Drew Lynch: How Comedy, Stuttering, and Laughter Became His Voice

Comedian. America’s Got Talent finalist. Advocate. Drew Lynch has worn many hats, but the constant in everything he does is leading with vulnerability. 

Known for his comedy and conversations about living with a stutter, Drew has become one of the most visible stuttering role models in today’s mainstream media. His work opens doors for deeper understanding around stuttering and what it means to truly be heard. Drew proves that stuttering and confidence can coexist, that public speaking with a stutter is actually possible, and that embracing your stutter doesn’t mean limiting your ambition. 

The National Stuttering Association (NSA) had the opportunity to talk to Drew through his PR team. In this blog post, he reflects on how developing a neurogenic stutter reshaped not only his career but also the way he expresses who he is.

“Stuttering changed me for the better because it taught me to have compassion while listening,” Drew said. “Some people might take a little more time to communicate their thoughts, but that doesn't make it any less valid. It took me experiencing mistreatment in that regard first hand to have grace for both the person struggling to speak, and the person struggling to listen—because I've been both.”

How Drew Lynch Turned Stuttering Into Awareness and Advocacy

Drew developed his stutter as a young adult after a softball hit him in the throat, which resulted in paralyzed vocal cords, a traumatic brain injury, and a concussion. He was then diagnosed with a neurogenic stutter. This was a life-altering shift that required him to communicate in an entirely different way. But rather than closing him off, it expanded his awareness of how quickly people judge communication. 

That compassion carries directly into his comedy. His stand-up makes room for pauses and moments that don’t follow a script perfectly. In doing so, he challenges audiences to rethink what “good communication” actually looks like—and who gets to define it.

“The biggest misconception in my experience with stuttering as a comedian is that I'm terrified to stutter,” he said. “I try to surrender to the idea that I'm never fully in control, which takes some pressure off of ‘expectation’… I'm okay with you seeing me at my best and I'm okay with you seeing me be vulnerable, because when I'm vulnerable is when I'm at my best.”

Stuttering and Stand-Up Comedy: Letting Go of Control on Stage

For many comedians who stutter, perfect timing can feel like both a tool and a threat. Drew’s approach flips that tension on its head. Instead of fighting for control, he allows unpredictability to exist on stage. That surrender, he says, removes pressure—and often leads to a deeper connection with his audience.

That connection helps explain why Drew’s work resonates far beyond the stuttering community. His fan base includes many people who don’t stutter, yet those people still see themselves reflected in his fear, self-doubt, and desire to be understood. 

“I care about people, regardless of whether they know who I am,” Drew said. “I'm not better than anyone. I don't have all the answers. Every day I struggle—maybe just like you do—to be myself because I'm scared I might fail.”

When Stuttering Moments Matter More Than the Joke

Some of Drew’s most meaningful moments on stage weren’t planned at all. During stretches when his fluency was far less consistent, audiences responded not with discomfort, but patience. They waited and stayed present. 

Those moments reinforced something many people who stutter rarely experience in public spaces: a sense of safety. The freedom to take time to talk at your own pace without fear of being dismissed. Representation of communication differences and disabilities in media is about modeling how audiences can respond.

“It made the imperfect moments that much more human, and it made the fun ones that much more victorious,” he said. “It was nice to feel like if I took a moment to fall, I still had a net.”

In an emotional video of Drew becoming frustrated with his stutter, he pulled back the curtain on the emotional and physical toll of living with a stutter. For many people who stutter, that honesty made sense. It thrust into the spotlight the exhaustion and the grief of being a person who stutters.

“I was lucky my wife understood what the moment needed,” he said, referring to the video. “She sees so much more behind closed doors that cannot be explained. She sees the days where I can't get out of bed because I already lost. She sees what happens when I shut down. She sees the physical exhaustion as a result from the mental fight. My team encouraged me to post that video because the world might not fully understand what even happens in the life of a stutterer, or the volatility that comes with losing progress you thought was behind you.”

Stuttering Is More Than What You Hear

As a fierce stuttering advocate, Drew makes it clear that stuttering is only one part of who he is. When his stutter shows up, he said he worries that people focus more on how he’s communicating than on what he’s actually saying—an experience many people who stutter know all too well.

But letting go of that pressure requires a shift. Drew learned that other people’s interpretations were never something he could control, and once he accepted that, stuttering lost some of its power over him.

“We're just trying to communicate that we're so much more than that,” he said. “And that's why the power stuttering had over me could only be relinquished when I accepted that their perception is out of my control. And therefore not my responsibility.”

Comedy as Advocacy: Creating Space for Different Communication Styles

Looking ahead, Drew hopes his visibility continues to create space for different communication styles, patience, and understanding that not everyone operates the same exact way. He believes progress starts when we accept what we don’t yet understand, and allow room for people to show up as they are.

“Give people the space to be who they are. Don't fault them for when they can't operate the same way. Everyone is just doing their best.” When asked if he had anything to say directly to the stuttering community, Drew says this: “I see you. I hear you. I am with you.”

Watch Drew Lynch’s Stand-Up

Drew’s stand-up continues to reflect his lived experience with stuttering, vulnerability, and humor. Watching his performances offers a powerful reminder that effective communication comes in many forms — and that laughter can open doors to understanding.

Explore Drew Lynch’s full video collection

To learn more about stuttering, visit WeStutter.org.