Claim OwnershipThe Secrets of Learning & Development
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© 2026 The Secrets of Learning & Development
Description
Our podcast is designed for business leaders, managers, consultants, industry experts, and individuals who are passionate about driving change and promoting growth in their organisations or personal development.
Each episode will delve into crucial topics such as mindset recalibration, visibility, and strategic planning. We will have insightful conversations about change management and innovative initiatives that can transform your approach to learning and development.
Our aim is to equip you with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills, business acumen, and personal growth. We are focusing on our leaders and professional guests' unique journeys and the key moments that have shaped their careers. We are passionate about sharing stories that inspire, educate, and ignite a spark within our listeners
Join us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to success in the dynamic world of learning and development.
Stay tuned and get ready to be inspired!
Host Information:
Julia Bend
Executive Career Coach
https://www.premier-coaching.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bend-premier-coaching
Valerie Merrill
Learning & Development Trainer & Advisor
https://www.merrillconsultants.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillvalerie/
71 Episodes
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If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, we’re joined by Sam Isaacson, coach, author and founder of an AI-powered coaching platform that is currently being piloted within the NHS and explored by several large organisations. With a background in technology risk consultancy, Sam brings a unique lens to the evolving conversation around AI and coaching. He shares how his own shift into coaching sparked a deeper interest in...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie unpack why so many high-performing professionals delay their own development waiting for things to calm down, for space to appear, or for the perfect time that never quite arrives. Julia reflects on the hidden resistance that often sits behind busyness, over-delivering and perfectionism. She shares why growth can feel threatening when your identity is built around being competent, and how recon...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this warm and insightful episode, we’re joined by Victoria Rennoldson – global communication coach, speaker and founder of Culture Cuppa. Her journey takes us from international brand marketing to supporting leaders worldwide to communicate with clarity, confidence and cultural awareness. We explore how Victoria built a purposeful career after stepping away from corporate life, and what it takes to find your voice in cross-cultura...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie explore why learning goals matter more than ever in today’s fast-paced professional world. It’s not about rigid plans or endless courses, but about staying relevant, focused and intentional with how you grow. Valerie shares how she helps professionals cut through the overwhelm by identifying learning goals that actually support their next steps not just their current role. From daily habits to ...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S4 E3 In this episode, we sit down with Ashleigh Harvey actor, writer and confidence coach, whose career has taken her from the stages of South Africa to the West End and into a new chapter helping professionals present with confidence. Ashleigh shares how she found her voice at 11 years old in a school production of The Pirates of Penzance, and what gave her the courage to leave everything behind and move to London. She talks openly ...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S4: E2 What happens when success on paper doesn’t match how you feel inside? In this powerful conversation, performance psychologist, entrepreneur and author Baiju Solanki shares how redefining success, removing interference and getting radically honest transformed his career and his life. From walking away from a high-paying role to launching multiple businesses, Baiju speaks candidly about identity, leadership and the mindset traps...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie talk openly about what networking is really about. It’s not the awkward card-swapping kind, but the kind that leads to real relationships, unexpected opportunities and even co-hosting a podcast. From the cringe of speed networking to the value of showing up consistently, they explore why some connections last 15 years while others fade away. Valerie shares her approach to staying curious, being...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S4:E1 In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie are joined by Nick Shackleton-Jones, award-winning learning strategist, author and speaker, known for shaking up traditional thinking in learning and development. Nick shares his unconventional career journey from psychology lecturer to leading roles at Siemens, the BBC, BP and Deloitte, reflecting on how questioning the norm and embracing being a sel...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! Bonus Episode: Exploring The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning & Development, Julia and Valerie explore The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman a thought-provoking bestseller examining how AI and biotech are reshaping our world. Valerie, ever the book enthusiast, shares why this title grabbed her attention and how it’s influencing her thinking on innovation, ethics and inclusion. Together...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E:12 In this warm and compelling episode, we’re joined by Pooja – senior leader, transformation expert and passionate advocate for women in tech and leadership. Her story takes us from restarting a career in a new country to leading complex global programmes, uncovering strength in uncertainty and growth in discomfort. We explore what it means to adapt across cultures, step into unfamiliar territory and stay true to yourself along...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning & Development, Valerie and Julia unpack the role of open-mindedness in dealing with change, both personally and professionally. They explore how assumptions, like “I’m not creative” or “I’m too old for this tech”, can quietly shape behaviour and block growth, even when the tools and opportunities are right in front of us. From coaching insights to learning design, they discuss why ...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3: E11 In this episode of Secrets of Learning and Development, hosts Julia and Valerie sit down with Tom McDowall, consultant, strategist and founder of Evolve L&D, for a conversation that questions long-standing norms in the learning and development space. Tom’s career began in sales management, where he quickly saw how poor training was not only failing to deliver results, but was also letting people down. That early frustrati...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we explore a question that many senior professionals carry quietly: “Is this all there is?” It’s not about failure or dissatisfaction. It’s about the unsettling moment when success doesn’t feel how you thought it would. The promotion comes through, the goals are met, but something still feels off. Julia shares a real conversation that sparked this reflection, and toget...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this reflective bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie turn the mic on themselves to share the unexpected lessons they've learned from creating the podcast. From realising how people fit learning into their daily lives, to discovering the quiet power of voice and conversation, they explore what has made this journey meaningful — both for them and their listeners. They talk about: Why learning do...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E10 In this rich and revealing episode, we’re joined by Angela De Souza – serial entrepreneur, author of over 30 books, and founder of Women’s Business Club, a global platform championing women in business. Angela’s story is anything but conventional, beginning with a childhood snail-breeding venture and evolving into a purpose-led business movement that spans continents. We explore her unshakable belief that business can – and sh...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie share their personal journey from sitting in the audience to stepping onto the stage at the Speak & Shine Summit. Speak & Shine is a platform that helps women build confidence, raise their visibility, and share meaningful messages on stage. After watching from the sidelines, both Julia and Valerie decided to take the leap and discovered just ho...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! What if the real leadership advantage in the AI era is not about IQ at all, but EQ? In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Training Consultant Valerie Merrill and Executive Career Transition Coach Julia Bend explore why emotional intelligence is emerging as the defining trait for leaders in a world shaped by automation. They share real examples of leaders who used empathy and openness to ease anxiety around ...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E9: In this candid and engaging episode, we’re joined by Jo Cook, virtual learning pioneer, editor of Training Journal, and unapologetically curious creative. Jo shares her unconventional journey from teenage journalism dreams to discovering a passion for teaching, which sparked during a nerve-racking first classroom experience. We explore Jo’s fearless move into self-employment, her early adoption of virtual classrooms, and how cr...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3 E8: In this engaging episode, Valerie and Julia are joined by Michael Strawbridge, Global Head of Community at the Learning and Performance Institute, whose unique journey from professional actor to L&D leader offers rich insights into confidence, connection and the power of asking questions. Michael shares how his stage training continues to shape his approach to public speaking, virtual engagement and leadership presence. He ...
If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S3:E7 In this episode, we sit down with Stella Collins, co-founder of Stellar Labs and a trailblazer in applying neuroscience and psychology to learning and development. From starting out as a coder to becoming an influential speaker and author of Neuroscience for Learning and Development, Stella shares how her career evolved through curiosity, frustration with traditional training, and a deep-rooted passion for making learning practi...
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