In this unique, unfiltered, and completely unedited episode, I chat with my brilliant life coach, Hana Michels, about burnout: what it is, how it shows up differently for different people, and how to fight it when you aren't able to quit your job and rest for a year.

Hana Michels has been written up in the LA Times, LA Weekly and others. She received her life coaching certification from the Wainwright Global Coaching Institute. She has also been trained in The Tools methodology & techniques (recently featured in the Netflix documentary Stutz) by Barry Michels, co-author of The Tools and Coming Alive, whom she can’t pretend is not her father because they share a last name. She knows how hard it is to form and keep habits and is here for anyone who needs to do so. She works hard to help clients with whatever they wish to address, including overall discipline and organization, talking through creative ideas and/or help bringing specific projects to fruition, overall mood and emotional regulation, finding your own personal answers to key life decisions, mindfulness techniques, enduring life’s transitions or difficulties, rekindling passion for a creative practice, communication between couples, communication between work partners, adapting personalizing and fitting a tools practice into your life, adapting personalizing and fitting a shadow work practice into your life, combating part x (also part of The Tools methodology,) weird family stuff, normal but still difficult family stuff, accountability and help when trying to establish new habits, accountability and help when trying to replace or eliminate old habits, and more!

Whew, that was a lot! To work with Hana or learn more about her work, visit her linktree: https://linktr.ee/sparkcreativecoaching

Hana's suggestions for dealing with burnout:

• If you're creatively burnt out and unable to create, try a brand new art form you know you'll be bad at so there's no pressure!
• If you're plagued by dwelling on the future or the past, try mindfulness and getting in touch with your five senses.
• If you have a lot of baggage from childhood, look into the books that exist on this topic (there are so many - just start a Google search)!
• If productivity guilt is weighing you down, check out Devon Price, PhD's book "Laziness Does Not Exist."
• If your nervous system feels overloaded, try breathing exercises while having your finger on your pulse so that you can feel the heartbeat slowing or modify the exercise so you're not holding your breath so long. And don't hold your breath too long, or you'll pass out. Splash cold water on yourself.
• If grounding helps, carry something in your pocket that has an interesting texture.
• If you are overvaluing anyone's opinion of you, create a silly visual to represent that person (instead of picturing people naked -- weird!).

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

In today's episode, I chat with my new friend, Dr. Owen Chamberlain, about pracademia and how we can narrow the gap between theory and practice by approaching what we learn in academia with more practical intent. We talk about the role of truth in learning and asking the kinds of questions that matter.

Owen Chamberlain is a strategist, writer and speaker with 15+ years of experience in organizational transformation, remote work culture, and the future of leadership. He currently works at a Fortune 500 company, shaping strategy at the intersection of people, systems, and power.

A British-born ‘pracademic’, he is currently based in Colorado. Owen has a doctorate in education and critical theory, and his research draws heavily from Foucault, systems thinking, and lived experience. He is particularly interested in the evolution of professional identity, how invisible power shapes our working lives, and the role of technology in shaping the future of work.

Owen has spoken at major conferences in both the US and UK on topics ranging from the future of remote work to the politics of knowledge in corporate systems. He is a guest lecturer, podcast contributor, and behind-the-scenes advisor to executives seeking to redesign their organizations with humanity in mind. His writing has been featured in business journals and online platforms.

Before his current role, Owen held senior positions in both corporate and educational sectors, often serving as the bridge between legacy institutions and emerging models of work. His previous roles include strategic advisor, director of execution, and consultant on distributed teams and transformation initiatives.

He is best known for blending sharp analysis with irreverent humor, frequently asking the questions others avoid, whilst delivering this with a Northern British accent. He’s also after the perfect curry recipe.

When not interrogating the cultural machinery of work, he spends weekends either hiking, fixing things, or playing music. He misses British pubs, but not British weather.

Find him on

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/owenchamberlain
Website: owenchamberlain.com

Owen's suggestions for:

• Learning more about pracademia: Google "arts-based learning" and "arts-based research" to see pracademia in action
• For your general professional journey: do a therapy course to learn how to ask great questions and listen well

Please don't forget to visit our brilliant sponsor, Yellowdig, if you're looking to create more engaging learning communities.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

In this solo episode, I share 3 best practices for getting more or better leadership support for your learning initiatives based on my experience and research.

