What are the insights and challenges involved in creating and sustaining a podcast about learning and development?
A conversation about transforming technical challenges into meaningful dialogues unfolds with clarity and humor.
“What we noticed was that the conversation started to go in all these different directions, and we weren’t achieving the goal of trying to get specific questions answered.” ~ John Parsell (12:53)
Episode
The conversation explores the development and challenges of creating a podcast focused on learning and development. One central theme is the evolution from an initial idea of streaming live discussions to eventually crafting a podcast, which required navigating technical, logistical, and content challenges. The podcast aims to address practical issues, like engaging stakeholders and uncovering the root causes of organizational training requests, rather than focusing solely on technical skills.
Another significant topic is how the hosts approach guest engagement and content structuring. John emphasizes the importance of clear goals, preparation, and providing value to listeners. The discussion touches on their method of using templates and curated questions to guide interviews while maintaining conversational authenticity. Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration, both with podcast guests and within the learning and development community, emerges as a recurring theme.
Takeaways
Collaboration as a foundation — Relationships are key to effective problem-solving and project success.
Podcast evolution — Original plans often shift as new insights emerge during the creative process.
Community engagement — Interacting with diverse professionals enriches podcast content and purpose.
Preparation for flexibility — Balancing structured questions with open dialogue enhances guest interaction.
Practical challenges — Addressing real-world learning and development issues requires nuanced approaches.
Tools and templates — Organized frameworks streamline podcast production and maintain focus.
Resources
Rory Sachs — Co-host and partner in the podcast “Is Training the Answer,” focusing on learning and development challenges.
Is Training the Answer? — The official site, “Is Training the Answer,” offering insights and episodes.
Twitch — Early inspiration for streaming discussions, though not pursued as the final format.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)