Voices of the Learning Network

What if Learning and Development stopped waiting for business leaders to define the future—and started helping design it? In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network , host Bill Banham sits down with Barry Winkless, Head of the Future of Work Institute and author of Future Work World , to explore how learning leaders can play a far more strategic role in shaping organizational success. Barry...

What if one of the biggest barriers to workplace learning is the belief that work must always feel serious? In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network , host Bill Banham sits down with Kelsey Kates, Founder of Play Free Works and former Global Head of Learning Experiences at Google, to explore why playfulness may be one of the most overlooked drivers of learning, trust, and performance at w...

What if the biggest challenge facing Learning and Development isn't technology, budget, or stakeholder buy-in - but confidence? In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network , host Bill Banham sits down with learning industry researcher, analyst, and Learning Changemakers founder Laura Overton to explore why so many talented L&D professionals struggle to lead with influence despite de...

What happens when learning professionals stop acting as order takers and start becoming performance consultants? In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network , host Arash Rezaei-Mazinani shares his journey into Learning and Development, from mentoring colleagues in customer service to leading learning solutions in complex business environments. Arash reflects on what first attracted him to L&...

What if the real reason learning fails has nothing to do with content and everything to do with attention? In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham sits down with Ashley Hinchcliffe , Founder of MAAS Marketing , and one of the strongest voices challenging how learning and development shows up inside organisations. Ashley has spent the past decade working at the intersec...

Big ideas don’t fail because they’re wrong - they fail because they’re buried in jargon. In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham is joined by Hari Patience-Davies , a storytelling coach and facilitator who helps organisations turn complex ideas into clear, compelling communication people actually trust. Hari’s career spans screenwriting, journalism, marketing, digital...

In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham sits down with Linnéa Sjögren , Swedish learning strategist, founder of LinnéaLearning , and a leading voice in the global conversation around modern learning ecosystems. Linnéa works with organisations navigating rapid technological change, helping them move far beyond reactive training requests and into proactive, business-alig...

Skills are turning over faster than annual plans can track. AI is moving into the flow of work. Engagement is running low. And many L&D teams are being asked to move faster — without a clearer definition of value. In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham is joined by Kirstie Greany , Head of Learning Strategy at Elucidat , part of the Learning Pool family. With more...

Pressure to “prove impact” has never been higher for learning teams—but too often, that pressure leads to dashboards full of activity metrics rather than evidence leaders truly value. In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham is joined by Emma Klosson , Founder and Chief Success Officer at Rooftop Recognition , to explore what meaningful impact really looks like—and how...

What if 80% of corporate training disappeared tomorrow - would performance really suffer, or would we finally see what actually works? That provocative question frames this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , where host Bill Banham is joined by Kurt Lindley , a learning design consultant whose work spans elite sport, education, healthcare, and global organisations. With more than two decad...

In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham is joined by Jane Hames , Director and Lead IT Trainer at Glide Training , to explore why human-centred design is the missing ingredient in many software rollouts. Jane’s journey from self-described technophobe to trusted IT educator gives her rare empathy for the fear, frustration, and confidence barriers learners experience. Dr...

What if your most effective learning video could be filmed today — with the phone in your pocket? In this episode of Voices of the Learning Network , host Bill Banham is joined by Niki Hobson , Learning Specialist at the BBC , and a smartphone videographer and trainer on a mission to make video learning accessible to everyone - not just teams with big budgets and production crews. Niki believes th...

Emotional connection, not more content, might be the real accelerator of learning. In this episode, Bill Banham talks with Caleb Foster, a hospitality veteran turned learning experience innovator, about why feelings drive behaviour change and how to design digital learning people genuinely care about. Caleb breaks down how story, tone, and visual language spark curiosity, build empathy, and create...

What if learning design is standing at a real crossroads - one path toward a golden age of human impact, the other toward machine-paced irrelevance? That’s the provocative question Jonathan Hill, award-winning learning designer and evidence-first practitioner, helped Bill Banham tackle as they dug into how to make digital learning change behavior. Bill and Jonathan get specific about strategic sto...

What if L&D stopped counting completions and started multiplying impact? In this episode, Bill Banham chats with Paul Matthews, renowned author, speaker, and long-time L&D practitioner about how learning teams can move beyond activity metrics and drive real behavior change that moves the business. Paul unpacks the real leverage in learning: defining key behaviors, designing for application...

What if your next “course” wasn’t a course at all - but a sharp hook, a simple habit, and a message delivered exactly where work happens?  In this episode Bill Banham sits down with Bianca Baumann, VP of Learning Solutions and Innovation at Ardent Learning, to rethink how L&D earns attention, builds trust, and drives performance with the precision of great marketing. Bianca digs into the learn...

Many learning teams still treat accessibility like a checklist. In this episode, we take a different path with Susi Miller, internationally recognized expert, author of Designing Accessible Learning Content, and  LPI Learning Professional of the Year 2025 who shows how inclusive design raises the bar for every learner and every program.  The conversation starts with a simple moment of truth: a scr...

Certainty can be a comfort and a trap. In this episode, host Bill Banham sits down with Julian Stodd , author and founder of Seesaw Learning , to explore how the Social Age is reshaping learning, leadership, and power. From radical connectivity to the fracturing social contract and the rise of AI’s dialogic potential, Julian maps the landscape where old organizational structures fail to hold and n...

Why do some trainings transform behavior while others disappear by Monday morning? In this episode, host Bill Banham sits down with neuroscientist and Synaptic Potential founder and Connect 2025 Keynote Amy Brann to explore how brain science translates into better learning, leadership, and performance. From hot vs. cold networks to psychological safety and reward systems , Amy explains how emotion...

In the first episode of Season 3, host Bill Banham is joined by Richard Price, Vice Chair of the Learning Network and national workforce learning and technology specialist at NHS England. Together, they explore why in-person events and strong peer communities often out-deliver larger conferences and how practical, people-first approaches can transform workforce learning. Richard shares insights on...

In the dawn of an AI driven world, keeping up with change is more important than ever. "Voices of the Learning Network" is diving into a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: how to get ready for the future, especially with AI changing the game.  Join Kim Ellis as she talks to Erica Farmer from Quantum Rise for a lively discussion on how to turn the challenges of today into the opportunities...

It’s time once again to listen to the Voices from the Learning Network.  Join Colin Smith and Erin as they talk through those components that are uniquely human in this ever digital world.  Check out the links below to follow along with our conversation and learn more about Colin. Books The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning Connect w...

Can we challenge you? It is time to join Gaelle Delmas-Watson and Erin to Trust Up! If you have ever wondered how to create real buy-in and genuine learning, this may be the podcast for you.  Check the links below to connect with and follow Gaelle: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaellewatson/ Email: gwatson@syncskills.net Twitter:  @GaelleDWatson Insta: @GaelleDWatson  Check out these Resou...

In the realm of education and development, the myth that quality learning requires a hefty investment is being dismantled, one innovative solution at a time. "Voices of the Learning Network" delves into the art of crafting rich, impactful learning experiences without breaking the bank, proving that creativity, not capital, is king. This episode explores the treasure trove of tools, techn...

In the symphony of success, collaboration is the melody that elevates a simple tune to a masterpiece. "Voices of the Learning Network" brings to light the unparalleled value of teaming up, showcasing how the fusion of diverse minds, talents, and perspectives doesn’t just add to the equation—it multiplies it. In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of collaboration, exploring how com...