The Visual Lounge

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Visuals and videos are powerful, but creating them can feel overwhelming. Yet they are essential to creating content that impacts understanding, helps improve communication, and can save you and the viewers time and money. The Visual Lounge is a place where we talk about creating and using visuals and videos for all sorts of communication. Whether you’re creating a course to help your organization roll out new software, an educator learning to better communicate with your students, or a marketer helping your customers see the impact of your product, our conversations will help see how visuals can impact your work. Listen in as Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador, leads you through a variety of conversations with industry guests and experts. You’ll get practical advice and insights to help you to create better and more impactful images and videos.

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June 10, 202631 min

Why Your Videos Aren’t Hooking People

You don't need better gear, a better location, or a better idea. You need to get out of your own way.In this revisited episode, Matt sits down with Aaron King, DeepSnap content creator, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and former professional athlete to talk about what it really takes to grab someone's attention before you've said a word.Aaron gets into why the things most creators obsess over are usually the last things that matter, and what to focus on instead.He also talks about his journey to content creation, including overcoming injury as a professional sports player and the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Detailing what led him to move into his car and begin driving around taking pictures and creating.He emphasises the power of connection and manifesting creativity. Going on to explain how ‘just showing people’ gave him a new career path.Aaron's main take is to stop overthinking your content, just put something out there. Finished is always better than perfect.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:38 Intro01:38 – 03:08 Aaron’s key tip to improving your video content03:08 – 06:14 Creating good hooks and engaging opening clips06:14 – 11:16 Working with your environment for your backdrop11:16 – 15:11 How to use sound for relatability and brand identity15:11 – 16:17 Paying attention to your comments section16:17 – 24:23 Aaron’s journey to content creation24:23 – 25:30 Why finished is better than perfect25:30 – 28:39 Speed round questions28:39 – 29:25 Where to find Aaron29:25 – 30:28 Aaron’s final take30:28 – 31:26 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepsnap/Keep up to date with DeepSnap: https://deepsnap.comSubscribe to the DeepSnap channel: https://www.youtube.com/@deepsnapFollow Aaron on TikTok: DeepSnap (@deepsnap) | TikTok

June 3, 202628 min

Building Educational Videos for YouTube That Work

When you solve your own learning problems, you can accidentally build the resource everyone else was missing.In this episode, Matt sits down with Taim Dawod, a medical doctor from Norway who started a medical education YouTube channel in his first year of med school.Taim gets into his background studying anatomy and the problems he faced with the delivery of the learning. He goes on to explain the techniques he developed to solve those problems and how that led him to becoming a full-time content creator.He also talks about his view on the traditional lecture format in university teaching, and where it falls short for many students. He points out the gaps that are created through disjointed delivery and the importance of ‘the why’ when communicating complex topics.Taim’s main take is that everybody has something valuable to teach. There is someone out there that will benefit from what you have to say, and you will continue to sharpen your own knowledge along the way.Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 – 01:42 Intro01:42 – 05:42 Taim’s medical background and journey to content creation05:42 – 08:14 Outsourcing vs. the journey of doing everything yourself08:14 – 11:13 The benefits of keeping consistent11:13 – 15:11 Communicating complex topics15:11 – 17:59 Visual mediums and the art of being concise17:59 – 19:10 The importance of ‘the why’19:10 – 21:34 Open education award and why learning should be free21:34 – 23:28 Helpful take away from Tromsø23:28 – 24:43 Taim’s final piece of wisdom24:43 – 26:50 Where to connect with Taim and upcoming book release26:50 – 27:35 Taim’s final take27:35 – 28:51 OutroImportant links and mentions: Subscribe to Taim Talks Med: https://www.youtube.com/@TaimTalksMedFollow Taim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taimtalksmed/Taim’s video on Sepsis and Septic Shock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVy_7shA3RM&t=117srb.gy/uoikzb

