Learning Uncut

Épisodes

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  190: The Education Revolution – Jeff Davis 07.09.2026 45min

  The choices we make in education today shape the workforce thirty years from now. In this episode Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Jeff Davis, Executive Head at Hillcrest Christian College on the Gold Coast and author of Leading the Learning Revolution, about what happens when a school decides to turn education on its head. From teaching curriculum on Coolangatta Beach to a framework of six secret skills that prepare students for a world of AI and rapid change, Jeff argues that character, service and emotional intelligence are not extras. They are the curriculum. This conversation challenges common assumptions about what schooling is for, explores whole person teaching that blends academic knowledge with purpose and resilience, and surfaces practical ideas for L&D and HR professionals wondering why great candidates are so hard to find and what might change if education did.    Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/190 Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast
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  189: What Happens After the Award, Reflection 18 months on – Millie Law ANZ 24.08.2026 45min

  What happens after the award, is won? In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater welcomes back Millie Law, Enterprise Capability Lead at ANZ for an 18-month update on the Better Business Development programme first shared in Episode 161 for reflective practice in action The BD program delivered a 20–25% improvement in a key business metric and a four times return on investment. This revisit episode explores how an award-winning program built on genuine performance consulting, a deep understanding of business language, and deliberate mindset design has continued to live in the business long after the enterprise team stepped back.  Millie also takes us inside the capability community of practice she leads at ANZ, with a virtual, open, monthly drumbeat that keeps a federated learning community connected, curious and growing, and how you know it's working as the numbers don't tell the whole story. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/189 Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast
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  188: Minimal Interventions, Maximum Outcomes - Andrew Lawson & Alice Smith 10.08.2026 45min

  Michelle Parry-Slater is joined by Andrew Lawson (2026 AITD L&D Professional of the Year) and his client Alice Smith, about a deliberately different approach to leadership training.  Instead of two days out of the office, where delegates leave with overwhelmed brains but make little change back at work before the learning gets totally forgotten, Andrew offers a leadership programme deliberately designed to benefit learners. Using spaced learning practice, retrieval practice, and highly engaging short interventions, Andrew shares his TARGER framework, which is a brain-friendly learning design checklist built on neuroscience. Alice shares what it actually felt like from the client side to experience an 8-month programme of 90-minute sessions a month plus a variety of practice activities and coaching. With results that shifted behaviour and real change, together they turned a group of siloed managers into a genuine leadership cohort. This is a masterclass in how to create a much more effective, efficient, engaging and enjoyable leadership programme. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/188 Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast
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  Elevate 50: What's next for L&D? Donald Taylor 27.07.2026 48min

  For three years running, AI topped the list of what's hot in L&D. This year it dipped, and Donald H Taylor is taking it off the survey altogether. Don has run the Global Sentiment Survey for over a decade. In this Elevate episode, he joins host Michelle Parry-Slater to go back across five years of data and unpack what it actually tells us about where the profession is heading. They get into the transformation triangle's three destinations for L&D, the two separate futures Don thinks the profession may be splitting into, and why compliance training deserves to be taken seriously as a shop window rather than dismissed as a chore of endurance. And why hope on its own isn't enough. It needs action behind it, and courage for when things get hard. It's a conversation grounded in research, honest about what's difficult right now, full of ideas, and genuinely hopeful about what's next for L&D. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-50 Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast
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  Elevate 49: Gari Yala - Speak the Truth | Indigenous Employment and the L&D Responsibility 13.07.2026 56min

  It will take 118 years, at the current rate of change, before an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person can go to work without hearing a racial slur. This is not history. This is what is happening in Australian workplaces right now. In this Elevate episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Professor Nareen Young and Josh Gilbert from the Centre for Indigenous People and Work at the University of Technology Sydney, both Aboriginal researchers and practitioners who have spent decades working to shift the Indigenous employment narrative from deficit to truth. Together they share the findings of the 2025 Gari Yala (Speak the Truth) report, Australia's only Indigenous-led national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment experiences and make a direct, generous and urgent call to L&D professionals to act. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-49/ Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  187: Recognition as a Learning Tool Sarah McVanel & Lisa Anstey 29.06.2026 54min

  Recognition is often written off as a "nice to have." In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Sarah McVanel, Canada's recognition expert and founder of Greatness Magnified, and Lisa Anstey, manager of Medical Device Reprocessing at Waterloo Regional Health Network, to make the case that recognition is not soft. Recognition is one of the most powerful learning and behaviour-change tools available. Together they share the story of a deeply disengaged hospital team that became one of the most recognised in the country. The framework, the coaching, the daily huddles, and the sheer persistence behind that shift. If you work in L&D and you have ever wondered how to make learning stick, or how to advocate for what your people really need, this one is for you.   Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/187 Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast
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  Elevate 48: Eight Years of Learning Uncut – Michelle Ockers 15.06.2026 47min

