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/

AI is transforming how we create content, but there’s also a growing problem: AI slop. It’s the flood of auto-generated videos, images, and text that takes up space without adding value; and we’re seeing it everywhere. So how do you use AI to enhance your work without the noise?  

Host Matt Pierce introduces TechSmith’s HUMAN Framework, a practical approach to keeping the human element at the center of AI-assisted content creation.  

We hear why your expertise and lived experience gives you access to nuance that AI can’t replicate, how authenticity has become currency in content creation, and why treating AI as a thought partner rather than a replacement leads to better outcomes.  

Matt also shares TechSmith’s philosophy on AI integration, including their approach to control and customization in tools like Camtasia AI. While AI is the worst it's ever going to be (meaning it will only get better), the choices we make now about how we use it will determine whether we're creating valuable content or just more noise. 

Learning points from the episode include: 

• 00:00 - 02:01 What AI slop is and why being able to identify it is crucial 
• 02:01 - 02:28 TechSmith Unlocked event announcement  
• 02:28 - 03:23 Introducing the HUMAN Framework acronym  
• 03:23 - 04:40 H - Harness your expertise 
• 04:40 - 05:38 How humans have access to nuance through lived experiences 
• 05:38 - 07:47 U - Understand your audience.  
• 07:47 - 09:00 M - Make it authentic, not artificial  
• 09:00 - 10:31 A - Aim for better, not just faster  
• 10:31 - 11:52 N - Never skip reviews  
• 11:52 - 12:30 How to use the framework as your guide 
• 12:30 - 13:00 Why you need to choose tools that keep you in control of the output 
• 13:00 - 13:28 The importance of ethical AI partnerships  
• 13:28 - 15:40 Control and customization in Camtasia AI  
• 15:40 - 16:30 AI as an augmentation tool 
• 16:30 - 17:17 Outro  

 Important links and mentions: 

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

What if pro-level video creation didn't require a film crew, expensive equipment, or weeks of production time? Imagine literally describing what you want and having it appear on screen. 

We're living through a moment where AI video generation has gone from science fiction to "just about usable" reality. The technology is still rough around the edges (and yes, you might find yourself shouting at your computer.) But we're witnessing the evolution of something new. 

Joining us in this episode is Ellis Pratt, Director at Cherryleaf, a UK-based technical writing and training services company, and host of the Cherryleaf Podcast. He’s been actively testing Google's VEO 3 and figuring out how to make AI-generated video actually work for real-world business applications. 

He talks us through his creative process of combining VEO 3 with tools like Camtasia and Audiate and gives us an honest look at what it's really like to work with this technology.  

Learning points from the episode include: 

• 00:00 - 02:27 Introduction to  Ellis Pratt 
• 02:27 - 03:09 Ellis’ favorite exhibit at the British Museum 
• 03:09 - 04:13 Ellis’ biggest tip for using images and videos in their work
• 04:13 - 05:49 How technical writing is changing with video content  
• 05:49 - 08:48 Why Ellis started exploring AI-generated videos 
• 08:48 - 12:24 Why VEO 3 beats other AI video tools 
• 12:24 - 16:18 The process from prompts to final video 
• 16:18 - 18:02 How Camtasia solves VEO 3’s limitations  
• 18:02 - 23:02 The French New Wave Video example 
• 23:02 - 25:09 Ellis’ advice for starting out with AI video 
• 25:09 - 29:34 The e-learning video example  
• 29:34 - 31:08 Final advice for working with VEO 3 
• 31:08 - 35:42 Speed round questions  
• 35:42 - 36:54 Ellis’ final take on AI video 
• 36:54 - 37:57 Outro 

Important links and mentions: 

• Connect with Ellis Pratt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellispratt  
• Find out more about Cherryleaf on the website: https://www.cherryleaf.com 
• Watch the Cherryleaf Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cherryleafltd 

Customer education is a must-have for a lot of businesses these days, especially software companies. But reading thick manuals and wordy passages of jargon is no one’s idea of a good time. 

So what’s the key to great customer education?

For this episode, we look back at an older conversation we had with Greg Mead. Back then, he was Senior Instructional Designer at ClickUp, so we talked about ClickUp’s approach to instructional videos and the power of GIFs in learning design. Since the episode first went out, Greg has moved on to become a Learning Experience Designer at FloQast.

