Here’s a secret… most people aren’t naturals on camera. For many, it can be daunting and can even hold us back from trying to make videos in the first place. But if you’re running training or making content, video is no doubt a part of your job. So how do you look good on camera? It’s a question we hear a lot, so we pulled this 2022 episode from out of the archive, which has some great tips from Diana Howles, the CEO and Co-Owner of Howles Associates. You’ll hear practical tips on how to feel mo...
Apr 09, 2025•50 min•Ep. 244
What do you need to know about the L&D space in 2025? The L&D Global Sentiment Survey is now in its 12th year and records the trends, attitudes, top challenges, and priorities in the L&D space. This year, over 3,000 voters from almost 100 countries participated in the research, sharing their experiences and thoughts on L&D today. We invited the author of the report Donald Taylor onto the show to get his thoughts on the biggest trends and insights revealed by the study. We talk ab...
Apr 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 243
Can using AI in visual design ever be truly creative? This week’s guest would go one step further and call AI the “future of creativity.” Mike Parkinson, Principal of 24 Hour Company and Owner of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins us for a special live show of The Visual Lounge, hosted at Training 2025, a conference and expo produced by Training Magazine. We chat about where AI can fit into visual design and content creation and why Mike calls it a “friction fixer” or a “smart start” rather than a r...
Mar 19, 2025•24 min•Ep. 242
A while back, we sat down with Edie Clarke, Virtual Video Producer and Editor and YouTube Strategist, to talk about why simpler is often better when it comes to video creation. And guess what? That advice still holds up. So, we’re bringing this episode back for another listen. With AI changing the way we create and edit videos, there’s never been a better time to embrace video content. The latest TechSmith research shows that audiences are demanding more authentic, concise, and engaging content ...
Mar 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 241
The medium of video transformed drastically since it was first invented, but there’s one thing that hasn’t. Regardless of whether you’re creating entertaining or training content, storytelling is at the heart of video. The CEO of Cinécraft, Dan Keckan, heads up a learning solutions company that’s been around since 1939! As one of the first corporate training film companies, Cinécraft has evolved alongside the technology changes in video to become a training solution truly fitting in with the mod...
Mar 05, 2025•27 min•Ep. 240
Storytelling is the golden ticket to understanding how we communicate and absorb information. It’s already a big focus in the marketing world. But what about learning design and training content? Can we (and should we) use storytelling to get key messages across? Spoiler: yes! And this episode is all about how to do it. Christy Tucker is a learning experience design consultant who forges engaging learning experiences with the power of storytelling and multimedia content. She joins The Visu...
Feb 19, 2025•29 min•Ep. 239
Take your mind back to 2023. Generative AI was still relatively new on the scene, and we were all curious about how it would impact the world. Would it be a short-lived trend or would it signal a new age of tech? From content creation to data analysis, the potential of AI skyrocketed in just a few years and the technology and tools show no sign of slowing down. For this episode, we head back to 2023 to our episode with Josh Cavalier, L&D expert and long-time friend of The Visual Lounge. Whil...
Feb 12, 2025•49 min•Ep. 238
Rarely do we get the chance to hear the C-suite side of things when it comes to content and learning design. What do they really think about the training content they see out in the wild? But in this episode, we hear from business transformation expert and former Chief Learning Officer Christopher Lind on adapting your content creation process for the modern working world. Christopher introduces us to what a CLO really is and offers a peek into his main responsibilities. He explains how L&D ...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 237
Get to the point. That’s the way you entice audiences and ensure they stay. While front-loading instructional videos with the ‘why’ is tempting, it’s the ‘how’ that audiences have tuned in for. Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, which is why you need to deliver value as soon as possible. This means a clear narrative, great video quality, and authenticity. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce meets with Doug Brunner, the Customer Education Manager at TechSmith. They dis...
Dec 11, 2024•49 min•Ep. 236
Training videos have a reputation for being dry and boring, but it doesn’t have to be this way! By communicating value and involving your audience, training videos can be an engaging part of your development strategy, as well as, dare we say, something to look forward to? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce discusses widespread beliefs about training videos and debunks some myths. He highlights ways that training videos can be both useful and fun, and offers some suggestions about ...
