Learning Rebels Podcast

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   How do we build genuine professional connections without falling into the trap of sales pitches, awkward small talk, or ghosted messages?   Our Coffee Chat crew shared the familiar pain of trying to connect online or at events, only to be met with instant “buy my service” pitches, one-sided conversations, or radio silence. Networking, we agreed,...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   How do we stay productive when distractions are everywhere?   This Coffee Chat dug into the reality we all face—trying to get meaningful work done while notifications ping, tabs multiply, and our focus drifts to anything but the task at hand. Productivity isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about managing our time, energy, and environment in a...

It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we actually build a habit of learning—for ourselves? We're taking a step back from helping everyone else learn and focusing on a challenge we all share: making time for our own growth. We all want to learn more, but between meetings, deadlines, and life in general, it’s easy to let personal learning fall to the bottom of the list.   Many of...

It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we spark and sustain curiosity in learning?   This Coffee Chat dove into how our curiosity fuels engagement. We kicked things off by brainstorming ways to design learning experiences that get people questioning, exploring, and leaning in for more. Whether through interactive quizzes, thought-provoking scenarios, or unexpected challenges, th...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   How can we leverage shared resources to better support our learning goals and professional growth?   This Coffee Chat was all about the power of collective knowledge. We kicked things off by reflecting on the big, audacious goals set in the last session. Some made progress, others hit roadblocks, but the common thread was the need for the right...

It all started with the BIG question on the table. How can we set goals that truly align with our personal and professional aspirations while making the process motivating, realistic, and actionable?   This Coffee Chat was all about rethinking how we approach goal setting. Forget the old SMART goals you’ve heard about a thousand times—this conversation was focused on making goals meaningful, perso...

It all started with the big question on the table:   Are we caught up in "Productivity Shiny Object Syndrome?" Do you ever feel like you’re juggling flaming chainsaws while blindfolded on a unicycle?   You’re not alone.   Between designing workshops, crafting engaging training materials and nurturing employee development, finding time to breathe, let alone be productive, feels like a pipe dream.  ...

It all started with the big question on the table:   Are you feeling caught in the endless cycle of work, struggling to keep your motivation alive?   You’re not alone.   As we continue to wear numerous hats, maintaining a high level of self-motivation becomes difficult. Business is moving fast, and the expectation is that we should move even faster. We are caught up in the hamster wheel, and it is...

It all started with the big question on the table:   Why are some people good at networking and others, not so much?  What are some practical tips and techniques to build and maintain meaningful connections?   There seems to be a lot of movement in the Learning and Development (L&D) industry. People are changing jobs, changing roles, and getting laid off. With all this movement building your n...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.     How can we ensure that the skills and knowledge acquired during training are effectively applied in the workplace?   We've all been there - we create what we feel is a learning solution that can't go wrong...then it does.   Most of us have been there, done that, bought the tee-shirt and don't want to go back.   We know that training fails for...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.     What skills will L&D need in order to remain relevant in the business world of the future?   L&D is undergoing a seismic shift. With the advent of new technologies and changing workplace dynamics, we are facing challenges that are far more complex than ever before.   And then there was the wake-up call.   In December 2021, ByteDance, t...

Going LIVE - Sharing the Story of the Storyteller, Hadiya Nuriddin   We all have something in our backgrounds that silently informs how we act and what we do, and Hadiya is no different.   Hadiya’s journey   It seems logical that Hadiya would want to grow up and be on the stage. Her skill for weaving a story is legendary. What wasn’t logical was how she grew away from acting and into customer supp...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.     What is the future of instructional design and what skills will we need to remain relevant?   L&D is undergoing a seismic shift. With the advent of new technologies and changing workplace dynamics, we are facing challenges that are far more complex than ever before.   And then there was the wake-up call.   In December 2021, ByteDance, the...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.     What are the different tools impacting the curation process, and what challenges do we need to overcome to ensure relevance and impact?   Curation seems to be the L&D buzzword at the moment and while curation seems to be on everyone’s agenda - there’s a lot of anxiety over how to get started.   Here's the Good News: advancements in technol...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.     What strategies does L&D need to consider to align curated content with business goals?     We’ve all seen the term “curation” used to describe the act of making generic content available either generally within the space of a social enterprise network such as Teams or Slack, or on a learning management platform.   However, without conside...

Going LIVE with Curation Guru Mike Taylor!   We all have something in our backgrounds that silently informs how we act and what we do, and Mike is no different.   Mike’s journey   I was somewhat surprised, (but not really) to learn about Mike’s rich history in the IT space. His background in computer programming, IT and now cyber security clearly informs how he sees the internet. It developed his...

It all started with the BIG question on the table. What are the important steps to prepare us and stakeholders for more creative thinking when it comes to learning solutions?   Note: Our previous coffee chat was different. The coffee chat crowd worked through a variety of creative problem solving techniques in break-out rooms and discussed their applicability. And because of this, we didn’t post t...

It starts with a question: Why are we trying to tackle today’s problems with yesterday's thinking?   Don’t you want to create learning solutions that are more than just “tick a box?”   Don’t you want solutions that are tailored to fit the unique needs and aspirations of the people in your organization?   Sure you do, and collectively getting ideas from key people allows the best innovations to bub...

Going LIVE with Kevin Yates, the L&D Detective!   After getting to know Kevin over the past year, his passion for the industry and his community was contagious and I knew I had to share his story.   Kevin’s journey   I did not know that Kevin had been a second-grade teacher! Just when you think you know someone…   How can you walk away from this conversation and NOT feel inspired?   This is a...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   How can we tap into our inner business creativity more often?     When it comes to creativity, as L&D professionals, we often think about being creative in a meeting or a classroom, but how can we encourage creativity as a culture?   First, it means being aware of what is happening outside our own box, building relationships across departmen...

Going LIVE with Don Becker!   Don first shared his expertise with the Learning Rebels Community while hosting a Learn Something New about gamification. It was then, I knew he had a story to tell - and boy did he!   Don’s journey   As Don has said - his journey to corporate L&D was a long and winding road. Filled with, as he called it, several gut punches and conversations with himself in the m...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   Can comics help L&D communicate complex concepts, promote critical thinking, and foster greater learner engagement?     Today we handed the microphone to Dr. Kevin Thorn as he answered all your burning questions about Educational Comics, from which types of comics are appropriate in a training situation to how reach across cultures with comi...

It all started with a conversation: Where can they buy my book?   “I haven’t written a book.”    “Really? I thought you had.”   “Nope.”    “Why not?”    Cue: Awkward silence.    Truth is, I’ve been asked to write a book several times. But I just can’t get out of my own head to do so. About this time, I saw an HBR article about Imposter Syndrome. The universe calls.    So I hope this episode helps...

It all started with the BIG question on the table.   When it comes to knowledge management tools, how can we leverage them effectively and what features should we be looking for?   A lot of information being shared here!   In our last coffee chat episode, we discussed the benefits of collecting stories and information. In this follow-up podcast, we dive deep into the deep well of knowledge of mana...

Going LIVE with Christy Tucker!   Don’t be fooled by the inherent humbleness of Christy Tucker - this lady knows her stuff! And while most of us know her for her ability to create e-learning designs for companies like Cisco, it was her journey from teacher to designer that caught my interest.   Christy’s journey   I have been lucky enough to be connected with Christy for a few years, and we freque...