Learning is hard – but that's a good thing. In this episode of the ATD's Accidental Trainer podcast, learning scientist and co-founder of To Eleven, Julia Phelan, dives into why effective learning should feel challenging and how trainers can bring out the most growth in a learner amidst that challenge.

Drawing from examples in music and sports, Julia emphasizes that struggle, practice, feedback, and time are essential for meaningful learning to occur. The conversation provides advice for setting realistic expectations, designing with intention, and adapting strategies as learners move from novice to expert. Rather than chasing "silver bullet" techniques, Julia urges L&D professionals to anchor their work in how learning actually happens and to remain flexible as conditions change.

From playing guitar to onboarding, Julia lives by her mantra: learning is hard, and hard is learning.

Resources:

• Website: https://to11solutions.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacphelan/
• ATD Content: https://www.td.org/p/julia-phelan
• Substack: https://juliaslearningstack.substack.com/p/welcome-to-julias-learning-stack?r=mwqc0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

The key to higher performance isn't perks or programs, but genuine care for employees' well-being.

Mark C. Crowley joins the podcast to share insights from his book The Power of Employee Wellbeing. Drawing on both research and his experience as a manager, Crowley explains why traditional engagement programs often fall short, how to meaningfully measure well-being, and the link between productivity and authentic workplace relationships.

The conversation also explores how to build alignment between managers and employees, gather feedback on your leadership style, and support well-being in both remote and in-person settings. You'll leave this episode with evidence-based practices to elevate performance and strengthen employee satisfaction.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley
• Website: https://markccrowley.com/
• Book: https://markccrowley.com/the_power_of_employee_well-being/
• Fast Company Articles: https://www.fastcompany.com/user/mark-c-crowley
• John Gottman's Website: https://www.gottman.com/

Marty Dubin, a clinical psychologist and author of Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader, joins us to explore six leadership blind spots that may be affecting your work: identity, intellect, emotion, motive, traits, and behavior.

These areas offer L&D professionals a framework for strengthening self-awareness and managing the many roles they take on. Marty explains the "why" behind analyzing blind spots, shares actionable steps for adopting new behaviors, and provides strategies to prevent strengths ("gifts") from becoming weaknesses ("gaps"). Drawing on his experience as both entrepreneur and business coach, Marty also discusses the value of emotional agility, the four types of intelligence, and how to align your identity with your role—even amid rapid change.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-dubin/
• Website: https://www.martindubin.com/
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZFK8J6?tag=bk00010a-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true