  Eight years. Nearly 200 episodes. One consistent heartbeat.    In this special Elevate episode, Michelle Parry-Slater sits down with Learning Uncut founder Michelle Ockers to reflect on eight lessons from eight years of the podcast.    From community as the engine that started it all, to the quiet discipline of showing up and being of service without knowing where it leads...   Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-48 Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  186: Building L&D from Scratch – Elyse Toomey 01.06.2026 46min

  The brief was simple: we need an L&D function. Go and start one. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Elyse Toomey, Head of Learning and Development at Ironbark Financial Group, about what it really takes to build an L&D department from nothing in a fast-moving financial services business, from coaching coaches to become trainers and launching peer-to-peer onboarding at scale, to doubling LMS engagement, growing a team of six, and learning to lead with a strategy that bends with the business. A story for anyone who has ever been handed a blank page and told to get on with it. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/186/ Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  185: Learning as Investment, Not Cost – Tina Schust Robinson & LaTanya Foster 18.05.2026 49min

  Most leadership programs start with the how; the workshop, the elearning, the coach. The business case often comes later, if at all. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Tina Robinson, founder of WorkJoy and author of Developing Your Business Leaders, and her client, LaTanya Foster, VP of People at global travel accessories brand BÉIS, about what happens when you start with the why instead. Together they share the story of Altitude, a director-level leadership development program built for a fast-moving, disruption-hit business and make a compelling case for why treating learning as a business investment, not a budget line, changes mindsets. Transcript and related resources: learninguncut.global/podcast/185/ Podcast information and more episodes: learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  184: From Darkroom to AI: Reflective Practice Across an L&D Career – Greg Wilton 05.05.2026 46min

  We rarely stop to look back. One achievement blurs into the next, and before long we've accumulated years of practice without ever taking stock of what we've actually learned. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater invites Greg Wilton - a St. Louis-based L&D practitioner with a career spanning darkroom photography, web publishing, global e-learning, and generative AI - to do exactly that. Together they trace the experiences, pivots, and hard-won insights that shaped his thinking: from a process safety briefing that reframed the entire purpose of intake, to a human-centred questioning methodology that quietly became a masterclass in performance consulting, to his current thinking on wisdom management and a proposed update to Bloom's Taxonomy for the age of AI. A reflective conversation that will send you back to your own career with fresh eyes. Host: Michelle Parry-Slater Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/184/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/  
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  Elevate 47: The Craft of Conference Chairing – Niall Gavin, Helen Palmer & Anit Mahay 20.04.2026 47min

  Most conference chairs open with applause and slip off stage. At Learning Technologies, chairing starts two months before anyone sets foot in the room. In this Elevate episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with three Learning Technologies 2026 chairs: Niall Gavin, Helen Palmer, and Anit Mahay. Join our range of Chairs, both new and experienced, as we discuss what it really takes to prepare speakers for the stage. From reviewing slide decks and managing nerves to handling off-topic questions and being the voice of the audience, this is a masterclass in why the chair role matters far more than most events realize. Whether you organize events, speak at them, or attend them, this one is for you. Host: Michelle Parry-Slater  Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-47/  Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  183: Hearing Loss Awareness Designing for Empathy at Scale (HSBC) - Georgie Cooke, Louise Bassiri and Michelle Parry-Slater 06.04.2026 46min

  Hearing loss is more common than most workplaces acknowledge. Around one in six Australians, one in eight Americans, and one in five UK adults lives with some form of hearing loss, tinnitus or D/deafness. Yet at HSBC UK, only a handful of colleagues had formally disclosed a hearing loss before this project launched. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Georgie Cooke from Lima Delta and Louise Bassiri from HSBC UK about their award-shortlisted hearing loss awareness programme, created with the RNID and learning partner Jam Pan. Rather than telling colleagues about hearing loss, they simulated it, placing learners inside first-person video scenarios in real HSBC locations, with audio shaped by RNID audiologists to recreate common hearing loss experiences. The results: over 4,000 voluntary completions, a 400% increase in colleague disclosures, nearly 2,000 hearing checks taken, and for some, a life-changing diagnosis.
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  182: The Power of Evolution in Learning Transformation (Girlguiding UK) – Arnika Knight and Michelle Parry-Slater 23.03.2026 50min

