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....

Jessica Chen is the author of Smart Not Loud -How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reasons. In this podcast episode, she explores effective communication strategies that elevate your professional presence. Jessica shares insight into understanding the common communication scale within organizations and how to assess your perceived position on that scale.   Throughout the conversation, Jessica provides a variety of frameworks for reframing your communication style to boost...

  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...

AI Agents are having their “electricity moment” in this era of technological invention. In this episode, we define 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 tools—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...

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...

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...

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”...

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 addresses 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...

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: ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 shares the lessons...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Impassioned speaker and author of Leading Imperfectly, James Robilotta, shares how tapping into the power of curiosity can transform communities. James breaks down his framework for cultivating curiosity and reveals how starting with better questions will lead you to more authentic connection and loyalty at work and in your personal life. Tune in for more advice on disrupting your patterns with others, resetting difficult relationships, and a phrase that may be better than any active...

Lauren Weinstein, co-author of The Empowered Job Search and the Career Discovery & Enablement Lead at Microsoft, is on the podcast this week to discuss the complexities of job changes and career development. Sharing her personal story of being laid off, Lauren offers advice for those transitioning between roles, companies, and industry fields.  A job change, whether intentional or unplanned, can be an emotional experience. In the conversation, Lauren covers separating work from identity,...

Evidence-informed learning designer and educational technology specialist, Nidhi Sachdeva, breaks down the dangers of conflating neurodivergence and learning styles. Discussing Dual Coding Theory, Cognitive Theory, and Information Processing Theory, Nidhi explains the science behind how people learn and what trainers often get wrong.   While discussing the myth of learning styles, Nidhi shares her advice for using kindness to correct misinformation, the importance of nuance to understand...

Julie Dirksen is a learning strategist and author of the recently released book, Talk to the Elephant. She joins the podcast to chat about designing learning for behavior change. We discuss several topics from her book, including the COM-B behavior model, and how to map it to your behavior change interventions. Julie reveals the biggest barriers to behavior change– like motivation, competing priorities, and feedback– and what you can do about them. The examples Julie shares from different...