What does it take to design impactful learning for the people doing the most essential work?
In this episode, David welcomes Dani Johnson, Co-Founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research, to unpack the findings of her latest report: Developing Frontline Workers: Focus Where It Counts. Together, they explore why so many companies are misaligned when it comes to supporting deskless workers—and how L&D leaders can shift from check-the-box compliance to strategic enablement. Dani breaks down a three-part framework for frontline development (license to operate, current performance, future readiness) and shares how the most effective teams are getting laser-focused on outcomes that matter to the business.
Join us as we discuss:
– Why frontline workers still aren’t getting the development they need
– How “being a detective” helps L&D teams identify skill gaps and solve real business problems
– The case for reducing compliance bloat and running leaner, smarter learning ops
– What it really means to measure what the business measures

What does it really mean to run L&D like a business—and is that even the right goal?
In this episode, David sits down with Ryan Austin, CEO of Cognota, to challenge the clichés and dig into what it actually takes to make Learning & Development a strategic partner. From shifting governance models to aligning with real business outcomes, Ryan shares how L&D can evolve from a support function to a source of measurable impact.
They also explore how AI is reshaping operations, the pitfalls of over-indexing on metrics like completion rates, and why chasing ROI might be missing the point.
Join us as we discuss:
– Why “run L&D like a business” needs a serious rethink
– The difference between being a partner vs. an internal service provider
– How L&D leaders can earn their seat at the table through alignment and access to data
– The smart way to integrate AI in learning ops without scaling bad habits

What happens when a seasoned academic steps into the world of corporate training?

In this episode, we’re joined by Silvi Mercier, Strategic Training Manager at Fluke Europe, as she discusses the cultural and structural differences between academic and corporate learning environments, and how she’s had success in both. Drawing from her experience across classrooms and corporations, Silvi explores the transferable skills trainers bring from education into L&D, the challenge of measuring training impact—especially with external audiences—and the role of feedback loops and AI in optimizing learning outcomes.

Join us as we discuss:

• The three skills that overlap from academia to corporate training
• Leaning on customer verbatims, and using AI to parse and leverage them
• Why L&D should take a page out of Marketing’s playbook

In this episode, we sit down with Melony Johnson as she takes us on her incredible journey from the classroom to becoming a strategic leader in Learning and Development at at a global IT organization. 

She shares her insights on how L&D can evolve into a key business partner, driving success across the organization. Melony dives into the importance of aligning learning with business strategy, creating impactful learning experiences, and the essential roles of leadership development and succession planning. If you’re looking to elevate L&D within your company and build a future-ready workforce, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. 

Join us as we discuss: 

• How to align L&D with business strategy to drive organizational growth
• Creating synergy between performance and learning to boost engagement
• Democratizing leadership development to uncover hidden talent and build a future-ready workforce

• The role of technology in transforming training programs
• How internal promotions lead to better employee retention
• Strategies to improve food safety and reduce workplace incidents
• The future of training at Biscuit Ville and beyond

• Choosing an LMS that aligns with business goals
• Navigating technology integrations and IT collaboration
• Engaging stakeholders across sales, IT, and training teams
• Turning skeptics into LMS advocates
• Building a scalable learning ecosystem that evolves with the company

• How AI tools like ChatGPT are streamlining training content creation at Sport Clips.
• The impact of augmented reality and gamification on learning and engagement for stylists.
• Balancing AI-driven innovation with human-led development in learning and development.

• How VR Oculus goggles can cut training times from weeks to minutes, dramatically boosting efficiency.
• Real-world VR modules, including the "wet wall" and active shooter scenarios, that reduce waste, turnover, and even save lives.
• How AI is enhancing VR training, making it more personalized, engaging, and cost-effective.

• How data as a language can drive actionable decisions and enhance engagement.
• The importance of data literacy in understanding the motivations behind the numbers.
• Why it’s crucial to start small and build data-driven initiatives incrementally through collaboration.

• How to truly connect with and engage your audience for lasting impact,
• Practical ways to keep training relevant and effective, no matter the size of your L&D team
• Why microlearning is changing the game for employee training.