37. AI at work: When competence becomes an illusion with Josh Cavalier

Is AI making our teams more capable, or simply just doing the job for them? In this episode we talk with Josh Cavalier, AI and L&D expert and author of Applying AI in Learning and Development. Together, we ask what happens when AI becomes part of almost every task we do? Where does that leave the line between AI-assisted performance and genuine competence, and what does that mean for the role of learning professionals going forward?   For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

Are employees already training themselves faster than organizations can keep up? In this episode, we're joined by Bob Mosher, Chief Learning Evangelist at APPLY Synergies, to explore why most learning is now self-directed, informal, and happening in the flow of work and what to do to support it. We discuss the importance of context, striking the balance between autonomy and accountability, and how leaders can coach performance rather than simply giving direction.    For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

Is perfect training becoming the enemy of useful training? In this episode, we sit down with agile L&D expert Natal Dank to discuss why organizations need to stop waiting for certainty and start embracing experimentation. We explore how learning teams can reduce bottlenecks, respond to change faster, and turn speed to skill into real business impact in an increasingly unpredictable world — without over-building solutions that are outdated before they launch. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

Why do most companies lack real skills visibility even after investing heavily in training? In this episode, learning strategist and skills-mapping expert Shannon Tipton joins us to explore why most organizations still can't connect the skills they're building to the outcomes they need.  We dig into where skills mapping falls apart in practice — from onboarding and internal mobility to the metrics that tell you whether capability is growing, not just whether training got done. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

Why do so many managers feel unprepared to develop their teams when it's a core part of their role? In this episode, we sit down with leadership expert Al Dea to explore why managers are the missing link in developing talent and how we can equip them to make sure learning happens organically in the flow of work. From simple practices like "bullpen" sessions to building a culture of everyday development, we unpack how managers can move from overseeing performance to actively growing their teams and advocating for them when they're not there.    For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

What if the biggest problem in L&D right now isn't a lack of learning but too much of it? In this episode we chat to Lavinia Mehedintu, co-founder of Offbeat, to explore why more content doesn't always lead to better performance. From challenging the "content creation factory" model to making the case for saying no, we unpack what it really takes to simplify learning without losing impact. Along the way, we dive into the role of skills visibility, smarter metrics, and why focusing on real business problems—not just more training—might be the key to building capability that actually sticks.   For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

In this episode, we sit down with self-described "L&D Detective" Kevin M. Yates to uncover what it really takes to prove the impact of learning. We explore why traditional L&D metrics only tell part of the story, how to design training around business performance, and why L&D professionals need to think like performance consultants rather than order takers. Kevin also shares practical questions that help uncover real performance gaps and explains why training is sometimes only one part of the solution.   For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

In this episode, we talk to Donald Taylor, one of the most influential voices in global L&D and a long-time authority at the intersection of learning and technology. From the dangers of the "AI efficiency trap" to why L&D teams need to move beyond being a content house, we explore where AI genuinely adds value, where it creates risk, and how learning leaders can stay relevant as expectations shift. A grounded, honest conversation about using AI in L&D with purpose, not hype. For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast  

As work continues to transform, L&D in 2026 is being forced to rethink how it supports people on the job. In this episode, we sit down with David Kelly - longtime industry analyst and influential L&D thinker - to dig into our Annual TalentLMS Benchmark Report. We unpack why learning debt is rising, why legacy L&D models are breaking under modern work demands, how AI should raise the ceiling of human work, and why skills matter more than job titles.   For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast

You've heard of Quiet Quitting—but what about Quiet Cracking? We talk to leadership expert Lia Garvin about the growing number of employees who are still showing up but quietly coming undone. Drawing on data from the TalentLMS survey that coined the term, we explore what's driving this pressure — from AI disruption to economic instability — and how companies can respond. Plus, Lia shares practical ways managers can spot the signs, support their high performers, and stop Quiet Cracking before it starts.   For further resources and the full transcript visit https://www.talentlms.com/podcast