Design learning that earns attention

Design learning that earns attention

From How to Make a Leader by Big Think+

January 15, 2026 · 17 min · Episode 19

About this episode

Jonny Thomson discusses strategies for capturing learners' attention through microlearning.

Jonny Thomson isn’t an L&D professional. He’s someone who’s spent years figuring out how to earn learners’ attention. After teaching philosophy in Oxford, Jonny shifted to short-form educational content, building an audience of over two million people across social platforms. He’s spent years capturing attention, encouraging curiosity, and making learning content that resonates with his audience and followers of Mini Philosophy . In this conversation, he talks about microlearning as less of a format, and more of an activation tool. A tool that can capture attention and curiosity, and points learners toward deeper exploration. If you’re responsible for designing, enabling, or influencing learning at scale, this episode will provide practical ways to use microlearning more deliberately. Things to listen for: (00:00) Introducing Jonny Thomson (03:04) How to capture attention in 90 seconds (05:31) Why learning remains human (06:56) How to make microlearning feel natural and not forced (07:49) Everyday moments that create authentic learning (08:19) Three things to make microlearning succeed (12:15) The three virtues of a successful leader About Jonny Thomson: Jonny Thomson taught…

People in this episode

Guest: Jonny Thomson

Topics covered

  • microlearning
  • attention
  • curiosity
  • educational content
  • learning design

Keywords

  • microlearning
  • attention
  • curiosity
  • learning design
  • educational content

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mini Philosophy, Big Think

Places: Oxford

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