Teach the Geek: Public Speaking and Communication Skills for Technical Professionals

Melodi McNeil - from pharmacy to regulatory Melodi McNeil’s title is Director of Regulatory Policy and Intelligence. I didn’t know what that meant, but I got the answer! You know what I thought was really interesting about Melodi? She studied Pharmacy in school. How does one go from Pharmacy to Intelligence? One other thing: she has worked in both government and private industry. Any difference be...

Janice Litvin - from Computer Programmer to Burnout Speaker Janice Litvin works with companies to help employees manage burnout. She’s a speaker and author, too. Her book, Banish Burnout Toolkit, helps readers better handle stressors. How did a math major end up a burnout expert? Let’s dive in to find out. __ TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com) Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouT...

Tom Schwab: Podcasting to Improve Speaking Skills Tom Schwab, a return guest, is the founder of Interview Valet, helping people get guest spots on podcasts. Do you ever think about being a guest on podcasts? It can be a great way to practice your public speaking. In fact, I wrote on the subject. Why not do a podcast episode about it? And if there’s going to be a podcast episode, Tom is the ideal g...

Matthew Posner, what's Optoelectronics? Matthew Posner is a workforce and photonics education director. What does that mean? Beats me, but you’ll find out. He wasn’t always in learning and development, though. He has a PhD in Optoelectronics and worked as a scientist. How does a scientist end up in learning and development? I’m curious to find out! Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn at https://w...

Julie C. Henry is the Animal-Loving Leadership Speaker I heard Julie Henry speak on another podcast, and when I found out she studied zoology, I knew I had to have her as a guest. She worked at zoos and aquariums for years before embarking on a path as a speaker and author. Her topic of choice: leadership. Learn more about her time with the animals, her transition to speaking, and the lessons she...

Lucy Shen - the Cosplaying Developer Advocate Lucy Shen is a developer advocate. What does that mean? No clue, but she filled me in on that. She was an engineer at one point, too. I learned she’s also into cosplay; she shared how she got into it. She’s a musician, too. What does she not do? She’s making me feel lazy! Find Lucy on Twitter @spooleans. __ TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com) Subscribe a...

Dr. Sam Jones is all about science communication. In addition to being a freelance science journalist, she’s the producer and co-host of the Tiny Matters podcast, a podcast that answers many of life’s questions. She didn’t start off in science communication, though. She once was a biomedical scientist. What prompted the switch to science communication? Let’s find out! You can get in touch with Sam...

Ruth King - the Wealth-Building Chemical Engineer Ruth King helps businesses stay profitable and build wealth. I’m curious to find out how she does that. I’m also interested to find out how someone who studied Chemical Engineering got into this field. Doesn’t seem like a straight line. She’s also an author; what are her books about? She seems to do a lot of things that aren’t typical, so let’s jus...

Sandro Perruzza is the CEO of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). I doubt his first job was as a CEO, though. He had to work through a few jobs to get to where he is now. Plus, I think he’s the first guest I’ve had on the channel to have majored in Statistics in school. I still forget what the p-value actually means and the difference between a type I error and a type II error. I...

Alastair McDermott is the Recognized Authority in Marketing Alastair McDermott is the host of the Recognized Authority podcast and a marketing consultant. But would you believe that he used to be a software developer? He event went to school for software development. I’m interested to know how he made the transition to marketing from software development, the goal of his podcast, and the ways in w...

Pal Mann: from the battlefield to the boardroom Pal Mann is the CEO of Engineers Nova Scotia and has had a decorated career in the Canadian government. We chatted about what work he did while in Department of National Defense, what led him to Engineers Nova Scotia, and how public speaking has benefited him thus far. Want to get in touch with Pal? Find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in...

Dr. Amy Beaird - engineering resources for deserving businesses In a nutshell, Dr. Amy Beaird works with companies to get them the resources they need to be successful. This wasn’t what she dreamed of doing when she was younger, so we delve into what got her into this line of work, especially as someone with a couple of Engineering degrees. Want to get in touch with Dr. Beaird? Do so at https://ww...

