The Learning Alchemy Lab: A Modern Approach to Teaching Online with Dr. Alexis Bjelica

Dr. Alexis Bjelica
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The Learning Alchemy Lab is where teaching expertise meets intentional design. Hosted by Dr. Alexis Bjelica, an online education expert with 20+ years in the field, this podcast explores how to create learning experiences that actually work. From inclusive course design to engagement strategies that drive real transformation, each episode helps educators, coaches, and creators build programs people don’t just start, but finish and apply.

Episodes

  1. 5H AGO

    When Should You Create an Accelerated Online Course? (And When You Shouldn’t)

    Accelerated programs are everywhere right now—but faster doesn’t always mean better. In this episode, Dr. Alexis breaks down what actually makes an accelerated course effective (and where most people get it wrong). With a doctorate in online education and deep expertise in course design, she shares how to evaluate whether an accelerated format is the right fit for your content, your learners, and the transformation you’re promising. From cutting unnecessary content to designing for clarity and momentum, this episode will help you avoid the biggest pitfalls—and create a learning experience that truly works, even on a compressed timeline. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What “accelerated learning” really means (and where it came from) Why faster does not mean easier—or more effective How to identify the true non-negotiables in your course content The difference between sequential vs. modular learning (and why it matters) How to design for clarity, momentum, and learner success in a compressed format Why most accelerated programs fail—and how to avoid it The critical role of instructor presence, feedback, and check-ins How to balance speed with real transformation (especially for mindset or behavioral work) The biggest design mistakes that derail learners in fast-paced programs Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Newsletter: https://alexisbjelica.myflodesk.com/newsletter Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

    25 min

  2. APR 22

    6 Essential Questions for Choosing the Right Learning Management System (LMS)

    When you're ready to create an online course, one of the first questions that comes up is: "What LMS should I choose?" In this episode, Dr. Alexis breaks down the learning management system (LMS) selection process so you can make a confident, informed decision without getting overwhelmed by all the options. An LMS can be a powerful tool for housing your course materials, tracking learner progress, facilitating community, and creating a seamless learning experience. But with so many platforms available—and so many bells and whistles being marketed—it's easy to feel stuck before you even begin. Dr. Alexis shares her top six questions to ask when evaluating an LMS, drawing from her experience using at least 12 different platforms throughout her career in education and instructional design. This episode will help you become a savvy consumer of educational technology and choose a platform that truly serves your needs and your learners. What You'll Learn in This Episode: What an LMS actually does and whether you even need oneThe six essential questions to ask before purchasing a platformHow to evaluate pricing structures and avoid overpaying for features you won't useWhy mobile responsiveness and integration capabilities matterThe difference between testing a platform as a creator vs. as a learnerHow to assess support services before committing to a platformBudget-friendly alternatives to traditional LMS platforms Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

    23 min

  3. APR 8

    AI for Course Creators: When It Helps—and When It Hurts Your Teaching

    AI made your content sharper, faster, "better"—but quietly stripped out the one thing your students actually needed: you. In this episode, Dr. Alexis unpacks the real shift happening in education right now: not whether you should use AI—but how it’s quietly reshaping your voice, your thinking, and your students’ learning experience. Drawing from her own experience of over-relying on AI (and losing her ability to write in the process), she breaks down where AI actually supports great teaching—and where it subtly undermines it. Whether you’re a coach, course creator, or educator, this episode will challenge how you’re using AI—and help you return to more intentional, human-centered teaching. In This Episode: • Why relying on AI for learning outcomes creates more confusion—not clarity • The difference between AI as a tool vs. a crutch (and how to tell which one you’re using) • How overusing AI can lead to losing your voice—and your confidence • Why “productive struggle” is essential for learning (and how AI can accidentally remove it) • The hidden cost of AI-generated feedback—and why it often feels empty to learners • Why human presence, vulnerability, and nuance can’t be automated • How AI can overload your curriculum with ideas—and lead to burnout • Where AI actually shines: refining, simplifying, and brainstorming with intention • How to use AI as a thought partner instead of a decision-maker • The role of AI in improving accessibility without sacrificing quality • The mindset shift that helps you use AI without losing what makes your teaching powerful Evaluate How You're Using AI in Your Teaching: https://alexisbjelica.myflodesk.com/aisurvey Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

    28 min

  4. MAR 25

    How to Handle Awkward Silence in Virtual Training Without Panicking

    You ask what you think is a brilliant question. Then… crickets. That awkward silence makes you wonder: Was it my question? Is it me? Should I just start talking for them? In this episode, Dr. Alexis tackles one of the most uncomfortable moments in facilitation—when participants stay silent and you're left scrambling. Drawing from her own experience in a leadership training program full of awkward pauses, she breaks down the real reasons people don't speak up (hint: it's usually not what you think) and shares evidence-based strategies from instructional design to create conditions where engagement feels natural, not forced. Whether you're leading webinars, workshops, coaching sessions, or online courses, this episode will change how you think about silence—and give you practical tools to work with it instead of against it. In This Episode: • Why silence doesn't always mean disengagement—and the three types of silence you need to recognize • The psychological risk of speaking first that keeps your most thoughtful participants quiet • How vague or overly abstract questions sabotage participation (and what to ask instead) • The "one word" strategy that lowers cognitive load and invites everyone into the conversation • How to use chat, polls, and emojis to create multiple on-ramps for participation • The power of breakout rooms for reducing social pressure • The icebreaker technique that creates psychological safety without being cheesy or awkward • How to acknowledge vulnerability in a way that unlocks the room and encourages brave sharing • Why silence feels twice as long to you as the facilitator—and how to get comfortable with the pause • The mindset shift that transforms facilitation Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

