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EPISODE 119: PODCASTING AS A LEARNING TOOL
Harald Overaa, Host of Harald’s Curious Corner Podcast
After more than 8 years behind the mic, I know the vital role podcasting plays in keeping ahead of learning systems trends. Every interview reveals something that tells me where the industry is headed. Collectively, these discussions help me connect dots, find gaps, and spot meaningful patterns as they emerge.
Now, Harald Overaa is doing his own version of this with his popular podcast, Harald’s Curious Corner, where he interviews a world-class line-up of learning industry thought leaders.
Harald is a natural conversationalist who understands the importance of professional knowledge sharing. And he brings a distinct, business-oriented perspective to the table, informed by his primary role as Sr. Enterprise Account Executive at Docebo.
As I see it, we aren’t competitors. Rather, we are two sides of the same coin. And that’s why I’m excited to compare notes with Harald. So, join us as we discuss the value of podcasting as a learning tool on this episode of Talented Learning Show…
PODCASTING AS A LEARNING TOOL — KEY TAKEAWAYS
- With nearly 500,000 active podcasts in the world, where does learning fit into the mix? As both Harald and I have found, value is created when interviews spark ideas that help people improve and grow. At the same time, these conversations shape our own perspective, as well.
- When using podcasting as a learning tool, expect the substance and structure of your programming to evolve. Even if you start with a clear agenda, the insights you uncover may lead you in a different direction. This is why Harald recommends staying flexible, so you can adjust as audience interests and other factors change.
- Podcast interviews have also helped Harald confirm his theory that learning teams can gain influence by solving big, expensive business problems. He encourages others to take on messy challenges with significant upside, because they attract the kind of resources needed to make a measurable difference.
PODCASTING AS A LEARNING TOOL — Q&A HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome, Harald. You’re an award-winning enterprise LMS sales guy, but you’ve found the time to start your own podcast. How did that happen?
Well, I’m just a big nerd, John. I doubt would do this if, at the end of my day job, I thought, “Wow, more work to do.” But I love talking with people, figuring out what they’re doing, and sharing ideas.
Although I work for a learning technology vendor, I don’t think there are enough voices from inside vendor companies who are helping to shape the conversation and are giving genuinely good advice. That’s a gap I see in the market.
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Yeah. I think the word “vendor” is a big part of the problem. People instantly wonder if the information is slanted. Still, vendors have an inside track on where the industry is going, so it’s important to articulate these things.
Naturally, when I started the show, I wanted to establish legitimacy around what I was doing. And now, I think people understand I’m actually here to help.
You’re already interviewing some of the biggest names in the enterprise learning world. Did you begin with a specific focus in mind?
Well, from the start, I drew a couple of lines in the sand:
- I own the show. In other words, I decide who to interview (or not).
- Also, the editorial decisions are mine. Complete independence is important because sometimes, I may contradict accepted ideas from the industry or where I work.
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Makes sense…
When partners and other vendors have asked to join me for their own benefit, I’ve said no. That’s because the agenda needs to be pretty clean. It only works if a vendor or partner brings an interesting perspective or some other useful information to the table.
And has your framing shifted over time?
Yes. For the first few seasons I established themes. First, we focused on where AI is going and how it’s changing the role of learning and development teams.
My first guest was Lori Niles, who was willing to take a chance on me before anyone knew the show. And then other great people joined me like Laura Overton, Michelle Ockers, and Ashwin Mehta.
Next, I went deep into skills with a variety of practitioners and thought leaders like Sandra Laughlin and Koreen Pagano.
And then I went down the customer education/extended enterprise route. During that series, you were a great guest, John, along with practitioners like Dave Derington of CELab, and Courtney Sembler, who built HubSpot Academy.
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Ah…
And interestingly, the people who interact with the show changed as each season unfolded. So, rather than trying to fit guests into seasons by topic, I’m moved toward programming interesting people.
I want to be more nimble. This gives me flexibility to speak with anyone who wants to have a good chat about any topic that matters.
Smart move. So, have you learned anything you didn’t expect at the start?
Yeah, I’ve learned lots, John. For example, practitioners aren’t necessarily where the hot topics we see on LinkedIn suggest they should be.
It’s easy to overestimate what is actually changing, especially in enterprise environments. So, there’s a lot of tension between the technology opportunity and what’s really happening in business settings, when the governance, the data, and the security aren’t moving at the same pace.
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Mmhmm…
I’ve also learned a lot about the identity of education team members.
People are moving from being facilitators to being builders. They’re less likely to say, “I deliver systems training in a lab” or “I deliver leadership training.” Instead, they’re building programs and curriculums, and functioning as architects.
We’re seeing a shift to that “AI + human” capability, emphasizing how to architect ecosystems at a larger scale.
Interesting…
Also, with so much exciting stuff going on, another thing I’m taking away is the desire to continue learning and absorbing knowledge, myself.
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Are all these discussions changing how you approach prospective clients as a salesperson?
Definitely, I see things in a more holistic way.
Often, if someone wants to talk with me as a salesperson, they want to solve an immediate problem. But now, I see it as an opportunity to peel back the layers a bit and look at their situation from a broader perspective that encompasses learning, knowledge, and skills.
So, this makes me a better consultant, because I’m learning to have more genuine conversations. Maybe that’s the most underrated thing about podcasting. People see it as genuine.
Most prospects never know who their enterprise sales rep is until that person is assigned to them. But because your name is becoming more broadly known, people are looking forward to working with you.
At least they know I want to help rather than just make a quick buck…
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Yes. Earlier, you said LinkedIn headlines don’t necessarily reflect what learning teams are experiencing. What’s a notable example of that?
The headlines often don’t explain the full picture. So, think of LinkedIn as iceberg. It usually shows you what’s above sea level, not what’s underneath. Why? Maybe the deeper information doesn’t generate clicks, so the algorithm favors short takes.
That’s why my content is longer form. It means we can go deep into what matters.
I see…
For instance, there’s a notion in the industry that learning systems are dead. People can find information in an LLM, so why do you need a learning system?
I don’t see it that way. Instead, I think it is changing.
Saying the LMS is dead doesn’t carry the fact that a backend is crucial to organize information, users, content, payment reconciliation. Also, a robust backend drives personalization on the front end.
The front end is changing, and how we consume information is changing. The formatics are changing. But there’s still a fundamental need for learning systems.
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So, how do you see buying teams prioritizing AI in their decisions?
Depends on the teams. Our industry still loves shiny toys. There’s a lot of hype, and people love the illusion of what AI can do. It sells very well. But what’s the business case? What problem do we want to solve? And do we have the right data to drive the solution?
We need to be careful not to offer AI as a shortcut to nowhere.
Right. What are you hearing about data quality in the shift to agentic AI?
Good question. For agentic systems, the data state you use is the most important determinant of success. An agent could run like a Ferrari, but if you have terrible data, it won’t go anywhere…
Yeah. So, if the data is scattered and learning teams don’t own it, how can they clean it up? …
… For complete answers to this and other questions about the value of podcasting as a learning tool, listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on Amazon, or right here on our site.
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