The only podcast 100% focused on Learning Transfer and turning learning into improved performance. This podcast is for people in L&D who want to design and deliver effective training and help others to grow through learning.
For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit multiplytransfer.com
Houra Amin explains why completion metrics are killing L&D credibility, and shares a behavioral science approach to measuring what actually matters.
The episode discusses why L&D teams struggle to prove training impact beyond completion rates and satisfaction scores, and how this leaves them out of strategic conversations and vulnerable to budget cuts.
Houra Amin, founder of Blue Jay Learning, argues measurement fails when business outcomes aren’t defined upfront; teams should start with existing baseline indicators such as errors, delays, or complaints, even if data is messy.
She explains turning vague problems into measurable outcomes and observable behaviours, prioritising outcomes by importance and stakeholder satisfaction, and linking leading indicators (behaviour changes) to lagging indicators (operational KPIs and broader business priorities) to show credible contribution rather than perfect causation.
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multiplytransfer.com (https://multiplytransfer.com/)
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Houra Amin is the founder of Blue Jay Learning, where she helps organisations design learning strategies and programmes that shift behaviour and improve performance in ways that are meaningful to the business. With a background in Educational Psychology and a deep interest in behavioural science, she works with clients to move beyond content and activity, and towards interventions that are strategically aligned and measurable.
Her work focuses on clarifying business outcomes, understanding the jobs people are trying to get done, and designing environments and experiences where the right behaviours become easier. She has supported global organisations across financial services, healthcare, and energy.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/houraamin/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/houraamin/)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-jay-learning/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-jay-learning/)
13 Feb 2026
The Elephant in the Training Room with Julie Dirksen
The Elephant in the Training Room with Julie Dirksen. In this episode of Multiply Transfer Radio, host Fergal Connolly interviews learning and development expert Julie Dirksen about effective training strategies. They discuss the limitations of traditional training methods, stressing the importance of practical application and reinforcing learning in the workplace. Julie emphasizes the need to move beyond simply creating content by understanding the intricacies of how people actually learn and making training relevant and meaningful. Key takeaways include the significance of repeated exposure, the role of managers in reinforcing training, and understanding the emotional and practical needs of learners. Julie also highlights upcoming trends in virtual reality and artificial intelligence that could revolutionize learning experiences.
00:00 Introduction to Multiply Transfer Radio
02:30 Understanding Effective Learning Design
04:39 Challenges in Learning Application
07:35 The Importance of Iterative Learning
10:20 Making Learning Meaningful and Contextual
16:37 Addressing Modern Learning Distractions
20:35 The Rider and the Elephant Metaphor
23:41 The Disconnect Between Logic and Emotion in Learning
26:15 Understanding Audience Motivation
27:07 Designing Learning for Behavior Change
34:14 The Role of Managers in Learning Transfer
40:12 Exciting Research and Emerging Ideas
44:41 Practical Advice for Effective Training
46:52 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Go to MutiplyTransfer.com (www.multiplytransfer.com) for more application focused learning transfer materials.
Julie Dirksen can be found at:
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedirksen/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedirksen/)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/designforhowpeoplelearn (https://www.facebook.com/groups/designforhowpeoplelearn)
Julie’s online course: https://designbetterlearning.com/ (https://designbetterlearning.com/)
Julie’s current workshop offerings: https://usablelearning.com/current/ (https://usablelearning.com/current/)
21 Dec 2021TRANSCRIPT
010 - Turn this Podcast into Action
Kevin Redmond of Mytribel.com (https://mytribel.com/) joins to share how you can turn everything you have learned from this podcast into repeatable and sustained behaviors using a simple process of understanding, remembering, and practice.
fergalconnolly.com (https://www.fergalconnolly.com/)
30 Nov 2021
009 - Measuring Transfer
How do we know if we have hit our targets? How will we know if all those hours we have spent conducting analysis sessions, designing learning, and facilitating training have had any effect on the people we are so desperately trying to help? Thats why measuring transfer is so important. Kevin M Yates joins to discuss this important topic and details some actionable steps you can take to improve in this area today.
Links:
Kevin M. Yates (https://kevinmyates.com/)
L&D Detective Kit (https://kevinmyates.com/l%26d-detective-kit)
fergalconnolly.com (https://www.fergalconnolly.com/)
9 Nov 2021
008 - Coaching and Chat Bots
Emma Weber is an authority in the field of coaching and learning transfer. Emma has made it her mission in life to make a difference to learning transfer worldwide. In this episode, Emma and I discuss:
The strengths and weaknesses of coaching as a developmental tool
How Emma has solved many issues associated with coaching by creating a conversational intelligence, Coach M.
