

Talent Talks
TalentLMS
The world of work is changing fast. From AI to people-first mindsets, L&D is evolving. And so are the challenges. Talent Talks is your go-to space to pause, learn, and sometimes unlearn what L&D can look like today. Hear from the experts shaping the now - and the next - of L&D, HR, and everything in between.
Talent Talks is brought to you by TalentLMS.
For the full transcript and related resources visit talentlms.com/podcast
Talent Talks is brought to you by TalentLMS.
For the full transcript and related resources visit talentlms.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 6, 2025 • 33min
26. Onboarding Beyond Compliance: Designing Moments That Matter with Amin Fard
Most onboarding processes focus on paperwork over people. Amin Fard, CEO at Preppio and co-author of The Onboarding Playbook, explains how to design backward from "wow" moments that turn new hires into company advocates. We explore why hybrid onboarding can outperform in-person, measuring what actually matters, and creating connection from day one. We also draw insights from TalentLMS's latest onboarding research. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Jul 3, 2025 • 37min
25. Why We Don’t Learn at Work: The Psychology Behind Great Training with Julie Dirksen
Why do so many workplace training programs fail to drive real change? In this episode, we sit down with Julie Dirksen, Learning and Design Consultant and author of Talk to the Elephant, to explore why people often can’t learn or struggle to apply what they’ve learned. We unpack the psychology of behavior change and dig into what makes instructional design truly effective — from the role of social learning to making compliance training relevant, and, surprisingly, the similarities between AI and mozzarella cheese. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Jun 4, 2025 • 33min
24. Turning Change Into Opportunity: Keeping Employees Engaged, with Rob Catalano of WorkTango
How do you keep employees engaged when everything’s in flux? Rob Catalano, Co-Founder and Chief Engagement Officer at WorkTango, joins us to unpack the secrets behind effective employee engagement — especially during times of change. Drawing on original Organizational Change research from TalentLMS x WorkTango, we explore how L&D can steady the ship, why communication is your best retention tool, and what it takes to turn disruption into drive. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Jan 22, 2025 • 27min
23. The future of workplace training in 2025, with human capital management strategist, Brent Skinner
The future of workplace training is here — so how can L&D pros prep for new challenges on the horizon? Brent Skinner, future of work expert, joins us to reveal what to expect in the new year and beyond. Informed by the past, we’ll explore learning in the flow of work, how to unify silos, and why in the age of breakneck technology, age-old human skills are more in demand than ever. Bonus: key insights and cross-generational divides from TalentLMS’s annual training benchmark report. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Dec 4, 2024 • 32min
22. What most leaders get wrong—and how to do it right, with Neena Newberry
What’s the secret that separates an accidental manager from an inspiring leader who uplifts the workplace? We sit down with trailblazing former Deloitte Exec and Leadership Coach, Neena Newberry, to unravel the biggest myths holding future leaders back—and how to avoid falling into the same traps. Discover why more training isn’t always the answer, how to deliver feedback that lands, and what businesses can steal from the playbooks of elite sports teams. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Nov 20, 2024 • 31min
21. L&D Stories from the Field with Training Trailblazers Kim Bellini and Randy Schumacher
Excessive employee turnover, looming deadlines, and tight budgets. Common business challenges that great L&D programs can tame. In this special episode, we hear first-hand from training trailblazers Kim Bellini and Randy Schumacher, both TalentLMS Training Excellence Awards recipients. We cover the unique ways that L&D can be your business’ biggest champion, learn their secrets to an effective training program, and uncover how they go about proving L&D’s true potential to the C-suite. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Nov 6, 2024 • 34min
20. Supercharging your workplace learning culture with Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer and author.
Join Andy Lancaster, Chief Learning Officer of Reimagine People Development and an award-winning author, as he reveals how to ignite a vibrant learning culture at work. Discover the transformative power of community learning, drawing insights from diverse examples like NASA and killer whales. Andy emphasizes the roles of psychological safety and grassroots initiatives in fostering personal and professional growth. Unearth strategies for building dynamic learning ecosystems that empower employees to take charge of their own development.

Oct 23, 2024 • 31min
19. The building blocks of reskilling employees, with Boston Consulting Group MD, Sagar Goel
Is reskilling the solution to the rapid decline in skill longevity? If so, how can both organizations and employees flip negative mindsets to ones of curiosity and optimism? Boston Consulting Group MD, Sagar Goel, reveals his strategies to combat a progressive skill deficit and win the game of talent. Plus: Goel gives SMBs his top tips to keep their employees’ skills current. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Oct 9, 2024 • 38min
18. Mastering a growth mindset and cultivating it in your workforce, with Nikhil Arora
How can we escape the fear of failure and celebrate experimentation rather than just the result? In this episode, Nikhil Arora, shares his tips on how to commit to a growth mindset in both personal and professional life. He opens up about the importance of depersonalizing failure and why he thinks vulnerability is an essential leadership quality. We also learn what organizations can do to keep a culture of consistent learning alive. Plus we reveal TalentLMS’s latest research into the benefits of a growth mindset and their impact on training. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

Sep 25, 2024 • 35min
17. Training in the world of the hybrid workplace with Gary Cookson
Are we witnessing the end of in-person training in real time? And why is the best learning content similar to the conversations we have with our friends? Gary Cookson, L&D expert, author, and consultant, joins us to answer these questions and more. We dive into what training in the hybrid workplace means for L&D pros, the importance of building social ties into learning, and why the model calls for a more personalized learning experience than ever before. Plus: the common traps that ensnare companies and damage recruitment levels. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast