
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
The Mindtools L&D Podcast is a must-listen for anyone involved in Learning and Development or Human Resources. The weekly show features regular appearances from the Mind Tools team plus special guests to get right to the heart of issues affecting the L&D and HR communities. From learning needs analysis and evidence-based practice through to the impact of technology on work and hot topics at industry conferences, you'll get critical insights into the world of work, performance and learning.
Latest episodes

Jul 26, 2018 • 40min
106 — Evidence-based L&D
Everyone and their uncle is a learner, but does this mean that everyone knows about learning? Our guest this week, Mirjam Neelen, thinks not. This week, she joins Ross G and Owen to talk about the evidence base that we should all be referring to when designing experiences. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the show, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @OwenFerguson and @MirjamN. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. Mirjam blogs at 3starlearningexperiences.wordpress.com. The article that Owen referenced, on the need for evidence in surgery, was from The Guardian. It's available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/05/uks-top-surgeon-calls-new-procedures-undergo-clinical-trials The Ben Goldacre reference is at: https://fivebooks.com/best-books/best-books-unexpected-economics-tim-harford/ Ross' 'What I Learned This Week' was based on a discussion in the Song by Song podcast, about Tom Waits' 'Burma Shave'. You can listen to the podcast at http://www.songbysongpodcast.com/. The song is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug7DZG1F6bs. And, for more background on Burma-Shave billboards, check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma-Shave#Roadside_billboards. The book that Ross referenced, The Surprising Truth About How We Learn, does not exist. It was meant as a comment on pop science titles but, if anyone wants to use this title, feel free.

Jul 23, 2018 • 34min
105 — Implementing learning technologies
After nearly 20 years of implementing learning technologies, we've successfully found more and more elaborate ways to dump content that no one needs. Is there a better way? On this week's podcast, Fosway's David Perring joins Ross G and Owen to explore their research into how organisations are using digital technologies. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the show, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @OwenFerguson and @DavidPerring. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. To find out more about Fosway, visit fosway.com. The research the team discussed is available from Fosway at: http://www.fosway.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FOSWAY_Digital-Learning-Realities-2018_Handout.pdf David has also written extensively for Training Zone: https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/content/fosways-2018-digital-learning-realities The TV show Ross recommended was The Defiant Ones, available on Netflix.

Jul 17, 2018 • 33min
104 — Cognitive psychology in L&D
Learning styles, right-brain vs. left-brain, brain training — for those working in learning and development, cognitive psychology can seem like a minefield. On this week's episode of the GoodPractice podcast, Ross D and James are joined by Dr Rebecca Gordon to find out what L&D professionals really need to know about cognitive psychology. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the show, you can find us on Twitter @ross__dickie, @JamesMcluckie or @DrRebeccaGordon. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus.

Jul 10, 2018 • 29min
103 — We need to stop overcomplicating learning
If you work in Learning and Development for a large organisation, there's a good chance that at some point you've spent years putting a programme together, only to find that by the time it launches the original stakeholders have left. On this week's podcast, Ross D and Owen are joined by Steph Clarke to ask if this approach is overcomplicating learning - or oversimplifying it. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @Ross__Dickie and @OwenFerguson. Steph isn't on Twitter, but you can find her at stephclarke.com. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. Owen's WILTW, on what constitutes 'well read', came from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/12/book-clinic-what-constitutes-well-read The book Steph recommended, New Power: How It's Changing The 21st Century - And Why You Need To Know by Jeremy Heimans, is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Power-Changing-21st-Century-ebook/dp/B076T8MJ83 And the book that Ross recommended was The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande, available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Checklist-Manifesto-Things-Right-Gawande/dp/1846683149 Incidentally, Atul Gawande was recently appointed CEO of a new healthcare venture from Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase. That story was covered by GeekWire here: https://www.geekwire.com/2018/atul-gawande-starts-first-day-ceo-amazon-berkshire-hathaway-jpmorgan-health-venture/ And if Ross G was here, he'd point out that Gawande also recently featured on the Freakonomics podcast, and is well worth a listen: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/atul-gawande/

Jul 2, 2018 • 36min
102 — What is xAPI anyway?
For over a decade, SCORM has been the industry standard for e-learning, helping learning and development professionals track the completion of courses and recording assessment scores. But now there's a new standard in town: xAPI, offering far larger data sets and the ability to connect multiple platforms. On this week's podcast, Ben Betts from HT2 Labs and Andrew Downes from Watershed join Ross G and Owen to ask what opportunities xAPI creates. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @OwenFerguson, @BBetts and @MrDownes. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. HT2 Labs offer free resources on xAPI at: https://www.ht2labs.com/resources/ For examples of xAPI in action, see Watershed's client stories at: https://www.watershedlrs.com/resource-center/topic/client-story We discussed learning ecosystems with ASOS's Adam Harwood in episode 92: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/podcast/92-best-of-breed-ecosystems-vs-the-lms The article Owen referenced, on relativity, is at: https://gizmodo.com/einsteins-theory-of-gravity-passes-enormous-test-on-a-g-1827026239 The article Ross referenced to move the conversation away from dogs and onto cats was: http://news.mit.edu/2010/cat-lapping-1112

Jun 26, 2018 • 35min
101 — Draining the content swamp
Curation tools allow organisations to deliver high-quality, relevant content to learners. But is this how they're actually being used? This week on the podcast, Ross D and Owen are joined by Jam Pan's David Wood to drain the content swamp. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @ross__dickie, @owenferguson and @jampanlearn. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. The book Owen mentioned in What I Learned This Week was Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester. You can listen to ReplyAll on their website, or wherever you get your podcasts. David recommended the book 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley. To find out more about Jam Pan, visit jam-pan.com

