ATD Accidental Trainer

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 tec...

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 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 Sergean...

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...

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...

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, T ina  challenge s  conventional thinking around how organizations develop their leaders  and  shares why leadership development should be treated as a st...

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...

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 ep...

Rebecca Hinds  h olds 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 t...

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, a...

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 productiv...

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 "...

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...

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...

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 perf...

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 profil...

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 th...

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 stere...

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...

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 un...

Neil Thompson is the founder of Teach the Geek, a company dedicated to helping technical professionals effectively communicate the value of their work to non-technical stakeholders. He joins the podcast to share how anyone with a specialization can sharpen their presentation skills—moving beyond acronyms and jargon that only experts understand.   This conversation also explores what L&D profession...

Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It , challenges the idea that success means playing it safe. In this episode, she reveals how to reclaim nine so-called "negative" traits—like being selfish, nosy, or even manipulative—and use them to build confidence, influence without authority, and stand out in your career. We explore how these traits...

Seth Godin – acclaimed entrepreneur, bestselling author of This is Strategy: Make Better Plans , and closing keynote speaker at ATD25 – joins the podcast to challenge the way we think about strategy.   What if strategy isn't about rigid plans but about systems, time, and the games we choose to play? What happens when we mistake false proxies for progress? And how can community action and empathy f...

Sarah Mercier is the CEO of Build Capable and the editor of the newly released book, Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences . Sarah joins the podcast to share an inside look into Design for All Learners , revealing why everyone benefits from more inclusive design, and actionable steps you can take immediately to create more accessible content .    Sarah share...

Erin Diehl is a podcast host, a bestselling author , and the CEO of improve it! . In this episode, she discusses how improv shows up in day -to- day life a nd simple ways to use improv techniques to find success in you r work and relationships .   Improv as a strategic tool has a variety of uses , including building company culture, navigating workplace challenges, and reinforc ing inclusivity. Tr...