Explore every episode of the podcast Voices of the Learning Network

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 storytelling and why it’s more than a pretty wrapper. Jonathan explains the difference between illustration and demonstration, showing how multi-perspective scenarios move learners from visceral first-person decisions to reflective third-person analysis. The litmus test is sharp and usable: if you can remove the story and nothing breaks, it wasn’t strategic. From compliance to performance, those stakes matter. We pair that creative rigor with practical production: PowerPoint as a vector engine, Pixabay and Unsplash for visuals, Free Sound for audio, Pixlr for edits, and Camtasia for fast, polished outputs. Budget constraints stop being blockers when every asset points at a clear operational goal.

Working across time zones and cultures, Jonathan shares how to build trust and quality in distributed teams. He sets up virtual spaces for water cooler moments and learning clubs anchored in books by Julie Dirksen and Karl Kapp, using those shared anchors to surface different interpretations and sharpen decisions. Then we tie it all to outcomes that leaders care about: error rates, audits, rework, call waits, CSAT trends, and the qualitative signals inside complaints. Jonathan walks through A/B testing strategies that compare trained teams with control groups and highlights the valuable secondary effects—better morale, lower turnover, cleaner handoffs—that show up when friction drops on the front line.

If you want learning that earns its seat at the performance table, this conversation offers a usable playbook: craft stories that do real work, ship with scrappy tools, and prove the change on the dashboard. Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more learning pros find us.

Connect with Jonathan Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonhill123/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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, and involving managers before and after training to ensure learning transfer sticks.

 They also explore how AI and technology can amplify - or derail - impact in learning, from AI copilots and job-embedded nudges to the risk of producing low-value outputs when design discipline is skipped. 

Key takeaways:

• Focus on behavior change, not completion rates
• Engage managers to reinforce learning transfer
• Use AI to scale what already works—spaced prompts, job aids, feedback
• Pilot small, measure what matters, and codify wins

Paul also shares insights on cultural differences in learning, why some AI projects fail, and how L&D leaders can stay credible in a rapidly changing world.

Connect with Paul Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmatthews100/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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, techniques, and technologies that make learning accessible to all, highlighting how open-source platforms, collaborative content creation, and the leveraging of digital communities can amplify educational opportunities. We unravel the strategies for maximizing resources, from repurposing existing materials to harnessing the collective knowledge of a global network. Join us as we demonstrate that with a dash of ingenuity and a commitment to inclusivity, creating transformative learning experiences on a budget is not just possible—it's a pathway to pioneering educational frontiers.

Join Erin and Bob Price, from United Welsh Housing, as Erin gets way too excited about these real-world solutions to real learning needs.

Connect with Bob:

• Bob Price FLPI, LiFITOL - Cardiff, United Kingdom, United Welsh Housing , South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education | about.me
• Bob's Rail Relics - YouTube

Don’t forget to follow and like this podcast on your favourite podcast provider and of course check-in with the Learning Network: https://thelearning-network.org/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 coming together in a spirit of mutual growth and shared goals can transform challenges into opportunities and individual achievements into collective triumphs. Join us as we celebrate the power of teaming up, where the sum is indeed greater than its parts, and discover how fostering strong partnerships and networks can lead to innovative solutions, enhanced learning experiences, and a more inclusive path toward success. In the world of learning and development, we’re not just sharing insights; we’re multiplying impact by uniting voices.

Join Erin as she speaks with Tim and Natalie from Make Real about the concept of team and how it is supporting the future of learning.

Tim - Principal Immersive Learning Designer

Tim has worked at Make Real for three years, with 10 years experience in digital design and 10 years in teaching before that. He holds an MSc in Learning Technologies from Birkbeck / Institution of Education in London. He's worked on a range of projects with Make Real, including CityZen, a team-based game that won gold in  Learning Technologies 2023's Best Learning Game. He's interested in how interactions between people can make learning better and will talk about some of the projects he's worked on that bring in group learning. 

Natalie - Marketing & Partnerships Manager

Natalie has worked at Make Real for just over six months and has five years experience working in and around immersive technologies. She focuses on growing partnerships with organisations looking to upskill their teams and has a keen interest in how innovative technology can add value to learning experiences. 

Check out Make Real and some of their work:

• https://makereal.co.uk/about/
• CityZen case study - the civil engineering citybuilding game: https://makereal.co.uk/work/institute-of-civil-engineers-cityzen/
• Kenes case study - using emotional recognition AI: https://makereal.co.uk/work/kenes-group-reality-check/

Connect with Tim and Natalie:

• Tim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpowelljones/
• Natalie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-cregan-evans/

Don’t forget to follow and like this podcast on your favourite podcast provider and of course check-in with the Learning Network: https://thelearning-network.org/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

Welcome to Voices of the Learning Network where we will talk marketing. Marketing Up addresses the crossroads of creativity and strategy, where the art of marketing meets the science of learning and development. In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, the way we learn, teach, and grow has transformed dramatically, making it crucial for marketers and educators alike to adapt and thrive. This podcast delves into the heart of marketing learning and development, exploring how innovative strategies, cutting-edge technologies, and impactful storytelling are not just shaping the future of education but are essential tools for engaging audiences and fostering meaningful growth. 

Join Learning Network Board Member, Erin as she talks marketing with Cathy Hoy, the CEO and co-founder of CLO100: CLO100.co.uk 

Don’t forget to follow and like this podcast on your favourite podcast provider and of course check-in with the Learning Network: thelearning-network.org

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

It's time to Speak Up! with our next episode of Voices from the Learning Network.

Join Erin and Michelle Parry-Slater as they discuss the power of voice, speaking and sharing your message. Michelle provides practical tips for anyone interested in getting started with public speaking and conference submissions, as she shares her own story both the highs and lows. It's a must listen for all of us who are looking to craft a lasting message.

Michelle is one of our keynote speaker at Connect 2023. Book your tickets today!

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

Episode three of the Voice of the Learning Network looks at the softer side of learning. And by softer side, we mean the most important side of learning--the human side.

Join Learning Softer Side Guru, Fiona McBride and Erin as they talk through practical steps to implement a balance in your learning ecosystem.

Love the Minute with feature? Well you don't want to miss Andrew Jacobs, one of the Learning Network's directors and visionary behind LLARN.

Take a breath and yes... Human Up

Learn more about Connect 2023

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

Episode two of the Voice of the Learning Network is large and in charge and we are ready to pack our bags as we prep for this season of learning conferences.

Join Caleb Foster from Mindboost, and two of our Learning Network directors, Kim Ellis the CEO of Go Ginger and award wining learning designer Paula Hughes as they provide the tips and tricks of making your time matter as you navigate the overwhelming world of conferences.

We are also excited to introduce our new feature, “A Minute with…” that provides a bit of insight into the life and times of our directors.

Are you ready to plan up?

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

The Learning Network is a professional organization for people who work in the learning and development industry. It was founded in the early 2000s by a group of passionate learning professionals who wanted to create a community where people could share ideas, resources, and best practices.

The Learning Network has over 10,000 members from all over the world. Members include instructional designers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and other professionals who work in the learning and development field.

There are many benefits to being a member of the Learning Network. Members have access to a variety of resources, including:

Networking opportunities: Members can connect with other professionals in the learning and development field through the Learning Network's online forums, events, and conferences.

Mentorship opportunities: Members can find mentors who can help them with their career development.

Professional development opportunities: Members can access a variety of professional development resources, including webinars, workshops, and online courses.

Bottomline, the Learning Network is a valuable resource for anyone who works in the learning and development industry. If you are looking for ways to improve your skills, network with other professionals, or stay up-to-date on the latest trends, then the Learning Network is the place for you.

Join us every month to celebrate the Voice of the Learning Network!

The Learning Network (thelearning-network.org)

Erin Donovan

Tom McDowall

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

The concept of voice keeps coming up in the world of learning. The ideas of story, authenticity and owning your space are lighting our collective future path.

The Learning Network is delighted to provide our very first podcast, Voice of the Learning Network. If you're interested in the idea of story voice, if you want to hear from industry partners, members, directors, and people in the field who are getting it right, check us out.

Voices of the Learning Network is bringing you its inaugural podcast and a podcast provider near you. It's time to listen to what learning really sounds like.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 learner-before-content mindset and why it changes everything from scoping to scale. Bianca lays out practical moves any team can make this quarter: write like a marketer, lead with the “what’s in it for me,” and end every asset with a clear call to action. Instead of chasing new platforms, meet people in channels they already use - email, Slack, Teams, or even tooltips in your CRM - so guidance shows up at the exact moment of need. We also talk trust as a strategy: crowdsourcing institutional knowledge, opening creation to the business, and earning credibility by tying learning to real outcomes.

Then we go upstream. Should L&D sit inside business lines rather than HR? Bianca explains how proximity turns reactive training orders into proactive performance consulting, where many “training requests” become communication or habit challenges. We explore AI’s near-term value - faster drafting, item writing, and analysis - with the necessary human oversight, and the longer horizon of agentic systems that deliver help in the flow of work. If you’re ready to pilot change, you’ll leave with concrete steps: rewrite course titles with hooks, run a six-part email drip from an existing module, and bring back results leaders care about.

If this conversation sparks ideas, follow the show, share it with a colleague who wrangles “noisy” learning requests, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps us reach more L&D pros who want to make learning simpler, smarter, and closer to the work.

Connect with Bianca Baumann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 screen reader user couldn’t navigate a course because of broken heading levels. From there, we unpack the habits that turn obstacles into better outcomes, including plain language, accurate captions, thoughtful color contrast, and predictable, keyboard-accessible interactions.

Susi and host, Bill Banham dig into the blueberry muffin analogy - why accessibility must be mixed into the design from the start - and map practical steps across four access domains: vision, hearing, motor, and cognitive. Susi shares small, repeatable wins that compound over time: crafting strong alt text, building descriptive transcripts, and setting a consistent heading structure that helps humans and assistive tech. We also reframe the business case with new data from BCG suggesting roughly 25% of people report a disability or health condition that affects a major life activity. If a quarter of your workforce can’t fully access learning, excellence is off the table.

