As the new year starts, it’s the perfect time to reflect (and look forward) on how we create and communicate learning content.

In this special episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt is joined by some TechSmith team members (or TechSmithies!) who share their favourite tips, shortcuts, and features in Snagit and Camtasia. These are real workflows used every day to support creators, teams, and organizations.

From speeding up video editing with simple keyboard shortcuts, to collaborating without meetings, to building consistency across projects, this episode is packed with practical insider tips from our TechSmithies that you can start using right away.

It’s also a moment to say thank you to The Visual Lounge community for tuning in, sharing feedback, and being part of the conversation throughout the year.

Learning points from the episode include:

1. 00:00 - 00:39 Intro
2. 00:39 - 01:31 Matt’s most used features in Camtasia
3. 01:31 - 02:55 A look back on a great year
4. 02:55 - 03:20 Happy Holidays from Cameron, Senior Customer Care Specialist at TechSmith
5. 03:20 - 05:41 Collaboration workflow in Camtasia Online
6. 05:41 - 08:20 How presets in SnagIt make your life easier
7. 08:20 - 08:48 Capturing text directly with Snagit
8. 08:48 - 10:51 Using placeholders in Camtasia
9. 10:51 Looking forward to the year ahead

Important links and mentions:

1. Explore TechSmith: https://www.techsmith.com/
2. Learn more about Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/
3. Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/
4. Explore Camtasia AI: https://camtasia.ai/

AI is reshaping learning and development faster than any of us expected. So how do we adapt? And what skills will matter most as tools, workflows and expectations keep changing in the workplace?

In this episode, Matt speaks with Josh Cavalier, an AI and L&D expert with more than two decades of experience helping organizations modernize the way they design learning. Josh is also the author of Applying AI in Learning and Development, a practical guide for teams looking to build confidence, capability and structure around AI-powered work.

Josh shares real-world insights on handling rapid change inside organizations, understanding how AI affects creative and instructional output, and building the skills to keep up. He explores how the role of L&D is shifting, why integrity matters more than ever, and what it looks like to create a personal AI training plan for 2026.

You'll also hear how to identify your 'sources of truth' so you can keep up with changes in your industry and in AI without getting overwhelmed, plus why having access to multiple AI models can dramatically improve the quality of your work.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:55 – 02:17 Introduction to Josh’s book
• 02:17 – 05:37 How do we apply AI to the jobs that we do?
• 05:37 – 08:13 How do we keep up and use AI in the day-to-day?
• 08:13 – 13:41 Why adaptability is paramount with AI
• 13:41 – 17:49 How AI has raised the bar in work
• 17:49 – 19:39 AI as an enabler for creativity
• 19:39 – 25:08 Maintaining your integrity
• 25:08 – 28:48 Avatars vs humans in video
• 28:48 – 30:30 The HUMAN framework
• 30:30 – 34:25 Faster? Or faster and better?
• 34:25 – 37:08 Josh’s final take

Important links and mentions:

• Find Josh’s book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Applying-Learning-Development-Platforms-Performance
• Visit Josh’s website: https://www.joshcavalier.com/
• Connect with Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcavalier/
• Learn more about The HUMAN framework: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/human-framework-for-ai-training-videos/

Ever clicked play on a learning video that looks polished and professional, only to finish it and think, “Wait, what did I just learn?”  

In this episode, we’re revisiting a conversation with Patti Shank, an internationally recognized learning designer, researcher, and author who has spent years studying how people really take in information. Patti knows that effective learning isn’t about the video itself, it’s about how the viewer processes it. 

She unpacks the hidden reasons instructional videos fall short, why cognitive overload is more common than we think, and how simple design choices can make or break viewer understanding. 

You’ll hear Patti explain the critical role of learner control, the pitfalls of combining text, visuals, and narration, and why background music (even the relaxed kind) can silently derail understanding. Plus, she shares practical ways to design video, so it supports effective thinking, processing, and learning. 

