Neil Thompson is the founder of Teach the Geek, a company dedicated to helping technical professionals effectively communicate the value of their work to non-technical stakeholders. He joins the podcast to share how anyone with a specialization can sharpen their presentation skills—moving beyond acronyms and jargon that only experts understand. This conversation also explores what L&D professionals can do when they’re on the receiving end of technical lingo. How do you collaborate with a SME who...
Apr 09, 2025•27 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It , challenges the idea that success means playing it safe. In this episode, she reveals how to reclaim nine so-called "negative" traits—like being selfish, nosy, or even manipulative—and use them to build confidence, influence without authority, and stand out in your career. We explore how these traits play out in risk-averse vs. risk-friendly workplaces, how to apply them in team settings (not just ...
Mar 26, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Seth Godin – acclaimed entrepreneur, bestselling author of This is Strategy: Make Better Plans , and closing keynote speaker at ATD25 – joins the podcast to challenge the way we think about strategy. What if strategy isn’t about rigid plans but about systems, time, and the games we choose to play? What happens when we mistake false proxies for progress? And how can community action and empathy fit into the puzzle of creating change? Seth shares his perspective on navigating ambiguity, designing ...
Mar 12, 2025•36 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Sarah Mercier is the CEO of Build Capable and the editor of the newly released book, Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences . Sarah joins the podcast to share an inside look into Design for All Learners , revealing why everyone benefits from more inclusive design, and actionable steps you can take immediately to create more accessible content . Sarah shares chapter sneak-peeks and explains how the story-driven format allows readers to understand accessibili...
Feb 26, 2025•44 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Erin Diehl is a podcast host, a bestselling author , and the CEO of improve it! . In this episode, she discusses how improv shows up in day -to- day life a nd simple ways to use improv techniques to find success in you r work and relationships . Improv as a strategic tool has a variety of uses , including building company culture, navigating workplace challenges, and reinforc ing inclusivity. Try the “yes , and” theory to foster collaboration, the M.O.V.E. O.N. method to turn failure into a lear...
Feb 12, 2025•39 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Juliana S awaia is a happiness -at-work scientist , business consultant, and researcher with over 20 years of experience specializing in corporate happiness. On this episode, Julianna explain s “why” fostering happiness is imperative not just for individuals, but as a business strategy. Tune in for actionable steps on “how” to cultivate happiness at work, as the conversation explores what the research says about happiness, why psychological safety matters, and practical strategies for getting st...
Jan 29, 2025•39 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Jessica Kriegel , Chief Strategy Officer at Culture Partners, is an author, podcast host, and culture expert. She joins the podcast to explore the many trend predictions for 2025, forecast which ones are likely to stick , and discuss how L&D professionals can anticipate changes to their roles. The conversation delves into the evolving use of AI tools, the future of middle managers, and why the five-day return-to-office (RTO) trend isn’t as daunting as it seems. Jessica’s insights provide a roadm...
Jan 15, 2025•49 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Executive presence goes beyond confidence and charisma— it's a vital skill for every professional, not just those in the C-Suite. Hilary Blair, cofounder and CEO of ARTiculate Real&Clear , explores the evolving role of executive presence and its particular importance for trainers and instructional designers in the L&D field. Hilary delves into how executive presence shapes perceptions and challenges stereotypes tied to our “packaging . ” She also shares strategies for developing an authentic exe...
Dec 18, 2024•45 min•Season 6Ep. 24
Alaina Szlachta , PhD, is the founder of By Design Development Solutions and author of the recently published Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring . Alaina’s book provides advice for L&D professionals navigating tight budgets, limited resources, and demanding expectations. In this episode, Alaina unveils her practical framework for measurement and evaluation, organized into three actionable strategies: Build, Borrow, or Buy. Build : Tailor strategies to your organization by forming hypothe...
Dec 04, 2024•51 min•Season 6Ep. 23
As coaching grows in popularity, so does the misconception that all coaching methods deliver the same results. In this episode, Jackie Sahm, Vice President of Integrative Solutions at Hogan Assessments, joins us to explore why assessment-based coaching stands out as a transformative approach for L&D professionals. Jackie breaks down what makes assessment-based coaching unique, who benefits most from it, and how data-driven insights can act as a catalyst for meaningful progress. We’ll also dive i...
