The Power of Story and Science

What do you get when you put two recovering engineers together? You might just get a far-reaching conversation about public speaking, Toastmasters, improvisational theatre—and perhaps a game of Where’s Waldo?, searching for those hidden moments of confidence and growth along the way.

That’s what’s in store for you in this episode as program host David Otey talks with public speaking expert Elaine Lung. When you hear how far she has come in gaining confidence as a speaker, you’ll know you can do it, too.

Elaine Lung works with business professionals who want to show up and speak up confidently with the people around them at work and at home. She is a Certified World Class Speaking Coach, Distinguished Toastmaster, and co-founder of three Bay Area Toastmasters clubs dedicated to promoting the use of storytelling or improv skills: the Silicon Valley Improvmasters, the Silicon Valley Storytellers, and the San Mateo Storytellers.

To follow up with Elaine and schedule a discovery call, visit her website.

To get on David Otey’s calendar for a conversation or free initial coaching session, visit his website.

In this episode, host David P. Otey has a conversation with Bryan Rutberg, an expert in interpreting technical topics for non-technical audiences. How do you relate to your audience and their emotional drivers? As a speechwriter, speaker, and coach, Bryan has gained some keen insights into how and why you do that.

Here’s a hint: stories light up more of the brain than facts do—sometimes grabbing attention in unexpected ways, much like an internet meme such as Dickbutt that somehow sticks in your memory long after you’ve seen it.

To follow up with Bryan Rutberg and get free resources, visit his website.

For a conversation with program host David P. Otey, visit his website.

If you happened to be an engineer who is comfortable speaking not only the language of engineering, but also the language of business, sales, and marketing, you would likely find some interesting doors opening for you. And that is precisely the story of today’s guest, Chris Fenning, who has spent much of his career in such boundary-spanning roles. Want to hear his four keys to success? Listen in.

 

Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/ or https://chrisfenning.com/

 

To follow up with program host David Otey, visit http://breakthroughwithdavid.com/.

Before you choose your next career move, ask yourself: What would your “unicorn career” look like? Once you’ve gained experience and perhaps an advanced degree in a technical field, how do you turn that vision into reality? According to speaker, author, mathematician, and self-described nerd Alaina G. Levine, the answer is data—data about yourself, your strengths, and the opportunities around you. Listen to our conversation to discover how to identify your own unicorn career. For students interested in evaluating their math skills, resources related to kumon math level m test answers can also provide helpful insights into advanced problem-solving and self-assessment.

Take one part physicist, one part electrical engineer, and one part computer scientist, then combine it with a passion for helping technical experts communicate more effectively—and you get a fascinating conversation with author, speaker, and MIT instructor Mark Herschberg.

In this episode, David Otey explores Herschberg’s insights on career development, communication, and the power of using clear analogies to explain complex ideas. His practical advice can help technical professionals expand their influence, strengthen their leadership skills, and make a greater impact.

If you enjoy exploring challenges that test your observation and problem-solving skills, you can also check out these Waldo answers and clues to revisit the classic search adventure.

Take one part physicist, one part electrical engineer, and one part computer scientist, then combine it with a passion for helping technical experts communicate more effectively—and you get a fascinating conversation with author, speaker, and MIT instructor Mark Herschberg.

In this episode, David Otey explores Herschberg’s insights on career development, communication, and the power of using clear analogies to explain complex ideas. His practical advice can help technical professionals expand their influence, strengthen their leadership skills, and make a greater impact.

If you enjoy exploring challenges that test your observation and problem-solving skills, you can also check out these Waldo answers and clues to revisit the classic search adventure.

In this content episode, program host David Otey (https://davidotey.com/) explores some ideas that jumped out at him from watching the excellent speakers who presented at the annual meeting of the National Speakers Association, a three-day event called “Influence.” You will learn how to build your influence as an expert by making a connection with your audience. Because that’s the first thing your audience is looking for.

 

The book David mentions in the program is “The Speaker’s Quick Guide to Technical Presentations” and you can find out more about it here.

 

Connect with David by going to http://breakthroughwithdavid.com.

Maybe you’re the kind of person who can focus intently on detailed, analytical work. And maybe you think that makes you a little different from other people. In this episode, program host David Otey (https://davidotey.com/) has a conversation with Angela Andrews, a data scientist who freely admits to being different from most people—being neurodiverse, in fact. Listen to how she has turned that to her advantage, and learned a different way of speaking up.

 

Connect with Angela by email: Angela.Andrews77@gmail.com and mention this podcast in the subject line.

When you picture a computer geek, what image comes to mind? Someone hunched over a keyboard, writing line after line of code? Now picture someone speaking boldly and confidently about what they know. Do you have a hard time imagining those are the same person? Then you need to meet “a geek who speaks.” That’s what Bob Goodyear calls himself. In this conversation with David Otey (https://davidotey.com/), you’ll hear Bob’s inspiring journey from the back room to the front of the class.

Follow up with Bob by going to https://www.ageekwhospeaks.com/.

From executives to beauty-pageant contestants, Tim Durkin has a remarkable track record when it comes to coaching successful speakers. When it comes right down to the basics, do you know where to put your hands? Do you know how to emphasize your key points? The conversation David Otey (https://davidotey.com/) had with speaker and coach Tim Durkin was full of tips you can use right away.

 

To follow up with Tim Durkin using tim@timdurkin.com (subject line: Podcast)

How does a trained engineer go from testing fuel cell membranes to being a team leader focused on relationships, communication, and people? In today’s episode, you will hear a conversation between program host David Otey (https://davidotey.com/) and Jesse Hensley of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory here in Colorado. Listen as Jesse describes how so many schools of thought have influenced his journey—and his stories.

 

To connect with Jesse, email him using Jesse.Hensley@nrel.gov.