Is Training The Answer?

In this episode of 'Is Training the Answer?' we look back at our favorite podcast moments, key learnings, tired trends, and what's in store for 2025. We discuss standout episodes with guests like David James and Brandon Lynn, share valuable advice received, and reflect on the evolving learning and development landscape. Tune in for a recap of our year-long journey and a look ahead to future trends and challenges in the world of learning and development.

In this episode, we talk with David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of the L&D Podcast. Together, we discuss why traditional L&D methods fall short, and how to build credibility with stakeholders and focus on impact over delivery. You'll learn to be a Super Connector and drive value by connecting the dots between business units. Plus David shares practical advice and insights from his career to help accelerate yours.

In this episode of Is Training the Answer, we are joined by Brandon Linn, a top marketing leader and consultant. Brandon shares his expertise on how L&D leaders can enhance their marketing strategies to improve employee engagement and experience. Key topics include the significance of feedback loops, innovative ways to market L&D initiatives effectively, practical strategies for effective L&D marketing, and how to measure success.

In this episode, we dive into branding and marketing for Learning & Development (L&D). We discuss how to construct a strong internal brand, and the significant benefits of doing so, including enhancing L&D employee engagement and morale. Tune in for practical advice on building your L&D brand, aligning it with organizational strategy, and marketing it through the 'Four P's of Marketing' framework: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.  Web: istrainingtheanswer.com: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jparsell/ Rory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorysacks/

In this episode, join us as we explore the critical components of crafting successful L&D strategies, emphasizing alignment with organizational goals and mission. With practical advice and real-world examples, we'll guide you through the importance of strategic planning and adaptation in driving business success. Whether you're a seasoned strategist or new to the field, tune in for actionable insights on fostering a culture of continuous learning within your organization.

In this episode, we're joined by JC Quintana, founder of Dialogue-7, keynote speaker, and author of "The Speaking Frankly" book series. We discuss how to use JC's seven elements to build relationships and successfully navigate difficult conversations with stakeholders and leaders at your organization.

In this episode, Rory and John discuss the importance of building relationships outside of your Learning and development organization. We share our approach, some laughs, and things we do to build relationships with our colleagues at work.

In this episode, we're joined by Gabe Gloege Co-Founder of Cultivateme. We discuss Lean learning practices, running learning like a business, and never asking a question that if you asked your mother, she would lie to you!

In this episode, we're joined by Camille Graux, Senior Manager of Learning & Development at Dataiku, the platform for everyday AI. We talk about automation, scaling to meet demand, creating dashboards, and more!

In this episode of Is Training The Answer? We are joined by Tabitha Burnett. Tabitha is the Director of Learning & Effectiveness at MediaMath. MediaMath is a company of a little under 400 people that specializes in digital ad buying (programmatic marketing).

In this episode, we discuss leading a learning organization with Audrey Jarre, the head of learning at 360 Learning. She shares how to get employees to share their expertise, measure impact, and more!

In this episode, we are joined by Mary Remillard, Head of Employee Success and Development at HomeLight. We discuss starting a new L&D department, succeeding through adversity, and staying laser-focused on contributing to leadership's most significant needs.

Michael has dedicated his career to helping organizations succeed by creating highly engaging cultures and exemplary people processes. He worked in Learning and Development, Human Resources, and Organization Development as a Vice President and consultant.

In this episode, we interview Christoper Lind, Vice President, Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed, Host of the Learning Tech Talks Podcast, and Founder of Learning Sharks. We discuss how he dramatically changed the L&D strategy, business model, and brand at ChenMed, his perspective on ROI, and creating an invisible learning organization.

Noelle Sue Chalfant is the Director of Training at Navis, LLC, a company specializing in software solutions for global terminal operators, carriers, and ship owners. Her focus is on elevating the Navis Training portfolio of products and services. Prior to that, she co-founded iBrandConnection, a Marketing and Consulting firm specializing in digital media, team building, marketing, and technical IT consultative services.

In this episode, we interview J.D. Slaughter, Group Vice President, Organizational Development & Effectiveness at Huge. We discuss the currency of experiences, how he developed his organizational strategy, and the need to focus on where you can make a real impact.

In this episode, we talk with April Petrey, Director of L&D at ShipHawk. Throughout her career, April has supported hyper-growth that has taken companies from 250 to 1200 employees. During that time she designed and hired an international staff to support internal and external learning strategies taken.

In this episode, we interview Emily Lopez, the Director of Enterprise L&D at Pine Gate Renewables. Emily is an organizational and workforce transformation specialist with more than 20 years of experience in change leadership, talent management, and culture building. Emily holds a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbia University.

