Powered by Learning

From hands-on training and change management strategies to executive sponsorship and employee engagement, our guests Allison Meadows and Taylor Tagg explore practical lessons from Stratas Foods’ successful three-and-a-half-year ERP implementation. Learn how this leading supplier of fats, oils, mayonnaise, dressings and sauces kept their people at the center of the process to transform their business. 

Show Notes:

Guests Al...

What does it take to deliver impactful learning in a global, highly regulated industry? Tim Greiner, Senior Director of USP Education at the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a global nonprofit that sets quality standards for medicines, food, and dietary supplements, shares how USP delivers education at scale to ensure those standards are applied effectively across industries and regions to improve quality and protect public health.

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Sen...

Education is key to preventing damage to underground infrastructure and keeping workers and communities safe. In this episode, Common Ground Alliance’s Erika Lee and Lisa O’Leary share how their Excavator Damage Prevention curriculum is using data-driven training to change behavior and reduce risk.

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CGA’s Erika Lee and Lisa O’Leary discuss how their comprehensive training curriculum is tackling the ...

How do you deliver consistent training across a global manufacturing workforce without losing the human element? McCormick & Company, a global leader in flavor and spice, is tackling that challenge head-on. Regional Training and Development Leader Courtney Johnson Wasylenko explains how structured onboarding, on-the-job learning, and career pathways come together to support growth at scale.

Show Notes:

Courtney Johnson Wasylenko ...

At kdc/one, learning is more than a support function—it’s a driver of business performance. In this episode, kdc/one’s Director of Learning and Development Sharron Northern shares how she’s building a global strategy that simplifies complexity, aligns with business goals, and creates real demand for development.

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Kdc/one’s Sharron Northern focuses on simplifying systems, focusing on leaders an...

Artificial intelligence is changing how learning teams work, but Chick-fil-A Learning Partner Lauren LePage believes the future of L&D goes well beyond automation. Hear her thoughtful perspective on how AI combined with human insight, care, and curiosity can efficiently deliver more strategic and creative learning solutions.

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Chick-fil-A’s Lauren LePage explores what it takes to use AI responsibly without losing ...

The 2026 Learning and Development Global Sentiment Survey is here, and lead researcher and author Donald H. Taylor joins us to unpack insights from more than 3,500 L&D professionals worldwide. This year’s survey shows rising pressure to demonstrate value, evolving perspectives on AI, and the challenges shaping the future of the profession.

Show Notes:

Donald Taylor discusses what this year’s results reveal about the s...

Law enforcement training has to evolve as fast as the world officers work in. In this episode of Powered by Learning, ILEETA Executive Director Ray Merlin and Deputy Director Joe Willis share how ILEETA supports a global “tribe of trainers” focused on instructor excellence, year-round learning, and a conference built to recharge and raise the standard.

Show Notes:

ILEETA’s Ray Merlin and Joe Willisexplain ILEETA&rsq...

What does it take to scale disability inclusion across an entire workforce? In this episode, National Organization on Disability leaders Beth Sirull and Sara Walsh explain how the EnAble Learning digital training system helps organizations embed inclusion, adaptability, and workforce readiness into their everyday operations.

Show Notes:

Beth Sirull and Sara Walsh of the National Organization on Disability share how their new EnAble L...

What happens when decades of trusted learning and development expertise meet purpose-built AI? In this episode, Ken Taylor, CEO of Training Industry, and Amanda Longo, Vice President of Brand Strategy, explore TIA, Training Industry’s new AI-powered assistant, designed specifically for L&D professionals to support learning strategy and performance.

Show Notes:

Ken Taylor and Amanda Longo from Training Industry share the ben...

When done well, learning design grabs participants’ attention like a great marketing campaign and engages them emotionally and intellectually to make learning stick.  That’s the premise of “Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro,” a book written by our guests  Mike Taylor and Bianca Baumann.  In this episode, you will learn how to elevate traditional training approaches with marketin...

What does it take to build a learning culture that truly sticks? Brad Garfinkel, Vice President of Learning and Development at Members 1st Federal Credit Union shares how a clearly defined culture — grounded in the belief that “we is greater than me” — shapes everything from onboarding and frontline training to leadership development and career pathways. 

Show Notes:

Members 1st VP of Learning and Develop...

What happens when classic instructional design models meet cutting-edge AI tools? In this episode of Powered by Learning, Transcarent's Director of Learning and Development Sheldon Thomas talks about applying the ADDIE model to a modern healthcare call center environment, from multi-stage onboarding to AI-enabled simulations. Learn how his team balances speed, personalization, and strong design to deliver training that actually cha...

How does a three-person L&D team support 23,000 associates across seven states? In this episode, Chris Chappell, Director of Learning & Development at Weis Markets, shares how servant leadership, clear career paths, and just-in-time video microlearning are elevating the employee experience—and the customer experience—across retail, manufacturing, and logistics. 

Show Notes:

Weis Market’s Chris Chappell ...

The advertising agency business is rapidly changing making learning and development more essential than ever. In this episode of Powered by Learning, Sean McGlade, Senior Vice President of Talent and Learning Solutions at the 4As, shares how the association provides agencies of all sizes with innovative learning experiences that keep their business leaders, media strategists and technical and creative teams ahead of the competition...

UGI Corporation’s Global Enterprise Lead, Learning & Development Wendy Laverty shares how “Breakthrough Thinking” is reshaping leadership, structure, and strategy at UGI. She explains how a series of workshops with team members has encouraged intentional reflection, language, and a culture of curiosity that’s unlocking new solutions and sustainable change.

Show Notes:

UGI’s Wendy Laverty shares many ...

Our guest Mike Kaput of SmarterX takes us inside the new AI Academy, a membership-based learning platform for organizations and individuals. Find out how their AI Academy delivers AI literacy for all—through frameworks, certifications, and personalized learning journeys that help organizations roll out AI training responsibly and at scale.

Show Notes: 

Mike Kaput, Chief Content Officer at SmarterX  explains how they a...

We’re celebrating 100 episodes of Powered by Learning with a special conversation with past podcast guests Dr. Kristal Walker, Marjorie Van Roon, Ajay Pangarkar, Robyn DeFelice, and Connie Malamed. Together, we reflect on the past five years in L&D—AI’s promise (and limits), the rise of data-informed decisions, accountability for performance and ROI, and the renewed push for personalized, human-centered learni...

Instructional design isn’t just about what learners know—it’s about what they can do. In this episode, Dr. Karl Kapp discusses his new book, Action First Learning, and why engagement, application, and challenge are essential for lasting impact. 

Show Notes: 

Karl Kapp challenges traditional instructional design methods and introduces ideas that inspire lasting behavior change from learners. His key takeawa...