ATD Accidental Trainer

How L&D Can Lead AI Implementation for Lasting Impact with Megan Torrance 01.07.2026 36min

In this episode of ATD Accidental Trainer, Megan Torrence, founder of TorrenceLearning and author of AI Implementation Guide for Learning and Development, explores why learning professionals are uniquely positioned to lead AI adoption across their organizations. Megan explains the three AI impact zones every learning professional should understand during AI adoption and how L&D can influence technology initatives through trust, strategy, and thoughtful design. She also introduces her W.I.S.E.A.T.A.I. framework for responsible AI use, explains how her AI Implementation Canvas helps cross-functional teams ask the right questions before rolling out new technology, and teases what else listeners can expect from her new book. Resources: Megan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantorrance Megan's Website: https://www.torrancelearning.com/ Megan's Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--the-ai-implementation-guide-for-ld/112609 ATD AI Intensive: https://atdintensive.td.org/

Designing for Impact Using Culture, Data, and Relationships with Tonya Tucker Collins 03.06.2026 43min

Tonya Tucker Collins, Head of Talent and Growth at Intersect, joins the podcast live from ATD26 in Los Angeles. Tonya shares what it truly means to think and design like a strategist, tackling one very important question: What separates a training program that checks a box from one that drives real business impact? The conversation explores why great learning design alone isn't enough to gain buy-in and how L&D professionals can increase strategic impact by reading the signals from the organization's culture, program data, and your stakeholder relationships. You'll also learn practical tips for using prototypes and pilots to improve learning solutions, identifying the right champions to help your strategy, and determining whether an existing program should be maintained, enhanced, or completely redesigned. Resources: Tonya's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-t-tucker-collins-shrm-scp

The Five Facilitation Personas Every L&D Pro Needs with Moe Poirier 19.05.2026 38min

In this episode of ATD Accidental Trainer, learning expert, facilitator, and coach Moe Poirier explores the power of bringing your authentic facilitation strengths into the training room. Moe shares why facilitation isn't just a skill, but an expression of who you are and the gifts you bring to learners. The conversation dives into Moe's five facilitator personas model (the Sensei, Drill Sergeant, Superhero, Confidant, and Jester) and explains how understanding your natural strengths can help you adapt to the learners and create more meaningful learning experiences. Moe also shares practical insights on reading the room, balancing structure with play, and designing training that creates connection and transformation. Resources: Moe's Website: https://shiftfacilitation.com/ Order Moe's Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--the-five-personas-of-facilitation/112610 Moe's LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/moepoirier Discover ATD26: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUGjRiQsE45OPmr64Tvt-XYTfnP7wnSL

Passion is Overrated. Build Purpose Into Everyday Work with Tom Rath 23.04.2026 42min

Bestselling author and researcher Tom Rath explores a deceptively simple question: What's the point? Drawing from his latest book, What's the Point? Turning Purpose Into Your Daily Superpower, Tom reframes purpose as something that can be created in small, meaningful moments every day. We discuss how L&D professionals and leaders can move beyond productivity and efficiency to help people see the real impact of their work. From redefining the role of managers in connecting employees to contribution, to challenging the myth of passion and viewing purpose as an outward, others‑focused practice, this conversation offers practical ways to make purpose part of everyday work. Whether you're developing others or navigating your own career, this episode will help you rethink purpose and how to act on it. Resources: Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trath/ Tom's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Point-Tom-Rath/dp/1939714281?tag=tomrath-wtp-20 Tom's Website: https://tomrath.org/

Design Experiences People Love: Why Work Fails Without Them with Marcus Buckingham 08.04.2026 43min

Marcus Buckingham, New York Times bestselling author, joins the podcast to make a bold case from his new book, Design Love In. Love is the most powerful driver of business outcomes, and modern workplaces have engineered it out. What does "love" actually mean at work? Why do people wear armor on the job, and how do everyday systems help them take it off? Marcus introduces a blueprint for creating loving experiences built on five sequential emotions, and reveals what happens when organizations try to skip ahead. He also addresses the pressures of the current moment and how AI can either support human flourishing or quietly push love out of work. Most importantly, Marcus offers concrete ways anyone can begin designing love back into work, leadership, learning, and culture with intention, starting now. Resources: Marcus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-buckingham/ Marcus' book: https://www.designlovein.com/ Marcus' company: https://www.lovethat.com/