  Arnika Knight and Michelle Parry-Slater share the decade-long journey of modernising L&D for 80,000 volunteers at Girlguiding UK. From navigating change resistance to building a multi-modal learning ecosystem, their story is packed with practical lessons for any L&D professional working at scale. The conversation explores respecting volunteers' time, supporting motivation and using a clear learning strategy to modernise learning while maintaining strong human connections.  Host: Michelle Ockers Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/182/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  181: Beyond Role Play: Using AI to Build Real Skills – Ryan Byrne and Dr Nathan Moore 09.03.2026 50min

  Sydney Trains frontline staff face customer aggression daily. They knew the de-escalation models. Applying them under real pressure was another matter entirely. And they'd made one thing clear: no more role play. In this episode, The Two Michelles speak with Ryan Byrne from Sydney Trains and Dr Nathan Moore from Frameless Interactive about Project CIVIL: Customer Initiated Violence Interactive Learning. Winner of the AITD Excellence Award for Best Use of Learning Technology 2025, Project CIVIL uses AI-driven simulation to build genuine capability under pressure, without a script, without an actor, without the awkwardness of traditional role play. A masterclass in choosing the right tool for the right problem. Host: Michelle Ockers & Michelle Parry-Slater  Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/181/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  180: When Leaders Lead the Leadership Programme – Matthew Peade 23.02.2026 42min

  Matthew Peade from TFE Hotels discusses their award-winning People Leaders Program, a 12-month leadership development initiative that's seen 300 graduates and an impressive 86% promotion rate. Matthew shares how the program weaves together a blend of three learning streams of on-the-job experience through business change projects, peer learning with dedicated mentors, and formal sessions led by leaders across the business, all used to build a steady pipeline of capable leaders in Australia's fast-paced hospitality industry. Our conversation explores how Matthew selects participants, engages managers as coaches and facilitators, uses reflection to deepen learning, and creates a culture where leaders actively develop the next generation of leaders. Host: Michelle Ockers & Michelle Parry-Slater  Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/180/  Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  Elevate 46: The Learning and Development Handbook – Michelle Parry-Slater 16.02.2026 51min

  Michelle Ockers speaks with Learning Uncut co-host, and author, Michelle Parry-Slater about her book, The Learning and Development Handbook, A Learning Practitioner's Toolkit. Sharing ideas from within the book, Michelle talks through why practitioners "…must be advocates of the right solution, for the right problem, for the right people, at the right time, for the right reason, delivered in the right way." (P176, 2nd Edition 2024, The Learning and Development Handbook) Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-46/  Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  179: Blood Processing Centre Virtual Tour – Liz Seskus and Kate Schulze 09.02.2026 38min

  Liz Seskus and Kate Schultz from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood discuss their development of a virtual tour to support the induction of new hematology registrars. They share how they applied learning science, user testing, and a co-design approach to create a practical, cost-effective learning tool that reduces cognitive load and enhances understanding of blood processing procedures. Winner of 2025 Australian Institute of Training and Development Excellence Award for Best Use of Gamification or Simulation for Learning. Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/179/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  Elevate 45: The L&D Leader: Navigating to Business Value – Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers 02.02.2026 54min

  Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with co-authors Michelle Ockers and Laura Overton about their book, The L&D Leader. Principles and practice for delivering business value, released in October 2025. They reflect on the collaboration behind the book, the research and evidence that informed it, and its practical relevance for learning professionals. The conversation offers insights into leading with impact in L&D and the mindset shifts needed to thrive in today's environment of continuous changing. Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-45/  Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  178: Sodexo Academy: Facilitating Flexible, Practical Onboarding – Peter Brace 26.01.2026 44min

  Peter Brace from Sodexo Australia shares how his path into L&D, including training under trees in Papua New Guinea, shaped his practical and learner-centred approach. Hosted by Michelle Ockers and co-host Michelle Parry-Slater, this episode explores adapting learning to diverse environments, building flexibility into facilitation, and the value of connecting learning to real-world settings. Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/178/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/
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  177: 2025 End of Year Review – Michelle Ockers and Michelle Parry-Slater 15.12.2025 49min

  In this year-in-review episode, Michelle Ockers and Michelle Parry-Slater reflect on 2025 through the lens of Learning Uncut. They discuss professional highlights, patterns emerging across the podcast's case studies, and what the year revealed about relevance, value and the human role in L&D. The conversation explores learning culture, co-design, learner agency and the normalisation of AI, alongside reflections on community, lived experience and the evolution of the podcast itself. Host: Michelle Ockers Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/177/ Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/