The Learning Geeks Podcast

S8 E7: Three Geeks Walk Into a Bar…

We're guest-free this week, so we pulled up some bar stools and went the unscripted happy hour route. We talk Bob’s move back to Chicago, the L&D pendulum swinging (again), AI hype, why hot takes suck and why you should teach instead. Plus, we discuss social media anxiety and a few other topics along the way. Pull up a barstool and join us!
 
00:00 Intro and first rounds
02:11 Bob moves back to Chicago
05:26 The L&D pendulum swings again
09:34 Resurrecting “Phenomenal Learning”
16:02 AI Hype and Human learning
21:07 Social Media anxiety and AI slop
27:41 Hot takes suck. Teach instead
31:21 Pop culture pivot: Marvel’s Wonder Man
33:14 Disney’s New CEO
35:18 Last call
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

S8 E6: This Isn’t the AI You’re Looking For

David Chestnut joins us to rethink one of the biggest assumptions about AI enablement. We explore why AI isn’t a replacement for expertise, what AI is great at, what it’s terrible at, what ever happened to prompt engineering, and how context and delegation are becoming critical leadership capabilities.
 
00:00 Cold Open
01:12 Bob's Big Announcement
04:08 David's Journey into Learning
15:12 Challenges and future of AI
16:08 Limitations of GenAI
20:39 What ever happen to prompt engineering
22:26 The Importance of Context
24:52 Teaching AI Delegation
30:00 Future of AI and Human Expertise
30:48 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

Holiday Special 2025: Becoming Better Versions of Ourselves

It’s our yearly holiday special and a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead. We reflect on the personal and professional lessons of 2025, including how AI, feedback loops, and immersive experiences are shaping learning. We also discuss the most important lesson – that at the end of the day, development is still about helping people become better versions of themselves. We wrap by looking ahead to 2026 and what we want to learn and build next, both for ourselves and for the podcast.
 
00:00 Introduction and banter
02:51 Bob – Meta tech and the Future of Learning
14:04 Dana – Better versions of ourselves
18:59 Bob Bot 3000
21:02 Jake – Family outings and AI powered journalling
30:42 Looking Forward to 2026
36:45 Thank you to listeners
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

S8 E5: Why Building Tech Skills Unlock Human Potential (with Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski)

In this episode, we’re joined by Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski from McKinsey to unpack why building tech skills is about unlocking human potential — not replacing it. We explore real client success stories and challenges with AI upskilling, the danger of ignoring human skills, why technology can’t fix broken work processes, and whether embedding AI into daily work actually improves apprenticeship and learning.
 
00:00 Cold open & banter
02:15 Introducing Brooke & Heather
04:26 What Tech Upskilling Really Means
07:13 Human Advantage vs. Machine Capability
14:52 Leadership, Storytelling & Positive Energy
17:29 Creating Space to Practice Tech Skills
18:26 Case Example: AI Transformation in Manufacturing
22:13 The Evolving Role of the CLO
26:09 Building a Developmental Ecosystem
31:27 AI as an Apprenticeship Engine
36:03 Final takeaways
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
READ MORE FROM BROOKE AND HEATHER
We’re all techies now: Digital skill building for the future: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/we-are-all-techies-now-digital-skill-building-for-the-future
The future of the CLO: Leading in a world of merged work and learning
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-future-of-the-clo-leading-in-a-world-of-merged-work-and-learning
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

S8 E4: Building your Learning Posse (with Deidra Busbee)

Longtime friend Deidra Busbee (Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase) joins us to unpack the power of your “learning posse”, or the group of people who challenge you, support you, connect you, and help you learn faster. We discuss how to build this crew intentionally, why it reduces stress and accelerates onboarding, and what roles AI has within the posse or will never replace. It's a thoughtful discussion at the relationships that fuel real growth.
 
00:00 Cold open and Deidre welcome
02:23 Deidre's Background
07:06 Deidre's Current Role at JP Morgan Chase
09:39 Building a Learning Posse
11:14 Roles in a Learning Posse
20:06 Introducing Bob Bot 3000
21:36 The Role of Human Connection
30:08 Networking Beyond Your Organization
34:53 Wrap up
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

S8 E3: Skills, Data, and the Future of Talent (with Craig Friedman)

We’ve been talking about skills for years — but how do you make them work? In this episode, we chat with Craig Friedman about his new book, Enterprise Skills Unlocked, and explore how to move beyond common misconceptions to connect learning, data, and business strategy. Craig shares practical insights on turning skills into measurable business impact — and even tells a story about throwing away pennies. Learn more about Craig’s book at https://stccg.com/enterprise-skills-unlocked-2/
 
00:00 Intro
02:10 Craig's Background and Experience
03:23 Skills-Based Organizations: An Overview
12:07 Defining Skills and Their Importance
17:05 Impact on Learning and Development
20:41 Validating and Assessing Skills
24:07 Strategies for Implementing Skills-Based Learning
29:06 Challenges and Mistakes in Skills-Based Technology
32:57 Final Thoughts and Book Information
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

Big News for the Show!

