THE FABULOUS LEARNING NERDS
Because being a nerd is Fabulous.
Welcome to the funtastic world of the Fabulous Learning Nerds!
Scott Schuette, Daniel Coonrod and Zeta Gardner are Learning Executives with over 50 years’ experience between them. Together they share new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact. All while having FUN! So, if you want to learn, connect, grow and have a good time doing it, The Fabulous Learning Nerds Podcast is for YOU!
Want to join in on the discussion? Email us at nerds@thelearningnerds.com
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.
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! 💥
Who are the nerds?
With over 25 years of experience in the learning and development field, Scott is passionate about inspiring others. His mission: to rescue them from their own limitations and bring them into a new world of growth and impact. He and his team bring relevant and impactful change-making tools to audiences young and not-so-young. Utilizing a wide array of solutions such as micro learning design, device neutral mobile learning, distance learning solutions, augmented, and virtual reality learning.
As a certified Master Trainer and Leadership Coach, Scott places as much emphasis on developing and caring for human capital as he does for financial capital. Engaging in accountability and mentorship conversations is one of his greatest pleasures. Through those conversations, he unlocks others’ superpower so they too can grow, improve, develop a healthy work/life balance, and positively impact their families and communities.
Zeta's a seasoned fantasy illustrator and graphic designer with over a decade of expertise. She brings that eye for visual impact to how she designs compelling for educational materials and engaging learning experiences.
She has overseen projects for a diverse range of clients, managing all aspects of project development and stakeholder relations.
Now as a dedicated learning nerd, she brings that skillset to help others in their never ending journey for learning and development.
Why is Daniel a Fabulous Learning Nerd? Well for starters, because he's on the podcast.
Well that and over a decade of experience in the L&D industry.
Daniel is an experience focused instructional designer, and learning consultant with a decade of experience in the L&D industry. Daniel's passion is helping people to grow and develop, and each week on the show he gets to grow and develop himself with a multitude of interesting and exciting guests.