The Secrets of Learning & Development

Valerie & Julia
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Our podcast is designed for business leaders, managers, consultants, industry experts, and individuals who are passionate about driving change and promoting growth in their organisations or personal development. Each episode will delve into crucial topics such as mindset recalibration, visibility, and strategic planning. We will have insightful conversations about change management and innovative initiatives that can transform your approach to learning and development.  Our aim is to equip you with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills, business acumen, and personal growth.  We are focusing on our leaders and professional guests' unique journeys and the key moments that have shaped their careers.   We are passionate about sharing stories that inspire, educate, and ignite a spark within our listenersJoin us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to success in the dynamic world of learning and development. Stay tuned and get ready to be inspired!Host Information:Julia BendExecutive Career Coachhttps://www.premier-coaching.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bend-premier-coachingValerie MerrillLearning & Development Trainer & Advisorhttps://www.merrillconsultants.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillvalerie/

  1. 1d ago

    Jo Tocher: When You Lose the Life You Expected: Grief, Healing and What Comes Next

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! Some experiences do not simply change the direction of your life. They change the person you are. For wellbeing practitioner, retreat host and author Jo Tocher, the loss of her first baby was one of those experiences. In this deeply personal episode, Jo shares how that loss changed her from the inside out and ultimately led her away from the corporate world towards a life and career centred on wellbeing. Jo explains why she first needed to work through her own grief, how training as an aromatherapist opened the door to other forms of healing and the moment she recognised that her lived experience could help other women feel less alone. She also discusses writing Life After Miscarriage, bringing together the stories of other women and giving a voice to an experience that is still too often left unspoken. The conversation explores the importance of listening for what is not being said, why meaningful support can never be one size fits all and how stepping away from the demands of everyday life can give us a different perspective on what needs to change. Jo also shares her thoughts on connection, midlife and taking better care of ourselves after years spent looking after everyone else. Above all, she challenges the idea that age should determine what we can still do, become or experience. This is an honest and moving conversation about living with loss, finding meaning without diminishing what happened and allowing personal experience to inform work that genuinely helps others. Key Learnings Our own healing must come before helping others Jo’s experience shows that lived experience can bring a depth of understanding, but she first needed time to process her own grief before using what she had learnt to support other women. Wellbeing requires deliberate attention Creating space, maintaining meaningful connections and caring for our sleep, movement and mindset are essential, particularly in midlife. Age should not decide what remains possible for us. Guest Information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jotocher/ https://jotocher.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jo_tocher_holistics/ https://www.facebook.com/joy.holistics.9 Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Jo Tocher: When You Lose the Life You Expected: Grief, Healing and What Comes Next

  2. Sep 4 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: When Competence Hides the support you need

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! Competence earns trust, responsibility and respect. It can also create the impression that you never need support. In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie explore what happens when being known as the capable one means carrying more of the thinking alone. They consider why experience doesn’t remove uncertainty, how independence can quietly become isolation and why seeking another perspective strengthens rather than undermines your judgement. Because the people trusted to make the difficult decisions still need somewhere to think before they make them. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Bonus: When Competence Hides the support you need

  3. Aug 27

    Sally Chapman From Playing Catch-Up to Leading From Within

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! For much of her life, Sally Chapman felt she was playing catch-up — reaching for the milestones others seemed to have already achieved and working harder whenever something didn’t feel right. Her career has been anything but conventional. From agricultural college and pig farming to running an award-winning pub, building a successful career in HR and becoming an executive and leadership coach, each chapter revealed something more about who she was and what mattered to her. In this honest and engaging conversation, Sally shares how childhood beliefs shaped her choices, why her need to fit in followed her into the workplace and how coaching helped her recognise the values misalignment she had been trying to outwork. She also explains why emotions are central to the way we live and lead, and how this thinking inspired her Lead From Within workbook and programme. This episode is a powerful exploration of identity, belonging and the patterns that quietly influence our decisions. It is also a reminder that meaningful work doesn’t always begin with a carefully constructed plan. Sometimes, it begins when we finally listen to the parts of ourselves we have spent years pushing aside. Key Learnings Working harder cannot fix work that conflicts with who you are. What appears to be a performance problem may actually be a clash between your role, values and emotional needs. The need to catch up or fit in can quietly shape an entire career. Understanding the beliefs behind our choices allows us to make decisions based on who we are now, rather than who we once thought we needed to be. Guest Information: Website - https://shinecoaching.org.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-chapman-shine-coaching/ Instagram - @sallychapmanshinecoaching PDF Workbook  | Printed Workbook   Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Sally Chapman From Playing Catch-Up to Leading From Within

