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/

On this Q&A episode of the BLOC, I answer (from my experience and opinion) the following questions:How do I know what to put in my instructional design portfolio?How do I deal with a toxic boss who keeps giving me more and more work, doesn't understand how long ID takes, and who keeps expecting me to take orders without any pushback?How do I get my team to work more quickly and efficiently through the ID process?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, Tom and I didn't have a plan... so we ended up talking about how nothing is really original in L&D and how the past can teach us lessons to take into the future. Tom McDowall has been making workplace learning work for people and businesses for the last decade. From sales and customer services to utilities, IT and some stuff that’s still secret, he’s stepped across industries with a single focus, helping organizations deliver by building performant workforces. Tom now runs Evolve Learning Design with his wife and a small team of learning geeks.He is currently the chairperson of The Learning Network, a community interest company created to support learning and development professionals, share best practices and elevate the industry.Tom also hosts the iDeas Podcast and the Instructional Design Tips YouTube channel.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcdowall/IDT: https://www.youtube.com/c/InstructionalDesignTipsTom's suggestion for a historical resource to learn from? The Republic by Plato, which you can find for free on MIT's The Internet Classics Archive.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/

Whether you're looking for a new career in L&D, a promotion, a new organization, or just looking to stay right where you are but grow and learn more, this episode is a quick chat about how to set professional development goals for 2023. I believe in having two kinds of goals: one that enhances your career and one that enhances your soul/heart. 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 L&D BFF and the other half of Useful Stuff, Matt Smith, about the trends we saw in L&D in 2022, why L&D should be more boring and useful, and future predictions for 2023. Matt Smith has been in L&D for 14 years working as an internal L&D professional, trainer, consultant, freelancer and ran a learning agency in Australia. He's also the co-founder of Useful Stuff (https://www.getusefulstuff.com/).Matt's suggestion for L&D pros as they head into 2023:The L&D Word Project (https://www.getusefulstuff.com/words). 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 Zahra Davidson of Huddlecraft about peer-to-peer learning and how we can learn better together. Zahra is Chief Exec of Huddlecraft. a Community Interest Company who help people and organizations wield the ‘power of peer groups’. Over the next decade, people face the steepest collective learning curve in history. Huddlecraft exists to spark a surge of peer-to-peer learning that can help us climb this curve. There are lots of ways to get involved with Huddlecraft.Join a Huddle: purposeful peer groups that tackle a learning journey together. There are Huddles open around a range of themes locally and globally, from parenting, to going beyond burnout, to reimagining hope. Check them out: huddlecraft.com/huddlesSign up for Huddlecraft 101: a 7 session immersive training that will teach you how to apply the power of peer groups within your own work. The next programme will start in May 2023: huddlecraft.com/101Follow Huddlecraft on socials:Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/enrol-yourselfInstagram https://www.instagram.com/huddle.craft/Twitter https://twitter.com/HuddlecraftIf you can spot a way to collaborate or work together, get in touch with zahra@huddlecraft.comZahra's suggestions for more about peer-to-peer learning:Huddlecraft's ResourcesLiberating StructuresMicrosolidarityThanks 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 take the time to share a couple of TRUE horror stories (with names and details omitted) from L&D horrors I've experienced in my time working in the field -- as well as the lessons I've learned from each. I talk about compliance training, meeting learner needs, projects that go off the rails, working well with others, 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, I talk to my new pal, Josh Cardoz, about how L&D is viewed in the business and what we can do to become better cross-functional partners with those in the business. Josh Cardoz is an independent Digital Learning Strategist - with over a decade’s experience helping organizations go digital the right way, fine-tune their strategy and create amazing things together. He was previously Head of Digital Learning Experience at a large professional services firm, and prior to that, Principal Learning Strategist at a creative digital learning agency. Josh also teaches at the University of Toronto, and is the creator and producer of Digital Learning Done Right - an audio series catered to supporting digital learning leaders and their organizational strategies. Anything at the intersection of design, story, learning and technology (and sarcasm) - that’s where you’ll find him. www.digitallearningdoneright.com  Josh's suggestion for impacting the business:Watch the movie Inception (2010)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 a bit about what I think is an unnecessary separation of theory and practice in L&D, including how that separation has