In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Cole Bastion, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at HOA Brands, where he's helped reduce management turnover by 10% and transformed L&D into a powerful driver of enterprise-wide change.

We dive deep into how Cole positions his team not as order-takers—but as change makers.

Key topics we cover:

• Why L&D must become the “epicenter of transformation” in the org
• The risks of staying in the traditional training lane
• How Cole earned the trust to facilitate annual strategy sessions with the executive team
• His process for evaluating new tech (and avoiding shiny object syndrome)
• Why visibility matters—and what it’s opened up for him as a leader

Cole’s story is packed with insight on what it really takes to lead learning with purpose, partnership, and influence.

🔗 Connect with Cole on LinkedIn: Cole Bastion, MSIOP

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David Grad was once leading creative teams at MTV. Now, he’s solving one of the toughest problems in learning and development: how to make live training actually stick.

In this episode of Catalysts, David shares the origin story behind elevator9, the learning tech company he co-founded to ensure live training drives measurable, lasting impact. Drawing from learning science, cognitive psychology, and real-world application, elevator9 has created a platform that transforms what happens after the workshop—so that insights aren’t lost the moment people return to work.

We also explore the mindset shifts L&D leaders must embrace to position learning as a strategic value driver—not a cost center—and how David’s journey from media to learning has shaped his passion for empowering people through evidence-based design.

We cover:

• Why most live training fails to deliver—and what to do instead
• The core learning science principles that drive behavior change
• How elevator9 uses AI to gather and analyze qualitative training data
• A step-by-step look at how companies implement the platform
• How L&D leaders can finally prove—and improve—their business impact
• Why learning is a revenue driver, not just an expense
• David’s advice for L&D professionals who want to grow their influence

Connect with David Grad:

• David on LinkedIn
• elevator9

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In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning.

Keith is a powerhouse in the world of learning strategy—a practitioner-scholar who believes L&D shouldn’t just defend its worth, but amplify its impact. We dive into what it truly means to be a trusted learning advisor, why L&D needs to stop chasing surface metrics, and how to lead your team out of the “order-taker” trap and into strategic partnership.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why L&D’s real power lies in creating value—not just delivering content
• How to move from reactive defense mode to proactive business alignment
• Why metrics like butts-in-seats are holding us back
• The science of learning—and how to make stakeholders care about it
• How to build trust with both leaders and learners
• What most orgs get wrong about reskilling, equity, and inclusion
• The role of visibility, storytelling, and self-belief in shaping the future of L&D

Keith’s journey—from high school dropout to doctoral scholar—is a testament to the life-changing power of learning. And his message is clear: L&D isn’t a support function. It’s a strategic driver. But only if we choose to show up that way.

🎧 Tune in for a deeply human, sharply strategic conversation that will leave you thinking differently about what you do—and why it matters.

Connect with Dr. Keith Keating on LinkedIn »

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In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist at Beyond the Sky and host of You in 2042: The Future of Work. With a background in marketing and leadership roles at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, Danielle brings a uniquely human—and deeply practical—lens to some of the biggest shifts happening in the world of learning and work.

We dive into how AI is reshaping workforce expectations, why empathy and emotional regulation are the real future-proof skills, and what it actually takes to design learning that drives behavior change.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• AI won’t replace us—but it will reshape what “valuable” work looks like.
• Skills like empathy, adaptability, and critical thinking are no longer optional.
• Content-based training is flooding the market, but it’s practice that drives change.
• AI can accelerate soft skill development—when paired with intentional design.
• Effective learning starts with the right business conversations, not content.
• The cost vs. effectiveness debate in L&D is really a question of priority.

If you’ve ever wrestled with how to balance emerging technology with human connection—or how to make soft skills training actually stick—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to build learning solutions that are both efficient and effective.

🔗 Connect with Danielle:
LinkedIn | Beyond the Sky

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What if the real key to innovation isn’t speed, strategy, or structure—but the ability to sit with discomfort long enough to transform it?