AI enters as a force multiplier and a caution sign. Susi explains how generative tools can draft alt text and descriptive transcripts that save hours, especially for complex visuals, while reminding us that human review is non-negotiable to catch context, bias, and tone. 

Finally, we focus on leadership: how to move beyond compliance to a mindset where accessibility equals quality. Share stories, set standards, and celebrate progress—because when teams feel that “accessibility spark,” inclusion becomes a reflex, not a retrofit. If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more learning pros find us.

Connect with Susi Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susimiller1/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Learn more about Connect Conference: https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2025/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 new practices must emerge.

Key discussion points include:

• The paradox of personalization: Generative AI enables on-demand support but undermines the ownership and control L&D once held over programs and platforms.
• Scaffolding social learning: Creating lightweight, peer-driven spaces for sensemaking, divergent outcomes, and performance embedded in practice.
• Erosion timelines: Why structural change may appear slow but can surface dramatically within 3–5 years—and why the next 18 months are critical for deep thinking.
• Performance management as cultural litmus: How AI makes feedback continuous and authority more transparent.
• Hybrid work and belonging: Research-backed strategies to build trust, agency, and connection beyond the “back to office” tug-of-war.
• Early-career development: Reverse mentoring, diagonal connections, and dialogic cohorts that privilege judgment and evidence over tenure.
• Second-level analysis: How organizations can hold multiple interpretations of events without rushing to closure.

If you’re ready to rethink learning design, capability building, and the ethics of AI adoption, this conversation offers both a map and a mindset.

Listen now, subscribe, and share with a colleague. Where should your organization loosen control and where must it hold the line?

Connect with Julian Stodd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-stodd-6774377/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Learn more about Connect Conference: https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2025/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 emotions direct attention, why stress can shut down higher-order thinking, and how techniques like spacing and retrieval build long-term habits.

Key discussion points include:

• The hidden cost of cognitive overload and how shorter, multimodal sessions improve learning.
• Why defaulting to “build a course” often misses the true goal - behavior change.
• The role of experience-based triggers and social reinforcement in habit formation.
• Guardrails for using AI in learning: avoiding overload, supporting critical thinking, and ensuring early-career learners get foundational reps.
• Real-world case studies, from C-suite culture shifts to smarter feedback practices in finance.

If you care about designing learning that sticks, creating expansive teams, and leading with respect for how the brain changes, this episode is your field guide.

Connect with Amy Brann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybrann/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Learn more about Connect Conference: https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2025/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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:

• Making a lean tech stack work while still delivering big impact.
• Building genuine partner relationships that support educators and learners alike.
• Designing purposeful events like Connect that go beyond keynotes and PowerPoints, creating space for pilots, collaborations, and real outcomes.

The conversation then widens to the global health education landscape, where challenges like workforce shortages, brain drain, aging demographics, and patchy connectivity are reshaping the future. Richard offers grounded solutions, including:

• Partnerships that align with ministries and health systems.
• Mobile-first learning that works within device and connectivity limits.
• Offline platforms that reach learners in rural or underserved regions.
• Smarter ways to measure success—competence in context, retention, preparedness—rather than ticking off course completions.

We also dive into the upcoming Connect Conference (November), highlighting what makes it stand out: time to think, purposeful networking, and learning that sticks. Expect to hear about keynote speakers like Amy Brown and Julian, plus Richard’s candid advice on building digital capability across the health workforce.

If you’re passionate about learning that actually moves the needle—whether inside a hospital trust or across national programs—this episode is a practical blueprint for doing more with less, and doing it together.

Questions for Richard include:

• What makes the Learning Network special and why does it matter to you as Vice Chair?
• Why should listeners grab a ticket for Connect this November?
• Which sessions and speakers are you most excited about at Connect?
• What are some of the biggest challenges facing the health workforce in the UK and globally?
• How can education and technology address these challenges?
• How can educators and organisations prepare for what’s next?

About Our Guest

Richard Price is a global health workforce education and technology specialist. He works with the NHS and the World Health Organization to develop learning technologies and build digital capabilities that prepare the health workforce for a digital future.

Connect with Richard Price: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardpriceuk/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Learn more about Connect Conference: https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2025/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 of tomorrow. 

• How we can use ChatGPT (other LMMs are available!) as a thought partner, and how to use it to learn in the flow of work
• Why the biggest barrier to success is not technical, but more our attitude towards this change
• Why L&D needs to move from being deployers of content to facilitators of collaboration, and what being a guardian of quality means
• Why we need to feel the fear (of AI & the future) and do it anyway! 

We’re not just talking about surviving in the age of AI, we’re talking about thriving!  

