The Learning & Development Podcast

In this episode, Craig Friedman, author of Enterprise Skills Unlocked, joins David to explore what it really means to build a skills-based organisation, and why now is the critical moment for change. Together, they unpack the macro forces reshaping work, the difference between skills-based and role-based approaches, and the most compelling business cases driving adoption. Craig shares where organi...

L&D has long carried the “hangover” of legacy expectations: delivering courses, creating content, and measuring completions. But in 2025, those skills won’t cut it - and they could even put the profession at risk of being replaced by AI. In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Candice Mitchell - consultant, founder of the Talent Development Academy, and rese...

In this episode, Egle Vinauskaite joins David to discuss the very latest AI in L&D report, The Race for Impact, and why L&D is at a pivotal moment. They explore the shift from AI experimentation to implementation, the barriers holding teams back, and the new models of impact outlined in her “Transformation Triangle.” With case studies from Leyton and TTEC, Egle shows how L&D can move beyond conten...

Too often, Learning and Development professionals find themselves reacting to requests, churning out courses, and struggling to prove their value. In this episode, Jess Almlie—L&D leader and author of L&D Order Taker No More—shares how L&D teams can stop spinning their wheels and start stepping into a more strategic, credible role. Drawing from her 20+ years of experience and the insights in her n...

In this episode, Kevin Yates - widely known as the L&D Detective® - joins David to explore why measuring impact remains one of the most persistent challenges in Learning & Development, and how L&D can finally start getting it right. Together, they unpack why reporting on learning activity isn’t enough, what it really means to uncover evidence of performance impact, and how L&D must evolve to contr...

For many L&D teams, compliance training is a necessary burden—dominated by tick-box exercises, clunky e-learning, and endless chasing. But it doesn’t have to be this way - even in highly regulated industries! In this episode, Nick Taylor, Head of Learning at Ishida Europe, shares how his team has reimagined compliance as a practical, performance-oriented part of everyday work. Drawing on his exper...

Many L&D teams are under pressure to deliver business impact—but are held back by disorganisation, unclear positioning, and a lack of strategic focus. In this episode, Guus van Deelen, author of Organising L&D for Results, shares a practical approach for transforming how L&D functions operate from the inside out. Drawing on his experience and research, Guus explores why traditional L&D structures...

In this episode, Becky Willis joins David to explore the increasingly crowded world of learning platforms—from the evolution of LXPs to the challenge of aligning stakeholders with vastly different needs. Together, they tackle what’s hot (and what’s not) in the market right now, why so many organisations are still unhappy with their chosen platforms, and how L&D teams can start with strategy, not s...

Traditional L&D teams often struggle to prove their value—but at Comcast, Martha Soehren built a Talent Development function that drove measurable business impact at scale. In this episode, Martha shares how her team aligned with strategic priorities, built trusted stakeholder relationships, and embedded governance to keep L&D at the heart of business conversations. She also explains how data, sto...

In this special live episode recorded with a virtual audience, host David James is joined by an all-star panel of Learning & Development leaders - Laura Overton, Donald Clark, and Gemma Paterson - for a dynamic conversation on the future of workplace learning. Together, they explore: Whether "Learning & Development" is the wrong name for the profession. The growing shift from learning-centric to p...

How do you continuously reinvent L&D while working with the same stakeholders and navigating constant change? In this episode, Avinash Chadarana, Global Learning & Development Director at MCI Group, shares the realities of leading L&D over the long haul—building from scratch, overcoming challenges like budget cuts and COVID, and evolving with a geographically dispersed remote team. We dive into th...

L&D has long been focused on behaviour change—but what if that’s the wrong goal? In this episode, Carl Binder challenges conventional wisdom and makes the case for shifting our focus from behaviours to work outputs—the measurable accomplishments that drive business results. Carl explains why this approach is more effective, how L&D teams can correctly identify and measure accomplishments, and what...

Traditional L&D strategies rely too much on hope. Hope that training will stick, hope that stakeholders will engage, and hope that impact will follow. But as Dani Johnson of RedThread Research explains in this episode, hope isn’t a plan. Drawing on insights from the latest report, Dani outlines why L&D’s influence in strategic business discussions is declining - and what leaders must do to reverse...