Intentional Leadership Development That Goes Beyond Training Requests with Tina Robinson 25.03.2026 38min

Tina Robinson is the CEO of WorkJoy, a firm dedicated to helping leaders at all levels unleash their potential, and author of the newly released book, Developing Your Business Leaders A Guide to Investing at all Levels. In this episode, Tina challenges conventional thinking around how organizations develop their leaders and shares why leadership development should be treated as a strategic investment and not a one-off training program. Using strategies from her book, Tina provides tactics for moving past vague requests from stakeholders to uncover the real business needs underneath. One practical tool is her "one-to-one, one-to-many, and one-to-all" framework, which helps talent development professionals choose the right approach to leadership development. We also cover navigating stakeholder conversations with confidence, why not every problem should be solved with training, and how to measure impact in meaningful ways. Resources: Tina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinarobinsonspeaks/ WorkJoy website: https://www.workjoycoaching.com/ Tina's book: https://www.amazon.com/Developing-Your-Business-Leaders-Investing/dp/1960231766

What Every Company Gets Wrong About Frontline with JD Dillon and Shannon Davis 04.03.2026 36min

Register for ATD Intensive: https://atdintensive.td.org/ Frontline employees represent 70–80% of the global workforce, yet they're often the least supported. In this episode of ATD's Accidental Trainer, JD Dillon, author of The Frontline Enablement Playbook, and Shannon Davis, Talent Development Manager at MAREK, unpack what organizations consistently misunderstand about frontline work and what it really takes to enable performance across industries. From retail and healthcare to construction and hospitality, the conversation explores commonalities across frontline workforces, creating learning programs for deskless workers, and how AI fits into the picture. JD shares insights from his work across movie theaters, Walt Disney theme parks, higher education, and global logistics, while Shannon brings a frontline-first mindset from her work in construction and talent development leadership. Resources: JD's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/ JD's website: https://jddillon.com/ Shannon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-davis1938/ Intensive Website: https://atdintensive.td.org/

Trends That Will Reshape Learning in 2026 with Lori Niles-Hofmann 25.02.2026 37min

Lori Niles-Hoffmann, senior learning strategist, co-founder of 8Levers, and longtime voice in the L&D space, explores the trends shaping talent development this year. Her 2026 predictions focus on the future of learning: the decline of one-size-fits-all courses, the rise of AI tutors and performance support, and how personalized, contextual learning will reshape the learner experience. In this episode, Lori challenges the hype around generative AI, highlights the growing importance of agents and workflow redesign, and explains why L&D must prepare now to stay strategically relevant. The conversation also tackles ethics, data privacy, and employee trust, along with the emotional reality many professionals feel amid rapid change. Lori reminds us that while technology evolves, human skills, classroom connection, and empathy remain essential. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinileshofmann/ Website: https://www.loriniles.com/ Business Website: https://www.8levers.com/

Fix Your Broken Meetings with Rebecca Hinds 21.01.2026 43min

Rebecca Hinds holds a PhD from Stanford University and is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever. She is a leading expert on organizational behavior and joins the podcast to explore why meetings are hurting your organization more than helping. Rebecca explains how, in their current format, meetings lead to wasted time and money. The solution, she argues, is treating meetings as if they were products – designed intentionally, measured regularly, and continuously improved. In this episode, Rebecca provides the "4D-CEO Test" for deciding whether a meeting should exist, explains how organizational culture influences "meeting debt," and gives tips for measuring return on time invested. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hinds/ Website: https://www.rebeccahinds.com/ Book: https://www.rebeccahinds.com/book

Why Learning Is Hard—and Why That's a Good Thing with Julia Phelan 07.01.2026 56min

Learning is hard – but that's a good thing. In this episode of the ATD's Accidental Trainer podcast, learning scientist and co-founder of To Eleven, Julia Phelan, dives into why effective learning should feel challenging and how trainers can bring out the most growth in a learner amidst that challenge. Drawing from examples in music and sports, Julia emphasizes that struggle, practice, feedback, and time are essential for meaningful learning to occur. The conversation provides advice for setting realistic expectations, designing with intention, and adapting strategies as learners move from novice to expert. Rather than chasing "silver bullet" techniques, Julia urges L&D professionals to anchor their work in how learning actually happens and to remain flexible as conditions change. From playing guitar to onboarding, Julia lives by her mantra: learning is hard, and hard is learning. Resources: Website: https://to11solutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacphelan/ ATD Content: https://www.td.org/p/julia-phelan Substack: https://juliaslearningstack.substack.com/p/welcome-to-julias-learning-stack?r=mwqc0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

