Successful Speaking for Technical Professionals

Frank DiBartolomeo
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Welcome to “Successful Speaking for Technical Professionals,” the podcast dedicated to helping you shine in the spotlight and deliver your technical expertise with flair. I’m your host, Frank DiBartolomeo. In each episode, I will draw from my over 40 years experience as an engineer and over 30 years experience as a Toastmaster to explore the nuances of presenting complex information in a way that resonates and engages. Whether you're a software engineer, data scientist, or any tech professional eager to polish your presentation skills, this show is for you. We’ll tackle everything from crafting clear and compelling narratives to mastering the art of visual aids and handling challenging questions with poise. Join us as we speak with seasoned presenters, communication specialists, and industry insiders who will share their secrets for making your technical presentations not just informative but unforgettable. If you’re ready to transform your technical knowledge into impactful presentations and leave a lasting impression, you’re in the right place. Remember, great presentations are not just about sharing information—they’re about connecting with your audience and making your message resonate. From refining your narrative to perfecting your delivery, every detail counts. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review and share it with your colleagues. We’d love to hear your feedback and any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes. Thanks for joining us, and until next time, keep honing those presentation skills and make every tech talk count!

  1. 3d ago

    44. How Technical Professionals Can Avoid Too Much Detail in Their Presentations

    “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, engineer, pilot, and writer known for his insights on simplicity and design.   You studied and practice your technical area of expertise because you like detail.  However, when you are delivering a technical presentation, detail can be deadly. The detail in your technical presentation more often than not confuses your audience, delves into irrelevant information, and is mismatched to your audience’s needs. In this podcast, we will explore three ways to fix these presentation traps. References  Nancy Duarte. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Wiley, 2010. Duarte emphasizes that presenters should focus on a central audience-focused message and use supporting information selectively to reinforce that message. Garr Reynolds. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. New Riders, 2020 (3rd Edition). Reynolds advocates simplicity, signal-to-noise reduction, and the elimination of unnecessary information that distracts from key ideas. Barbara Minto. The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking. Financial Times Publishing, 2021 Edition. Minto's framework recommends presenting conclusions first and organizing supporting evidence hierarchically. Edward Tufte. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, 2001. Tufte stresses presenting only meaningful data and reducing clutter that obscures understanding. Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. Random House, 2007. The authors demonstrate that simplicity and focus increase audience retention and understanding. Richard E. Mayer. Multimedia Learning (3rd Edition). Cambridge University Press, 2021. Mayer's research shows that people learn more effectively when extraneous information is removed and attention is directed toward essential material.    ___________________________________   Being a confident, engaging, and effective technical speaker is a vital personal and professional asset.  With more than 40 years of engineering experience and more than 30 years of award-winning public speaking experience, I can help you reduce your presentation preparatory time by 50%, overcome your fear of public speaking and be completely at ease, deliver your presentations effectively, develop your personal presence with your audience; and apply an innovative way to handle audience questions deftly.    Working closely with you, I provide a customized protocol employing the critical skills and tools you need to create, practice, and deliver excellent technical speeches and presentations.  Let's connect and explore how I can help you become the exceptional speaker you were meant to be.  Please reach out to me at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com or 703-509-4424 for a complimentary consultation.  Schedule a meeting with me at calendly.com/frankdibartolomeospeaks.

    9 min

  2. Jun 18

    43. How to Engage an Engineering Audience

    “Your audience is the hero of your presentation.”  - Nancy Duarte from Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences    Have you ever delivered a technical presentation to an engineering audience, and your audience members’ faces were like “deer in the headlights” Audiences who aren't engaged by the speaker are bored and don’t retain or implement what you say. In today's podcast, you will learn three methods you can use to engage your engineering audience:

