Tangents with TorranceLearning

In this episode, Megan Torrance chats with Fraser Lockhart about his journey from leading sales performance at major organizations like Dawn Foods, Pepsi, Coke, and Campbell Soup to running his own business as a change coach. The conversation centers on navigating change during technology rollouts, why adoption stalls, and how learning, leadership, and change management converge. Key takeaways inc...

Organizations are investing in AI tools, tracking usage, and providing training—but are those measures telling us whether people can actually work with AI effectively? In this episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning , Megan Torrance talks with Sam Rogers, founder and CEO of PAICE.work, about measuring People + AI Collaboration Effectiveness . Sam explains why tool adoption, course completion, an...

In the final episode of our four-part series on the AI Implementation Canvas, Meg Fairchild and Megan Torrance explore Human-Centered Adoption & Change. They discuss how learning professionals can help organizations prepare people for AI-enabled work, support ongoing change, and keep human needs at the center of implementation. From AI literacy and upskilling, to fairness, inclusion, and socia...

In Part 3 of our four-part series on the AI Implementation Canvas, Meg Fairchild and Megan Torrance explore the Design & Implementation Enablers section of the Canvas. They discuss how organizations can move from scattered AI experiments to structured pilots, thoughtfully select which ideas to pursue, and safely scale the projects that show promise. They also explore how learning professionals...

In Part 2 of our four-part series on the AI Implementation Canvas, Meg Fairchild and Megan Torrance explore the Technology & Experience Infrastructure section of the Canvas. They discuss why successful AI implementation requires more than selecting the right tools. Organizations also need to consider how technology fits into existing workflows, whether the user experience supports the people d...

In this kickoff episode of our four-part series on the AI Implementation Canvas, Meg Fairchild and Megan Torrance discuss the foundations of successful AI adoption in organizations. They introduce the AI Implementation Canvas—featured in the AI Implementation Guide from ATD Press—which outlines 14 planning dimensions, thoughtfully organized into four manageable sections. This episode is all about...

In this engaging episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning, Megan Torrance sits down with Joy VerPlanck of JVP Creative Solutions to unpack the powerful intersection of behavioral science and learning design. Drawing from experiences in high-stakes environments and collaborations with global thought leaders, Joy VerPlanck shares practical insights on: The core concepts of behavioral science and it...

This special crossover episode features Megan Torrance from TorranceLearning, who joined the GrowthReady podcast for an insightful discussion on growth, learning, and leadership. We're excited to reshare this episode with our listeners! In this episode, Steve sits down with Megan Torrance to unpack what it really means to be growth ready. Megan reframes growth as what we learn from a leap, not jus...

In this episode of Tangents with Torranclearning, Megan Torrance and Meg Fairchild welcome Jess Almlie, author of "L&D Order Taker No More," to discuss the journey of evolving Learning & Development from transactional order fulfillment to a valued strategic business partnership. Jess shares the origin story behind her book, the necessity of aligning L&D work with business outcomes, and...

Megan Torrance and Meg Fairchild continue their exploration of Learning, Science, and Experience (LSX) by unpacking on of the 10 design commitments—Learning is a Journey, Not an Event. They discuss how a learner-centric map of how capability develops over time. Drawing inspiration from Conrad Gottfredson and Bob Mosher’s Five Moments of Need® model, Megan Torrance expands on the model to outline t...

In this episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning, Meg Fairchild and Megan Torrance dive deep into LSX—Learning Science and Experience. They discuss how LSX combines the rigor of learning engineering with the craft of exceptional learner experiences. Key topics include: The origins of LSX, its practical implementation, and how it helps both organizations and learners flourish. The four groups of 1...

In this episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning, Megan Torrance sits down with researcher and "giant nerd" Chris Grady, former senior advisor at USAID, to bridge the worlds of International Development and Learning and Development (L&D). Together, they dive into: The parallels between behavior change interventions in global development and L&D programs What experimenting really means: mo...

