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.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP. 412 - Renaud Adams: Mining Leadership through Communication
2w ago00:29:35Tap 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
3w ago00:27:11Tap 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
4w ago00:29:52Tap 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
Transcribe →EP. 406 - Antonio Taylor: Turning Tech Talk into Business Value
Apr 1500:28:05Tap to summarizeAntonio Taylor: Turning Tech Talk into Business Value Most organizations don’t have a technology problem; they have an ownership problem. Today’s guest, Antonio Taylor, has spent more than 26 years in IT and executive leadership helping companies confront exactly that. He’s worked with organizations navigating growth, risk, and transformation, bringing executive-level clarity to technology decisions without adding unnecessary complexity or headcount. In this episode, we explore how technical professionals can communicate more effectively with nontechnical stakeholders to drive clearer decisions, stronger alignment, and better business outcomes.To learn more about Antonio, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniodtaylor/__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. 405 - Jason Johnson: from Warehouse Floor to CIO Impact
Apr 100:27:54Tap to summarizeJason Johnson: from Warehouse Floor to CIO ImpactCIO Jason Johnson leads a 210-person IT organization focused on making technology serve the business, not the other way around. From packing boxes on the warehouse floor to building data-driven systems that directly impact revenue, efficiency, and customer loyalty, he brings a rare ground-level perspective to executive decision-making. With a background in the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense, and a relentless focus on uptime, outcomes, and clarity, he joined us to break down how technical leaders can better communicate with the business and drive real impact.To learn more about Jason, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpauljohnson/__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. 404 - Samya DasSarma: Bridging Tech and Business Communication
Mar 2500:26:27Tap to summarizeSamya DasSarma: Bridging Tech and Business CommunicationCTO Samya DasSarma has more than 25 years of experience in software development and leadership. He has spent much of his career operating at the intersection of deep technical work and executive decision making. In this episode, we explore the communication gaps between technical experts and business leaders, how those gaps affect strategic decisions, and what technical professionals can do to make their ideas clearly understood and influential.To learn more about Samya, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/samya/__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. 403 - Dan Lipp: Speaking Tech so Executives Understand
Mar 1800:28:22Tap to summarizeDan Lipp: Speaking Tech so Executives UnderstandDan Lipp’s career began with a physics degree and grew into more than 25 years leading software teams, delivering products, and guiding Agile transformations across startups and established companies. Today, he focuses less on coding and more on helping individuals and teams improve their satisfaction and productivity through leadership, mentoring, and continuous growth. In this episode, we discuss the communication gap between technical professionals and non technical audiences and how clearer communication can lead to better executive decisions.To learn more about Dan, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-daniel-lipp/__ 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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