The BLOC Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with my brilliant friend and colleague, Mallori Steele, to talk about how she landed in L&D and how she uses her strengths as a connector to create spaces for marginalized people to network, learn, and grow. Mallori is a multi-passionate and multi-talented Leader, Strategist, Solutionist, Entrepreneur, and Mom of 2. She is the CEO of Growductive Consulting, an L&D Consulting Agency, the Founder of the non-profit Black in L&D, and the visionary of the virtual conference, The Learning Exchange. Mallori is a connector! She strongly believes in the power of community and collaboration. She has a passion for helping people reach their full potential and has a unique skill set that allows her to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life. A California native, Mallori lived 10+ years abroad in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Turkey. She currently resides in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. Mallori is launching her latest passion project, celebrating moms for Mother's Day. So, if you're a Bad-A$$ Mom, have a Bad-A$$ Mom, or know a Bad-A$$ Mom, register for the Bad-A$$ Mom event on May 9th: https://www.airmeet.com/e/3967c820-f793-11ee-84ef-3d68ce1df13cConnect with Mallori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malloristeele/Mallori's advice if you want to start something (a community, event, business, etc.):Focus on YOUDon't overthink itCollect your thoughts and resources in OneNote (or a similar notetaking app)Think about what you want and your capacityRealize that other people's advice is just that -- adviceThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode I answer your questions about inspiration, adding value, skills development, L&D tools, and the L&D job search! Here are some of the resources mentioned in the show:Bloc Podcast Episode 75: Why is There SO Much Bad Training?Bloc Podcast Episode 3: Positive Organizational Change with LaToya SmithIntro to Copyright for L&DThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I explain 5 helpful tips for making your training (and I'm talking ANY kind of training - job aids, virtual sessions, instructor-led, and even eLearning) more engaging. And if you know me, you know that I believe the best way to make training engaging is to make it useful. So, forget all the bells and whistles and gimmicks, and let's talk making training highly effective. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat with my new friend, Yen Tan. We chat about why they founded Kona and how they've built a product that uses AI to help coach remote managers. We talk about why you shouldn't "slap AI on everything" and how we can take a more deliberate approach to using AI in L&D. We also explore some use cases where it can really help teams and managers be their best. Yen is co-founder of Kona, the AI-powered coach for remote managers. Yen's work on people-first leadership and employee happiness has been featured by The Guardian, Fortune, Yahoo, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business School, Forbes, and more. They've led remote management, employee well-being, and feedback workshops at Mercury, Mailchimp, Circle, and more. In their free time, Yen likes exploring LA's bookstores and boba shops and convincing their partner that they could use another plant.Yen's suggestion for folks who want an intro to practical AI use:HBR's Guide to AI Basics for Managers ToolkitThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I talk about how I moved from an individual contributor role as an instructional designer to an L&D leadership role and give you tips if you're interested in doing the same. I talk about how to break it to your manager, how to create a plan to upskill, weighing the risks of staying at your current organization or trying to branch out to a new one, and how to get people leadership experience outside your full-time day job. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I bring Tim Slade back to talk about building your reputation on LinkedIn. We use it to look for work... We use it to find new clients... We use it to connect and learn about each other... But there's so much noise! How do we know what's real?Tim's suggestion for folks who are getting into instructional design? Read a BOOK - you're more likely to get expertise because of the time and effort it takes to write and publish a book than what FURUs can accomplish in brief social media postsTim's suggestion for people as they begin to post on LinkedIn?Be yourselfDon't try to create something that you're notWrite what comes to mindInclude what you LEARNED when you share a certificateThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat about the lessons I learned in 2023 and what I think are L&D's brightest possibilities for 2024. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I answer YOUR questions on L&D leadership, upskilling in tools, working cross-functionally, getting data for needs analysis, and more! Resources mentioned in the episode:Rachel Schell's Emerging Leaders in L&DScreenPal (which I referred to by its former name, Screencast-o-matic)OpenShot Video EditorAudacityCanvaThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat with Hannah Waddams -- or Han -- from MAAS Marketing about why you need a marketing strategy for learning projects and what other best practices we can borrow from our marketing departments!Marketing for learning® expert, Han is part of the duo that make up MAAS Marketing. With over a decade of experience, Han is on a mission to help L&D embrace the power of marketing within their function (and get the learner engagement we all so want!)Here's where you can connect with Han:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahwaddams/ https://www.maas-marketing.co.uk/ https://www.maas-marketing.co.uk/podcast/ Hannah's suggestion for starting to market your learning projects:MAAS Marketing's Guides (especially on Learner Personas!)Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat with Rachel Koblic about why she isn't buying into the hype around hustle culture and how she founded Starling to support middle management. Rachel Koblic is a leader at the intersection of learning, design, and strategy. Her mission is to create high-quality learning for life in the digital economy, and foster nurturing and inspiring workplaces for the people around her. With nearly 20 years of interdisciplinary professional experience as both a doer and a leader, she is adept at designing effective learning programs, growing engaged and efficient teams, and connecting disparate dots to solve complex problems.Rachel lives in Saratoga Springs, NY with her partner Luke and their two dogs, three cats, and four chickens.Here's where you can find her:https://www.starlinglx.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkoblic/Rachel's suggestion for middle management to hone their skills:ChatGPT Premium Subscription (for ideas for questions, ways to solve problems, ways to word emails, etc.)Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, Alexandria and I talk about L&D from the healthcare lens -- but the conversation is important to ALL of us in L&D as we talk about the importance of remembering that there are solutions that aren't eLearning out there, we can learn a lot from UX design, and that proving our impact and being able to scale training is crucial to our success in L&D. With a decade of experience in the field of learning and development, Alexandria has had the privilege of contributing to the growth of individuals and organizations. Her journey began as a career development coach, where she had the opportunity to work closely with underserved populations in the nonprofit social services sector. Alexandria's passion for helping others led her to her current role as the Crisis Prevention Training Program Manager at one of New York City's largest hospitals.In her role, Alexandria is dedicated to providing professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to support individuals in crisis effectively. She also focuses on creating safe environments within organizations, prioritizing the well-being of employees and the communities they serve. Alexandria remains committed to enhancing human potential and fostering compassionate workplaces.Alexandria's recommendation for those who want to learn more about the healthcare industry:Road to Resilience Podcast by the Mount Sinai Health SystemThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

