All Episodes

On Day 2 of camp, we dive into all eight durable learning principles by reading their original definitions from the ancient scripture, which was dug up from an archeological dig of Jake's closet. We unpack what each one means, why it matters, and how they connect, plus a quick update on how practice and reflection have evolved since the framework's early days.
 
00:00 Intro and banter
02:36 Durable Learning Setup
03:19 Relevant
04:41 Engaging
06:53 Contextual
08:40 Effortful
15:19 Generative
17:45 Social
22:04 Practice
26:28 Reflection
30:12 Do Principles Still Hold?
34:16 Wrap Up
 
ARTICLE REFERENCED
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/people-in-progress/designing-for-the-cognitive-cost-of-change
 
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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
 
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DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

Summer's here and we kick off a multi-episode dive into durable learning with an overview of the eight core principles. We share personal learning examples from pinball, woodworking, and journaling to show durability in action, plus how AI tools intersect with metacognition and role-play practice. Consider this the fundamentals refresher before our next episode where we dig deeper into each principle.
 
00:00 Summer Camp Kickoff
00:33 Where have we been?
01:33 Movies and Broadway detour
06:58 Durable Learning Summer Camp Intro
07:58 Eight Principles Recap
12:05 Spaced Practice Pinball Story
15:38 Woodworking Skills and Recall
19:41 Experiential Learning and Journaling
24:39 AI Roleplays and Metacognition
29:54 Summer Agenda and 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.

In part two, Dr. Megan Cuzzolino, Dr. Lauren Hodges, and Jessica Billiet dig into what prevents curiosity in our kids, our workplaces, and ourselves. From the neuroscience of dopamine and threat response, to how schools and organizations are designed for speed over exploration, the conversation gets practical. What does it take to protect the margin where curiosity lives? And what can leaders do to model and cultivate it? Part 2 of 2.
00:00 Intro
02:02 Neuroscience of Curiosity
05:39 Aperture Threat and Learning
10:35 Failure Safety and Workplace
21:23 Curiosity Needs Margin
24:14 Awe and Context for Kids
29:00 Patience and Social Safety
31:59 Leader Takeaways and Wrap
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Megan - https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/megan-powell-cuzzolino
Lauren - https://www.performance-on-purpose.com/about
Jessica - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabilliet/
 
RESOURCES
Reflection Guide: Making Space for Everyday Awe: https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/websites.harvard.edu/dist/a/108/files/2025/10/Making-Space-for-Everyday-Awe-Reflection-Tool.pdf
 
Reflecting on Your Learning in the Workplace: https://nextlevellab.gse.harvard.edu/learning-modules/reflecting-on-your-learning-in-the-workplace/
 
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.

What's the difference between curiosity, awe, and wonder and why does it matter for learning? In this episode, we welcome back three friends of the podcast: Dr. Megan Cuzzolino, researcher and educator at Harvard's Next Level Lab, Dr. Lauren Hodges, human performance researcher, and Jessica Billiet, neuroscience-informed change leader. Together, they explore curiosity as an epistemic emotion, the relationship between awe and meaning, and why widening our aperture might be the antidote to fear-based thinking. Part 1 of 2.
00:00 Cold Open
01:33 Dana Gets Meta-Curious
04:52 Meet Megan: Awe & Epistemic Emotions
07:23 Quick Curiosity vs. Sustained Interest
09:56 Does Learning Kill Awe?
11:12 Awe as Motivation at Work
14:00 Curiosity, Wonder & Vastness
21:02 Awe, Meaning & Purpose
24:18 Meet Lauren: Curiosity as Aperture
29:52 Curiosity as the Antidote to Stress
31:27 Reframing Fear with Curiosity
34:15 Wrap Up & Part 2 Preview
 
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Megan - https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/megan-powell-cuzzolino
Lauren - https://www.performance-on-purpose.com/about
Jessica - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabilliet/
 
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.

Recorded  live at SXSW EDU 2026, Jake and Bob sit down with Dr. Tessa Forshaw from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to explore metacognition in an AI-driven world. Tessa unpacks why our brains naturally offload thinking to AI, the power of productive friction, and what it takes to keep our own reasoning sharp. We close the show with simple strategies everyone can apply.
 
00:00 Cold Open
00:37 Live Show and Intro of Tessa
04:56 Metacognition in the AI Era
12:46 How to Stay Metacognitive with AI
17:26 Think While You Work, Not After
19:40 Productive Friction Explained
23:09 The Current Divide with EdTech
30:00 Practical Moves and Closing
 
CONNECT WITH TESSA’S WORK
https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/tessa-forshaw
 
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.

Dan Bielenberg was one of the original learning geeks who spent 25 years in adult learning at Accenture. After retiring, he only deepened that curiosity. His learning path took him through seminary studies, becoming a hospice chaplain, and now coaching faculty in higher education. Dan shares how stepping away from the corporate world opened a new chapter of intentional, reflective learning. We explore self-awareness, emotional intelligence, being present, and why the best learners never retire.
00:00 Cold Open
01:38 Learning from Seminary and Hospice
09:59 Strengths Coaching in Academia
17:13 Emotional Intelligence Matters
21:42 EdTech and Distracted Learner
25:16 Microlearning Revisited
29:55 What I'd Tell My Younger
34:45 One Last Thing…
36:10 Closing
 
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
 
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DISCLAIMER
All thoughts and views are of our own.

Jake shares some exciting news for the show - and provides a quick sneak peak behind the curtain on some upcoming episodes.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 

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.
 

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.