
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

Apr 2, 2024 • 41min
388 — Public speaking in L&D
Whether you’re delivering workshops, speaking at conferences, presenting to senior leaders, or even hosting L&D’s favorite podcast, public speaking is a critical skill for learning professionals. So how do you develop this skill, and how do you manage your nerves when speaking publicly? In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Ross D and Lara are joined by Samantha Tulloch, public speaker and business-transformation consultant. We discuss: · the nuances of public speaking in an L&D context, · techniques that can help you prepare and deliver effectively, · strategies for managing nerves and anxiety. During the discussion, Ross D referenced our previous episode with Andrea Pacini. In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Samantha mentioned the little-known Steven Bartlett. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: · Ross Dickie · Samantha Tulloch · Lara Kidd

Mar 26, 2024 • 32min
387 — Bringing spaced practice into workplace learning
One-off learning interventions are frequently the ‘go to’ solution for workplace learning teams, but we know that spaced repetition and retrieval practice are more effective. How do we get past organizational constraints that make this difficult? In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Tony Manwani from People Unboxed joins Ross Dickie and Ross Garner to discuss: · The problems with one-off interventions · Science-backed principles to make an impact · How Tony’s ‘BentoBot’ tool puts those principles into practice. For a recent replication of Ebbinghaus’ ‘forgetting curve’ experiment, see: Murre, J. M., & Dros, J. (2015). Replication and analysis of Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve. PloS one, 10(7), e0120644. For more on the ‘Leitner system’ see the overview on Wikipedia. For the LTEM model, referenced by Ross D, see Dr Will Thalheimer’s website. In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Ross G recommended Perplexity.ai. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. For more from Tony and People Unboxed, see peopleunboxed.co.uk. For BentoBot, see bentobot.com. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: · Ross Garner · Ross Dickie · Tony Manwani

Mar 19, 2024 • 40min
386 — How do we leverage AI for education?
Exploring the challenges and opportunities of leveraging AI in education, discussing cost implications and human interactions. Delving into the role of AI in assessments and learning enhancement, highlighting benefits and historical perspectives. Addressing strategies for overcoming learning obstacles and personalized education, while considering the evolving role of educators. Examining the balance between AI technology and social learning experiences, emphasizing the importance of human interaction. Reflecting on adapting old storytelling techniques in modern settings and exploring AI literacy in education through authentic letter exchanges.

Mar 12, 2024 • 43min
385 — Building a modern learning ecosystem
Today’s workplace is one where change is the norm. Learning is critical in this environment, but supporting learning isn’t just about creating content. In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, JD Dillon joins Ross Dickie and Ross Garner to discuss his book, The Modern Learning Ecosystem. We cover: Why JD’s book includes ‘learning’ in its title, even though it’s not really about learning; The role of influence, and what L&D can do to earn it; The six key tasks of L&D, and how to build a modern learning ecosystem. To find out more about The Modern Learning Ecosystem, head to jdwroteabook.com. In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Ross G referenced ‘The Long Goodbye to Saturn’s Ring’, published in The Atlantic. JD mentioned the Space 220 restaurant at Disney World, and talked about how he is using Yousician to learn guitar. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business/ There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: Ross Garner Ross Dickie JD Dillon

Mar 5, 2024 • 41min
384 — What will be hot in workplace L&D in 2024?
Donald Taylor describes this year’s Global Sentiment Survey as the ‘unsurprising survey’. Predictably, artificial intelligence topped the table by some margin. But the results of this year’s survey still tell us a lot about how L&D perceives itself and the challenges we face as a profession. In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Donald joins Ross and Owen to parse the results of the Global Sentiment Survey 2024. We discuss: · How L&D views the benefits and challenges associated with AI · The non-AI topics which gained popularity this year · Declining interest in collaborative/social working and coaching/mentoring · The potential risks of L&D’s current obsession with AI To read the Global Sentiment Survey report for yourself, head to Don’s website. During our discussion, Owen mentioned responses to the GSS from our own Gent Ahmetaj and Ross Garner. In ‘What I Learned this Week’, Owen referenced Ben Thompson’s newsletter, Stratechery. Ross mentioned how he’d followed Wirecutter’s recommendations (which he learned about through Owen) to buy a new pair of earphones. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business/ There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: · Ross Dickie · Owen Ferguson · Donald Taylor

