
Teach the Geek Podcast - public speaking for technical professionals
By Neil Thompson

Teach the Geek Podcast - public speaking for technical professionalsJul 21, 2020

EP. 283 - Dr. Sirisha Kuchimanchi: from Corporate to Keynote Speaker
Dr. Sirisha Kuchimanchi climbed the corporate ladder for years before leaving it behind to start a new journey. She founded Sahita, a global community for South Asian women. She’s host of the Women, Career and Life podcast, a podcast about women and leadership. She’s also a radio host; Life Beats with Sirisha is the name of the show. She’s a keynote speaker, too. She’s does quite a lot of things. How did she come to each of them? Let’s find out.
To check in touch with Sirisha, find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirishakuchimanchi/.
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EP. 282: Richard Page is the Personal Development Engineer
Richard Page is the Personal Development Engineer
Richard Page is the founder of the Rich Page, providing personal development and leadership training. How did an engineer end up as a personal development guru anyway? Let’s find out!
To get in touch with Richard, you can email at rich.page06@yahoo.com.
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EP. 281: Dr. Christian Greer is the Science-Educating Physicist
A former guest, Julie C. Henry, introduced me to Dr. Christian Greer and when I saw his background, I thought he’d be interesting to talk to. With a background in Physics, he got his doctorate in Education, too. What does that lead to? Running a science center, of course! We talked about his journey to the science center and science communication.
To get in touch with Dr. Greer, visit his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiangreer.
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EP. 280: Miguel Jette - Keeping an Eye on AI
Migüel Jetté is all about AI. In fact, he’s developing a speech-to-text transcription solution that ensures that we’re all understood without bias. I’m tired of having to repeat myself when I ask Siri something, so maybe he can help with that, too. We talked about how he came to AI, and what he hopes to do next.
To get in touch with Migüel, check him out on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/migueljette.
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Are you a technical founder looking to join a community of other technical founders?
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EP. 279: Brett Harris - the Excited Cybersecurity Officer
Brett Harris - the Excited Cybersecurity Officer
My guest is cybersecurity officer Brett Harrison. He’s a speaker, too, speaking on cybersecurity topics. Armed with a degree in computer science and a background in decision theory, he now finds himself where he is today.
To get in touch with Brett, his LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettharris.
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EP. 278 - Dr. Adriana Bankston: The Policy Scientist
While Dr. Adriana Bankston has a PhD in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, her career does not involve being in a lab. In fact, she works on science policy. I’m really interested to find out how she came to her line of work, and how her PhD informs such work.
To get in touch with Dr. Bankston, visit her website at adrianabankston.com.
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EP. 277: Engineering to Law with Jessica Hudak
Engineering to Law with Jessica Hudak
Jessica Hudak is an attorney. The guests I interview typically have a technical background. Jessica is no different. How did she end up an attorney? What’s technical about that? More than you may think!
To get in touch with Jessica, her LinkedIn profile is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahudak
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EP. 276: Angelo Collins is Flying High with the Vertical Flight Society
Angelo Collins is Flying High with the Vertical Flight Society
Angelo Collins is Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society. What is the Vertical Flight Society? What does one do to prepare to be Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society? What’s horizonal flight? So many questions, so let’s get to it.
To get in touch with Angelo, his email is acollins@vtol.org.
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EP. 275: Joe Luellen is being his Authentic Self in Quality
Joe Luellen is being his Authentic Self in Quality
Joe Luellen is a quality engineering manager. How’d he get into quality and what keeps him there? Also, what is quality anyway? And why did I ask Joe about being your authentic self anyway? Let’s get to it!
To get in touch with Joe, his LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephluelleniii
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EP. 274 - Jamie McMillan: Speaking up for the Trades
Jamie McMillan: Speaking up for the Trades
Jamie McMillan is an ironworker, speaker, and author. Ironworker, speaker, and author I suspect don’t often appear in the same sentence, so I was curious to find out how she came to each of them. She is also a champion for the trades, and we need more of them!
Learn more about Jamie at kickasscareers.ca
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EP. 273: Eric Chen has a Different Approach to Engineering Management
Eric Chen has a Different Approach to Engineering Management I reached out to Engineering Manager Eric Chen for one reason, but after speaking with him, I decided that he had to be a guest on the podcast. Why? Because he has an approach to Engineering Management that I think more need to hear. And at some point, we got to public speaking questions, too. Get in touch with Eric at cheneric at gmail.com. __ TEACH THE GEEK (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.

EP. 272: Ahmad Burse - a High Performance Coach for Engineers
Ahmad Burse is a high performance coach for engineers. How did he come to this line of work? What prepared him for it? What does he do for his clients? So many questions…
To get in touch with Ahmad, visit his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/burseconsulting
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EP. 271: Dr. Carla Sayan is Engineering all the Systems
Dr. Carla Sayan works as a Systems Engineering Associate Director. What does that mean? Whenever I have a guest who has a PhD and works in industry, I’m always interested to find out about getting the PhD and how it has impacted their working lives. And since this podcast is about public speaking, we got around to questions about that, too. To get in touch with Dr. Sayan, visit her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-carla-s-157b386/. __ TEACH THE GEEK (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.

EP 270: Sandra LaPlante - an engineer making tutoring accessible to children
Sandra LaPlante - an engineer making tutoring accessible to children
Today my guest is Sandra LaPlante. She’s the founder of Papaya, providing tutors for students at affordable prices. Her career didn’t start there, though. She consulted for years before founding Papaya. I’m interested to learn her motivation for starting Papaya, the ways in which Engineering has benefited her career, and how speaking factors into it all.
To get in touch with Sandra, her Twitter handle is @PapayaTutor.
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EP. 269: Melodi McNeil - from pharmacy to regulatory
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 between both? Definitely a great conversation!
Get in touch with Melodi on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodi-mcneil.
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EP. 268: Janice Litvin - from Computer Programmer to Burnout Speaker
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)
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#publicspeaking #technicalcommunication #presentationskills

EP. 267 - Tom Schwab: Podcasting to Improve Speaking Skills
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 guest to have. Want to learn more about Interview Valet and get free resources? interviewvalet.com/geek is the place to go! __ 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.

EP. 266: Matthew Posner, what's Optoelectronics?
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://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewposner/.
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EP. 265: Julie C. Henry is the Animal-Loving Leadership Speaker
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 has learned along the way.
To get in touch with Julie, her IG handle is @juliechenry.
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EP. 264: Lucy Shen - the Cosplaying Developer Advocate
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 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.