    11 min

  3. 07/17/2025

    42. What to Do When Your Internet Connection is Lost

    “Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are.” — Will Ferrell, comedian and actor   Two weeks ago, my wife, Elaine, and I moved to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston.  We loved living in Northern Virginia, but we wanted to move to a warmer climate.   We weren’t disappointed.  The beaches, the Charleston downtown, and the wonderful neighborhood in which we now live (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina) confirmed that we made the right decision to move to the Charleston area. So we moved in and are still opening boxes.  We moved in on a Monday and didn’t obtain Internet access until Thursday.  We had access until the following Tuesday, when men from the Internet company came to bury the cable in my yard.   Unfortunately, they left without checking my Internet access.  You guessed it. I had no access after they left. We had to wait until the following Friday to get our Internet access restored.  I started thinking about what we could do as speakers if our Internet access were cut during a live presentation. This podcast explores three backup plans if your Internet access is lost during your presentation References  Forbes Technology Council. (2020). “13 Effective Ways To Stay Online When Internet Service Is Unreliable.” ForbesGallo, Carmine. “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs.” (2010). Gallo discusses the power of rehearsal and preparation, which includes having contingency plans for tech failures.Duarte, Nancy. “Resonate.” (2010). Duarte emphasizes audience engagement through storytelling and adaptability—having a co-presenter is an extension of that adaptability.

    9 min

  4. 07/16/2025

    41. How Speakers Can Deal with Chaos

    “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”— Sun Tzu from The Art of War,    My wife, Elaine, and I recently moved from Northern Virginia to the Charleston, South Carolina, area.  To say our move was chaotic is an understatement.  The packing, moving, and unpacking (which is still ongoing) were and are stressful. This chaos of moving to another state got me thinking about the chaos that speakers have to deal with. This podcast episode offers valuable tips for speakers to navigate the challenges posed by travel and logistics, content juggling, and the emotional strain of balancing their speaking commitments with personal responsibilities. References  Brown, Brené (2012). Daring Greatly. Gotham Books. – On embracing vulnerability and managing the emotional cost of visibility.Duarte, Nancy (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences. Wiley. – On modular content creation and the structure of compelling presentations.Morgan, Nick (2011). Give Your Speech, Change the World. Harvard Business Press. – On message frameworks and speaker adaptability.Port, Michael (2015). Steal the Show. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. – On the systems, preparation, and performance mindset required for speaking.Hyatt, Michael (2019). Free to Focus. Baker Books. – On productivity, routines, and systems that reduce chaos.Sinek, Simon (2009). Start With Why. Portfolio. – On creating clarity and intentionality in your speaking purpose and process.Loehr, Jim & Schwartz, Tony (2001). The Making of a Corporate Athlete. Harvard Business Review. – On the importance of emotional and physical recovery in high-performance roles.

    10 min

  5. 07/16/2025

    40. Take Advantage of Audience Trends

    “People don’t want perfect; they want real.” – Modern audience engagement trend   Excellent public speakers keep up with the latest audience trends. This podcast explores three audience trends for which public speakers should take advantage. References Gallo, C. (2022). The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman. St. Martin’s Press. Discusses how tech-savvy leaders are using evolving platforms for storytelling.PwC (2020). The Future of Work: A Journey to 2022. Highlights how emerging tech will transform communication and collaboration.Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. McGraw-Hill. Provides a framework for understanding cultural dimensions and communication.Duarte, N. (2019). DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story. Wiley. Emphasizes audience awareness and message adaptation.Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly. Penguin Random House. Explores how vulnerability builds trust and connection—key for future communicators.Harvard Business Review (2020). The Feedback Fallacy. Emphasizes the need for meaningful, two-way communication.