The Power of Employee Wellbeing with Mark C. Crowley 24.09.2025 46min

The key to higher performance isn't perks or programs, but genuine care for employees' well-being. Mark C. Crowley joins the podcast to share insights from his book The Power of Employee Wellbeing. Drawing on both research and his experience as a manager, Crowley explains why traditional engagement programs often fall short, how to meaningfully measure well-being, and the link between productivity and authentic workplace relationships. The conversation also explores how to build alignment between managers and employees, gather feedback on your leadership style, and support well-being in both remote and in-person settings. You'll leave this episode with evidence-based practices to elevate performance and strengthen employee satisfaction. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley Website: https://markccrowley.com/ Book: https://markccrowley.com/the_power_of_employee_well-being/ Fast Company Articles: https://www.fastcompany.com/user/mark-c-crowley John Gottman's Website: https://www.gottman.com/

Tweak Your Blindspots & Discover Breakthroughs with Marty Dubin 10.09.2025 40min

Marty Dubin, a clinical psychologist and author of Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader, joins us to explore six leadership blind spots that may be affecting your work: identity, intellect, emotion, motive, traits, and behavior. These areas offer L&D professionals a framework for strengthening self-awareness and managing the many roles they take on. Marty explains the "why" behind analyzing blind spots, shares actionable steps for adopting new behaviors, and provides strategies to prevent strengths ("gifts") from becoming weaknesses ("gaps"). Drawing on his experience as both entrepreneur and business coach, Marty also discusses the value of emotional agility, the four types of intelligence, and how to align your identity with your role—even amid rapid change. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dubin/ Website: https://www.martindubin.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZFK8J6?tag=bk00010a-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true

Age Bias is a Crisis. Let's Solve It with Tonya Wilson 27.08.2025 43min

When it comes to tackling the bias around age, is the juice worth the squeeze? Our guest, Tonya Wilson, says absolutely. Tonya, organizational strategist and founder of AFC Consulting Group, joins the podcast to discuss the hidden costs of age discrimination—an issue that drains more than $850 billion from the U.S. economy each year. Tonya debunks myths about older generations, reframes age bias as a change management challenge, and offers suggestions for creating systems that provide growth opportunities for all employers. Building an ageless workplace begins with auditing processes that may favor younger employees—whether in job descriptions, promotion practices, or workplace culture. From fostering psychological safety to implementing reverse mentorships, Tonya shares research-backed insights on training older generations and reveals how to develop agility as a mindset first. Reources: Website: https://www.afcconsultinggroup.com/ Blog: https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/designing-ageless-workplaces-a-strategic-imperative-for-the-future TD article: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/the-future-of-work-is-ageless Resource Package: https://resources.afcconsultinggroup.com/unmaskingageism ATD25 Education Session: https://www.td.org/content/conference-recording/unmasking-ageism-raising-awareness-and-shaping-inclusive-talent-development

Can AI Help L&D Bridge the Skills Gap? with Ryan Lufkin 13.08.2025 38min

Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins the podcast to cut through the noise around AI-enabled skill building and explore how this technology can truly support a thriving learning culture. AI is an accelerator, a disruptor, and a powerful tool—but it's not replacing educators any time soon. Ryan shares how AI can work hand-in-hand with human oversight, expand accessibility, and take tedious tasks off your plate. He also offers practical, budget-friendly tools that L&D teams can put to work today. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlufkin/ Website: https://www.instructure.com/

Power, Pressure, Performance: A Manager's Balancing Act with Sabina Nawaz 31.07.2025 35min

Sabina Nawaz is a global CEO coach, leadership keynote speaker, author, and advisor to C-level executives in Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. She joins the podcast to discuss themes of leadership from her book, You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need). As leaders navigate expanding power, increasing pressure to perform, and the impact of their decisions, Sabina offers tools to help mitigate the tension that builds. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls that can turn even your superpowers into setbacks. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/ Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/ Book: https://sabinanawaz.com/book/