• Connect with Erica Farmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericafarmer/
• Connect with Quantum Rise Talent Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantum-rise/
• Connect with Kim Ellis:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-ellis-20023857/

Don’t forget to follow and like this podcast on your favourite podcast provider and of course check-in with the Learning Network: https://thelearning-network.org/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 with Colin

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinrsmith/

Connect with Colin's Company

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitive-union/?viewAsMember=true
• https://cognitiveunion.com/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 Resources, to learn more:  

• the social brain 
• the Dunbar number 
• About the three pillars of learning excellence applied to the virtual classroom: https://syncskills.net/maps/ 

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 than 20 years’ experience shaping learning strategy in global organisations, Kirstie is known as a strategist, storyteller, speaker, and connector. She also hosts the Learning at Large podcast and convenes senior L&D roundtables that surface what’s really happening inside organisations right now.

In this conversation, Kirstie helps make sense of the shifts redefining modern workplace learning. She breaks down four forces reshaping the field: rapid skills obsolescence, the unbundling of careers into skills portfolios, AI’s rise as an always-on coach, and a worrying dip in engagement.

Together, Bill and Kirstie explore what a workflow-first learning model really looks like, where AI can support nudging and reflection in real time, and where L&D must continue to lead on deeper human capabilities like critical thinking, resilience, and systems thinking.

They also tackle the growing strategy gap — why access to decision-makers isn’t enough without a stronger value story — and what it takes to move stakeholders beyond speed and completion rates toward outcomes leaders actually care about.

This episode is a practical and provocative guide for anyone ready to shift from courses to learning ecosystems — and make learning indispensable.

In this episode, we explore:

• The biggest shifts redefining workplace learning
• Why skills are outpacing traditional planning cycles
• Workflow-first learning and AI as an always-on coach
• Engagement challenges and what sits beneath them
• Designing learning ecosystems instead of pushing content
• Moving from completions to performance outcomes
• The future skill set for learning practitioners
• One provocation L&D should take seriously for 2026 and beyond

Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 L&D teams can design for it from the very start.

Drawing on more than 25 years across L&D, Talent, Learning Technology and EdTech in the UK and US, Emma brings a rare perspective shaped by hands-on delivery, consultancy, vendor work, and deep experience as an awards judge and category chair. She has crafted over 90 award-winning submissions—more than 80 of them Gold—and shares what separates persuasive impact stories from those that fall flat.

Together, Bill and Emma unpack why recognition is far more than a shiny trophy. Award submissions, when done well, impose discipline: clear problem definition, aligned success measures, thoughtful design choices, and credible evidence that something genuinely changed. Emma explains how judges think, why behaviour change and business outcomes matter more than vanity metrics, and how even imperfect data can tell a powerful story when handled with intent.

This is a practical, honest conversation for anyone in L&D, Talent, or EdTech who wants to raise standards, strengthen credibility, and communicate value with confidence.

In this episode, we explore:

• Designing for impact instead of chasing dashboards
• Structural and cultural blockers to measurement
• What judges really look for in performance and innovation categories
• Recognition as a credibility and influence builder
• Crafting human, evidence-led impact stories
• Avoiding vanity metrics and proving behaviour change
• Using award criteria as a blueprint for better learning design

If this episode sharpened your thinking on impact and recognition, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review telling us your biggest measurement challenge.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 decades exploring human performance and meaningful learning, Kurt brings a rare blend of coaching science, psychology, and narrative. He’s known across the Learning Network for his thought-provoking sessions, including “Learning is a wicked problem,” which challenges the idea that development can ever be clean, linear, or easily measured.

In this conversation, Kurt unpacks why so much corporate training remains passive and forgettable — and what happens when we strip learning back to the few ideas that genuinely shift behaviour in the real world. Drawing lessons from high-performance sport, he explains how pressure can be managed (not avoided), why one-size-fits-all design fails, and how humility and co-ownership outperform control.

We also explore the future of human capability in an AI-shaped world, the concept of “safe uncertainty” as a leadership frame for change, and why storytelling remains the most powerful human technology for sense-making, memory, and identity shift.

This is a deep, challenging episode for anyone rethinking what learning is for — and how to design experiences that actually endure.

In this episode, we explore:

• What would really happen if most corporate training stopped
• Why learning is a “wicked problem” by nature
• Lessons from elite sport on pressure, recovery, and performance
• Managing stress without burnout
• “Safe uncertainty” and the stabilisers of change
• Narrative as a driver of sense-making and behaviour change
• Defining impact beyond engagement and smile sheets
• What meaningful learning looks like in an AI-shaped world

If this episode sparked new thinking, follow the show, share it with a colleague who cares about real change, and leave a quick review to help others find it.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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. Drawing on nearly three decades in the industry, she explains why feature tours fail, why listening comes first, and why training must be treated as a full change programme — not a calendar invite.

Together, Bill and Jane unpack the anatomy of successful adoption: mapping benefits to real work, spotting the subtle signals of overwhelm, building champions and senior leaders who model change, and protecting business-as-usual during transition.

They also explore the emerging role of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini in learning new software. Jane’s advice? Use AI to accelerate discovery — but maintain healthy skepticism, strong mental models, and precise prompting skills.