Dec 04, 2024•15 min•Ep. 235
Are you overcomplicating your videos? Great editing software comes packed with features that can transform simple videos into an all-singing, all-dancing production. But just because those features are there doesn’t mean you have to use them… Sometimes less is more. Matt Pierce dives into the art of simplicity in video production in this week’s episode of The Visual Lounge. He discusses the fine line between simple and simplistic, and how you can rethink each step of the video creation process. ...
Oct 30, 2024•20 min•Ep. 234
The success of any instructional piece of content is in how well the information is retained, memorized and actioned. After all, we want the lessons we teach to have an impact. So, if you want to level up your instructional design skills, you need to know how people actually learn first and foremost. In this episode, we revisit a fascinating discussion with Julie Dirksen, Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning and author of two brilliant books, Design for How People Learn and Talk to th...
Oct 23, 2024•54 min•Ep. 233
Matt Pierce dishes out exciting updates for Camtasia 2024 in this mini episode. Enhanced functionality around dynamic captioning plus new color labels for the timeline are two features that will help to make your editing experience a lot smoother – something we can all get behind! He also teases an upcoming video mastery workshop at DevLearn in Las Vegas, a great opportunity for those looking to level up their video skills. Matt tops off this short episode with an important reminder about the po...
Oct 16, 2024•6 min•Ep. 232
Have you ever needed a great story to help with your training? This episode focuses on the power of storytelling with Rance Greene, the Founder of School of Story Design and Needastory.com. Host Matt Pierce and Rance explore the essential elements of compelling stories, including conflict and relatable characters, and how they can be used to drive behavior change in training. Rance shares practical tips on using visuals effectively and provides insights into creating engaging characters and scen...
Oct 09, 2024•33 min•Ep. 231
You asked, and we’re here to answer! Host of The Visual Lounge Matt Pierce has collected some of the most burning questions video trainers have about the art and science of making great videos. Ever wondered how to coach a camera-shy subject-matter expert to shine on screen? Matt's got you covered with tips that'll turn even the most reluctant expert into a video pro. And for those battling with stubborn colleagues who think they know better than the "rules of video," fear not! Matt shares diplo...
Oct 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 230
Who is your audience and what do they need? Whenever we create content, this should be top of mind. Whether we’re creating something fun and entertaining or educational and skill-based, our audience’s response and experience are the ultimate measure of success. But what do people want to see in videos? The good news is you don’t have to guess! We look at what the average video viewer prefers in our Video Viewer Trends Report each year to get an up-to-date picture of how people are responding to ...
Sep 25, 2024•37 min•Ep. 229
Let’s face it, talking to a camera is not something that comes naturally to anyone. And it can be daunting to look at that lens and come up with something coherent, energetic, and valuable to say once you hit record. But just like many things in the world of video, it’s a skill you can learn and this episode breaks down how to improve your on-camera presence. Joining the podcast is Meredith Marsh, an awesome video creator who helps people get better on camera and grow their audiences through her...
Sep 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 228
Let’s get those creative muscles working! The secret to great learning content is just as much about creativity in your messaging as the content itself. How you deliver your content is key to that information being absorbed and remembered, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative. In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Tim Slade, Founder of The eLearning Designer’s Academy and renowned expert in visual communications. His top tip for creators using images or videos? Tap into your cr...
Sep 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 227
Did you know that humans process visual information 30 times faster than blinking? And that we’re far more likely to remember things we see than things we hear or read? In other words, there’s a good reason that marketing and educational content have become so visual-centric. Visual content is the very best way to get your audience to consume, understand, and retain your message. But how do we make sure we’re using visuals effectively? Joining this episode of The Visual Lounge is Nicky Pasquier,...
Sep 04, 2024•32 min•Ep. 226
What does it take to design a software certification program that remains relevant even when that software gets a fresh update? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Jeff Batt, the Owner and Content Author of Learning Dojo, shares his journey to create Camtasia's certification program. Jeff talks about the challenges of maintaining a certification program and making sure videos can be easily updated after feedback and software tweaks. His method involves a modular approach to content, where vide...