May 20, 202630 min

The Real Role of Instructional Designers After AI

When content generation becomes fast and frictionless, do learning specialists need to be involved at all?In this episode, Matt sits down with Tim Slade, Speaker, Author and Founder of The eLearning Designer's Academy who discusses the human vs. the automated in instructional design today.Tim acknowledges that as content generation has become easier and faster, audiences are developing digital media fatigue and how as creators we can aim to overcome this.Tim emphasizes that 'the human’ exists in ensuring that what we are ‘churning out’ is the right thing to solve the problem - should we make this? Why? What changes if we do? He argues that one part of the work still can't be automated, sound judgment.The conversation also gets into how most people tend to use AI for practical reasons, and how the online discourse leads audiences to believe they are somehow ‘behind the curve’ in their AI skills. Tim dubs AI a ‘replication tool’ and discusses the issues that arise from getting carried away with the capabilities available to us.The Instructional Design Handbook by Tim Slade is available for pre-order through May 29th. Pre-orders include a hardcover signed edition with a dust jacket. 10% off when you use TECHSMITH as the coupon code.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:03 Intro01:03 – 03:13 Latest book release: The Instructional Design Handbook by Tim Slade03:13 – 05:55 Becoming an intentional Instructional Designer05:55 – 07:56 What Instructional Designers need to know for success07:56 – 10:55 Improving the human piece10:55 – 13:20 Connecting theory to practical application13:20 – 14:30 What can ID professionals take away from the book14:30 – 18:25 Why AI doesn’t fit into everything we do and content fatigue18:45 – 20:57 AI as a replication tool and the problems in getting carried away20:57 – 24:22 Practical uses of AI24:22 – 25:48 AI skills are having a clear vision that you can explain25:48 – 27:51 Book release details and where to find Tim27:51 – 29:15 Tim’s final take29:15 – 30:21 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sladetim/Join The eLearning Designer's Academy: https://community.elearningacademy.io/welcomeCheck out Tim’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2CE3YBPX53oeKVsiTbhX2w?sub_confirmation=1

May 13, 202610 min

Why Video Still Feels Hard (and How Small Teams Make It Work)

Most small teams want to do more video. The hard part is doing it every week, without the crew, the hours, or the budget to make it happen.In this revisited episode, Matt sits down with Megan Torrance, Founder and CEO of Torrance Learning, to explore what it takes to make video work as a small team, and why the system she built years ago still holds up today.Megan’s team rebuilt their studio so one person could walk in, flip a few switches, load up a teleprompter, and start recording.That setup is now the engine behind Megan’s marketing videos and her stand-in client course (and the occasional goofy internal update, of course). It’s also why her team can go from ‘a client needs this course updated’ to published in a week.In the conversation, Megan also gets into why a quick video beats a memo or email for tone and authenticity, the shot lists she uses to keep editing under control, and how Camtasia’s review workflow keeps feedback on the timeline instead of in email threads.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:09 Introduction01:09 – 01:31 Megan’s background and Torrance Learning01:31 – 02:46 Outgrowing the four-person shoot02:46 – 03:29 Building a one-person studio with green tape03:29 – 04:20 The videos the new setup unlocks04:20 – 05:26 Why a quick video beats a memo, email, or Slack message05:26 – 06:11 Shot lists, single takes, and keeping post-production manageable06:11 – 06:50 Megan’s preferred tools: Camtasia’s review workflow06:50 – 09:09 From a week-long course update to more authentic marketing video09:09 – 09:58 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Megan Torrance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantorrance/Visit Torrance Learning: https://www.torrancelearning.com/Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/Listen to Megan’s first appearance on The Visual Lounge in episode 219: https://the-visual-lounge.captivate.fm/episode/making-video-production-doable-as-a-small-business

May 6, 202623 min

Turn Zoom Recordings Into Training Videos That Work

Most teams are sitting on a stack of Zoom recordings (webinars, customer trainings, all-hands sessions) that nobody ever turns into anything.Doing anything with them seems too... messy, and a lot of people don’t realize that there’s an asset there in the first place.In this episode, Matt sits down with Carson Vestergaard, Instructional Designer at TechSmith, who breaks down why the easiest training video you'll ever ship is often one that already exists in your meeting recordings folder, and how Camtasia's new Zoom integration is making that possible.Carson’s team on TechSmith’s customer education side runs this workflow every week. They pull a Zoom recording into Camtasia, and the integration automatically splits the speaker from the screen.From there, Audiate's text-based editing changes how the cleanup feels. What used to be an afternoon of manual work becomes a read-through.Beyond the Zoom integration, the conversation gets into Sync Audio (Camtasia’s new feature that auto-aligns multi-mic recordings without the manual clap-and-spike trick), AI noise removal that handles the leaf blower outside the window without breaking voice clarity, and the screenshot-overlay trick Carson leans on to keep tutorials current long after the original UI has moved on.Carson also shares a few insider tricks for keeping the viewer's eye where you want it, from cursor zooms to on-screen highlights.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 00:57 Intro00:57 – 02:34 Carson’s career path:02:34 – 03:54 The most underrated editing skill03:54 – 06:47 Inside Camtasia’s new Zoom integration06:47 – 10:12 Cleaning up a webinar with Audiate’s text-based editing10:12 – 14:18 Layouts, the cursor caveat, and why this is Zoom-only14:18 – 17:38 Sync Audio and AI noise removal in loud rooms17:38 – 20:43 Multi-take editing and why videos are easier to update than you think20:43 – 22:30 Carson’s favorite tools22:30 – 23:02 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with TechSmith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsmith/Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/Explore Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/Learn more about Audiate: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/audiate/

