
Teach the Geek Podcast - public speaking for technical professionals
In STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)? Struggle with public speaking? Then you're in the right place! I'm Neil Thompson, engineer and speaker. This is the place to get tips to improve your public speaking, and also hear from others with STEM backgrounds who saw the benefit of public speaking in their careers and the steps they took to get better at it. Think you or someone you know would make a great guest? Email me at hello@teachthegeek.com.
Latest episodes

May 24, 2023 • 34min
EP. 256: Nancy Post - from Computer Science to Business
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 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-post
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TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
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Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

May 17, 2023 • 32min
EP. 255: Nancy Servigna - This Chemical Engineer Means Business!
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/in/nancyservigna.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

May 10, 2023 • 34min
EP. 254: Jaime Swindell - The Electrical Engineering Trainer
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.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

May 3, 2023 • 27min
EP. 253: Janee Smith - from Biology to Software Engineering
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 where she wanted to go? How difficult was it to convince a company to hire a biology grad for a software engineering role? So many questions, so let’s get to it!
To get in touch with Jenee, visit https://github.com/jeneesmith1.
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TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Apr 26, 2023 • 28min
EP. 252 - Software engineer Aaron Shepard: public speaking and slapping Chris Rock
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. And I thought I was a geek. Tune in to learn more about his decision to leave medicine for engineering, the work he does now, and the ways in which he promotes STEM to kids.
Find Aaron @spacecadetshep on IG.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Apr 19, 2023 • 30min
EP. 251 - Punith Upadhya: Materials engineer and podcast host
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/punithupadhya/.
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TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Apr 12, 2023 • 30min
EP. 250: Dr. Brad Boyce - The Distinguised President of TMS
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 distinguished will have to do, I suppose. He’s also a Vice President with The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, or TMS for short (he has been been named President). I’m keen on finding out how he became distinguished, why he got involved with TMS, and why his public speaking journey is one with destination unknown.
Want to get in touch with Dr. Boyce? Email him at blboyce@sandia.gov.
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TEACH THE GEEK (teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Apr 5, 2023 • 32min
EP. 249 - Dr. Roberta Rincon: directing research for female engineers
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 possible understand? So many questions, so let’s just get to it!
Get in touch with Dr. Rincon at roberta.rincon@swe.org.
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TEACH THE GEEK
Get public speaking tips at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Prefer audio? Visit http://podcast.teachthegeek.com

Mar 29, 2023 • 29min
EP. 248 - Ron Higgs: Mathematician, flight school vet and C-suite executive
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 how it has benefited my guests.
Learn more about Ron at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-higgs/.
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TEACH THE GEEK
Get public speaking tips at http://teachthegeek.com/tips
Prefer video? Go to http://audio.teachthegeek.com
Check out the website at http://teachthegeek.com

Mar 22, 2023 • 33min
EP. 247 - Dr. Tod Pascal: Nanoengineering Professor and Researcher
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 student. And he’s lived all over the world pursuing his work. We chatted about how he came to nanoengineering, in addition to how he goes about presenting such technical information.
To get in touch with Dr. Pascal, email him at tpascal@ucsd.edu
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TEACH THE GEEK
Check out http://teachthegeek.com/tips for public speaking tips.
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