The Visual Lounge

Hosted by TechSmith Corporation

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296

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Aug 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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60 recent

September 9, 2026Episode 29933 min

Mastering Visual Storytelling for Enterprise L&D with Rance Greene

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. Rance says most training happens in fairyland, where nothing ever goes wrong. This week is a revisit of one of our favorite conversations with Rance Greene, founder of NeedAStory.com and the School of Story Design, and author of Instructional Story Design: A Practical Guide for Developing Stories that Train. Rance talks about the two ingredients every training story needs and shares a surprisingly simple trick for naming characters to make them feel like real people. He also explains when a story is the right call for training, and when it's better to skip it entirely. Learning points from the episode include: Rance builds a detailed audience profile for every training session. Their values, their current pressures, what they fear, even what they do in their spare time - not just their job title. Rance's rule for building a story - only do it if something in the learner's behavior needs to change. Stories work like flight simulators for behavior. The neurons firing during a well-told story are the same ones that fire in the real situation, which is exactly what creates that desire for resolution. Important links and mentions: Connect with Rance on LinkedIn Check out School of Story Design and Need A Story Subscribe to Rance's YouTube Channel

September 2, 2026Episode 2925 min

Learning Experience Design: Visuals, Immersion, and Practical Application with Mel Milloway

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. Bad design gets noticed instantly. Good design fades into the background. In this episode, host Matt Pierce is joined by Melissa Milloway (Mel). With over 15 years’ experience in Instructional Design, Mel now uses her expertise to build teams that design learning for tech. She talks about how heavily visual choices influence what a learner takes away from an experience. Mel breaks down how she decides what earns a place on the screen, the small details that shape a learners’ focus, and how skill cannot be built on theory alone. She also explains how she uses AI to speed up production without losing realism and previews a project that she is currently working on for the upcoming DevLearn Conference. Learning points from the episode include: Every visual choice should be intentional. If you can't explain why something's on the screen, Mel says it probably shouldn't be there. Spacing isn’t just aesthetic. Mel points to an existing UX concept called the ‘BFFs of spacing’, which explains how visual elements placed close together read as related, while elements placed further apart read as unrelated. This is often the case whether you intend it to be or not. Realistic practice, like Mel's 911 dispatcher training scenario, works because it closely mirrors the pressure and ambiguity of the real situation, so the actual moment isn't a surprise when it happens. Important links and mentions: Connect with Melissa Milloway on LinkedIn Mel's upcoming book, "Getting Unstuck in Learning Design" (available for pre-order , out February)

August 19, 2026Episode 29729 min

Why Effective Learning Needs Conflict and Consequences with Moe Ash

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. When it’s too utopian, people get bored. The best training doesn't hand you the right answer. It makes you sit with the consequences of getting it wrong. In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Moe Ash, founder of The Catalyst, an instructional design consultancy, to talk about how real consequences, not perfect answers, are what make training actually work. They explore the story structures Moe uses to build training that sticks, why realistic trade-offs beat ‘correct answer’ thinking, and why punishing mistakes can do more harm than good. Moe also breaks down why relatable, flawed characters make for better learning than perfect ones. Learning points from the episode include: Moe builds learning experiences around four classic story forms: Defeating Evil, Rags to Riches, The Quest, and Rebirth, each suited to a different kind of training challenge. Before building any story, Moe starts by asking for ‘"a day in the life’," the specific words, jargon, and moments that make a scenario feel real, rather than staged for the sake of the training. Punishing wrong answers without feedback doesn't teach people; it just encourages them to play the system. Moe's approach is rapid feedback, a hint, and room to try again. Important links and mentions: Connect with Moe Ash on LinkedIn The Catalyst (Moe's instructional design consultancy)