Learning points from the episode include:  

• 00:00 - 01:12 Introduction 
• 01:12 - 01:59 The difference between reading and listening 
• 01:59 - 02:57 The importance of learner control 
• 02:57 - 04:28 Why background music usually hurts learning 
• 04:28 - 05:07 Why video is powerful when designed well 
• 05:07 - Outro 

Important links and mentions: 

• Connect with Patti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattishank  
• Check out Patti’s website: https://www.pattishank.com/  
• Listen to Patti’s first appearance on The Visual Lounge in episode 155: https://the-visual-lounge.captivate.fm/episode/research-learning-from-videos  

Imagine logging in next month to find your bill for the AI tool you use has doubled, or that you've run out of credits halfway through a critical project.

The explosion of AI video tools has brought incredible capabilities to content creators, but alongside these innovations comes a new challenge: complex pricing models that make it difficult to budget, explain costs to your boss, or know if you're getting sustainable value from your tools.

Joining us in this episode is Daniel Foster, Director of Monetization at TechSmith, who studies the evolution of software pricing and has been closely watching how AI tools are being packaged and priced.

Daniel shares practical advice for evaluating AI tools beyond just their features, looking at the "whole product" including support, documentation, and pricing sustainability. He explains how to navigate credit-based systems, and why bundled solutions might save you both money and headaches.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:38 - 01:52 Introduction to Daniel
• 01:52 - 03:06 Daniel's tip for using images and video in work
• 03:06 - 05:05 Why pricing decisions matter as much as features
• 05:05 - 07:51 Current AI pricing models emerging in the market
• 07:51 - 10:56 The complexity of credit-based systems
• 10:56 - 13:47 Alternatives and features to look for in pricing
• 13:47 - 19:54 Evaluating all-in-one vs. specialized tools
• 19:54 - 22:29 Support and documentation considerations
• 22:29 - 23:23 The most popular AI feature: Voice generation
• 23:23 - 27:56 Speed round questions
• 27:56 - 28:53 Daniel's final take
• 28:53 - 30:14 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielfoster/
• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

What happens when everyone can create AI videos with just a text prompt?

We’re entering the “watch bait era” where AI-generated short clips may start dominating social media feeds, making it harder to distinguish between AI content, misinformation, and reality.

The technology is improving but still has real limitations. While AI avatars and lip-sync are getting better, we’re still dealing with 8-second clip restrictions, consistency issues (your character might lose their glasses between scenes), and the ongoing challenge of writing effective prompts.

Joining us is Myra Roldan, Founder and Chief AI Officer at UnDesto AI, who’s been working in the AI space for 12 years. She shares practical insights on what AI video can actually do today, why you need authorization before using these tools with company data, and why storyboarding remains essential.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 02:45 Introduction to Myra Roldan
• 02:45 - 03:41 12 years in AI: pushing limits and finding considerations
• 03:41 - 05:18 Current state: better avatars, but still limited
• 05:18 - 06:58 Understanding the "watch bait era"
• 06:58 - 08:52 Corporate AI use: authorization and strategy first
• 08:52 - 10:11 Cheap, fast or good, pick two
• 10:11 - 12:38 Consistency challenges with AI characters
• 12:38 - 16:00 Writing effective short prompts and accepting waste
• 16:00 - 17:05 Generation costs and platform caps
• 17:05 - 18:08 The "drunk intern" analogy
• 18:08 - 20:14 Moving from experimentation to everyday use
• 20:14 - 23:45 Why video editing skills still matter
• 23:45 - 29:12 Speed round questions
• 29:12 - 29:19 Myra's final take
• 29:19 - 31:04 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Myra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myraroldan/
• Find out more about UnDesto AI: https://intelligence.undesto.ai/
• Watch Hey It’s Myra on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learnwithmyra
• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  

We've all sat through presentations that feel like a performance, polished, professional, but somehow disconnected. The speaker hits every point perfectly, yet we walk away feeling nothing. So, what's missing?

For this episode, we're revisiting a conversation with Leslie Chamberlain, Head of Customer Success at Gibbs Smith Education. Leslie knows that great presentations aren't about perfection, they're about connection.