Jun 19, 2018 • 27min
100 — 100th Episode Special: Podcasters in Pubs Getting Pints
For two years we've been chatting work, performance and learning in the cramped confines of our office - but no longer. For our 100th episode, Ross G, Owen and James sloped off to the Raeburn Hotel in Edinburgh to reflect on favourite episodes, greatest guests and, of course, what we learned this week And, as it's our anniversary, we filmed that discussion for a one-off special: Podcasters in Pubs Getting Pints. You can watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/_sKUx3DEJSQ To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @OwenFerguson and @JamesMcLuckie. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. The episodes mentioned were: 17 — AI and jobs: What is the future of work?, with David D'Souza at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/ai-and-jobs-what-is-the-future-of-work 30 — Compliance training: Ticking a box or having an impact?, with Sukh Pabial at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/compliance-training-ticking-a-box-or-having-an-impact 32 — How should L&D respond to millennials?, with Ross' brother Grant Garner at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/how-should-ld-respond-to-millennials 49 — Evidence-based practice for HR and L&D, with Mark Hendy at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/evidence-based-practice-for-hr-and-ld 59 — How can L&D support performance?, with JD Dillon at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/59-how-can-ld-support-performance 66 — Discernment in L&D, with Simon Heath at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/66-discernment-in-ld 80 — How do we make digital learning accessible?, with Michael Osborne and Mike Shaw at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/80-how-do-we-make-digital-learning-accessible 87 — Building a learning culture, with Michelle Ockers at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/87-building-a-learning-culture 89 — Introducing learning design, with Nick Robinson at: http://podcast.goodpractice.com/89-introducing-learning-design 92 — Best of breed ecosystems vs the LMS, with Adam Harwood at http://podcast.goodpractice.com/92-best-of-breed-ecosystems-vs-the-lms 94 — Challenge trends in L&D, with Anthony Williams at http://podcast.goodpractice.com/94-challenging-trends-in-ld The paper Owen referenced for 'What I Learned This Week' was: Cullen, D., & Gotell, L. (2002). From orgasms to organizations: Maslow, women’s sexuality and the gendered foundations of the needs hierarchy. Gender, Work & Organization, 9(5), 537-555. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227501292_From_Orgasms_to_Organizations_Maslow_Women's_Sexuality_and_the_Gendered_Foundations_of_the_Needs_Hierarchy The Twitter conversation that Owen referenced was: https://twitter.com/wildejoanna/status/1002583221006106624?s=21 Ross discussed 'asymmetrical polling', a concept he learned about on The West Wing Weekly podcast's crossover episode with Five Thirty Eight. You can listen to that here: http://thewestwingweekly.com/episodes/002 The transcript of the West Wing episode discussed is online at: http://www.westwingtranscripts.com/wwscripts/1-21.php With thanks to The Raeburn, Edinburgh.

Jun 12, 2018 • 35min
99 — Show Your Work
Have you ever completed a project, only to find that someone else had already done it? Have you ever spent hours trying to learn something new, only to find that the person across the hall could have explained it in two minutes? On this week's show, Ross D and James are joined by author Jane Bozarth to discuss social learning and the challenges of managing knowledge in organisations. If you'd like to share your thoughts on the show, you can find us on Twitter @ross__dickie, @JamesMcluckie or @JaneBozarth. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. Jane's latest book, Show Your Work, is available here.

Jun 5, 2018 • 33min
98 — Working Across Generations
This week on The GoodPractice Podcast, Ross G and Owen are joined by Hello2morrow's Chloe Walton to ask how far we can generalise 'millennials'. We explore just some of the benefits to be found when organisations encourage conversations across generations, and ask what those of us in L&D, HR and OD do to facilitate these conversations. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @RossGarnerGP, @owenferguson and @Chloe2morrow. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. Hello2morrow can be found at www.hello2morrow.co.uk. Her research can be found at www.hello2morrow.co.uk/research. Ross' John Adams quote is nicely dissected by Freakonomics at: freakonomics.com/2011/08/25/john-adams-said-it-first/ The podcast that Owen recommended was Malcolm Gladwell's interview with Adam Grant, available at: overcast.fm/+NG9LuTWQE The article Chloe referenced on the home field advantage was: zidbits.com/2012/01/is-home-field-advantage-real/ And the travelling musical Ross recommended was Isle of Love, featuring the music of Adam Ross and Randolph's Leap. Tickets are available at rightlines.net/rightlines/the-isle-of-love/ and Randolph's Leap are on Spotify at: open.spotify.com/artist/2rdghy8NeNCFZcDyAlkRFb.

May 29, 2018 • 38min
97 — YouTube for learning
In this episode, Ross D and Owen are joined by Craig Taylor of HT2 Labs to discuss the success of his YouTube channel, 'The Bushcraft Padawan'. How effective is YouTube at delivering 'learning' content? What does it take to build an audience? What even is bushcraft anyway? All these questions and more are tackled on this week's show. To share your thoughts on the podcast, you can find us on Twitter @ross__dickie, @owenferguson and @CraigTaylor74. To find out more about GoodPractice, visit goodpractice.com or tweet us @GoodPractice and @GoodPracticeAus. To check out Craig's channel for yourself, click here or search for 'Bushcraft Padawan' on YouTube.
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