EP. 263: Dr. Sam Jones - from Biomedical Scientist to Science Communicator
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 at sjoneswriting.com.
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EP. 262: Ruth King - the Wealth-Building Chemical Engineer
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 just get into it.
To get in touch with Ruth, visit http://ruthking.info.
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EP. 261: Sandro Perruzza is the Statistically Significant CEO
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’m unsure he’ll be able to clear that up for me, but at least we can cover his career journey and public speaking.
Want to get in touch with Sandro? Find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandroperruzza.
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EP. 260: Alastair McDermott is the Recognized Authority in Marketing
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 which public speaking has benefited his work life.
Check out Alastair’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@TheRecognizedAuthority. The podcast is at https://therecognizedauthority.com/podcast/.
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EP. 259 - Pal Mann: from the battlefield to the boardroom
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/dharminderpal-singh-mann-cd-fcsse-p-eng-icd-d-50b523a
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EP. 258: Dr. Amy Beaird - engineering resources for deserving businesses
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://www.linkedin.com/in/abeaird
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EP. 257: ASEE's Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed's journey to the top
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.
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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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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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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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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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EP. 252 - Software engineer 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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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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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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EP. 249 - 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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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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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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EP. 246: 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 future plans.
To get in touch with Ana, visit her LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/ana-kraft-b10878aa/.
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EP. 245: 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 beginnings in Engineering and his transition to work as an administrator.
To get in touch with Dan, email at danield@aiaa.org.
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EP. 244: Michael Ciannilli - NASA Program Manager and Speaker
Michael Ciannilli - NASA Program Manager and Speaker
Michael Ciannilli is a program manager at NASA. I first learned of Michael at the 2022 Influence conference, hosted by the National Speakers Association. He was one of the general session speakers, and after his presentation, I asked him whether he’d be willing to be a guest, and he graciously accepted. We chatte about how he ended up on the Influence stage, his work at NASA, and of course his thoughts on public speaking
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EP. 243: Mechanical Engineer turned Leadership Speaker Jon Rennie
Mechanical Engineer turned Leadership Speaker Jon Rennie
Jon Rennie is a mechanical engineer who transitioned into running manufacturing businesses. He’s now a leadership author, podcaster, and speaker. I’m interested to learn more about how a mechanical engineer became a speaker and author. You don’t hear that every day. Also, what type of work did he do coming out of school? Was it what he expected to do? Did he fall into stuff like so many of us?
To get in touch with Jon, visit https://jonsrennie.com/
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EP. 242: Dr. Conny Lin, the toe-wiggling neuroscientist
Dr. Conny Lin, the toe-wiggling neuroscientist
Dr. Conny Lin is a manager, founder and neuroscientist. She works as a development manager. What does mean? We’ll be sure to find out. She founded the non-profit HirePhD. What is that? Let's ask her. She studied neuroscience all the way to the doctoral level. Why? She has an answer for that. And she wiggles her toes in select situations. You'll definitely want to watch to find out why!
To connect with Dr. Lin, her LinkedIn URL is https://www.linkedin.com/in/conny-lin/.
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EP. 241: Andres Vargas - From engineer to planner
Andres Vargas: from engineer to planner
I learned of Andres Vargas from his participation as a speaker at the 2022 Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) convention. While he worked as an engineer for some years, he’s now a planner. I don’t know what planners do, so I’m definitely going to ask him about that. I’m also interested in his involvement with SHPE and what his plans are with the organization. And of course, I’m interested in his public speaking journey, too.
Connect with Andres on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ieavargas/.
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EP. 240: Angie Li - UX product designer and career coach
Angie Li - UX product designer and career coach
Angie Li is a UX master certified product designer. I don’t know what that means, so I’ll certainly ask her about what that entails. What does UX entail anyway? I often wonder if the answer depends on who you ask! She’s also a career coach for those who want to get into UX design. We chatted about how she got into UX design and what her clients can expect working with her. Public speaking also came up, too!
To get in touch with Angie, visit http://angieli.com. On Instragram, her handle is @angielitv.
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EP. 239 - Aliza Carpio: Director of product and Tech Evangelist
Aliza Carpio: Director of product and Tech Evangelist
Aliza Carpio is a director of product and a tech evangelist. Whenever I think of evangelism, I think of church, but I’m pretty sure church has nothing to do with what Aliza does. She’s also on the advisory board of DevNetwork, a global community for technical professionals. We chatted about what got her into tech evangelism, her work with DevNetwork, and being a director of product.
Find Aliza on LinkedIn or visit https://creativelybrave.me/.
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EP. 238 - Angie Trueblood: From biology teacher to podcast guest strategist
Angie Trueblood: From biology teacher to podcast guest strategist
Angie Trueblood founded the Podwize Group to help people get booked as guests on podcasts. She’s also host of the Go Pitch Yourself podcast. But it wasn’t always this way. She was a biology teacher at one point. Dissecting frogs to podcast guesting strategy? Quite the switch, and quite the episode!
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EP. 237: Joy Goswami talking corporate engagement, biology, and singing
Joy Goswami talking corporate engagement, biology, and singing
Joy Goswami works in academia in corporate engagement. To me, that means that his institution partners with industry to advance technologies developed at his institution. I’m sure he’ll correct me if I’m wrong. He’s also a director on the AUTM Board, with AUTM standing for Association of University Technology Managers. We chatted about his role in corporate engagement, his work with AUTM, and his singing aspirations.
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EP. 236: Frank Agraz, Illuminating Engineering Society President, talks public speaking
Frank Agraz, Illuminating Engineering Society President, talks public speaking
Frank Agraz, in addition to working as a director of Engineering, is also president of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). I had no clue there was such a society, and I certainly had no clue that lighting professionals existed. We chatted about what lighting professionals do, what he does in his day job, and how public speaking has been of use to his work.
To learn more about the Illuminating Engineering Society, visit https://www.ies.org/.
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EP. 235: Dr. Shawna Pandya: Current doctor, future astonaut
Dr. Shawna Pandya: Current doctor, future astonaut
Dr. Pandya has many titles. Medical strategic research advisor. Vice president of immersive medicine. Chief instructor of operational space medicine. There are even more titles, but I like keeping this paragraph short! We chatted about her titles and how she came to have them. We also talked about how public speaking has helped her in these roles.
To learn more about Dr. Pandya, her Twitter handle is @shawnapandya.
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EP. 234: Melissa Paciulli: Engineering to Coding School Director
Melissa Paciulli: Engineering to Coding School Director
Melissa Paciulli is Executive Director of the Kenzie Academy from Southern New Hampshire University. It’s an online coding and tech school that offers certificate programs in software engineering, UX design, and cybersecurity. Why be in school for years when you can be in school for months? Sounds good to me! We chatted about how someone with degrees in math and civil engineering ended up heading an online coding school.
Want to contact Melissa? Hit her up on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissapaciulli/.
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