impacted me as a PhD student in instructional design and technology and also as an instructional design and L&D leader in the field. I also suggest following or consuming content by some amazing folks who are constantly encouraging evidence-informed, research-informed, and data-driven practice:Data-Driven Learning Resources from Lori Niles-HofmannEvidence-Informed Learning Design by Mirjam Neelen and Paul A. KirschnerEamonn PowersMatt SmithUseful StuffThanks 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 McKenzie Day about her journey from instructional designer to senior instructional designer and how she upskilled and leveraged her network to find a new role and a promotion! McKenzie Day is a Senior Technical Instructional Designer who creates digital learning experiences with purpose. With a background in education, McKenzie started off as an ID in the financial services sector before making the move to tech and joining a software company. Her career has led her to diverse communities of learners all over the planet- from Antigua to Quito to Hong Kong to Atlanta to Indianapolis. She is an active advocate for DEI initiatives in the workplace, and lives those values by instilling authenticity, inclusivity, and autonomy into her work. Outside of L&D, McKenzie is a voracious bookworm and the member of a feminist community choir.You can connect with McKenzie on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzieday123/) or check out her website at www.mckenzieAday.com.McKenzie's suggestion for anyone looking for a promotion:The HerMoney podcast with Jean ChatzkyThanks 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/

On this Q&A episode of the BLOC, I answer (from my experience and opinion) the following questions:How do we get people to use all these new courses we've given them?What is the difference between L&D and instructional design?How do I know which people to follow on LinkedIn - which people are quality and who is just trying to sell something? And how do I network with those people?I know it's not okay to lie about previous titles on my resume, but what do I do about my LinkedIn headline?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 teammate at Pantheon, Bela Gaytan, about accessibility - not only how to create more accessible experiences for our learners but also some common misconceptions about accessibility - such as what is a disability? And can we make something 100% accessible? Known for her authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability, Bela Gaytan (she/her) unapologetically disrupts spaces to create change.  She leverages her lived experiences and intersectional identities as a neurodivergent, queer, physically disabled Latina to educate folks on disability, accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and equity.She is a Technical Instructional Designer at Pantheon (https://pantheon.io) on the Customer Education team with Heidi Kirby (yay), as well as the co-lead of Pantheon’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group and an active member of the DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility) task force.  She also works as the Community and Social Media Manager for The eLearning Designer’s Academy (https://elearningacademy.io) with her mentor, Tim Slade.  In her free time, she is a WordPress Web Developer, a fierce DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility) advocate, speaker, and coach.You can connect with Bela on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/belagaytan), Twitter (https://twitter.com/belagaytan), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/belagaytan), Medium (https://belagaytan.medium.com), or on her website (https://belagaytan.com) where you can sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on cool crap! :)Bela's suggestion for learning more about accessibility:Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM): (https://webaim.org/)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 share four ways for L&D to get a seat at the table:Stop complaining that we don't have a seat at the table.Work on discovering the problem, not immediately sharing a solution.Broaden the metrics we use to define success.Work with, not against, the other areas of business. Don't forget to sign up for the Useful Stuff newsletter (usefulstuff.email). Issue #2 is going to be all about how to determine what people need and how to determine business goals. Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/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/

On this episode, I chat with co-founder of Offbeat, Lavinia Mehedintu, about creating a podcast, starting a business, and curating content. Lavinia Mehedintu has been designing learning experiences and career development programs for the past 9 years both in the corporate world and in higher education. As a Co-Founder and Learning Architect @Offbeat she’s applying adult learning principles so that learning & people professionals can connect, collaborate, and grow. She’s passionate about social learning, behavior change, and technology and constantly puts in the work to bring these three together to drive innovation in the learning & development space.Visit Offbeat: offbeat.worksLavinia's suggestion for inspiration: producthunt.comConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/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, Dr. Kuva Jacobs and I break down 4 major learning myths: the learning pyramid, the Forgetting Curve, learning