ATD Accidental Trainer is an ATD podcast featuring bimonthly interviews with industry experts who share stories and tips about how to grow your training career. Hosted by Alexandria Clapp, ATD Accidental Trainer covers trends, strategies, and actionable information for talent development professionals.
When Does Being Together Matter Most? with Natalia Emanuel and Emma Harrington
In this episode of ATD's Accidental Trainer podcast, economists and authors Natalia Emanuel and Emma Harrington share insights from their new book, In Person: How Working Together Fuels Creativity, Productivity, and Growth. The two explore what organizations gain when people spend time together, from mentorship and learning to creativity, work friendships, and trust.
Natalia and Emma are quick to point out that this isn't a remote-versus-in-person debate. Instead, they focus on how organizations can preserve the benefits of flexibility while creating the conditions for learning, mentorship, creativity, and connection to thrive.
Resources:
Grab your copy of In Person: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/795672/in-person-by-natalia-emanuel-phd-and-emma-harrington-phd/
Natalia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliaemanuel
Emma's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-harrington-b4ba43147
19 Aug 2026
Stop Recovering From Work and Start Rethinking It with Kate Zipay and Allie Gabriel
If "high performance" leads to long nights, little recovery time, and feelings of burnout, then it's time we rethink our relationship to work. In this episode, Kate Zipay, Associate Professor of Management and Associate Director of Research & Impact at the Purdue Center for Working Well, and Allie Gabriel, the Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management and Director of the Purdue Center for Working Well, explore how we can break the cycle of depletion and fundamentally change our work culture. The conversation explores the idea of "intuitive working," explaining why some work feels more like eating a bag of chips than meaningful progress. Kate and Allie challenge organizations to stop rewarding overwork as a sign of commitment and provide practical ways L&D can help people work more intentionally for the benefit of themselves and their organization.
Resources:
See Allie and Kate at ATD Core4: https://core4.td.org/keynote-speakers/
Thinkers50: https://thinkers50.com/biographies/kate-zipay-allison-gabriel/
Substack: https://payingattentionwork.substack.com/
Kate's Website: https://www.katezipay.com/
Allie's Website: https://www.allisongabriel.com/
15 Jul 2026
The Magic "What If": Creativity, AI, and the Future of L&D with Josh Penzell
In a time of shrinking budgets, shifting priorities, and constant change, creativity can feel like a luxury. Josh Penzell, founder of Imagination Applied, argues it's exactly the opposite. Drawing on his background in theater, training, and AI, Josh explores why learning experiences should function more like rehearsal rooms than lectures, and why AI works best as a creative collaborator rather than simply a productivity tool.
This episode discusses artistic intelligence, the power of the "magic if," and what learning professionals can borrow from directors, actors, and performers. Along the way, Josh shares practical ideas for building teams where creativity can thrive, rethinking stakeholder conversations, and designing experiences that lead to meaningful behavior change.
If you've ever felt constrained by limited resources, uncertainty, or the pressure to do more with less, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on creativity, collaboration, and what's possible when we stop searching for the right answer and start asking better questions.
Resources:
Josh's Website: https://www.joshpenzell.com/
Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-penzell
Who has been a guest on ATD Accidental Trainer
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Jonathan Halls
Chelsea C Williams
Bianca Baumann
Mike Taylor
Jessica Kriegel
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Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
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