From Uncertainty to Mock Interviews: Chris Monello-Johnson’s Stuttering Journey

If you’ve spent any length of time in the NSA community, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Chris Monello-Johnson, or at least heard his name. Maybe you’ve even done a mock interview with him and walked away with a little more confidence than you came in with.

Chris has been part of the NSA world for a decade now, long enough to remember life before he joined and wise enough to be grateful he did.

After college, Chris found himself wrestling with confidence, especially when it came to job interviews and showing up authentically. He wasn’t sure how his stutter fit into the “real world” version of success. That’s when his speech-language pathologist in NYC stepped in with a pivotal invite: “Come to a chapter meeting.”

That meeting changed everything.

“I’ve accepted my stutter, no longer hide it, and have found an incredibly supportive community,” Chris says. In the years since, he’s become an open stutterer and mentor to others on similar paths.

One of his favorite ways to give back is helping other people who stutter crush those nerve-wracking job interviews. “Mock interviews are my favorite part,” he says. “I love helping people achieve their career goals.”

His advice to anyone new to the NSA? “Meet as many people as you can — everyone is welcoming and supportive.”

But don’t let all that career talk fool you, Chris knows how to keep things fun, too. He’s got two dogs, a soft spot for peanut butter ice cream, and an encyclopedic knowledge of Real Housewives of NYC. He’s also no stranger to a spotlight: he’s auditioned for American Idol and America’s Got Talent, and his go-to karaoke jam is Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer.

As for his dream getaway? Bali’s calling. We’re not saying NSA should plan an Annual Conference there, but… we wouldn’t be mad about it.

Chris Monello-Johnson reminds us that stuttering doesn’t hold you back from showing up, speaking out, or singing in front of a crowd. It’s just one part of your story.