Bring Out the Talent: A Learning and Development Podcast
Tune into The Training Associates (TTA) “Bring Out the Talent” podcast to hear from learning and development talent and partners on their innovative approaches and industry insights. In each episode, TTA’s CEO, Maria Melfa, and Talent Manager, Jocelyn Allen will chat with subject matter experts and bring you casual, yet insightful conversations. Maria and Jocelyn use their unique blend of industry experience and humor to interview the L&D industry’s most influential people, latest topics, and powerful stories. Each episode has important takeaways that will help to create a culture of continuous learning within your organization. Tune in as we Bring Out The Talent!
Episodes
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re talking about something that quietly drives almost everything at work but rarely gets measured in a meaningful way: emotion. Most leadership tools focus on what people think, what they do, or how they perform. Very few look at what people actually feel, even though emotions drive motivation, trust, engagement, and culture.
In this episode, we discuss the 12 Emotional Gifts of Leadership...
In this episode, we sit down with TTA leaders John Laverdure, Michael Aguirre, Jocelyn Allen, and Maria Melfa to explore how organizations are redefining the way they discover and engage talent, and why that shift led to the creation of TTA Connect.
Today’s decision makers want greater control over how they evaluate options. Many prefer to research independently, compare choices, and build confidence before ever entering a sales con...
Organizations invest heavily in recruiting top talent, but without effective onboarding, much of that investment is at risk. In fact, companies with strong onboarding programs improve new hire retention by up to 82% and boost productivity by over 70%. The good news? With the right approach, onboarding can become one of the most powerful drivers of culture and performance.
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Shau...
What do stalled initiatives, employee resistance, and missed business outcomes all have in common? They’re often signs that change management has gone wrong. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Carrie Quick, a senior human capital, operations, and business development leader with over 23 years of multi-industry experience. Throughout her career, Carrie has guided organizations through complex transformations, h...
Starting a new job should feel energizing, not overwhelming. Yet research shows that nearly 30% of new hires leave within their first 90 days, a costly miss that often traces back to ineffective onboarding and orientation. Even more telling, only 12% of employees believe their company provides a great onboarding experience, which means most people feel the system fails them at exactly the moment they need it most. And considering t...
What do higher productivity, stronger trust, and healthier cultures all have in common? They’re all fueled by one thing: positive leadership.
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Jason Murphy, President and Chief Consultant of JRM Human Capital, keynote speaker, executive coach, and master facilitator. For over 25 years, Jason has helped Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized firms, and mission-driven organizations un...
What do billion-dollar innovation, a global marketplace, and bold leadership have in common? They were all driven by one thing: strategic leadership.
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by John Rossman, former Amazon executive and author of Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era. John led the launch of Amazon Marketplace, now responsible for over half of Amazon’s glob...
A toxic workplace culture can drive out great employees faster than low pay, and nearly 70% of workers say culture directly impacts productivity. So, what’s quietly undermining your organization?
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, Brett Hoogeveen, Co-Founder of BetterCulture, shares how to spot and stop the behaviors that erode trust, lower morale, and sabotage performance. Brett offers a unique lens on what makes organization...
In this episode, we’re joined by Joel Podolny, CEO of Honor Education and the founding Dean of Apple University, for a deep dive into how organizations can build a culture where teaching and learning are embedded into everyday work.
Joel shares insights from his leadership at Apple, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, focusing on the concept of “experts leading experts.” We examine the challenges and opportunities in empowering top talent ...
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Olympic gold medalist and keynote speaker Connor Fields for a powerful conversation on mental toughness and resilience. As the first American to win gold in BMX racing, Connor’s story is one of grit, perseverance, and reinvention, from his historic victory in Rio to the life-changing crash in Tokyo that forced a dramatic career pivot.
Connor opens up about what it really take...
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we welcome Chad Foster, author, innovator, and leadership expert known for helping global organizations turn adversity into advantage. Chad shares his remarkable journey of breaking barriers, from creating the first CRM software for the visually impaired to guiding leaders at Google, IBM, and Microsoft. We explore the anatomy of resilience, strategies for navigating change, and practical too...
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we explore the powerful intersection of artificial intelligence and learning and development with Margie Meacham. Margie is the renowned author of AI in Talent Development, learning consultant, and a global expert in applying neuroscience and AI to transform education and performance.
Margie shares how AI is reshaping the learning landscape through personalized learning coaches, immersive sim...
Great teams make great decisions when they’re empowered to do so. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we welcome Chris Seifert, founder of Enabling Empowerment and author of Enabling Empowerment: A Leadership Playbook for Ending Micromanagement and Empowering Decision-Makers. Together, we discuss how leaders can foster shared leadership, empower decision-makers at every level, and build a culture where creativity and ownership...
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we chat with Kayvon Touran, to explore how AI is transforming Learning & Development. Kayvon has been at the forefront of reshaping training strategies, leveraging AI to enhance personalization, engagement, and measurable business impact.
Tune in as we discuss:
✅ How AI is revolutionizing L&D
✅ The challenges and opportunities of AI-powered training
✅ What the future holds for AI in corp...
Anxiety has become a pervasive issue, especially among younger generations. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, nearly 62% of Millennials report feeling overwhelmed by stress, and Gen Z-ers are not far behind at 59%. These statistics highlight the pressing need to address mental health challenges in our workplaces and communities.
In this episode of 'Bring Out the Talent,' we speak with Dr. Lauren...
In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re diving into the transformative power of technology in employee learning and development. Our guest, Bonnie Anderson, Founder and President of Anderson Training and Development, brings her wealth of expertise in instructional design, project management, and technology integration to the conversation. Together, we discuss how AI and video are reshaping continuous learning, creating engag...
In a world where the fear of failure often hinders progress, embracing and learning from our mistakes has become crucial for both personal and professional growth. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we chat with Jordan George, an award-winning HR leader, to explore how embracing failure can drive personal and professional growth. Jordan shares his "Learning Fail-osophy"—a practical approach rooted in acceptance, non...
Workplace culture is a critical factor in modern business success. Engaged employees can boost performance by 202%, while disengaged employees lead to costly turnover—around $2.9 million per day for U.S. companies. In this episode of Bring Out the Talent, we’re joined by Dr. Mechelle Roberthon, a CPTD and expert in workplace culture strategy. We’ll explore how cultivating a positive work environment drives organizational success, i...
Did you know that key influencers within organizations can boost company performance by up to 25%? These are the go-to people for the “meeting after the meeting,” and leveraging their potential can transform your business. In this episode of 'Bring Out the Talent,' we speak with Jason Anthoine, who brings 35 years of experience working with top executives to inspire and engage employees. Growing up in a blue-collar househ...
In an era where AI is reshaping industries and redefining job roles, understanding and leveraging AI has become essential for professionals across various sectors. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, AI will displace 85 million jobs but create 97 million new ones, underscoring the urgent need for digital fluency and AI literacy.
Dr. James Stanger, our guest on this episode of 'Bring Out the Talent,' is a recogn...
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