She shares why infusing your personality into presentations matters more than hitting every bullet point, and reveals the secret to keeping audiences engaged through authentic delivery.

You'll hear Leslie's approach to making presentations "sense-rich," her take on scripting versus speaking naturally, and practical tips for condensing information without losing impact. Plus, she reveals why being authentic beats being polished every time.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 02:49 Introduction
• 02:49 - 05:13 How Leslie became involved in customer success
• 05:13 - 06:49 Making learning presentations successful
• 06:49 - 09:04 Leslie's tip for using videos and images in presentations
• 09:04 - 10:43 Brand vs individual in your presentations
• 10:43 - 16:14 The first steps towards a great presentation
• 16:14 - 19:06 Making your ideas sense-rich
• 19:06 - 24:54 Where people get stuck making presentations
• 24:54 - 26:47 Should you script presentations?
• 26:47 - 31:40 How to condense information and keep things short
• 31:40 - 35:57 Hear Leslie's Speed Round answers
• 35:57 - 36:36 Leslie's final take
• 36:36 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-chamberlain-a3475121/
• Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/  

What if your carefully crafted training course could become a content campaign that actually drives behavior change? Most L&D professionals create amazing content that gets consumed once and forgotten. But what if that single course could spawn dozens of touchpoints that reinforce learning over time?

We're seeing a shift where smart L&D teams are borrowing from marketing playbooks, and it's working. The secret isn't creating more content; it's strategically repurposing what you already have.

Joining this episode is Mike Taylor, Learning Consultant at Nationwide and co-author of "Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro."

Mike's been pioneering the campaign approach to learning, and shows us how one webinar recording can become email sequences, infographics, GIFs, and micro-learning moments.

He explains why thinking in campaigns rather than courses changes everything, introduces the SURE model for creating content that sticks, and shows how to overcome the "we don't have time" objection with smart repurposing strategies.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 02:22 Introduction to repurposing and spawning multiple content pieces
• 02:22 - 05:15 Why repurposing isn't more work and how to expand your reach
• 05:15 - 06:56 Think campaigns not courses: the hero content pyramid
• 06:56 - 09:19 Leaving breadcrumb trails across multiple channels
• 09:19 - 11:51 Setting hooks and the SURE model for relevant content
• 11:51 - 12:39 Why content creates feelings whether you know it or not
• 12:39 - 14:23 Turning annual compliance into year-round micro-learning
• 14:23 - 16:37 Using AI and A/B testing data to sell repurposing internally
• 16:37 - 17:58 Finding small experiments to build credibility
• 17:58 - 21:13 Visual repurposing: webinars to GIFs, polls to graphics
• 21:13 - 23:13 Using Camtasia for Microsoft Office tips and animated GIFs
• 23:13 - 25:00 Why even simple content benefits from repurposing
• 25:00 - 26:53 Making subject matter expert content digestible
• 26:53 - 31:15 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Mike Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/
• Find out more about Train Like a Marketer: https://trainlikeamarketer.com/
• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  
• Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/
• Audiate: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/audiate/

Have you ever watched a learning video and felt completely overwhelmed, even though the topic itself wasn't that complicated? That feeling of mental exhaustion is cognitive overload, and it's often the result of poor instructional design.

Host Matt Pierce introduces Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), a framework that explains how our brains process information and, more importantly, how we can design learning experiences that work with our cognitive limitations rather than against them.

Matt breaks down the three types of cognitive load: intrinsic (the inherent difficulty of the material), extraneous (unnecessary mental effort caused by poor design), and germane (the beneficial mental effort that leads to real learning).

