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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✅ Subscribe to the podcast
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Thanks for tuning in—and we’ll talk soon!

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:

🎙 Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me
⭐ Leave a review and let me know what you think!
📢 Share this episode with your fellow learning professionals

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

Joseph Diaz and Alex Bingham explore the world of Learning and Development (L&D) strategy, discussing how to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Alex shares his journey from sales to L&D, his passion for connecting theory to real-world applications, and his insights as a PhD candidate studying organizational learning and leadership.

Together, they explore how research can shape effective learning strategies, the challenges of aligning research with practice, and actionable ways for practitioners to engage with academic insights.

Alex emphasizes the importance of collaboration between researchers and practitioners, offering practical steps for professionals to access, engage with, and apply research in their roles.

Whether you're an L&D leader or new to the field, this conversation provides valuable strategies for aligning learning initiatives with organizational goals and making a meaningful impact.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Reflections

01:23 Exploring Learning Strategy and Leadership

01:29 Alex's Journey into Learning and Development

07:08 Defining Learning Strategy in Leadership

12:57 The Role of Research in Learning Strategies

15:22 Bridging the Gap: Research and Practice Collaboration

18:13 Engaging with Research: The Practitioner’s Role

21:18 Navigating the Academic Landscape

23:44 Getting Involved: Practical Steps for Practitioners

26:44 Translating Jargon: Finding Relevant Research

30:05 Leveraging Diverse Perspectives: Academic vs. Practitioner

31:12 Recommended Resources: Books, Podcasts, and Articles

35:20 Networking and Community Engagement in L&D

40:07 Bridging Research and Practice in Learning Strategy

40:38 Actionable Insights for Strategic Learning and Development

RESOURCES

Alex's Recommended Resources:

📚 Books:

• Strategic Learning Alignment by Rita Mehegan Smith
• Leading the Learning Function by MJ Hall and Laleh Patel
• Aligning Instructional Design With Business Goals by Kristopher Newbauer
• The Trusted Learning Advisor by Keith Keating
• The Chief Learning Officer by Tamar Elkeles and Jack Phillips
  

📄 Articles:

• Boost Alignment with L&D Strategy
• The Essential Components of a Successful L&D Strategy
• Aligning Corporate Learning With Strategy
• Influencing the C-Suite by Aligning L&D With Business Goals
• 6 Steps To Align Corporate Learning Strategy With The Business Strategy
• Redefining the Purpose of Learning and Development: Aligning L&D Strategy to Business Performance

🏅 Certifications:

• Certified Learning Strategist
• Learning Operations Certification

🧠 Scholarly Articles:

• Aligning Learning & Development Strategy with Business: Strategy to Operations
• L&D Professionals in Organizations: Much Ambition, Unfilled Promise

🎙️ Podcasts:

• The Strategic L&D Podcast
• Aligning Learning & Development with Business Strategy

Follow Alex to learn more about his research on aligning L&D strategies with business goals, his favorite resources, and insights into bridging the research-practice gap.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to:
✅ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me✅ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast✅ Share this episode with a colleague or friend interested in L&D strategy

Let’s continue the conversation—connect with me on LinkedIn and join the community of lifelong learners!

Joseph Diaz and Beth Cougler Blom discuss the philosophy and practice of facilitation, exploring its role in creating meaningful and inclusive learning experiences. Beth shares her journey as a learning designer, facilitator, and author, offering insights into how intentional design and reflection can improve facilitation in formal and informal settings.

Beth emphasizes the value of inclusivity, authenticity, and community in facilitation, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique styles and approach facilitation as a mindset, not just a skill.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Facilitation and Learning Design

02:34 The Journey of a Learning Designer

05:40 Defining Facilitation: A Philosophy and Mindset

08:28 The Role of Language in Facilitation

11:29 Experiences that Shape Facilitation Understanding

14:21 The Importance of Authenticity in Facilitation

22:43 Facilitating Inclusivity for All

23:58 The Essence of Learning and Facilitation

25:55 Exploring Informal Learning Opportunities

27:55 Overcoming Self-Doubt in Facilitation

29:53 Learning from Real-Life Facilitation Experiences

31:35 The Importance of Reflection in Growth

33:49 Feedback: A Tool for Improvement

37:37 Resources for Aspiring Facilitators

40:32 Connecting with the Facilitation Community

43:32 Understanding Facilitation and Its Importance

44:01 Creating Meaningful and Inclusive Experiences

Resources Mentioned:

Books:

• Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience for Any Group by Beth Cougler Blom

• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

Communities:

• Liberating Structures

Connect with Beth Cougler Blom:

• Website: BCB Learning Inc.

• Podcast: Facilitating on Purpose (available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more)

• LinkedIn: Beth Cougler Blom

• Instagram: @bethcouglerblom

Next Steps:

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to:

✅ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me

✅ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast

✅ Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about facilitation

Let’s continue the conversation—connect with me on LinkedIn and join the community of lifelong learners!

Joseph and Tanner Kohler explore the field of User Experience (UX) design, focusing on usability, research methodologies, and the psychological aspects that influence user interactions.

Tanner shares insights from his role at the Nielsen Norman Group, discussing the importance of usability, the nature of research in UX, and the challenges faced in the field. Tanner emphasizes the need for a user-centered approach in design and the value of understanding user behavior through research.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:47 Understanding Usability in User Experience Design

08:55 The Role of Research in User Experience Design

16:51 The Value of Psychology in User Experience Design

28:13 Challenges in User Experience Design

32:51 Recommended Resources for Diving Deeper into UX

Resources Mentioned:

Nielsen Norman Group (NNG):

nngroup.com

Tanner's Research for NNG:

Tanner Kohler | User Experience Specialist at Nielsen Norman Group

Connect with Tanner on LinkedIn:

Tanner Kohler | LinkedIn

Books:

The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition: Norman, Don

Tools:

Dovetail - Customer Insights Hub — Dovetail

Next Steps:

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to:

✅ Subscribe to Talk Learning With Me

✅ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast

✅ Share this episode with someone who might benefit from learning about User Research

Let’s continue the conversation—⁠connect with me⁠ on LinkedIn and join the community of lifelong learners!

Hi there! I’m Joseph Diaz, and I’m excited to introduce you to Talk Learning With Me. This podcast is for instructional designers and lifelong learners who are curious about the world of learning and development.

In this trailer episode, I share a bit about myself and what you can expect from the show. We’ll explore topics like education, learning science, facilitation, behavior change, and other skills that can help you grow in your career and beyond.

If you have a topic you’d love to hear about or discuss with me on the show, I’d love to hear from you! Send me an email at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.

My goal is to publish new episodes twice a month, so hit that subscribe button and stay tuned. I can’t wait to talk learning with you and grow together!