Impact is a theme we circle back to again and again on the Leading Learning Podcast because we believe that any learning business needs to create impact for the learners and other stakeholders it serves. And measurement and evaluation are critical for knowing if we’re creating impact and for showing that impact. Dr. Alaina Szlachta is author of the book Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring. In this episode, number 436, Alaina talks with co-host Jeff Cobb about what measurement and evaluation are (listen for her short but elegant definition). They also talk about data, ways to go beyond smile sheets and completion stats to get at long-term impact, the importance of an impact hypothesis, and automation and AI. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at

436: Measurement and Evaluation with Alaina Szlachta

Effort contributes to lasting, durable learning, which means learning businesses have a responsibility to expect learners to put in effort and an incentive to support them in doing so. Leading Learning Podcast co-hosts Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele discuss the role of effort in learning and how learning businesses can scaffold effort in this episode, number 438. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

438: This Is Hard, and That's Not Bad

COVID changed how we live and work in many ways. One example is the increased need for remote communication and for managing and leading hybrid teams. Wayne Turmel is part of the Kevin Eikenberry Group, and he and Kevin co-wrote The Long-Distance Leader, originally published in 2018, with a revised edition out in 2024. Wayne’s work focuses on remote and virtual communication in the evolving workplace. In this episode of the Leading Learning Podcast, number 439, Wayne and Leading Learning Podcast co-host Jeff Cobb talk about what leadership is; how leadership does and doesn’t change in the context of remote, virtual, and hybrid work; the importance of trust and of choosing the appropriate communication tools for the situation; and what mules and hybrid work have in common. Whether you lead a team, are part of a team, or both, you’ll benefit from the advice and insight Wayne offers around effective communication. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

439: Long-Distance Leadership with Wayne Turmel

In Leading Learning Podcast episode 440, co-hosts Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele share the questions and topics probed in Leading Learning’s annual survey on learning businesses—questions and topics that can provide a solid basis for strategy conversations in your learning business. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

440: No Time Like Now for Strategy

A learning business must understand learning theory and put that theory into practice if it is to create offerings that result in positive change and impact. This episode of the Leading Learning Podcast, number 441, features a conversation with instructional psychologist Dr. Ruth Colvin Clark and co-host Celisa Steele. Ruth has spent her spent her career translating academic research into practical guidelines and advocating for the use of evidence-based approaches to learning. She’s the author of many articles and books, including Evidence-Based Training Methods and E-learning and the Science of Instruction. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

441: Redux: Designing Content Scientifically with Ruth Colvin Clark

Innovation is an aspiration of many organizations, including learning businesses. This episode, number 442, features a conversation with Mary Byers. Mary is an author, speaker, facilitator, consultant, CEO coach, and mastermind facilitator, and she’s deeply knowledgeable about innovation. Mary wrote Race for Relevance: Five Radical Changes for Associations, and her work focuses on helping organizations remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

442: Redux: Studying Innovation with Mary Byers

Podcast co-hosts Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele share key data points from Leading Learning’s latest year-end survey of learning businesses. They cover top strategic goals and the strategic drivers behind those goals, trends and issues impacting strategy, challenges with maintaining or growing enrollments and registrations, barriers to innovation in education offerings, and top areas of investment for the year ahead. Your learning business can use this data for benchmarking and to help frame internal discussions about what you’re doing, what you’re not doing, and why. Show notes and a downloadable transcript are available at .

443: Benchmarking for Learning Businesses

In the final episode of Strategic Leadership in the AI Era, Brian C Jensen focuses on the importance of personal growth and continuous learning in a world where AI is rapidly transforming industries. As technology advances, developing a mindset for lifelong learning is essential for staying relevant and adaptable. Brian discusses how individuals can upskill through online courses, professional networks, and AI-powered learning tools. He emphasizes the value of fostering a growth mindset and using AI to enhance personal productivity, making learning more efficient and impactful.

Key Takeaways:

- A growth mindset is crucial for adapting to rapid technological changes.
- Leverage AI tools to personalize learning and improve productivity.
- Continuous learning fosters resilience and adaptability in an AI-driven world.

Reflect on your learning journey and explore AI-powered tools to help you grow and stay adaptable. Don’t forget to follow and share this episode with others committed to lifelong learning in the AI age!

Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning in the AI Era

Abby Ferri, Networks Senior Leader at the National Safety Council, joins us to discuss how safety professionals can benefit from education throughout their careers and lifelong learning. We also review content from the July issue of Safety+Health.

Read episode notes, visit links, sign up to be notified by email when each new episode has been published, and find other ways to subscribe. https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/27035-safe-side-podcast-episode-65-career-education-safety-pros

This episode is sponsored by Columbia Southern University. Learn more about them at https://columbiasouthern.edu/

Published July 2025.

On the Safe Side podcast Episode 65: Career education and lifelong learning for safety pros

In this episode, we explore how generative AI is reshaping education and professional development—from rote memorization to agile, question-driven learning. Are we still training people like mainframes in a thin-client world? Join us as we unpack this shift with real-world examples from classrooms, boardrooms, and beyond. Discover why curiosity is becoming the most valuable skill of the AI age, how synthesis trumps recall, and what it really means to be a "curiosity coach." If you lead teams, build learning programs, or just want to future-proof your mind, this conversation is for you.

Bit & Being - From Mainframe Intelligence to Thin Client Thinking

Brian C. Jensen is the CEO of Legacy Global Consulting, Inc., a leading management consulting firm that has set industry benchmarks for excellence and innovation. Under his stewardship, the company has grown exponentially, carving a niche in providing strategic solutions to complex business challenges.

With over a decade of experience in the management consulting arena, Brian has honed his skills in a myriad of sectors, ranging from strategy formulation to digital transformation, and from risk management to organizational design. His expertise is not just limited to theoretical knowledge; it’s grounded in real-world applications, having collaborated with a diverse range of clients, both domestic and international.

Safety+Health magazine audio offerings include the new "On the Safe Side" podcast, Richard Hawk's "All About You" podcast, audio from our archived webinars, and occasional sound clips from news sources.

New tracks tagged #Lifelong Learning