ATD Accidental Trainer

Jonathan Halls is an author and consultant who uses learning science to streamline talent development to be digital and focused on business results. In today’s episode, Jonathan takes on L&D’s Goliath: Bloom’s Taxonomy.   If you’ve written a learning objective before, you've likely used a version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. But what if we’ve been using it in ways it was never meant to be used? What if this framework is creating roadblocks and preventing real learning?    Jonathan guides us through a thoughtful critique of Bloom’s and offers an alternative framework for writing learning objectives that actually achieve the desired results.     Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhalls Website: https://jonathanhalls.com/ Books: https://jonathanhalls.com/books/ 

Chelsea C. Williams, Founder & CEO of Reimagine Talent, is an expert on intergenerational talent strategies and the Gen Z workforce. In this episode, Chelsea debunks myths about Gen Z and shares lessons we can learn from the youngest working demographic.  She breaks down what research reveals Gen Z truly values—from transparency and purpose to wellbeing and career development—and reveals the stereotypes that ofen misguide managers. Discover what resonates with young professionals and how leaders can evolve to better engage, retain, and empower early talent in today’s dynamic, diverse workplace. Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseacwilliams/   Website: https://chelseacwilliams.com/ Reimagine Talent: https://www.reimaginetalentco.com/   Forbe’s Content: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/people/chelseacwilliams/ 

To elevate your training, it’s time to take a page from the marketing playbook. In this episode, we’re joined by Bianca Baumann and Mike Taylor—co-authors of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro: Strategies to Ignite Learning—to explore how applying marketing strategies within learning programs can supercharge engagement, drive measurable impact, and secure stakeholder buy-in.  Bianca, VP of Learning Solutions & Innovation at Ardent Learning, and Mike, a learning consultant at Nationwide, share actionable insights on:  Building a program content strategy that captures learner attention  Leveling up with technology and measurement tools Tapping into the emotional drivers that make learning stick  Marketing strategies go beyond boosting program visibility. Learn to create learning experiences that resonate and reframe your L&D mindset through a marketer’s lens. Resources: Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--think-like-a-marketer-train-like-an-ld-pro/112507 Website: Bianca: https://www.biancabaumann.com/  Mike: https://mike-taylor.org/ LinkedIn:   Bianca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancabaumann/  Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketaylor/  

Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, joins the podcast to explore how organizations can meaningfully advance fairness at work.  Drawing on insights from her research and the book, Siri discusses how to drive change even in risk-averse or hesitant environments. She unpacks the difference between fairness and sameness, how to bias-proof training, and what it really takes to embed behavior change into day-to-day decision-making.  From debunking persistent workplace myths to practicing “norm entrepreneurship,” Siri offers practical strategies—grounded in data—that leaders and teams can apply right away.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi/  Website: https://sirichilazi.com/  Book: https://sirichilazi.com/books/make-work-fair/ 

Neil Thompson is the founder of Teach the Geek, a company dedicated to helping technical professionals effectively communicate the value of their work to non-technical stakeholders. He joins the podcast to share how anyone with a specialization can sharpen their presentation skills—moving beyond acronyms and jargon that only experts understand.  This conversation also explores what L&D professionals can do when they’re on the receiving end of technical lingo. How do you collaborate with a SME who seems to speak a different language? How can you encourage technical workers to embrace soft skill training? And where do we even start when it comes to AI?  Neil answers all of these questions and offers practical tips to solve a common workplace issue: getting too technical.  Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilithompson/   Website: https://teachthegeek.com/   TD Magazine article (Member-only):  https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/public-speaking-struggles-for-technical-professionals   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachthegeek 

Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, challenges the idea that success means playing it safe. In this episode, she reveals how to reclaim nine so-called "negative" traits—like being selfish, nosy, or even manipulative—and use them to build confidence, influence without authority, and stand out in your career. We explore how these traits play out in risk-averse vs. risk-friendly workplaces, how to apply them in team settings (not just as individuals), and how to avoid Trait Traps that turn strengths into weaknesses. Plus, Jenny tackles skepticism around reframing words like "manipulative" and shares which trait challenged her the most. Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles/   Website: https://itsjennywood.com/ Book: https://itsjennywood.com/book Download Get Promoted Guide: https://itsjennywood.kit.com/7b1b560076   More Tools from Jenny: https://itsjennywood.com/resources  

Seth Godin, an acclaimed entrepreneur and bestselling author of 'This is Strategy', delves into the essence of strategy. He challenges conventional wisdom by suggesting that strategy should focus on systems, not strict plans. Godin emphasizes empathy and community action as crucial elements for enacting change. He explores the importance of soft skills in a rapidly evolving job landscape and draws intriguing parallels between the chocolate industry and leadership challenges. Plus, there's a delightful chocolate discussion to sweeten the conversation!

Sarah Mercier is the CEO of Build Capable and the editor of the newly released book, Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences. Sarah joins the podcast to share an inside look into Design for All Learners, revealing why everyone benefits from more inclusive design, and actionable steps you can take immediately to create more accessible content.    Sarah shares chapter sneak-peeks and explains how the story-driven format allows readers to understand accessibility in a new perspective. In addition, the conversation covers advocating for accessibility-focused roles and projects, how to make better design decisions, and going beyond a checklist mentality and basic standard compliance so that every learner can get the most out of your content.  Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcmercier   Book: https://www.designforallbook.com/ Build Capable: https://www.buildcapable.com/   Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/h3uEvlW6HvR 

Erin Diehl is a podcast host, a bestselling author, and the CEO of improve it!. In this episode, she discusses how improv shows up in day-to-day life and simple ways to use improv techniques to find success in your work and relationships.  Improv as a strategic tool has a variety of uses, including building company culture, navigating workplace challenges, and reinforcing inclusivity. Try the “yes, and” theory to foster collaboration, the M.O.V.E. O.N. method to turn failure into a learning habit, and the Tomorrow Ready Checklist to set achievable goals.   Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erindiehl/ Website: https://www.itserindiehl.com/ Podcast: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page  Book: https://www.itserindiehl.com/i-see-you Tomorrow Ready Checklist: https://mailchi.mp/learntoimproveit/the-tomorrow-ready-checklist Other Free Resources: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/free-tools-resources  

Juliana Sawaia is a happiness-at-work scientist, business consultant, and researcher with over 20 years of experience specializing in corporate happiness. On this episode, Julianna explains “why” fostering happiness is imperative not just for individuals, but as a business strategy. Tune in for actionable steps on “how” to cultivate happiness at work, as the conversation explores what the research says about happiness, why psychological safety matters, and practical strategies for getting stakeholder buy-in.  Resources:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianasawaia   Website: https://julianasawaia.com.br/en/  Send a Letter to Future You: https://futureme.com/  The PERMA Model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/