The Women Talking About Learning Podcast

You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website womentalkingaboutlearning.comYou can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi.Or you can email us via hello@llarn.comFull episode resources at womentalkingaboutlearning.comGuests:Laura Paget is the founder of Novature Solutions, a people strategy consultancy for scaling businesses. She works with founders who are spending too much time solving people problems that should never reach their desk, building the structure and systems that free them to focus on growth. With a career spanning Aldi, Evri and Just Eat Takeaway.com, she has spent over a decade building people systems that allow businesses to scale without falling apart. A trained CQ practitioner, Laura helps businesses build onboarding, development and retention strategies that are both people and profit focused. linktr.ee/novaturesolutions linkedin.com/in/laura-macfarlane-novature-solutionsHannah Frame is a creative and tech-savvy L&D professional who enjoys making learning inclusive, collaborative and impactful. From launching innovative bespoke learning apps to designing award-winning VR training experiences, Hannah is passionate about using cutting-edge tools and technology to enable collaborative, peer-to-peer learning. She has her own podcast, Every Day's a School Day, and has led projects that have earned multiple awards and a spot on 2024 Learning Technologies' Thirty Under 30. With over 7 years of experience in L&D and a distinction in her CIPD L&D Consultant Business Partner qualification, Hannah combines experience, creativity and strategy to drive real change. linkedin.com/in/framehannahLeah-Sunshine Garrett is the co-host of AI for Equity, an intergenerational podcast she runs with her mum exploring how AI can make workplaces and communities fairer. She is also the founder of Dawn Intelligence, a safety-tech startup using real-time data and AI to help prevent gender-based violence. A survivor herself, Leah brings honesty, humour and a human lens to every discussion from ethics to equity to everyday life. She started coding at 11, DJs for fun, and believes the best ideas often start as chaotic voice notes. linkedin.com/in/leah-sunshine-g-91b643134 dawnintelligence.co.uk open.spotify.com/show/6ZSdDh62GB1BRe5H2uIbL6 open.spotify.com/show/5wYOGyXGVklrxmIl5jaRtCThank you for listening.

The Learning Podcast Festival takes place in London on 26 February 2026. Details are at https://podcastlearningfest.live.You can contact Women Talking About Learning at https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com. Support us at https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning. Email us at hello@llarn.com.This episode looks at how learning design is shifting in an AI driven world. New tools appear every week. Old assumptions keep moving. We explore what this means for people who build learning. What stays useful. What needs to stop. What comes next.Our guests work with content at scale and see the changes ahead.Gaenor Aitken Gaenor has more than 25 years in learning and development. She works in global shipping with a focus on systems training and large scale content. She is interested in how AI and short form video will change future learning work. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gaenor-aitkenKaren Cureton Karen is a social media specialist after a long career in sales and marketing. She helps organisations use platforms with confidence and keeps her approach simple and practical. Website: https://curetonconsulting.co.uk LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/karencuretontrainingKathryn (Katie) Swandale Katie is Senior Learning and Development Partner at Immediate. She has experience across teaching, apprenticeships and CIPD qualification design. Her work focuses on inclusive learning and has been recognised with collaboration and transformation awards. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kathryn-swandale Company: https://linkedin.com/company/immediatemediaLaura Giles Laura is Head of Learning at Desq. She designs digital learning for global brands and uses behavioural science, UX and storytelling in her work. Her time building MOOCs at the University of Sheffield shaped her evidence based approach. Website: https://desq.co.uk LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/laura-giles-learning-designerFull episode resources All links and references are listed on our website.https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/2025/11/25/the-more-content-one/Thanks for listening.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: hello@llarn.com Support: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning Podcast Learning Festival: www.podcastlearningfest.liveThis episode explores the intersection of fun, engagement, and effective learning. Our guests challenge conventional approaches to leadership development and learning design, sharing insights on creating psychologically safe spaces, using humour and gamification, and making learning truly memorable.Full episode resources All the links and articles mentioned are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/GuestsJess Rogers — Leadership coach with nearly 20 years of experience helping ambitious, values-driven senior leaders find their voice and lead authentically. She works with directors, VPs, chiefs of staff, and senior counsel to build confidence, resilience, and clarity without compromise.Website: https://www.jessicavrogers.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessrogerscoach/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessrogerscoach/Elaine Gosden — CEO and founder of Blue Gnu Consulting, a leadership development consultancy specialising in organisational growth. As a highly skilled facilitator with accreditations in Insights Discovery, MBTI, Hogan and Facet5, Elaine creates psychologically safe environments where teams can have authentic conversations and unlock their potential.Website: http://www.bluegnuco.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-gosden-bluegnu/Kuva — Co-founder of Emergent Learning, a learning strategist and designer fascinated by the sweet spot between fun and effectiveness. With a PhD in online learning design, Kuva explores how gamification, humour, and clever design can transform dry learning experiences into something unforgettable.Website: https://www.emergentlearning.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuvaj/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: hello@llarn.com Support: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearningThis episode explores writing, confidence, facilitation, and how learning happens inside teams. You’ll hear honest stories and practical insights from our guests.Full episode resources All the links, articles, and books mentioned are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/GuestsHannah Brown — Author of Into the Hands of Leaders and Training that Clicks. With 25 years in learning development and two design awards, Hannah helps organisations build learning cultures through leadership. • Website: https://hannahbrown.co • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahbrown-learning/Pam Hamilton — Collective intelligence expert, author of The Workshop Book and Supercharged Teams, and founder of Paraffin. Pam’s mission is to change the way the world works together, one team at a time. • Website: https://www.superchargedteams.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/workshopbook/Beth Cougler Blom — Facilitator, designer, and author of Design to Engage. Her new book, Everyday Acts of Facilitation, is due Winter 2025/26. She also hosts the Facilitating on Purpose podcast. • Website: https://bcblearning.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom/Emily Gardner — Trainer, coach, and author of The Path of the Guide. Former head of Ninety Academy, recognised at the Learning Awards. Emily supports facilitators to grow their impact. • Website: https://www.emilyfacilitates.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygardnerfacilitator/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website, womentalkingaboutlearning.com We’re on Twitter @WTAL_Podcast You can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi. Or you can email us via hello@llarn.com Episode Links: How to MC, compère, or chair events What is typically expected of a conference session chair? - Academia Stack Exchange How to be a brilliant conference chair | Universities | The Guardian Chairing Events - The Turing Way What is the Role of the Session Chair in a Conference? How to be a great conference chair—Part 1: Prepare and open the session Guidance for session Chairs - RGS Seven Helpful Tips For A First-Time Speaker 10 Attributes of a Great Chair - Leading Governance How To Chair An Event | Helen Kara How to chair at a learning and development conference Learning Technologies This week’s guests are Sarah Clayton-Jones is the founder and CEO of READ TO LEAD, delivering book-inspired peer learning experiences that develop human-skilled leaders, connected teams, and curious workplace cultures. With over 20 years’ experience leading and developing teams at global organisations including Volkswagen and Accenture, Sarah blends sharp commercial insight with a people-centred approach, to create agile, high-performing, and engaged leaders at every level. An ICF-accredited performance coach and facilitator, certified NLP and Neuroscience Practitioner, and DiSC Trainer, her unique blend of expertise brings together the science of learning and the art of human connection. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahc-j/ Sheena Whyatt is an award-winning trainer, business coach, speaker, and founder of KAPOW! Business Coaching With Impact. With over 24 years in Learning & Development, she has spent the past decade working with the Learning Technologies Conference, serving as Chairs Captain for the last three years. Sheena helps small business owners grow with clarity and confidence, replacing overwhelm with practical action. She has been shortlisted for multiple business awards in 2025 and is known for her warm humour and no-nonsense support. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenawhyatt/ https://www.kapowme.com/ https://heroes.kapowme.com/sheenas-blog Claire Doody is a change leadership expert with 20+ years of global experience in learning and organisatio

