Talent Talks

Hosted by TalentLMS

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The world of work is changing fast. From AI to people-first mindsets, L&D is evolving. And so are the challenges. Talent Talks is your go-to space to pause, learn, and sometimes unlearn what L&D can look like today. Hear from the experts shaping the now - and the next - of L&D, HR, and everything in between. Talent Talks is brought to you by TalentLMS. For the full transcript and related resources visit talentlms.com/podcast

Listen to episodes

37 recent

August 19, 202634 min

36. Self-Directed Learning: Why Your Employees Are Training Themselves with Bob Mosher

Are employees already training themselves faster than organizations can keep up? In this episode, we're joined by Bob Mosher, Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies, to explore why most learning is now self-directed, informal, and happening in the flow of work and what to do to support it. We discuss the importance of context, striking the balance between autonomy and accountability, and how leaders can coach performance rather than simply giving direction. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

July 22, 202633 min

Agile L&D: Fast and Adaptive Training at the Speed of Business with Natal Dank

Is perfect training becoming the enemy of useful training? In this episode, we sit down with agile L&D expert Natal Dank to discuss why organizations need to stop waiting for certainty and start embracing experimentation. We explore how learning teams can reduce bottlenecks, respond to change faster, and turn speed to skill into real business impact in an increasingly unpredictable world — without over-building solutions that are outdated before they launch. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

June 17, 202636 min

35. Skills Visibility: Why Capability Is Now a Business Metric with Shannon Tipton

Why do most companies lack real skills visibility even after investing heavily in training? In this episode, learning strategist and skills-mapping expert Shannon Tipton joins us to explore why most organizations still can't connect the skills they're building to the outcomes they need. We dig into where skills mapping falls apart in practice — from onboarding and internal mobility to the metrics that tell you whether capability is growing, not just whether training got done. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

May 20, 202635 min

34. The Manager Multiplier: Bringing Development Into the Flow of Work with Al Dea

Why do so many managers feel unprepared to develop their teams when it's a core part of their role? In this episode, we sit down with leadership expert Al Dea to explore why managers are the missing link in developing talent and how we can equip them to make sure learning happens organically in the flow of work. From simple practices like "bullpen" sessions to building a culture of everyday development, we unpack how managers can move from overseeing performance to actively growing their teams and advocating for them when they're not there. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

April 29, 202631 min

33. The L&D subtraction strategy: Why simplification wins with Lavinia Mehedintu

What if the biggest problem in L&D right now isn't a lack of learning but too much of it? In this episode we chat to Lavinia Mehedintu, co-founder of Offbeat, to explore why more content doesn't always lead to better performance. From challenging the "content creation factory" model to making the case for saying no, we unpack what it really takes to simplify learning without losing impact. Along the way, we dive into the role of skills visibility, smarter metrics, and why focusing on real business problems—not just more training—might be the key to building capability that actually sticks. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

March 18, 202633 min

32. Solving the Training Impact Mystery with "L&D Detective" Kevin M. Yates

In this episode, we sit down with self-described "L&D Detective" Kevin M. Yates to uncover what it really takes to prove the impact of learning. We explore why traditional L&D metrics only tell part of the story, how to design training around business performance, and why L&D professionals need to think like performance consultants rather than order takers. Kevin also shares practical questions that help uncover real performance gaps and explains why training is sometimes only one part of the solution. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

February 18, 202640 min

31. AI in L&D: Beyond the Buzzwords and Gimmicks with Donald Taylor

In this episode, we talk to Donald Taylor, one of the most influential voices in global L&D and a long-time authority at the intersection of learning and technology. From the dangers of the "AI efficiency trap" to why L&D teams need to move beyond being a content house, we explore where AI genuinely adds value, where it creates risk, and how learning leaders can stay relevant as expectations shift. A grounded, honest conversation about using AI in L&D with purpose, not hype. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

January 14, 202636 min

30. L&D in 2026: Learning Debt, AI, and Transformation with David Kelly

As work continues to transform, L&D in 2026 is being forced to rethink how it supports people on the job. In this episode, we sit down with David Kelly - longtime industry analyst and influential L&D thinker - to dig into our Annual TalentLMS Benchmark Report. We unpack why learning debt is rising, why legacy L&D models are breaking under modern work demands, how AI should raise the ceiling of human work, and why skills matter more than job titles. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

November 19, 202538 min

29. Quiet Cracking: The Hidden Crisis in the Workplace with Lia Garvin

You've heard of Quiet Quitting—but what about Quiet Cracking? We talk to leadership expert Lia Garvin about the growing number of employees who are still showing up but quietly coming undone. Drawing on data from the TalentLMS survey that coined the term, we explore what's driving this pressure — from AI disruption to economic instability — and how companies can respond. Plus, Lia shares practical ways managers can spot the signs, support their high performers, and stop Quiet Cracking before it starts. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

October 22, 202540 min

28. Knowledge mapping: Surfacing employee strengths with Julia Phelan

What if your team's most valuable skills aren't written down and the people who have them don't even realize it? In this episode, learning strategist Julia Phelan joins us to unpack knowledge mapping — a practical way to uncover hidden employee skills. Learn how mapping your organization's knowledge can streamline onboarding, open avenues for internal mobility and create a more transparent company culture. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast