This week on The Fabulous Learning Nerds, Scott, Dan, and Zeta (in spirit) welcome the brilliant Ross Romano to tackle the critical question: How can leaders and employees collaborate more effectively to foster real talent growth? Ross, a strategic advisor and connector with a wealth of experience in organizational leadership, marketing, and talent development, shares practical strategies to help you unlock collaboration at every level of your organization. Whether you’re a leader looking to nurture your team or an employee eager to grow, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world wisdom!

In this Episode:

• Know What You Want: Growth starts with clarity—both employees and leaders need to understand and communicate their goals to create collaborative success.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Explore how working across departments can build new skills, foster innovation, and strengthen relationships within the organization.

• Hiring for Potential: Learn why hiring for potential rather than immediate need is key to creating a growth-driven culture that retains top talent.

Our Guest: Ross Romano is a seasoned organizational leader, strategic advisor, and founder of September Strategies, where he helps organizations develop effective leadership and messaging strategies. With over 100 companies in his client roster, including big names like Spotify’s Soundtrap, Curriculum Associates, and FranklinCovey Education, Ross is a master at bringing people together to drive growth and innovation. He is also the founding program chair of the Excellence in Equity Awards, aimed at promoting equity in education, and hosts two popular podcasts, The Authority and Sideline Sessions.

Why does the middle matter? Find out in this week’s episode of The Fabulous Learning Nerds! 🎙️ Scott, Dan, and Zeta are joined by the insightful Jeff Sigel, who dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of being a middle manager. This episode is all about why middle managers play such a crucial role in organizations and how they can unlock their full potential.

In this Episode:

• Building Credibility: Learn how to master the details, foster a can-do attitude, and manage up to build trust with your superiors.

• Expanding Team Capacity: Discover the importance of providing purpose, feedback, and a supportive culture to help your team deliver outstanding results.

• Fostering Commitment: Find out how to gain buy-in from employees, peers, and leaders by taking ownership, removing obstacles, and navigating organizational politics.

Our Guest: Jeff Sigel is a seasoned business leader and middle management coach with over two decades of experience working for major companies like Nabisco, The Hershey Company, Ahold, and Cracker Barrel. Now focused on coaching mid-level leaders, Jeff is passionate about creating better work environments and more fulfilling careers for middle managers. His new book, The Middle Matters: A Toolkit for Middle Managers, is packed with valuable strategies for those looking to enhance their role and impact.

Hey folks, hold onto your hats (literally) and get ready for an electrifying episode of The Fabulous Learning Nerds! 🎧 This week, Scott, Dan, Zeta, and their special guest, the one and only Steve Corney, will blow your mind as they dive deep into groovy learning tech tools and share some of the coolest, nerd-approved learning technologies out there!

In this Episode:

• New Learning Tech: Discover how tools like Eleven Labs, SKL Chat, and Chameleon Creator can revolutionize your learning design, making it more interactive, inclusive, and adaptable.

• Voiceover Innovation: Learn how AI tools like Eleven Labs are transforming voiceover work, allowing for easy edits and saving tons of time, so you never have to worry about getting that perfect sound again!

• Bringing the Fun into Learning: Find out how injecting fun and creativity into learning experiences can help change behavior and drive engagement. From AI-enhanced content to game-like quizzes, get inspired to make learning enjoyable!

Our Guest: Steve Corney, is the creative force behind Learn Awesome, a forward-thinking agency based in Australia that specializes in crafting accessible and customizable learning experiences. With over 17 years of expertise in learning design and strategy, Steve is passionate about empowering organizations to create engaging content that’s easy to edit and maintain. When he’s not rocking his Batman mask on LinkedIn, Steve’s busy being a learning innovator, a tech enthusiast, and a true advocate for the learner's experience.

What if you could change behaviors with just a small nudge? Ever wondered how understanding the "why" behind what people do could revolutionize your approach to leadership, teaching, or even your daily habits? Fear no more, we can help! The Fabulous Learning Nerds are back with an electrifying episode that tackles these questions and more! Join hosts Scott Schuette, Dan Coonrod, and Zeta Gardner as they welcome Gary van Broekhoven, a true master in behavior change, innovation, and design.

In this Episode:

• Nudge Theory: Discover how tiny adjustments, like strategically placing healthy snacks, can lead to big changes without anyone feeling manipulated.

• Know the Why, Design the How: Learn why it's crucial to uncover your team’s motivations ("why") to effectively craft the right strategies ("how") for change.

• Make Behavior Change Stick: Find out how celebration and reinforcement are the keys to turning new behaviors into sustainable habits.

Our Guest: Gary van Broekhoven, the visionary behind WhatDrivesThem.com, has dedicated his career to making the world a better place through innovative behavior change strategies. With nearly three decades of experience (and some wild stories like designing slot machines for the French Mafia!), Gary brings his unique insights and actionable strategies to help you unlock the secrets of human behavior.

