\n\nIn [the coffee recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLGOtOcUegs), I ask for a pour-over, make my choice, say it is for here, and say, “my name is Craig.” Then I thank the person.\n\n[My name](/stutter-saying-your-name) had been so hard for me. Here I was placing an ordinary order while explaining my story.\n\n## Changing the order when the answer surprises me\n\nAt another place, I ask for a Jack and Coke and find out they don't have liquor. I'd forgotten. So I ask for a Stella. Then I find out they don't take cash, and I ask whether I can tip in cash.\n\nThere are several things to work out after the first request. I have to hear the answer and respond to it. That's the [actual exchange](/ordering-food-when-you-stutter) I describe in that recording.\n\n## A comment can stay a comment\n\nIn the bookstore piece, I talk about a comment that didn't turn into a conversation. That was fine. Sometimes it's short and we walk away. Sometimes someone answers and we keep talking.\n\nI've also said I failed a lot while learning this. I could be trying to speak spontaneously, somebody would say something, and I wasn't quick enough or I blocked. Those [attempts are part of my story](/when-stuttering-practice-goes-badly) too.\n\n## Why I explain the moment before and afterward\n\nWhen I was discussing a possible outing with someone, I wanted them to watch me, try speaking themselves, and then talk about what happened. I said I would come back and explain what I did, why I said it and how I did it.\n\nI called the time before an approach and the time afterward valuable. That was the outing I was proposing. I also said it would be a trial run, because I hadn't done that kind of work with someone yet.\n\nWhat did I notice? What did I say? What answer came back? What did I do with it? That is the work I want to show and explain.\n\n## Related answers\n\n- [How do I listen when I am worrying about my speech?](/listening-without-monitoring-your-speech)\n- [Should I record myself when I practice speaking?](/recording-yourself-when-you-stutter)\n- [What am I promising when I share my stuttering story?](/evaluating-stuttering-treatment-claims)\n\n[Find your question](/questions)\n", "relative_link_base": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations", "sections": [ { "id": "reading-content", "heading": null, "heading_level": null, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#reading-content", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "Look at what happens before the conversation, what I actually say, and what happens next. I want you to understand why I chose an opening and what I did when the other person said something I hadn't planned.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "093d945ccdbbdeeef87aa39df68aa2403f277c15086fad0c2a5f192e6e546843" }, { "id": "starting-with-something-we-can-both-see", "heading": "Starting with something we can both see", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#starting-with-something-we-can-both-see", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Starting with something we can both see\n\nIn [the grocery-store recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReIuSd0BgeM), a man was looking at cookies. I commented on the cookies. Afterward I explained what I was looking for: a natural opening based on something we had in common or could both see.\n\nThat's an example of [how I start](/starting-conversations-when-you-stutter). I see something in front of us and say something about it. Then I have to deal with the response I actually get.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "f01f3076758db0dd212c085e182fc70b4f6210093e3c9abcb2e65606759f1f22" }, { "id": "taking-one-opening-inside-a-crowd", "heading": "Taking one opening inside a crowd", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#taking-one-opening-inside-a-crowd", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Taking one opening inside a crowd\n\nIn [the market recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3NpKI6mGgs), I see somebody miss a trash can and make a comment. I had already talked to people on the way from my car. Those little conversations were part of how I got myself going.\n\nI walk through the crowd finding a person and something to say. There are people I have met before and people I haven't. That's what I am showing when I talk about [practicing in a crowd](/talking-in-crowds-when-you-stutter).\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "d2232b4748222e472e057ff63cf0303a07b76a1094f3ddb509bf4342ee99dfae" }, { "id": "asking-for-something-i-came-to-buy", "heading": "Asking for something I came to buy", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#asking-for-something-i-came-to-buy", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Asking for something I came to buy\n\nIn [the pizza-dough exchange](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zr2h0ts3-fE), I ask where to find fresh dough, ask whether it is in the bakery, and follow up about sauce and cheese. Then I say, “perfect thank you very much.”