Remember that IPAH #1 presentation about having sex with an asthma sufferer? Would you believe that presenter is actually … shy? Read on for “What Debbie Walker learned from Ignite Phoenix After Hours,” also known as “Trial of a Timid Person.”

I’m a fairly timid person. Sure, once I get to know people I’m Queen of the TMI but deep down I’m more the hanger-on and not the star. Though when my friends started to push me (seriously, I had permanent hand prints on my back), I started to think about presenting at an Ignite Phoenix event. It’s in my nature to be a bit raunchy, so when Ignite Phoenix After Hours came along I felt it was the better fit.

I had a dozen reasons NOT to present. Because of medical issues I knew I’d have trouble memorizing what I wanted to say. Because I’m chicken I wasn’t sure I could even make myself get up there and speak at all. Because of my low self-esteem I just knew nobody would be interested and they’d all hit the bathroom when it was my turn. The list goes on. But I knew I just had to do this.

My presentation was “Fuckin’ Asthma” where I skimmed over the issues and limitations a person with severe asthma has when planning … sex. Honestly, it went great. I was nervous before it was my turn, but I bulldozed over that fear and moved on stage without letting myself over-think it. I remember having a bit of a panic when I did forget a portion of my presentation, but the audience was supportive and I ad-libbed through it. People laughed when they were supposed to and didn’t laugh at me. I walked off that little stage with relief, but also pride and joy. I did it!

The ideas keep popping up in my head for my next presentation. Now that I know I can do it, I need to work on doing it better! Plus I find I’m not as timid about speaking up in other situations anymore. Ignite may have created a monster.

To hear more from Debbie, be sure to follow her on Twitter and check out her blog. Now, submit a presentation for IPAH #2, and let us make a monster of you, too.

If you think Phoenix is kinda white bread, you’ve never seen Meetup. Meetup is the grand-daddy of local group networking. The gist of it: if you’re new to an area (say, “Phoenix”), you can sign up for Meetup and see what’s happening in relation to your personal interests. Whether you’re into hiking, biking, drinking, or nudity, there’s a group for you! (I once saw one about nude fortune-telling. I’m serious.)

Recently, the Ignite Phoenix After Hours crew was given an assignment. We had to think of new demographics to approach for IPAH #2. There was plenty of sex at IPAH #1, and damn, it was interesting. However, there are other edgy things out there that don’t have to do with sex. I decided to take a close look at Meetup, Phoenix-style, and here are some of the groups I found …

Vegan Zombie Beer Club. What do vegan zombies eat? Grains, of course.

Phoenix Red Sox Nation. If being a Boston fan isn’t edgy in Phoenix, I don’t know what is. (Go DIAMONDBACKS!)

West Phoenix Witches and Pagans. There are 130 members in this group! These chicks get together to prove that witches don’t wear pointy hats and ride flying broomsticks … although that’s pretty cool stuff, if you ask me.

Phoenix Tantra. I know when you think “tantra,” you think about Sting and 24-hour-long sex marathons. (Well, I do, at least.) But tantra is a lot more than sex. It’s a spiritual experience, dude …

Phoenix Dodgeball. We’re adults, and yet, it’s totally acceptable for us to play children’s games. Also, best line on their profile: “Meet people and hit them with balls.”

Save the Sweater-vest! With the resignation of Ohio State’s football coach, concerned Phoenicians are choosing to wear sweater-vests before the niche clothing industry goes into a tailspin. … Ha, kidding. I made that one up. (Go WOLVERINES!)

Anyway, there are several awesome, weird, and wild groups in Phoenix. There are several strong-willed individuals who do what they love—even if some people might think they’re “strange” (ah-hem, Red Sox fans).

Who else has enviable strangeness in the Valley of the Sun?
Who else should we know more about??
What about YOU?

Among the many interesting things you heard last night at Ignite Phoenix 10, one of my favorites (I’m biased) was that Ignite Phoenix After Hours #2 is creeping closer. Yes, in case you hadn’t heard, we’re gettin’ crazy again, and it’s happening in Scottsdale, July 29, 2011.

If the world does not end tonight, you should submit an amazing presentation idea for IPAH #2. You have until Friday, July 1, to submit your presentation. If you miss the deadline, you’re outta luck. You’ll have to wait until IPAH #3. But why wait? After all, the world might end after Friday, July 29th, and as you float through limbo, you’ll always be sad you didn’t get a chance to present at an After Hours event.

Submissions are over on the SPEAK page. There’s a possibility that at After Hours #2, you could find out if you’re a pit bull or an antelope. You could learn a bit about Satan. <Wince. Jesus, if you are coming back soon, don’t fault us for that one!!!> OR you might learn how to ruin a relationship in four days. (I imagine it’s easier than you think.)

So there are a few of the submissions we’ve received so far. Where do you fit into all this? Do you have a topic you would never share with your coworkers? What about an obsession you’d never share with your mother? Or you might just have an unconventional opinion that conventionalists wouldn’t want to hear. PERFECT! Get that presentation together and submit. And remember: we do allow you to use a pseudonym, so you’re out of excuses.