Aug 28, 2024•39 min•Ep. 225
How do you know if your video content is genuinely resonating with learners, or is it just another piece of corporate training that gets lost in a busy day? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce sits down with Richard Fleming, a seasoned filmmaker and learning designer for his company Sage Media, to dig into what truly makes effective content. Richard explores the need for videos to make an emotional impact to influence learning and decision-making and why understanding the feel...
Aug 21, 2024•41 min•Ep. 224
Can AI help you make educational videos? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce sits down with AI and L&D expert Josh Cavalier, the Founder of JoshCavalier.ai, to explore how to effectively use AI. Josh is quick to point out that AI isn’t a replacement for our expertise and skills, but it can act as a handy partner to help you streamline your process. The key to getting the most out of AI is in your prompting approach, which Josh prefers to call “prompt design” rather than “p...
Aug 14, 2024•15 min•Ep. 223
Did you know that making your educational content more accessible can enhance the learning experience for everyone? In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce sits down with accessibility advocate and CEO of Build Capable, Sarah Mercier, to explore the world of accessible learning design. We hear about Sarah’s journey and insights on making educational content more accessible to all learners, when she realized just how important it is, and her tips for getting started with your own conten...
Aug 07, 2024•18 min•Ep. 222
What is “practical video,” and will it become the future of instructional video creation? Practical video involves creating not just video, but also immersive experiences. Debbie Richards, Chief Technology Officer at Creative Interactive Ideas, sits down with Matt Pierce on The Visual Lounge to talk about the practical applications of video in instructional design and development. Recorded as part of the Learning DevCamp series, this conversation sheds light on how video can be a powerful tool b...
Jul 31, 2024•10 min•Ep. 221
Did you know that there are more AI-generated images now than there are photos in the entire history of photography? It’s a mind-blowing stat when you think about how fast things are moving! Join host Matt Pierce on The Visual Lounge as he sits down with Stella Lee, a seasoned expert in education technology at the Learning DevCamp. Together, they explore the importance of involving end users early in the ideation stage, the significance of a well-rounded strategy for learning and development, an...
Jul 24, 2024•15 min•Ep. 220
Creating videos can be a lengthy process with many tools and people involved. But when the pandemic hit, TorranceLearning had to adapt fast and figure out a way to make high-quality videos without having a team in the studio all at once. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, we sit down with Megan Torrance, CEO of TorranceLearning, to explore how she's revolutionized video production for her small business. Megan shares her journey of adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic, transformin...
Jul 17, 2024•9 min•Ep. 219
Do you edit videos with your eyes or your ears? It may sound like an odd question, but hear us out! Many video editors focus on visuals first, which are definitely important. But audio is just as (if not more) important to your videos. In fact, the number one reason why people stop watching a video is poor audio. Joining this episode of The Visual Lounge is Sam Rogers, President & Principal Consultant of Snap Synapse, a content production company that specializes in learning and development....
Jul 10, 2024•8 min•Ep. 218
What comes to mind when you think of workplace communication? Do your eyes glaze over when someone fires up the latest PowerPoint presentation? Sadly, boring workplace comms is pretty common, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt has a great conversation with Grant Crowell from Design Laboratory Inc, a Senior Training Specialist at Microsoft, and author of the book, GRANTASMS: Creative twisted words for cool people! Grant explains his approach to making w...
Jul 03, 2024•35 min•Ep. 217
With over two decades of experience at the crossroads of education and technology, Instructional Designer Ephraim Ross provides invaluable insights on the significance of craftsmanship in your work during his appearance on The Visual Lounge. Hosted by Matt Pierce, this episode dives deep into tips and best practices for creators, focusing on visual efficiency, the innovative use of AI tools, and enhancing video and audio quality. Ephraim emphasizes the need for continuous learning and making tim...
Jun 26, 2024•34 min•Ep. 216
How can we create videos that people pay attention to? With many in the content world claiming that attention spans are shrinking, The Visual Lounge host, Matthew Pierce, has a different take… In this episode, Matt explains why he believes that attention spans aren’t the problem. It’s just that there’s so much content battling for our attention (never mind our busy daily lives!) Matt explores why you need to know the fundamentals of what makes a good video and how to tell a story with your conte...
Jun 19, 2024•20 min•Ep. 215
