The Loss One

Contact & Support: Women Talking About Learning: womentalkingaboutlearning.com Podcast Learning Festival: www.podcastlearningfest.live Support us: Ko-Fi Email: [email protected] Episode: When everything falls apart—work, health, loss—how do we keep going? Kirsty Lewis, Edeje Onwude, and Stella Collins share honest reflections on grief, resilience, and what it means to rebuild when life demands it. This episode is a conversation about loss, letting go, and the weight of carrying on when you'd rather not.Full episode resources at womentalkingaboutlearning.comGuests:Kirsty Lewis is the founder of the School of Facilitation, designing workshops that create purpose, ownership, and engagement. She convenes freelance facilitators through the SOF collective and supports organisations to evolve their learning practice. www.schooloffacilitation.com linkedin.com/in/kirsty-schooloffacilitationEdeje Onwude (Ei-dei-jei) is a Nigerian-born, UK-based communications leader whose career spans brand, culture, and organisational change. For over 10 years she built brand work for global organisations including Coca-Cola and Reckitt. Her focus has shifted to ensuring what organisations say aligns with the lived experience of employees and stakeholders. She brings a candid perspective on career identity, letting go, and evolving when the work that once defined you no longer fits. linkedin.com/in/edejeonwudeStella Collins is an internationally acclaimed learning strategist transforming workplace performance through neuroscience, AI, data, and technology. She's spent 30 years making complex ideas accessible and actionable. Author of Neuroscience for Learning and Development, her LinkedIn Learning programme has over 56,000 learners. She's founded three businesses, lived in four countries, and advocates for learning that matters: "In a world of constant change we have to move from knowing to doing." linkedin.com/in/stellacollinslearningrevolution www.stellacollins.comThank you for listening.

You can contact Women Talking About Learning at https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com. Details of the Podcast Learning Festival are at https://www.podcastlearningfest.live. Support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning. Email us at [email protected] episode looks at learning, leadership and wellbeing in the charity and third sector. It explores emotionally demanding work, culture, compassion fatigue and why so many people are reaching breaking point. We reflect on what it means to build learning in environments shaped by care, constraint and constant change. What supports people properly. What quietly drains them. What needs to be done differently.Our guests work inside these realities. They design learning where resources are tight, emotions run high and values matter. They bring lived experience of leading teams, supporting staff and holding organisations together under pressure.Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan Kerry is a learning and organisational development leader with more than 15 years’ experience in the charity sector, working in animal welfare. They have led national learning strategies and helped shape culture in complex environments. Their work focuses on inclusive, values led culture, leadership development and building resilient teams. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-gabriel-o-sullivan/Edwina Daniels Edwina is an experienced learning and development leader in the charity sector. She specialises in accessible and inclusive learning that drives engagement and impact. Her career includes senior roles at Samaritans and the RSPCA, leading strategic learning and cultural change. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwina-daniels-9a7995354/Suz Taylor Suz is a learning and development manager with around 20 years’ experience. She has spent the last four years at St Peter’s Hospice, building leadership capability and learning culture, following a long career in the corporate sector. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suz-taylor-271857102/Emma Withnell Emma is a learning and development professional with more than 15 years’ experience across the NHS, education and social housing. She is a qualified coach specialising in neurodiversity and supporting women to build confidence and recognise their strengths. LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/emma-withnell-tap-mdip-43490681Full episode resources All articles, research and links mentioned are listed on our website. https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/[episode-slug]Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support us: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning Twitter/X: @WTAL_PodcastThis episode explores networking from women's perspectives. How we build connections. What makes networking different for women. How communities can create opportunities and combat professional isolation. You will hear from three women who are building networks, supporting peers and creating spaces for genuine connection.Full episode resources All the articles, research and community links mentioned in this episode are listed on our website. 👉https://womentalkingaboutlearning.comGuestsSharon Green Professional interim, qualified coach and consultant at Chiara Consultancy, running projects focused on people change, technology and experience. Sharon has worked across NHS, Department of Health, not-for-profit bodies, private banking, financial services, games, media and marketing. Her #payitforward passion project is the HR Interim Networking Group, a global LinkedIn community providing peer support for people professionals working as interims, coaches, consultants and freelancers.LinkedIn: Sharon GreenTwitter/Bluesky/Instagram: SharonGChiaraHelen Marshall Head of Learning at THRIVE, leading their content design team and working with customers to integrate content into the flow of work. With 8 years vendor-side experience, Helen previously started an Art History PhD before accidentally falling into digital learning. She believes change always starts with you.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helearning/Women In Community: https://womenin.community/Rhonda Martin Works across talent development, mentoring, coaching and inclusive leadership. She designs mentoring, coaching and senior leadership programmes, supports capability building and trains sales teams. Subject matter expert in diversity and inclusion, particularly gender diversity. Serves on City Women Network board as Chair for Corporate Relationships. Previously chaired mentoring for Women in Telecommunications.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-martin-0251579/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

