Talk Learning With Me

This episode kicks off the Strategic Learning Series, focused on helping learning professionals build credibility, trust, and influence through higher-quality work.

Joseph sits down (in person) with Tom Jager, a Learning and Development Manager at Smurfit Westrock, to explore a simple but transformative standard:

Would people be willing to pay for the learning experiences you create?

Tom breaks down why corporate L&D often defaults to “good enough,” how leadership support enables creative risk-taking, and why weak feedback loops let low-quality learning persist.

He defines what “high fidelity” actually means in practice, shares a real example of “TikTok training” that drove surprising demand, and offers a practical path for leveling up: copy great work, critique it, then iterate until you break into a higher tier of quality and speed.

• A supportive leader creates room to experiment, stretch, and improve.

• High-fidelity learning signals intention, quality, and respect for the learner’s time.

• Most corporate learning lacks a tight feedback loop, so mediocre work often goes unchallenged.

• Learning can be hard because of the skill being built, not because the experience is frustrating.

• Creativity can elevate routine training without turning everything into a production.

• Copying and critiquing strong examples accelerates skill growth and design judgment.

• Incentives and expectations inside L&D often reward completion over quality.

• Real-world application increases engagement and perceived value.

• Collaboration makes innovation easier and raises the quality bar faster.

• Continuous improvement beats perfectionism. Small gains compound.

• “Learning that is so good people would pay for it.”

• “Copy people to level up your skills.”

• “Feedback loops are essential for improvement.”

00:00 In-person setup and introduction
01:20 Meet Tom – Learning and Development Manager
01:34 What Tom loves about L&D
02:21 Creativity and intentional design in L&D
05:07 Defining high-fidelity learning
07:35 Expectations in corporate L&D
09:55 Why feedback loops matter
11:12 Shifting your mindset toward elevated standards
14:15 Tom’s journey to higher-quality work
19:19 Leadership and collaboration as creative enablers
21:46 Real-world impact of elevated learning experiences
22:35 Where to start when leveling up your skills
25:22 Copying and critiquing as a growth strategy
28:25 Feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement
29:28 Resources for creative development
33:58 Transforming learning into something people would choose
34:51 Building feedback loops and learning strategies

Resources Mentioned (Not affiliated in any way)

• Everything Is a Remix (video series) by Kirby Ferguson (Everything is a Remix)

• Lovable (used to build a simulation experience) (Lovable)

• Articulate Storyline 360 (Articulate)

• Adobe Captivate (Adobe)

• Articulate Rise 360 (Articulate)

• Camtasia (TechSmith) (TechSmith)

• Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (overview) (ScienceDirect)

  E-Learning Heroes (examples to critique, community and inspiration) (Articulate Community)

  
  

  CONNECT WTIH TOM

• LinkedIn (best place to follow Tom’s work and experiments) (LinkedIn)

• Overtime Courses (Tom’s work with micro-influencers and digital products) (Overtime Learning)

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Most people think learning has to be serious to be effective.
But here’s the truth — the best learning moments often happen when we laugh, connect, and see ourselves in the story.

In this episode of Talk Learning With Me, Joseph Diaz sits down with Kara Wight — a learning leader, podcast host, and self-proclaimed pop culture nerd — to explore how humor, authenticity, and shared language make learning more human.

From Parks and Recreation GIFs to Schitt’s Creek and Ted Lasso clips, Kara shares how pop culture can spark belonging, build trust, and make lessons stick long after the workshop ends.

This conversation is packed with real stories, inclusive design ideas, and practical ways to bring personality into your facilitation — without losing focus on behavior change.

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🔑 Key Takeaways
• Humor and pop culture make learning more relatable and memorable.
• Laughter builds trust, connection, and psychological safety.
• Pop culture references should enhance the lesson, not replace it.
• Keep inclusivity in mind — not everyone shares the same cultural references.
• Start with behavior change first, then add the fun.
• Shared experiences create a common language that sticks.
• Humor makes learning more human — and humans learn best from other humans.
• It’s okay to experiment, fail, and adapt your approach over time.
• The goal isn’t to impress — it’s to connect.
• “If you can make them laugh, you can teach them something.”

