Episódios

  • Strategic Rest, Not Strategic Stress

    Strategic Rest, Not Strategic Stress
    Dec 5 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. What does burnout really look like, and how do we bring ourselves back from it without treating rest like another item on the to-do list? This Coffee Chat opened with an honest acknowledgment that many of us are feeling stretched thin. Between back-to-school schedules, heavy workloads, shifting priorities, and the general pace of life, it has been catching up with people. Special guest Chris Coladonato joined us to talk about rest as a strategy rather than something you squeeze in when everything else falls apart. What stood out early on was the reminder that burnout is not always obvious. Sometimes you only recognize it when you finally stop. The conversation was filled with relatable moments. People shared the signs they notice in themselves, like irritability, lack of motivation, mistakes that seem to pile up, or the feeling of being backed into a corner. Others admitted they do not realize they are burned out until something forces them to pause. Chris encouraged us to look for these cues sooner and to view rest as a practice that happens throughout the day rather than a reward you earn at the very end of a long stretch. Even small breaks create a reset, whether it is stepping outside, stretching, listening to the birds, or taking a minute to breathe without checking email. There was also an honest look at the guilt so many of us feel when we take a break. A lot of that pressure comes from old beliefs, workplace culture, or past expectations about what “busy” is supposed to mean. We were reminded that we often put as much pressure on ourselves as anyone else does. Choosing rest is choosing yourself, and that choice matters. People shared creative ways they weave in restorative moments, such as using Notion boards to track energy levels, taking tiny walks, using music, doodling, or keeping a calming activity nearby so it is easy to reach for during short pockets of time. As the chat wrapped up, the takeaway was simple. Burnout does not disappear through one long weekend or a single deep breath. It shifts when we build small practices that support us throughout the day. It shifts when we notice our signals and respond with care. And it shifts when we stop viewing rest as laziness and start treating it as maintenance for being human. Stay curious! -Shannon Video Transcript Chatbox Transcript Summary Resources Zentangle Sacred Rest Book Club Recharge-Renew-Refocus Your Toolkit Books Burnout Recovery: 15 techniques to overcome chronic stress, regain control, restore your energy and your focus by Amber Pierce Burnout Recovery Breakthrough: A Compassionate Guide to Manage Stress Overload and Build Unshakable Mental Resilience to Reclaim your Happiness by Laurie Grist I'm So Effing Tired: A Proven Plan to Beat Burnout, Boost Your Energy, and Reclaim Your Life by Amy Shah The Burnout Solution: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary by Sharon Grossman Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    42 minutos
  • Finding the Stories that Drive Workplace Culture

    Finding the Stories that Drive Workplace Culture
    Nov 28 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. What if learning and development professionals thought more like anthropologists? This Coffee Chat explored what it means to study the culture of our organizations instead of simply observing it from a distance. How do we uncover the stories, rituals, and behaviors that shape it? We began by exploring the idea of acting as storytellers. We already curate knowledge and connect people to resources, but what if we also helped uncover the stories that show who we are as a company? Culture does not live in a PowerPoint slide about values. It lives in the moments people share, the choices they make, and even the quiet in between. Several participants reflected on how remote and hybrid work have changed the way we see culture. Without breakroom chatter or hallway check-ins, those unspoken stories are harder to find. Some suggested new ways to listen, like forming engagement committees, or simply asking questions that reveal what is really happening behind the scenes. Others noted that listening also means noticing what is not being said and understanding why. We shared examples of how learning can reflect culture instead of sitting apart from it. That might mean weaving company values into course content, highlighting real stories from employees, or recognizing behaviors that model the culture we want to build. When culture shows up in learning, it starts to feel real. Toward the end, the conversation turned practical. How do we help culture grow when budgets are tight and influence feels limited? The group offered creative, low-cost ways to build connection, such as virtual movie clubs, “Be Kind” chats on Teams, cross-department highlights, and even therapy dog visits at the office. Small, human moments like these help people feel part of something bigger, and that is where culture thrives. Being a workplace anthropologist is not about changing the company overnight. It is about paying attention, capturing stories, and creating spaces where people can connect and be seen. That is how we keep the heart of an organization beating strong. Stay curious! -Shannon Video Transcript Transcript Summary Chatbox Resources Workplace Redux: An Anthropological Approach to Today’s Workplace Design by Melissa Fisher and Hana Kassem How to Replicate Water Cooler Conversations in Hybrid & Remote Workplaces by Matthew Reeves What Is Employee Wellbeing? And Why Does It Matter? Books Your Wellbeing Blueprint: Feeling Good And Doing Well At Work by Michelle L McQuaid and Dr Peggy L Kern The Pandemic Workplace: How We Learned to Be Citizens in the Office by Ilana Gershon Beyond the Workplace Zoo by Nigel Oseland Cultural Sensitivity Training: Developing the Basis for Effective Intercultural Communication by Susann Kowalski Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    34 minutos
  • Keeping the Human in Presentations

    Keeping the Human in Presentations
    Nov 22 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. Have we lost our edge when it comes to presentation skills?

