Joel Benge is the principal nerd that talks good at MessageSpecs Consulting and helps other nerds talk good too. Joel has always been more interested in how people communicate technology than the inner workings of the technology itself, so he uses “message therapy” (no, that’s not a typo!) to not only address the how of technical messaging but also the so what, the why, and sometimes even the wtf.
 
Working with companies from Nickelodeon to NASA, Joel has mastered the art of communicating complicated ideas and technology to every kind of audience and team. Always the one who “talks good” at his jobs, he knew there needed to be a better way to help technical companies communicate on their own. He developed MessageDeck, a card deck that gamifies the process to help developers better communicate their ideas and discover their credibility builders and hooks for their messaging. In his book, Be a Nerd That Talks Good, and his podcast, Nerds That Talk Good, Joel shares how technical communicators and facilitators can break through the blank-stare moments to reach their audiences.
 
Joel is a recovering theater kid, technical nerd, and startup survivor. With a background in theater, education, and video games, Joel became an IT guy and went into cybersecurity and compliance. He worked as the principal cybersecurity communications manager for the Department of Homeland Security and coordinated policy and communication to teams, leadership, and Congress. He moved on to being the director of communications at a cybersecurity startup. At a marketing agency, he serviced dozens of security startups, the Defense Department, and intelligence agencies, helping them communicate and fixing their marketing approaches, eventually becoming the head of content. He’s had speaking opportunities in Zurich, Switzerland, the RSA Conference, and a private audience at the White House.
 
Born in Lansing, Michigan, as a military brat, Joel settled outside of the DC/Baltimore area. He is a husband and father, a hobbyist card game creator, a puppeteer, and a (poor) didgeridoo player.
 
For more information on Joel’s work, visit his website at https://messagespecs.com. You can also listen to his podcast, Nerds That Talk Good, at https://messagespecs.com/the-podcast