Nerds That Talk Good

Joel Benge
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Nerds That Talk Good

What's the secret to delivering a technical talk or introducing a complex idea to non-experts? How do you get their attention, engage their brains, and build trust? That's what Nerds That Talk Good tries uncover! Bringing together smarty-pant communicators from across all kinds of subject areas (computers to chemistry, physics to futurism, and archeology to anthrozoology) about how they bring their technical talk to life and overcome those "blank stare" moments. When it comes to tech-talk that just works without overwhelming or dumbing down, you don't have to speak well. You only have to talk good!

Episodes

  1. 12H AGO

    Mic Check, Math Check: The Flow of Hip hop & Learning with Professor Lyrical

    Episode Summary: What happens when an elite battle rapper becomes a math professor? In this episode of Nerds That Talk Good, Dr. Peter Plourde—better known as Professor Lyrical—breaks down how he uses hip hop and academic rigor to reshape how we teach and learn STEM. We talk about Lyrical’s dual life in freestyle battles and …

    51 min

  2. MAR 24

    From Judo to JavaScript, & Fighting for What Matters with AnnMaria De Mars

    Episode Summary: In this episode of Nerds That Talk Good, Joel sits down with Dr. AnnMaria De Mars—world judo champion, educational psychologist, four-time tech founder, and game developer—whose life story reads like a cross between a TED Talk and an action movie. From a troubled high school upbringing to becoming the first American to win …

    53 min

  3. MAR 17

    Laughing Your Way to Better Sales with Jon Selig

    In this episode of Nerds That Talk Good, host Joel sits down with Jon Selig, a former tech sales professional turned stand-up comedian and corporate comedy trainer. Jon shares his journey from selling enterprise software at Oracle to performing stand-up for over a decade, and how he now helps sales and marketing teams sharpen their messaging through humor.

    47 min

  4. MAR 10

    Cards, Culture, & Chaos with Cultural Ecologist Rina Atienza

    Cultural ecologist Rina Atienza joins Nerds That Talk Good to explore play, media, and meaning-making. From McLuhan’s media ecology to the power of card decks, we unpack how constraints fuel creativity and why storytelling matters more than ever.

    57 min

  5. MAR 3

    Blockbusters, Breaches, & Bad Decisions with Jeffrey Wheatman

    Episode Summary: Jeffrey Wheatman, a cyber risk leader, strategist, storyteller, and former VP at Gartner, joins me to talk about bridging the gap between security, risk, and business leadership. Jeffrey shares his non-traditional path into cybersecurity—from retail management to pen testing—and how he discovered that his true strength wasn’t just in doing security, but in …

    36 min

  6. FEB 24

    Hacking, Food Safety, & Gorillas with Kristin Demoranville

    Cybersecurity, food safety, and gorillas collide in this conversation with Kristin Demoranville. In this episode of Nerds That Talk Good, host Joel speaks with the founder of AnzenSage and Bytes and Bites podcast host about the intersections of OT security, AI in agriculture, and the challenge of making technical communication accessible. Kristin shares how primate behavior informs cybersecurity leadership, why the food industry is a major cyber target, and why she believes in slowing down and being mindful of what we eat. Tune in to hear how technology is shaping the future of food and security.

    53 min

  7. FEB 17

    Breakthrough or Bust: The Art of Email & Storytelling with Zac Hyde

    Episode Summary: In this high-energy episode of Nerds That Talk Good, Joel talks with Zac Hyde, a former Army Ranger, CISO, and now a powerhouse email copywriter who helps brands cut through the noise with bold, emotion-driven storytelling. Zac shares his unorthodox path from jumping out of planes to accidentally closing a $4.9M deal with …

    57 min

  8. FEB 10

    Developer Marketing Does Not Exist with Adam DuVander

    Adam DuVander of EveryDeveloper breaks down why developer marketing should feel invisible. Learn how to earn developers’ trust, avoid BS marketing traps, and craft content that actually gets results. Plus: Why “there is no spoon” in dev marketing.

    46 min
  9. Visual Storytelling & The Hero’s Journey in Motion with Joel Loukus

    FEB 3

    Visual Storytelling & The Hero’s Journey in Motion with Joel Loukus

    Motion Director Joel Loukus breaks down visual storytelling, creative pitches, and why technical messaging needs myth and structure. Hear insights on the Hero’s Journey, motion design for high-stakes audiences, and the art of making people care.

    45 min
  10. Operating from Stealth and Scaring The Pants off People with Chip Harris

    JAN 27

    Operating from Stealth and Scaring The Pants off People with Chip Harris

    Chip Harris, ethical hacker and OT expert, shares his journey from rural roots to protecting critical infrastructure. Hear stories of trust, safety, and simplifying cybersecurity for real-world impact. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of crimes and injuries, which may be unsettling to some listeners.

    1h 10m
  • 10 Episodes

    About

    What's the secret to delivering a technical talk or introducing a complex idea to non-experts? How do you get their attention, engage their brains, and build trust? That's what Nerds That Talk Good tries uncover! Bringing together smarty-pant communicators from across all kinds of subject areas (computers to chemistry, physics to futurism, and archeology to anthrozoology) about how they bring their technical talk to life and overcome those "blank stare" moments. When it comes to tech-talk that just works without overwhelming or dumbing down, you don't have to speak well. You only have to talk good!

    Information

    • Creator
      Joel Benge
    • Years Active
      2024 - 2025
    • Episodes
      10
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © 2024 MessageSpecs
    • Show Website
      Nerds That Talk Good

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