styles, and microlearning as the answer to the world's problems. If you've encountered any of these on social media lately, you should tune in! Kuva's passion for learning design seeded from a PhD in mathematics when she created visual, interactive, flash based modules that brought complex mathematical equations - like sorting algorithms and spring oscillations - to life. This drive to create innovative learning solutions has led Kuva into the corporate space, where she's had the excitement of contributing to a wide range of learning & development projects, across all stages of their lifecycle. Feel free to connect with Kuva on LinkedIn, where she regularly sparks controversial learning debates. Or come bust some myths at- https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14108260/Check out Kuva's company at www.emergentlearning.com.auConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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 the brilliant Lata Hamilton about change management and how it's related to the field of L&D. We talk about the differences and similarities between L&D and change management as well as why change managers like to work with folks in L&D. Lata is a pocket rocket burst of energy with a big heart... and big hair! She is the Founder & CEO of Passion Pioneers and the creator of the “Leading Successful Change” program. Lata has worked with some of Australia’s biggest companies, and tripled her salary in the space of just 3 years to almost $200,000. She moved from Marketing to the world of Organisational Change Management and developed her own style of inspiring change leadership. She’s worked on changes that have impacted over 100,000 people, global cultural transformations, operating model changes, and digital transformation that is literally changing the way that we work. In 2015, Lata became a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and Coach, and started her own side hustle. Lata transitioned full-time to her business in July 2021, blending her coaching and change work into her courses and consulting services. She helps women carve their own paths for change in career, leadership and life with confidence and authenticity and truly earn their worth. Lata is an absolute foodie, a cardio junkie, and an avid op/thrift shopper. Lata was adopted from India by an Australian family and believes it doesn’t matter where you started - it’s where you’re going and the lives you change along the way that counts.Website: www.latahamilton.comFollow Lata on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/latahamiltonLata's suggestion for those interested in learning more about change management:Free Underpaid & Overlooked Coaching Action Guide: www.latahamilton.com/worthitConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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 quick solo episode, I reflect back on two years' worth of BLOC podcast episodes, talk about how I think new instructional designers (and even some of the most seasoned L&D professionals) should think about learning. I also share that Laura Hoyer and I are back and ready to run our ID Coaching Cohort this fall! Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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 some of the interview questions from my ATD blog article, "10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Instructional Designers." Here's a link to the blog article: https://www.td.org/atd-blog/10-questions-to-ask-when-interviewing-instructional-designersConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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 Bhakti Karkare, founder of Third Loop Learning about what facilitation can teach leaders. We talk about how leadership has changed since the pandemic and Bhakti gives tips on how to be an inclusive leader. Bhakti Karkare is the founder of Third Loop Learning. She is a Facilitation Evangelist, who takes simple, easy to use facilitation skills and shows you how to use them to become the leader you know you can be - one that inspires loyalty, creativity, and dedicated work. She has helped hundreds of leaders and managers become facilitators, and really, they discover their own authentic style of leadership that makes all the difference for their teams, and their career. Bhakti's suggestion for growing your leadership skills:Timothy R. Clark's The 4 Stages of Psychological SafetyConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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 the founder of Playful Perspectives, Sarah Filman about how she helps develop teams and leaders through improv and play.  Sarah Filman (she/her) is a certified leadership coach, playful facilitator, and improv comedian based in Seattle, Washington. She founded Playful Perspectives to support mission-driven individuals, leaders, and teams to grow, connect, and create to transform themselves and the world. Grounded in leadership and people management experience in both tech and non-profit organizations, she's passionate about the power of play to support radical growth, inclusive spaces, and thriving teams. Visit Sarah's website at: https://www.playfulperspectives.comSarah's suggestion for those interested in learning more about leadership and power dynamics: Cyndi Suarez's The Power Manual: How to Master Complex Power DynamicsConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/ or on my website: www.heidikirby.comThanks 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/