\n\nI needed pizza dough. That gave me a reason to speak. It was a quick exchange, and I connected it to [talking to somebody each day](/asking-for-help-in-a-store-when-you-stutter).\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "381a149a40a1aa26b222a8e4e822177b92c19ee8cdcd268a6b6d58eeebfb26e7" }, { "id": "ordering-a-coffee-and-saying-my-name", "heading": "Ordering a coffee and saying my name", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#ordering-a-coffee-and-saying-my-name", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Ordering a coffee and saying my name\n\nIn [the coffee recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLGOtOcUegs), I ask for a pour-over, make my choice, say it is for here, and say, “my name is Craig.” Then I thank the person.\n\n[My name](/stutter-saying-your-name) had been so hard for me. Here I was placing an ordinary order while explaining my story.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "cbd5af463f983712f5839b587fab41c2fd1c6884f7be104dfec7b923ce9e6211" }, { "id": "changing-the-order-when-the-answer-surprises-me", "heading": "Changing the order when the answer surprises me", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#changing-the-order-when-the-answer-surprises-me", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Changing the order when the answer surprises me\n\nAt another place, I ask for a Jack and Coke and find out they don't have liquor. I'd forgotten. So I ask for a Stella. Then I find out they don't take cash, and I ask whether I can tip in cash.\n\nThere are several things to work out after the first request. I have to hear the answer and respond to it. That's the [actual exchange](/ordering-food-when-you-stutter) I describe in that recording.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "6f460eb563c96740a28b8acebab10094785f8776a8cdd0698707211d1dce9025" }, { "id": "a-comment-can-stay-a-comment", "heading": "A comment can stay a comment", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#a-comment-can-stay-a-comment", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## A comment can stay a comment\n\nIn the bookstore piece, I talk about a comment that didn't turn into a conversation. That was fine. Sometimes it's short and we walk away. Sometimes someone answers and we keep talking.\n\nI've also said I failed a lot while learning this. I could be trying to speak spontaneously, somebody would say something, and I wasn't quick enough or I blocked. Those [attempts are part of my story](/when-stuttering-practice-goes-badly) too.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "e13e0043743fdcfd8fde651e570c61fadec6997f375a24ef7505bd3c8099abfc" }, { "id": "why-i-explain-the-moment-before-and-afterward", "heading": "Why I explain the moment before and afterward", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#why-i-explain-the-moment-before-and-afterward", "role": "source_context", "source_markdown": "## Why I explain the moment before and afterward\n\nWhen I was discussing a possible outing with someone, I wanted them to watch me, try speaking themselves, and then talk about what happened. I said I would come back and explain what I did, why I said it and how I did it.\n\nI called the time before an approach and the time afterward valuable. That was the outing I was proposing. I also said it would be a trial run, because I hadn't done that kind of work with someone yet.\n\nWhat did I notice? What did I say? What answer came back? What did I do with it? That is the work I want to show and explain.\n\n", "source_span_sha256": "bd1fdd6b2a9b3ef57ffb517f60ca483008c7a8243cfb1a2e3a4acab496686565" }, { "id": "related-answers", "heading": "Related answers", "heading_level": 2, "citation_url": "https://usedtostutter.com/stuttering-demonstrations#related-answers", "role": "navigation", "source_markdown": "## Related answers\n\n- [How do I listen when I am worrying about my speech?](/listening-without-monitoring-your-speech)\n- [Should I record myself when I practice speaking?](/recording-yourself-when-you-stutter)\n- [What am I promising when I share my stuttering story?](/evaluating-stuttering-treatment-claims)\n", "source_span_sha256": "2f1445abfebf03ffcf8ab640110c01ad507975d975b58282f63157650d10f7a6" } ], "related_book_sections": [ { "id": "my-name-is-craig", "title": "MY NAME IS CRAIG", "url": "https://usedtostutter.com/reader/book/editions/corrected-2026-10-04-9e1d376a993f/chapters/my-name-is-craig", "formats": { "json": "https://usedtostutter.com/reader/book/editions/corrected-2026-10-04-9e1d376a993f/chapters/my-name-is-craig.json", "xml": "https://usedtostutter.com/reader/book/editions/corrected-2026-10-04-9e1d376a993f/chapters/my-name-is-craig.xml", "md": "https://usedtostutter.com/reader/book/editions/corrected-2026-10-04-9e1d376a993f/chapters/my-name-is-craig.md", "txt": "https://usedtostutter.com/reader/book/editions/corrected-2026-10-04-9e1d376a993f/chapters/my-name-is-craig.txt" } } ] }