LH #103 Hillbilly Podcasters with Brigid McCormack
Release Date: 10/21/2024
AI Learning and the Global South (an episode of the Great Minds on Learning podcast)
The Learning Hack podcast
Recorded live at Online Educa Berlin, this episode of Great Minds on Learning explores AI and the Global South through history, hard lessons, and contemporary debate. John Helmer and Donald Clark examine early techno-utopian experiments, the ethics wars around AI, and newer perspectives rooted in language, power, and lived experience. From Negroponte and Mitra to Gebru, Arora, Manyika, and Mugane, the conversation asks who AI is really for—and who gets to decide. Timestamps 00:57 – Intro 01:58 – Introduction to AI & the Global South 14:11 – Nicholas Negroponte...
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LH #121 A Make Or Break Year? 2025 in review with Myles Runham
The Learning Hack podcast
2025 was billed as a “make-or-break year” for L&D. But what actually happened? To make sense of a turbulent twelve months in learning, talent and HR, John Helmer speaks with Myles Runham of Fosway Group, Europe’s leading analyst firm. They explore AI’s real impact, shifting buying patterns, skills intelligence, evaluation, and whether L&D is heading for reinvention or obsolescence. A clear-eyed, data-led look at where we stand — and where we’re heading. Timestamps 00:59 – Intro 03:30 – Did we make it or break it? 07:02 – Are organisations spending smarter or...
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LH #120 Agent Provocateur with Dr. Ashwin Mehta
The Learning Hack podcast
How AI agents are reshaping learning workflows and the L&D ecosystem “Agentic AI” is the buzzword of the moment. But how many people fully understand what it really means—or how it will change learning and work? Dr. Ashwin Mehta, Chief AI Strategist at the Learning & Performance Institute and founder of Mehtadology AI, joins John Helmer to unpack the hype and explore the practical realities of AI agents, workflow re-engineering, and the emerging skills ecosystem in learning and development. Timestamps 00:00 - Start 01:51 - Intro 03:52 - AI strategist role with LPI...
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LH #119 Learning To Love America with Christian Ray Flores
The Learning Hack podcast
From refugee to Russian pop star, startup founder to life coach and evangelist pastor — Christian Ray Flores’s journey has spanned continents, ideologies, and careers. In this remarkable conversation, John explores how those experiences shaped Christian’s views on creativity, entrepreneurship, AI, faith, and the American dream. Can such diverse identities truly fit together? The result is a thought-provoking dialogue across boundaries of culture, belief, and experience. Timestamps 00:00 – Start 00:51 – Intro 03:00 – Christian’s extraordinary backstory: refugee, pop star,...
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LH #118 Human Moments: the View from Crotonville w. Jay Moore and Doug Scott
The Learning Hack podcast
The human heart of learning in a digital age. Jay Moore and Doug Scott look back on the legendary Crotonville leadership institute — and forward to what its ethos means for learning in the age of AI. They tell John Helmer how a culture built on humility, connection and trust continues to shape GE’s learning legacy today. As training becomes more digital, how do we preserve those “human moments” that make real development possible? Timestamps: 00:51 - Intro 03:00 - What is Crotonville? 07:44 - What is the ethos and culture of Crotonville? 13:11 - How much learning is now digital...
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LH117 AI, Productivity & Humans in Charge with Brian Murphy
The Learning Hack podcast
The Human Side of AI at Work Brian Murphy, Global Head of Learning & Development at NTT DATA, shares his perspective on how AI is reshaping work and productivity. Drawing on his experience at Microsoft, AstraZeneca, and Citi, Brian argues for a human-centric coalition between people and machines. He explores how L&D and HR can steer organizations through AI transformation, ensuring it’s about value creation and capability — not just cost cutting. Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 01:44 - Intro 03:45 - Challenges of redesigning work around AI 11:45 - Just a cost-cutting exercise?...
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LH #116 How L&D Gets Leverage, with Lori Niles-Hoffman
The Learning Hack podcast
Systems, skills and the eight levers of learning transformation. Lori Niles-Hoffman, learning strategist and data evangelist, joins John to explore how L&D can escape legacy mindsets and regain strategic impact. Drawing on her new book, Lori outlines the eight key levers for enterprise learning transformation, why ecosystems matter more than platforms, and how AI is reshaping the role of the learning professional. Timestamps 00:01:43 - Intro 00:03:46 - What brought her into the world of learning tech? 00:07:03 - What convinced her of the need for this book? 00:12:58 - What are ‘the...
