184: From Darkroom to AI: Reflective Practice Across an L&D Career – Greg Wilton
Learning Uncut
We rarely stop to look back. One achievement blurs into the next, and before long we've accumulated years of practice without ever taking stock of what we've actually learned. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater invites Greg Wilton - a St. Louis-based L&D practitioner with a career spanning darkroom photography, web publishing, global e-learning, and generative AI - to do exactly that. Together they trace the experiences, pivots, and hard-won insights that shaped his thinking: from a process safety briefing that reframed the entire purpose of intake, to a human-centred questioning...
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Elevate 47: The Craft of Conference Chairing – Niall Gavin, Helen Palmer & Anit Mahay
Learning Uncut
Most conference chairs open with applause and slip off stage. At Learning Technologies, chairing starts two months before anyone sets foot in the room. In this Elevate episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with three Learning Technologies 2026 chairs: Niall Gavin, Helen Palmer, and Anit Mahay. Join our range of Chairs, both new and experienced, as we discuss what it really takes to prepare speakers for the stage. From reviewing slide decks and managing nerves to handling off-topic questions and being the voice of the audience, this is a masterclass in why the chair role matters far more...
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183: Hearing Loss Awareness Designing for Empathy at Scale (HSBC) - Georgie Cooke, Louise Bassiri and Michelle Parry-Slater
Learning Uncut
Hearing loss is more common than most workplaces acknowledge. Around one in six Australians, one in eight Americans, and one in five UK adults lives with some form of hearing loss, tinnitus or D/deafness. Yet at HSBC UK, only a handful of colleagues had formally disclosed a hearing loss before this project launched. In this episode, Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with Georgie Cooke from Lima Delta and Louise Bassiri from HSBC UK about their award-shortlisted hearing loss awareness programme, created with the RNID and learning partner Jam Pan. Rather than telling colleagues about hearing loss,...
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182: The Power of Evolution in Learning Transformation (Girlguiding UK) – Arnika Knight and Michelle Parry-Slater
Learning Uncut
Arnika Knight and Michelle Parry-Slater share the decade-long journey of modernising L&D for 80,000 volunteers at Girlguiding UK. From navigating change resistance to building a multi-modal learning ecosystem, their story is packed with practical lessons for any L&D professional working at scale. The conversation explores respecting volunteers’ time, supporting motivation and using a clear learning strategy to modernise learning while maintaining strong human connections. Host: Transcript and related resources: Podcast information and more episodes:
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181: Beyond Role Play: Using AI to Build Real Skills – Ryan Byrne and Dr Nathan Moore
Learning Uncut
Sydney Trains frontline staff face customer aggression daily. They knew the de-escalation models. Applying them under real pressure was another matter entirely. And they'd made one thing clear: no more role play. In this episode, The Two Michelles speak with Ryan Byrne from Sydney Trains and Dr Nathan Moore from Frameless Interactive about Project CIVIL: Customer Initiated Violence Interactive Learning. Winner of the AITD Excellence Award for Best Use of Learning Technology 2025, Project CIVIL uses AI-driven simulation to build genuine capability under pressure, without a script, without an...
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180: When Leaders Lead the Leadership Programme – Matthew Peade
Learning Uncut
Matthew Peade from TFE Hotels discusses their award-winning People Leaders Program, a 12-month leadership development initiative that's seen 300 graduates and an impressive 86% promotion rate. Matthew shares how the program weaves together a blend of three learning streams of on-the-job experience through business change projects, peer learning with dedicated mentors, and formal sessions led by leaders across the business, all used to build a steady pipeline of capable leaders in Australia's fast-paced hospitality industry. Our conversation explores how Matthew selects participants, engages...
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Elevate 46: The Learning and Development Handbook – Michelle Parry-Slater
Learning Uncut
Michelle Ockers speaks with Learning Uncut co-host, and author, Michelle Parry-Slater about her book, The Learning and Development Handbook, A Learning Practitioner’s Toolkit. Sharing ideas from within the book, Michelle talks through why practitioners “…must be advocates of the right solution, for the right problem, for the right people, at the right time, for the right reason, delivered in the right way.” (P176, 2nd Edition 2024, The Learning and Development Handbook) Transcript and related resources: Podcast information and more episodes:
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179: Blood Processing Centre Virtual Tour – Liz Seskus and Kate Schulze
Learning Uncut
Liz Seskus and Kate Schultz from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood discuss their development of a virtual tour to support the induction of new hematology registrars. They share how they applied learning science, user testing, and a co-design approach to create a practical, cost-effective learning tool that reduces cognitive load and enhances understanding of blood processing procedures. Winner of 2025 Australian Institute of Training and Development Excellence Award for Best Use of Gamification or Simulation for Learning. Transcript and related resources: Podcast information and more episodes: ...
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Elevate 45: The L&D Leader: Navigating to Business Value – Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers
Learning Uncut
Michelle Parry-Slater speaks with co-authors Michelle Ockers and Laura Overton about their book, The L&D Leader. Principles and practice for delivering business value, released in October 2025. They reflect on the collaboration behind the book, the research and evidence that informed it, and its practical relevance for learning professionals. The conversation offers insights into leading with impact in L&D and the mindset shifts needed to thrive in today’s environment of continuous changing. Transcript and related resources: Podcast information and more episodes:
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178: Sodexo Academy: Facilitating Flexible, Practical Onboarding – Peter Brace
Learning Uncut
Peter Brace from Sodexo Australia shares how his path into L&D, including training under trees in Papua New Guinea, shaped his practical and learner-centred approach. Hosted by Michelle Ockers and co-host Michelle Parry-Slater, this episode explores adapting learning to diverse environments, building flexibility into facilitation, and the value of connecting learning to real-world settings. Transcript and related resources: Podcast information and more episodes:
info_outlineThe 2025 Global Sentiment Report has been released, capturing the pulse of L&D professionals worldwide. In this episode, Michelle Ockers speaks with Donald H Taylor about the key findings and what they reveal about what L&D is paying attention to in 2025. AI continues to dominate conversations, but there’s also continued interest in skills and data, with the creating value on the rise again. Don shares insights on why these trends matter, how they vary across different regions, and what L&D professionals can take away from the results.
Hosted by Michelle Ockers
Transcript and related resources: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/elevate-41/
Podcast information and more episodes: https://learninguncut.global/podcast/