Those three tips include:

1. Knowing the common obstacles and how to overcome them
2. Aligning your work with business goals from the beginning
3. Showing the impact of your work (going above and beyond survey and assessment data)

Please don't forget to visit our brilliant sponsor, Yellowdig, if you're looking to create more engaging learning communities.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Carrie Graham about how to consult with intention in the learning space, specifically how to treat clients and organizations with patience, respect, and grace when you begin work with them and have to tell them they're doing things wrong or poorly.

Carrie is a Learning Solutions Architect known for translating executive vision into tangible performance outcomes. She specializes in designing training strategies that align with organizational values, support business goals, and deliver measurable impact—often within just 90 days. Carrie’s strategic approach has led to a 40% reduction in onboarding time, an 85% improvement in knowledge retention, and a 3x return on training investment. Her work ensures consistent execution across all levels of an organization, seamlessly integrating learning with broader business strategy to drive real, scalable results.

Carrie's suggestion for someone getting started with consulting to try an focus in their strategy/vision? The best resource is your mind -- you have to understand your own process and document it so that you can implement it.

Please don't forget to visit our brilliant sponsor, Yellowdig, if you're looking to create more engaging learning communities.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

In this episode, I chat with Hanan Harb Sahourieh, author of Everybody, Be Cool! 6 Personal Development Lessons to Elevate Your Workplace Vibe. We talk about what it really takes to level up at work, from asking tough questions to embracing self-awareness -- with plenty of pop culture and real talk along the way.

Hanan Harb Sahourieh is a writer, workshop facilitator, and learning & development strategist with over 20 years of experience in writing, marketing, and workforce development.

As the author of 'Everybody, Be Cool!'—a practical (and real) guide to employee growth and communication—she’s captivated audiences as a keynote speaker at events like the ATD Sacramento Learning Conference and UKG’s Thrive Summit. Her insights have been featured in top industry outlets, including Training Industry, eLearning Industry, Chief Learning Officer, and Big Think.

Hanan’s mission is simple: to help people and organizations grow, connect, and thrive by developing essential skills like empathy, introspection, and curiosity. Learn more about her work and approach at everybody-be-cool.com.

Please don't forget to visit our brilliant sponsor, Yellowdig, if you're looking to create more engaging learning communities.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

Linnéa Sjögren is a Stockholm-based educational training professional passionate about creating learning opportunities. With extensive experience in planning, developing, delivering, and evaluating various types of training, she creates everything from classroom training to blended learning and e-learning.

Having worked in organizations that haven't always had the resources to hire external support, Linnéa has developed the skills to build everything from start to finish. Instructor materials, participant materials, exercises, videos, audio files, podcasts, and infographics are just a few of the things she can produce.

More about her work can be found at www.linneasjogren.se, and her educational tips are available under the hashtag #pedagogiskaverktygsladan or at www.pedagogiskaverktygsladan.wordpress.com.

Linnéa's suggestion on honing in on your freelance skills? Ask your favorite AI or a friend "What it is I do that is so great?"

Please don't forget to visit our brilliant sponsor, Yellowdig, if you're looking to create more engaging learning communities.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

In this episode I answer the question "What process, model, or framework do you use for needs analysis? Does it have to be a formal process?"

For some great questions to ask during needs analysis, visit the Ultimate Guide to Working with SMEs on the Useful Stuff website.

For more on Roger Kaufman's work, I highly suggest visiting the HPT Treasures website!

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff

On this episode, my friend, Lata Hamilton, returns to talk about her new book, Pioneer Your Career Change. Lata shares stories from her own career that taught her to have the confidence to do the kind of work she loves - and how you can find work that excites you too.

Lata Hamilton is a Change Leadership and Confidence expert who empowers ambitious women to carve their own paths in career, leadership, and life with confidence, authenticity, and fulfillment. A speaker, author, leadership trainer, and consultant, Lata has worked with some of Australia’s largest companies on transformative initiatives, including global cultural shifts, digital innovations, and operating model changes impacting thousands. After tripling her salary in just three years to nearly $200,000, she is on a mission to help millennial women find their worth, step into their leadership, and embrace the magic of change.

Make sure you go back and listen to Lata talk with me about change management in L&D on episode 55.

To learn more and get more great resources:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our global Useful L&D Community
• Work with me or see what I'm working on with Useful Stuff