It's a short story, but as requested by Dr. Sonia Tiwari, who was interviewed in my last episode, I share the story of how I came to create training that was presented to actual astronauts! I also share a bit about what I'm working on today so that maybe we can find a way to collaborate. To learn more, visit www.heidikirby.com. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I sit down with my brilliant friend Dr. Sonia Tiwari to talk about what it's like to pursue your PhD while juggling the responsibilities of motherhood. It's a bit different than your normal episode, but whether you're a mom considering a graduate degree or someone who wants to learn how to better support your family, friends, and colleagues who are juggling both -- there's good stuff for everyone. Content warning: at the end of the episode, Sonia and I briefly talk about post-partum depression. Dr. Sonia Tiwari is a Learning Experience Designer interested in creating children's educational products (media, books, toys, games, AR) based on qualitative research. Her current research explores ethical design of virtual influencers for children through industry collaborations in the San Francisco Bay Area.Sonia's recommended resource for mom PhD students:The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.: 200 Secrets from 100 GraduatesThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I share some previous episodes of the BLOC as well as some tips from my own personal experience being laid off (twice now). Here are the previous episodes of the BLOC I mentioned:16: Leveraging Your Linkedin31: Instructional Design Interviews35: Agile Unemployment with Sabina Sulat43: Musings from an ID Hiring Manager with Matt GjertsenThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I share some stories of bad training -- why I think bad training is so prevalent in L&D, based off my dissertation research -- and some of the things I think we can do to help. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

I finally get a chance to sit down with one of my L&D besties -- the one and only Tim Slade -- to talk about what you need to become an ID and how to present those skills in your portfolio. We tackle some common misconceptions and help you navigate through some of the noise!Tim Slade is a speaker, author, and award-winning freelance eLearning designer. Having spent the last decade working to help others elevate their eLearning and instructional design content, Tim has been recognized and awarded within the learning and development industry multiple times for his creative and innovative design aesthetics. Tim is also a regular speaker at international eLearning and instructional design conferences, a recognized Articulate Super Hero, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, author of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook, and creator of The eLearning Designer’s Academy.  I took it upon myself to recommend Tim's free community of eLearning professionals to anyone who is looking to get into instructional design. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat with my pal Clea about reflecting on your first role as an ID and how to use that knowledge to find your SECOND ID role!Clea is an instructional designer who collaborates with cross-functional teams to design and deliver inclusive and impactful learning experiences for a global teams and internal communities. Keep up with her wildly-experimental, mostly-rambling blog at cleadesigner.com. Clea recommends just networking and connecting with people who are doing things similar to what you want to be doing as a way to build your skills for your second ID job. Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, Matt Smith is back to ask me YOUR questions from LinkedIn. We cover things like L&D leadership, imposter syndrome, AI, and more! Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, Sam Kain of Purple Reset and I talk all about how handwriting helps with retention and how L&D professionals might benefit from incorporate writing into their work and into their own practice as a tool. Sam Kain has been a project manager for 8 long years now, and she will tell you, it's been quite the ride. But despite her professional background, she's always been a creative at heart. Sam firmly believes that creativity is the key to success, both in and out of the workplace.Sam is all about getting things done as quickly and effectively as possible. She hates wasting time and resources, and she's constantly on the lookout for ways to optimize processes and improve workflows. But she will always go physical before digital.One thing that Sam is super passionate about is journaling. She believes that everyone should do it, no matter who you are or what you do. It's a great way to reflect, organize your thoughts, and stay on top of your goals -- which is one of the driving forces to build her own collection of journals and notebook systems for creative chaotic minds.You can find Sam on all social media platforms as @purplereset and on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-kain-twcwapm-ab9a9533/Sam's suggestion for how to get started:Purple Reset Bumper Pack of Journal Prompts (FREE!)Thanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/

In this episode, I chat with my friend Nicole Papaioannou Lugara about working with others (clients, SMEs, teammates, and stakeholders) and about learning with others through social learning. Nicole Papaioannou Lugara, PhD, is the founder of Your Instructional Designer, a learning and people development agency committed to accelerating startups through enhanced operational efficiency and collaboration via our social learning solutions. An entrepreneur at heart, she is also co-founder of the eLearning Freelancer Bootcamp,  Learn Getaway retreats for women entrepreneurs, and Recovery Education and Applied Learning, a platform for parents of children with substance use disorder. She is working hard to learn how to Her mission is to make learning that matters.https://www.yourinstructionaldesigner.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolepapaioannouphdhttps://www.instagram.com/yourinstructionaldesignerNicole's suggestion for creating social learning experiences:Contagious by Jonah BergerThanks for listening to the BLOC! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/Or check out what I'm working on over at https://www.getusefulstuff.com/