Throughout the episode, Matt shares practical, actionable strategies that video creators can implement immediately to create videos that teach rather than overwhelm.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:00 Introduction to cognitive overload in learning videos
• 01:00 - 02:30 What cognitive load theory is
• 02:30 - 03:45 A closer look at the three types of cognitive load in practice
• 03:45 - 05:17 Managing content difficulty
• 05:17 - 07:00 Timing actions for visual clarity
• 07:00 - 09:46 Removing distractions and simplifying visuals
• 09:46 - 11:00 Simplifying learning for better retention
• 11:00 - 11:50 Promoting deeper understanding in videos
• 11:50 - 13:10 Practical application and resources for creating effective training videos
• 13:10 - 13:30 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Learn more about Dr Richard Mayer’s principles for multimedia learning: https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/blog/mayers-principles-multimedia-learning
• Find more resources from Jonathan Halls: https://jonathanhalls.com/

Lo-fi and authentic works. Just look at the best short-form creators, they’ve figured out engagement. They know how to be authentic, intentional, and drop hooks that make people actually want to watch. No matter what kind of video’s you make, what can you learn from how short-form creators do it?

In this episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce explores how creators, educators, and businesses can borrow the best parts of short-form video to make any kind of video more effective. Matt unpacks why lo-fi, authentic content often outperforms polished production, how to apply short-form storytelling techniques to training and learning videos, and what it means to create “content like short-form” rather than “for short-form.”

He also shares practical insights on hooks, energy, experimentation, and repurposing, plus how AI tools are helping teams create faster without losing their human touch.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 02:14 The rise and impact of lo-fi, authentic short-form video
• 02:14 – 03:08 Why short-form video matters for all creators 
• 03:08 – 05:05 Make content like short-form, not for short-form
• 05:05 – 07:01 How to make any topic engaging
• 07:01 – 07:27 Keep things moving to keep viewers engaged 
• 07:27 – 08:20 Why energy makes your videos more engaging
• 08:20 – 09:13 Experiment often and use feedback to improve
• 09:13 – 12:31 Hook your audience early with curiosity and story
• 12:31 – 16:04 Batch produce and repurpose your videos  
• 16:04 – 16:59 How AI can help you create and edit faster
• 16:59 – 18:23 Choose the right video length for your audience
• 18:23 – 18:48 Keep learning from short-form creators as trends evolve  
• 18:48 – 20:17 Lo-fi and authentic content builds real connection 
• 20:17 – 21:27 Outro 

Important links and mentions:

• TechSmith Unlocked: https://discover.techsmith.com/techsmith-unlocked-2025/   
• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  

We've all been there, clicking on an instructional video only to sit through minutes of backstory when all we wanted was the solution. In a world where attention spans are shrinking, viewers want one thing: get to the point.

For this episode, we're revisiting a fantastic conversation with Doug Brunner, Customer Education Manager at TechSmith. Doug knows firsthand what makes instructional content work (and what makes viewers click away). He shares why leading with the 'how' beats starting with the 'why,' and reveals the secret to keeping audiences engaged from the first second.

You'll hear Doug's biggest pet peeves about instructional videos, his take on the webinar vs. video debate, and some insider tips on using Camtasia and Snagit features that can transform your content.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 05:06 Introduction
• 05:06 - 10:01 Maximizing impact and the power of saying "no" to requests
• 10:01 - 14:03 Webinars vs videos: Pros, cons, and when to use each
• 14:03 - 17:31 Why defining your goals first changes everything about your content
• 17:31 - 21:58 Doug's biggest instructional video pet peeve
• 21:58 - 25:15 The truth about attention spans, how long do you really have?
• 25:15 - 31:09 Three go-to features in Camtasia you should be using
• 31:09 - 32:18 Why the viewer is the hero of your story, not the cursor
• 32:18 - 37:30 Doug's three go-to tools in Snagit for better visuals
• 37:30 - 42:32 Opinions on human avatars and generated voices in educational content
• 42:32 - 43:34 How to determine the perfect video length
• 43:34 - 46:36 What really counts as "bad video" and "bad audio"
• 46:36 - 48:06 Using rounded corners in Snagit and Camtasia
• 48:06 - 49:05 Outro and final thoughts

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Doug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-brunner-b193abb
• Explore our Tutorials and Training: www.techsmith.com/learn
• Check out our Webinars: www.techsmith.com/webinars
• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  
• Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/