L&D Must Change

What if your real job in L&D isn't to build better courses, but to design better conditions for learning? In this episode, Mark Britz challenges us to step outside the L&D box and examine the larger ecosystem shaping performance every day. Through powerful stories and practical examples, Jess and Mark explore how control, efficiency, and legacy systems can unintentionally block learning. Instead of asking "What training should I create?" you'll be invited to ask, "What environment am I designing?" This conversation will stretch how you see your role and the impact you can truly have. Jess and Mark Discuss The shift from controlling learning through courses to influencing learning through environment design. Why creating content can subtly reinforce control instead of capability. The power of organizational design in shaping behavior. How efficiency-driven systems can unintentionally create disconnection and limit learning. The case study that proves most performance problems are not training problems. How social tools like Slack and Teams can act as an MRI for your culture, revealing trust, power, and communication patterns. What learning in the flow of work really means. The learning that emerges when people are trusted to solve problems. Auditing your own L&D processes to identify where you may be reinforcing control. About Mark Britz Mark is the Director of Event Programming & Content at The Learning Guild and author of Social By Design: How to create and scale a collaborative company. Across roles in education, corporate, and start-up settings—as a teacher, instructional designer, social strategist, and performance consultant - his focus has been consistent: reshape systems to reduce friction, foster connection, and support learning through work, not around it. Find and Connect with Mark Britz LinkedIn Website: www.markbritz.com Book: Social by Design: How to create and scale a collaborative company The Learning Guild Learning Leadership Conference DevLearn Conference & Expo Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

Is your L&D content closet getting a bit cluttered? When was the last time you cleaned it up? In this episode, Jess sits down with Ger Driesen, founder of World Learning Content Cleanup Day (#WLLCD), to challenge L&D's obsession with creation over maintenance. They explore why outdated learning erodes credibility, how to adopt a "retire by default" mindset, and how a simple annual cleanup can uncover powerful data insights. Let's reduce risk and increase the benefits of our content together with a cleanup celebration. Jess and Ger Discuss Why L&D teams prioritize creation and neglect maintenance The concept behind World Learning Content Cleanup Day The idea of learning hygiene as a professional standard How to evaluate content using relevance, usage, accuracy, and risk Using LMS data to inform cleanup decisions The retire by default mindset shift Refreshing, rewriting, or retiring content strategically What heat illness training in Alaska can teach us about relevance How cleanup builds credibility with stakeholders Navigating resistance and "killing your darlings" conversations Turning a one day event into an ongoing process Simple ways any L&D pro can get started About Ger Driesen Ger Driesen started working in L&D in 1990 and has taken on almost every L&D role there is during his career. He's served as a L&D consultant, a learning designer, an L&D manager, a Trainer/facilitator, a teacher for L&D at a university of applied sciences, a writer, and speaker. As the Learning Innovation Leader at Newspring, Ger launched the World Learning Content Cleanup Day (#WLCCD) in 2023. He is the co-founder and independent learning and leadership consultant for Challenge Leadership Development Academy. Ger is based in the Netherlands and also known as the Dutch L&D trend catcher. Find and Connect with Ger Driesen LinkedIn World Learning Content Cleanup Day Overview and Video Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

Choosing the right L&D technology can feel overwhelming when every platform promises transformation. In this episode, Jess and learning strategist Becky Willis cut through the noise to talk about how to evaluate learning tech with a critical eye. They explore how to separate real capability from marketing hype, what AI should actually be doing behind the scenes, and how to make smart technology decisions even when budget or legacy systems get in the way. If tech decisions stress you out, this conversation will help. Jess and Becky Discuss Why legacy LMSs were built for course management, not performance impact "Dinosaurs on wheels" and how AI gets bolted onto outdated systems The difference between AI at the core vs AI for content creation only Why you should start with a business problem, not a platform wish list Red flags in vendor demos and the questions to ask anyway What actionable data should look like, including BI-style analytics Personalization, skills, and collaboration as real engagement drivers How L&D accidentally kills engagement by overwhelming learners Using pilots, especially with IT, to reveal gaps and build allies How to show value and earn budget even with clunky tech Tying learning to KPIs like quality, safety, and time-to-proficiency About Becky Willis Becky Willis is a modern learning strategist, speaker, and author who focuses on learning strategy, technology, and engagement. As a founder and chief learning officer at Tractus Learning, she helps businesses design, develop, and improve their learning solutions. She is a thought leader in the field of learning platforms and ecosystems and cares deeply about leveraging technology to create personalized, adaptive, and continuous learning experiences to drive better outcomes for businesses. Find and Connect with Becky Willis LinkedIn Tractus Learning Website: https://tractuslearning.com/ Book: 7 Steps to Learning Engagement Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

