Joel Benge's Linkedin Analytics

My first job? I wore a six-foot rat costume at a national restaurant chain. No, seriously. Years later, I was leading cybersecurity strategy messaging at DHS. Weird career path? Maybe. But here’s what I learned: You can be brilliant. You can be technically bulletproof. But if no one understands you—none of it matters. Messaging isn’t about “dumbing it down.” It’s about structuring complexity in a way the caveman brain can latch onto. 🧠 We’re running prehistoric wetware on cutting-edge hardware. That's why I wrote Be a Nerd That Talks Good. I wrote this book to help technical experts like you avoid the blank stare and write messages that actually work. 🛠 Tools? Check. 🧬 Neuroscience? Definitely. 📚 Aristotle, Maslow, and a dash of card games? Of course. Because changing complexity into clarity isn’t a gimmick. It’s the foundation of trust. If your message isn’t getting through, it might be time to check your suit—not just your syntax.

I just had the Nerds That Talk Good Podcast interview of my lifetime! Can anyone guess with whom?

Recording the audio for Be a Nerd That Talks Good. You just knew I HAD to make a Matrix reference. ebooks are on pre-sale now. Print coming soon. Audio ... whenever I finish this.

Have you ever broken a bone? How about a belief? Juan Carlos shares his "Kintsugi" moment on the latest Nerds That Talk Good podcast. What led him to designing the Re:Mind card deck, and how does it relate to broken pottery? https://lnkd.in/e_8jKqHG

What do we really mean when we talk about "models"? When I found out about a card deck FULL of mental models, I just knew I had to get my hands on them and talk with the designer. Check out my conversation with Juan Carlos and go back Re:Mind on Kickstarter!

Messaging ≠ Marketing If your prospects are confused, overwhelmed, or just “meh” about your pitch—it’s not your product. It’s your messaging. I work with technical founders, cybersecurity startups, and B2B teams to fix that. Messaging is NOT branding. It’s NOT taglines. It’s NOT “copywriting.” It's NOT GTM/ABM/PLG/BLAH. Messaging is how you explain what you do, why it matters, and why someone should care—without giving them cognitive heartburn. So why would you hire a messaging consultant? - Because you’re too close to your own stuff. - Because your sales and product teams are telling slightly different stories (that confuse the heck out of customers). - Because you’re doing a lot of marketing, but not saying anything that sticks. When I work with companies, I bring something called message therapy (not a typo): Think Aristotle meets Sigmund Freud meets Abraham Maslow. Heart, Head, and Gut. ❤️ 🧠 🍔  Together, we build messaging systems rooted in brain science and real stories—not buzzword bingo. If you’ve got a great product but keep hitting the “blank stare moment,” maybe it’s time.

Stop gluing taglines together. Build a messaging system that works. If your team is still copy-pasting mission statements into homepage headers and "brainstorming", hoping a few value props will stick—let’s talk. Messaging isn’t about writing better headlines. It’s about building a system. One that helps everyone—from marketers to product leads—say the right thing, the right way, at the right time. Here’s how I help teams do it: 🗑️ Audit the junk drawer (all your scattered content) 🗂️ Organize it with a framework (I use the MessageSpecs Pyramid) 🥳 Run workshops that aren’t BS brainstorms, but real “message therapy” 👍 Systematize it in tools people actually use (Systems > PDF graveyards) No more messaging that changes every quarter (or every Slack message). Build something consistent, clear—and maybe even fun.

T-Minus 29 days until Be a Nerd That Talks Good hits the shelves. But you can read it NOW! Pre-orders are starting (https://lnkd.in/dE9fpQDz) but Book Army members get a super-secret link to read the full book now. Drop me a DM or let me know if you want in.

I honestly thought quicksand was going to have a bigger impact on my life than it has. If only Bugs Bunny had prepared me for "business development." 🥲

Happy World Bee Day to our very own Cyber Queen Bee, Gianna Whitver! 🐝 (Who knew!?)

"What does it feel like to be one in a million?" Pretty dang good, if I'm being honest. But we can get that number up (or down). My book is now available for pre-order. Help spread the word and grab a copy for the nerd in your life. https://lnkd.in/e-ibzSxE

It's heeeeeeere! (almost) Be a Nerd That Talks Good is available on Amazon for pre-order in both ebook and paperback. Hardcover will be available soon, for those bougie nerds out there.

Are you a tech wizard who struggles to make non-technical people understand your brilliance? My new book Be a Nerd That Talks Good is coming June 11th! Transform your technical knowledge into powerful messages that get noticed, get remembered, and get results. #BeANerdThatTalksGood #PreOrderNow

Did I just record the hit of the summer? Well, no. But I AM recording the audiobook version of Be a Nerd That Talks Good! Coming June 11 to a shelf or e-reader of your choice on June 11th, and after that pumped directly into your ears. Check out https://lnkd.in/e3K5Mg9R for info and notification of pre-sale!

Going from wearing a six-foot rat costume to a cybersecurity messaging expert might seem bizarre, but it taught me that technical knowledge is only valuable when others understand it. Be a Nerd That Talks Good is out on June 11th. Pre-order and read my story. #BeANerdThatTalksGood #BehindTheScenes

My career is OVER! 😢

Looking for a weekend read? How about the intro and first chapter of my new book Be a Nerd That Talks Good? Check it out here or download it at the link in the comments. Pssst: There's a special swag offer in the comments. ;)

It’s heeeeeere! First physical copies of Be a Nerd That Talks Good are in. I’m absolutely in love with the quality and the feel of the finish. Pre-order now wherever you get your books and have it in your hands to feel on June 11th!

I’m a real boy! (Err, author) 😅 #author #booklaunch

How's everyone doing? I'm not doing so great, if I'm being honest. Even a "Nerd That Talks Good" finds it difficult to figure out what they want to say sometimes. It's something we all struggle with, collectively or individually. It can look like we're doing everything right: - Meetings are happening (I took THREE yesterday) - Output is outputting (my book comes out in 29 days!) - People are noticing (I'm getting podcast interview requests) But the one thing even I'm struggling with is my "ask." And that's something I even work with my clients on (the "Whoa!" "The Why?" and the "What's Next?"). But when you're so close to your "What's Next?" it can be difficult to articulate. That's why I've put together what I think (to date) is the clearest and simplest explanation and what's next about what I do. It feels a little "commercial," I'll be honest.