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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Kara Wight and Her Journey
04:08 — The Intersection of Pop Culture and Learning
06:55 — Building Rapport Through Pop Culture
09:48 — Navigating Inclusivity in Pop Culture References
12:37 — Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences
15:41 — The Role of Humor in Learning
18:40 — The Importance of Structure in Learning
21:31 — The TV Show Club Initiative
24:24 — Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
27:46 — The Importance of Community in Learning

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💡 Resources & Recommendations (not sponsored)
🎧 Listen to Kara’s Podcast: Waffles Friends Work
📺 Join the Pop Culture ProDev TV Show Book Club on the Fable app
👥 Connect with Kara on LinkedIn
📸 Follow Kara on Instagram @wafflesworkpod

⸻
🎙️ Sound Bites
• “If you can make them laugh, you can teach them something.”
• “Pop culture gives people a shared language for learning.”
• “Humor brings people together — and that’s where learning happens.”
• “Start with the behavior you want to change, then find the story that makes it stick.”

⸻
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✅ Share this episode with someone who makes learning fun

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Most people think networking is only for job hunting. But here’s the truth—by the time you need a job, it’s already too late.

In this solo episode of Talk Learning With Me, Joseph Diaz shares why networking matters in Learning & Development, even if you’re not looking for a job.

From his awkward freshman-year networking story to lessons learned in book clubs and LinkedIn, Joseph breaks down four key reasons to build your network and how it can shape your career.

This episode is packed with personal stories, practical tips, and recommendations for people and communities that can help you sharpen your skills, stay current, and grow your professional reputation.

⸻

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Networking is about relationships, not just transactions.

• Building a network early sharpens your skills.

• Stay updated on industry trends through networking.

• A strong reputation can lead to opportunities.

• Giving back to your network is crucial for growth.

• Engaging with communities enhances learning.

• Networking can transform your career path.

• Start with the connections you already have.

• Small acts of kindness in networking compound over time.

• Networking is a continuous process of learning and sharing.

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — The Importance of Networking Beyond Job Hunting

02:45 — Transforming Networking into Meaningful Relationships

05:13 — Building Skills and Staying Current through Networking

07:52 — Establishing a Reputation and Giving Back

10:39 — Practical Steps to Enhance Your Networking Skills

11:40 — Challenge: Easy, Medium, or Hard Mode

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💡 Resources & Recommendations (not sponsored)

• People to follow on LinkedIn:

  • Ross Stevenson

  • Luke Hobson

  • Heidi Kirby

• Communities to join:

  • L&D Collective by 360Learning

  • Useful L&D Community

⸻

🎙️ Sound Bites

• “Stay in the loop on trends and opportunities.”

• “Build a reputation before you need it.”

• “Nurture the seeds of your current network.”

⸻

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Most conversations about accessibility focus on alt text, captions, and color contrast—but what if the real barrier is culture?

In this episode, Maryam Abdulkadir shares how her background as a UK-born, Nigerian learning designer reshaped how she thinks about accessibility, learning, and design. Her story begins with developing educational materials for children in conflict-affected areas and leads to a powerful insight: learning isn’t truly accessible if it’s not culturally relevant.

We dive into what “contextual accessibility” means, how language and cultural nuance shape comprehension, and why empathy—not just creativity—is key to inclusive design.

Whether you’re creating global training, supporting a diverse workforce, or rethinking your own approach to accessibility, this conversation will expand your perspective and offer ideas you can apply right away.

🔑 Takeaways

• Accessibility isn’t just about impairments—it’s about cultural relevance

• Cultural context impacts how learners interpret and retain information

• Language carries emotion, not just meaning—translation needs to reflect that

• Literacy and comprehension are not the same

• Learning cultures don’t emerge by accident—they’re designed (or neglected)

• Assumptions about what learners need can derail your design

• Exposure to different cultures builds empathy and insight for inclusive design

• Self-reflection helps instructional designers avoid bias and oversights

📚 Resources Mentioned

We Make Change – Global volunteering platform

Why Western Humanitarian Designs Fail

Maryam Abdulkadir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-abdulkadir/

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Cultural Influences on Learning Design

06:32 The Importance of Contextual Accessibility

14:42 Understanding Learning Needs

21:50 Creating a Culture of Learning

24:55 Understanding Cultural Perspectives in Learning

25:46 How to Stay Connected with Maryam

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Most gamification flops because it adds points without purpose. In this episode, Garrett Egan shares how to design learning experiences that actually engage learners by thinking like a game designer.