This week’s first guest is Romy Alexandra. Romy is on a mission to humanise workplaces and learning spaces to accelerate high performance cultures. She specialises in designing and facilitating transformative experiences that integrate psychological safety, experiential learning, neuroscience, and sustained behaviour change. A former Peace Corps Volunteer and Fulbright Scholar, Romy brings a global perspective and nearly 15 years of international expertise spanning 85 countries across 4 continents. She has worked with organisations across every sector - from governments to Fortune 500 companies to Formula 1 teams - helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential and build the collaborative competencies necessary for high performance. In 2024, Romy was honoured as a LinkedIn Top Voice for her thought leadership in experiential learning and workplace culture. Her work is rooted in the belief that fostering a culture of learning and psychological safety drives innovation and high performance at every level of an organisation. Romy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romy-alexandra/ Website: https://bento.me/romyalexandra One of the 30 u 30 learning technologists in the UK in 2024, Anu Roy is a senior instructional designer specialising in AI learner centred technology and design. Her design values are rooted in being inclusive, trauma informed and aligned with business KPIs. In her spare time she is an avid F1 watcher, badminton player and working on gender equity CSR projects with the UN. Her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anu-roy-inclusive-experiences-through-design-393993178/ Her contact email is : royanu994@gmail.com You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website, womentalkingaboutlearning.com We’re on Twitter @WTAL_Podcast You can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi. Or you can email us via hello@llarn.com Episode Links: Psychological Safety Daniel Ricciardo - Wikipedia Looking Ahead: Predictions for L&D in 2025 | Unboxed Training & Technology Creativity Scars — Jen Waldman Studio Your Brain on Art It takes a village - Wikipedia How L&D teams can build a learning culture that empowers individuals | Virtual College Collaborate vs cooperate (definitions and differences) | Indeed.com UK Attitude and Learning Approaches in the Study of General Didactics. A Multivariate Analysis - ScienceDirect Creating learning cultures: assessing the evidence Experiential learni

You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website, womentalkingaboutlearning.com We’re on Twitter @WTAL_Podcast You can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi. Or you can email us via hello@llarn.com Episode Links: Organisation design | Factsheets | CIPD Karren Brady's Women in Business & Tech Expo (@wibtexpo) • Instagram photos and videos Here's how you can incorporate confidence into your HR decision-making. Increase Your HR Courage: Replace Fear with Confidence 3 Fundamental Flaws of Employee Surveys and a Way Forward The new possible: How HR can help build the organization of the future | McKinsey What Is Purposeful Leadership And Why It Matters Technology and data use in HR functions | CIPD People Analytics | Factsheets | CIPD Storytelling: The Secret Weapon for HR's Influence and Impact The science of storytelling in HR: four reasons to harness its power Embracing storytelling in HR: transforming engagement and culture through the power of narrative - HRD Women In HR Network | LinkedIn One in seven HR heads believe men are better suited to top jobs | Women in the boardroom | The Guardian Full article: Employee perceptions of HR practices: A critical review and future directions Why is HR going 'under the radar' with employees? DOMINANCE OF WOMEN IN HUMAN RESOURCES ROLES AND THE RISE OF A NEW NARRATIVE. | by Clean Technology Hub Human resources - Wikipedia This week’s guests are Joanne Whitlie is a senior HR, Projects and Operations Leader with 18+ years of global experience. She founded WHR to combine her corporate background with a deep understanding of people and psychology. Joanne turns strategy into action, delivering sustainable, people-first solutions that create real impact