In this special episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, we’re turning the tables! Host of The Learning Hack podcast, John Helmer, takes over the mic to interview our very own David James about 360Learning’s new L&D Maturity Model. With a wealth of experience in the learning industry, John brings a sharp, inquisitive lens to this conversation, challenging David on why L&D needs another matur...

For the first time ever, The Learning & Development Podcast was recorded in front of a live audience in New York! In this special episode, I sit down with Julianne Gill, Director of Learning & Development at Smile Brands, to explore what it truly takes to build an L&D function that delivers measurable impact. Julianne shares insights from her career journey, how she assessed and transformed L&D at...

In a time when organisations must adapt and evolve more rapidly than ever, the role of learning is at a crossroads. In this episode, Nigel Paine, author of The Great Reset: Unlocking the Power of Organisational Learning, shares his vision for transforming L&D into a strategic driver of culture, leadership, and inclusion-focused change. Nigel outlines the dimensions of organisational learning, the...

Too often, L&D delivers learning solutions that fail to drive real behaviour change. But why does this happen, and how can we design interventions that truly make an impact? In this episode, learning design expert Julie Dirksen unpacks the science behind effective learning and what actually motivates people to apply what they’ve learned. Julie explores the biggest reasons training fails, the role...

Reskilling is high on the agenda for many organisations, but how do you do it reliably—and at scale? In this episode, Molly Howes returns to share the incredible progress of the Aviva Foundry, an ambitious initiative to upskill employees from Customer Support roles into Digital careers, alongside Alex Price, who was a successful participant in the program. They discuss what’s changed since their l...

As remote and hybrid work redefine the modern workplace, leadership must evolve to meet new challenges and opportunities. In this episode, Wayne Turmel, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader: Revised Rules for Remarkable Remote and Hybrid Leadership, shares invaluable insights on leading in this new era. Wayne explores how leadership has fundamentally changed, the unique challenges of asynchronous...

In this special live episode, with guests Lisa Christensen, Hillary Miller and Christopher Lind, we explore their experience and deep expertise on the topics of L&D strategy and team structures - and it’s a masterclass of a conversation.  Register for L&D Next 3rd - 6th March for free today at https://360learning.com/l-and-d-next/2025/ KEY TAKEAWAYS Understand what L&D is there to achieve. Team st...

As generative AI continues to evolve from novelty to everyday adoption, its transformative potential for Learning & Development is becoming increasingly clear. In this episode, Sean Bengry, a senior L&D leader, shares his experiences and insights on harnessing AI to drive impact and innovation in our field. Sean discusses the pivotal moment that revealed the power of generative AI, offers jaw-drop...

In a world where skills gaps are widening and job demands are evolving at unprecedented rates, understanding how to gain a "skills advantage" is critical for organizations to stay competitive. In this episode, Anish Lalchandani, author of The Skills Advantage, delves into his insights on bridging skills gaps, building resilient teams, and preparing organizations for the future. Anish walks us thro...

Stepping into a new L&D leadership role is challenging, and establishing both yourself and your team can be even harder. It’s not just about filling gaps—it’s about aligning your vision with the business’s needs and building a strategy that delivers tangible results. In this episode, Sam Allen, Global Head of Learning and Development at Ideagen, shares how he has navigated this journey, from under...

The Talent Fueled Enterprise seeks to provide insight into key disruptors driving an imperative for talent in organizations. The book also provides a fresh perspective on how leaders should consider navigating the evolving landscape of talent management. It challenges the conventional framework for talent management, urging leaders to reimagine how they perceive, nurture, and leverage the people w...

Many of us fall into L&D - and some of us make sacrifices in order to do so. At a time when many of us have faced layoffs and unexpected setbacks, we wanted to spotlight career journeys that had tough times and what our guests did to overcome these. In this episode, I’m speaking with Jennifer Sutherland, Global Leader of Culture, Learning & Development at Trustwave, about her incredible career and...