ATD Accidental Trainer

ATD Accidental Trainer is an ATD podcast featuring bimonthly interviews with industry experts who share stories and tips about how to grow your training career. Hosted by Alexandria Clapp, ATD Accidental Trainer covers trends, strategies, and actionable information for talent development professionals.

ATD Accidental Trainer is a business podcast hosted by ATD, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

ATD hosts ATD Accidental Trainer, a business show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #12

  Stop Recovering From Work and Start Rethinking It with Kate Zipay and Allie Gabriel

  Aug 19, 202652 minS8

  If "high performance" leads to long nights, little recovery time, and feelings of burnout, then it's time we rethink our relationship to work. In this episode, Kate Zipay, Associate Professor of Management and Associate Director of Research & Impact at the Purdue Center for Working Well, and Allie Gabriel, the Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management and Director of the Purdue Center for Working Well, explore how we can break the cycle of depletion and fundamentally change our work culture. The conversation explores the idea of "intuitive working," explaining why some work feels more like eating a bag of chips than meaningful progress. Kate and Allie challenge organizations to stop rewarding overwork as a sign of commitment and provide practical ways L&D can help people work more intentionally for the benefit of themselves and their organization. Resources: See Allie and Kate at ATD Core4: https://core4.td.org/keynote-speakers/ Thinkers50: https://thinkers50.com/biographies/kate-zipay-allison-gabriel/ Substack: https://payingattentionwork.substack.com/ Kate's Website: https://www.katezipay.com/ Allie's Website: https://www.allisongabriel.com/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #11

  The Magic "What If": Creativity, AI, and the Future of L&D with Josh Penzell

  Jul 15, 202644 minS8

  In a time of shrinking budgets, shifting priorities, and constant change, creativity can feel like a luxury. Josh Penzell, founder of Imagination Applied, argues it's exactly the opposite. Drawing on his background in theater, training, and AI, Josh explores why learning experiences should function more like rehearsal rooms than lectures, and why AI works best as a creative collaborator rather than simply a productivity tool. This episode discusses artistic intelligence, the power of the "magic if," and what learning professionals can borrow from directors, actors, and performers. Along the way, Josh shares practical ideas for building teams where creativity can thrive, rethinking stakeholder conversations, and designing experiences that lead to meaningful behavior change. If you've ever felt constrained by limited resources, uncertainty, or the pressure to do more with less, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on creativity, collaboration, and what's possible when we stop searching for the right answer and start asking better questions. Resources: Josh's Website: https://www.joshpenzell.com/ Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-penzell

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #10

  How L&D Can Lead AI Implementation for Lasting Impact with Megan Torrance

  Jul 1, 202636 minS8

  In this episode of ATD Accidental Trainer, Megan Torrence, founder of TorrenceLearning and author of AI Implementation Guide for Learning and Development , explores why learning professionals are uniquely positioned to lead AI adoption across their organizations. Megan explains the three AI impact zones every learning professional should understand during AI adoption and how L&D can influence technology initatives through trust, strategy, and thoughtful design. She also introduces her W.I.S.E.A.T.A.I. framework for responsible AI use, explains how her AI Implementation Canvas helps cross-functional teams ask the right questions before rolling out new technology, and teases what else listeners can expect from her new book. Resources: Megan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megantorrance Megan's Website: https://www.torrancelearning.com/ Megan's Book: https://www.td.org/product/book--the-ai-implementation-guide-for-ld/112609 ATD AI Intensive: https://atdintensive.td.org/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #9

  Designing for Impact Using Culture, Data, and Relationships with Tonya Tucker Collins

  Jun 3, 202643 minS8

  <p>Tonya Tucker Collins, Head of Talent and Growth at Intersect, joins the podcast live from ATD26 in Los Angeles. Tonya shares what it truly means to think and design like a strategist, tackling one very important question: What separates a training program that checks a box from one that drives real business impact?</p> <p>The conversation explores why great learning design alone isn't enough to gain buy-in and how L&D professionals can increase strategic impact by reading the signals from the organization's culture, program data, and your stakeholder relationships. You'll also learn practical tips for using prototypes...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #8

  The Five Facilitation Personas Every L&D Pro Needs with Moe Poirier

  May 18, 202638 minS8

  <p>In this episode of ATD Accidental Trainer, learning expert, facilitator, and coach Moe Poirier explores the power of bringing your authentic facilitation strengths into the training room. Moe shares why facilitation isn't just a skill, but an expression of who you are and the gifts you bring to learners. </p> <p>The conversation dives into Moe's five facilitator personas model (the Sensei, Drill Sergeant, Superhero, Confidant, and Jester) and explains how understanding your natural strengths can help you adapt to the learners and create more meaningful learning experiences. Moe also shares practical insights on reading the room, balancing structure w...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on ATD Accidental Trainer. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.