AI can spit out an L&D outline in seconds, but it cannot create connection. In this episode, Jess Almlie talks with Stephanie Hubka about why storytelling is the missing ingredient in a world of fast, transactional training. They break down how to choose stories with intention using the SOL framework, how to design learning through story using scenarios and choose-your-own-adventure techniques, and how to use AI as a partner without outsourcing the best parts of your craft. You will leave ready to start a story journal and humanize your learning. Jess and Stephanie Discuss How AI exposes the gap between knowledge transfer and human connection Stephanie's "light switch" moment when ChatGPT matched her outline, but stripped the soul from the learning Why storytelling builds trust, openness, and the vulnerability learners need Common objections like "I'm not confident" and "I don't have the right story" and how to move past them Borrowing stories ethically, including when to ask permission and when to anonymize Using the SOL framework to pick stories that spark, overcome, underscore, or link The difference between adding a story and designing through story Story-based structures like scenarios and choose-your-own-adventure learning Four storytelling archetypes (superpowers) and how to match your style to your audience A practical workflow: human start, AI middle, human end A simple next step: start a story journal you can pull from anytime About Stephanie Hubka Stephanie Hubka wants to live in a world where learning is human at its core and anchored by experiences that celebrate joy, curiosity, and genuine connection. As the managing partner of Protos Learning, LLC she provides strategic leadership on professional learning and organizational performance solutions to companies around the world. Stephanie is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and is Dare to Lead Trained. She is a sought-after facilitator and keynote speaker, and her work has been published in industry publications including TD Magazine. She is the co-author of 3-2-1 Launch!: The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Talent Development Podcast. Stephanie is a longtime ATD volunteer and proudly served as the president of the Metro DC chapter of ATD in 2016 and as a National Advisor for Chapters from 2017-2022. Stephanie's passion for training is equaled only by her love of exploring the globe; an avid traveler, she has visited all 7 continents, more than 70 countries, and all 50 US states. Find and Connect with Stephanie Hubka LinkedIn Website: Protos Learning ATD Blog Article: AI Isn't Human, But Storytelling Is TD Magazine Article: Channel Your Sorytelling Superpower (Free to ATD Members) Book: 3-2-1 Launch! The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Talent Development Podcast Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap Contact Jess

Let's be real. Most Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) don't actually improve performance. They're a legal termination plan in disguise. That doesn't make anyone feel good. But, they don't have to be this way! In this episode, Jess talks with coach and culture consultant Amy Kay Watson about rebooting accountability so performance improvement becomes a true development process instead of a disciplinary paper trail. Amy breaks down why most PIPs don't include learning or development and then shares a practical model built designed to restore psychological safety, clarify standards, and build early wins. You'll leave with concrete ways L&D can equip managers to partner in accountability conversations and diagnose root causes. PIPs can be positive turning points, but only with a different approach. Jess and Amy Discuss Why PIPs often function as compliance tools instead of learning frameworks, and the downstream damage to trust, morale, and capability The "reformer's trap": why managers default to policing behavior under pressure (and what to do instead) How cultures fall into the "nice trap," confusing kindness with lack of structure and boundaries A developmental PIP model built on three pillars: Justice, Goals, and Efficacy Justice in practice: using transparent performance data ("Do you see what I see?") to reduce threat response and enable learning Goals that build capacity: shifting from deficit lists to resourced targets using the Job Demands–Resources (JDR) lens Efficacy: restoring agency by designing early, achievable wins to rebuild confidence and momentum L&D's three big opportunities: train managers as diagnostic "regulators," claim PIPs as a learning tool, and align with HR/Legal to avoid mixed messages The smallest high-impact starting point: be clear about standards because clarity really is kindness How to handle the hard reality: what changes when someone won't engage, even with support and partnership About Amy Kay Watson Amy Kay Watson, M.Div., MCC, is a Master Certified Coach and a sought-after speaker in empathy-driven leadership and performance improvement. She helps purpose-driven professionals balance accountability with compassion, especially in high-pressure, high-stakes roles. With a background spanning chaplaincy, corporate management, over 200 culture-shaping retreats, and over 3,600 coaching hours, Amy brings rare insight and practical wisdom to every stage and conversation. Find and Connect with Amy Kay Watson LinkedIn Website: amykaywatson.com Article: It's Time to Reboot Accountability Special offer for listeners (quiz): rebootleader.com Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap

Melanie Martinelli, a seasoned L&D practitioner and CEO of the Institute for Transfer Effectiveness, challenges common training metrics that prioritize satisfaction over real impact. She explains the concept of 'learning transfer' as the application of skills in the workplace. Listeners learn about her 12 levers of transfer and how to conduct a transfer audit to identify barriers. Melanie shares insights on prioritizing impactful changes, the importance of realistic practice, and a compelling case study showing that context often trumps fancy design.

Your learners don't need another "fun" workshop; they need results. In this episode, Jess and Brian Washburn unpack why engagement alone is a dangerous success metric and how to design for real performance change. Brian introduces his simple four-step facilitation model: Anchor, Content, Application, Future Use, which turns any session into a repeatable, effective learning experience. They explore how to equip SMEs to facilitate (without gimmicks), handle awkward moments like silence or "I don't know," and adapt these principles for virtual and global audiences. Why engagement alone doesn't equal effective training The four-step facilitation model and how to use it every time Moving SMEs from knowledge dumps to true facilitation Simple, non-gimmicky activities that prove people "get it" Handling silence, tough questions, and tech failures with confidence Adapting facilitation for virtual rooms and global cultures About Brian Washburn Brian Washburn is an author, a sought-after speaker, and an experienced instructional designer who has been working in the field of learning and development for more than two decades. Brian's work has been published in TD magazine, the monthly trade magazine for the Association of Talent Development (ATD), and he was named a Top Young Trainer by Training Magazine in 2011. Brian's first book, What's Your Formula? Combine Learning Elements for Impactful Training, was published by ATD Press in June 2021. Modeled on the original periodic table of elements, the book explores a wide range of approaches to organizational training needs and new ideas and ways to organize the design of learning programs. His second book, Instructional Design on a Shoestring, was released in January 2024, and will be provided to each participant in this train-the-trainer program. Brian holds an MA in Organizational Development from Antioch University. Find and Connect with Brian Washburn LinkedIn Website: Endurance Learning Book: What's Your Formula? Combine Learning Elements for Impactful Training Book: Instructional Design on a Shoestring Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner Additional Links from the Episode Gagne's 9 Events of Instruction The Bob Pike Group Malcolm Knowles Adult Learning Theory On Teaching and Learning: Putting the Principles and Practices of Dialogue Education into Action by Jane Vella Endurance Learning Training Activity Cookbook L&D Must Change Podcast Episode 08 with Kassy Laborie (Online Training That's Better Than In Person) Interact and Engage! 75+ Activities for Virtual Training, Meetings, and Webinars by Kassy Laborie and Thomas Stone L&D Must Change Podcast Episode 22 with Chris Taylor (Designing and Measuring On Purpose)