You’ll hear a bit about Greg’s background in video, how ClickUp experimented with different learning mediums, his advice for making engaging videos, and the best times to use GIFs.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:30 One tip for improving how you use GIFs or short videos
• 01:30 - 03:33 GIF vs video: How to decide what media to use
• 03:33 - 05:09 Why should we lean into visual mediums?
• 05:09 - 07:30 The tipping point that took Greg from written instructions to video
• 07:30 - 09:21 Continuous improvement in video
• 09:21 - 11:50 How to make sure the videos are engaging and helpful
• 11:50 - 15:05 How GIFs help to communicate advanced concepts
• 15:05 - 16:53 Greg’s background as a video creator
• 16:53 - 21:57 Speed round questions
• 21:57 - 26:04 How to connect with Greg
• 26:04 - 26:50 Greg’s final take

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdmead
• Follow Greg on X: https://x.com/gdmead
• Follow Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregmead20/
• Subscribe to Greg’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gdmead

What if we had to rebuild L&D from scratch? What could we do differently?

There have been rumblings in the L&D world that roles are gradually going to be replaced by AI. While we don’t predict an L&D apocalypse coming our way, maybe it’s time to start thinking differently about the role of L&D in broader business terms. 

Joining this episode is Tracie Cantu, Chief Learning Strategist at her company, Your CLO, and a Training Advisory Board Member at TechSmith. Tracie comes on the show with two decades of experience leading L&D transformation at organizations like Meta, Atlassian, and Whole Foods Market.

Tracie shares a bold vision for the future of L&D – we need to start thinking like business partners, not just L&D. She explains what she’d like to see more and less of in L&D, why we need a service catalog, and why the intake stage is the most important step in a consultation.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 01:52 Introduction to Tracie
• 01:52 – 02:47 Tracie’s biggest tip for using images and video
• 02:47 – 07:23 How Tracie would rebuild L&D from scratch as a team of business partners
• 07:23 – 12:13 How smaller L&D teams can do more with less
• 12:13 – 18:28 The most repeatable tasks you can do to scale your impact
• 18:28 – 23:23 Skills all L&D professionals should start focusing on
• 23:23 – 24:54 Tracie’s challenge for L&D people
• 24:54 – 28:31 Speed round questions
• 28:31 - 29:57 How to connect with Tracie and Your CLO
• 29:57 - 31:00Tracie’s final take
• 31:00 - 31:57 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Tracie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemcantu/
• Your CLO website: https://www.yourclo.net/

The internet’s relationship with visuals and video has been a rocky ship over the past few years, constantly pivoting and evolving. And most creators are either playing catch up or are stuck playing by the same old rules with limited success. 

But luckily, we have Andy Crestodina, Co-Founder and CMO of Orbit Media Studios, on the show to share his current strategies on how to make your visuals truly effective.  

Andy explains some of the top content mistakes he sees people make, how to use visuals to better deliver your message, and the number one thing you should never do with your website’s videos. We also hear his take on using AI as a “thought partner” to enhance your work by testing ideas, finding content gaps, and acting as your target audience, so you can talk to them whenever you need their perspective. 

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 02:10 Introduction to Andy
• 02:10 – 03:39 Andy’s biggest tip for using images or video
• 03:39 – 05:50 How AI has changed how we use the internet and video
• 05:50 – 07:37 Why you need to develop an elevator pitch for AI
• 07:37 – 09:26 One mistake to avoid when using videos on your website
• 09:26 – 12:18 Why you need to pretend to be your audience every week
• 12:18 – 14:35 How to get better results with AI
• 14:35 – 18:15 How Andy’s use of images and video has evolved
• 18:15 – 20:30 The secret to continuous improvement when recording videos
• 20:30 – 24:23 Why authentic is better than perfect
• 24:23 – 25:10 Why Andy uses AI to improve quality rather than boost speed and efficiency
• 25:10 – 29:12 Speed round questions
• 29:12 – 29:55 How to connect with Andy and Orbit Media
• 29:55 – 31:17 Andy’s final take
• 31:17 – 32:14 Outro 

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrestodina/
• Follow Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crestodina/
• Follow Andy on X: https://x.com/crestodina
• Orbit Media Studios: https://www.orbitmedia.com/
• Orbit Media Studios on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Orbitmedia

Need to create an e-learning presentation but don’t have an eye for good visuals? This episode is for you! 

We revisit a great past episode with Diane Elkins, instructional design pro and owner of Artisan Learning. There’s so much solid advice in this episode on what works, what to avoid, and how visuals impact the learning experience (probably more than you think).

Diane explains how bad visuals inhibit learning, why simpler is often better, and why “slides” are due a name change. Plus, she gets on her soapbox to explain the real goal of e-learning. We also look at some examples of pretty, plain, and hideous slides to compare, based on a real experiment Diane used to test out visual design. 