April 29, 202632 min

From Order Taker to Strategic Partner with Tracie Cantu

The business is your customer. The learner is your consumer. If you’ve been thinking about it the other way round, this episode will make you think a little differently.Tracie Cantu, Senior Learning Leader and author of Running L&D Like a Business, opens with the idea that when L&D designs for the wrong “customer,” teams end up busy, but not necessarily effective. The result is often more content with outcomes that don’t match.Think learning needs to be formal? Think again. A post-it note on a monitor can be learning if it helps someone do their job, because in some cases, the best L&D output is a job aid, not a course.Governance comes up as well, which Tracie describes it as bowling alley bumper guards. The structure helps teams make decisions without waiting for approval at every step.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:06 Introduction01:06 – 03:29 Tracie’s book and why she wrote it03:29 – 07:05 The difference between a customer and consumer07:05 – 09:07 Choosing the right format for the right moment09:07 – 13:41 AI, job loss, and the rise of L&D business partners13:41 – 20:59 Letting go of the wheel and empowering others to self-serve20:59 – 24:41 Governance, intake management, and treating learning like a portfolio24:41 – 27:11 The 72% onboarding data and proving learning impact27:11 – 29:15 Brag like the sales team29:15 – 30:37 Where to find Tracie30:37 – 32:22 OutroImportant links and mentions:Buy Tracie’s book: https://traciewroteabook.com Visit Tracie’s consulting firm: https://yourclo.netConnect with Tracie Cantu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemcantu/Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

April 15, 202630 min

How to Tell Better Visual Stories (That Actually Connect) with Stuart Cohen

What if the most powerful thing in your video has nothing to do with your camera, your software, or your budget?In this episode, Matt sits down with Stewart Cohen, a filmmaker and photographer whose work spans brands like Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Gatorade, to explore what it really takes to tell a visual story that resonates.Stewart does a lot marketing work, where 30 seconds is sometimes all you get. But he thinks that constraint can actually be one of the best creative teachers. When every cut has to earn its place, you stop overthinking and start being clear.Stewart talks through how he draws authentic moments out of people on camera. and why pre-production is often where the real work happens. He’s also talks through something most experienced filmmakers hesitate to say out loud. Sometimes you have to spoon-feed your story to make sure it lands.He also gets into what virtual production is already making possible, including a music video that looked like it was shot across five continents, wrapped in a single day. And he shares his take on where AI fits into all of this, even when that means handing off a project entirely.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 00:47 Intro00:47 – 02:46 Stewart’s background and career in commercial filmmaking02:46 – 05:07 Asking the right questions and finding everyone’s story05:07 – 07:09 Using constraints to sharpen your storytelling07:09 – 10:01 Stewart’s mental checklist for location scouting and building a shooting board10:01 – 11:34 Why visual quality matters and holding viewer attention11:34 – 16:48 Working with stakeholders and getting aligned before shoot day16:48 – 17:51 AI’s growing role in filmmaking17:51 – 19:31 Spoon-feeding your story — don’t assume viewers will follow19:31 – 23:09 Virtual production walls, budgets, and how technology is changing filmmaking23:09 – 25:24 Advice for everyday video creators25:24 – 27:21 Speed round27:21 – 27:56 How to connect with Stewart27:56 – 28:48 Stewart’s final take28:48 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartcohen/Visit Stewart’s website: https://www.stewartcohen.com/Find Stewart on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scpictures/

April 8, 202638 min

From Med School to 350K+ Subscribers: Teaching That Actually Works

Teaching isn’t the reward you get after you’ve learned something. For Taim Dawod, it’s been the learning method itself.In this episode, we revisit a conversation with Taim Dawod, a medical doctor from Norway who started a medical education YouTube channel in his first year of med school, with no experience in video, editing, or teaching online. What started as a way to make anatomy easier to study for himself grew into a channel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers.The conversation gets into how Taim’s visual way of learning shapes everything he creates, and why adding animations was the moment his audience really started to connect. He also talks about working through a full medical curriculum one topic at a time alongside hospital shifts.He walks through his 7-step process for making medical education videos. And his approach to consistency is simpler than you’d think. One hour a day, even if it’s just one sentence, is what keeps him going.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:48 Intro01:49 – 02:33 Taim’s background as a medical doctor and content creator02:34 – 04:12 Taim’s #1 tip: start without experience04:13 – 07:20 Why the channel started as a visual learning tool07:21 – 11:37 The turning point: animations and 3D visuals11:38 – 17:10 Choosing topics and working through a curriculum17:11 – 21:25 Taim’s 7-step process for creating educational videos21:26 – 26:27 Building a sustainable habit: one hour a day26:28 – 28:57 Tips for aspiring educational content creators28:58 – 36:17 Speed round questions36:18 – 37:44 Taim’s final take and where to find him37:45 – 38:44 OutroImportant links and mentions:Subscribe to Taim’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TaimTalksMedFollow Taim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taimtalksmed/Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