If you lead L&D, manage system rollouts, or want practical ways to reduce resistance and build confidence, this episode offers immediately actionable ideas.

In this episode, we explore:

• Jane’s journey from art student to IT trainer
• Why empathy beats expertise in software training
• Treating training as change management
• Spotting overwhelm and hidden fear signals
• Building champions and visible leadership support
• Bespoke sessions vs rigid skill tiers
• Pre-work prompts and BAU safeguards
• Using AI with confidence — and skepticism

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 that if you’ve got a smartphone, you’ve already got what you need to create meaningful learning experiences. At the Learning Network’s Connect Conference, she introduced her practical V.I.D.E.O. Framework - a five-step approach that helps teams plan, create, and publish learning videos with clarity, speed, and confidence.

In this conversation, we dig into what really stops people from using video (hint: it’s rarely the tech), how to get teams comfortable on camera, and what “good enough” looks like when learning needs to move fast. Niki also shares how to reduce cognitive load, hook attention without gimmicks, and design video that actually leads to action.

We explore the cultural side too: building psychological safety for experimentation, keeping momentum despite approvals and stakeholder pressure, and why video creation is becoming a core workplace capability — far beyond L&D and Marketing.

This episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why smartphone video is powerful for learning
• The real blockers to video adoption
• Niki’s V.I.D.E.O. Framework explained
• Reducing cognitive load and designing for action
• Research on video length and attention
• Building psychological safety for experimentation
• Keeping momentum in approval-heavy environments
• Video skills as a future workplace capability

If this episode helps you rethink learning video, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so others can find us. Then try a one-minute video this week and see what changes.

Connect with Niki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikihobson/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 commitment. He shares hospitality-driven lessons for L&D, a powerful inclusion and belonging case study, and simple tactics teams can use right away - from micro-videos to intention tracking—to make learning relevant and measurable.

If you’re ready to move beyond information dumps and build learning that sticks, this conversation offers clear principles, practical approaches, and a rethink of analytics that puts human sentiment at the centre.

Connect with Caleb Foster: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebafoster/

Connect with Bill Banham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-banham-a932a0b/

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 intersection of L&D, behaviour change, and internal communications. Her work centres on an uncomfortable truth: even great learning fails when people don’t engage with it — and engagement doesn’t happen by accident.

Together, Bill and Ashley unpack why traditional L&D campaigns struggle to cut through in the attention economy, what learning teams can borrow from marketing without becoming salesy, and how to shift from assumption-driven programmes to behaviour-led design grounded in real user discovery.

The conversation explores learning as a product: clear value propositions, intentional curation over content overload, and messaging that helps employees choose learning because it helps them do better work today — and build the career they want tomorrow.

They also go deep on impact. Beyond attendance and completion rates, Ashley outlines the outcomes leaders actually care about: time to proficiency, error reduction, tool adoption, first-contact resolution, and attrition in critical roles — and how L&D teams can tell a credible ROI story in language CFOs understand.

This is a practical, challenging episode for anyone ready to declutter their catalogue, sharpen their message, and make learning genuinely business-critical.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why engagement fails before learning even launches
• Behaviour-led design vs intention-led programmes
• Treating learning as a product with a value proposition
• Borrowing from marketing without getting salesy
• Curation over accumulation in noisy learning libraries
• Measuring impact beyond completions and smile sheets
• Proving ROI in operational and financial terms
• The future skill stack for influential L&D leaders

Subscribe, share with a colleague who owns a major programme, and tell us: which outcome will you measure first?

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 delivery, product management, and consultancy. She is co-founder of 13 Times, the learning arm of Patience Davies Consulting — a small, agile East London consultancy known for its deep expertise in storytelling, facilitation, transformation, and innovation.

Working across sectors including law, finance, media, FMCG, utilities, healthcare, engineering, and tech, Hari has seen a consistent pattern: the smartest work often fails at the final mile — explaining it.

In this conversation, we explore how storytelling and facilitation help organisations navigate complexity and change. Hari shares practical tools she uses with teams, from tight loglines that force clarity to tactile methods that surface hidden assumptions. We dig into what it really means to be an “E-shaped” practitioner, how to adapt communication across vastly different cultures, and why launches are easy — but aftercare is the real work.

This episode is a practical guide for L&D and change leaders who want to cut through noise, build trust, and make learning and transformation stick.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why big ideas die in jargon
• Storytelling as a leadership and learning capability
• What it means to be an “E-shaped” practitioner
• Adapting communication across sectors and cultures
• Using facilitation to navigate change
• Measuring impact beyond dashboards and vanity metrics
• Why follow-up and aftercare matter more than launch
• Turning fear into clarity through narrative

If this conversation helps you cut through complexity, follow the show, share it with a colleague who wrangles tough messages, and leave a quick review so others can find it.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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-aligned learning strategy. She also plays a key role in the Global Learning and Development Community and leads several Swedish L&D networks — bringing a systems-level, international lens to the evolution of our field.