Jake shares some exciting news for the show - and provides a quick sneak peak behind the curtain on some upcoming episodes.
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.
 

S8 E2: The Future Belongs to Everyday Innovators

We welcome Dr. Tessa Forshaw (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Rich Braden (founder of People Rocket LLC), co-authors of "Innovation-ish," to challenge the myth that innovation belongs only to Silicon Valley geniuses. After analyzing 80+ innovation frameworks, they discovered that most people don't recognize their own creative problem-solving abilities. We explore practical strategies for helping you see yourselves as innovators, overcoming cognitive caution, and fostering innovation even in traditional organizations. Learn more about the book at https://www.innovationish.com/.
 
00:00 Cold Open and banter
03:08 Introducing the Book 'Innovation-ish'
03:32 The Journey of Creativity and Innovation
05:56 Improv and Design Thinking
17:22 Divergent and Convergent Thinking in Organizations
19:58 The Challenge of Innovation in Organizations
21:34 Innovation Hesitation and Cognitive Caution
24:16 Balancing Risk and Innovation
26:24 Encouraging Metacognition in the Workplace
28:27 Fostering Creativity and Collaboration
33:05 Teaching Creative Problem Solving
38:17 Conclusion and Book Recommendations
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.
 

S8 E1: New Beginnings (Allison's Version)

In our Season 8 opener, we welcome Allison Horn, Head of Talent Transformation at JP Morgan Chase as our guest host for the show. We quickly reflect on eight years together and discuss the origins of the podcast. Allison leads us through a series of questions to get our perspectives on a variety of topics, including a major pop star story, how we’re using GenAI in our day-to-day work, current AI tools, the cognitive impact of AI, and our thoughts on balancing professional growth with new technology.
 
00:00 Cold open
01:01 Celebrating 8 years
03:33 Allison's New Role at JP Morgan Chase
04:34 Learning and Transitioning in a New Job
11:24 The Taylor Travis Engagement
13:31 Impact of GPT-5 and AI Tools
19:18 Personalizing AI for Daily Use
19:54 The Future of General Purpose Models
21:35 Custom GPTs in Instructional Design
22:56 AI in Creative Work and Education
24:20 Smaller Language Models and Cognitive Impact
25:51 Challenges and Misconceptions in AI Research
27:47 Using AI for Change Storytelling
31:25 Exploring Multi-Agent Autonomous Work
34:34 Reflecting on Professional Learning
37:27 Final Thoughts and Farewells
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

Season 7 Finale: How to Start a Career in Learning and Development

In our season finale, we’re tackling a question we hear all the time: How do you break into the Learning & Development field? We sit down with L&D veteran Trina Wellendorf and Lauren, a college junior exploring a future in L&D, to answer her biggest questions about:
Different career paths within L&D
How to land that first role or internship
Whether grad school is worth it
Staying current with trends like AI and learning science
Tips for engaging learners and using storytelling effectively
Whether you’re just starting out, making a career shift, or mentoring someone new to the field, this episode is packed with insights to help you launch a successful path in L&D.
 
00:00 Cold Open
00:31 Banter
02:16 Introducing the Guests: Trina and Lauren
05:36 Lauren's Background and Interest in Learning & Development
07:00 Exploring Career Paths in Learning & Development
12:10 How to Get Started in Learning & Development
15:38 Finding Internships and Networking Tips
18:00 Thoughts on Grad School and Advanced Degrees
20:29 Personal Journeys in Education and Career
21:12 Challenges and Rewards of Advanced Education
23:24 Staying Current with Trends in Learning and Development
26:43 Gaining Practical Experience in Learning Strategies
29:20 Facilitating Effective Learning
34:50 Storytelling and Relevancy in Training
37:38 Finding Companies that Value Learning and Development
41:35 Wrap up
 
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast
 
You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.
 
CONNECT WITH US
If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.
 
DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.