Workforce on the Mic: Presented by NAWDP

How can workforce development use AI to make learning more personal, accessible, and relevant while keeping people at the center? In this episode of Workforce on the Mic, Ryan Trattner, CTO and co-founder of StudyFetch, discusses how AI can help organizations create up-to-date training, tailor learning to individual needs, and give people new ways to practice job skills through simulations. He also shares advice for workforce leaders exploring AI: start with the goal, identify what's getting in the way, and experiment with tools like Honen, StudyFetch's workforce training platform, to help learners build skills and move toward their career goals.

The semiconductor industry powers much of everyday life, yet many people are unfamiliar with its wide range of career opportunities. In this episode, we explore how workforce leaders, educators, employers, and communities can work together to build clear pathways into the industry and help meet its growing talent needs. We discuss the role of regional partnerships, the National Network for Microelectronics Education, and efforts to make semiconductor careers more visible, accessible, and rewarding for learners.

How can workforce professionals help address healthcare shortages while opening new career opportunities for adults in their communities? In this episode of Workforce on the Mic, Alexis Franks speaks with Van Ton-Quinlivan, Chief Executive Officer of Futuro Health, about building practical pathways into allied health careers. They discuss overlooked healthcare roles, the support adult learners need to complete training, and how bundling credentials can make career paths easier to navigate.

In this episode, Alexis Franks speaks with Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, about addressing the healthcare staffing shortage by creating accessible, debt-free pathways into healthcare careers. Barb shares how Dwyer combines training with whole-person case management, transportation assistance, wraparound services, and ongoing encouragement to help participants overcome barriers, succeed in the workplace, and advance toward higher-paying careers. The conversation highlights why training alone is not enough—and how providing opportunity and someone who believes in each participant can transform lives while strengthening the healthcare workforce.

In this episode we welcome Edward. Abeyta, Ph.D., and Rebecca Smith for a timely conversation about supporting experienced workers as they navigate the next chapter of their careers. They explore how workforce professionals can help people move beyond age-based stereotypes, recognize their experience as an asset, and approach career development as a cycle rather than a linear path. The discussion also examines the importance of purpose, adaptability, well-being, creativity, and community while offering a practical framework for reinvention: inventory your strengths and experiences, translate them for today's workforce, and activate your next steps. 

Tune in for a conversation with Lindsay Lucas, Deputy Program Director at the Council of State Governments, to discover how state and local governments can build stronger talent pipelines for the next generation of public servants. Lindsay reveals the growing need to replace retiring workers, preserve institutional knowledge, and introduce job seekers to the wide range of meaningful careers available in public service. She also highlights apprenticeships, internships, paid learning opportunities, skills-based hiring, and the essential communication and problem-solving skills needed to succeed, while offering practical advice for workforce professionals seeking to build stronger partnerships with local government.

In this episode of Workforce on the Mic, we explore how entrepreneurship, workforce development, and clean energy innovation can come together to create real community impact. Guests Dr. Kelvin Molina-Brantley and Ron Molina-Brantley of the Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative share how their Massachusetts-based organization supports entrepreneurs, small businesses, and workers through flexible, community-centered pathways. From clean energy training and business development to strategic partnerships and individualized support, this conversation highlights what it takes to make sure emerging industries create opportunities for local communities rather than leaving them behind.

Tune in to discover how Skilltrade is helping reshape the connection between education, workforce development, and employment opportunity through short-term, skills-based training programs designed for today's rapidly evolving workforce. In this episode of Workforce on the Mic, Alexis Franks sits down with Jason Aubrey for a conversation about employer partnerships, healthcare and skilled trades training, community engagement, and building accessible pathways into high-demand careers. With more than a decade of experience in workforce development and education, Jason shares insights into how workforce systems, educators, employers, and community organizations can work together to create meaningful employment opportunities and stronger training outcomes.

In this episode of Workforce on the Mic, presented by National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, Alexis Franks sits down with Earl Martin Phalen to explore how Great Jobs KC is transforming workforce development through a bold partnership-driven model. Earl shares how the organization brings together employers, training providers, community organizations, and social service agencies to create a workforce ecosystem focused on real outcomes for job seekers. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration over competition, meeting people where they are, providing wraparound support services, and building systems that help individuals move into sustainable, family-supporting careers. Listeners will discover practical insights on scaling workforce programs, building strong partnerships, and creating workforce solutions that truly change lives.

In this episode, we explore the powerful and often overlooked connection between mental health, trauma, and career success with Lion Goodman of the Clear Beliefs Institute. From chronic stress and negative self-beliefs to the realities of poverty and survival mode, we unpack why traditional workforce development strategies sometimes fall short—and what's missing. This conversation highlights a more holistic, "inside-out" approach that helps individuals build resilience, confidence, and a true path toward self-sufficiency. Through real stories and practical insights, we challenge the idea that skills and resources alone are enough, and instead reveal how addressing the root causes beneath the surface can unlock lasting change for individuals, families, and entire communities.