Join host Megan Torrance LIVE from the Podcasting Lab stage at the Training 2026 Conference! In this candid and insightful episode, Megan Torrance is joined by special guests Deadra Welcome, Vince Han, and Bob Mosher for a candid conversation about what learning and development (L&D) professionals can learn from the vendor and partner ecosystem. Key topics include: Trends shaping L&D, incl...

In this episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning , Megan Torrance and Meg Fairchild chat with Julian Davis, also known as the Digital Learning Guy, to explore the evolution of digital learning, xAPI (Experience API), and innovative assessment tools. Broadcasting all the way from Australia, Julian Davis shares his journey from a Navy technician to a passionate advocate for clear, practical digital...

In this episode of Tangents with TorranceLearning, host Megan Torrance is joined by Josef Bastian—author, entrepreneur, and narrative architect—for an illuminating discussion about narrative design, organizational storytelling, and the ways artificial intelligence is reshaping both internal culture and external brand. Key topics covered include: Defining Narrative Architecture: Josef Bastian defin...

In this dynamic episode of Tangents with Torranclearning, Megan is joined by Jess Jackson, a visionary leader in public health and social equity, currently shaping cannabis regulation and reinvestment policy in Minnesota. Jess shares her journey from instructional design to government leadership, offering deep insights on culture change, leading through dissonance, reconciling historical harms, an...

In this episode, Megan and Meg explore the concepts of empathy mapping and learner personas. They discuss the differences and similarities between the two tools, their uses, and how they can help better understand the perspectives and needs of learners. Megan shares insights on how empathy maps focus on the person's perspective of the world, while learner personas concentrate more on individual ch...

In this episode, Megan Torrance talks with Chris Adams about his journey into learning and development (L&D), and the transition from being an order taker to a strategic partner in organizations. Chris shares personal stories highlighting the common pitfalls L&D professionals encounter when they focus on delivering requested solutions rather than addressing business outcomes. The conversat...

In this episode, Megan and Meg explore the world of AI avatars in learning and development (L&D). With conference season in full swing, they muse on the fantasy of cloning oneself using AI, sparking a thoughtful exploration into what counts as an avatar and the different technology and types of interaction that avatars can provide. From eLearning guides to real-time, conversational AI personas...

In this episode, Megan and Meg discuss the challenges of measuring effectiveness in the learning and development (L&D) industry. They share insights about how focusing on the wrong metrics can lead to ineffective training solutions. For a long time in L&D we've focused on data like completions or learner satisfaction. But focusing on the wrong metrics can often lead people down a path of t...

In this episode, Megan has a conversation with Chris King, a learning strategist who specializes in workflow learning. They discuss the concept of workflow learning, how it helps integrate learning into the daily work process, and strategies for supporting learners effectively in their moments of need. The episode explores when formal learning is necessary and how to recognize the ideal situations...

Join Megan Torrance and Meg Fairchild of TorranceLearning for a LinkedIn Live episode, where they discuss what real-world AI implementation looks like for Learning & Development (L&D) professionals today. Megan shares her behind-the-scenes experience writing an upcoming book on AI in L&D, revealing fresh insights gathered from industry interviews and the patterns emerging across organi...

In this episode, Megan and Meg talk about learner personas—a cornerstone of TorranceLearning's LLAMA workshops—which can help instructional designers create learning experiences tailored to the target audience. They explore the importance of personas, how to effectively create them, and the common pitfalls to avoid. They discuss the balance between AI and human insights in crafting these essential...

In this episode, Megan Torrance talks with Josh Cavalier, an expert in Generative AI and its integration into learning and development (L&D) workflows. Josh shares insights into his career as an education technologist and discusses the transformative potential of AI. The conversation touches on the rapid evolution of AI technology, the current investment climate surrounding AI, and its implica...

In this live episode of the TorranceLearning Podcast, Megan Torrance, Meg Fairchild, and Jeff Weaver broadcast from the Training 25 conference in Orlando, FL. The discussion centers around the value of conferences for learning professionals—exploring personal experiences, the benefits and challenges of conferences, and strategies for making conference attendance more meaningful. The team also open...