August 13, 2026Episode 29647 min

Why Customer Education Is Becoming the Customer Experience with Adam Avramescu

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. Don't sacrifice your own taste. Content moves fast these days. Tools can write it, cut it, and localize it in seconds. But the parts of your work that connect with people, those still come down to you. In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Adam Avramescu, fractional leader and consultant in Customer Education and Scaled Customer Experience, to talk about how AI is reshaping the way we teach and support customers. They explore where AI genuinely contributes, where it falls short, and how customer education is becoming something much bigger than courses and certifications. Adam also gets into how to build real taste as a creator, and why the best AI tools still depend on good, human-made content. Learning points from the episode include: Good documentation allows you to get your AI support tool up and running fast, Adam saw this pay off first hand with a 25% drop in tickets and over 80% of eligible questions resolved by AI during Personio's busiest time of year. AI avatars, voice, and localization have gotten good enough to lean on for things like product walkthroughs that need frequent updates, but letting customers know when they're watching something AI-assisted is key! Taste comes down to inspiration plus discernment. Adam's advice is - embrace the tools for what they help you do, but don't lose your own taste in the process, because that human judgment can't be replicated. Important links and mentions: Connect with Adam Avramescu on LinkedIn Adam's podcast on customer education, co-hosted on a rotating panel format Adam's podcast on the future of CX, co-hosted with Dee Kapila Fin - the AI support tool Adam mentions using at Personio Prefer to listen to a podcast? You can find The Visual Lounge on your favorite podcasting platform: https://thevisuallounge.buzzsprout.com

August 5, 2026Episode 29528 min

Stop Overexplaining: Storytelling Lessons from Robot Chicken with Mike Fasolo

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. "The idea is the spark, but the story is what happens after the fire starts." It's easy to have an idea. It's much harder to turn that idea into something people want to watch, read, or listen to. In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Emmy‑winning Robot Chicken writer, novelist, and podcaster Mike Fasolo to talk about storytelling. They cover how to hook an audience fast and when to trust them to fill in gaps themselves. Mike also shares how he cuts long-form livestreams down into short, punchy clips without losing the story, and what it takes to move from "I have an idea" to "I made the thing." Key learning points: Mike's approach to storytelling is to get in as fast as possible - skip the setup, find the hook, tell the story, and move on, trusting the audience to pick up on what's happening without it being spelled out. An idea on its own isn't a story. It becomes one when you find your character, work out what they want, put an obstacle in front of them, and make sure the outcome matters to the audience. When cutting a long video down into something short, Mike looks for what's most engaging to him first, then finds a cut point that works like a cliff-hanger, giving viewers just enough to want to keep watching. Important links and mentions: Connect with Mike Fasolo on LinkedIn Connect with Mike Fasolo on Instagram Mike's personal website Mike's weekly live stream on the craft and business of making comics, co-hosted with Buddy Scalera - Comic Book School

July 29, 2026Episode 29431 min

A Quick Video is Rarely Quick

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. “Could you just make a quick video?” It's not always possible. Even the shortest videos can be time-consuming without the right things in place. In this episode, host Matt Pierce goes solo to talk about what "quick" really means when it comes to video production, and why speed almost always comes with trade-offs worth understanding upfront. Matt also walks through the pinch points that slow creators down from unclear needs analysis to scope creep. He also gets into the underrated art of managing stakeholder feedback, and closes with a question every video creator should sit with - what does 'done' mean? Key learning points: Before any video work begins, complete your needs analysis. Ask yourself who the audience is, what outcome you're trying to achieve, and how you'll measure success. Skipping this step creates the "pinch points" that slow everything down later in the process. Not every message requires a full video. Sometimes a screenshot, step-by-step guide, or animated GIF will communicate the message faster and more effectively, so it's worth right-sizing the format before committing to a full production. Bring reviewers into one location, give them a specific focus for what you want them to look at, and identify a single person with final sign-off rights. This avoids the late-stage changes that come from too many voices weighing in at the wrong time. Important links and mentions: Screencast is TechSmith's platform for centralized video feedback, Matts preferred tool for timestamped comments and revisions.