We dive into what game-based learning really means, why storytelling matters, and how visual design can support (or sabotage) engagement. Garrett brings insights from the gaming industry and corporate L&D to show how to build experiences your learners want to complete, not just click through.

Whether you're gamifying onboarding or rethinking compliance training, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use right away.

🔑 Takeaways

Don’t confuse gamification with engagement—points and badges alone won’t drive behavior.

Games inspire learning by creating clarity, purpose, and momentum.

Storytelling helps learners see themselves as the hero of the journey.

Visuals should support—not distract from—the learning experience.

Rewards must feel meaningful in the context of the job, not just the LMS.

📚 Resources Mentioned

The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell

Game examples: Elden Ring, Minecraft, Pokémon

Garrett Egan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettegan

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:32 The Essence of Game-Based Learning

04:35 Engagement Through Storytelling

06:31 The Role of Visual Appeal in Learning

09:06 Gamification vs. Game-Based Learning

11:40 Practical Steps to Implement Game Elements

14:45 Resources for Further Learning

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me for more conversations like this!

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Can you use ChatGPT to help design courses without losing clarity or quality?

In this episode, Joseph talks with Matt Thomas, technical writer, content creator, and author of Writing for Robots, to talk about how learning professionals can use AI tools like ChatGPT to amplify their writing without outsourcing their brain. From synthesizing SME content to structuring outlines, Matt shares how he uses AI in real instructional workflows and how you can too.

Whether you’re drafting course materials, writing learning objectives, or collaborating with subject matter experts, this episode will give you practical ways to integrate AI while keeping the quality high and your voice intact.

🧠 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why you shouldn't let AI take the first pass at your writing
• How Matt uses ChatGPT to distill SME inputs into clear, structured content
• The biggest mistakes IDs and writers make with AI
• How to prompt more effectively (and think like a writer before you type)
• Why critical thinking is more essential because of AI—not despite it

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome and Matt’s origin story with AI

01:55 – The magic fades—but the usefulness grows

03:43 – Technical writing background and cross-industry lessons

05:23 – Using ChatGPT for synthesis, not just writing

07:21 – You can’t outsource your brain

09:37 – What AI can’t replace in good writing

10:43 – From prompting guide to Writing for Robots

13:32 – Why AI isn’t Photoshop: models behave differently

15:02 – Designing content that fits multiple learner styles

17:08 – Biggest mistakes new AI users make

18:30 – Instructional design meets AI: where to start

20:02 – SME communication and AI as an editing partner

21:39 – Don’t lose your voice or judgment

23:42 – Matt’s take on different AI models

25:25 – Final thoughts + where to find Matt’s work

🔗 Connect with Matt

✍️ Prompting Guide: writing4robots.ai

💼 LinkedIn: Matt Thomas

🥁 YouTube Drum Covers: @MGT81Music

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me for more conversations like this!

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Joseph Diaz and product marketer Aaron Mendoza explore what product marketing is and why it matters.

From his start in product management to leading go-to-market strategy at Bill, Aaron shares how product marketers serve as strategic quarterbacks inside a business, aligning cross-functional teams, crafting messaging, and ensuring that products don’t just launch—they land.

You'll hear how product marketing overlaps with sales enablement and instructional design, what it means to build with the customer in mind, and why research, not assumptions, should guide your strategy. Whether you're in L&D, sales, or product, this episode offers insights into how teams can better communicate value and meet real needs.

• What product marketers actually do (and how it differs from product management)

• The role of storytelling and research in shaping product success

• How to break into the field of product marketing

• Differences in PMM roles at startups vs. large organizations

• Why customer insights > assumptions

• Strategic alignment across teams, from sales to customer success

Organizations & Communities:

• Product Marketing Alliance (PMA)

Books:

• Obviously Awesome by April Dunford

• Make It Punchy by Emma Stratton

Podcasts:

• Positioning with April Dunford

• Product Marketing Life by PMA

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me for more conversations like this!
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It’s been a little while since the last episode dropped, so here’s a quick update from me.