If you have someone in the Valley community you’d like to hear from, tell them about IPAH. If there’s an interesting organization in the Valley, tell them about IPAH. If you have a wacky friend who spouts off about politics, ninjas, or delivery pizza, tell him about IPAH! And don’t forget: submissions close July 1, 2011.

So you haven’t sent your presentation submission for Ignite Phoenix After Hours #2 yet. Why? You have something important to say, don’t you? You’d be great in front of a live audience. So what’s the problem? Lemme guess …

You’re worried your submission won’t wow us.

It’s a realistic concern. After all, the competition is tough. There are plenty of interesting people in Phoenix, and they’re all competing for the same IPAH slot. I’m here to give you some pointers to make your presentation submission awesome. Well, technically, Evo Terra is here. We’re recycling an old Ignite Phoenix post of his to remind you what’s important as you get ready to bare your heart, soul, and possibly other body parts to the Valley of the Sun. Here it is: an abridged version of “5 Reasons Why Your Submission to Ignite Phoenix Sucks,” from Evo …

1. Your biography is twice as long as the description of your talk.
Look, I’m sure you are a fascinating person. Your bio clearly indicates that at least one person thinks you are. And as much as this presentation is about you, it’s a LOT more about what you are going to speak on.

2. Your description doesn’t describe much.
Now isn’t the time to be esoteric or mysterious. Now is the time to clearly demonstrate what you know. Perhaps more importantly, it’s the time to demonstrate what you will be sharing with the audience. Avoid asking questions. Strive to give answers.

3. You’re obviously trying to sell something.
I admit I have a bias against people just looking for an opportunity to pitch me the latest and greatest thing they offer — free or not. … Do try and indicate what is so special about your product or service if you must pitch it. And remember — I’m a skeptical cynic.  Yeah, I suck at Christmas.

4. Your focus is too narrow.
A wide group of people attend Ignite Phoenix. They have wide interests. Few want to hear a talk on the superiority of the Blue Diode over the Red. Yes, I made that up. But some submissions seem that way. Don’t go for the deep dive on a topic. Find something unique and interesting about the Blue Diode that appeals to someone who doesn’t have a Master’s Degree in Material Science. You know, like 95% of the room?

5. There’s no pizazz.
If your description of your talk is boring… we’ll assume you are boring. We’re probably wrong and you’re of the more fascinating humans to have mastered heel-to-toe walking — but how would we know? While you’re focusing on the first four, remember that this last one is the icing on the cake. And it can be the one to put you one step ahead.

There you go—all you need to know to turn in a shockingly awesome presentation submission. So now, what are you waiting for? Sit down, write your submission, and submit HERE. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

We all had the pleasure (maybe horror is a better word) of hearing from surgeon Terry Simpson at the first Ignite Phoenix After Hours back in December. Terry’s presentation was called “Rectum: Nearly Killed Them.” He made us laugh, squeal, and well … I had to cover my face a couple times. It made me wonder: What was it like to talk about such a disruptive topic in front of over a hundred people?

As we seek out submissions for IPAH #2 on July 29, we thought we should ask Terry to share his experience with you. Public speaking isn’t scary, but talking about rectums in front of a bunch of strangers can make your sphincter tighten … Read on, in the words of IPAH #1 presenter, Terry Simpson.

Taking foreign bodies out of a rectum was something I did for a lot of years as a surgeon. Talking about it to an audience was another matter. The topic is both amusing and tragic—tragic only for those who waited too long and got a colostomy.

(ckroberts61 on flickr)

The key to my presentation was making it so that any given slide would leave no one offended.  Hitchcock came to mind—let the imagination wander and see where the audience takes it. No photos of rectums—not even of people who became patients—nothing that would identify. For example, the photo of a GI Joe—well—simple photo really—and my comments: “I have taken a Ken doll out of a Ken, and a Barbie out of a Barbie, but finally was able to answer the question, ‘How did GI Joe get shit faced?’”

The audience was ready for everything, but as I delved deeper into objects removed there were two sounds—one was the unmistakable sound of hundreds of butt cheeks slamming shut—the other was an uncomfortable laughter. They heard about the medical malpractice lawyer who, after defeating a physician in court, found himself in a hotel room with hookers, cocaine, and “ended up” with an electric razor in his rectum. Sadly he didn’t learn about the karma of physicians—few of them do.

Ignite Phoenix After Hours is a place to explore—it can be profane, it can be profound, and if you are good, it can be both.  It can be base; it can be tasteful.  Some of the talks were great, with poor delivery; some had great delivery and were vapid.  But it all doesn’t matter. It is After Hours, for an adult audience. The youngest member of the audience was the reaction I was most interested in– my five-month-old son. He slept through it. Alas, try harder next time.

For more from Terry, check out his website or follow him on Twitter. Thanks for the guest post! And if you, dear reader, feel ready to join the ranks of IPAH speakers, head to the Speak page and submit a presentation idea!