    This Coffee Chat centered on something many of us have noticed. With so much attention going to AI tools and digital platforms, it is easy to forget that connection and presence are still at the heart of great facilitation. Participants shared strategies they use to spark engagement, like starting with a playful question, calling people by name as they join, or choosing icebreakers that help everyone warm up without feeling awkward.

    We also talked about what keeps a session lively once it begins. Simple tools like chat prompts, polls, and annotation help, but small human gestures often matter more. Reading the room, noticing who is quiet, acknowledging comments in real time, and keeping your tone approachable can turn a presentation into a conversation. A few trainer red flags came up too, like saving questions for the very end or reading directly from the slides.

    The group shared ideas for keeping presentations fresh. Changing visuals to maintain energy, using a co host to help with tech, and keeping each slide focused on a single idea were all crowd favorites. We also laughed about what happens when things go wrong, whether the poll freezes or the audio drops. Great presenters stay calm, improvise, and keep the room connected through those moments.

    In the end, presentation skills are not about performance. They are about building trust, showing care, and making people feel included. Technology can support that work, but it cannot replace the human element that makes learning come alive.

    Stay curious! -Shannon

    Video

    Transcript

    Transcript Summary

    Chatbox

    Resources

    Presentation Skills Self Assessment

    250 Conversation Topics

    Woodstock 1969 Playlist

    The Learning Rebels’ 22 Tips To Level-Up Your Virtual Learning Game

    How to Present Survey Results in PowerPoint

    Bingo in the classroom: A fun & educational tool

    Books

    Presentation Skills 201: How to Take It to the Next Level as a Confident, Engaging Presenter by William Steele

    The Confident Presenter: Ditch Your Fear of Public Speaking and Embrace the Stage by Ryan Millar

    Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot by Matt Abrahams

    Develop Your Presentation Skills: How to Inspire and Inform with Clarity and Confidence by Theo Theobald

    DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story by Nancy Duarte

    Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions

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    21 minutos
  • Writing for Humans, Not Experts

    Writing for Humans, Not Experts
    Nov 14 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we write learning materials that people actually want to read?

    This Coffee Chat focused on the art and challenge of writing for learning. Whether it’s job aids, workbooks, or PowerPoint slides, the struggle is the same: keeping things clear, concise, and human. The discussion centered on how to cut through the noise, remove the fluff, and make content easy to digest without oversimplifying it.

    The group shared ideas about finding the right balance between too much and not enough. Some of us worry about losing meaning when we simplify, while others admit to writing a novel for a ten-minute course. Hemingway’s famous advice to “keep it short and use simple words” came up more than once. The goal is not to strip the story away but to make sure every word earns its place.

    We also explored design choices that make written content more engaging. White space, larger fonts, and shorter paragraphs keep readers focused and reduce visual fatigue. For learners who are neurodiverse or have visual limitations, those same choices make a huge difference. Clean layouts, chunked information, and thoughtful formatting improve accessibility and make the learning experience better for everyone.

    Before long, the talk shifted to tone and audience. Good writing starts with knowing who you are talking to. Not every learner reads the same way, and not every message needs the same level of context. Sometimes people are not looking for a history lesson; they just need to know how to do the thing.

    In the end, great writing for learning is about empathy. When we focus on what learners need to understand instead of what we want to explain, everything becomes clearer.

    Stay curious! -Shannon

    Video

    Chatbox

    Transcript

    Transcript Summary

    Resources

    What Hemingway Teaches Us About Instructional Writing

    Bright Carbon monthly webinars

    Books

    The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

    Design for How People Learn (Voices That Matter) by Julie Dirksen

    Write Like Hemingway: Find Your Voice, Discover Your Style Using the 10 Rules That Guided A Nobel Laureate by Ed Gleason

    Instructional Story Design: Develop Stories That Train by Rance Greene

    Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    35 minutos
  • Managers: Champions or Roadblocks

