Host Brian Washburn talks with Katrina Kennedy, author of Learning That Lasts: Reflection Activities for Trainers and Designers, about how reflection helps transform training from a one-time event into lasting behavior change. Katrina shares practical ways to integrate reflective activities before, during, and after learning—what she calls “pre-flection” and reflection—to deepen understanding and strengthen application. She also offers tips for choosing the right activities based on outcomes, ti...
Oct 23, 2025•15 min•Ep. 165
Research shows that management quality is the single biggest predictor of employee satisfaction and retention. In this episode, Brian Washburn speaks with Dan Lawner, Founder of Bevel Talent, about why managers are the key to employee engagement and organizational success. They discuss common challenges mid-sized organizations face as they grow, what makes leadership development programs effective, and practical ways to start improving leadership, even without formal programs. From accountabilit...
Oct 08, 2025•21 min•Ep. 164
Too often in L&D, we’re handed a “training solution” and asked to deliver it without question. In this episode, Brian Washburn talks with L&D expert Jess Almlie about how to stop being an “order taker” and become a strategic business partner. They discuss why relationships matter, how small mindset shifts—from helper to partner—can increase influence, and practical ways to add real business value. Packed with actionable insights, this episode is perfect for anyone looking to elevate thei...
Sep 25, 2025•19 min•Ep. 163
If you're interested in how L&D professionals can support better leadership at every level of an organization, check out my latest podcast with The HR Lady, Wendy Sellers. Wendy brings a direct, practical approach to leadership, and she doesn’t shy away from tough conversations or tough truths. Tune in to hear thoughts on what leadership really means, why titles don’t make leaders, and how HR and L&D can work together to support stronger workplace culture and retention. Wendy also shares...
Jul 03, 2025•19 min•Ep. 162
What does it really take to build a lasting business? Brian Washburn and Tim Waxenfelter, co-founders of Endurance Learning, pull back the curtain on 10 years of grit, unexpected pivots, and hard-won lessons. No sugarcoating; just real stories from the trenches of entrepreneurship. The episode serves as both a celebration of their milestone and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in Learning & Development or consulting. ⛵Endurance Learning is a full service training development compa...
Jun 05, 2025•25 min•Ep. 161
Host Brian Washburn chats with learning consultant and author Mike Taylor about his new book, Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro , which he co-authored with Bianca Baumann. Taylor dives into the overlap between marketing and learning & development (L&D), arguing that marketers are far better at capturing attention and sparking behavior change, two areas where L&D often falls short. He shares ways that, with just a shift in mindset, applying marketing principles to train...
May 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 160
Donald Taylor’s 2025 Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey reveals AI’s explosive impact on workplace learning, but the real story is how professionals are moving from buzz to action—using it for everything from quick content fixes to reshaping skills strategies. Yet, the timeless challenge remains: proving L&D’s value. Are we chasing trends or driving results? 🗄️Download Donald Taylor’s 2025 Learning & Development Global Sentiment Survey 📜 Read the full transcript of The ...
Apr 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 159
Whether you are working in an NGO or not, this discussion with Gretchen Regehr from Conservation International will have you thinking more deeply about the role of both talent management and talent development in your organization. I've added some links below to relevant resources including the newest, our Free Learning Objectives Generator! 🎯 Create training session descriptions and learning objectives with a free learning objectives generator . 📖 Brian shows how the build-borrow-buy approach...
Sep 26, 2024•14 min•Ep. 158
We love cooking up new resources for the L&D field. We get excited when people download them. But we don't often know how they're being used. I had the opportunity to talk to two early childhood leaders, Glenna Gamble and Sharon Norris, and learn about how the integrated Endurance Learning's Activity Cookbook into their early childhood training session. 📖 Brian shows how the build-borrow-buy approach can help small L&D teams deliver amazing training in Instructional Design on a Shoestri...
Aug 22, 2024•13 min•Ep. 157
Brian spoke with John Edinger, a trainer he met while delivering a train-the-trainer session. John shares just what it was about the design of the program that he went through that inspired him to be doing things new or differently or better, even though he'd already been training for a while. 📖 Brian shows how the build-borrow-buy approach can help small L&D teams deliver amazing training in Instructional Design on a Shoestring . 📖 Brian’s first book, What’s Your Formula? helps profession...
Aug 08, 2024•15 min•Ep. 156
This is the followup conversation with Tim Barnosky, Manager of Training and Development for Innovative Solutions about his work building an L&D function from scratch. Check out episode 147 to hear the first part of this conversation. 📖 Brian shows how the build-borrow-buy approach can help small L&D teams deliver amazing training in Instructional Design on a Shoestring . 📖 Brian’s first book, What’s Your Formula? helps professionals find the right approach for their business problems....
Jul 25, 2024•20 min•Ep. 155
How strategic is your training program? How outcome-oriented, governed or sustainable is it? In today's podcast, Danielle Duran speaks with Brian Washburn about how to objectively measure your training program in those four key areas. Endurance Learning is a full-service training design and development firm that has helped dozens of organizations build out mature training programs using elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instruction...
Dec 14, 2023•18 min•Ep. 154
When participating in a DEI-focused session led by Jolene Jang at a recent conference, Brian Washburn found himself continuously shaking his head. Every time she pointed out another way learning design can be more inclusive, and quite frankly inviting, to all learners, he thought: there's something else I'm not currently doing. Join Endurance Learning's Brian Washburn as he sits down with Jolene Jang to find out more about ways to design more inclusive training programs. Endurance Learning is a ...
