

Teach the Geek: Public Speaking and Communication Skills for Technical Professionals
Neil Thompson
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 14, 2024 • 29min
EP. 320 - Dr. Michaela Musilova: An Outer Space Speaker and Author
Dr. Michaela Musilova: An Outer Space Speaker and Author
Dr. Michaela Musilova is an astrobiologist, speaker, analog astronaut, and author. I know what speaker and author mean. No clue what astrobiologist and analog astronaut mean, though! I’m looking forward to hearing more about her journey to where she is today, how speaking has benefited her, and everything in between. Let’s get to it!
To get in touch with Dr. Musilova, you can find her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michaela-musilova.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips

Aug 7, 2024 • 29min
EP. 319 - Stephen Shapiro: Engineering a Speaking Business
Stephen Shapiro: Engineering a Speaking Business
Stephen Shapiro is an engineer turned renowned speaker and consultant who helps organizations cultivate a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving. With a dynamic and engaging style, he delivers practical strategies to drive business growth and transformation. For those of who are considering becoming speakers, you probably have a lot of questions. How do you get speaking engagements? How do you figure out pricing? How do you make the jump to full time speaker? So many questions, so let’s see what Stephen has to say.
To get in touch with Jamie, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/shapiroinnovates/.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Jul 31, 2024 • 21min
EP. 318: Meerah Rajavel - a Public Speaking Journey
Meerah Rajavel - a Public Speaking Journey
My guest today, Meerah Rajavel, is a Chief Information Officer. What does that entail? How did her previous roles prepare her for her current one? How has public speaking benefited her? A lot of questions, so let’s get some answers.
To get in touch with Meerah, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/meerah-rajavel.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips

Jul 24, 2024 • 57min
EP. 317: Building the Speaking Business of Your Dreams with Jane Atkinson
Building the Speaking Business of Your Dreams with Jane Atkinson
Today my guest is Jane Atkinson, coach to professional speakers and author of the book, “The Wealthy Speaker 3.0: Your Recipe for Building the Speaking Business of Your Dreams.” She’s also host of the Wealthy Speaker podcast. In her work, she works with professional speakers so they can make money with their speaking. Are you a technical person who has thought about becoming a paid speaker? If so, this is the place to be.
To get in touch with Jane, visit http://speakerlauncher.com
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Jul 17, 2024 • 27min
EP. 316: Mechanical Engineer, Neuroscientist, and Keynote Speaker Dorsey Standish
Mechanical Engineer, Neuroscientist, and Keynote Speaker Dorsey Standish
In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Dorsey Standish, a mechanical engineer, neuroscientist, and keynote speaker. As the CEO of Mastermind Meditate, Dorsey brings mindfulness and emotional intelligence to organizations worldwide. Her unique combination of expertise sets her apart in the professional speaking world. Discover how Dorsey transitioned into becoming a professional speaker, chose her speaking topic, markets herself, and secures speaking engagements.
Discover how to become a professional speaker and gain insights into the world of public speaking from a unique perspective. If you're interested in becoming a keynote speaker, this episode is a must-watch!
To get in touch with Dorsey, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorseystandish.
TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Jul 10, 2024 • 29min
EP. 315 - Improving Technical Communication: Ruba Sarris Sawaya on Effective Presentation Skills
Improving Technical Communication: Ruba Sarris Sawaya on Effective Presentation Skills
Ruba Sarris Sawaya is a woman of many talents, with a diverse work history in government affairs, business development, and clinical affairs. What propelled her to pursue these varied fields? How did she excel in each, and what role did effective technical presentations play in her journey? In this interview, we uncover the secrets behind her success and learn valuable public speaking tips for technical professionals. Whether you're looking to improve your technical communication skills or master the art of giving better technical presentations, Ruba's insights are invaluable. Let’s dive in!
To get in touch with Ruba, her LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruba-sarris-sawaya-5639332/.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips

Jul 3, 2024 • 29min
EP. 314 - Varshi Gupta: Engineering Director's Journey and Public Speaking Tips for Tech Professionals
Varshi Gupta: Engineering Director's Journey and Public Speaking Tips for Tech Professionals
Varshi Gupta is a seasoned Engineering Director, spearheading DevOps and product engineering initiatives. However, her career trajectory wasn't always straightforward. In this episode, we explore Varshi’s journey to her current role, how mastering public speaking has significantly impacted her career, and everything in between.
To get in touch with Varshi, you can find her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/varshigupta.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips

Jun 26, 2024 • 31min
EP. 313 - From Engineer to Entertainer: Avish Parashar's Journey to Speaking Success
From Engineer to Entertainer: Avish Parashar's Journey to Speaking Success
Welcome to Teach the Geek Interviews! In this episode, we delve into the world of professional speaking with Avish Parashar, a computer engineer turned speaker renowned for his unique approach of integrating improvisational comedy techniques into business and personal development. If you've ever pondered the path to becoming a successful speaker, you're in the right place. Avish addresses burning questions such as securing speaking engagements, pricing strategies, and transitioning to a full-time speaking career. Join us as we uncover Avish's journey and glean valuable insights for aspiring speakers.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Jun 19, 2024 • 30min
EP. 312: Tony Chatman - Insights from a Professional Speaker
Tony Chatman - Insights from a Professional Speaker
With a chemical engineering background, Tony Chatman is a professional speaker, author, and consultant, speaking on topics such as change management, teamwork, and unconscious bias. For those of who are considering becoming speakers, you probably have a lot of questions. How do you get speaking engagements? How do you figure out pricing? How do you make the jump to full time speaker? So many questions, so let’s see what Tony has to say.
To get in touch with Jamie, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonychatman/.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.

Jun 12, 2024 • 33min
EP. 311: Chris Hodges Shares Secrets to Speaking Success
Chris Hodges Shares Secrets to Speaking Success
With a computer science background, Chris Hodges is a professional speaker, author, and consultant, speaking on using automation to create more profitable businesses. For those of who are considering becoming speakers, you probably have a lot of questions. How do you get speaking engagements? How do you figure out pricing? How do you make the jump to full time speaker? So many questions, so let’s see what Chris has to say.
To get in touch with Jamie, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwhodges/.
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TEACH THE GEEK (http://teachthegeek.com)
Subscribe and rate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow @teachthegeek (Twitter) and @_teachthegeek_ (IG)
Get Public Speaking Tips for STEM Professionals at http://teachthegeek.com/tips.