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LH115 Meet Your New Math(s) Teacher: a Robot Dog, with Jan Liphardt
The Learning Hack podcast
Stanford professor Jan Liphardt—founder of OpenMind—joins the podcast to explore the future of learning at the intersection of AI, robotics, and human development. He explains why robot dogs might be ideal math tutors, how Socratic dialogue can be scaled through machines, and what AI means for education, healthcare, and daily life. A bold vision of multi-agent learning ecosystems from a scientist who’s seen both the lab and the startup world. Timestamps · 00:00 – Start · 01:47 – Intro ...
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LH #114 Learning Technologies 2025 Special with Josh Bersin, Daniel Hulme, David Kelly, etc.
The Learning Hack podcast
AI shockwaves and human resilience in L&D At the Learning Technologies Conference 2025, John Helmer speaks with leading voices in learning and AI—including Josh Bersin, Daniel Hulme, David Kelly, Jerome Pereira, Sophie Costin, Tadelayo Sodipe, and Donald H. Taylor—about disruption, ethics, innovation, and the changing role of L&D. 00:03:08 - Intro 00:05:08 - Josh Bersin 00:41:44 - Daniel Hulme 01:01:39 - David Kelly 01:26:57 - Prof. Jerome Pereira 01:58:09 - Sophie Costin 02:12:23 - Tadelayo Sodipe 02:33:39 - Donald H. Taylor 03:01:44 - End Connect with John...
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LH #112: Learning Futures 3 with Kevin Oakes, Kim McMurdo and Terry Jones
The Learning Hack podcast
Leading Through Culture, Teams, and AI-driven Change John Helmer discusses organizational culture, collective leadership, and AI's impact on future workplaces with Kevin Oakes (CEO, i4cp), Kim McMurdo (Global Head of OD, Standard Chartered), and Terry Jones (International Head of Talent Development, ex-PaloAlto Networks). Key themes include culture renovation, developing team-centric leadership capabilities, and leveraging AI for enhanced human productivity in rapidly evolving organizations. The McKinsey paper mentioned in Kim's interview: De Smet, A., D’Auria, G., Meijknecht, L.,...
info_outlineExploring Appalachia’s Culture and Countering Stereotypes Through Podcasting
In this episode, John Helmer is joined by Brigid McCormack, podcast producer and researcher, to discuss her study on podcasting in the Appalachian region of the United States. Brigid shares how local podcasters in this culturally rich yet often stereotyped region are using the medium to tell authentic stories and challenge long-standing negative narratives. She also touches on the power of oral storytelling and podcasting as a learning medium and reflects on her role at Assemble You.
For her research, McCormack focused on four podcasts created by five podcasters from the Appalachian region:
- Appodlachia by Chuck Corra: A podcast that takes a critical look at politics and economics in Appalachia, often addressing current issues and challenging stereotypes.
- What's Appalachian? by Gabe and Cody: A more casual, conversational podcast where the hosts discuss their daily lives, providing an authentic glimpse into contemporary Appalachian experiences.
- Now Appalachia by Eliot Parker: This podcast focuses on storytelling and also touches on political and social issues in the region.
- Appalachian Imagination by Jason: A conversational podcast featuring local friends and community members, offering diverse perspectives on Appalachian life.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 - Intro
- 03:44 - Brigid’s research work on digital futures
- 06:03 - About Appalachia
- 07:49 - Appalachian stereotypes
- 16:47 - What did she learn about Appalachia?
- 19:19 - What podcast formats did they use?
- 23:23 - What conclusions did she draw from her work?
- 29:22 - What did she learn about learning?
- 39:51 - Her role at Assemble You
- 43:31 - End
Follow Brigid McCormack:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brigid-mccormack
- Website: podsandprose.com
Contact John Helmer
- X: @johnhelmer
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhelmer
- Website: learninghackpodcast.com
- Patreon: patreon.com/LearningHack