The Learning + Performance Podcast

In this episode, I talk with John W. Sigmon , a Master Certified Coach (ICF), leadership activist, and author of Wild Leadership , about what nature can teach us about learning, decision-making, performance, and leadership. John shares how growing up in nature shaped his view of learning and life—and how returning to it later helped him find balance, clarity, and purpose. We explore what happens w...

Episode Overview Burnout isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a chronic condition that can drain energy, cloud purpose, and leave us feeling isolated or ashamed. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast , I speak with Jim Young , Director of Organizational Development at Keiter Corporation and author of Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout . After hitting burnout himself in 201...

We all want to believe we’re tackling the right problems in our work — but too often, we skip straight to solutions without understanding what’s really going on. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast , I sit down with Dr. Tom Brush , Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington, to explore why needs assessment is the overlooked key to effective...

🌟 Episode Synopsis We all like to believe we’re self-aware—but what if we’re not as clear-eyed as we think? In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast , I sit down with Charles Evan Smith (known to most as Evan), a seasoned coach, consultant, and change architect, to explore why self-awareness is the hidden foundation for personal and organizational transformation. With more than 25...

What if your inner critic is the biggest thing holding back your learning and performance? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jon Walker —retired physician, self-compassion teacher, and founder of Modestly Mindful —about why self-compassion isn't just self-care, but a powerful tool for improving our ability to learn and perform at our best. Jon and I discuss what compassion is, why it's important,...

In this episode of the Learning and Performance Podcast , I speak with Nicole L’Etoile —learning experience designer, accessibility advocate, and founder of L’Etoile Education—about how to design digital learning experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all learners . Nicole brings deep experience as a former educator, LMS administrator, accessibility auditor, and course creat...

In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I interview Tom McDowall , an experienced learning and development professional and the founder of Evolve Learning Design about the importance of upskilling and reskilling—both for the broader workforce and for L&D teams themselves. We discuss why many traditional models in the field are outdated and no longer serve us and how to skill b...

In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with the late Cathan Kabrelian , a leading expert in compassionate communication. Cathan was a trainer, speaker, retreat leader, and mentor, known for integrating compassionate communication into a wide range of fields, from education to corporate environments. Through her work as a trauma-informed Needs-Awareness Trainer, Certified...

In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with Dr. Alaina Szlachta , an education entrepreneur and data and measurement "nerd," about leveraging data to improve workplace learning and performance. Alaina is the founder and Chief Measurement Architect at By Design Development Solutions, a consultancy that works with leaders and teams to create simple data collection systems t...

Overview: In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with Mark Sheppard , a learning architect, designer, and self-proclaimed L&D “geek" about ways that that L&D professionals and teams can innovate their products, processes, and practices. Mark is the owner and founder of 2Sphynx Innovations, an L&D consultancy serving the public and private sectors in Canada and the US. With an...

In this episode of the L&P pod, I speak with Noah Rasheta , a Buddhist philosopher, author, and podcaster dedicated to making Buddhist philosophy accessible and practical for everyday life. Noah's podcast, The Secular Buddhism Podcast, shares Buddhist principles and practices that modern people can use to learn, perform, and live more wisely. His book, "No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners," bre...

In this episode of the L&P pod, I speak with Massimo Pigliucci , a philosopher, professor, author, and expert on Stoicism and practical philosophy. Massimo and I discuss why humans should study philosophy and how modern people can apply the ancient philosophy of Stoicism to improve our ability to learn, perform, and live well. The episode provides a toolbox of Stoic principles and practices fo...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Mike Christensen, a counselor, trainer, and expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), about how our thoughts and beliefs influence how we feel, what we do, and ultimately, our ability to learn and perform. Mike and I discuss a range of CBT tools and techniques that are not only valuable to therapists and their patients, but can be used in an...

In this episode of The Learning + Performance Podcast , I speak with Connie Malamed , a learning experience designer, consultant, author, speaker, and mentor to L&Ders around the world, about how to create interesting and impactful online learning experiences to promote learning and performance. In our conversation, we discuss a number of topics related to enhancing learning and performance, i...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Heidi Kirby, Ph. D., an L&D strategy consultant, instructional designer, writer, and podcaster, about how L&D teams and organizations can be more intentional and strategic in facilitating learning and performance. With a PhD in instructional design and technology and over a decade of industry experience, Heidi possesses a unique blend of...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Chris Deavin, health coach, personal trainer, and business owner, about key principles of behavior change and how to form healthy habits. With over two decades of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds to enhance their health and well-being, Chris is an expert at helping people build durable and repeatable habits and lifest...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Amy C. Edmondson , the Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management at the Harvard Business School (HBS), about team learning and performance. Thinkers50 #1 Management Thinker in the world, Amy is most well-known for her pioneering work on psychological safety and its key role in promoting team learning, collaboration, and innovation. She's...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Todd Gerspach, former C-level executive and founder of Fortitude Executive Coaching, about how executives can enhance their performance while maintaining some semblance of balance. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to current and aspiring managers and leaders, including: Definitions of professional and personal success...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with  Dr. Jenny Woo , a Harvard-trained educator, cognitive science researcher, entrepreneur, executive coach, and mom of three. Jenny is the founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, an organization dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and other adults apply research from psychology and neuroscience to build essential life skills in our kids. Jenny...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Dr. Curt Bonk , a Professor at Indiana University's School of Education who teaches psychology and technology courses. Curt is a prolific scholar and author, a sought-after conference speaker, and a big believer in the power of online education to transform lives worldwide. He currently conducts research in the field of self-directed online lear...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Michael Sweeney , Chief Strategy Officer at RallyBright and founder of SaberCoaching, about his career enhancing the capacity and performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. Formerly VP of Digital Learning at Bain & Company, Mike has over two decades of experience in operations management, L&D, learning design, leadership devel...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with ⁠ Rachel Koblic , former VP of Learning Experience at 2U and co-founder of StarlingLX, a professional development startup that offers mid-level leaders the learning experiences, real-world resources, and social support they need to thrive in their roles, nurture the people around them, and create better workplaces. A generalist at heart, Rachel...

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with John Larson , the founder and CEO of CoachAccountable, a digital coaching platform designed to make coaches better and help clients get more out of coaching. Half coach, half coder, John has dedicated his life to improving the experience of coaching for coaches and their clients. He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and kids. In our conver...

In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with  Dr. Luke Hobson , an instructional designer working to build effective and engaging learning experiences for students in higher ed and beyond. Luke is also a teacher, author, and podcaster. Dr. Hobson and I discuss a range of topics in instructional design, including: The linkage between learning and performance What do instructional designers...

In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with Dr. Althea Kaminske , a psychologist who studies the application of cognitive psychology to education. Dr. Kaminske and I discuss six evidence-based strategies from psychology that you can utilize to learn and remember information more effectively: Retrieval Practice Spaced Practice Interleaving Concrete Examples Dual Coding Elaboration Dr. Kami...