  4. Aug 21 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Mindset Shift from Employee to Brand

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie and I explore the shift from employee to personal brand and what it really means to become “You Ltd”. For many capable professionals, being good at the work has always mattered more than talking about the work. But as careers become less linear, and more people move into consultancy, portfolio work, leadership visibility, advisory roles or self-employment, the ability to explain your value clearly becomes increasingly important. This conversation is not about polishing yourself into something artificial. It is about understanding what you bring, what you are known for and how people experience your work. At its heart, this episode is about moving from “this is my role” to “this is the value I bring” and learning how to describe your experience, credibility and difference with greater clarity, confidence and purpose. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Bonus: Mindset Shift from Employee to Brand

  5. Aug 13

    Lynne Parker was Told Women Aren’t Funny. Then She Changed Comedy.

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! What happens when one dismissive comment becomes the catalyst for more than two decades of change? In this episode, Julia and Valerie are joined by Lynne Parker, founder of Funny Women, the award-winning platform that has championed female performers, writers and creators since 2002. Lynne shares how being told that women ‘aren’t funny’ led her to challenge a male-dominated comedy industry and create opportunities for emerging talent, including Funny Women Award winner Katherine Ryan. Lynne reflects candidly on her varied career in journalism, public relations and retail, the risks behind building Funny Women and the financial realities of sustaining work in an industry where comedy is still not officially recognised as an art form. She also explores how comedy can help women strengthen their confidence, communicate with greater impact and make themselves heard in business and beyond. This is an honest and spirited conversation about reinvention, visibility, collaboration and what it takes to keep backing an idea when the structures around you have yet to catch up. Key Learnings Your experience may prepare you for work you never planned to do. Lynne’s background in journalism, PR and business gave her the storytelling, commercial judgement and determination to build Funny Women. Lasting change requires more than personal success. It depends on opening doors, recognising new talent and working together so that opportunity extends beyond one person. Guest Information:  https://www.lynneparker.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynneparker/ https://funnywomen.com/ https://magazine.funnywomen.com/2025/12/11/the-glitter-project-how-a-spark-became-a-nationwide-creative-movement/ Comedy Advisor to CRAFT, the newly formed Comedy Representation and Artform Trust. https://thecraft.lol/ https://magazine.funnywomen.com/2026/04/30/born-out-of-misogyny-why-we-are-still-waiting-to-be-heard/ Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Lynne Parker was Told Women Aren’t Funny. Then She Changed Comedy.

  6. Aug 7 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: What Are You Ambitious for Now

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! What if the part of your career that made the least sense taught you the most? In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie explore the qualifications, roles and unexpected changes in direction that rarely fit the polished version of a career story, yet often reveal something important about who we are and how we work. They examine the difference between competence and fit, why being highly valued for a skill doesn’t always mean you want to build your future around it and how seemingly unrelated roles can reveal a consistent thread in the contribution others trust you to make. This isn’t about pretending every difficult experience happened for a reason. It’s about looking honestly at what each chapter showed you about your abilities, your standards and the environment in which you do your best work. Because a career doesn’t need to follow a straight line to make sense. Sometimes the detour is where you discover what the original plan could never have taught you. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Bonus: What Are You Ambitious for Now