July 8, 2026Episode 29335 min

Why Most Workplace Learning Doesn't Work (And What To Do Instead)

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. What is the difference between covering a topic and actually teaching it? The best L&D designers know the answer. In this revisited episode, Matt is joined by Jonathan Hill, award-winning learning manager and e-learning developer based in the UK. They talk about designing learning that really works, not just content that gets completed because it’s a requirement. Moving beyond the ‘click next’ slide mentality that holds e-learning back, Jonathan talks through how video changed his approach to design, and the key part sound plays in this. He also shares one of his most practical tools for working with subject matter experts - a simple reframe that helps surface what learners need to take away. And if you've ever wondered whether there's room for humor in compliance content, Jonathan has an interesting take! Important links and mentions: See if Jonathan can help you communicate your expertise Connect with Jonathan

July 1, 2026Episode 29224 min

What AI Can (and Can't) Do for Learning with Destery Hildenbrand

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. Riding the wave when it comes to the advancements in AI comes down to understanding one key distinction - AI generates, humans create. In this live episode, Matt was joined by Destery Hildenbrand, Learning and Development Consultant and Instructional Designer to talk about the impact of AI in L&D, keeping the human in the loop, and organizational readiness. He captures the fundamental truth about AI, it can access all the knowledge in the world, yet it doesn’t comprehend any of it. This is a huge limitation that makes the human element so valuable. Destery talks about the importance of planning where you fit while AI adapts and gains more capability. He goes into why nobody should fear AI taking over, it should be viewed as a tool and leveraged to buy more time for your unique creative input. Important links and mentions: Connect with Destery | Subscribe to Destery’s channel

June 17, 2026Episode 29132 min

What Educators Can Learn from Filmmakers

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. Is it time to move beyond the old pedagogical framework? Anybody over a certain age will conjure the same image with the phrase ‘educational film’ - death by talking head + PowerPoint. In this episode Matt was joined by Tiia Grøn, Senior Counselor and Video Producer, Nathalie Blomstereng, Senior Advisor and Learning Designer and Terje Bergli, Senior Tech Advisor, all joining him from UiT The Arctic University of Norway where the Tromsø Educational Film Festival was created. They talk about how the new generation of educators are redefining the framework through educator/filmmaker partnerships and how the diversity of formats, inspirational subject matter and international reach showcased at the festival illustrates that shift. Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 – 02:24 Intro 02:24 – 05:26 What is T.R.E.F.F and how did it begin 05:26 – 06:54 The challenges of bringing film and learning together 06:54 – 11:59 What lessons should educators take away 11:59 – 15:22 What can filmmakers do to stand out at festivals 15:22 – 17:39 What's next for T.R.E.F.F 17:39 – 21:35 The T.R.E.F.F submission process 21:35 – 27:22 Inspirations from this year's festival 27:22 – 28:40 How to find out more about T.R.E.F.F 28:40 – 31:26 Final takes 31:26 – 32:22 Outro Important links and mentions: Submit your film in early 2027: Tromsø Educational Film Festival - FilmFreeway Keep up to date with this year’s results and next year’s submission: https://result.uit.no/treff/ Follow T.R.E.F.F on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tromso.educational.film.festival Follow T.R.E.F.F on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tr.e.f.f/ Take a look at the University: UiT The Arctic University of Norway | UiT

June 10, 2026Episode 29031 min

Why Your Videos Aren’t Hooking People

Drop us a message! We'd love to hear from you. 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 Intro 01:38 – 03:08 Aaron’s key tip to improving your video content 03:08 – 06:14 Creating good hooks and engaging opening clips 06:14 – 11:16 Working with your environment for your backdrop 11:16 – 15:11 How to use sound for relatability and brand identity 15:11 – 16:17 Paying attention to your comments section 16:17 – 24:23 Aaron’s journey to content creation 24:23 – 25:30 Why finished is better than perfect 25:30 – 28:39 Speed round questions 28:39 – 29:25 Where to find Aaron 29:25 – 30:28 Aaron’s final take 30:28 – 31:26 Outro Important links and mentions: Connect with Aaron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepsnap/ Keep up to date with DeepSnap: https://deepsnap.com Subscribe to the DeepSnap channel: https://www.youtube.com/@deepsnap Follow Aaron on TikTok: DeepSnap (@deepsnap) | TikTok