    Managers: Champions or Roadblocks
    Oct 28 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we partner with middle managers instead of clashing with them? This Coffee Chat dove into one of the most complicated roles in any organization. Middle managers sit at the crossroads of leadership expectations, daily operations, and learning initiatives. They can be your biggest ally or your biggest barrier, often depending on how well they understand their role in supporting development. The chat quickly turned to some all-too-familiar struggles. Managers who block progress, expect new hires to be experts, or try to run training their own way. Others just don’t think helping their teams learn is part of the gig. And honestly, most are pulled in so many directions that learning ends up taking a back seat. We talked about what it looks like to shift that relationship from tension to partnership. It starts with inviting managers into the process early, giving them visibility into what’s coming, involving them in decisions, and offering easy-to-use tools that help them lead conversations about learning. One participant shared a “leader-led learning” model that made managers the heroes by equipping them with resources to guide discussions with their teams. Sometimes we toss training over the fence and expect managers to run with it, even though no one’s ever taught them how. When we bring them in, let them learn alongside their teams, and show how it connects to their own goals, the tension starts to ease. Suddenly, learning feels like something they want to be part of, not just another box to check. In the end, middle managers are not the enemy. They’re just caught in the middle. The more we treat them as partners rather than obstacles, the stronger our learning cultures become. Stay curious! -Shannon Video Transcript Transcript Summary Chatbox Resources Learning Rebels’ CTRL + ALT + BUILD: The Microlearning Lab for Modern L&D Workshop The Power Hour Tool Leader Led Learning Series 20 Ways Managers Can Create a Culture of Continuous Learning How to Involve Managers in Learning Programs3 Actionable Steps For Managers to Cultivate a Learning Culture How To Create a Learning Culture: 18 Best Practices Leaders' Critical Role in Building a Learning Culture Books Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work by Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock, and Emily Field Caught in the Middle: 5 Crucial Insights into Mastering Middle Management by Maria Simpson Leading Change from the Middle: A Practical Guide to Building Extraordinary Capabilities by Jackson Nickerson The Middle Management Challenge: Moving from Crisis to Empowerment by Alan L. Frohman and Leonard W. Johnson Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    36 minutos
  • Making It Safe to Learn

    Making It Safe to Learn
    Oct 16 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we make learning environments feel safe for everyone who walks through the (virtual or physical) door?

    This Coffee Chat explored the heart of psychological safety—what it really looks like in classrooms, workshops, and training sessions. We opened with five common mistakes that unintentionally chip away at that sense of safety: assuming hierarchy disappears, mistaking compliance for engagement, treating all mistakes the same way, ignoring social dynamics, and underestimating the learning environment itself. Each point sparked stories, strategies, and honest reflections from the group.

    We talked about how hierarchies can quietly shape participation. Managers and employees in the same breakout room, long-tenured voices dominating newer ones, or facilitators unintentionally reinforcing authority can all influence who speaks up. Small shifts can make a big difference, like randomizing groups, normalizing dissent, and inviting learners to question the content openly.

    The discussion also turned to design choices and facilitation techniques that foster safety and inclusion. It’s about creating spaces where people can engage comfortably through low-pressure icebreakers, time to think before sharing, or reflection moments that don’t force conversation.

    Physical and digital cues such as fidget toys, flexible seating, and optional camera use can help signal that comfort matters. Just as important is the facilitator’s approach; tone, timing, and phrasing can either open the door to honest dialogue or quietly close it. A quiet room is not always an engaged one, and sometimes it’s simply a nervous one.

    Building psychological safety takes care, self-awareness, and consistency. The good news? It starts with small, intentional choices that tell learners, “You belong here.”

    Stay curious! -Shannon

    Video

    Transcript

    Transcript Summary

    Chatbox

    Resources

    5 Psychological Safety Mistakes That Kill Learning (And How To Fix Them)

    How to Foster Psychological Safety on Your Teams

    Promoting Psychological Safety Toolkit

    Books

    Safe Spaces, Strong Minds: Nurturing Mental Wellness In Educational Environments by Leanndra Yates

    Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces: Diversity and Free Expression in Education by John Palfrey

    Safe Spaces by Lisa McAdams

    Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    38 minutos
  • Champagne Learning on a Beer Budget

