Welcome to the Making Better podcast where we talk about how to make individuals, teams, and organizations better. If you are a business owner, a Learning & Development professional, a manager, or even an individual contributor, this show will give you actionable insights to help improve your own performance and the performance of those around you.

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Past Episodes

Better Every Day Better Every Day

Helping Others Go From Insight to Action with Billy Saleebey

Billy has led learning and development organizations for some of the most disruptive companies in the world, including Tesla, where he was Head of Global Sales & Product Training. He is currently CEO and Co-Founder of Podify, a production company that produces podcasts, and is the host of the business podcast Insight Out.

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Transforming Your Career Through Deliberate Action w/Andy Storch

Andy is an inspiring author, speaker, facilitator, and a master at connecting people. In his quest to inspire people to be intentional with their lives and careers, he has unearthed alternative paths to success and the mounting awareness of those paths. Today, we'll discuss the pivotal need for individuals to take ownership of their career growth, the importance of empathy and curiosity as key skills in any career role, and how challenges can pose both restricting and transformative effects on employee engagement.

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Redefining Learning Technology w/ Ryan Findley

Today, in episode 48, we have the pleasure of diving into a thought-provoking discussion with Ryan Findley, Chief Learning Strategist at Learn to Win. We dig into Ryan's journey from founding educational institutions to a riveting conversation on the necessity of technology in education. We'll also talk about his bold transition of moving to the Bay Area and starting a family while getting a startup off the ground, and the insights he's gained along the way.

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Making Sense of the Mixed Reality World w/Kristin Torrence

On this week’s episode of Making Better, we talk with Kristin Torrance, an Immersive Learning Engineer who focuses on applying learning sciences, instructional design, and data science practices to create effective learning experiences. In this episode we discuss the current state of XR technology, the situations it is best suited to, and how learning teams should think about using Virtual Reality or Mixed Reality solutions. We also spend a moment discussing her involvement with the development of Learning Engineering as a process for creating more effective learning experiences.

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Navigating Digital Assets & Permissions with Ann Rollins

In today’s episode, Ann Rollins is going to shed light on an important aspect of learning content development: copyright and protected content. With the prevalence of information at our fingertips, it's easy to fall into the trap of using content without permission, but Ann is here to help us navigate the dos and don'ts of content usage. She'll explain the potential pitfalls of misusing copyrighted content and offer practical solutions to avoid breaking the law.

So, get ready to dive into the fascinating world of understanding learner needs and content development, with invaluable insights from Ann.

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Behavioral-Based Onboarding to Redefine Training with Matt Meyers

Matthew Meyers is a seasoned leadership development expert with over two decades of experience, having worked with renowned organizations such as T Mobile, Frontier Airlines, Crocs, and even TikTok. Our discussion with Matthew revolves around the importance of clear thinking, self-reflection, and questioning the information we encounter in various aspects of life, including personal decisions, business strategies, and even politics. We delve into the power of biases, the role of AI in talent development, the art of coaching, and practical strategies for effective onboarding and training.

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Unlocking Innovation & Maximizing Value w/Matthew Daniel

Matthew Daniel is the Senior Principal of Talent Strategy at Guild and has had an impressive career working with Fortune 500 companies and startups. In this episode, we dive into Matthew's experiences at the Department of Defense (DoD) and the lessons that can be learned from their talent development strategies. We'll also explore the importance of investing in employees, integrating talent development into business strategies, and the impact it can have on both individual and organizational success. Get ready for an insightful conversation packed with valuable insights. Let's dive in!

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Enhancing Talent Development by Embracing the Future of Work with Al Dea

On today’s episode, Al Dea shares valuable insights on the importance of teams, the need for good business acumen, and why empathy is key to successful learning initiatives. They also discuss the shift from episodic training to continuous enablement and the vital role of talent and development in navigating the changing landscape of work. Tune in and discover how talent and development can inspire growth, contribute to organizational goals, and shape the future of work.

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Shaping Mindset to Improve Performance with Heli Nehama Ozery

Welcome to another episode of "Making Better"! In today's episode, we have the privilege of speaking with the exceptional Heli Nehama Ozery, founder and CEO of Artemis OD, a consulting firm in California's Silicon Valley. Heli brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in leadership development, focusing on improving performance and productivity within teams and organizations. Join us as we dive deep into the fascinating world of mindset gaps and the impact they have on behavior.

