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

When it comes to tackling the bias around age, is the juice worth the squeeze? Our guest, Tonya Wilson, says absolutely.

Tonya, organizational strategist and founder of AFC Consulting Group, joins the podcast to discuss the hidden costs of age discrimination—an issue that drains more than $850 billion from the U.S. economy each year. Tonya debunks myths about older generations, reframes age bias as a change management challenge, and offers suggestions for creating systems that provide growth opportunities for all employers.

Building an ageless workplace begins with auditing processes that may favor younger employees—whether in job descriptions, promotion practices, or workplace culture. From fostering psychological safety to implementing reverse mentorships, Tonya shares research-backed insights on training older generations and reveals how to develop agility as a mindset first.

Reources:

• Website: https://www.afcconsultinggroup.com/
• Blog: https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/designing-ageless-workplaces-a-strategic-imperative-for-the-future
• TD article: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/the-future-of-work-is-ageless
• Resource Package: https://resources.afcconsultinggroup.com/unmaskingageism
• ATD25 Education Session: https://www.td.org/content/conference-recording/unmasking-ageism-raising-awareness-and-shaping-inclusive-talent-development

Ryan Lufkin, Vice President of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins the podcast to cut through the noise around AI-enabled skill building and explore how this technology can truly support a thriving learning culture.

AI is an accelerator, a disruptor, and a powerful tool—but it's not replacing educators any time soon. Ryan shares how AI can work hand-in-hand with human oversight, expand accessibility, and take tedious tasks off your plate. He also offers practical, budget-friendly tools that L&D teams can put to work today.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlufkin/
• Website: https://www.instructure.com/

Sabina Nawaz is a global CEO coach, leadership keynote speaker, author, and advisor to C-level executives in Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions. She joins the podcast to discuss themes of leadership from her book, You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need).

As leaders navigate expanding power, increasing pressure to perform, and the impact of their decisions, Sabina offers tools to help mitigate the tension that builds. Whether you're a first-time manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will help you avoid the common pitfalls that can turn even your superpowers into setbacks.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/
• Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/
• Book: https://sabinanawaz.com/book/

Many talented learning professionals feel invisible—despite doing incredible work. In this episode, Connie Malamed joins us to explore how to gain visibility by contributing meaningfully to the field. We talk about why visibility matters, how to build credibility without being performative, and the ripple effects of sharing your work. You'll also hear simple, low-pressure ways to raise your profile—whether it's online, inside your organization, or across the L&D field.

We break down common barriers like imposter feelings, lack of know-how, and the misconception that visibility is ego-driven. Connie shares practical strategies and ideas—like trying a 30-day visibility experiment or collaborating with peers to take the pressure off—plus plenty of ways to share your work with clarity, intention, and real impact.

Resources:

• Free eMail Crash Course to Elevate Visibility: https://theelearningcoach.com/visibility
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniemalamed/
• Website: https://theelearningcoach.com/author/connie/
• Website: https://masteringid.com

Additional resources mentioned:

• Tiny Experiments by Ann Laure Le Cunff

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/