The Learning+ Podcast

What does it really mean to say that learning “works”? In this episode of Learning+, Vidya speaks with learning scientist Dr. Alice Kim about the assumptions we often make when designing learning experiences. Together, they explore why effort is not a flaw in learning but a requirement, why engagement can mislead us, and why evidence cannot be applied without judgment. The conversation also examines learner agency, trust, and the powerful role systems play in shaping behavior. A reflective discussion for anyone designing learning and wondering what actually helps it last.Connect with AliceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicesnkim/ Website: http://alicekim.ca/ Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

What does real transformation in learning actually look like… beyond new platforms and better interfaces? In this episode, Vidya speaks with Lori Niles-Hofmann about why so many transformation efforts stall, even with the right tools in place. They explore what happens when organizations focus on technology before clarity, why “better user experience” isn’t the same as meaningful change, and how learning teams can move from activity to impact.The conversation digs into ownership, decision-making, and the often-overlooked work of aligning people, systems, and priorities. It’s an honest look at what it really takes to move from scattered efforts to something more intentional… and why transformation is ultimately less about tools and more about how organizations choose to work.Connect with LoriLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinileshofmann/ Website: https://www.8levers.com/Book (The Eight Levers of EdTech Transformation: A field guide to the new future-focused L&D): https://a.co/d/8pziJzj Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

Jess Almlie, a learning and development leader and author of 'L&D Order Taker No More,' dives into transforming L&D from a service-based role into a strategic partner. She discusses the harmful habits that keep L&D stuck in a transactional mindset and emphasizes the importance of curiosity over immediate solutions. Jess shares techniques like pausing before responding and using self-reported data as a powerful indicator of change. Her insights on building trust with stakeholders and measuring impact are invaluable for anyone in the L&D space.

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Nebel joins Vidya to explore how learning science can reshape the entire talent cycle, from onboarding and leadership development to retention and even exits. They discuss why effective learning often feels effortful, how spaced retrieval strengthens real-world performance, why autonomy is more about perception than freedom, and how alumni can remain a powerful part of the talent system. A grounded, practical conversation for L&D and talent leaders thinking about how learning really happens at work.Connect with CynthiaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-nebel/ Website: https://www.learningscientists.org/cindy-nebel Book (Uniting Learning Science and Talent Management: Org Scholars): https://www.learningscientists.org/talent-management Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

This episode explores a simple but powerful shift: learning modes, not learning styles. Vidya sits down with Dr. Kuva Jacobs to unpack why certain learning myths persist, what they reveal about unmet needs, and how reframing them opens more practical paths for design. They discuss metacognition, mode-shifting, environment as a design variable, and how AI is changing what learning designers focus on. Rather than debunking and moving on, this conversation looks at what comes next… and how we design learning that helps people think better, adapt, and apply skills with confidence.Connect with Kuva LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuvaj/ Website: https://www.emergentlearning.com.au/ References Blog Post: https://www.emergentlearning.com.au/post/from-styles-to-modes-the-missing-skill-in-modern-leadershipConnect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

In this solo episode, Vidya dives into the real work of performance consulting… beyond courses, content, and completion rates. She explores why most behavior change dies in the “messy middle”, where systems, workflows, incentives, and culture collide. This is a practical, honest look at how L&D can move from delivering training to shaping conditions where performance actually improves. No buzzwords. No grand transformation speeches. Just grounded ways to remove friction, partner with managers, design for real work, and measure change where it matters most… on the job.Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/ Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/

In this episode of The Learning+ Podcast, Vidya speaks with Connie about what it really means to be visible in today’s professional world. Together, they unpack why visibility is no longer vanity but service, and how consistency, authenticity, and self-awareness shape lasting credibility. Connie shares practical ways to overcome imposter thoughts, start from your strengths, and define success on your own terms. A grounded, insightful conversation on showing up with purpose… not for attention, but for impact.Connect with ConnieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniemalamed/ ReferencesFree Email Course on VisibilityArticles:- How to Increase Your Visibility as a Learning Professional- Visibility Strategies for Introverts to Stand Out Professionally - Psychological Barriers To Career Visibility And What You Can Do About It - Developing Thought Leadership as a Learning ProfessionalConnect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

What if learning isn’t about knowledge at all, but about what people care about? In this episode, Vidya speaks with Nick Shackleton-Jones, author of How People Learn and one of L&D’s most provocative voices. Nick argues that learning is an affective process - memory and behavior are shaped by emotion, not logic. They explore why compliance training often fails, why arguments rarely change people but experiences do, the difference between real resources and disguised modules, and how AI might both eliminate and transform learning.Connect with NickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shackletonjones/ ReferencesHow People Learn by Nick Shackleton-Jones: https://a.co/d/ji8Ca4FThe Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande: https://a.co/d/5M7D3xY Iowa Gambling Task: https://youtu.be/9lR1Fwqt0G8?t=865 5Di: https://shackleton-consulting.com/5di-toolkit/ Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

In this episode of the Learning+ Podcast, Vidya sits down with Guy Wallace, a pioneer who has been championing performance-first thinking in L&D for over four decades. Guy shares why most performance problems aren’t training problems, why only 5-15% of people can learn out of context, and why pilot testing should be designed to break your training, not validate it. He also explains why top performers often know the truth better than leadership, and why sometimes the smartest move is to cancel a training project altogether. Packed with sharp insights and practical wisdom, this conversation challenges us to look beyond courses and focus on what really drives results: performance.Connect with Guy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guywwallace/ Free Professional Resources: https://guywwallace.wordpress.com/ Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/

In this episode of The Learning+ Podcast, Vidya sits down with Mark Sheppard, senior learning advisor and respected voice in the L&D community. Mark brings sharp insights into why L&D so often becomes a band-aid for broken systems - and what it takes to break free of that cycle. From the danger of chasing credibility over impact, to the emotional labor L&D silently absorbs, to why real change starts with diagnosis instead of deliverables, this is a candid conversation about courage, systems, and the future of learning. If you’ve ever wondered whether L&D is solving the right problems, this episode will give you questions - and the courage - to rethink your role.Connect with MarkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marksheppard/ Connect with LearnnovatorsWebsite: https://learnnovators.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnnovators/Connect with VidyaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srividyakumar/