ATD Accidental Trainer – Details, episodes & analysis

AI Agents are having their “electricity moment” in this era of technological invention. In this episode, we define AI agents and their evolving role in L&D with Mike Hruska, President and CEO of Problem Solutions. Mike explains the difference between chatbots and agents and offers practical tips for experimenting with these tools—whether you're a beginner or an expert. 

Mike also shares insights on how to strategically integrate AI into your organization using an effort-impact evaluation. He outlines a clear path for moving AI agents from “toy to tool to trusted teammate” and offers a peek into the future landscape of generative AI. Tune in to hear examples of AI in action and steps to overcome skepticism while maximizing the benefits of AI in talent development. 

Resources:  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehruska
• AI Blog Series: https://www.td.org/p/michael-hruska-?categories.lvl0%5B0%5D=Blog  
• AI Tool: https://getmaya.coach/  
• Age of Invisible Machines: https://www.invisiblemachines.ai/ 

Storytelling is fundamental for connection, but most people would not be considered naturally skilled at the art. On this episode, G. Riley Mills, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Performance Company, dives into why storytelling can be a challenge for L&D professionals and shares actionable strategies for honing communication skills.  

G. Riley Mills outlines his 6-step framework for crafting compelling stories, offering insights on how to tailor your message to different audiences and embrace the art of brevity. Through examples of his personal experiences, G. Riley Mills shares how to evoke authentic emotion, influence listeners, and create stories that inspire action within your organization. 

Resources: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamills
• Website: https://new.pinper.com/resources/
• Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2024/08/08/collaborative-communication-building-stronger-teams/ 
• The Bullseye Principle: https://www.amazon.com/Bullseye-Principle-Intention-Based-Communication-Collaborate/dp/1119484715 
• Tedx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou4xYfsJVsk  

Cortney Marchetti, HR Director at OverDrive, and Lindsey Levinsohn, Team Lead for OverDrive’s corporate market, join the podcast to discuss how digital libraries can enhance strategic alignment for organizations.

Cortney and Lindsey break down the inherent value of creating alignment, on both small and large scales. They share stories and examples of integrating digital libraries into work and team environments, including how to foster a diverse culture of perspectives, create shared spaces of community, and instill common vocabulary that helps set a unified vision. 

Resources:  

• OverDrive Website: https://www.overdrive.com  
• Cortney Marchetti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortney-marchetti
• Lindsey Levinsohn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-levinsohn-b9931922

Books covered in the discussion:  

• Upstream by Dan Heath: https://heathbrothers.com/books/upstream/  
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://www.radicalcandor.com/  
• Matthew McConnaughey: https://greenlights.com/  
• Daniel Pink: https://www.danpink.com/books/  
• Venus Williams: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Venus-Williams/author/B001ITTU8U?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true  
• Karie Willyerd: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karie-Willyerd/author/B003297IT2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true  

In an era of technological disruption, the skill gaps craze continues to grow for many organizations. Bob Mosher, CEO of APPLY Synergies joins the podcast to offer an alternative way to think about skill building. 

In this episode of Accidental Trainer, Bob discusses how aligning on the definition of “skill” is a crucial first step, the undervalued role of applying upskilling into the context of the work, and the advantage of a performance-first mindset. Bob also shares the lessons learned from the competency-based model trend and how to increase skill application post-training. 

Resources:  

• Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmosher 
• 5MomentsofNeed.com 

Global leaders agree that many people across the world are feeling the impact of a “loneliness epidemic.” Speaker, author and thought leader Devin Hughes discusses the state of human connection and how loneliness affects employee productivity on this episode of the Accidental Trainer Podcast.  

Devin offers solutions for leaders struggling to approach the topic of loneliness with their team, how L&D can foster opportunities for connection, and improve the psychological safety of the organization’s culture. Check out the podcast for more insight into overcoming loneliness.  

Resources: 

• Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/  
• Devin’s Website: https://devinchughes.com/  
• Devin’s Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DevinCHughes  
• Devin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinchughes/?hl=en 
• Devin’s Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Devin-C.-Hughes/author/B008MEKDXU?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true  

Elaine Lin Hering is a facilitator, communications coach, and author of the newly released Unlearning Silence. An expert on using your voice in the workplace, Elaine unpacks several major themes from her book, common challenges facing trainers, cultivating awareness around learned silence, and empowering others to speak up. 