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The True Value of Metrics for Effective L&D with Dr. Heidi Kirby

Welcome to another episode of Making Better, the podcast that explores how we can improve ourselves, our teams, and our organizations. In today's episode, we have a special guest, Dr. Heidi Kirby, a renowned learning and development professional with a wide range of experience in various industries. Heidi is the co-founder of Useful Stuff, a website and newsletter dedicated to providing helpful resources for L&D professionals. She is also the host of the Block Podcast, focusing on building learning and organizational culture. Today, we dive into the topic of making training useful by utilizing metrics to ensure we are truly impacting the business. Join us as Heidi shares her insights and strategies for connecting learning and development initiatives to the overall goals of the organization. So sit back, relax, and get ready to make better with Heidi Kirby.

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Making Better Managers for Today's Workplace with Eric Girard

With over 30 years of experience in improving the performance of managers and employees, Eric specializes in helping new managers successfully transition into their roles and develop their team management skills. In this episode, Eric shares his expertise on empathy, mindset shifts, and the challenges faced by new managers in the 2020s. Stay tuned as we dive into the importance of empathy, understanding personal challenges, and rethinking our identities as managers. Let's make better together.

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A Simpler Path to Learning Evaluation with Dr. Alaina Szlachta

In today's episode titled "A Simpler Path to Learning Evaluation," we have a special guest joining us, Dr. Alaina Szlachta. Dr. Szlachta is an expert in measurement and evaluation in the learning and development field. She shares insights on the challenges of measuring and evaluating learning initiatives, the importance of a consulting relationship with business leaders, and practical strategies for incorporating measurement and evaluation into content development. Stay tuned for an engaging conversation that will provide you with valuable takeaways to improve your own learning evaluation processes.

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Going from Teacher to Program Manager

In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Christy Oliva, a program manager at Amazon, who will be sharing her incredible journey of transitioning from teaching in formal education to corporate learning development. Christy's story highlights the power of scarcity as a driver for innovation and change, and the importance of finding motivation and support in making big life changes. Join us as we delve into Christy's successful transition, discussing the skills she built, the challenges she overcame, and the valuable insights she gained along the way.

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Combining Learning Theory with Practical Application w/Russell Sweep

In this episode of "Making Better," host Matt Gjertsen sits down with guest Russell Sweep to explore the fascinating intersection of learning theory and practical application. Russell shares insights on the importance of applying behavior change principles to oneself, and discusses the balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of education. They also delve into the challenges of bridging the gap between theory and practice, drawing from their own experiences and the need to communicate effectively with stakeholders and subject matter experts.

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Creating Interactive eLearning using ChatGPT w/Garima Gupta

In today's episode, our host Matt Gjertsen sits down with guest Garima Gupta to discuss the fascinating world of creating interactive eLearning using Chat GPT. They dive into the machine learning algorithm behind the ChatGPT OpenAI API, the importance of prompt engineering, and how to have deep exchanges with AI.

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Understanding the Supreme Court’s Impact on DEI w/David Rudd

Today we have a thought-provoking discussion lined up for you. Joining me is David Rudd, an expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Our focus today revolves around the recent Supreme Court decision on affirmative action and its potential impact on DEI in the corporate world. We start off by diving into the role of communications in promoting DEI within organizations, with Matt sharing his expertise in helping companies effectively express their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

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Getting Support for Your Learning Initiatives w/Sean Adams

Throughout this episode, our guest, Sean Adams, encourages a curious mindset, the desire to learn from others' expertise, and the exploration of successful outcomes and customer insights. These insights can help you identify champions for your initiatives and make a strong case for resources and support. So, if you're ready to gain the support you need for your learning initiatives, tune in to this episode of Making Better.

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You Need to Launch Your Learning Programs Faster w/Keri Barnett-Howell

In today's episode, we have an insightful conversation with Keri Barnett-Howell, a guest who shares their experiences and strategies for launching learning programs faster. Keri takes us through their journey of transforming a manual mentoring program into a scalable and successful initiative. They discuss the importance of taking action, embracing failure, and continuously learning from it. Additionally, Keri delves into the challenges and victories of implementing leadership development programs, internship initiatives, and structured mentorship.

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Dealing with Change w/Steph Bertmer

In this episode of "Making Better," host Matt Gjertsen sits down with Stephanie Bertmer, the Head of Learning and Development at Pinterest, to discuss the topic of dealing with change. As an expert in navigating change in the tech and startup world, Steph shares her insights on how to handle change when leading an L&D team. From prioritizing programs to communicating with the team, Steph provides valuable advice on making the most out of change and ensuring a smooth transition.

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The Reality of AR & VR w/Destery Hildenbrand

We have a special guest, Destery Hildenbrand, joining our host, Matt Gjertsen, to dive deep into the world of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Destery, an XR Solution Architect at Intellize, brings his extensive expertise in the learning and development field to shed light on the practical applications and future possibilities of these immersive technologies. From pilot training to upskilling in the corporate world, they'll discuss the realities of AR and VR and how they can truly make our experiences better.

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