In this short solo episode, I share what’s been going on personally and professionally, why the podcast has been quiet, and what you can expect next. I’ve got three incredible guests lined up, and I can’t wait for you to hear their episodes.

Here’s what’s coming soon:

• Aaron Mendoza on Product Marketing and how it connects product, customer, and strategy

• Garret Egan on Game-Based Learning and designing learning that actually engages

• Matt Thomas on AI + Writing for L&D and how to use tools like ChatGPT without losing your voice

Thanks for sticking with me. I’m so grateful you’re here.

—

Connect with me on LinkedIn: Joseph Diaz
🎙️ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me for more learning conversations!
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Accessibility isn’t just a checklist—it’s a mindset shift.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Nicole L’Etoile, a Learning Experience Designer and passionate accessibility consultant, to explore practical ways to incorporate accessibility into our workflows.

We discuss why accessibility matters for everyone, how to use plain language, and essential tools to make your learning content more inclusive.

If you’ve ever wondered where to start with accessibility or how to make your online content accessible without feeling overwhelmed, this episode is for you!

💡 In this conversation, we cover:

• Why accessibility is more than compliance—it’s about human connection
• The four key principles of web accessibility (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust)
• How to advocate for accessibility in organizations that don’t prioritize it
• The power of plain language and tools to simplify complex content
• Practical steps for making your e-learning content, LMS courses, and videos accessible
• Why accessibility benefits all learners, not just those with disabilities

Want to go deeper and apply these principles to your own work? Join the next cohort of Making Online Content Accessible for All starting April 7th!

📌 Register here → https://www.letoile-education.com/courses

📌 Follow Nicole on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleletoile/

📌 Subscribe to Nicole’s Newsletter & Check Out Her Resources → https://www.letoile-education.com/

• Accessibility Personas Activity – https://personas-prototype.herokuapp.com/
• WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind) – https://webaim.org
• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – https://www.w3.org/WAI
• Nicole’s Curated List of Accessibility Courses & Certifications – Google Doc
• Nicole’s Full Resource Library – https://www.letoile-education.com/resources
• Follow the #A11Y hashtag on LinkedIn for accessibility insights

• Hemingway App – https://hemingwayapp.com
• Google Notebook LM (AI for simplifying complex language)

• Articulate Storyline Accessibility Guide – https://articulate.com/support/article/Storyline-360-Accessibility-Features

🔗 Follow Nicole L’Etoile on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleletoile/
📩 Subscribe to Nicole’s Newsletter & Check Out Her Courses → https://www.letoile-education.com/

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me for more conversations like this!

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In this special book club episode, I’m joined by Kamye Hugley and Laura Goldstone, two incredible members of our L&D Collective book club, to reflect on Talk to the Elephant by Julie Dirksen. We dive into key takeaways from the book, share how we’ve applied its insights to our work, and discuss what we learned from our fireside chat with Julie herself.

We also talk about:

✅ The role of emotional intelligence in learning design
✅ How to balance the "elephant" (emotional brain) and the "rider" (logical brain) in behavior change
✅ Why change is a process, not an event—and what that means for L&D
✅ The power of book clubs and community learning
✅ Real-world examples of applying Talk to the Elephant principles in corporate and nonprofit settings

Since recording this episode, we’ve kicked off our Q1 2025 book club read: Design to Engage by Beth Cougler Blom! It’s not too late to join—our next fireside chat is on March 11, and in April, Beth will be joining us for a special session. Come be part of the discussion!

📌 Join the L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/

🔗 Kamye Hugley – LinkedIn
🔗 Laura Goldstone – LinkedIn | YourStoryHaven.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to:

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⭐ Leave a review and let me know what you think!
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Thanks for tuning in—and we’ll talk soon!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to the Book Club and Participants

06:04 Diverse Backgrounds and Perspectives

08:23 Emotional Intelligence in Learning and Development

12:46 Understanding Change as a Process

16:01 Value and Perception in Learning

20:01 Collaboration and Community in Professional Development

24:35 The Importance of Community in Professional Development

26:02 Embracing Vulnerability and Learning Together

28:07 Applying Insights from Julie Dirksen

28:36 Facilitating Change in Corporate Environments

35:46 Honoring Experience and Feedback in Learning

39:50 Creating a Feedback Loop for Continuous Improvement