The Learning Podcast Festival takes place in London on 26 February 2026. Details are at https://podcastlearningfest.live.You can contact Women Talking About Learning at https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com. Support us at https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning. Email us at [email protected] episode looks at how learning design is shifting in an AI driven world. New tools appear every week. Old assumptions keep moving. We explore what this means for people who build learning. What stays useful. What needs to stop. What comes next.Our guests work with content at scale and see the changes ahead.Gaenor Aitken Gaenor has more than 25 years in learning and development. She works in global shipping with a focus on systems training and large scale content. She is interested in how AI and short form video will change future learning work. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gaenor-aitkenKaren Cureton Karen is a social media specialist after a long career in sales and marketing. She helps organisations use platforms with confidence and keeps her approach simple and practical. Website: https://curetonconsulting.co.uk LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/karencuretontrainingKathryn (Katie) Swandale Katie is Senior Learning and Development Partner at Immediate. She has experience across teaching, apprenticeships and CIPD qualification design. Her work focuses on inclusive learning and has been recognised with collaboration and transformation awards. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kathryn-swandale Company: https://linkedin.com/company/immediatemediaLaura Giles Laura is Head of Learning at Desq. She designs digital learning for global brands and uses behavioural science, UX and storytelling in her work. Her time building MOOCs at the University of Sheffield shaped her evidence based approach. Website: https://desq.co.uk LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/laura-giles-learning-designerFull episode resources All links and references are listed on our website.https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/2025/11/25/the-more-content-one/Thanks for listening.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support us: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning Twitter/X: @WTAL_PodcastThis episode looks at women’s voices. How they are heard. How they are silenced. What happens when we choose to amplify them. It is about confidence, power, bias and allyship. You will hear from two women using learning, science and leadership to shift systems and create impact.Full episode resources All the articles, research and book links mentioned in this episode are listed on our website. 👉https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/?p=5045GuestsAynsley Szczesniak Founder and CEO of Speak Out Sisterhood, a nonprofit helping young professional women in STEM become agents of social change. Aynsley is a third-year Honors Carolina scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill, studying Biology, Chemistry and Entrepreneurship on the pre-medical track. She writes for the Association of Women in Science magazine, sits on the Carolina Women’s Center Advisory Board and leads the Student Success in STEM Task Force. A proactive STEMinist and aspiring physician in women’s health, she is passionate about education, collaboration and social entrepreneurship. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aynsley-szczesniak/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aynsleyszczesniak/ • Speak Out Sisterhood: https://www.speakoutsisterhood.orgAlison Shea A fourth-generation educator who leads global learning and development for a tech start-up. Alison’s background spans financial services, organisational transformation and diversity, equity and inclusion. She has also worked in consulting and learning product development, designing award-winning workshops and speaking at international conferences. With an MEd in curriculum and instructional technology, Alison is passionate about mentoring and giving back to future learning professionals. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonmshea/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning Podcast Learning Festival: www.podcastlearningfest.liveThis episode explores the intersection of fun, engagement, and effective learning. Our guests challenge conventional approaches to leadership development and learning design, sharing insights on creating psychologically safe spaces, using humour and gamification, and making learning truly memorable.Full episode resources All the links and articles mentioned are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/GuestsJess Rogers — Leadership coach with nearly 20 years of experience helping ambitious, values-driven senior leaders find their voice and lead authentically. She works with directors, VPs, chiefs of staff, and senior counsel to build confidence, resilience, and clarity without compromise.Website: https://www.jessicavrogers.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessrogerscoach/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessrogerscoach/Elaine Gosden — CEO and founder of Blue Gnu Consulting, a leadership development consultancy specialising in organisational growth. As a highly skilled facilitator with accreditations in Insights Discovery, MBTI, Hogan and Facet5, Elaine creates psychologically safe environments where teams can have authentic conversations and unlock their potential.Website: http://www.bluegnuco.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-gosden-bluegnu/Kuva — Co-founder of Emergent Learning, a learning strategist and designer fascinated by the sweet spot between fun and effectiveness. With a PhD in online learning design, Kuva explores how gamification, humour, and clever design can transform dry learning experiences into something unforgettable.Website: https://www.emergentlearning.com.au/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuvaj/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support us: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearning Twitter/X: @WTAL_PodcastThis episode explores women, data, and AI — where they intersect, why representation matters, and how we can build more inclusive paths into data science and analytics. Expect conversation on leadership, bias, and the realities of working in data-driven roles.Full episode resources All the articles, research, and podcast links mentioned in this episode are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/2025/10/14/the-data-one/GuestsRebecca Oliver — Founder of Juxta Marketing Solutions, helping startups and scale-ups build smart, human-first go-to-market strategies that make people feel something. Her work focuses on meaningful connection, storytelling, and empathy in marketing. After redundancy during maternity leave, Rebecca became an advocate for mums in marketing and shares advice and support through her community @marketing__mum. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-oliver14/Rachel George — Generative BI Senior Manager leading AI transformation within Business Intelligence. Rachel designs and delivers education programmes in data and AI, including an industry-leading Data & AI Summer School, now in its third year. She champions practical learning, ethical AI, and representation for women in tech. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelemmadickinsonThanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who’d value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearningThis episode explores writing, confidence, facilitation, and how learning happens inside teams. You’ll hear honest stories and practical insights from our guests.Full episode resources All the links, articles, and books mentioned are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/GuestsHannah Brown — Author of Into the Hands of Leaders and Training that Clicks. With 25 years in learning development and two design awards, Hannah helps organisations build learning cultures through leadership. • Website: https://hannahbrown.co • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahbrown-learning/Pam Hamilton — Collective intelligence expert, author of The Workshop Book and Supercharged Teams, and founder of Paraffin. Pam’s mission is to change the way the world works together, one team at a time. • Website: https://www.superchargedteams.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/workshopbook/Beth Cougler Blom — Facilitator, designer, and author of Design to Engage. Her new book, Everyday Acts of Facilitation, is due Winter 2025/26. She also hosts the Facilitating on Purpose podcast. • Website: https://bcblearning.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom/Emily Gardner — Trainer, coach, and author of The Path of the Guide. Former head of Ninety Academy, recognised at the Learning Awards. Emily supports facilitators to grow their impact. • Website: https://www.emilyfacilitates.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygardnerfacilitator/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