Feb 27, 2024 • 42min
383 — Designing learning for the charity sector
While there are often constraints in charity’s learning budgets, it’s actually this limitation that can point the way to more efficient and effective learning design and development. There’s much that the corporate learning world can learn from this. In this episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Gemma is joined by Gill Chester, Director of Little Man Project and Ross Dickie to discuss creating learning for organisations on a mission to change the world for the better. We talked about: Resourcefulness and creativity throughout the design process The importance of developing relationships with stakeholders Incorporating evaluation into the design process. Gill mentioned that she's running eLearning Unlocked, a 12-month programme on designing great elearning. To find out more about the programme, visit www.elearningunlocked.org.uk Do also check out Little Man Project here: https://www.littlemanproject.com/ Gemma learned a new word – suspire - thanks to Susie Dent. Her Tweet is here: https://twitter.com/susie_dent/status/1325118435546816512 For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business/. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: Gemma Towersey Ross Dickie Gill Chester

Feb 20, 2024 • 38min
382 — You don’t have to talk to add value
As experts, managers or leaders, we often seek to help others by talking, talking, talking. But what if we didn’t talk and just listened? This week in The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Ross and Gemma are joined by Georgie Rudd, an executive coach, to discuss the trials and delights of listening. We explore: · reasons that we don’t listen well · the consequences of not listening (and of listening!) · how we can improve listening skills. Georgie recommended Nancy Klein as an expert on listening and techniques to improve. Time to think is a good place to start: amazon.co.uk/Time-Think-Listening-Ignite-Human/dp/0706377451 You can find out more about Liz Wiseman’s concepts of multipliers and diminishers in her book Multipliers: amazon.co.uk/Multipliers-Best-Leaders-Everyone-Smarter/dp/006239066X In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Gemma spoke about the widest fairy ring in the world. John Wright reports that it’s around 800m across in A spotter’s guide to countryside mysteries, but a quick internet search revealed this to be a questionable fact. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. And, this week, we’re giving a special shout out to our Learning Performance Benchmark. Not sure how your L&D function is performing? Find out now, for free: mindtools.com/business/products/lpb/ Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on LinkedIn: · Gemma Towersey · Ross Dickie · Georgie Rudd Georgie can also be contacted via her website: https://www.ruddcoaching.co.uk/

Feb 13, 2024 • 45min
381 — Are you a trusted learning advisor?
We often hear that learning and development needs a ‘seat at the table’. But how do we get there? How do we build credibility, tackle real issues, and demonstrate value? In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast Ross and Owen are joined by author, academic and L&D pro Dr Keith Keating to discuss: Whether L&D are changemakers or order takers How we change the perception of L&D The extent to which L&D pros must sell themselves, their ideas and their profession. During the discussion, Ross G referenced To Sell is Human by Dan Pink. Keith’s book is The Trusted Learning Advisor, available now from Amazon (US / UK). In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Owen gave a glittering endorsement of a sensational new science fiction writer (Ross G). Subscribe for updates. Ross recommended alternative movie posters, collected in a thread from All The Right Movies. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Or you can email rgarner@mindtools.com Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: · Ross Garner · Owen Ferguson · Dr Keith Keating

Feb 6, 2024 • 43min
380 — A holistic approach to workplace wellbeing
Exploring a holistic approach to workplace well-being, focusing on physical, social, mental, financial, digital, environmental, and spiritual health. Benefits of structured well-being, the '7 Wisdoms of Wellbeing,' and personal responsibility discussed. Recommendations include 'The impact of bad news' and Lauren Bacall's autobiography. Emphasizing the integration of well-being initiatives into business strategy, personal purpose and values in the workplace, complexities of digital well-being, dynamics of social well-being, and managing media exposure for overall well-being.

Jan 30, 2024 • 41min
379 — How many Rosses does it take to adopt AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) generally and Large Language Models (LLMs) specifically have been all the rage over the past 12 months. Should you care? In this week’s episode of The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Rosses Garner and Dickie are joined by learning strategist Ross Stevenson to discuss: The current state of AI The extent to which L&D pros should pay attention to ongoing developments Tips for making the most of AI tools, especially ChatGPT. During the discussion, Stevenson referenced ‘custom instructions’ for ChatGPT. These help tailor ChatGPT’s responses to your prompts, and mean you don’t need to add background information to every prompt. See his video on the topic for guidance. He also recommend Perplexity AI. See: perplexity.ai In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Dickie recommended the Fit Bod app. Garner discussed the rise (and subsequent fall) of Quora. For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtools.com/business. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work. Or you can email rgarner@mindtools.com For more from Stevenson, see Steal These Thoughts. Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers: Ross Garner Ross Dickie Ross Stevenson