In this conversation, we cut through the hype around AI in learning. Linnéa shares why value doesn’t come from tools alone, but from skilled humans applying smart technology with clear intent, strong guardrails, and a bias toward outcomes over outputs.

We explore how L&D can define practical boundaries for agentic AI, teach teams to prompt and verify responsibly, and ensure speed never outruns quality. From there, we tackle the harder strategic question: how L&D stays relevant, funded, and positioned as a true business partner.

This episode is about moving from “create a course” to “build an ecosystem” — auditing where learning actually happens, fixing friction in knowledge access, enabling managers to coach, and strengthening psychological safety so mistakes become fuel for growth.

If you’re ready to step out of order-taker mode and into strategic partnership, this conversation offers a blueprint.

In this episode, we explore:

• Common misconceptions about AI’s role in learning
• Setting guardrails for agentic AI in organisations
• Teaching teams to prompt, verify, and apply responsibly
• Moving from reactive training to proactive strategy
• Acting like a business partner before you’re invited
• Designing learning ecosystems in the flow of work
• Securing trust and budget through data + empathy
• The power of community and collective intelligence

Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find us.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

What does it take to build a learning culture that moves beyond buzzwords and actually changes how people work, grow, and lead?

In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network, host Bill Banham sits down with Alex Clark, Head of Culture and Learning at the Scouts, for a practical conversation about purpose-driven leadership, growth mindsets, and creating learning environments that help people thrive.

Alex shares his unconventional career journey from youth work into senior leadership, including the bold decision to apply for a chief executive role despite not having the traditional credentials many would consider essential. His story highlights the power of purpose, curiosity, and learning through experience as drivers of both personal and professional growth.

The discussion explores how leaders can create cultures where people are encouraged to stretch beyond their comfort zones, take on meaningful challenges, and learn by doing. Alex explains why growth mindset only becomes meaningful when organizations actively support responsible risk-taking and development opportunities.

Bill and Alex also unpack the practical realities of building a learning culture. They discuss the role curiosity plays in leadership effectiveness, why coaching conversations often deliver more value than simply giving instructions, and how organizations can connect learning initiatives directly to business and strategic outcomes.

Drawing on his experience at the Scouts, Alex offers unique insights into designing learning and development solutions for diverse audiences, balancing the needs of a relatively small staff population with a vast volunteer network. The conversation explores how organizations can maintain flexibility and autonomy while ensuring critical capabilities such as safeguarding, compliance, and risk management remain consistent.

Whether you're a learning leader, people manager, HR professional, or organizational development specialist, this episode offers practical ideas for building cultures where learning becomes part of everyday work.

In this episode:

• How purpose can guide career decisions and leadership growth
• The value of stretch opportunities and learning through experience
• Why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills
• Building a growth mindset through action rather than slogans
• Creating coaching cultures instead of telling cultures
• Helping employees connect their role to organizational strategy
• Designing learning experiences for both employees and volunteers
• Balancing autonomy with essential compliance and safeguarding requirements
• Practical ways to strengthen learning culture and engagement
• Using a clear "North Star" to align people and performance

About Alex Clark

Alex Clark is Head of Culture and Learning at the Scouts, where he helps shape organizational culture, leadership development, learning strategy, and capability building across both staff and volunteer communities. He is passionate about purpose-driven leadership, coaching, and creating environments where people can learn, grow, and contribute their best work.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

What happens when people know exactly what to do—until the pressure is on?

In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network, host Bill Banham sits down with Simon Strong, Co-Founder of Download Learning, to explore why traditional training often breaks down in high-pressure situations and what learning professionals can do to improve real-world performance.

Drawing on research from neuroscience, education, and workplace learning, Simon explains how stress affects memory, attention, decision-making, and performance. He introduces the concepts of "cold training" and "hot training," revealing why content that works perfectly in a calm classroom environment may fail when learners face real-world consequences, tight deadlines, or critical decisions.

The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges in instructional design: cognitive load. Simon argues that many learning experiences unintentionally overwhelm learners with information, making it harder—not easier—to perform when it matters most. Instead, effective learning design prioritizes clarity, simplicity, and decision-making support over content volume.

Bill and Simon also dive into the science behind time-sequenced learning, examining how spaced learning approaches can improve retention, strengthen neural connections, and increase the transfer of learning into workplace performance. They discuss evidence from schools, universities, and workplace settings, as well as practical ways organizations can integrate time-sequenced learning into broader development strategies.

The discussion concludes with an exploration of the CAR Model—Cognition, Application, and Review & Reflect—a framework designed to help learning professionals create learning ecosystems that support lasting behavior change rather than one-time knowledge acquisition.

Whether you're an instructional designer, learning leader, compliance professional, or anyone responsible for workforce capability, this episode offers practical insights into designing learning that performs when it counts.

