Nerds That Talk Good … the podcast!
Listen to the latest interviews with our guest nerds below. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and all the things on your favorite player!
EP022: Kintsugi to Cognitive Biases with Re:Mind Creator Juan Carlos
Episode Summary: In this reflective and inspiring episode of Nerds That Talk Good, Juan Carlos joins Joel to unpack the power of mental models as tools for strategic thinking, healing, and personal growth. A former indie filmmaker turned nonprofit founder and product strategist, Juan shares how his journey through creativity, collapse, and clarity led him […]
EP021: Don’t Mix Bleach & Bullsh*t with Chem Thug
This episode is pure chemistry—bonded with brains and humor. Joel interviews Chem Thug—a PhD chemist, science communicator, and internet-famous explainer of all things chemical and practical. With a loyal following across TikTok, YouTube, and beyond, Chem Thug is known for translating complex science into everyday logic, debunking viral pseudoscience, and reminding the world that science is as much about curiosity as it is about correctness.
EP020: Thank You and a Book Preview with Joel Benge
In this solo episode, Joel Benge previews his upcoming book Be a Nerd That Talks Good, shares his nerd origin story, and invites listeners to join the Book Army for an early look at the frameworks behind powerful technical messaging.
EP019: 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 […]
EP018: 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 […]
EP017: 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.
EP016: 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.
EP015: 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 […]
EP014: 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.
Got something to add?
Are you a nerd that talks good? I’d love to talk with you!
If you have a passion for technical communication — from computers to chemistry — and you’ve got stuff to share with others, you’re the perfect guest.
I’m currently recording the debut season of Nerds That Talk Good, where I interview interesting technical communicators about their journey of discovery from the keyboard to the keynote.
Let’s talk about it! Contact me and grab a time for us to talk and set up the full interview.