Learning transfer strategies
the concept of "Learning Breaks"
To learn more about Emma and her work visit:
https://transferoflearning.com/
2 Nov 2021
007 - The Facilitators Role in Learning Transfer
Will Thalheimer joins to discuss his ELRA (Engage, Learn, Remember, Act) model, and how those who facilitate training can support the learning transfer process.
Resources available at fergalconnolly.com/ltr
Presenters Performance Tool
Learn more about Will:
Work-Learning Research
LTEM: Learning Transfer Evaluation Model
Presentation Science
26 Oct 2021
006 - Accountability and the Ecosystem
Ecosystem (noun) - a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Accountability for transfer falls on the shoulders of several stakeholders in the modern workplace. Lisa Burke-Smalley outlines how we as L&D practitioners can influence each of these stakeholders before, during, and after training to maximize transfer.
Resources available at https://www.fergalconnolly.com/ltr
Facilitating Transfer of Learning in Professional Development Programs: A Cognitive-Behavioral Tool (Journal Article)
Stakeholder Accountability Grid
21 Oct 2021
005 - Evidence-based Approaches to Transfer
Learning Transfer is one of the oldest research topics in organizational psychology, yet the findings of the research are under-utilized by the L&D community. Ina Weinbauer-Heidel has dedicated her career to exploring this research and turning it into practical approaches that can be leveraged by learning professionals.
In this episode Ina discusses her approach to research, the biggest issue faced by researchers and L&D professionals alike, and quick wins you can implement right away to benefit your learners.
Mentioned in this episode:
The 12 Levers of Transfer Effectiveness
Transfer Designer Certification.
Transfer Fast Track
11 Oct 2021
004 - Influencing Leadership for Transfer
Geoff Rip joins Learning Transfer Radio to discuss the important influence that leadership plays in determining learning transfer. In our chat we explore why leadership buy-in is crucial, the challenges faced by learning teams in this area, Geoff's "Ready-Set-Go-Show" model and most importantly - how to influence leadership for transfer success.
Episode Resources available at www.fergalconnolly.com/ltr
Ready Set Go Show Canvas
linkedin.com/in/geoffrip
6 Oct 2021
003 - Designing Learning Transfer
Learning Transfer doesn't happen by chance. In this episode, Jason Durkee and I discuss the importance of designing for learning transfer. Jason shares some examples from his past about how to design for transfer, and how to adapt your current training to be more impactful.
Learn more about Jason and his work at https://practicaltrainingtransfer.com/
29 Sept 2021
002 - Behavior Change (the goal of all training)
Paul Matthews outlines the need for L&D to focus on the behaviors we want our learners to exhibit, rather than the content we want them to learn.
Paul outlines some approaches he has used successfully in the past and advocates for a change to how we brand ourselves in L&D. Our brand is critical to how we are perceived by the business and influences how our stakeholders interact and partner with L&D. Paul says we need to ditch the traditional learning needs analysis and adopt a task analysis and behavioral needs analysis approach if we are to profoundly influence learner behavior.
For more about Learning Transfer and this podcast visit www.fergalconnolly.com
Learn more about Paul at https://paul-matthews.com/
23 Sept 2021
001 - Aligning Learning with the Business
Roy Pollock joins Learning Transfer Radio to discuss how to align learning teams with the needs of the business. In our chat we explore why aligning learning to the business is so important, the challenges faced by learning teams in this area, why we need to change our approach to training requests and most importantly - how to do it.
Episode Resources available at www.fergalconnolly.com/ltr
Outcomes Planning Wheel
Job Aid for the Outcomes Planning Wheel
23 Sept 2021
000 - Introducing Learning Transfer Radio
Welcome to Learning Transfer Radio. This short introductory episode lets you know what this podcast is all about, what makes this podcast different from the other L&D podcast out there, who it's for (basically, anyone in HR and L&D) and why you should listen.
Learn more about learning transfer and this podcast at www.fergalconnolly.com
#learningtransfer
Inside a recent episode
010 - Turn this Podcast into Action
Published 21 Dec 2021 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I don't know if I need to explain the forgetting curve. I'm sure if there's L and D people on this, they probably have heard of Herman Ebbinghaus, but in case they haven't. Herman Ebbinghaus was a psychologist in the 80s and 80s who was really into memory and used to try and memorize random three -letter words that he made up and basically plotted it out. Essentially, it falls off a cliff, right? If you don't, remind yourself of these on whatever the new bit of information is. It's going to just seep out of your brain. So the first thing I have, so just to get back to the hotel idea, put it into your short -term memory in the right way and then stick it up into one of the rooms in the right way as well. […]
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