Need a Good Talkin’ Nerd?
Hire Joel to speak at your next event or startup cohort
Forget buzzword bingo and corporate nap-time. Joel Benge delivers talks and workshops that entertain, enlighten, and actually make people think.
Whether you’re running a tech conference, a founder summit, or a late-stage startup retreat, Joel brings the storytelling power, philosophical depth, and marketing insight that makes audiences say: “Wait, was that… useful and hilarious?”
Signature Talks That Hit the Head, Heart, and Gut
Why Your Message Needs an “Eye Test”
When marketing fails, check your vision
Why most brand messaging feels like a bad first date—and how to fix it with neuroscience, Aristotle, and a cheeseburger metaphor.
It Pays to Be a Nerd That Talks Good
How to sound smart without sounding like a lerk
A guide for technical people who need to speak human—without dumbing down or overwhelming.
Devil’s Advocate Marketing
The best advice Is often bad advice
Break the “best practices” before they break your brand. A bold challenge to tech marketing orthodoxy.
The Periodic Table of Brand Big Ideas
Finally, chemistry class that doesn’t suck.
Discover the 11 elemental forces behind every legendary brand, and how to avoid sounding like everyone else.
Want a fully custom talk? Let’s build it together →
“Huge thanks to Joel Benge for an engaging, high energy session that left the room buzzing. Joel showed us how to connect with decision makers by speaking to the right parts of the brain and getting your audience ‘juiced up’!
“The conversation was fun and practical, giving everyone in the room new ways to communicate complex, technical ideas to non-technical audiences. Whether you’re leading a team, pitching a product, or shaping strategy, these skills are a game changer.”
[Joel’s] presentation … left me with something to think about very early on in my career (a very technical and nerdy career), how to effectively spread my message so it is understood by everyone.
[He] explains it in his book ✍️ … It is a guide for all the nerds out there who have a hard time communicating their nerdy ideas💡.
“First of all, I love that you have a Mantra card as opposed to a mission card, because … missions are bullshit. Missions are too long. A Mantra is one word, two words, three words.”
“Joel is an outstanding knowledge-based speaker and, in our case, game show creator and host! Very entertaining and informative, one of our best events in my 20-year tenure with AMA Boston.”
Joel consistently brings incredible value to our cohort workshops as a guest speaker. His sessions are always very highly rated and highly insightful. We appreciate his very unique ability to paint a big picture, while sharing creative, practical perspectives that resonate deeply with the founders in our program and equip them with the tools they need. Beyond his expertise, Joel is extremely approachable and always willing to dive in and help.
Why Joel?
✅ 25+ years in IT, cybersecurity, and tech messaging
✅ Author of Be a Nerd That Talks Good
✅ Podcast host, startup whisperer, and recovering IT engineer
✅ Nerdy enough for your engineers. Charming enough for your CMO.
✅ Brings real tools, real talk, and real takeaways.
Joel is perfect for these groups:
- Tech Conferences & Founder Summits
- Marketing Retreats & Creative Offsites
- Innovation Labs & Internal Comms Events
- Agencies, Accelerators, and Membership Groups
- Anyone tired of boring talks
Not a fit for: Corporate compliance seminars, all-hands meetings with no snacks, or events that frown on laughter.