April 1, 202633 min

What the Global L&D Survey Reveals About the Future of Learning (with Donald Taylor)

We’re in a pivotal moment for learning and development. But is the industry ready for what comes next?In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt sits down with Donald Taylor to unpack the latest findings from the Global Sentiment Survey, one of the longest-running studies tracking trends in L&D, which he co-authored.With nearly 3,800 responses from over 100 countries, this year’s survey reveals how the conversation around AI is changing. The rapid rise hasn’t stopped, but it has slowed, and what’s emerging in its place is quite complex.AI still leads as the top trend, but the conversation is shifting. Concerns around job security, ethics, and long-term impact are becoming harder to ignore, while the pressure to prove value is rising fast. At the same time, areas like learning analytics are starting to slip.Throughout the discussion, Matt and Donald unpack what’s driving both the excitement and the uncertainty, from that growing need to demonstrate impact, to why some of the most traditionally important areas are also the ones being left behind.They also dig into what this moment means in practice. Not just how AI is being used day to day, but how it’s starting to reshape the role of L&D itself.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 00:35 - Intro00:35 - 01:40 - What is the Global Sentiment Survey?01:40 - 02:46 - Why the rise of AI is starting to slow down02:46 - 04:27 - Rising survey annual response rates and what they tell us04:27 - 06:52 - How AI in L&D is currently being used06:52 - 10:09 - AI in L&D: the drivers behind industry pushback and excitement10:09 - 13:43 - How priorities in L&D are changing13:43 - 15:33 - The rising pressure on professionals15:33 - 18:57 - Marketing in L&D and predictions of a data-driven future18:57 - 21:13 - Why “showing value” is paramount today21:13 - 24:52 - The core groups of respondents for the Global Sentiment Survey24:52 - 26:29 - Next steps and future plans for the Global Sentiment Survey26:29 - 27:28 - Tracking global trends within the L&D industry27:28 - 31:20 - Navigating emerging industry shifts31:20 - 32:20 - Donald’s final take32:20 - 33:05 Matt’s outroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Donald Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/Visit Donald Taylor’s website: https://www.donaldhtaylor.co.ukCheck out the 2026 Global Sentiment Survey Report: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/

March 18, 202625 min

How Project Managers Can Use Video to Save Time and Improve Communication

What if video could shave 20 minutes off your leadership meetings and help your team come prepared with the right questions?In this episode, Matt sits down with Chris King, Principal Consultant at CRK Learning LLC, to explore how project managers working in L&D can use video to communicate more effectively.Chris manages a multimillion-dollar e-learning project with a team of around 25 people, and he’s found that recording video walkthroughs of spreadsheets, creating how-to videos for SMEs, and sharing quick video updates in place of emails can transform how a project runs.The conversation covers Chris’s take on the three core types of PM communication, the tools he relies on day-to-day, and why working with the right team matters as much as having the right process.Chris also shares his thoughts on using visuals in presentations, why he prefers icons and process flows over cinematic imagery, and what the future of AI-driven video could look like in learning experiences.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 00:48 Introduction00:48 – 01:27 Chris’s background and PMP certification01:27 – 03:12 Being a ‘gist person’ as a project manager03:12 – 05:41 The three types of project management communication05:41 – 07:07 Chris' preferred tools: ClickUp, Excel, PowerPoint, and Slack07:07 – 09:05 Using video for project reports and leadership meetings09:05 – 10:42 Using video to onboard subject matter experts10:42 – 12:55 How teams respond to video communication12:55 – 16:16 Visuals in presentations, AI image generation, and Chris’s visual style16:16 – 18:07 Experimenting with AI video in practice modules18:07 – 20:39 Using video like an email and advice for the hesitant20:39 – 23:13 Speed round23:13 – 24:03 How to connect with Chris24:03 – 24:23 Chris’s final take24:23 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingpin/Learn more about Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/Explore Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/Learn more about Audiate: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/audiate/