Communication Mechanics: A Podcast for Engineers

Communication Mechanics

Welcome to Communication Mechanics! Hosted by the Webb Communication Program at Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. In each episode, we explore how communication shapes the success of  engineers, researchers, and industry professionals. Join us as we share stories of triumphs, challenges, and the strategies that fuel success. Whether you're a seasoned pro, an aspiring student, or simply passionate about engineering, listen as we demystify compelling communication in the world of mechanical engineering.

  1. 18 Oct

    Engineering Notes

    On this episode of Communication Mechanics, Jill Fennell talks with Georgia Tech alumnus Mykala D.D. Sinclair about the importance of taking notes as an engineer and the impact the practice has had on their growth and career. __ Show Notes and Timestamps 00:43 Intro to topic and guest. 02:13 Why engineers need to take notes seriously. 03:47 What makes professional notes different? 05:04 What separates useful documentation from writing down everything? 06:00 What information matters most when reviewing notes. 06:59 Situations during which new engineers take too few notes. 08:08 Distinguishing between a discussion with colleagues and something that needs to be part of the record. 09:29 Traceability and how documentation can support it. 11:19 Notes as team infrastructure and how they can change when they support an entire team. 12:44 What happens when critical project information exists only in one person’s memory. 14:55 How teams decide where notes should live and who’s responsible for maintaining them. 16:35 Notes as a thinking tool and how writing things down changes how you think about a problem. 18:53 Using notes to track open questions and notebook use. 20:26 Recommended habits for students to build for taking notes on paper. 22:06 Relegating notes to certain parts of the process versus taking them in an ongoing process. 23:10 Personal statements and student growth in professional contexts. 24:56 Using notes to prepare for job interviews and performance reviews. 26:44 How to take notes without creating more work. 28:34 Advice regarding routines and methods of notetaking. 32:27 Starting small for notetaking and recommendations - recording lessons learned and accomplishments. 33:58 Professional boundaries and things that shouldn’t be written down. 35:00 One notetaking mistake you see early career professionals making. 36:20 How has writing notes changed your understanding of your career.

  2. 5 Oct

    Defining Complex Problems

    In the first Episode of Season 5, Jill Fennell sits down with Georgia Tech alum Lawson Sumner to discuss the importance of defining complex engineering problems and navigating different audience needs and expectations in requirements engineering. _ Show Notes and Timestamps 00:44 Introduction to episode and guest 01:42 Guest background 03:38 Defining a complex engineering problem 07:00 Starting to design before understanding complex problems 11:02 Customer engagement and learning about problems beyond technical data 12:32 Examples of important information engineers can miss without customer consulting 14:27 Purpose of client and community engagement 16:45 Who gets overlooked in defining requirements 19:18 Awareness of power differences when working with customers 21:04 Importance of Listening Beyond Stated Requests and How customers explain needs 23:06 What can engineers learn that may influence design when they listen to people’s stories about using those products 25:02 Questions to ask to draw out more data or information from customers 25:50  Advice on what engineers can do to tell if they’ve understood the need accurately 26:52 Systems Engineering and the difference between business requirements and engineering requirements 30:58 Different requirement sources and bringing them together 32:41 Responsibility engineers have to consider ethical quandaries in requirements 34:35 Requirements and Iteration 36:57 Documenting iteration and changes and standard documentation 38:10 Advice for Beginning Engineers and Changing Requirements 39:15 Advice for first years to synthesize human needs and technical information 39:52 How listening to stakeholders has changed your work 40:49 Final thoughts and wrap-up__ Podcast Edited by Lee Hibbard

  3. 6 Apr

    Celebrating the Woodruff 40 Under 40: Communicating Impact and Leading Change

    In a very special season finale, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with episode co-host Dr. Mihir Pathak to speak with five Georgia Tech Woodruff School Alumni who were selected to be part of the 2025 class of 40 under 40 honorees. Join Kevin Cone, Dr. Joe Harms, Dr. Robert Herbert, Dr. Akanksha Menon, and Shay Natarajan as they share their insights, career successes, challenges, and advice for current students and new engineers. _ Show Notes and Timestamps: 01:00 Introduction to Episode and Co-Host 03:01 Introducing 40 Under 40 Honorees 05:42 Why honorees think they were selected for the award 10:26 Honorees who went into academia and why they chose academia 13:35 Connection between studying engineering and pursuing sports 15:32 Balancing engineering and full time sports 17:45 Insight into investment in companies 25:07 Major obstacles honorees faced and how they overcame them 35:06 Advice for current students and early career engineers 42:42 Final advice, support and resources, and thanks Resources for Georgia Tech Students in Need: Center for Mental Health Care and Resources Stamps Health Services_ For more information about this episode's guests, please see links and details below: Mihir PathakCurrent title and organization: cofounder at antitech Shay NatarajanCurrent title and organization: Partner, Alliance Kevin ConeCurrent title and organization: Assistant AD | Student-Athlete Development, Georgia Tech Athletics Association Akanksha MenonCurrent title and organization: Assistant Professor, Georgia Tech  Robert HerbertCurrent title/org: Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University Joseph HarmsCurrent title/org: Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine _ A transcript of this episode is available here.  Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

  4. 23 Mar

    Engineering Communication Across Power Differences

    In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with Mike Tinskey, Professor of the Practice in Mechanical Engineering and Interim Associate Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Georgia Tech, to talk about best practices for communication across power differences in different engineering contexts.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps 01:01 Intro to Topic and Guest 02:55 Defining Power Differences 07:53 Advice for new engineers regarding risk and consequences 09:56 The importance of Audience and Communicating Up in the workplace 13:46 Communicating to direct supervisors and asking questions without signaling incompetence 16:17 Communicating to Executives and how to present information effectively 19:45 Communicating upwards and clear signaling of informing versus requesting decisions 22:49 Students interacting with sponsors and advice for Capstone students 25:14 Lateral communications within power structures 28:56 Communicating with machinists and technicians and other specialised roles 30:50 Advice for how new engineers can demonstrate respect for experiential knowledge while also communicating their design goals 33:05 Advice for students as they navigate power differences for the first time 34:53 Importance of listening and receiving communication and the importance of engagement 39:20 Final advice for communicating across hierarchiesA transcript of this episode is available here.  Episode Edited by Lee Hibbard.

  5. 9 Mar

    Soliciting Engineering Lab Involvement

    In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with Dr. Brandon Dixon, Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies at the Woodruff School and Director of the Laboratory of Lymphatic Biology and Bioengineering at Georgia Tech. The two discuss how undergraduate engineers can get involved with lab work and how best to solicit lab directors for opportunities in different labs.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps: 01:01 Introduction to Topic and Guest 02:05 Value of lab involvement as an undergraduate 04:20 Advice for students interested in labwork and available labs 07:06 How does student communication shape their perception by lab faculty? 11:49 What qualities are lab directors looking for in potential students for labs? 14:03 Which ways of communicating are preferred by faculty? 16:10 How to demonstrate being a good fit for the lab and crafting identity in communication 19:05 Demonstrating readiness and fit without over or underselling yourself 21:16 How can students show preparation if they don’t have any research yet? 23:30 What kind of language signals understanding of research vs. wanting a lab job? 25:33 What are common questions asked during the meeting stage? 27:37 Good questions from students during the meeting 31:28 Good practices for following up after email exchange 33:41 Reasonable window for a next steps follow up email 36:37 How best to communicate a change in plans without burning bridges 38:08 One takeaway piece of advice for students interested in lab research; outroA list of undergraduate research opportunities is shared here. Take a look at an example email solicitation here.  A transcript of this episode is available here.  Episode Edited by Lee Hibbard.

  6. 23 Feb

    Engineering Communication is Rhetorical

    In this episode, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with Georgia Tech alum Foster Finley to challenge the myth that technical communication is objective by examining how engineers make strategic, audience-driven choices in real work.  Take a look at Foster's book list here. _ Show Notes and Timestamps: 01:00 Introduction to topic and guest 02:18 Why reading is fundamental for engineers 03:33 Why all communication is rhetorical 08:13 Importance of audience understanding 10:35 Project failure and communication 14:04 Audience as codesigner versus audience as recipient of facts 17:42 Rhetorically skilled engineers in the workplace 22:01 What employers are looking for in technical positions 24:24 Risk of engineers making assumptions 26:14 How students can handle interpreting data and audience influence 28:50 Role of persuasion in an engineer’s job 31:26 How can students practice these principles in everyday communication 34:03 Advice for students preparing for cross functional roles and internships 37:43 Engineering as building and as advocacy 40:33 One nontechnical book you would assign engineers to read 42:14 Wrap up and importance of rhetorical consideration, readingA Transcript of this episode is available here.  Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

  7. 9 Feb

    Design Communication for New Engineers

    In the season 4 premiere, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with returning guest Dr. Amit S. Jariwala and new guest and fellow instructor Marty Jacobson to discuss the conventions of Design Communication. The episode covers how early-career engineers make communication decisions as they move from "student writing" into professional practice, design teams, and real constraints.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps: 01:00 Welcome and Introductions to Guests - Amit Jariwala and Marty Jacobson 01:36 Communication Design Processes: Creating Specifications 03:27 What defines a strong input or specification 06:27 Role of the spec sheet in early design decisions and how you discuss them 09:02 Common misunderstandings students have about requirements 12:10 examples of good or bad Specs 15:47 Ensuring Measurable Specifications 20:05 How do students talk about design processes to different stakeholders? 20:57 How do students build trust that their designs are feasible and reliable? 22:27 Undercutting utility through qualitative language 25:55 Specific Qualitative Phrases 29:46 advice for students resisting to commit to numbers early in the process 33:43 Advice for students trying to balance flexibility and actionability 38:06 Wrapping up and last points of adviceA transcript of this episode is available here. Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

  8. 03/11/2025

    Reviewing Reports: Training Writing Reviewers

    In the season 3 finale, Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with returning guest Dr. David MacNair and new guest Dr. Caitlin Kelly. The three discuss the importance of 'training the trainer' and ensuring graduate TAs and communication center tutors have the tools they need to give feedback to the students they work with.  _ Show Notes and Timestamps: 00:43 Introduction to guests 01:00 Introduction to conversation about training writing reviewers 01:57 How to train the trainer and give constructive feedback 03:14 Distinction between grading and feedback 09:17 How to approach talking to GTAs and Tutors about what they need to know to give feedback on a report or project 15:54 Helping GTAs and Tutors to understand the importance of audience when helping others with their communication 21:54 Difference between client/user focused writing and instructor focused writing 26:48 How to explain how GTAs and Tutors should make clear what major problems are vs other major issues in writing 37:01 Advice for peer reviewers 44:02 Advice for new GTAs and Tutors before they meet with their first students 47:18 What should GTAs tell students when they’re encouraging them to come to the communication center? 51:04 Wrap up and thanksA transcript of this episode is available here. Episode edited by Lee Hibbard.

See All (23)

About

Welcome to Communication Mechanics! Hosted by the Webb Communication Program at Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. In each episode, we explore how communication shapes the success of  engineers, researchers, and industry professionals. Join us as we share stories of triumphs, challenges, and the strategies that fuel success. Whether you're a seasoned pro, an aspiring student, or simply passionate about engineering, listen as we demystify compelling communication in the world of mechanical engineering.

Information