In this episode:

• Understanding the difference between hot training and cold training
• How stress affects memory, attention, and decision-making
• Why clarity often matters more than completeness
• The hidden impact of cognitive load on workplace performance
• Common instructional design mistakes that undermine learning transfer
• Why knowledge recall is not the same as workplace competence
• Designing assessments that measure decisions and actions
• The neuroscience foundations of time-sequenced learning
• Research on retention, application, and learning effectiveness
• Applying the CAR Model: Cognition, Application, Review & Reflect
• Building learning ecosystems that support behavior change

About Simon Strong

Simon Strong is Co-Founder of Download Learning and a specialist in evidence-based learning design, workplace performance, and instructional effectiveness. His work focuses on helping organizations create learning solutions that improve real-world decision-making, retention, and performance under pressure.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

What if the biggest obstacle to learning culture is the way most organizations think about learning itself?

In this episode of Voices of The Learning Network, guest host Bill Banham sits down with HR futurist, organizational designer, author, and thought leader Perry Timms to explore a radically different approach to workplace learning—one that moves beyond courses, catalogs, and content delivery.

Perry argues that learning isn't something organizations should package and distribute. Instead, it's something they should cultivate. Drawing on his experience in organizational transformation and inspired by Ricardo Semler's work on self-directed education, Perry introduces the concept of the "learning mosaic"—a flexible, curiosity-driven approach that empowers people to follow meaningful learning pathways based on real work, experimentation, and peer collaboration.

The conversation explores why traditional approaches to learning often struggle to keep pace with modern organizations, how learning can become embedded in everyday work, and why the future may belong to organizations that treat learning as a dynamic system rather than a department function.

Bill and Perry also discuss the rise of polymorphic organizations—adaptive, shape-shifting businesses capable of evolving continuously while preserving the best elements of their legacy. Along the way, they explore practical ways leaders can create stronger learning cultures by modeling curiosity, encouraging experimentation, and embracing uncertainty.

Whether you're an L&D leader, HR professional, organizational designer, or business executive looking to build a more adaptive workforce, this episode offers fresh perspectives on how learning can become a living, breathing part of organizational success.

In this episode:

• Why learning culture is more than a collection of training programs
• Moving from learning delivery to learning cultivation
• The limitations of traditional course catalogs and curriculum structures
• Understanding Perry's "learning mosaic" concept
• How curiosity-driven learning pathways accelerate development
• What polymorphic organizations can teach us about adaptability
• Embedding learning into work, projects, and decision-making
• Leaders as co-learners rather than experts with all the answers
• Two simple questions that can unlock meaningful development conversations
• Building learning ecosystems through communities, peers, and experimentation
• Why the future of L&D may be distributed throughout the organization

About Perry Timms

Perry Timms is an internationally recognized HR futurist, organizational designer, author, and speaker. He is known for challenging conventional approaches to work, leadership, and organizational development. Perry writes extensively about polymorphic organizations, adaptive systems, and the future of work, helping organizations become more resilient, human-centered, and responsive to change.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 argues that too many L&D teams operate downstream, responding to requests after strategic decisions have already been made. The most influential learning functions, however, move upstream. They help define the capabilities, behaviors, and experiences that transform business strategy from aspiration into action.

Using the example of becoming a more customer-centric organization, Barry explains how learning professionals can partner with business leaders to identify the specific skills, mindsets, and behaviors required for success—and build measurable pathways to achieve them.

The conversation also dives into the evolving role of AI in workplace learning. Beyond automation and efficiency gains, Barry sees enormous potential for AI-powered augmentation, immersive learning experiences, personalized development journeys, and richer feedback loops. As learning becomes more accessible and scalable, the discussion turns to an important question: what uniquely human value will learning professionals bring in the future?

Bill and Barry explore topics including emotional performance indicators, transformation-focused measurement, future-ready leadership mindsets, and practical strategies for scaling successful pilots into organization-wide initiatives.

Whether you're leading learning strategy, designing workforce capabilities, or preparing your organization for the future of work, this episode offers practical ideas and fresh perspectives for increasing L&D's strategic influence.

In this episode:

• Why L&D should move upstream into strategic business conversations
• Turning business strategy into measurable skills, behaviors, and capabilities
• Using customer-centricity as a framework for capability design
• Balancing skills taxonomies with transformation-focused outcomes
• How AI is reshaping learning design and learner experiences
• The role of augmentation, automation, and immersive learning
• Why experience design may become one of L&D's most important capabilities
• Moving beyond traditional KPIs toward emotional performance indicators
• Building future-ready mindsets and organizational adaptability
• Scaling successful pilots into impactful "hero projects"
• Creating excitement and momentum around organizational transformation

About Barry Winkless

Barry Winkless is Head of the Future of Work Institute and author of Future Work World. He advises organizations on workforce transformation, future skills, learning strategy, leadership development, and the evolving relationship between technology, work, and human capability.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 work.

Drawing on years of experience designing learning at scale, Kelsey explains why people don't arrive at training sessions as blank slates or emotionless professionals. They arrive carrying stress, distractions, expectations, and life experiences that shape their ability to learn, connect, and contribute.

The conversation challenges the "serious work fallacy"—the assumption that professionalism requires people to suppress their humanity. Kelsey shares how authentic playfulness creates psychological safety, encourages participation, strengthens relationships, and helps teams take the risks necessary for meaningful learning and innovation.

