The EdUp Learning and Development Podcast

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Taresa Scott, the founder of Bleuprint. They discuss Taresa's journey as a founder and the work that Blueprint does. They also explore the importance of creating a learning culture within organizations and the trends in L&D and e-learning. The conversation ends with advice for individuals looking to transition into a role in learning...

In this video episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens and guest Anna Poli from iSpring discuss the updates and new features of iSpring Suite Max. Anna showcases the iSpring Cloud platform and demonstrates how to use the AI assistant to generate course titles and quiz questions. She also highlights the ability to customize the design of learning content, adjust column widths, and...

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, host Holly Owens interviews Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chief Impact Officer at AstrumU. They discuss the challenges of the current job application process and the need for a more equitable and effective system. AstrumU is a data and insights company that aims to level the playing field in the skills economy. They help individuals create verified skills...

In this episode, we got interview the amazing Sean Jennison, the Senior DSP Learning Experience Manager at Amazon. Sean shares his journey into the learning and development space, starting from wanting to be a geography teacher to teaching English in Madrid. He discusses his role at Amazon, which involves developing learning strategies and delivering training interventions for last mile logistics....

In this episode, the hosts welcome Julie Dirksen, an instructional design and learning development expert. They discuss Julie's journey into the L&D space, her new book 'Talk to the Elephant,' and strategies for designing effective learning experiences that genuinely change behavior. Julie also shares valuable advice for transitioning teachers looking to enter the instructional des...

Summary In this episode, we got interview Dave Fano, the CEO and co-founder of Teal. Dave shares his background and journey, from studying architecture to starting a consulting business and eventually being acquired by WeWork. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned as an entrepreneur and emphasizes the importance of focusing on your craft and simplifying the job search process. Dave al...

In this live demo, Kavitta Ghai, the CEO and co-founder of Nectar, showcases Nectar AI, their newest product. Nectar AI is an AI assistant that can be customized for classrooms, providing personalized help and feedback to students. The AI assistant can be integrated into the LMS and is FERPA and COPPA-compliant. It can access uploaded documents and use general or limited knowledge from GPT-4 to an...

In this episode, Holly discusses the topic of transitioning into a career in learning and development (L&D), specifically in instructional design. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being intentional and strategic in the career transition process. She suggests five key steps to take before applying for roles in the L&D industry: 1) identify what you want in a role, 2) determine which...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Dr. Katie Wolfe-Burelson and Marissa Gilbert from Anderson University. They discuss the Instructional Design and Learning Technology program at the university. The program is a 30-credit hour, 100% online master's degree that offers courses on various topics such as instructional design, online learning, mobile learning, and media development. Th...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Spencer Sharp, a Talent Specialist at Field Pros Inc., who specializes in recruiting for the ed tech industry. Sharp shares his journey from being a STEM teacher to entering the ed tech industry and eventually becoming a recruiter. He discusses the qualities he looks for in candidates, including the ability to pivot, confidence, and soft skills. Shar...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Dr. Phil Hickman, the CEO and founder of Plabook, an innovative reading technology that uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and speech recognition to help children learn how to read. Dr. Phil shares his extensive background in education, from being a teacher, counselor, school psychologist, assi...

In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson delve into the intricacies of LinkedIn optimization, emphasizing the critical nature of establishing a polished professional profile. Key recommendations include utilizing a professional photo and cover image, crafting a compelling headline, and specifying your location. The hosts also advocate for featuring a portfolio or website link in the designat...

In this discussion, Holly provides advice on how to navigate job descriptions when applying for roles in instructional design or the learning and development (L&D) field. She emphasizes the importance of identifying the sector you want to work in, such as corporate, education, government, ed tech, or nonprofit. Holly also suggest that applicants should not be deterred if they don't meet 10...

In this episode, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Kevin Farmer, the founder of ReBeL, an EdTech platform that aims to revolutionize the education system. ReBeLuses AI to create a personalized learning experience for each student, tailoring the content to their interests and learning style. The platform also serves as a hub for educators, parents, and students to connect and collabor...

In this episode, we got to interview Josh Kamrath, CEO of Bongo, an EdTech company that uses video assessment to help learners demonstrate skills or competencies. Kamrath shares his journey from being the first employee of Bongo to becoming its CEO. He discusses the role of AI in education, particularly in facilitating personalized learning and validating learners' knowledge. Kamrath also high...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Regnault Sanders, the founder and CEO of Schoolconomy. Sanders shares his journey from being a student to becoming the founder of an EdTech company. He explains that School Economy is a student success software that rewards students for positive behavior, which has led to increased engagement and a decrease in behaviora...

In a fabulous demo, Anna Poli, a senior instructional designer with iSpring, demonstrated the capabilities of iSpring's suite of tools. The tools include a demo of IPR, a tool that allows users to create interactive content, and iSpring Space, an online course builder and sharing service. Poli also highlighted the tool's AI capabilities, which can suggest course titles, create course outli...

Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson discussed their experiences transitioning into instructional design and ed tech roles. They emphasized the importance of knowing what you want to do, conducting thorough research, and networking. They also highlighted the value of freelancing to gain experience and build a resume. They recommended using Teal, a job search platform that helps track applications and pro...

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the visionary Luis Malbas, the brilliant mind behind the Training, Learning Development Community and Conference (TLDC). Join us as we delve into Luis's inspiring journey, from his early days in video stores and manufacturing to becoming a trailblazer in the e-Learning Guild and ultimately founding TLDC to address crucial gaps in the le...

In this episode of EdUp Ed Tech, host Holly Owens interviews Dr. Lauren Sanchez Gilbert, CEO of BellXcel. Gilbert shares her journey from being a special education teacher to leading an EdTech company. BellXcel is unique in the EdTech space as it serves the out of school time area, aiming to enhance how, where, and when children learn. The company offers a management system and curriculum for out...

Introduction: Join us on EdUp EdTech as we chat with Kavitta Ghai, the brains behind Nectir. Kavita introduces Nectir, a game-changing platform that teams up with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to transform the way we learn. In this episode: 1. Getting to Know Nectir: - Kavita gives us the lowdown on Nectir's mission and how it's reshaping education for the better. 2. Opening Up Educati...

In this episode of EdUp Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Stuart Grey, Founder of Student Voice, a company that uses machine learning to analyze student feedback. Grey, who has a background in aerospace engineering, discusses his transition into the education sector and his passion for teaching. He shares his optimism about the potential of AI in education, suggesting it could...

In this episode of EdUp EdTech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview the CEO and Co-founder of Buzly, Srinjay Verma . Buzly is an EdTech tool that started as a student-to-student connection platform during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has since evolved into a tool that helps higher education institutions engage with students before they arrive on campus and keep them engaged throughout their...

In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, the hosts interview Aaron King, a solutions engineer at Blackboard Anthology and the owner of Snack Size Learning. Aaron shares his journey from being a rapper and music producer to becoming an instructional designer and e-learning developer. He discusses the importance of personalization and competency-based learning in the future of education. Aaron also highligh...

In this episode we interviewed Keith Look, the Vice President of Education Solutions at ⁠Territorium⁠. Keith shares his journey into the EdTech space, starting with his experience setting up internet access in a library in Philadelphia. He discusses the need for a better way to capture and represent students' skills and abilities, leading him to the field of EdTech. Keith then explains the wor...