When it comes to tackling the bias around age, is the juice worth the squeeze? Our guest, Tonya Wilson, says absolutely. 

Tonya, organizational strategist and founder of AFC Consulting Group, joins the podcast to discuss the hidden costs of age discrimination—an issue that drains more than $850 billion from the U.S. economy each year. Tonya debunks myths about older generations, reframes age bias as a change management challenge, and offers suggestions for creating systems that provide growth opportunities for all employers.  

Building an ageless workplace begins with auditing processes that may favor younger employees—whether in job descriptions, promotion practices, or workplace culture. From fostering psychological safety to implementing reverse mentorships, Tonya shares research-backed insights on training older generations and reveals how to develop agility as a mindset first. 

Reources:

• Website: https://www.afcconsultinggroup.com/  
• Blog: https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/designing-ageless-workplaces-a-strategic-imperative-for-the-future
• TD article: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/the-future-of-work-is-ageless
• Resource Package: https://resources.afcconsultinggroup.com/unmaskingageism
• ATD25 Education Session: https://www.td.org/content/conference-recording/unmasking-ageism-raising-awareness-and-shaping-inclusive-talent-development  

Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins the podcast to cut through the noise around AI-enabled skill building and explore how this technology can truly support a thriving learning culture.

AI is an accelerator, a disruptor, and a powerful tool—but it’s not replacing educators any time soon. Ryan shares how AI can work hand-in-hand with human oversight, expand accessibility, and take tedious tasks off your plate. He also offers practical, budget-friendly tools that L&D teams can put to work today.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlufkin/
• Website: https://www.instructure.com/ 

Sabina Nawaz is a global CEO coach, leadership keynote speaker, author, and advisor to C-level executives in Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. She joins the podcast to discuss themes of leadership from her book, You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need).

As leaders navigate expanding power, increasing pressure to perform, and the impact of their decisions, Sabina offers tools to help mitigate the tension that builds. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls that can turn even your superpowers into setbacks.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/
• Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/
• Book: https://sabinanawaz.com/book/ 

Many talented learning professionals feel invisible—despite doing incredible work. In this episode, Connie Malamed joins us to explore how to gain visibility by contributing meaningfully to the field. We talk about why visibility matters, how to build credibility without being performative, and the ripple effects of sharing your work. You’ll also hear simple, low-pressure ways to raise your profile—whether it’s online, inside your organization, or across the L&D field.

We break down common barriers like imposter feelings, lack of know-how, and the misconception that visibility is ego-driven. Connie shares practical strategies and ideas—like trying a 30-day visibility experiment or collaborating with peers to take the pressure off—plus plenty of ways to share your work with clarity, intention, and real impact.

Resources:

• Free eMail Crash Course to Elevate Visibility: https://theelearningcoach.com/visibility
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniemalamed/
• Website: https://theelearningcoach.com/author/connie/
• Website: https://masteringid.com

Additional resources mentioned:

• Tiny Experiments by Ann Laure Le Cunff

Jonathan Halls is an author and consultant who uses learning science to streamline talent development to be digital and focused on business results. In today’s episode, Jonathan takes on L&D’s Goliath: Bloom’s Taxonomy.  

If you’ve written a learning objective before, you've likely used a version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. But what if we’ve been using it in ways it was never meant to be used? What if this framework is creating roadblocks and preventing real learning?   

Jonathan guides us through a thoughtful critique of Bloom’s and offers an alternative framework for writing learning objectives that actually achieve the desired results.    

Resources:  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhalls
• Website: https://jonathanhalls.com/
• Books: https://jonathanhalls.com/books/ 

Chelsea C. Williams, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent, is an expert on intergenerational talent strategies and the Gen Z workforce. In this episode, Chelsea debunks myths about Gen Z and shares lessons we can learn from the youngest working demographic. 

She breaks down what research reveals Gen Z truly values—from transparency and purpose to wellbeing and career development—and reveals the stereotypes that ofen misguide managers. Discover what resonates with young professionals and how leaders can evolve to better engage, retain, and empower early talent in today’s dynamic, diverse workplace.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseacwilliams/  
• Website: https://chelseacwilliams.com/
• Reimagine Talent: https://www.reimaginetalentco.com/  
• Forbe’s Content: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/chelseacwilliams/ 

To elevate your training, it’s time to take a page from the marketing playbook. In this episode, we’re joined by Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor—co-authors of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro: Strategies to Ignite Learning—to explore how applying marketing strategies within learning programs can supercharge engagement, drive measurable impact, and secure stakeholder buy-in. 

Bianca, VP of Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent Learning, and Mike, a learning consultant at Nationwide, share actionable insights on: 

• Building a program content strategy that captures learner attention 
• Leveling up with technology and measurement tools
• Tapping into the emotional drivers that make learning stick 

Marketing strategies go beyond boosting program visibility. Learn to create learning experiences that resonate and reframe your L&D mindset through a marketer’s lens.

Resources:

• Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--think-like-a-marketer-train-like-an-ld-pro/112507
• Website:
  • Bianca: https://www.biancabaumann.com/ 
  • Mike: https://mike-taylor.org/
• LinkedIn:  
  • Bianca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/ 
  • Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/  

Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the podcast to explore how organizations can meaningfully advance fairness at work. 

Drawing on insights from her research and the book, Siri discusses how to drive change even in risk-averse or hesitant environments. She unpacks the difference between fairness and sameness, how to bias-proof training, and what it really takes to embed behavior change into day-to-day decision-making. 

From debunking persistent workplace myths to practicing “norm entrepreneurship,” Siri offers practical strategies—grounded in data—that leaders and teams can apply right away. 

Resources:  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/ 
• Website: https://sirichilazi.com/ 
• Book: https://sirichilazi.com/books/make-work-fair/ 

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 seems to speak a different language? How can you encourage technical workers to embrace soft skill training? And where do we even start when it comes to AI? 

Neil answers all of these questions and offers practical tips to solve a common workplace issue: getting too technical. 

Resources:  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilithompson/  
• Website: https://teachthegeek.com/  
• TD Magazine article (Member-only):  https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/public-speaking-struggles-for-technical-professionals  
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachthegeek 

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 as individuals), and how to avoid Trait Traps that turn strengths into weaknesses. Plus, Jenny tackles skepticism around reframing words like "manipulative" and shares which trait challenged her the most.

Resources:  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles/  
• Website: https://itsjennywood.com/
• Book: https://itsjennywood.com/book
• Download Get Promoted Guide: https://itsjennywood.kit.com/7b1b560076  
• More Tools from Jenny: https://itsjennywood.com/resources