Emotional Intelligence is a hot topic in leadership, but do you truly understand it? More importantly, can you spot a healthy, emotionally intelligent culture when you see one? In this thought-provoking episode of the Fabulous Learning Nerds, Scott, Dan, and Zeta challenge leaders to reflect on whether they grasp the true power of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and what a healthy, emotionally intelligent culture looks like in the workplace. Special guest Jacquiline Wagner, an expert in employment law and HR consulting, breaks down why EI is essential for effective leadership and offers practical tips to cultivate it within your organization. If you've ever wondered how EI can influence your team's performance, reduce conflicts, or even impact your bottom line, this episode is for you!  

In this Episode:

• Understanding EI: Discover the five key components of Emotional Intelligence and why they're more important than your technical skills in shaping your career and workplace culture.

• Top-Down Buy-In: Learn how to make a business case for EI and why leadership's commitment is crucial for successful implementation.

• Measuring and Improving EI: Get practical tips on how to assess and enhance Emotional Intelligence within your team.

Want to learn more? Connect with Jacquiline on her website at WagnerHR.com

Ever wonder what makes Generation Z tick? Have you ever been baffled by the seemingly endless stream of "why" questions or wondered why Gen Z doesn’t seem to stick around, then this episode is for you! Join the Nerds as they sit down with Gen Z expert Anna Hislop to unravel the mysteries of the youngest generation in the workforce. Anna, who transitioned from the classroom in Sweden to becoming a leading voice on Gen Z employee experiences, shares her insights on what drives this generation, how to engage them, and why they might just be the key to your organization's future success.

In this Episode:

• The Why Factor: Discover why understanding the "why" behind tasks is crucial for engaging Gen Z and keeping them motivated.

• Trust and Flexibility: Learn how flexibility in the workplace and showing trust can make or break your relationship with Gen Z employees.

• Authenticity is Key: Find out why transparency and authenticity are non-negotiable when working with this savvy generation.

Anna Hislop's Website: Unfolding Success

Book: You Only Have to Ask! How to Realise the Full Potential of Gen Z at Work 

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a training session thinking, "Why isn’t this working?" Maybe your learners are dozing off, or your carefully crafted PowerPoint slides are met with blank stares. Fear not! Join Scott, Dan, and Zeta as they dive into the spicy, edgy, and oh-so-relevant topic: "Why does your training suck?" With their signature blend of humor, insights, and practical advice, they'll help you transform those yawn-inducing sessions into dynamic, impactful experiences. 

In this Episode:

• Relevancy is Key: Learn why making your training relevant to your learners is crucial and how to ensure it hits the mark every time.

• Engaging Activities: Avoid the dreaded word walls! Discover the importance of incorporating diverse and meaningful activities to keep your learners engaged. 

• Breaks and Reflection: Utilize the power of breaks and reflection to enhance learning retention and keep your audience awake.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, you’ll discover how to make your training sessions engaging, impactful, and most importantly, not suck!

Are you a new leader? As a new leader have you ever felt like you've been tossed out of an airplane with a faulty parachute? Do you design learning for new leaders and need some direction? If so then this week’s episode is for you! Join us as we chat with the incredibly insightful Pete Premenko, an expert in leadership development and author of "Elevating Potential." Pete shares his inspiring journey from a technology trainer at Kinko’s to a leadership guru, offering invaluable insights on empowering new leaders. Tune in to learn from Pete's experiences and elevate your potential as a leader! 

• Empowering New Leaders: Proven strategies to support and develop new leaders, ensuring they’re set up for success from day one. 

• Ethical Leadership: The vital role of ethics in leadership and how it shapes a positive, productive workplace.

• Minimizing Scrap Learning: Techniques to ensure every training session translates into actionable, real-world skills.

Pete Premenko’s Website

Book: Elevating Potential: A Guide To Developing Emerging Leaders Available Here 

Hold on to your headphones as the Fabulous Learning Nerds celebrate a monumental milestone – our 100th episode! We're rolling out the red carpet for this spectacular event, packed with surprises, guest appearances, and a brand-new segment that will blow your mind. Join hosts Scott, Dan, and Zeta as they take you on a thrilling journey through the most valuable feedback they've received, revealing how impact and value have shaped their work. 

Special Guests: 

• Julia Phelan (Ep. 49 - The Secret Syllabus and more!)

• Glenn Brumley (Ep. 14 - Creative Openers)

• Joey Acklin (Ep. 66 - Winter Roundtable)

• Jared Ramler (Ep. 84 - Clarity in Leadership)

• John Lathbury (Ep. 11 - Let’s talk about Data)

• Sam VanTassel (our man in the chair)

Join us as they share their latest adventures and breakthroughs as well as a special shoutout to Abby Dawson for her significant contributions to the podcast. The episode wraps up with a fun debate – is "Back to the Future" or "Galaxy Quest" the more perfect movie? Tune in to hear their takes and join the conversation!💥 Get ready for an episode filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of nerdy fun. Hit play and celebrate 100 episodes with us! 💥