  7. Jul 30

    Roz Morris: How To Look More Credible, Confident and Professional On Screen

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S5: E6 In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia Bend and Valerie Merrill are joined by Roz Morris, author, broadcaster and founder of TV News London. With more than 32 years in television news, media training and communication, Roz shares her journey from the newspaper world of The Guardian and The Observer to BBC radio, television reporting, presenting and running her own business. The conversation explores how communication has changed, why visual skills now matter in almost every professional setting and what many leaders still miss when they appear on screen. Roz talks about the “grammar of TV”, the rise of the visual economy, the impact of COVID on online communication and why professionals today need to think not only about what they say, but how they show up. From crisis media training to executive presence, networking, asking for help and learning how to walk into a room with authority, this episode is a sharp, timely and practical look at what it means to communicate well in a world where we are all increasingly visible. Key Learnings We are all visible communicators now. Roz makes the point that communication is no longer just about words. Whether it’s Zoom, Teams, social media, live streaming or online presentations, professionals now need to understand how they appear on screen. Framing, lighting, sound, camera position and eye contact all shape how credible and prepared someone appears. Presence is a skill, not a personality trait. The episode highlights that executive presence, media confidence and the ability to communicate under pressure can be learned. Roz links this to crisis communication, public speaking and how people enter a room, speak on camera or respond when the pressure is high. The message is clear: strong communication is not just about having something to say. It’s about knowing how to carry it. Guest Information: http://www.tvnewslondon.co.uk/ roz@tvnewslondon.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozmorris https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visual-Revolution-Guidebook-success-economy/dp/1915483468?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Wjen2urR6_yVOJ2iqlG1gKvNgJDgc3N9UQ8ygSouXio.8G27bcQLgvvBkXUTT-qEmNsMYmFZrkmymlknEg82xoY&qid=1720184432&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=tvnewslondon-21&linkId=39edf3fe3035eb3c4b2555754e01bcaf&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl InThe Visual Revolution Guidebookmedia expert Roz Morris, who has trained thousands of people to succeed in media interviews, videos and presentations, provides you with a unique practical toolkit for the visual skills you need right now for success in your career in this new visual-centric world. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Roz Morris: How To Look More Credible, Confident and Professional On Screen

  8. Jul 23 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All – Learning for Non Office Workers

    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning & Development, Valerie and Julia turn their attention to a group of employees who are often underserved by traditional workplace learning: non-office workers. From frontline teams and retail staff to healthcare, logistics and manufacturing workers, many people don’t have the time, space or equipment to access learning in the same way as office-based colleagues. A 45-minute online course may work well for someone at a desk, but it’s far less realistic for someone working shifts, dealing with customers, supporting patients or responding to live operational demands. Valerie and Julia discuss why learning needs to be designed around the reality of the job, not around outdated assumptions about how people work. They explore the role of mobile-first learning, short and focused content, practical support at the point of need and learning that becomes part of the working day rather than something separate from it. This episode is for anyone involved in L&D, people development or line management who wants to create learning that is accessible, relevant and useful for people who are not sitting behind a laptop all day. Support the show Support the Show Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

    Bonus: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All – Learning for Non Office Workers
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Our podcast is designed for business leaders, managers, consultants, industry experts, and individuals who are passionate about driving change and promoting growth in their organisations or personal development. Each episode will delve into crucial topics such as mindset recalibration, visibility, and strategic planning. We will have insightful conversations about change management and innovative initiatives that can transform your approach to learning and development.  Our aim is to equip you with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills, business acumen, and personal growth.  We are focusing on our leaders and professional guests' unique journeys and the key moments that have shaped their careers.   We are passionate about sharing stories that inspire, educate, and ignite a spark within our listenersJoin us on this journey as we unlock the secrets to success in the dynamic world of learning and development. Stay tuned and get ready to be inspired!Host Information:Julia BendExecutive Career Coachhttps://www.premier-coaching.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bend-premier-coachingValerie MerrillLearning & Development Trainer & Advisorhttps://www.merrillconsultants.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillvalerie/

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