One thing to note: We do share some visuals in this episode of good and bad design choices, so for the full experience, we recommend checking out the episode on YouTube.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 02:44 Introduction to Diane and her work
• 02:44 – 04:57 The role in visuals in e-learning
• 04:57 - 07:33 Best practices for visuals and what to avoid
• 07:33 – 11:11 Mindset shifts to avoid over-the-top visuals
• 11:11 – 13:20 Why visuals are even more important in e-learning scenarios
• 13:20 – 16:25 How to decide what information to put on a slide
• 16:25 – 21:53 Diane’s pretty, plain, and hideous visual design experiment
• 21:53 – 25:00 Why simple is often better for learning
• 25:00 – 29:34 Why “is it helpful?” is the most important question to ask
• 29:34 – 31:31 Why visual aids should always be in service of the audience
• 31:31 – 38:42 An example of whether we should decorate or illustrate with visuals
• 38:42 – 46:18 Can we fix it? Diane’s advice to bad design examples
• 46:18 – 49:49 Speed round questions
• 49:49 – 51:40 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Visit e-Learning Uncovered: www.elearninguncovered.com
• Visit Artisan Learning: www.artisanelearning.com
• Connect with Diane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpelkins/

It’s time to ditch the lectures. The secret to creating powerful learning content that people actually pay attention to and use in their daily lives is all about action. 

Dr. Karl Kapp introduces us to action-based learning in this episode – his go-to tactic for making learning more engaging, useful, and practical. Karl is a Professor of Instructional Technology at Bloomsburg University and the author of multiple books, including Action-First Learning and Learning in 3D.

He explains what action-based learning really looks like and why front-loading learners with bags of information is the wrong approach. His method is to throw learners into realistic scenarios and activities that break down the barrier of failure-avoidance.

Karl also talks about the missing piece of most training sessions: reflection. He shares what good reflection activities look like and why it needs to be an ongoing process to get that new knowledge to stick.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:19 Introduction to Karl
• 01:19 – 03:30 Karl’s number one tip for using images or video in learning
• 03:30 – 05:35 What is action first learning? How it ties to psychology 
• 05:35 – 09:15 How to avoid the feeling of failing in adult learning
• 09:15 – 13:02 The ideal time for action-based learning
• 13:02 – 17:57 Why reflection is essential to turn learning into action
• 17:57 – 20:43 When to schedule reflection after a learning session
• 20:43 – 25:34 How images and video add visual cues that support learning
• 25:34 – 28:08 Speed round questions
• 28:08 – 29:46 How to connect and learn more from Karl
• 29:46 – 30:46 Karl’s final take
• 30:46 – 31:38 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Karl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlkapp/
• Subscribe to L&D Easter Eggs LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6599686641453977600
• Subscribe to Karl’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfKapp01
• Discover the Power of Coloring and Comics in Adult Learning! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4mP7RFgoTc
• Action-First Learning Video Playlist from Karl’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVi60d2W1s2bE8RKKRdOe4vViSITluUX8
• Curriculum for Getting Started with Action-First Learning https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/curriculum-getting-started-action-first-learning-karl-kapp-bq6pe/?trackingId=TPK40f%2BVTzmP6VL2fvMwlQ%3D%3D
• New Kind of Super Hero Movie-A New Kind of Training? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-kind-super-hero-movie-a-training-karl-kapp-auh6e/?trackingId=Sg17J0QWSz%2BoaWIfOAc7aQ%3D%3D

How do some people just seem to command attention the moment they walk into a room? They’ve nailed their personal brand.

Dr. Dustin York, who's worked with everyone from the Obama campaign to Nike, breaks down the science behind personal branding and shares actionable tips you can start using today. Today he’s a Professor at Maryville University of St. Louis and a professional speaker for his business Dr. York Training where he shares advice on how to communicate more effectively.

He talks about the power of body language, consistent visual style, and how to build trust with your audience. Dustin also reveals some of his strategies for balancing consistency with trying new things, and how you can use the content creation pros of any industry for inspiration.

Whether you're starting a YouTube channel, creating instructional content, or just want to show up more confidently in meetings, this episode is a must-listen for personal branding tips.  

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:58 An introduction to Dustin
• 01:58 – 04:07 Dustin’s top tip for using images or video
• 04:07 – 08:30 Identifying characteristics you want to emulate for your brand
• 08:30 – 11:58 How individuals can nail their own visual brand
• 11:58 – 14:03 How much attention should you pay to color? 
• 14:03 – 17:23 Dustin’s advice for interacting with a camera and why AI won’t replace the need for human connection
• 17:23 – 20:15 Dustin’s 3 quick tips for improving your visual and personal branding
• 20:15 – 21:34 Dustin picks one image that represents him best
• 21:34 – 22:11 Connect with Dustin to learn more
• 22:11 – 23:15 Dustin’s final take
• 23:15 – 23:33 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Visit Dustin’s website: https://www.drdustinyork.com/
• Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dryork/