    Champagne Learning on a Beer Budget
    Oct 9 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we keep creating “champagne learning” when we’re working with a tap-water budget? On this episode of the our Coffee Chat, the topic was all about getting scrappy, smart, and a little bit creative with the tools we already have. It’s that time of year when budgets tighten, priorities shift, and somehow the expectation still remains to deliver polished, high-impact learning. The challenge? Making it sparkle without spending a fortune. The group shared clever ways to stretch every dollar—using project management tools like Smartsheet, Trello, or Asana for learning paths and workflows. Others found creative substitutes for full-blown LMS platforms by using SharePoint, Confluence, or even Google Sites to organize and deliver learning content. It was proof that innovation often comes from limitation. We also explored design tools that do more than their job description. Canva and Vengage stood out for creating beautiful workbooks, infographics, and learning assets, while newer AI tools like Notebook LM and Napkin AI opened doors for curation, quick visuals, and even podcast-style learning recaps. When paired smartly, free and low-cost tools like these can create the illusion of a big-budget experience. The conversation wrapped with a simple reminder—great learning design isn’t about price tags, it’s about creativity and resourcefulness. Whether you’re repurposing tools, experimenting with AI, or reimagining what “good” looks like, the goal is the same: to make learning feel valuable, no matter the budget. Stay curious! -Shannon Video Transcript Transcript Summary Chatbox Resources Notebook LM Overview Cost-Effective Training: Leveraging Free Tools And Resources From AI to Interactivity: What’s New (and Next) in Canva Figjam: A collaborative online whiteboard that helps teams brainstorm, map out ideas, and create training workflows in real-time. 7 Taps: A mobile-first microlearning platform that lets you quickly create short, engaging learning modules with no design skills required. Napkin.AI: An AI-powered tool that helps visualize and map out complex ideas or concepts into simple diagrams and knowledge graphs. Manifestly: A checklist and workflow automation tool that helps streamline recurring training processes and improve accountability. Camtasia: A powerful screen recording and video editing software ideal for creating polished instructional videos and tutorials. Genially: A versatile tool for creating interactive presentations, infographics, and training materials with built-in gamification. H5P: An open-source tool that enables you to create interactive learning content—like quizzes, presentations, and videos—directly in your LMS or website. Slidemodel: Offers professional PowerPoint templates that help educators and trainers quickly build visually appealing slide decks. Screencastify: A browser-based screen recorder that allows you to create quick, shareable video tutorials directly from Chrome. Vyond: A user-friendly platform for creating animated training videos that explain concepts clearly and boost learner engagement. Wellsaid: Uses AI voice technology to turn text into realistic voiceovers, perfect for narrating training videos and eLearning content. Envato: A marketplace offering templates, graphics, and stock assets to enhance the visual design of training materials. Amazon Polly: Converts text to lifelike speech using AI, allowing you to add natural-sounding voiceovers to training content. Intellum: A comprehensive learning management platform that supports scalable employee, customer, and partner education programs. Books Instructional Design on a Shoestring by Brian Washburn Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology by Robert A. Reiser, Alison A. Carr-Chellman, and John V. Dempsey 50 Ways to Speed Up Instructional Design with AI (Training with AI) by Steve Rosenbaum Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    39 minutos
  • More Than PowerPoints: The L&D Visibility Challenge

    More Than PowerPoints: The L&D Visibility Challenge
    Sep 30 2025
    It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we make L&D visible in our organizations—and actually get recognized for the value we bring? It quickly became clear this touches a nerve for all of us. We hesitate to promote ourselves because it feels too "salesy," like we're used car salesmen. But here's the truth—if we don't advocate for our work, no one else will. And we've all been there: when something goes wrong, training gets blamed. When it goes right? Crickets. The conversation turned to building a real department brand. Some in the group already have mission statements and logos in place, while others are starting from scratch or rebuilding after restructures. But a mission statement can't just sit on a wall—it needs to show up everywhere, from first slides to intranet pages, so people know what you stand for. We also tackled the vocabulary trap. Talking about "blended learning" doesn't land the way "reducing lost-time injuries" or "getting people back to work faster" does. Listen to what metrics matter to leaders, then connect your work to those outcomes in their language. Here's the reality: you already have a brand whether you're managing it or not. Right now it might be "the tick-a-box people" or "the PowerPoint people." Changing that perception takes intentional action—sharing relevant articles with stakeholders, asking to give five-minute updates in meetings, contributing to projects outside L&D. And the biggest piece? You have to ask for visibility. Ask what people say about L&D when you're not in the room. Because no amount of branding fixes a disconnect if you're not part of the conversation. So what's one step you can take this week to make your L&D work more visible? Stay curious! -Shannon Video Chatbox Transcript Transcript Summary Resources Be Seen Branding Action Sheet VA L&D Site Crafting Your Brand Workbook Job Opportunity: Entry Level Instructional Designer Role at the University of Arizona Jason’s Spotify Playlist after his prom chaperone experience! If you found value in this week’s coffee chat, please take a minute to leave a Google Review. Your feedback helps others discover our events and keeps the Coffee Chats brewing (will include in email as well). Books The Complete SEO Guide: Boost Your Online Business Visibility with SEO by Andrea Bensaid Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want by Alexander Asterwalder Internal Branding: Growing Your Brand from Within By Jerome Joseph Upskill, Reskill, Thrive: Optimizing Learning and Development in the Workplace by James McKenna The Learning and Development Book: Change the way you think about L&D by Tricia Emerson and Mary Stewart Be part of the Community. Gain more valuable resources to build your skills! Learn more here. Join the conversation Be part of the live chat! Sign up here. Hire Learning Rebels When you need learning that sticks, we’ll fight to make performance results happen. Visit the Learning Rebels website to learn more Host: Shannon Tipton Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions
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    36 minutos