Elaine offers practical advice for finding your authentic voice and navigating and mitigating direct speech. She also shares the basics of her “Three Buckets” framework and Little Experiments Method and how to implement them into a team’s culture. Listen for Elaine’s thought-provoking ideas to dismantle your own learned silence.

Resources: 

• Elaine Lin Hering on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainelinhering/  
• Elaine’s website: https://elainelinhering.com/  
• Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully: https://elainelinhering.com/book/ 
• Elaine’s Newsletter: https://hello.elainelinhering.com/newsletter  
• Elaine’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainelinhering/  

Greg Harmeyer is the co-founder and CEO of TiER 1 Performance and the author of Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World. On the podcast, Greg offers insight on how to shift an organization toward a modernized operating model, with the goal of intentionally creating a healthier work environment.  

Greg details how clarity, consistency, and trust are essential to this process, the benefits of leaving traditional systems behind, and tips for instilling agility into a company’s workforce. The discussion also covers the six elements of a fulfilling role, the five pillars of a dynamically distributed authority organization, and the four levels of a hospitality minded culture. 

Resources:

• Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregharmeyer/ 
• Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World:  https://tier1performance.com/impact-with-love/ 
• Points of Impact Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/points-of-impact-7099343384342908929/  
• TiER1 Performance: https://tier1performance.com/ 
• Greg’s ATD Blog Post- "How Are You Really Doing? Using Self-Reflection to Achieve Fuller Engagement, Performance, and Impact": https://www.td.org/atd-blog/how-are-you-really-doing-using-self-reflection-to-achieve-fuller-engagement-performance-and-impact   

Holly Burkett is the principal consultant of HB Consulting and Evaluation Works, a performance consultancy in Northern California, and the author of Learning for the Long Run. She joins the podcast to discuss change fatigue, where it comes from, and how TD professionals can help organizations overcome common change fatigue challenges.  

Holly reframes change management as energy management and offers suggestions to embed wellness into organizational culture. Her 4-R framework will alter how L&D tackles change fatigue, and how leaders view capacity and capability within their employees.  

Resources: 

• Holly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-burkett-phd-sphr-2672062/  
• HB Consulting and Evaluation Works: https://hollyburkett.com/  
• Holly’s TD article: https://www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/combating-change-fatigue  
• Holly’s Book, Learning for the Long Run: https://www.td.org/books/learning-for-the-long-run  
• More from Holly at ATD: https://www.td.org/user/about/HollyBurkett-000002  
• Holly’s Change Management chapter in ATD's Organization Development Handbook: https://www.td.org/book/atds-organization-development-handbook  

Dr. Karl Kapp is a well-published author, professor at Commonwealth University, and all-around expert on instructional design and technology application in the L&D field. On the podcast, he shares his yearly predictions for the industry and which trends he expects to be popularized. Karl also gives his personal method for finding the latest fads, talks in-depth about the future of AI, and explains what soft skills will be deemed most valuable to organization leaders. 

Resources:

• Karl Kapp's Website: https://karlkapp.com/
• On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlkapp/
• Monthly Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/l-d-easter-eggs-6599686641453977600/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfKapp01
• L&D Mentor Academy: https://www.ldmentor.com/ 
• For ATD: https://www.td.org/user/about/karlkapp-000001
• Commonwealth University Program: https://www.bloomu.edu/academics/programs/information-technology-ms

Katrina Kennedy is a talented master trainer who’s been leading train-the-trainer for over 27 years. She joins the podcast to reveal how she puts evidence-based learning strategies into practice in her training programs.

Katrina passionately shares practical examples and tools you can use to facilitate retrieval practice and reflection for your learners. Katrina also discusses the value of spaced retrieval, and how to strategically incorporate feedback into your learners’ practice. Check out the episode for tips, tricks, and resources that will make implementing active learning strategies easier in both in-person and virtual training.

Resources:

• Katrina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinakennedytraining
• Katrina at TK: https://atdtk24.eventscribe.net/speakers.asp?pfp=Browse%20by%20Speaker
• Katrina’s website: https://katrinakennedy.com/
• Katrina’s ATD content profile: https://www.td.org/user/content/KatrinaKennedy
• Katrina on ATD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ATD_Official/search?query=katrina%20kennedy
• Tools mentioned in the conversation:
  • Kahoot: https://kahoot.com/
  • Mural: https://www.mural.co/
  • Miro: https://miro.com/
  • Google Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/create
  • Scrumblr: http://scrumblr.ca/