The Learning Geeks Podcast

The Learning Geeks

The Learning Geeks podcast is dedicated to those that passionately support the world in experiencing better learning. The podcast is hosted by three learning professionals - Bob Gerard, Dana Koch, and Jake Gittleson. In each episode, we dedicate time to talk about the things impacting the learning world including new science, approaches, technologies, and ideas. Guests will appear, popular games and movies may be discussed, and geeks will laugh.

  1. 1D AGO

    S8 E10: Awe, Wonder, and Curiosity (Part 1)

    What's the difference between curiosity, awe, and wonder and why does it matter for learning? In this episode, we welcome back three friends of the podcast: Dr. Megan Cuzzolino, researcher and educator at Harvard's Next Level Lab, Dr. Lauren Hodges, human performance researcher, and Jessica Billiet, neuroscience-informed change leader. Together, they explore curiosity as an epistemic emotion, the relationship between awe and meaning, and why widening our aperture might be the antidote to fear-based thinking. Part 1 of 2. 00:00 Cold Open 01:33 Dana Gets Meta-Curious 04:52 Meet Megan: Awe & Epistemic Emotions 07:23 Quick Curiosity vs. Sustained Interest 09:56 Does Learning Kill Awe? 11:12 Awe as Motivation at Work 14:00 Curiosity, Wonder & Vastness 21:02 Awe, Meaning & Purpose 24:18 Meet Lauren: Curiosity as Aperture 29:52 Curiosity as the Antidote to Stress 31:27 Reframing Fear with Curiosity 34:15 Wrap Up & Part 2 Preview   LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS Megan - https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/megan-powell-cuzzolino Lauren - https://www.performance-on-purpose.com/about Jessica - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabilliet/   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    35 min

  2. APR 9

    S8 E9: How to Think When Machines Think Faster (Live from SXSW EDU)

    Recorded  live at SXSW EDU 2026, Jake and Bob sit down with Dr. Tessa Forshaw from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to explore metacognition in an AI-driven world. Tessa unpacks why our brains naturally offload thinking to AI, the power of productive friction, and what it takes to keep our own reasoning sharp. We close the show with simple strategies everyone can apply.   00:00 Cold Open 00:37 Live Show and Intro of Tessa 04:56 Metacognition in the AI Era 12:46 How to Stay Metacognitive with AI 17:26 Think While You Work, Not After 19:40 Productive Friction Explained 23:09 The Current Divide with EdTech 30:00 Practical Moves and Closing   CONNECT WITH TESSA’S WORK https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/tessa-forshaw   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    35 min

  3. MAR 26

    S8 E8: The Learner Never Retires

    Dan Bielenberg was one of the original learning geeks who spent 25 years in adult learning at Accenture. After retiring, he only deepened that curiosity. His learning path took him through seminary studies, becoming a hospice chaplain, and now coaching faculty in higher education. Dan shares how stepping away from the corporate world opened a new chapter of intentional, reflective learning. We explore self-awareness, emotional intelligence, being present, and why the best learners never retire. 00:00 Cold Open 01:38 Learning from Seminary and Hospice 09:59 Strengths Coaching in Academia 17:13 Emotional Intelligence Matters 21:42 EdTech and Distracted Learner 25:16 Microlearning Revisited 29:55 What I'd Tell My Younger 34:45 One Last Thing… 36:10 Closing   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    37 min

  4. FEB 20

    S8 E7: Three Geeks Walk Into a Bar…

    We're guest-free this week, so we pulled up some bar stools and went the unscripted happy hour route. We talk Bob’s move back to Chicago, the L&D pendulum swinging (again), AI hype, why hot takes suck and why you should teach instead. Plus, we discuss social media anxiety and a few other topics along the way. Pull up a barstool and join us!   00:00 Intro and first rounds 02:11 Bob moves back to Chicago 05:26 The L&D pendulum swings again 09:34 Resurrecting “Phenomenal Learning” 16:02 AI Hype and Human learning 21:07 Social Media anxiety and AI slop 27:41 Hot takes suck. Teach instead 31:21 Pop culture pivot: Marvel’s Wonder Man 33:14 Disney’s New CEO 35:18 Last call   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    37 min

