Don’t Just Click ‘Start’: Know Your Audience Before You Train

In this episode of JuvoHub, industry veteran Doug Chasick joins Jonathan Saar to discuss one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of training and education: truly knowing your audience. From tailoring content to specific job roles, to fine-tuning technology for virtual delivery, Doug unpacks how understanding your learners directly impacts retention, engagement, and long-term success. With decades of experience, Doug shares practical strategies that help trainers, educators, and leaders avoid “check-the-box” learning and instead create training that sticks. 00:00 – Introduction and Welcome01:17 – Who this episode is for: Trainers, speakers, and educators02:34 – The biggest mistake in training: Assuming the need04:55 – The five moments of learning need07:45 – One size doesn’t fit all – how to truly read your audience10:18 – Adapting content for virtual audiences12:13 – Pre-training research: The questionnaire method14:31 – The age of authenticity and why it matters17:01 – Tech Tips: Microphones, filters, sound quality, and pre-production20:54 – Why bad tech leads to distraction and poor retention24:14 – Tech tools, cheat sheets, and platform-specific guidance27:31 – Setting expectations before the training starts30:47 – Training is a process, not an event32:45 – Real-life stories of missing the mark due to lack of audience research34:58 – Final thoughts and wrap-up Building Stronger Learning Experiences The heart of effective training is connection—knowing who your audience is, what they need, and how best to reach them. Doug reminds us that training is not a one-size-fits-all event, but an ongoing process that requires adaptability, preparation, and authenticity. Whether it’s investing in better audio equipment, rethinking content for different job roles, or simply asking the right questions before a session begins, every small step adds up to a stronger, more impactful learning experience. Class Dismissed! [powerepress]