Lately, I had a few conversations with fellow Instructional
Designers and L&D consultants. Some of them had recently transitioned from
working full-time in a company to doing freelance work and starting their own
consulting business.
A topic that kept coming back in our conversations was the
need to stay up to date with industry trends and get access to other useful
resources on managing a business as a soloist. I often found myself giving the
same recommendations on podcasts and books that influenced me and helped me
improve my practice. So I
thought, why not share these resources with you guys and hopefully learn
back from you about things I didn’t mention?
In this post, I’ll share some of my top podcast picks, and I’ll leave the books for a separate post. The first three are not related to L&D at all, and they’re all about the business mindset of a solopreneur. The rest of them are more directed at L&D professionals. So without further ado, here is my list.
1. The Business Of Authority
2. Ditching Hourly
Another great podcast by Jonathan Stark. In this podcast, Jonathan touches upon building authority from a slightly different angle – His mission is to rid the world of hourly billing. I know this mission sounds a bit over the top. As someone who used to make his living from billing clients by the hour, I can tell you firsthand that this message is quite hard to swallow. It takes a big (huge, Ginormous!) mindset shift to position yourself in a place where you feel comfortable selling your expertise by the value you bring to your clients rather than the time and effort it takes you to deliver your work. Highly worth a listen. Say goodbye to hourly rates and hello to selling your expertise based on the value you bring. Tune in here: Ditching Hourly Podcast
3. 2Bobs
Get ready to roll with this dynamic duo of creative entrepreneurs. Blair Enns and David C. Baker are two well-renowned authors that write about creative entrepreneurship. In their conversations, they touch upon many important topics around running a small firm. Brace yourself for wisdom-packed episodes: 2Bobs Podcast
4. The Josh Bersin Company Podcast
This podcast almost goes without saying. Josh Bersin is THE thought leader I listen to when I want to stay on top of the latest trends in the HR and talent development industry. Lately, he really looks deep into AI and its impact on the industry. Have a listen here: The Josh Bersin Company Podcast
5. The Learning & Development Podcast – David James
Join David James as he dives into critical L&D topics with thought leaders and guests. Gain a glimpse into the minds of L&D pioneers and stay abreast of the evolving landscape. James touches upon timely topics like measuring impact, performance-based organizations, and developing learning cultures, just to name a few. Check it out here: The Learning & Development Podcast
6. The McKinsey Podcast (and McKinsey Israel on High Tech)
McKinsey & Company is one of the largest and most respected consulting firms in the world. I like to listen to two of their podcasts – The McKinsey Podcast by Global McKinsey, which brings Insights from Experts on Business & Management. The second one is the McKinsey Israel on High Tech Podcast is highly recommended for those of you who work in close contact with the Tech industry in Israel. Tune in here:
The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey Israel on High Tech
7. The eLearning Coach
For all you eLearning enthusiasts out there, The eLearning Coach is an real gem! Hosted by Connie Malamed, this podcast dives into the world of
eLearning, offering practical tips, design insights, and expert interviews that
will take your eLearning game to a whole new level. Whether you’re a seasoned eLearning pro or just starting out, this podcast will undoubtedly spark your creativity and fuel your passion for innovative learning experiences. Tune in here: The eLearning Coach
So fire up your favorite podcast app cause it’s time to explore this exciting world of business and L&D podcasts. But before you dive in, I’m curious:
What are YOUR top go-to podcasts that keep you up-to-date and inspired?
Share your top picks, and let’s learn from each other!