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Janet Harvey, CEO of inviteCHANGE, former global president of the International Coaching Federation, and one of the most influential voices in coaching and leadership development over the past three decades.

With more than 12,000 hours of coaching experience across six continents, Janet shares how she’s seen the coaching field evolve—and what leaders must now embrace if they want to create real, sustainable change.

We explore:

• Why coaching is no longer reserved for the top of the house—and how it can strengthen people managers at every level
• How to move from a scarcity mindset to a wholeness mindset in leadership
• Why building connection isn’t optional—it’s our biological default
• How AI and tech can become partners, not threats, in building more human workplaces
• What it means to “fall in love with the problem” in order to unlock generative thinking and innovation
  Janet’s wisdom is powerful, grounded, and deeply human—and her call to action is clear: Stop avoiding tension. Start transforming through it.

📌 Links Mentioned

• Janet’s work: inviteCHANGE
• Janet's new platform: go.invitechange.com
• YouTube: Invite Change Channel

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• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
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• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Bianca Baumann, award-winning strategist, international speaker, and author of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro. With over 15 years in the field, Bianca brings a rare blend of creativity, empathy, and business alignment to the way organizations approach learning.

We talk about the mindset shifts that L&D teams need to make—starting with listening more and building for behavior change, not just content delivery.

Inside the conversation:

• Why listening is the most underrated skill in L&D
• How to balance long-term workforce strategy with short-term execution
• The marketing principles every L&D leader should steal—today
• Why compelling writing is a non-negotiable for learning that sticks
• How course titles, taglines, and narrative structure can dramatically increase engagement
• The role of learner personas in driving motivation and performance
• What executives still don’t understand about learning—and how to educate them
• Why visibility and working out loud matter more than ever in L&D leadership

Bianca also shares her own evolution as a leader, what she’s learned from mentoring teams, and the small actions that can make a big impact—especially for L&D professionals doing it all on their own.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Catalysts—where we spotlight the leaders shaping the future of learning and growth.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn »

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In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Brandon Carson, Chief Learning Officer at Docebo, to explore the future of learning and development in a world reshaped by AI, transformation, and trust.

Brandon is a globally recognized L&D leader and the author of Learning in the Age of Immediacy and L&D’s Playbook for the Digital Age. He’s led learning strategy at Walmart, Starbucks, and now Docebo—and his vision for the next decade of work is bold, clear, and deeply human.

We talk about:

• The three tectonic shifts that have redefined L&D since the 1970s
• Why COVID—not AI—was the real catalyst for L&D’s elevation
• The shift from scalable efficiency to scalable learning
• How HR and L&D can restore workforce trust in the age of AI
• What it takes to lead talent development with empathy and strategy
• Brandon’s advice for emerging leaders—and the one skill he calls your “back pocket differentiator”

This episode is a roadmap for any L&D professional looking to lead boldly, scale human potential, and architect the future of work.

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn »

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What does real transformation look like in learning and development—and how do we design for it in a world defined by disruption?

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Sean Bengry, Chief Learning Officer at Sablethorn Consulting and a global leader in educational innovation, to explore the intersection of human-centered design, technology, and organizational change.

With over 20 years of experience leading global L&D strategy, Sean shares why effective learning ecosystems don’t start with solutions—they start with curiosity, empathy, and trust.

We unpack:

• Why falling in love with the problem is more important than falling in love with the solution
• How to use the 5 Whys without triggering defensiveness
• The difference between digital transformation and cultural transformation
• What it really takes to shift mindsets inside complex organizations
• And how AI might make us more human—not less

Sean also introduces the Bengry Paradox—his belief that if you try to automate yourself out of a job in a year, you’ll never actually be without one.

If you’re leading learning strategy, navigating AI disruption, or rethinking how change actually happens inside organizations, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn »
Connect with Sean on X »

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