In this episode, we chat with Kristin Trujeque. A compassionate leader of Learning and Development with a background in finance, technology, and the US Air Force. With over 10 years in the Learning and Development arena and 8 years of dedicated service in the USAF, Kristin is an execution master. Through strategic planning processes and a servant attitude, she is driven to ensure the well-being, resiliency, and development of those she leads. She thrives on helping people see and grow in their potential, having led High Potential Teams, Tactical Resiliency teams, and global teams. Challenges are another puzzle to be solved with deliverables to be met as she adapts quickly to changing markets to provide favorable results consistently.

Hello, friends in this episode we interview Kyle Teague, The director of L&D at Olo. Together we discuss how to run your L&D organization as a business, make your first hire(s), and treat your learners like guests. 

In this episode, we interview David Macon, an Executive director of L&D at bridge locations. Together we discuss how to run your L&D organization as a business, build relationships, and create an amazing L&D brand. David has over a decade of experience transforming ideas into full-spectrum solutions resulting in business growth and improved performance. Empowering learning and development teams to become strategic business units that fuel profitability.

Welcome to season 2! This season we're focusing on how to create an amazing learning organization. To do this, we're bringing you interviews with L&D Leaders on the front line. We'll learn from their experiences creating an L&D brand, growing their teams, setting strategy, prioritizing requests, and showing the value of L&D efforts to senior leaders.

John and Rory recap the season with their thoughts on the conversations had, takeaways, and what they are applying in their current roles. We also give a sneak peek to season 2.

In this episode, we are joined by Tara Cohn. Tara is a Director at Wipfli, a Data Storyteller, and Analytics Translator! Together we discuss how to go from order takers to business partners, helping stakeholders & L&D identify and measure outcomes, and telling a better story with data that inspires the business to take action.

In this episode, we interview Steffaney Zohrabyan a Digital Sales Enablement Leader and Host of The Digital Adopter Series. Together we discuss the value of digital adoption platforms, how digital adoption efforts differ from training, and how to make the case for digital adoption tools and processes at your organization.

In this episode, we interview Angie Flynn-McIver, a leadership coach, author, theater director, and founder of Ignite CSP (Coaching, Speaking, and Presenting), Together we discuss how to have better conversations with our stakeholders, team members, and how to say “NO” to those tough project requests.

In this episode, we interview Pamela Acker, an Organizational Change Strategist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations to successfully achieve their change goals. Together we discuss how to use the ADKAR methodology to enhance your learning experiences, generate a desire for change, and how you can be better partners with change leaders at your organization. Takeaways: Put people first, especially in change and learning efforts. You cannot manage change or people from a spreadsheet. Build a relationship between change and learning to share the knowledge of what's going on in your organization. Managers need to be better at helping people through change. Provide managers with information about the change curve and resources to help themselves and their team navigate change.

In this episode of Is Training The Answer? John and Rory use the RICE methodology to take the bias out of prioritizing training project requests. What our takeaways are from our conversation about RICE: 1. Thinking about more than just audience size and urgency when prioritizing work. 2. Using a formula like RICE can help to take the emotion out of project prioritization. 3. Implementing a project prioritization framework can help you to have better conversations with stakeholders and the business about the value of new and existing work. Prioritization for project managers: https://www.intercom.com/blog/rice-simple-prioritization-for-product-managers/

In this conversation we'll talk with Zach about his career journey from L&D to Product Marketing, learning about how he uses L&D resources to train his internal staff and external clients, we'll also learn about what Product Marketing does and how we can be better partners through a great understanding of their goals and needs. You can learn more about Zach on our website, IsTrainingTheAnswer.com where we have a bio and his socials if you want to connect with him or maybe even follow up with him on something you heard in the podcast.

In this episode, John and Rory sit down with Troy Chen. Troy is the Senior Director of Account Management at Bloomreach and shares how he and his team interact, utilize, and succeed with the help of L&D.

In our very first episode of John and Rory discuss Cathy Moore's delivery framework, aptly titled: ‘Is Training Really The Answer'. We talk about the simplicity of the framework, whether we think such a framework can do what it is designed to do, and what we think the real takeaway of this framework really is. You can view the flowchart here: https://blog.cathy-moore.com/2013/05/is-training-really-the-answer-ask-the-flowchart/ You can reach out to John and Rory through the website: istrainingtheanswer.com

Welcome to Is Training The Answer? A podcast about answering L&D's most asked question. Join John and Rory to get a lay of the land. How this whole thing came to be, where we are going, what we hope to learn, and who we are. Visit our website at istrainingtheanswer.com