Contact Women Talking About Learning Website: https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com Email: [email protected] Support: https://ko-fi.com/womentalkingaboutlearningThis episode explores writing, confidence, facilitation, and how learning happens inside teams. You’ll hear honest stories and practical insights from our guests.Full episode resources All the links, articles, and books mentioned are listed on our website: 👉 https://womentalkingaboutlearning.com/episodes/GuestsHannah Brown — Author of Into the Hands of Leaders and Training that Clicks. With 25 years in learning development and two design awards, Hannah helps organisations build learning cultures through leadership. • Website: https://hannahbrown.co • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahbrown-learning/Pam Hamilton — Collective intelligence expert, author of The Workshop Book and Supercharged Teams, and founder of Paraffin. Pam’s mission is to change the way the world works together, one team at a time. • Website: https://www.superchargedteams.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/workshopbook/Beth Cougler Blom — Facilitator, designer, and author of Design to Engage. Her new book, Everyday Acts of Facilitation, is due Winter 2025/26. She also hosts the Facilitating on Purpose podcast. • Website: https://bcblearning.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom/Emily Gardner — Trainer, coach, and author of The Path of the Guide. Former head of Ninety Academy, recognised at the Learning Awards. Emily supports facilitators to grow their impact. • Website: https://www.emilyfacilitates.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygardnerfacilitator/Thanks for listening. Please share this episode with someone who would value it.

You can contact Women Talking About Learning through our website, womentalkingaboutlearning.com We’re on Twitter @WTAL_Podcast You can buy us a coffee to support Women Talking About Learning via Ko-Fi. Or you can email us via [email protected]   Episode Links: How to MC, compère, or chair events What is typically expected of a conference session chair? - Academia Stack Exchange How to be a brilliant conference chair | Universities | The Guardian Chairing Events - The Turing Way What is the Role of the Session Chair in a Conference? How to be a great conference chair—Part 1: Prepare and open the session Guidance for session Chairs - RGS Seven Helpful Tips For A First-Time Speaker 10 Attributes of a Great Chair - Leading Governance How To Chair An Event | Helen Kara How to chair at a learning and development conference Learning Technologies   This week’s guests are Sarah Clayton-Jones is the founder and CEO of READ TO LEAD, delivering book-inspired peer learning experiences that develop human-skilled leaders, connected teams, and curious workplace cultures. With over 20 years’ experience leading and developing teams at global organisations including Volkswagen and Accenture, Sarah blends sharp commercial insight with a people-centred approach, to create agile, high-performing, and engaged leaders at every level. An ICF-accredited performance coach and facilitator, certified NLP and Neuroscience Practitioner, and DiSC Trainer, her unique blend of expertise brings together the science of learning and the art of human connection. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahc-j/ Sheena Whyatt is an award-winning trainer, business coach, speaker, and founder of KAPOW! Business Coaching With Impact. With over 24 years in Learning & Development, she has spent the past decade working with the Learning Technologies Conference, serving as Chairs Captain for the last three years. Sheena helps small business owners grow with clarity and confidence, replacing overwhelm with practical action. She has been shortlisted for multiple business awards in 2025 and is known for her warm humour and no-nonsense support. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenawhyatt/ https://www.kapowme.com/ https://heroes.kapowme.com/sheenas-blog Claire Doody is a change leadership expert with 20+ years of global experience in learning and organisatio