88 episodes

The BLOC (Building Learning and Organizational Culture) Podcast is a learning and development podcast where Heidi Kirby talks to professionals in the field who are passionate about finding creative, innovative ways to bring learning front and center at their organizations and beyond.

BLOC Podcast Heidi Kirby

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 14 Ratings

The BLOC (Building Learning and Organizational Culture) Podcast is a learning and development podcast where Heidi Kirby talks to professionals in the field who are passionate about finding creative, innovative ways to bring learning front and center at their organizations and beyond.

    87 - 5 Ways to Make Training More Engaging

    87 - 5 Ways to Make Training More Engaging

    In this episode, I explain 5 helpful tips for making your training (and I'm talking ANY kind of training - job aids, virtual sessions, instructor-led, and even eLearning) more engaging. And if you know me, you know that I believe the best way to make training engaging is to make it useful. 

    So, forget all the bells and whistles and gimmicks, and let's talk making training highly effective. 
    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/

    • 21 min
    86: Kona (and AI) for Coaching Managers with Yen Tan

    86: Kona (and AI) for Coaching Managers with Yen Tan

    In this episode, I chat with my new friend, Yen Tan. We chat about why they founded Kona and how they've built a product that uses AI to help coach remote managers. We talk about why you shouldn't "slap AI on everything" and how we can take a more deliberate approach to using AI in L&D. We also explore some use cases where it can really help teams and managers be their best.

    Yen is co-founder of Kona, the AI-powered coach for remote managers. Yen's work on people-first leadership and employee happiness has been featured by The Guardian, Fortune, Yahoo, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business School, Forbes, and more. They've led remote management, employee well-being, and feedback workshops at Mercury, Mailchimp, Circle, and more. In their free time, Yen likes exploring LA's bookstores and boba shops and convincing their partner that they could use another plant.

    Yen's suggestion for folks who want an intro to practical AI use:
    HBR's Guide to AI Basics for Managers ToolkitThanks 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/

    • 49 min
    85: The Path to L&D Leadership

    85: The Path to L&D Leadership

    In this episode, I talk about how I moved from an individual contributor role as an instructional designer to an L&D leadership role and give you tips if you're interested in doing the same. 

    I talk about how to break it to your manager, how to create a plan to upskill, weighing the risks of staying at your current organization or trying to branch out to a new one, and how to get people leadership experience outside your full-time day job. 
    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/

    • 19 min
    84: How NOT to LinkedIn with Tim Slade

    84: How NOT to LinkedIn with Tim Slade

    In this episode, I bring Tim Slade back to talk about building your reputation on LinkedIn. We use it to look for work... We use it to find new clients... We use it to connect and learn about each other... But there's so much noise! How do we know what's real?

    Tim's suggestion for folks who are getting into instructional design? 
    Read a BOOK - you're more likely to get expertise because of the time and effort it takes to write and publish a book than what FURUs can accomplish in brief social media postsTim's suggestion for people as they begin to post on LinkedIn?
    Be yourselfDon't try to create something that you're notWrite what comes to mindInclude what you LEARNED when you share a certificateThanks 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/

    • 38 min
    83: Wrapping Up 2023 and What's Ahead for 2024

    83: Wrapping Up 2023 and What's Ahead for 2024

    In this episode, I chat about the lessons I learned in 2023 and what I think are L&D's brightest possibilities for 2024. 
    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/

    • 13 min
    82: Ask Heidi

    82: Ask Heidi

    In this episode, I answer YOUR questions on L&D leadership, upskilling in tools, working cross-functionally, getting data for needs analysis, and more! 

    Resources mentioned in the episode:
    Rachel Schell's Emerging Leaders in L&DScreenPal (which I referred to by its former name, Screencast-o-matic)OpenShot Video EditorAudacityCanvaThanks 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/

    • 31 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

Ytjones ,

One of my favorite L&D podcasts!

I absolutely love this podcast and find each episode so informative. I love Heidi’s soothing voice and feel like she is such a genuine person. I only wish there were more episodes for me to listen to!!

Jessicasheart ,

Coming back

I just tuned into the BLOC and will be coming back! I’ve been avoiding some podcasts that may have content for seasoned Instructional Designers, but I just listened to interview tips here and have found I can take something even from more advanced ID topics. This was invaluable. Clear and concise. Thank you!

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