ASEE's Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed's journey to the top Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed is the CEO of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). For years before that, though, she was a professor and administrator. Tune in to learn about her interest in Engineering, her years in academia, and her plans for ASEE. To get in touch with Dr. El-Sayed, her email is j.elsayed@asee.org. __ TEACH T...

Nancy Post - from Computer Science to Business Nancy Post is the VP of Embedded Software and Solutions. What does that mean? I have no idea. She certainly answered that question for me (if she couldn’t, that might have been a problem). We also chatted about her roots and how she got to where she is today. And we covered public speaking, too. To get in touch with Nancy, find her on LinkedIn at http...

Nancy Servigna: This Chemical Engineer Means Business! Nancy Servigna is a customer order fulfillment manager. What does that mean? I certainly didn't know, but it wa revealed during our interview, which also covered her coming to the US as an adult, switching from engineering to business, and being a yoga instructor. Quite the life! To get in touch with Nancy, visit https://www.linkedin.com/i...

Jaime Swindell: The Electrical Engineering Trainer Jaime got a degree in Electrical Engineering, but eventually decided to embark on another path as a trainer. No push ups or squats involved in this training, though. Tune in to the episode to hear about his transition to the work he does now and how public speaking has factored into it. __ TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com) Subscribe and rat...

Janee Smith - from Biology to Software Engineering Jenee Smith is a software engineer. She has a degree in Biology. How does a person with a degree in Biology become a software engineer? I’m quite curious to find out. I can’t believe that was always the plan, but of course I could be wrong. When she started the biology degree, what was the plan? When did she realize that software engineering was w...

Software enginer Aaron Shepard: public speaking and slapping Chris Rock Aaron Shepard is a software engineer, but it wasn’t always that way. Originally having doctor aspirations, he switched and went back to school to get an engineering degree. He’s also an advocate for kids getting involved in STEM. Fun fact: he did a Tik Tok calculating how hard Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars....

Punith Upadhya works as a design assurance engineer and is co-host of the It’s a Material World podcast. He also helps Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) graduates land their dream jobs (or at least land a job). We chatted about his interest in MSE, what design assurance entails, and the motivation to help people get jobs. You can find Punith on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/punit...

Dr. Brad Boyce - The Distinguised President of TMS I had a pre-call with my guest, Dr. Brad Boyce, and he said that his public speaking journey was indeed a journey, and he hasn’t reached the destination yet. When he said that, I knew I wanted him to be a guest. He’s a distinguished member of technical staff. I was curious to find out what the undistinguished technical staff does, but distinguishe...

Dr. Roberta Rincon: directing research for female engineers Dr. Roberta Rincon is the associate director of research at the Society of Women Engineers. What really made me want to speak with Dr. Rincon is that title of hers. Why does an engineering society need a director of research? What is she researching? What is the research used for? How does she disseminate the research so as many people as...

Ron Higgs: Mathematician, flight school vet and C-suite executive Ron Higgs is a fractional COO and veteran of the US Navy. Whenever people step out on their own and start their own businesses. It’s always intriguing to me. Also, in what ways serving in the military prepared Ron for what he does now is of interest. Also, since this is a podcast about public speaking, I’m always interested to learn...

Dr. Tod Pascal: Nanoengineering Professor and Researcher Dr. Tod Pascal is an assistant professor in Nanoengineering at University of California, San Diego. His research involves studying theoretical and computational methods to elucidate the structure and dynamics of electro-chemical systems. Before that, he was a project scientist. Before that, he was a post doc. Before that, he was a PhD studen...

Ana Kraft - from engineer to CEO of Xena Workwear Ana Kraft is the founder and CEO of Xena Workwear, manufacturing safety boots for women. I never thought that women had issues with safety boots. I figured that as long as the boot was small enough for a woman’s foot, that’s all that matters. Was I wrong! Ana and I chatted about her engineering background, her motivation to start the company, and f...

Dan Dumbacher - from engineer to Executive Director  Dan Dumbacher is executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). You don’t just come out of school and become an executive director, though (unless you found an organization, then I supposed you can do whatever you want). He held a number of positions before this one. I’m interested to learn more about his be...