Nov 20, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 22
Jessica Chen is the author of Smart Not Loud -How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reason s . In this podcast episode, she explores effective communication strategies that elevate your professional presence. Jessica shares insight into understanding the common communication scale with in organizations and how to assess your perceived position on that scale. Throughout t he conversation , Jessica provides a variety of frameworks for refram ing your communication style to boost credibility...
Nov 06, 2024•41 min•Season 6Ep. 21
Succession planning is evolving beyond the C-suite and becoming a critical, organization-wide strategy. In this episode, Angela Stopper, Chief Learning Officer and Director of People & Organization Development at UC Berkeley, redefines succession planning as a forward-thinking, people-centric approach tailored for today’s dynamic workforce. Angela shares her future-ready, 4-stage process that L&D professionals can implement across their organizations. She also offers practical advice on tackling...
Oct 16, 2024•37 min•Season 6Ep. 20
A I Agents are having their “electricity moment” in this era of technological invention. In this episode, we d efine AI agents and their evolving role in L&D with Mike Hruska , President and CEO of Problem Solutions. Mike explains the difference between chatbots and agents and offers practical tips for experimenting with these t ool s—whether you're a beginner or an expert. Mike also shares insights on how to strategically integrate AI into your organization using an effort-impact evaluation. He...
Oct 02, 2024•32 min•Season 6Ep. 19
Storytelling is fundamental for connection, but most people would not be considered naturally skilled at the art. On this episode, G. Riley Mills, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Performance Company, dives into why storytelling can be a challenge for L&D professionals and shares actionable strategies for honing communication skills. G. Riley Mills outlines his 6-step framework for crafting compelling stories, offering insights on how to tailor your message to different audienc...
Sep 18, 2024•39 min•Season 6Ep. 18
Julie Winkle Giulioni, a leadership and career development expert, is the author of Promotions Are So Yesterday and co-author of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go . In this episode, Julie places her upcoming third edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go in the context of today's rapidly changing workforce. Julie discusses the social invisibility impacting remote worker professional development and how managers can integrate meaningful career conversations into regular interactions with employee...
Sep 04, 2024•38 min•Season 6Ep. 17
Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist, educator, and published author, joins the podcast to discuss overcoming the three biggest hurdles blocking learning transfer: knowledge, contextualization, and adaptation. The conversation also explores the distinctions between subject comprehension and ability, the dynamics of digital versus in-person learning, and the disparity between AI teachers and live instructors. Enjoy this episode to discover more about Jared’s research and his “hack” for expediti...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 16
Melissa Loble , Chief Academic Officer for Canvas by Instructure and a professor at UC Irvine , joins the podcast to discuss lifelong learning . Melissa offers practical advice for companies looking to move beyond the rhetoric and foster a true culture of continuous development. Melissa addresse s common barriers to learning, such as time scarcity and the need for clear guidelines and engaging practice opportunities . She also provides best practice methods for catering programs for diverse audi...
Aug 07, 2024•49 min•Season 6Ep. 15
Learn how to break up emotional disconnection and repair workplace relationships with organizational psychologist Lola Gershfeld, founder of EMC Leaders. Discover the evergreen importance of emotional intelligence, how to disrupt negative relationship patterns, and practical steps to build stronger connections within your team. We delve into building emotional connection training and explore metrics to measure its effectiveness. Resources: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolagershfeld EmC ...
Jul 17, 2024•54 min•Season 6Ep. 14
Hadiya Nuriddin is the CEO and founder of Duets Learning and author of the new release, Quality Management in Learning and Development . In this episode, Hadiya breaks down what quality management really is and the misconceptions around it. Go beyond the limited “review process” mentality of checking for typos and broken links and learn how to think bigger by developing a quality management system that works toward the success of an organization. The conversation also covers the challenges L&D p...
Jul 02, 2024•46 min•Season 6Ep. 13
Matt Beane is an assistant professor in the Technology Management Department at UC Santa Barbara and the author of the groundbreaking book, The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines . In this episode, we delve into leveraging technology and the "three Cs" of learning: Challenge, Complexity, and Connection. Matt also discusses the technological threats facing talent professionals, what it means to be a “shadow learner,” and practical strategies for protecting ski...