AI isn't coming for your L&D job... it's rewriting it. In this episode, Jess and AI-in-L&D veteran Josh Cavalier dig into his provocative "Human Machine Performance Analyst" L&D role, why content creation is still on the table, and how to build the business, data, and learning-science muscles you'll actually need. They unpack the real story behind AI layoffs, the emerging L&D tech ecosystem, and practical, low-risk ways to get your AI learning and practice reps in today. Jess and Josh Discuss Why Josh believes L&D must evolve into "Human Machine Performance Analysts." The shift from building courses to orchestrating human AI performance. Core skills for L&D to double down on: performance consulting, business acumen, data and analytics, and learning science. Which L&D tasks AI will automate. What AI-related layoffs are really funding. How the AI ecosystem flows from platforms like Microsoft, Google, and Workday down into L&D tools. The risks of shadow AI usage and protecting organizational IP. Cross-functional AI operations to enable responsible adoption Simple, safe ways to start with AI in content creation and get your "AI reps" in. Why strategic curiosity, not fear, is L&D's best response to AI. About Josh Cavalier Josh Cavalier is on a mission to bridge the gap between Learning & Development professionals and the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. His own "aha!" moment arrived in late 2022 when an AI generated a remarkably effective educational video script on his prompt, instantly revealing its potential to revolutionize learning. Drawing on 30+ years of experience, including leading Lodestone Digital to radically improve clients' edtech implementations, Josh now guides organizations through the complexities of AI integration. Through JoshCavalier.ai, he directly addresses the concerns and opportunities facing L&D. Forget the fear of job loss – Josh argues AI necessitates a shift in roles, amplifying the need for human expertise and insight. He cuts through the myth of "automatic" AI, emphasizing that L&D professionals are crucial collaborators in the process. His focus? Pragmatic strategies and tools that help teams navigate the AI ecosystem, understand human-machine partnership, and significantly increase their AI skills. Josh makes complex AI accessible and actionable. His training, popular YouTube channel, and the fun, interactive live show "Brainpower" reach thousands, offering easy-to-use methods for working with AI. Committed to the L&D community, he consults, runs workshops, and shares his strategic insights at major industry events (DevLearn, Learning Solutions, ATD ICE), empowering professionals to leverage AI for hyper-personalized learning and greater organizational impact. Find and Connect with Josh Cavalier LinkedIn Website: JoshCavalier.ai YouTube Show: Brainpower: Your Weekly AI Training Show Book: Applying AI in Learning & Development: From Platforms to Performance Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner L&D Business Acumen Checklist

Tired of L&D busywork that doesn't move the needle? In this episode, Jess and Guus van Deelen dismantle "course factory" thinking and show how to organize L&D for results. They unpack the five L&D "chessboards," shift focus from learning to performance objectives, and set clear roles and decision rights to escape order-taking. You'll hear how to segment stakeholders with RIS (Risk, Importance, Size), apply Lean thinking to clean up operations, and run an annual L&D Cleanup Day (yes, on March 12) to kill zombie offerings and refocus on business value. Jess and Guus Discuss Why learning is a means—not the goal The five L&D "chessboards" and choosing must-win areas Escaping order-taking with clear roles and decision rights Training internal clients to work with L&D Replacing learning objectives with performance objectives (or adding both) RIS stakeholder segmentation: Risk, Importance, Size Lean habits to fix the back-office mess Service levels: economy to "royal class" support The annual L&D Cleanup Day (March 12): what to stop, start, or sustain Using LMS data to kill underused content Practical scripts and examples for setting expectations with the business About Guus van Deelen Guus van Deelen has held multiple roles in the L&D field, from L&D manager in global multinationals to strategic consultant helping organizations reposition and optimize their L&D departments. He is on a mission to make L&D more "streetwise." designing L&D that truly drives results. Not just delivering more training, but measurable impact on people, performance, and business outcomes. Guus helps L&D teams to create learning strategies, governance models, and talent development frameworks. He is also the author of the book, Organizing L&D for Results. Find and Connect with Guus van Deelen LinkedIn Website: guusvandeelen.nl Free resources for L&D Pros as mentioned in the episode Book: Organizing L&D for Results Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner

What if the key to better learning isn't more content, but less? In this episode, Jess Almlie sits down with L&D expert Katrina Kennedy to explore how simplifying learning experiences and building in moments of reflection can transform behavior and performance. They unpack practical ways to focus on what really matters: workplace impact, learner ownership, and giving people the time and space they need to make learning stick. Jess and Katrina Discuss Why simplicity beats sophistication in learning design How reflection boosts retention and real behavior change The myth that "more content equals more learning" Practical ways to add reflection(even in one-hour sessions) How to handle stakeholder pushback and focus on outcomes Why reflection isn't just looking back. It's preparing to move forward About Katrina Kennedy Katrina Kennedy, known as the "trainer's trainer," is a facilitator and speaker with 25+ years in learning and development. She has helped thousands of subject matter experts design and deliver engaging learning experiences in a variety of industries. Her forthcoming book, Learning That Lasts; Reflection Activities for Trainers and Designers released on October 21, 2025. Find and Connect with Katrina Kennedy LinkedIn Website: www.katrinakennedy.com Book: Learning That Lasts: Reflection Activities for Trainers and Designers Find and Connect with Jess Almlie LinkedIn Website: www.jessalmlie.com Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner Additional Links Mentioned in the Episode Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory The History of Toothpaste (Wikipedia)