    10 min

  6. 06/17/2025

    39. How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

    “What you do for yourself dies with you. What you do for others is immortal.” — Albert Pike, attorney and writer     On this Memorial Day, it is proper to remember those who have given their lives so we may enjoy our freedom.  Memorial Day in the United States began as a way to honor and remember soldiers who died in military service, particularly those who died during the Civil War, both Union and Confederate. Those families touched by the tragedy of war no doubt have memories of their fallen sons, daughters, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers. On this Memorial Day, we will explore what you, as a public speaker, want to be remembered for when you are gone. In this podcast, we will explore three traits for which every public speaker wants to be remembered. ______________________________ References  Gallo, C. (2014). Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. Gallo emphasizes that the best TED speakers show vulnerability and speak from personal experience, which enhances their authenticity and connection with the audience.Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Duarte highlights the importance of structuring presentations with clear, logical flow and using language that makes ideas accessible to all audience members.Carnegie, D. (1936). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Though broader than just public speaking, Carnegie’s principles underline the importance of making others feel involved and valued—the key to engagement.

    12 min

  7. 05/23/2025

    38. The Power of Micro-Moments

    “It’s not the words that count, but the moment you made them feel something.” — Nancy Duarte, CEO of Duarte, Inc., and author of Resonate    A compelling and under-discussed topic for public speakers is the power of micro-moments – how small interactions shape audience perception. These micro-moments have a significant effect on engagement with your audience.  In this week's podcast episode, we will discover just what are micro-moments, where micro-moments happen in a presentation, and how to design micro-moments into your presentations. References  Nalini Ambady & Robert Rosenthal (1993): “Thin Slices of Expressive Behavior”  Audiences often judge a speaker’s credibility, warmth, and confidence based on brief, nonverbal micro-moments before any content is delivered.Albert Mehrabian (1971): “Silent Messages: Implicit Communication of Emotions and Attitudes. Wadsworth Publishing.” This classic finding underscores how micro-expressions, tone, and pauses during a presentation impact how the message is perceived emotionally, shaping audience trust and connection more than the actual content.Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.  Micro-moments appeal to this fast-thinking system. The split-second impressions speakers make—how they walk on stage, pause, or react to the audience—shape perception instantly and intuitively, long before logical evaluation occurs.

    12 min

  8. 05/16/2025

    37. What to Do Before You Create Your Presentation

    “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.” — Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States   In my weekly articles, I have extensively discussed how to create, practice, and deliver presentations. However, I have not often discussed what you should do before you create your presentation. Before creating your presentation, you should take three essential preparatory steps to ensure your message is relevant, practical, and engaging.  These foundational actions lay the groundwork for clarity, audience connection, and the impact of your presentation. References  Lucas, S. E. (2019). The Art of Public Speaking. McGraw-Hill. Lucas emphasizes that “adapting to the audience is one of the most important keys to effective public speaking,” underscoring the need for thorough audience research.Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences. Wiley. Duarte advises speakers to “articulate the big idea,” stressing that without a central message, the audience will struggle to retain anything meaningful.Reynolds, G. (2011). Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. New Riders. Reynolds promotes simplicity and structure, stating that “the best presentations are well planned and well organized,” not just visually compelling.

    12 min
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About

Welcome to “Successful Speaking for Technical Professionals,” the podcast dedicated to helping you shine in the spotlight and deliver your technical expertise with flair. I’m your host, Frank DiBartolomeo. In each episode, I will draw from my over 40 years experience as an engineer and over 30 years experience as a Toastmaster to explore the nuances of presenting complex information in a way that resonates and engages. Whether you're a software engineer, data scientist, or any tech professional eager to polish your presentation skills, this show is for you. We’ll tackle everything from crafting clear and compelling narratives to mastering the art of visual aids and handling challenging questions with poise. Join us as we speak with seasoned presenters, communication specialists, and industry insiders who will share their secrets for making your technical presentations not just informative but unforgettable. If you’re ready to transform your technical knowledge into impactful presentations and leave a lasting impression, you’re in the right place. Remember, great presentations are not just about sharing information—they’re about connecting with your audience and making your message resonate. From refining your narrative to perfecting your delivery, every detail counts. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review and share it with your colleagues. We’d love to hear your feedback and any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes. Thanks for joining us, and until next time, keep honing those presentation skills and make every tech talk count!

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