Bill and Kelsey also unpack what playful learning actually means. Spoiler alert: it's not about adding games to every workshop. Instead, it's about creating environments where curiosity, experimentation, and connection can flourish. Through practical examples from her work at Google and beyond, Kelsey offers simple techniques that learning professionals, facilitators, and leaders can immediately apply to improve engagement and retention.

From purposeful primers and movement-based prompts to creating opportunities for early participation, this episode is packed with practical ideas for anyone seeking to build more human-centered learning experiences.

In this episode:

• Why emotional state and life context influence learning readiness
• Challenging the myth that professionalism requires seriousness
• The connection between playfulness, trust, and psychological safety
• Lessons from designing learning experiences at Google
• What playful learning means beyond gamification and "forced fun"
• How small moments of humor create stronger human connections
• Why participation should begin within the first few minutes of learning
• Practical facilitation techniques to increase engagement
• Using movement and visual shifts to reset attention and energy
• Building learning experiences that feel personal, even at scale
• How playful leadership can improve learning, collaboration, and performance

About Kelsey Kates

Kelsey Kates is Founder of Play Free Works and former Global Head of Learning Experiences at Google. She helps organizations create more engaging, human-centered workplaces by applying the science of play, psychological safety, and experiential learning to leadership development, workplace culture, and learning design.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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 delivering exceptional work.

Laura shares insights gathered from years of researching high-performing learning teams and reveals the common behaviors that separate the most impactful functions from the rest. Rather than focusing solely on content creation and program delivery, successful teams position themselves as strategic enablers of performance, capability, and organizational readiness.

The conversation explores why traditional approaches to measuring learning value can unintentionally limit L&D's influence, how learning leaders can shift stakeholder conversations toward business outcomes, and why adaptability has become one of the most critical capabilities in today's workplace.

Bill and Laura also examine how organizations can navigate continuous disruption, from the rise of the internet to today's AI and automation revolution. Along the way, Laura introduces her memorable "windmill versus umbrella" mindset—a practical framework for helping learning professionals embrace change rather than shelter from it.

Whether you're an instructional designer, learning leader, talent professional, or business partner, this episode offers practical ideas for increasing your impact and helping your organization become more adaptable in an increasingly uncertain world.

In this episode:

• Why leadership is about inspiring people to learn, grow, and adapt
• Understanding the confidence gap many L&D professionals experience
• What high-performing learning teams consistently do differently
• Moving beyond program delivery toward business enablement
• Equipping employees for today's performance and tomorrow's challenges
• Navigating complexity and change without losing strategic direction
• Using "tuning in" techniques to increase relevance and engagement
• Escaping the metrics trap of completions and satisfaction scores
• Breaking the cycle of reactive learning requests
• Lessons from previous waves of disruption and what AI means for L&D
• Why learning leaders should become windmills, not umbrellas

About Laura Overton

Laura Overton is one of the learning industry's most respected researchers, analysts, and thought leaders. As Founder of Learning Changemakers, she helps learning professionals build confidence, influence, and business impact. Through decades of research into high-performing L&D teams, Laura has become a leading voice on learning strategy, organizational capability, and workforce readiness.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/

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&D and why, years later, he still finds the profession endlessly rewarding. For him, the work combines curiosity, creativity, and practical problem-solving in ways few careers can.

The conversation explores how stakeholder expectations change when organisations move from large corporate environments to more performance-driven models. Arash explains how shifts in business priorities can create opportunities for L&D professionals to move beyond fulfilling training requests and instead focus on improving performance, driving business outcomes, and helping teams execute more effectively.

Bill and Arash also discuss the growing importance of experimentation in workplace learning. With content creation becoming faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever, learning teams have greater freedom to test ideas, iterate quickly, and discover what works. However, Arash argues that successful experimentation still starts with research, data, and a clear understanding of the problem being solved.

The discussion also highlights the value of professional communities, mentoring, and peer learning. As a Director at The Learning Network, Arash shares how initiatives such as mentoring programmes, webinars, Mastery Days, and the annual Connect conference help learning professionals build meaningful relationships and continue developing throughout their careers.

In this episode:

•  How Arash transitioned from customer service mentoring into Learning & Development 
•  Why curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving remain essential L&D skills 
•  The difference between delivering training and improving performance 
•  How performance consulting changes stakeholder conversations 
•  Why business outcomes should shape learning strategy 
•  Creating safe environments for experimentation and innovation 
•  The importance of research before launching learning initiatives 
•  Lessons from mentoring and being mentored 
•  How The Learning Network supports professional growth 
•  What makes Connect one of the most valuable networking events for learning professionals 

About Arash Rezaei-Mazinani

Arash Rezaei-Mazinani is Learning Solutions Manager at Aggreko and serves as a Director at The Learning Network. He is passionate about helping organisations improve performance through effective learning strategies and creating opportunities for learning professionals to connect, develop, and thrive.

Voices of the Learning Network is the Learning Network podcast connecting the learning and development community. https://thelearning-network.org/