  5. FEB 6

    S8 E6: This Isn’t the AI You’re Looking For

    David Chestnut joins us to rethink one of the biggest assumptions about AI enablement. We explore why AI isn’t a replacement for expertise, what AI is great at, what it’s terrible at, what ever happened to prompt engineering, and how context and delegation are becoming critical leadership capabilities.   00:00 Cold Open 01:12 Bob's Big Announcement 04:08 David's Journey into Learning 15:12 Challenges and future of AI 16:08 Limitations of GenAI 20:39 What ever happen to prompt engineering 22:26 The Importance of Context 24:52 Teaching AI Delegation 30:00 Future of AI and Human Expertise 30:48 Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    33 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Holiday Special 2025: Becoming Better Versions of Ourselves

    It’s our yearly holiday special and a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead. We reflect on the personal and professional lessons of 2025, including how AI, feedback loops, and immersive experiences are shaping learning. We also discuss the most important lesson – that at the end of the day, development is still about helping people become better versions of themselves. We wrap by looking ahead to 2026 and what we want to learn and build next, both for ourselves and for the podcast.   00:00 Introduction and banter 02:51 Bob – Meta tech and the Future of Learning 14:04 Dana – Better versions of ourselves 18:59 Bob Bot 3000 21:02 Jake – Family outings and AI powered journalling 30:42 Looking Forward to 2026 36:45 Thank you to listeners   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    39 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    S8 E5: Why Building Tech Skills Unlock Human Potential (with Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski)

    In this episode, we’re joined by Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski from McKinsey to unpack why building tech skills is about unlocking human potential — not replacing it. We explore real client success stories and challenges with AI upskilling, the danger of ignoring human skills, why technology can’t fix broken work processes, and whether embedding AI into daily work actually improves apprenticeship and learning.   00:00 Cold open & banter 02:15 Introducing Brooke & Heather 04:26 What Tech Upskilling Really Means 07:13 Human Advantage vs. Machine Capability 14:52 Leadership, Storytelling & Positive Energy 17:29 Creating Space to Practice Tech Skills 18:26 Case Example: AI Transformation in Manufacturing 22:13 The Evolving Role of the CLO 26:09 Building a Developmental Ecosystem 31:27 AI as an Apprenticeship Engine 36:03 Final takeaways   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   READ MORE FROM BROOKE AND HEATHER We’re all techies now: Digital skill building for the future: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/we-are-all-techies-now-digital-skill-building-for-the-future The future of the CLO: Leading in a world of merged work and learning https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-future-of-the-clo-leading-in-a-world-of-merged-work-and-learning   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    38 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    S8 E4: Building your Learning Posse (with Deidra Busbee)

    Longtime friend Deidra Busbee (Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase) joins us to unpack the power of your “learning posse”, or the group of people who challenge you, support you, connect you, and help you learn faster. We discuss how to build this crew intentionally, why it reduces stress and accelerates onboarding, and what roles AI has within the posse or will never replace. It's a thoughtful discussion at the relationships that fuel real growth.   00:00 Cold open and Deidre welcome 02:23 Deidre's Background 07:06 Deidre's Current Role at JP Morgan Chase 09:39 Building a Learning Posse 11:14 Roles in a Learning Posse 20:06 Introducing Bob Bot 3000 21:36 The Role of Human Connection 30:08 Networking Beyond Your Organization 34:53 Wrap up   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

    38 min
See All (148)

4.8
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

The Learning Geeks podcast is dedicated to those that passionately support the world in experiencing better learning. The podcast is hosted by three learning professionals - Bob Gerard, Dana Koch, and Jake Gittleson. In each episode, we dedicate time to talk about the things impacting the learning world including new science, approaches, technologies, and ideas. Guests will appear, popular games and movies may be discussed, and geeks will laugh.

Information

  • Creator
    The Learning Geeks
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024. The Learning Geeks.
  • Show Website
    The Learning Geeks Podcast

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