How to Get Noticed Without Self-Promotion with Connie Malamed 16.07.2025 28min

Many talented learning professionals feel invisible—despite doing incredible work. In this episode, Connie Malamed joins us to explore how to gain visibility by contributing meaningfully to the field. We talk about why visibility matters, how to build credibility without being performative, and the ripple effects of sharing your work. You'll also hear simple, low-pressure ways to raise your profile—whether it's online, inside your organization, or across the L&D field. We break down common barriers like imposter feelings, lack of know-how, and the misconception that visibility is ego-driven. Connie shares practical strategies and ideas—like trying a 30-day visibility experiment or collaborating with peers to take the pressure off—plus plenty of ways to share your work with clarity, intention, and real impact. Resources: Free eMail Crash Course to Elevate Visibility: https://theelearningcoach.com/visibility LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniemalamed/ Website: https://theelearningcoach.com/author/connie/ Website: https://masteringid.com Additional resources mentioned: Tiny Experiments by Ann Laure Le Cunff

The Problem with Bloom's Taxonomy, and What To Use Instead with Jonathan Halls 25.06.2025 40min

Jonathan Halls is an author and consultant who uses learning science to streamline talent development to be digital and focused on business results. In today's episode, Jonathan takes on L&D's Goliath: Bloom's Taxonomy. If you've written a learning objective before, you've likely used a version of Bloom's Taxonomy. But what if we've been using it in ways it was never meant to be used? What if this framework is creating roadblocks and preventing real learning? Jonathan guides us through a thoughtful critique of Bloom's and offers an alternative framework for writing learning objectives that actually achieve the desired results. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhalls Website: https://jonathanhalls.com/ Books: https://jonathanhalls.com/books/ New book on learning objectives: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYYPY918

Beyond Stereotypes: Gen Z in the Workforce with Chelsea C. Williams 11.06.2025 40min

Chelsea C. Williams, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent, is an expert on intergenerational talent strategies and the Gen Z workforce. In this episode, Chelsea debunks myths about Gen Z and shares lessons we can learn from the youngest working demographic. She breaks down what research reveals Gen Z truly values—from transparency and purpose to wellbeing and career development—and reveals the stereotypes that ofen misguide managers. Discover what resonates with young professionals and how leaders can evolve to better engage, retain, and empower early talent in today's dynamic, diverse workplace. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseacwilliams/ Website: https://chelseacwilliams.com/ Reimagine Talent: https://www.reimaginetalentco.com/ Forbe's Content: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/chelseacwilliams/

Borrow from Marketing to Boost Learning Impact with Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor 28.05.2025 36min

To elevate your training, it's time to take a page from the marketing playbook. In this episode, we're joined by Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor—co-authors of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro: Strategies to Ignite Learning—to explore how applying marketing strategies within learning programs can supercharge engagement, drive measurable impact, and secure stakeholder buy-in. Bianca, VP of Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent Learning, and Mike, a learning consultant at Nationwide, share actionable insights on: Building a program content strategy that captures learner attention Leveling up with technology and measurement tools Tapping into the emotional drivers that make learning stick Marketing strategies go beyond boosting program visibility. Learn to create learning experiences that resonate and reframe your L&D mindset through a marketer's lens. Resources: Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--think-like-a-marketer-train-like-an-ld-pro/112507 Website: Bianca: https://www.biancabaumann.com/ Mike: https://mike-taylor.org/ LinkedIn: Bianca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/ Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/

Fair by Design: From Good Intentions to Behavior Change with Siri Chilazi 01.05.2025 41min

Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the podcast to explore how organizations can meaningfully advance fairness at work. Drawing on insights from her research and the book, Siri discusses how to drive change even in risk-averse or hesitant environments. She unpacks the difference between fairness and sameness, how to bias-proof training, and what it really takes to embed behavior change into day-to-day decision-making. From debunking persistent workplace myths to practicing "norm entrepreneurship," Siri offers practical strategies—grounded in data—that leaders and teams can apply right away. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/ Website: https://sirichilazi.com/ Book: https://sirichilazi.com/books/make-work-fair/