Jun 19, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Karin Hurt and David Dye, CEO and President of Let’s Grow Leaders, join the podcast to discuss their newly released book, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict: What to Say Next to De-stress the Workday, Build Collaboration, and Calm Difficult Customers . The duo shares practical communication techniques from their book to help start difficult workplace conversations. They empower listeners with a framework for handling any conflict conversation: the “Four Dimensions of Constructi...
Jun 05, 2024•40 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Katy Chandler, the VP of Talent Management at DuraServ, developed an internal credentialing program to train her industry’s frontline technicians more efficiently and effectively. Katy shares how the program evolved to become a talent recruiting and retention tool by creating a visible career path for both new and experienced employees. She reveals the lessons she’s learned and the progress made with each new iteration— from creating flexibility for different skill levels and adding new technolo...
May 15, 2024•33 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Cortney Marchetti, HR Director at OverDrive, and Lindsey Levinsohn, Team Lead for OverDrive’s corporate market, join the podcast to discuss how digital libraries can enhance strategic alignment for organizations. Cortney and Lindsey break down the inherent value of creating alignment, on both small and large scales. They share stories and examples of integrating digital libraries into work and team environments, including how to foster a diverse culture of perspectives, create shared spaces of c...
Apr 30, 2024•37 min•Season 6Ep. 9
In an era of technological disruption, the skill gaps craze continues to grow for many organizations. Bob Mosher, CEO of APPLY Synergies joins the podcast to offer an alternative way to think about skill building. In this episode of Accidental Trainer , Bob discusses how aligning on the definition of “skill” is a crucial first step, the undervalued role of applying upskilling into the context of the work, and the advantage of a performance-first mindset . Bob also share s the lessons learned fro...
Apr 17, 2024•38 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Global leaders agree that many people across the world are feeling the impact of a “loneliness epidemic.” Speaker, author and thought leader Devin Hughes discusses the state of human connection and how loneliness affects employee productivity on this episode of the Accidental Trainer Podcast . Devin offers solutions for leaders struggling to approach the topic of loneliness with their team, how L&D can foster opportunities for connection, and improve the psychological safety of the organization’...
Apr 03, 2024•41 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Elaine Lin Hering is a facilitator, communications coach, and author of the newly released Unlearning Silence . An expert on using your voice in the workplace, Elaine unpacks several major themes from her book, common challenges facing trainers, cultivating awareness around learned silence, and empowering others to speak up. Elaine offers practical advice for finding your authentic voice and navigating and mitigating direct speech. She also shares the basics of her “Three Buckets” framework and ...
Mar 20, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Greg Harmeyer is the co-founder and CEO of TiER 1 Performance and the author of Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World . On the podcast, Greg offers insight on how to shift an organization toward a modernized operating model , with the goal of intentionally creating a healthier work environment. Greg details how clarity, consistency, and trust are essential to this process, the benefits of leaving t raditional systems behind , and tips for instilling agility into a company’s work...
Mar 06, 2024•42 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Holly Burkett is the principal consultant of HB Consulting and Evaluation Works, a performance consultancy in Northern California, and the author of Learning for the Long Run . She joins the podcast to discuss change fatigue, where it comes from, and how TD professionals can help organizations overcome common change fatigue challenges. Holly reframes change management as energy management and offers suggestions to embed wellness into organizational culture. Her 4-R framework will alter how L&D t...
Feb 21, 2024•40 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Dr. Karl Kapp is a well-published author, professor at Commonwealth University, and all-around expert on instructional design and technology application in the L&D field. On the podcast, he shares his yearly predictions for the industry and which trends he expects to be popularized. Karl also gives his personal method for finding the latest fads, talks in-depth about the future of AI, and explains what soft skills will be deemed most valuable to organization leaders. Resources: Karl Kapp's Websi...
Feb 07, 2024•53 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Katrina Kennedy is a talented master trainer who’s been leading train-the-trainer for over 27 years. She joins the podcast to reveal how she puts evidence-based learning strategies into practice in her training programs. Katrina passionately shares practical examples and tools you can use to facilitate retrieval practice and reflection for your learners. Katrina also discusses the value of spaced retrieval, and how to strategically incorporate feedback into your learners’ practice. Check out the...
Jan 24, 2024•45 min•Season 6Ep. 2
