Podcast
Teach the Geek: Public Speaking and Communication Skills for Technical Professionals
Hosted by Neil Thompson · EN
Teach the Geek helps engineers, scientists, and technical professionals speak clearly, confidently, and persuasively. Each episode provides actionable tips for public speaking, technical presentations, and communicating complex ideas to non-technical audiences. Learn how to prepare slides, tell stories with data, handle Q&A sessions, and improve your professional presence. Perfect for STEM professionals, researchers, and anyone who needs to present technical content with impact.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP. 416 - Venkat Sivaramakrishnan: From Battery Research to Leadership
1w ago00:26:21Tap to summarizeVenkat Sivaramakrishnan: From Battery Research to LeadershipVenkat Sivaramakrishnan is an accomplished R&D leader who brings together deep technical expertise and strong people skills, currently working at the intersection of research, innovation, and business development in the battery technology space. He has also led global virtual teams and built international academic collaborations across India, China, and the UK. In this episode, we explore how communication shapes innovation between technical and nontechnical teams, the role of storytelling and trust in leadership, and why strong communication skills are becoming just as critical as technical expertise in powering the future of renewable energy, electric mobility, and IoT devices.To learn more about Venkat, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/venkatraman-sivaramakrishnan-aa91057/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 415 - Kishore Ravilla: How CTOs Influence Business Decisions
2w ago00:29:20Tap to summarizeKishore Ravilla: How CTOs Influence Business DecisionsKishore Ravilla is a CTO with 25 years of leadership across healthcare, insurance, and financial services. In this episode, we explore how technology leaders can better communicate with business stakeholders, why storytelling matters in digital transformation, and how strong execution and operational excellence create lasting business value. To learn more about Kishore, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishoreravilla/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 414 - Justin Windle: Bridging Data and Business Communication
3w ago00:29:07Tap to summarizeJustin Windle: Bridging Data and Business CommunicationJustin Windle has more than 20 years of leadership experience across major financial institutions. In this episode, we explore why communication often breaks down between technical teams and business stakeholders, how storytelling shapes data-driven decision making, and what leaders get wrong about analytics, AI, and governance. We also discuss the communication skills data professionals need to influence strategy, build trust, and connect complex work directly to business value.To learn more about Justin, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-windle-b932733b/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 413 - Jill Luber: Translating Tech for Everyone
4w ago00:26:09Tap to summarizeJill Luber: Translating Tech for EveryoneJill Luber is a longtime technology and data leader. Her career has included building the data backbone behind analytics products, leading major technology integrations, and overseeing engineering teams responsible for core linking and scoring systems. With deep expertise in data, engineering, security, and analytics, Jill is known not only for her technical leadership but also for her collaborative approach and strong customer focus. In this episode, we explore how technical professionals can communicate more effectively with mixed audiences, why storytelling matters in technical presentations, and what organizations can do to make communication a true priority across technical teams.__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 412 - Renaud Adams: Mining Leadership through Communication
May 2000:29:35Tap to summarizeRenaud Adams: Mining Leadership through CommunicationRenaud Adams is a mining industry leader with more than 30 years of global operational and executive experience across the Americas. Throughout his career, Renaud has led major organizations, helping guide strategic growth, operational performance, and major company transformations. In this episode, we discuss the communication challenges between technical and nontechnical stakeholders, how engineers and technical professionals can present more effectively to mixed audiences, and why storytelling and communication skills are critical for leadership success in highly technical industries.__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 411 - Angelo Mazzocco: Speaking Beyond the Technical Audience
May 1300:27:11Tap to summarizeAngelo Mazzocco: Speaking Beyond the Technical AudienceAngelo Mazzocco, President of Mazzocco Consulting LLC, has built a career that includes leading technology organizations as a CIO, president, and advisor across several companies. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member and has earned numerous awards for innovation, leadership, and service. In this episode, Angelo shares how communication breaks down between technical and nontechnical stakeholders and what leaders can do to bridge that gap.To learn more about Angelo, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelomazzocco/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 410 - Naomi Lenane: Fixing the Tech-Business Disconnect
May 600:29:52Tap to summarizeNaomi Lenane: Fixing the Tech-Business DisconnectToday’s guest, Naomi Lenane, is a results-driven CIO known for aligning technology with business needs. We’ll discuss why communication between technical teams and non‑technical leaders so often falters, and what those gaps cost an organization. We’ll also dive into how misconceptions about engineering and IT shape decisions at the highest levels, and what leaders can do to build teams that communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. To learn more about Naomi, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-rapoza-lenane-0477302/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 409: I have no beef with Toastmasters, but...
Apr 2900:13:27Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode, I talk about my experience with Toastmasters and how it shaped how I view public speaking. For technical professionals who speak to decision makers, this episode was made with you in mind. __TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comFollow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 408 - Raffi Krikorian: Translating Tech for Better Business Outcomes
Apr 2200:28:39Tap to summarizeRaffi Krikorian: Translating Tech for Better Business OutcomesCTO Raffi Krikorian is a technology leader who has worked at the highest levels and, among other things, helped to launch the first self-driving fleet in the United States. In this conversation, we explore why communication breaks down between technical and nontechnical teams, the misconceptions that shape business decisions, and the real impact poor communication can have on outcomes. To learn more about Raffi, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkrikorian/__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Transcribe →EP. 407 - Uma Subramanian: Bridging the Technical Talent Communication Gap
Apr 1500:26:30Tap to summarizeUma Subramanian: Bridging the Technical Talent Communication GapUma Subramanian is founder of The Limitless Leaders, where she’s redefining how leadership is developed for the modern world of work. From scaling a global developer community to 37,000 members in just five months and leading developer success, she’s seen firsthand how technical talent can thrive or stall based on how well they communicate their value. In this episode, we explore why even top technical professionals struggle to connect with nontechnical audiences and how mastering communication, visibility, and influence can transform careers.To learn more about Uma, visit http://linkedin.com/in/uma-subramanian-limitless .__TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Prefer video? Visit http://youtube.teachthegeek.comGet Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
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