The Learning Geeks Podcast
The Learning Geeks podcast is dedicated to those that passionately support the world in experiencing better learning. The podcast is hosted by three learning professionals - Bob Gerard, Dana Koch, and Jake Gittleson. In each episode, we dedicate time to talk about the things impacting the learning world including new science, approaches, technologies, and ideas. Guests will appear, popular games and movies may be discussed, and geeks will laugh.
Episodes
What's the difference between curiosity, awe, and wonder and why does it matter for learning? In this episode, we welcome back three friends of the podcast: Dr. Megan Cuzzolino, researcher and educator at Harvard's Next Level Lab, Dr. Lauren Hodges, human performance researcher, and Jessica Billiet, neuroscience-informed change leader. Together, they explore curiosity as an epistemic emotion, the relati...
Recorded live at SXSW EDU 2026, Jake and Bob sit down with Dr. Tessa Forshaw from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to explore metacognition in an AI-driven world. Tessa unpacks why our brains naturally offload thinking to AI, the power of productive friction, and what it takes to keep our own reasoning sharp. We close the show with simple strategies everyone can apply.
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Dan Bielenberg was one of the original learning geeks who spent 25 years in adult learning at Accenture. After retiring, he only deepened that curiosity. His learning path took him through seminary studies, becoming a hospice chaplain, and now coaching faculty in higher education. Dan shares how stepping away from the corporate world opened a new chapter of intentional, reflective learning. We explore s...
We're guest-free this week, so we pulled up some bar stools and went the unscripted happy hour route. We talk Bob’s move back to Chicago, the L&D pendulum swinging (again), AI hype, why hot takes suck and why you should teach instead. Plus, we discuss social media anxiety and a few other topics along the way. Pull up a barstool and join us!
David Chestnut joins us to rethink one of the biggest assumptions about AI enablement. We explore why AI isn’t a replacement for expertise, what AI is great at, what it’s terrible at, what ever happened to prompt engineering, and how context and delegation are becoming critical leadership capabilities.
00:00 Cold Open
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It’s our yearly holiday special and a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead. We reflect on the personal and professional lessons of 2025, including how AI, feedback loops, and immersive experiences are shaping learning. We also discuss the most important lesson – that at the end of the day, development is still about helping people become better versions of themselves. We wrap by looking ahead to 202...
In this episode, we’re joined by Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski from McKinsey to unpack why building tech skills is about unlocking human potential — not replacing it. We explore real client success stories and challenges with AI upskilling, the danger of ignoring human skills, why technology can’t fix broken work processes, and whether embedding AI into daily work actually improves apprenticeship ...
Longtime friend Deidra Busbee (Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase) joins us to unpack the power of your “learning posse”, or the group of people who challenge you, support you, connect you, and help you learn faster. We discuss how to build this crew intentionally, why it reduces stress and accelerates onboarding, and what roles AI has within the posse or will never replace. It's a thoughtful discussion at the relationships that f...
We’ve been talking about skills for years — but how do you make them work? In this episode, we chat with Craig Friedman about his new book, Enterprise Skills Unlocked, and explore how to move beyond common misconceptions to connect learning, data, and business strategy. Craig shares practical insights on turning skills into measurable business impact — and even tells a story about throwing away pennies. Learn more...
Jake shares some exciting news for the show - and provides a quick sneak peak behind the curtain on some upcoming episodes.
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We welcome Dr. Tessa Forshaw (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Rich Braden (founder of People Rocket LLC), co-authors of "Innovation-ish," to challenge the myth that innovation belongs only to Silicon Valley geniuses. After analyzing 80+ innovation frameworks, they discovered that most people don't recognize their own creative problem-solving abilities. We explore practical strategies for helpi...
In our Season 8 opener, we welcome Allison Horn, Head of Talent Transformation at JP Morgan Chase as our guest host for the show. We quickly reflect on eight years together and discuss the origins of the podcast. Allison leads us through a series of questions to get our perspectives on a variety of topics, including a major pop star story, how we’re using GenAI in our day-to-day work, current AI tools, ...
In our season finale, we’re tackling a question we hear all the time: How do you break into the Learning & Development field? We sit down with L&D veteran Trina Wellendorf and Lauren, a college junior exploring a future in L&D, to answer her biggest questions about:
- Different career paths within L&D
- How to land that first role or internship
- Whether grad school is worth it
- Staying current with trends like AI and...
We continue our deep dive into McKinsey's latest Learning Trends Perspective Report with authors Jessica Glazer and our co-host Jake Gittleson. In Part 2, we take a closer look into the last two of the three macro trends: responsible AI adoption and developing resilient and adaptable individuals and organizations. We discuss actions and meaning for each and implications for individuals, managers, and le...
We dive deep into McKinsey's latest Learning Trends Perspective Report with authors Jessica Glazer and our co-host Jake Gittleson. The two share an overview of the report and their deep perspective on the three key macro trends, sub trends, implications on development, and how these forces will shape the future of people development. In Part 2, we will go deeper into each area such as identifying action...
Inspired by a recent Star Wars-themed trip to Japan, Bob leads a discussion on learning and development practices that deserve to be put to rest—and those worth bringing back from the dead. Each of us shares one of each, along with our take on why. Have a listen to hear what made our list!
00:00 Cold open
00:29 Banter – Japan trip and field trips
04:47 Panel Discussion that in...
What if uncertainty was actually a spark for creativity? In this episode, the three of us explore how reframing ambiguity can lead to innovation, not anxiety. Inspired by the book Navigating Ambiguity, we share personal stories, practical strategies, and a reminder that sometimes the messiest moments lead to the best ideas.
Referenced in this episode:
Navigating Ambiguity: Creating Opportunity in a World of Unknowns by Andrea Small...
In this episode, we are joined by Majd Sakr, Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Chief Learning and Research Officer at Accenture. We learn about Majd’s transition from academia to corporate learning environments, key differences, how to measure ROI of training, the challenges of maintaining learner engagement in fast-paced environments, and experimenting with innovative learning modalities. Majd wraps up t...
We are joined by Alex Kass from Accenture Labs to delve into the future of learning and technology. We discuss various advancements such as neurosensing, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and their implications for educational experiences. Alex shares insights on how these technologies can enhance user interaction, improve the design process, and create more personalized learning environments. ...
In this episode we are joined by Melina Palmer from The Brainy Business to discuss the intersection between behavioral economics and corporate learning. We dive into principles of behavioral economics and how they can influence training and learning strategies within organizations. We get into choice architecture, reward structures, decision-making, and application within education.
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