    20 min

  5. MAR 11

    4 Myths About Online Training That Are Costing Your Organization

    Leaders think face-to-face training is better than virtual. The research says you're wrong—and it's costing you more than you think. In this episode, Dr. Alexis tackles her biggest pet peeve: the persistent myth that virtual training is inferior to face-to-face learning. Despite mountains of research proving otherwise, organizations continue forcing people into physical spaces, dismissing online learning as "less than." Dr. Alexis breaks down the four myths costing your organization time, money, and actual learning outcomes and shares why virtual training isn't just equally effective, it's often better. In This Episode: • The one thing in person rooms do that tanks psychological safety (and you've probably normalized it) • Why introverts, neurodivergent learners, and caregivers actually perform better online—but no one's talking about it • The secret participation channels that make virtual training more engaging than any flip chart ever could • What exhausted learners have in common—and why your all-day in-person sessions are sabotaging retention • The real culprit behind "Zoom fatigue" • How your brain's cognitive limits prove virtual learning is superior for long-term retention • Why "equitable" in-person training is actually excluding more people than you think • The single question that will transform how you think about learning design • Five non-negotiable conditions for effective learning and how virtual environments deliver them better Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Subscribe to The Learning Alchemy Lab for more episodes on designing learning experiences that truly transform.

    22 min

  6. FEB 25

    How to Design Learning Experiences Students Actually Finish (The Empathy & Edges™ Framework)

    Being brilliant at your subject doesn't automatically make you great at teaching it. In this episode, Dr. Alexis introduces the Empathy & Edges™ framework, a three-part approach to designing online learning experiences that actually transform students. Whether you're building your first course or reimagining an existing program, this framework will help you create learning experiences that feel both human and effective. In This Episode: • Why being an expert doesn't automatically make you a great teacher • A powerful framework used in online education (that most course creators have never heard of) • The three ingredients missing from most failing programs, and how to add them back in • Why "structure" isn't about control, it's actually your secret weapon for student success • One counterintuitive truth about transformation that will change how you design learning • Why most programs fail (and how to fix them with this framework) • One small step you can take today to improve your teaching Connect with Dr. Alexis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-bjelica/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/

    27 min

  7. FEB 25

    How to Create Engaging Online Courses: Why Expert Knowledge Doesn't Equal Good Teaching

    Have you ever had a teacher who made you fall in love with something you thought you’d hate… or one who made you give up on something you actually cared about? I’ve seen too many people walk away from their potential—not because they weren’t capable, but because the learning experience didn’t support them. In this first episode of The Learning Alchemy Lab, I’m sharing my story and how it led me into the world of online learning, course creation, and instructional design. For a long time, I believed I could never be a teacher. I was shy, afraid to speak up, and convinced I wasn’t “smart enough.” But what I’ve learned—after 20+ years in education and 15 years in online course design, is this: Great teaching isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about designing learning experiences that actually work. Now, I help educators, coaches, and creators build online courses and digital programs that don’t just deliver information, but create real transformation. In this episode, we cover: Why I thought I could never be a teacher—and what changedThe impact one great (or terrible) teacher can have on learningWhy online learning can be more inclusive than traditional educationThe truth about course creation: expertise doesn’t equal effective teachingThe biggest mistakes in online course design and coaching programsWhy “sage on the stage” teaching fails in modern learning environmentsHow to create engaging online courses people actually finishWhy empathy matters more than a perfect lesson plan  Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningalchemist/ Website: https://linktr.ee/alexisbjelica

    37 min

  8. FEB 23

    Welcome to The Learning Alchemy Lab with Dr. Alexis Bjelica

    People always assumed learning came easily to me—but honestly, it didn’t. As a neurodivergent learner, traditional education felt overwhelming. I spent years thinking I was the problem… when really, it was the way learning was designed. That changed when I discovered online learning. For the first time, I could learn at my own pace, revisit ideas, and actually process information in a way that worked for my brain. It completely shifted my confidence—and my career. Now, after 20+ years in education and 15 years in online course design and instructional design, I help educators, coaches, and experts create learning experiences that actually work. In The Learning Alchemy Lab, we break down how to create online courses and programs that people don’t just start—but finish, apply, and come back to. Inside this episode: Designing learning with empathy and structure Using technology to support learning (not distract from it) Creating engaging, effective online courses Building learning experiences that feel human and accessible If you’re creating a course—or want to—and care about real transformation, you’re in the right place. Follow the show and start designing learning that actually sticks.

    2 min

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The Learning Alchemy Lab is where teaching expertise meets intentional design. Hosted by Dr. Alexis Bjelica, an online education expert with 20+ years in the field, this podcast explores how to create learning experiences that actually work. From inclusive course design to engagement strategies that drive real transformation, each episode helps educators, coaches, and creators build programs people don’t just start, but finish and apply.

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