Sam Bagshaw is one of the UK’s leading stammer awareness advocates and content creators, using the power of social media to challenge stigma, change perceptions and inspire confidence.
In this interview, conducted by our co-founder Joanna Baker-Rogers, who also lives with a stammer, Sam discussed what it was like growing up with his speech impairment, why he chose to share his story online and what it was like to reach one million followers on TikTok.
Sam, 29, from Rotherham, has built a community of more than one million followers by sharing authentic content about living with a stammer. His work promotes confidence, inclusion and representation, while supporting charities and partnering with brands, schools and organisations to encourage authentic communication.
Sam Bagshaw on growing up with a stammer
He first opened up about the challenges he faced as a child living with a stammer:
“I did find it hard when I was younger. I didn’t really understand what was going on. Mum and Dad noticed that I was finding it hard to talk. I did go into a little bit of speech therapy, but because of that young age, I still didn’t really understand. So for quite a while, I just managed it myself.
“It was hard through school because it stopped me from doing things that I would like to do. It did stop me from making friends. Nowadays, I definitely feel I don’t let it bother me. I’m just accepting it, and that’s just me.”
Sam also mentioned how sometimes he notices in certain situations when he is singing, public speaking or recording certain videos, his stammer seems to subside more. He also admitted that he has never stuttered when saying his own name. Sharing one example, he said:
“I recorded a video recently after I finished doing a workout, and I was out of breath and trying to talk, and it really helped me from struggling. I think it was because I was too focused on trying to get my breath back, and I feel like it was making me keep my mouth open more because it was making me breathe a lot more. So that affected my stammer. In my video that I did, I was talking fine all the way through it.”
@stammerexperiences I wouldn’t want to be sweating a lot near them if I did it before a interview haha #stammer #inspire #awareness #afterworkout
Read: 6 Ways Social Media Brings A Positive Impact To The Lives Of Disabled People
How Sam Bagshaw uses social media to challenge stigmas around people living with a stammer
Sam began his social media journey as a personal challenge to overcome speaking anxiety. It has evolved into a platform that empowers people worldwide to embrace their voice.
Explaining why he decided to go online and share his experiences living with a stammer, Sam said:
“I just thought it could be a way to help me and my confidence. I wanted to show myself going out there and doing different experiences. I’m just really happy that I managed to help people and managed to inspire people.”
Many of his videos are clips of him ordering food, requesting assistance and interacting with the general public, helping to normalise stammering and break misconceptions around the speech impairment.
On deciding what content to post, Sam added:
“I just thought I’d post videos of things I’d find hard to do, which I’d get other people to do for me. People really like the ordering videos, where I video myself going to a restaurant or café, and I’m having to do the ordering, so people really do like them.
“I do love the drive-through videos despite the fact I know now that it’s really easy to just go in and just use the big screens where you don’t have to talk to anyone. But I still like to do drive-throughs just to be able to know myself that I can do it.”
@stammerexperiences I had to delete some clips it had my card in it, feeling good for summer #stammer #mcdonaldsdrivethru #payingitforward #inspire #drivethru
Read: Living With Chronic Illness: Finding Purpose Through Social Media Advocacy
Sam Bashaw on reaching 1 million TikTok followers
Within four years of creating content, Sam has already reached one million followers on TikTok. Reacting to this milestone moment, he said:
“It does show that my videos are being watched around the world and I’m really happy that people are finding out about it and understanding it more because I definitely think the awareness is a lot better now.”
Sam has gone on to work with leading brands and organisations, including neurotechnology company Muse® and fitness clothing brand Gymshark. He also sells his own stammer awareness merchandise and creates videos on Cameo.
In addition, Sam works closely with stammering charities, including Action for Stammering Children, helping to raise awareness, amplify lived experiences and support young people who stammer.
Speaking about what is next for him, Sam said: “I’m definitely getting a lot more people reaching out who want to do stuff with me. I’ve been doing a lot more podcasts for people, and I want to keep on doing all different experiences that I’ve not done yet.”
Podcasts that Sam has featured on have included How Do You Cope? with John Robins, Tom’s Talk Podcast, My Stuttering Life, and The Trauma Dump Podcast.
Sam concluded by expressing the power of saying yes to every opportunity that comes his way:
“I do feel like a lot of people do say no to a lot of things, which I’ve got a lot better with. I do try and say yes to as many things as I can because I could easily say no. When getting invited to podcasts, I can easily think that I might find it hard to do and maybe it’s not something I’m comfortable with. So I do like to help people that way, by showing that I do like to give everything to go.”
You can find out more about Sam Bagshaw by following him on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.