Nov 30, 2023•19 min•Ep. 153
Natalie Mazzie, an experienced sales enablement professional, discussed the crossover between training and sales enablement. Hear the Top 3 Sales Enablement Lessons for Learning & Development Professionals and more in this conversation with Endurance Learning's Brian Washburn. www.endurancelearning.com
Nov 09, 2023•14 min
Is your ILT designed with accessibility and inclusion in mind? Gwen Navarrete Klapperich wants to make sure you consider accessibility and inclusion in your ILT design, and offers some suggestions on how to do just that. Brian Washburn is the CEO of Endurance Learning where he helps find and grow a team of incredible instructional designers, elearning developers, and all around amazing people who build high quality and affordable training solutions for a wide variety of organizations. Brian ’s T...
Jul 27, 2023•13 min•Ep. 151
If you've ever been to an escape room, you can observe what a group of highly engaged people look like for 60 straight minutes. Is there a way to harness escape room design elements and bring them into the world of corporate training? Brian talks to Nate Martin, often cited as the founding father of the American escape room experience. While the team at Endurance Learning hasn’t designed any actual escape rooms (but did include a digital escape room in its Foundations of L&D program) it is w...
Jul 13, 2023•20 min•Ep. 150
When you're applying for an L&D job, how do you best position yourself to get a call from a recruiter or hiring manager? Experienced HR professional, Maria Leggett, offers her insights in today's podcast. Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and developers has helped professionals with deep subject matter expertise design and...
Jul 06, 2023•14 min•Ep. 149
If you're looking to pivot into a role in the corporate training or learning and development space, this episode will give you some insights and questions to think about. Transitioning fields can be tough, but Endurance Learning’s team of instructional designers can ease the pressure. Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and deve...
Jun 22, 2023•29 min•Ep. 148
How do you build an L&D team from scratch? Tim Barnosky of Innovative Solutions is currently in the process of answering that question. Today's podcast revolves around his vision and the challenges he anticipates. Useful Links: Endurance Learning Soapbox L&D Pro Academy
Jun 08, 2023•15 min
The constructal law of design and evolution in nature can actually be applied in very concrete ways to the world of learning and professional development to help individuals, teams and organizations flow more efficiently. Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and developers has helped professionals with deep subject matter experti...
May 22, 2023•15 min•Ep. 146
As people who have designed and delivered effective training, Kassy Laborie and Zovig Garboushian know a thing or two about good learning experiences. So what nuggets have they gleaned from a 9-month course that they're both attending, and that all of us should consider when designing our own programs? Today's podcast answers that question. Endurance Learning is a full-service, boutique instructional design firm, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs....
May 15, 2023•24 min•Ep. 145
Karl Kapp has written 8 books, created 11 LinkedIn Learning courses and has an entire YouTube channel devoted to game and game design. Today on the podcast, he spends some time talking about how to bring game elements into learning. Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and developers has helped professionals with deep subject mat...
May 08, 2023•31 min•Ep. 144
When it comes to your training participants, two of the dirtiest, or perhaps scariest, words you can say during a session may be: role play. In today's podcast, John Crook, Head of Learning at Intersol Global, offers some thoughts on how to make role plays more authentic and robust.
May 01, 2023•18 min
What can anyone who designs training learn from the way a keynote speaker designs and refines their presentation? Reknowned keynote speaker, Jessica Kriegel, answers that question and more in today's podcast.
Apr 24, 2023•14 min
If you're involved in developing strategies to help people learn and grow in their roles, today's podcast is for you. Danielle Lopez, a fraud investigator for a major financial services company, shares her insights on what mix of stretch assignments, supportive relationships and formal training helped her to excel.
Apr 17, 2023•15 min
Building a culture of learning inside your organization doesn't always mean you need to build training sessions or elearning courses. Sherry Metz Johnson offers some thoughts on what a true culture of learning can look like.
Apr 03, 2023•16 min
AI is all the rage these days. 7Taps has figured out a way to embed AI into their microlearning platform to make your experience even quicker. It looks like this is the future of AI in learning tools. 7Taps co-founder Kate Udalova shares her insights. Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and developers has helped professionals wi...
Mar 20, 2023•14 min•Ep. 138
Marci Morford has helped large organizations, such as The Gates Foundation and Salesforce, navigate some large-scale changes. What's her secret? Endurance Learning is a full-service training development partner, specializing in elearning, instructor-led training, and train-the-trainer programs. Since 2015, our team of expert instructional designers and developers has helped organizations support change initiatives through training that delivers real impact. 📖 Need more help with large-scale cha...
Mar 13, 2023•15 min•Ep. 137
If you've been in L&D for any amount of time, you probably have heard of the 70:20:10 framework. But what does it actually look like in action? And what can instructional designers learn from one woman's self-guided learning journey? Today's podcast offers some answers.
Mar 06, 2023•17 min
HR and L&D have a lot of overlapping goals, but they're often run by people with very different backgrounds, and there are even two very different professional associations that support these distinct groups. This podcast briefly explores how HR and L&D can come together to make great things happen.
Feb 27, 2023•12 min
